Lost in the pages

Tough exterior

Athos walked through the Archway into the courtyard of the Garrison. Brazier fires were scattered about and the sound of horses in the stables made it seem so different from when I had seen it in daylight before. I reached the archway as he started up the stairs.

"ATHOS" he stalled but kept his back to me "Please" He lifted his head and sighed before he turned around and slowly walked back down the stairs. My stomach clenched as he looked at me and tipped his head

"It has been three months since you disappeared. You left after we helped you" there was a snap to his tone

"I know and I couldn't help it; I was scared of... of being where I didn't know" I walked closer to him and looked up at him "I had no choice on leaving; I woke up and I was, well home. I'm sorry but I know that I want to be here" He looked down "Athos" I reached my hand out and laid it on his chest making him inhale sharply and stiffen his stance "Sorry" I pulled my hand back he caught it in his gloved hand

"I did not know what had happened to you; none of us knew and we looked for you" The nerve in his cheek twitched under his closely cropped beard. Snowflakes began to fall around us, quickly coating us in a layer of snow.

"All I can do is apologize"

"Come with me" he didn't let go of my hand almost as if he was scared, I was going to vanish.

Athos led me into the large room that was Captain Treville's office with a fire already roaring in the fireplace. The warmth was welcoming from the chill outside. Athos let go of my hand and close the door behind us. I unclipped the cloak Athos moved behind me and took it from me and put it on the back of a chair along with his. I walked to the fire and warmed my hands

"Where is Captain Treville?" I asked as I turned around and watched Athos pour two glasses of brandy and came over to me and held one out to me "Thank you"

"He is with the King discussing something" He tipped his head and looked at me again "I do not know what you did to me the day we met" his voice gave me goosebumps with how low it was "I felt something that I never thought I would feel again" he turned away from me.

"Is that why you brought me here? and then left me with total strangers" I sat down regretting the words as soon as they left my mouth

"Yes" I was taken aback by the honest tone to his voice "and for that I am Sorry" he sat across from me "I am a man that decided a long time ago that I needed no one other than my brother Musketeers" he looked at the brandy in his glass then looked at me and took a deep breath "I am truly happy to see you again" I smiled at him "Do you have a place to stay?"

"Constance has offered me a room" He smiled and nodded

"She is a special woman" there was a genuine affection to his tone "It is a shame that she is married to Bonacieux" he stood up and walked to pick up the bottle of brandy and came back over to me and offered me more I held my glass out and he poured more in.

"I have thought about you a lot in the past few months" I admitted; he stalled a little and put the bottle and his glass down and lent on the mantle over the fire. I put my drink on the table and got up and walked over to him "Did I offend you?" He didn't move "Athos" I put my hand on his shoulder and he tensed; I dropped my hand and tried hard to remember his story from the book but something in my head was stopping me. I took step back as he turned around and tipped his head at me

"You did not offend me, I don't think that you could" He gave a slight smile "But I am not a good man, my heart is a cold stone in my chest"

"Really? then why did you save me from being run down by that carriage. Why did you stop to help me up when I slipped?" I chewed my lip "If you weren't a good man, you wouldn't have done that"

"I could not see a woman hurt, especially a woman like you" He raised his chin a little "I was so angry that you disappeared, and that scared me" he pushed his hand through his hair and stepped back and paced the floor.

I stepped in his way stopping him in his tracks I put my hands on his chest and felt the firmness of muscle under his shirt.

"I came back; I couldn't get you off my mind. If you knew what I have done to be here you might think a little differently of me" he frowned at me, I stepped a little closer to him and his breath hitched in his throat.

I pushed up on my toes and kissed him gently, he pulled back sharply a look of shock on his face I swallowed hard. Athos came forward quickly and put his arm around my back and pulled me against; him his mouth found mine in a kiss that took every thought from my head.

 Neither of us heard the door open until there was the sound of a cough. we sprang apart and Captain Treville was standing there with Porthos, Aramis, Constance and D'artaganan.

"We did wonder where you had both gone" Aramis said with a smirk

"Good job we weren't a little longer" Porthos chuckled earning a slap around the back of his head from Constance

"Estelle, it is good to see you again" Captain Treville covered his smirk well "You had us all worried for you"

"I'm sorry, it was out of my control" I felt awkward standing there with all eyes on me.

"I think we should head home" Constance said smiling at me "The weather is not nice out there"

"I will come with you" Athos said walking and picking up my cloak and putting it around my shoulders

"Good night" I said as we walked out of the door

"Goodnight Estelle, please do not vanish again tonight" Aramis laughed earning himself a glare from Athos