Evening My Lovely Ever Loyal Readers

Well here we are this is the final chapter for this story.

It has been so much fun writing this and the lovely responses I got from all of you just made it 10x better so thank you for sticking around right to the end.

I have another story in the works at the moment, I should have the first chapter up by the end of the week and would love it if you would give that a read over as well.

For the last time for this story lots of love and thanks to all those who follow/favourite/review

Enjoy

xxx

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the musketeers.

Chapter 17:

Today's the day Porthos thought to himself. He had promised the boy that they would talk in the morning, and low and behold it was now morning – or early afternoon.

Looking over at the still sleeping Gascon, Porthos couldn't help but groan – he had absolutely no desire to have this conversation, but that didn't mean he would deny his brother it. The Gascon had pushed his limits the night before to demand that they talk and so he had promised the lad.

Fervently hoping that he would had a couple of hours to collect himself before the boy would wake and instigate the conversation Porthos decided to get up and stretch his legs for a bit.

Untangling himself from Aramis – the man was a notoriously clingy sleeper and at some point during the night had managed to thoroughly entangled himself with the larger man, Porthos silently stepped over his drooling brother and with one final gaze to the wounded Gascon and the, presumably sleeping, Athos he left the room in search of fresh air and breakfast – or was it lunch? At this point he could care less so long as it was edible and delayed his conversation with D'Artangan for a bit longer.

"PORTHOS!"

At the sound of his name being shouted Porthos spun around, a small part of him noting that, despite nightmares, the sleep he had gotten had done wonders for his head.

"Laurent?" Porthos enquired to the approaching musketeer, in all the commotion of being kidnapped, tortured and then trying to save D'Artangan's life Porthos had completely forgotten to check on the young men who had initially travelled with them on their mission.

"I was so worried when we made it back and the Captain said you hadn't arrived yet. Are you okay? What about D'Artangan?" The young musketeer seemed oblivious to the fact he was rambling, though his apparent concern for himself and his brother had Porthos softening as he raised a hand to pause.

"Laurent, I'm fine. D'Artangan's in bad shape but was looking better when I left him. How about you and Gerard? Some of Corbin's men followed you as well"

Laurent visibly relaxed at hearing that D'Artangan was improving, he did not know the Gascon overly well but he would never forgive himself if their agreement to split up led to the boy dying, though he did scoff at the mention of Corbin's men.

"Weren't even a fraction of his men from what I've heard. Attacked us several hours after we split. Took a few nasty hits to the ribs and Gerard got a bad concussion after one of them tackled him off his horse, one of them managed to get in a lucky cut to his side that started to get infected. Doc says it's almost clear now though so he should be fine."

A knot of tension Porthos wasn't even aware he had uncoiled at this information. While it wasn't rare that he had missions with newly commissioned musketeers – Athos blatantly refuses to work with them unless there's no other option and Aramis spends the entire time trying to either scare them to death or impress them with his skills with the opposite gender, needless to say neither man would ever be the captain's first pick. It was rare that he had such an easy mission end up so horribly and the man had been questioning his decision to separate since the moment he gave the order.

"Go back to your friend" Porthos smiled at the young musketeer "I'll swing by when I get the chance, check up on 'im myself"

Receiving a beaming smile and jaunty wave from the musketeer Porthos resumed his mission to get his brother's breakfast.

It had taken him longer than he expected to simply get to the kitchens, let alone get the food. It seemed that every musketeer he passed wanted to check on him and get an update on D'Artangan.

Finally he returned to Athos's room, arms packed with food, and was met with a clearly exacerbated Aramis and a slightly amused Athos.

"There you are!" the medic chided as he took some of the food from his brother's arms, placing it on the table. "He hasn't stopped asking about you and I can't slap him he's wounded enough already" Porthos raised an eyebrow at this, turning his gaze to the injured Gascon in the bed with pink cheeks – though whether from his fever of embarrassment at being called out by Aramis Porthos didn't know, smiling he addressed his young friend "Sorry, couldn't walk two steps without someone trying to talk to me or ask bout you… Took me longer than I planned to get the food."

The four men ate their food in comfortable silence, each just happy with the others presence. Athos had helped D'Artangan with the broth Serge had prepared for him, much to the younger man's chagrin and his brother's amusement.

After they'd eaten Athos and Aramis made up a completely bogus excuse to leave the room for a while. Both Porthos and D'Artangan knew it was simply to give them the privacy while they talked things out and both were equally grateful for it.

"…Sooo" Porthos began hesitantly; he was a man of action not words and found himself completely out of his depth at the prospect of this conversation.

D'Artangan save him from having to come up with anything more than that one word when he spoke up, exhaustion and pain clearly evident in his tone "None of this is your fault, okay P'thos?"

"D'Artangan, Corbin only focused on you because of your connection to me so you'll have to forgive me if I don't believe that."

"Corbin was a monster" D'Artangan spat, his glare hardening at the mention of that man's name "He would have attacked regardless. It was pure chance that put us in his sights."

This exchange went back and forth for several minutes, neither man willing to accept the others point of view. Eventually D'Artangan had, had enough and summoning the strength needed, pushed himself up and with speed neither man were honestly expecting, slapped Porthos's face – effectively stunning the man mid rant.

Unfortunately for D'Artangan however, this burst of speed and strength left him panting in exhaustion and pain. Looking at his elder brother with pain-filled eyes he implored the larger man to listen to him.

"I don't blame you my friend and if this-" he indicated to his injuries "-is the cost of finally bringing and end to that vile man and keeping you out of his grip then it's a price I will gladly pay."

Stunned both from the slap and D'Artangan's speech Porthos found himself unable to respond, so the young man continued, "He hurt a lot of people Porthos and only held a grudge against you because you're an honorable man who refused to ignore the injustice before him. You are a good man my friend, one of the best I know actually and nothing Corbin could have ever done or said to me would have ever changed that fact."

Porthos's whole expression softened at that point and D'Artangan could see how much his words had meant to his friend, though he was simply glad to see some of the guilt vanish from his dear friend's eyes.

"Unless of course you let Athos drink all of our wine" D'Artangan jested.

Before Porthos could respond past a smile the door to the room entered and a cheery looking Aramis entered, followed by Athos who raised his signature eyebrow to his brothers "There's wine?"

This time Porthos couldn't stop the booming laugh that escaped him as he stood – ruffling D'Artangan's hair as he went, and walked over to his saddlebags before pulling out bottle Lady Helena had gifted them, what seemed like years ago now.

Settling themselves around D'Artangan's bedside they passed the bottle between them whilst engaging in lighthearted banter – all thoughts of the last several days gone from their minds as they simply reveled in their reunited family.

THE END