Cosette hated being in Athos' room and looking through all his things. Honestly, he was the most unorganized man she had ever seen in her life. His room was a complete and utter mess. Papers were scattered around the room and dirty dishes were on the desks. Okay, it was two plates and a cup, but it was still rather unsanitary. She walked over to the desk, where she found a pile of letters and split them up and gave to the others. Holding one, Cosette skimmed it over multiple times. Why would Athos not want to help his own people?

As soon as she showed her comrades the piles of paper and the letter she found, they called in Treville.

"Bills?" Treville wondered.

"A letter, from the estate of the Comte de la Fère asking Athos to return," Cosette answered. She gave a look to Porthos and held out the letter for him and Aramis to see with his own eyes.

"All in the same hand," Aramis said. "Signed by an innkeeper at Pinon. 'We are in desperate need of your protection. We entreat you to return to us and honour the responsibility of your family.'"

" There's your answer, then. Family business. Nothing to do with us. I have work to do. You should try it sometime."

Cosette's mouth dropped. She quickly stood in front of her godfather. "But that is what Athos is. Family, Uncle. You know that better than anyone. So technically, his business is our business." She missed the impressive looks of Porthos and Aramis and continued. "Now, Pinon is only a day's ride away. We could just check. Unless you'd rather stay here, shoveling, well, you know..."

"Surely anything's better than that?" Aramis said, putting his hand on Cosette's shoulder to stop her from saying a swear word. It took a while but Treville looked at his goddaughter and sighed.

"All right. I'll ride with you, but as a comrade, not your commanding officer."

"Whatever you say, Captain," Cosette said with a smile.

Usually, there was nothing to worry about for Cosette when she returned to the country side. However, she and her friends were immediately alarmed when they heard commotion coming from Pinon. And by commotion, Cosette meant by the sound of guns being fired. They quickly rode to the village, seeing an oncoming storm of mercenaries. this was what they were all worried about.

However, the mercenaries were already running out of the village, and the Musketeers were all over Athos. After attending to his wounds, Athos gave his family the cold shoulder and it didn't sit well with Cosette that he was thinking about leaving these people to their fates.

"Athos," Cosette said. "Give up your title if it makes you happy. I mean that. But think about these people. They live on your land. They need your help."

"I have nothing to offer them," Athos muttered before turning to leave.

"If I didn't know you better," Porthos said, blocking Athos' escape and giving his friend a scowl, "I'd say that sounded cowardly."

"Get out of my way," the older man hissed.

"The Athos I know always fights against injustice. Wherever he finds it."

"Not here. Not this time."

Cosette's blood boiled. Why did Athos have to be so stubborn? It was because of Milady's influence over Athos that caused him to act like this. This and her secret.

"I thought Milady's influence over you was done," Cosette hissed. Athos stopped and glared at her but Cosette continued even when he continued walking away from her. "Let this happen and they become her victims too." She nearly cried but Cosette let it tone down as she continued fallowing him. "Athos, these people have no other protection. Only us."

Athos stopped and grabbed Cosette's shoulders. "This is not your fight, Cosette!" He shook her shoulders, causing Cosette to slightly cower in fear and Porthos and Aramis watching the two arguing with each other. "You may be a Musketeer, but you're just a girl misplaced in this world and you don't understand how this world works! And neither do you do with any of this," he gestured to the people and the village. "I can barely protect you! So, what makes you think I can protect the people. "

"It is our fight," Porthos interrupted before things got tense between Athos and Cosette. "Now."

"And I like it here," Aramis said. Athos glared at his brothers and then at Cosette. He shook his head and got on his horse. Porthos and Aramis moved out of the way to prepare to save the innkeeper's daughter.

"Athos!" Cosette shouted. She was tempted to run after him but Porthos put his hand on her shoulder.

"Don't Cosette, just let him go," Porthos muttered to her and Cosette stood there, unsure what to do now. However, Aramis already had ideas in his head. He and Porthos were going on a recon mission to see if they could find the inn-keeper's daughter.

"I should go with you," Cosette insisted. Porthos and Aramis stopped and looked at her sympathetically.

"We know you do, Cos, but the fewer on patrol, the better," Aramis said. However, he really didn't want to risk Cosette's life. If they were caught, then Cosette would be discovered as a young woman and seeing how they took Jeanne, it would be far worse.

"Besides, that Renard man will take advantage of you if we were captured." Cosette nodded in understanding. She went to join Treville, and was automatically appalled at how little weapons the people of Pinon had. She called for Bertrand to enter the inn and he looked at her. Cosette knew he was aware of her status as a woman but that didn't seem to bother her.

"Are these really all the weapons you have?" Cosette asked. Bertrand nodded.

"You'll never beat the Baron with this," said Treville. "Not enough powder or shot to frighten the birds, let alone Renard's men. An army of scarecrows with no horses, no swords... and no firearms."

"There's more at the house," Cosette knew that voice. She looked and saw that Athos had returned. What had made him change his mind?

"How much more?" Treville wondered.

"Enough to make a fight of it."

Cosette smiled but quickly wiped it form her face when Athos returned.

"You came back."

"Do you want to get the weapons or do you want to stand here and chat?" Athos snapped.

"Are you sure?" Cosette said, aware that he was still angry with her withholding her secret.

"Without Aramis and Porthos, who else is going to keep you out of trouble?" Athos responded. Cosette smiled and went to follow Athos to his home. The last time she was here, Cosette had dragged him from the burning building and he told her of his past with Milady. It was there that Cosette had wished she told Athos she was a woman. Thinking back on it, Cosette just realized she just thought of that idea. He told her of his past, so why didn't she ever tell him her secret. Maybe, this whole fight between them would have been avoided. They had spent the whole time travelling to Athos' mansion, saying nothing. Now, they were standing at the secret door that Athos led her to.

"What made you change your mind?" Cosette asked.

"You were right, Cosette," Athos admitted. "Whatever happened here, the people of Pinon are not to blame. They shouldn't suffer because of my mistakes." He unlocked the secret door.

"Every nobleman had to raise a local militia in times of war," Athos explained as they entered the vault. "My father kept a secret armory, and I continued that tradition." He watched Cosette lift a sword and check its balance before lifting a nearby pistol and examined it. "A little battered, but just about serviceable."

"Are you talking about yourself or that pistol?" Cosette asked. She looked at Athos with a smile and the stone-cold Olivier d'Athos couldn't help but smirk at her remark.

However, their laughter and smile soon disappeared when Athos came across his brother' tomb. She closed her eyes at the sight of his birthdate. He was only twenty years old at the time of his death. Born 1605 and died in 1625. No one should have gone through with what Athos had lived with. Following their small talk, Cosette and Athos loaded all their weapons on an abandoned cart.

"That's all the gunpowder," said a voice that Cosette didn't recognize. She stopped what she was going and looked at the woman with a glare, because even from the start, Cosette disliked Catherine. Cosette felt that she would have hated her before they even met. Athos saw the confused look on Cosette.

"Cosette, allow me to introduce my late brother's betrothed, Catherine De Garouville," Athos said. Catherine raised an eyebrow.

"If you are a girl, why are you dressed like a man?" Catherine asked, looking at the girl skeptically.

"Because, she's/I'm..." Athos and Cosette spoke at the same time. They tried coming up with a cover story but nothing came out.

"Is she a traveler?" Catherine asked. "Or is she another bitch who deceived you as well?"

Cosette glared at the woman. She had no manners whatsoever.

"No, Catherine, she's my friend," Athos and Cosette were angered that Catherine called the young woman that. The elder woman accepted that answer but she couldn't help but look at Athos with disdain.

"From the Comte de la Fère to a common soldier. It makes no sense."

"It makes sense to me. More than anything else."

" So, you are going to fight Renard."

"Come with us. You'll be better off with the other villagers," Athos said. Cosette was surprised he was being soft with late Thomas' fiancée, because she practically called her a bitch.

" Don't confuse me with them. I wasn't born to this life."

"Forgive me. I was simply thinking of your safety."

"I can look after myself." Catherine hissed. Cosette couldn't help but agree with Catherine. Athos had been doing the exact same thing for Cosette. It just took her that long to realize it.

"There's one thing you should know," said Athos. Catherine stopped moving and looked at Athos. "My wife is still alive. She lives in Paris, mistress to the King."

Catherine, in her anger, turned and slapped Athos.

"She destroyed all my hopes, she ruined your life, and yet she still breathes! What kind of a man of honour do you call yourself?"

Catherine stormed off, ignoring Cosette's glares.

"It never ends," said Athos. "I should have gone when I had the chance."

"If you did, you'd never have forgiven yourself," Cosette's muttered to herself. Athos heard her and snapped.

"You think you know me, but you don't," Athos hissed. He sat up next to Cosette. "Just drive the damn cart."

Following that, Cosette, couldn't help but feel upset that her and Athos relationship was falling apart. After they had retrieved Jeanne and a winning fight with Baron Renard, they had left Bertrand in charge of Pinon, with Athos making hims wear not to call for him again. Of course, Cosette couldn't help but think back at Catherine, who swore vengenace and had gone off to kill Milady. However, they would worry about it later.

All the way to Paris, the family was silent. Mostly, it was Cosette's constant worrying that caused her to feel the intensity between her and Athos. Things were just going to be tense between them now.