The sky was finally clear after two days of none stop rain. The sun was out; the weather a perfect mild temperature; small white clouds against a bluer than blue sky. Yes, today would have been perfect, If not for a certain hooded gang. See this hooded gang called themselves, of all ironies, - The Hooded Gang – have gotten it in their heads it would be a good idea to hold the Pope hostage in the grand cathedral and demanding the King pay a fortune to get him back. The musketeer garrison has all but empty out in order to take them out. We entered the cathedral from the catacombs and have nearly gotten all the man subdued. We are spread out to different levels to make sure we get all of them. D'artagnan and I are at the very top were the giant bell is that rings to signal time for mass and other things. The floor shape is square with four columns holding the roofs up with timbers in the ceiling holding the bell and a small staircase in the center of the floor. We have to be careful as we fight for there are no walls but it hasn't been a problem at least not for me and my little brother. We have beaten three the five people up here.

"Ahh, just look at that view D'art! Isn't it just magnificent?" Aramis says quite cheerfully while parrying his opponent's sword. Chancing a quick glance out the side of his eye checking on D'artagnan but there was no need to worry he was having no difficulties fighting his foe.

"Yes, truly breathtaking. We must make sure Athos and Porthos see it before we leave again. Though I doubt Athos will like it as much as the rest of us he doesn't really care for heights." D'art replied back with laughter clear in his voice. The members of the hooded gang were very annoyed with their chatter but couldn't find a pause in the fighting to say anything back. It was taking all their concentration to hold back the musketeers.

"Ha-ha ha-ha, to true about poor Athos but I'm sure we can rope him into coming up here before we all head back down." With that Aramis thrust past his enemy's guard and landed a fatal hit in the chest. He then turned to look where is precious baby brother was a few feet away and saw him getting close to the edge. At the sight he felt a slight worried tinge. "Come now, stop playing around we need to see what is keeping our dear brothers so long."

"As you wish, Mis." D'art sent his opponent's sword flying out of his hand and over the ledge before knocking him out. "There all done." It was at that time he made step forward to go towards Aramis when his foot slid in a small patch of water. As he slid he hit his head on one of the columns hard. The knock was so hard it dazed him and he went to slightly sideways and backwards over the edge.

"Nooooo, D'artagnan!" Aramis shouted from the very depths of his soul. 'Please let me be on time. Lord, don't let me lose him'. Aramis threw himself down just in time to catch D'artagnan's hand. D'artagnan hung there limp swaying a tiny bit in the wind, eyes closed. Aramis felt a lump in his throat from the rising panic at the sight. "D'artagnan! D'artagnan! Open your eyes! Look at me!" A groan made it up to Aramis. He could see D'art slowly lift his head eyes slightly unfocused. "That's it, good. Now I need you to focus and grab my hand." D'artagnan's eyes come into focus catching something over Aramis's left shoulder before becoming round in horror. One of the gang members had come around and was holding a word over Aramis.

"He-he well, don't this beat all. I get to kill me two musketeers for the price of one." The man gloated slowly raising the sword above his head. 'Shite, What d I do? My pistol isn't loaded anymore; I can't get my sword without letting go of D'artagnan. Think. There must be something!' It was at that moment D'art jerked him out of his thoughts.

"Mis, let me go." Mis could hear the calm in his voice and everything in him rebelled. He violently shook his head. The swordsman held the blade above his head.

"Say your last goodbyes." A manic gleam in the villain's eyes.

"Hold on, do you hear me?! Jut hold on. Thos and P'thos will be here any minute." Aramis pleaded and hoped at the same time. It was then D'art put his legs on the wall so his knees were bent. "D'art?"

"Thank you for everything" D'rt just replied to the questioning tone in Aramis voice love and determination shining in his eyes.

"Die!" the man shouted plunging the sword down as D'art used his legs to push against the wall; wrenching his self from his brother's grasp. He started falling. His back facing the ground, D'artagnan pulled his pistol out and almost without aiming shot the enemy between the eyes before he could finish his swing. The man toppled backwards onto the platform dead before ever touching the ground.

"Nooooooo!" Aramis screamed hand held wanting desperately to stop what was happening. But it was not to be, his precious baby brother, their heart, kept falling and there was nothing he could do. D'artagnan quickly fell from view a roof from a side adjuncting of the cathedral hiding the rest of his fall. Aramis sat back, leaning against the same column that D'art had hit his head on, knees bent up. He was numb; eyes completely void of all life. It was just like savory again. Only this was so so much worse cause there will be no coming back from this, no mending his heart back. Aramis doesn't know how long he sat like that. It could have been minutes it could have been hours. He no longer cared. When Athos and Porthos came running up the stairs. They looked around before spotting Aramis. Alarm going up when they saw the state he was in and not spotting D'art anywhere. They quickly ran to him kneeing down in front of him.

"Aramis, what happened? Where is D'artagnan?" Athos all but demanded fear making his voice sharp. Porthos put one hand on Aramis's arm offering support. Aramis didn't say anything at first just looked out over the horizon.

"Isn't it pretty? We wanted to show it to you guys?" 'Mis whispered, tears silently falling.

"Mis, what happened? Where is our brother?!" Athos yelled giving 'Mis a hard shake. Fear and Panic consuming him. 'Mis shook his head once then looked at them before looking away again unable to look them in the eyes.

"He…he fell. I couldn't save him. I promised to protect him but I still let him fall." He sobbed out; blame and self hate clear in his voice. Porthos and Athos sat back stunned. The full implication of what Aramis said slowly seeking in.

"No, No!" Athos denied curling into himself fists pounding the stone floor. Porthos buried his face in his hands and cried. They sat like that for ten minutes before they heard their captain run up out of breath.

"Huff, huff, hurg,"Captain Treville huffed bent over hands on his knees. "I am getting to old for this." He said before sraighting up. "By the way I think you boys dropped something." Treville said cheekily while jerking one thumb over his shoulder. The inserables looked at him confused. Just then another person came up the stairs huffing.

"Huff, that is a lot of stairs, huff." Athos, Porthos and Aramis eyes widened when they got a good look of who had just come up the stairs behind their captain. It was D'artagnan! They shakily walked to D'artagnan, Aramis in front disbelief in their countenance. Aramis put one hand to D'art cheek. When his hand felt the solid warm skin Aramis swiftly pulled D'artagnan into a bone crushing hug; one hand around his neck and shoulders and the other on his back. D'artagnan put his hands on Aramis's back and hugged him back just as furiously; the other inserables joining in hugging them both. Finally they pulled back but not completely letting go of each other.

"How?" Aramis asked.

"That would be me," Treville spoke up. "I was on a small balcony finishing up my fight when I see this pup," Treville points his finger at D'art, "falling out of the sky. So naturally I grab him when he gets close to me." He says it all calmly like not seeing D'art falling nearly gave him a heart attack and filled him with panic trying to catch the boy. Oh, no Treville says it like it was the easiest thing in the world. No one believed him.

"Thank you, Captain. Thank you so much," Aramis thanked him deep deep gratitude dripping of every word; Athos and Porthos parroting Aramis giving their own thanks. "And you young man are to never ever scare me like that again. Do you hear me?" Aramis glared at D'artagnan with no real heat in it.

"Yes, I hear you," D'artagnan hugged Aramis again. "but I'm not sorry I would do it again if it meant saving you."

"I know and that scares me. You are too precious to us for that to happen. I swear I won't lose you again. Next time I will protect you." Aramis told D'artagnan conviction ringing in his voice.