"Just remain with us," says Aramis, lifting up on an elbow. Athos' words are not what he most desires to hear, but neither are they what he most fears - that Athos will leave them. He convinced Porthos that he could be a good father, Aramis might work the same magic with Athos, yet. Even if he cannot, so long as Athos does not abandon them to their mad hopes, he and Porthos can survive.

He traces the chain around Athos' neck with his fingertip, leaning in to kiss the locket that hangs beneath it. "All this time, that's been enough." And now Athos trusts them with more, more than even Aramis has dared to dream of - surely all is possible if Athos has begun to hope again. "Trust us to look after you.