Chapter 1

Reunion

Ziio

I smile as I watched my son fumble around the longhouse. He's as tall as my knee and had skin dark like mine. His black raven hair flew around his face in different directions. He had his father's eyes though. My smile slowly fades. Haytham. It's been three years ever since he left me. Since he left us. I wonder if he ever even loved me. Maybe it was pity that he felt for me.

"Mother, what's wrong?" My son frowns and looks at me with concern. We converse in our native language. He stops trying to dance and runs to me hugging my knees. My smile returns as the loss of his father is replaced with my son's love.

"Nothing, my child." I kneel on the floor to kiss his cheek. "Now go and look for Kanen'to:kon. He came here looking for you while you were still sleeping."

"But mother, you seem sad!" Ratonhnhake:ton continued to cling to me.

"It is nothing. No go." I push my son's back gently so he would leave. When he walks out the door I frown again. Ratonhnhake:ton has always clung to me. Maybe it's because he grows every day without a father. I'm the only family he knows. I fear the day my son has to leave me. I know he never will if he has a choice.

I also walk out of the longhouse and look around the village. A few families are already out by the fires talking. The morning sun's warmth brushes my skin and comforts me. I see some women sitting by the fire and weaving clothes for their family. I sit down next to one and join.

"Hello, Kaniehti:io." Zitkala greets me.

"Hello, Zitkala." I acknowledge her as I pick up some animal skin and start tinkering with it.

"There's been word of a strange man roaming around our village walls." Zaltana, Zitkala's sister, whispers. She's married to Bagwunagijik, whom keeps watch amongst the village's outskirts.

"Strange man?" I repeat. I almost drop the animal skin. Strange man? "What do you mean, Zaltana?"

"He's one of those Englishmen." Zitkala says with a hint of hatred in her voice. Englishmen. Strange Englishman.

"Haytham." His name escapes my lips without my consent. The two women look at me as if I've gone mad.

"Don't speak his name!" Zaltana warns me as she puts a finger on my lips to hush me up.

"Haytham? The father of Ratonhnhake:ton?" Zitkala looks confused. Ever since we were little, Zaltana, Zitkala, and I used to play together in the woods. The boys of the village would tease us for being adventurous unlike the other young girls. Ever since, they've been the closest to me. They know about Haytham and how he left. They know the pain he caused me. But for some reason my heart skips a beat when I think of the chance that Haytham could be here. Maybe even looking for me. I know my friends fear for me. They don't like Haytham for what he's done to me and my son.

"Excuse me, I have to go." I quickly place the animal skin down as I start to run out of the village.

"Don't do it!" I hear my friends' warning but I continue to run. I have to see for myself. I reach the village walls when I see Bagwunagijik, Zaltana's husband.

"Hello, Kaniehti:io" Bagwunagijik smiles and greets me. "What brings you here? Some men have already gone hunting."

"Where is the Englishman?" I ask. I don't have time for small talk. I need to see for myself. My question seems to take Bagwunagijik aback. "Where is the Englishman?" I repeat, but louder.

"I haven't seen him today yet. It is still early in the morning. He usually comes walking around here around noon. He doesn't do harm so I leave him be. He's been spotted around the north side of forest right near the valley numerous times." Bagwunagijik speaks slowly as if still processing my demand.

"Thank you." I nod briefly then run to the north side of the forest. The trees stand in my way as if guarding me from my fate. "I know what I'm doing." I whisper to the trees as I dart through the forest. It's been a while since I've been carefree like this running outside the village. I miss this life. The animals run with me as if encouraging me to press on. The wind runs through my braids and dress. I feel the feather on the back of my head tickle my neck. I forget looking for Haytham for a second and just enjoy the nature. I close my eyes, suck in the sweet air, and spin around being one with my surroundings.

"Are you touched in the head?" I hear a man with a slight English accent ask me. I freeze in place with my eyes still closed. I feel my stomach drop to my feet. When I open my eyes either way my life will change. If it isn't the man I seek, I will be disappointed. I do not know exactly what I hoped for. My friends will think I'm crazy for still loving him. I do not even know what I want anymore. If it is Haytham, I do not even know how I will or should react. My heart wants to kiss him again. To hold him. To touch him. To love him. My heart wants him to come back to me and live with us and raise Ratonhnhake:ton. But my mind tells me differently. My senses tell me to forget him and walk away right now. My mind tells me to stop dreaming a dream that will never come true.

Before I could open my eyes I feel somebody gently pull me into an embrace and brush their lips against mine. So it is him. Tears start to well up in my eyes as he kisses me. I kiss him back with all that I have. His absence has taken too much of a toll on me. He's the only man I've ever loved. My hands feel for his cape. His grey hair tied in a ribbon. His familiar tipped hat. It's all there.

But my heart has had it's content. Now I regain my wisdom. I ball my hands into fists and punch his shoulder. This seems to surprise him, but he still holds onto me. I use my leg to knee him where it hurts. I hear him fall to the floor in pain. I finally open my eyes to check for sure. It's true. It's Haytham. It's my Haytham. And I just injured him.

"How dare you!" I scream at him. "Explain yourself." I plant myself on top of him to restrain him as I did with General Washington before he could kill Haytham.

"Ziio, please." His eyes meet mine, but my gaze does not waver. My resolve is clear. The love depleted from my heart and is replaced with anger. We stay staring at each other until he finally nods. He understands me. "I left the Templars." He said in one swift breath.

"Left the Templars?!" I scream at him again, "That's the most absurd thing I've heard. That's the only thing you've ever cared about. It was obviously evident when you decided to leave me and our son for your Templars."

"No, Ziio" He speaks my name with affection and sadness, "you're wrong. I care about you as well. That's why I left." He uses one hand to brush my cheek. I look into his eyes again. I remember clearly seeing the dark hunger in the eyes of the man I loved. But it isn't there anymore. Now it's replaced with sadness and regret. My grip on his falters for a moment, but I regain strength quickly.

"I'm taking you as a prisoner to our village." I make my decision. I grab him by the collar and drag him back up.

"Prisoner? On what terms? I've done nothing!" That's the way I remember Haytham. I turn around and see the Haytham I remember for a second, but it quickly fades away to the empty man in front of me. I glare at him until he stops resisting.

"On my terms." I snarl as I drag him to our village. On the way there he doesn't say anything. In fact, he doesn't resist at all. I don't even have to have my hand on him for assurance. He walks behind me with content.

"You do know we have a son." I say as we get closer to the village. He stops walking and taps my shoulder so I could look at him.

"How is he?" He looks like he's about to cry. I do not know this man. This man is empty. He doesn't have an ounce of rage in him. I do not know if I miss the old Haytham or not. Where is the man that stole my heart?

"He's two years old." I quickly look ahead of me again and continue walking. "He grows up each day without knowing what it is to have a father. Because you left." Haytham gets silent again. Neither of us dare to speak until we reach the village.

As I pass the village walls, the villagers stare at us. They each look wide-eyed with their mouth forming a solid "O". Some of the children look scared. I look around for Ratonhnhake:ton. Good. If I don't see him, he doesn't see Haytham. I don't plan on showing him Haytham until I fully trust him. No, that's wrong.

"I never should've trusted you." I speak again.

"I know." He whispers.

Will Ziio ever trust Haytham again? Why or how did Haytham "leave" the Templars? Will Ziio show Haytham Connor? Can they become the family we all want to happen?

And that's it! Cliff hanger! (kind of)… So thank you for reading! If it's a little sloppy it's because I'm soooo tired but I really wanted to write this before it escaped my mind. Anyways please review and tell me if I should continue! I'm currently doing two other fanfics right now and if this one doesn't get so much feedback I'll just cancel it…