Overlooking the scenic skyline of Roma was the Castel Sant'Angelo- the fortress that was currently the residence of the Borgia.

Scaling the walls was a daunting and tiring task but nothing would hold back Ezio Auditore as he quickly scaled it, keeping himself focused on his mission. This was the second time he was infiltrating the Castello, after he decided to spare Rodrigo's life many years ago.

This time his mission wasn't to assassinate, but something else entirely. He had to do what he had to and no guard would stop him. Below him the guards patrolled tirelessly and complained about how cold the night was.

Ezio felt a shiver run through him as the breeze swept over him. His hands were numb despite the leather gloves he had worn and he longed to reach the window above him as soon as possible before he froze to death.

Taking a deep breath, he gazed up at the inky sky and the hundreds of stars twinkling. A smile spread on his face. She loved gazing at the stars. The thought of her, gave him the energy to quickly clamber the ledges and make his way to the window.

It was open, just as he knew it would be. Ezio jumped over the sill and stepped into the carpeted bedroom.

You're finally here." She said in her husky voice. "I've been expecting you."

"I know. I received your letter." He replied, unable to take his eyes off the beautiful woman that was sitting in front of the mirror. She had her long hair left loose and had dressed herself in a flowing white lacy gown.

Ezio couldn't wait another second longer. He went up to her as she slowly got up, the lust evident in her wide greenish-blue eyes. Taking her in his arms, he lowered his head and kissed her softly. His hands moved up to the side of her face and caressed her soft velvety skin.

She moaned, then clutched his hand and pulled him away. "I missed you." She said, with her eyes still closed.

Ezio moved to kiss her again, but she pulled away and turned. "I know why you're actually here."

Ezio took a deep breath to clear away the jumble of thoughts that were clogging his brain. Whenever he was with her, he could think of nothing else and especially what he was.

"It can wait. I trust she's fine." He told her.

She smiled sadly at him. "She is. I made sure of that. Although it was difficult keeping my brother's hands off her."

Ezio stepped forward and pulled her back into his arms. "Lucrezia." He breathed softly. "You have no idea…"

"Aren't you going to save her?" she said.

Ezio let his lips rest on her forehead. "I will. I want to share this moment with you. You have no idea what difficulties I've faced in coming here."

"I know." Lucrezia said and put her arms around him while resting her head on his chest. "I just want this all to be over and for us to be together."

"Easier said than done." Ezio said ruefully. He combed his fingers through her rich blonde hair and then stroked her arms. "He hasn't been troubling you I hope?"

Lucrezia pressed herself closer to him. "It has been difficult." She said and her voice quivered just a bit. "Cesare knows no boundaries. Of late, he has been distracted, but I fear whenever he turns his attention to me."

"I've been keeping him distracted." Ezio chuckled. "The more distracted he is, the more time he'll spend time away from you."

"Grazie." Lucrezia said breathlessly and looked up at him. "I haven't been able to learn the location of the Apple yet."

"Where could he be hiding it?" Ezio said, dropping his hands.

"I've searched his room." Lucrezia said. "It's not there and I don't think my father knows where it is either."

Ezio put a loving hand on her cheek and she grasped it. "I don't want you to put yourself in danger for me."

"I'm not." She said. "I'm doing what is right. Now go. You must save Caterina. The Assassins need her."

Ezio kissed her again, this time with unbridled passion. When they broke away for breath, he looked at her bed eagerly.

Lucrezia smiled. "Not tonight, mio amore."

Ezio kissed her cheek and turned to leave.

"Aspetta!" she said. Taking the key from the drawer of her desk she came up to him. "Forgetting something?"

Ezio looked at the key she was holding and took it. "Arriverdici. For now." He said and then headed towards the door to go in search of Caterina.

*/*/*/*/*/*

Claudia Auditore wasn't looking forward to taking a stroll in the middle of a cold night, but when she received the letter, she couldn't stop herself from not going. Instead of ignoring the note and tossing and turning in her bed, she convinced herself it was best to just go and meet him.

So making sure that she wouldn't be seen, she crept out of the Rosa in Fiore and headed towards the bridge where she was told he would be waiting.

Her conscience told her that she wasn't doing the right thing and if Ezio found out, he would never forgive her. Worse, he would hate her. But she couldn't help herself. It was wrong, but she was also helpless.

Tonight would be the last time she would meet him, she promised herself. After tonight, she would have nothing to do with him. Pulling her dark cloak tighter around her, she shivered as the winds brushed against her.

Claudia stopped when she saw the bridge ahead. She could go back. She could pretend she never received the note and she could go on with her life. Her heart ached with this decision and she almost turned away, when she saw a shadow standing under the bridge.

Claudia shivered again, but this time it wasn't because of the cold winds. Wringing her hands, she walked faster, hoping her body would generate some heat as she did. When he pulled himself further into the shadows, she stopped and turned away once again.

At this time of night, there wasn't anyone around her. It was too cold for even the drunks of this city to roam around and the men looking for courtesans had already made their way to the brothel, right after sunset.

He must have noticed her hesitation, for he stepped out just a bit to show the rich red coat he wore that was woven with silk threads. The leather boots he wore were expensive too and she regretted that he was standing in a muddy path.

Well, it served him right! After what he did, mud on his shoes was not punishment enough. She let the anger draw her forward and confront him.

"Why did you call for me?" she asked, making sure he heard the anger in her voice, loud and clear.

He reached out for her arm and pulled her into the shadows with him. Claudia gasped as he made contact with her skin and all her memories of him came rushing in. She had been so happy when she had met him first. How was she to know what her destiny had laid in store for her?

It took some time for her eyes to adjust to the sudden darkness, but when they did, she could see that he hadn't changed much. He still wore his hair the same way and he still carried the same arrogant candor that he always did.

"Would you believe me if I said, I missed you?" he drawled.

He was mocking her. How dare he!

She reached out her hand to slap him, but he caught it and pulled her forward so that she was pressed against his hard chest.

"Don't you dare!" she threatened when she saw his eyes gleam.

He dared. Lowering his head, he captured her lips in a passionate kiss that left Claudia burning with much more than rage. Her body was betraying her and she hated that. Her hands were reaching out to pull him closer and her lips were parting to deepen the kiss.

She hated it all and forced herself to remember all the bad things he had done. In her memory, she heard a gunshot and that finally made her push away from him.

"You bastardo! I hate you!" she screamed.

He clamped a hand over her mouth. "Shh! We don't want everyone to know that I am here."

Claudia pushed away his hands and took a few more steps back. "Why? Is the great Cesare Borgia, afraid? That's not what you used to claim."

Cesare laughed. "I just don't want my enemies to know yet that I am here."

"You mean my brother." Claudia scoffed. "I hope he does find you! I hope he kills you!"

"Now, now, caro." Cesare said and put his hand on her cheek that Claudia slapped away. " You don't really mean that."

"I do!" Claudia yelled and then lowered her voice. "I didn't know you were capable of murder too. Deception, treachery, si. But murder? You used me and you killed the man who was like a father to me." She clenched her hands. "And for that, I'll never forgive you."

"Come now, Claudia." Cesare said in the same seductive voice that had seduced her in the first place. "You remember how things used to be between us. We were in love and we had planned a future. Together."

"That was before I realized who you were. If I had known that you were the son of Rodrigo Borgia…"

"Si, si, you would have never even spoken to me." Cesare said. "Let bygones be bygones, shall we? We can continue from where we left off."

Claudia glared at him. "Have you lost your mind? I never want to see you again! You charged into my city and shot my uncle at pointblank." She said, aware that she was close to crying. "If you ever come near me again, I'll tell Ezio everything and he'll kill you like the dog you are!"

Cesare seemed unmoved by her speech. "Such harsh language." He said, sardonically.

"Here's some more. Fottiti!" Claudia said through gritted teeth.

To her annoyance, Cesare gave another laugh. "I suppose, now that you run a brothel, it was inevitable you would learn such foul language. Needless to say, it makes you look even sexier. "

Claudia turned on her heels and started to walk away. Clearly arguing with him was futile. She would never see him again, even though her heart would ache every time she would say that or hear his name. She would do everything she could to subdue her feelings for him.

"Claudia, un momento!" Cesare jogged behind her.

"Aren't you afraid someone might see you?" she said acidly.

"I don't care." He said, taking her arm to stop her. "Just hear me out. Give me another chance."

"Never!" Claudia said and pulled away from him.

"What if I tell you that your uncle is alive?" Cesare asked.

Claudia stopped in her tracks. "What?" She turned around slowly and studies his face. Was he lying?

Cesare seemed relieved that she had stopped. "Your Uncle Mario is alive."

"Liar!" Claudia said. "I can't believe you would lie to me about that. I saw you point your gun at his head. I saw you shoot him!"

Cesare shook his head. "I did shoot, but not at his head."

Claudia swallowed. "Wh-what? You're lying."

"I had to do it in front of my men." Cesare said. "But do you actually believe I would kill the man who meant so much to you?"

"You're lying." Claudia said, starting to cry.

Cesare walked right up to her and wiped away a tear and then caressed her cheek. "Do you think I'm lying to you?"

Claudia gazed up at his dark eyes. She had known Cesare for a long time and knew when he was lying. There was always that twitch in his nose, the pull on his lips that would tell her that he was lying. She saw none of those signs now.

"You just got better at lying." She told him, pointedly.

Cesare let his thumb graze her bottom lip. "I swear to you that I am not lying. Your uncle is alive and I am keeping him hidden."

"Why?" Claudia asked, staring into the depths of his dark eyes. He had to be lying. He just had to be.

"I can't reveal all my secrets now can I?" He said, his lips closer to hers.

"Then take me to him." Claudia said her voice a whisper.

Cesare straightened. "I can't do that either."

"Then you're lying." Claudia said and stepped back. "I don't believe you."

He looked hurt by her admission, but he controlled his expressions again. "I had to keep him." He said. "He's my insurance against the Assassins."

Claudia shook her head and more tears rolled down her cheeks. "You are such a bastardo!"

"I know." Cesare shrugged. "But I can't walk away from what I truly am."

"But I can walk away from you." Claudia said.

"You could." Cesare said. "But I promise you that you would never learn the location of where I've hidden your uncle."

Claudia looked away and bit her lip. There was just a tiny chance that Cesare was telling her the truth. Should she risk it?

"Bene." Claudia said, after a while. "What do you want in exchange of my Uncle?"

"You know exactly what I want." Cesare grinned.