Sorry if this is rushed, time is stuffed up and overall crappy. Do tell and I will edit. I've just been here, there and every where lately. I could give you a run down, but it would take to long.

So, thank you to all who reviewed/alerted this. I was just like WHOA PEOPLE LIKE THIS?! I MAY HAVE TO UPDATE NOW! Yeah, pressure was on.

Excuse el Crappiness, and try and find the good in this.

Reviews are loved, flames adored.

Do not own.

They hit a bumpy patch on the road and the carriage bounced, keeping Elda elevated for a few beats.

She sat back down and grumbled. She made herself comfortable again, trying to keep as entertained as possible in an attempt to stop from having a tantrum.

It seemed Ezio was the type of person to still charm women no matter how tired, and convinced her not only to be stowed away in a carriage, but to come to Florence. Live there for a while and work for him – one way or another. But that was nearly three weeks ago, and until he had sent word of the all clear, she could not leave her villa and venture out to him.

Elda moved the curtain slightly to stare out at the countryside. A smile graced her lips as they passed a group of children who waved. She waved back, her smile widening as the children started laughing and waving harder.

"My lady, if you will …" her maid murmured quietly.

The smile fell from Elda's face as she dropped the curtain back to its original position, hiding them away once more from the world and its eyes.

Her maid smiled lightly, in an apologetic way. Elda waved it off and sighed, tilting her head back to stare up. She imagined the sky, with the sun just reaching the middle.

"What will we be doing in Florence, if you do not object to me asking …?"

Elda looked back down. "I do not know myself. Auditore failed to mention anything worth knowing or remotely specific."

She shrugged. "I do not want to go out much, so you will be making runs for me. That is, if you do not mind."

"My lady, it would be my honour."

Elda shook her head, smiling. "Fiorella, do not call me 'my lady'. We are not in the company that expects that anymore."

The little girl shifted uncomfortably. "But, my lady, it is expected of my class."

Elda clicked her tongue. "Yes, your class … we talked about that. When we get to Florence, you are to appear as my younger sister."

Fiorella opened her mouth to object, but Elda held a hand up.

"If it makes you feel better, when safely inside you can refer to me as higher, but in public, nothing of the sort shall leave your mouth. Is that clear?"

Fiorella looked as if she was to object, but nodded, her mouth twisting into an unhappy frown. At that look, they seemed to resemble each other.

It was a perfect plan, and Elda knew that there had to be a fault somewhere.

A sound of hooves hitting the ground roughly came to the attention of both and Elda's spine stiffened. She looked out the window once more, and her anxiety left her body slowly. They were outside Florence now. They had made it safely.

She calmed herself as best she could, telling herself that she was safe.

The carriage door opened and Elda smiled as best she could, letting a young boy help her out. He remained stony-faced.

But she noticed with humour that he seemed to soften as he helped Fiorella out. She blushed prettily and Elda laughed quietly.

She turned to face the large gates, scanning them closely. They seemed to be left open at any old time of the day.

"I see you made it in one piece. Did I not promise that?"

Elda sighed and turned her attention to a hooded man walking towards her. She could see that familiar smile, and felt that familiar warmth in her stomach.

"Ezio," she greeted nearly curtly, with a quick nod of her head.

He bowed lowly, and it seemed almost mocking.

"And you treat every woman like this?"

Ezio laughed and paid the man for his services. "Hardly, my dear. You just think that everything is going to kill you, one way or another."

Elda narrowed her eyes, arms crossing over her chest.

Her luggage was piled at her feet, Ezio easily lifting the items off the back of the carriage.

"I say travel lightly. You do this in spite of me."

"I am so glad you caught on."

Fiorella watched the exchange with much humour. She walked over to her lady, beckoning her down with a wave of her hand.

"You too do get on famously, my lady," she whispered.

Elda did not seem happy with this and pursed her lips. Ezio noticed the change in her attitude and did not think it wise to provoke her. The young boy helped carry a few of the lighter bags, and they set off into Florence, Ezio walking ahead with a stride so large, Elda was nearly jogging to catch up.

They reached a tall building in less than fifteen minutes. Ezio placed the bags her had in his hands down, and rummaged through his pockets to find a key. Elda looked around, taking note of anything in particular that would help her remember this particular place.

She noticed a particular house that seemed to stand out from the rest. It had a great brick wall around it, ending opposite her with an iron gate that was slightly ajar.

"Who lives there?" she asked just before Ezio opened the door.

"Where?" he asked as he unlocked the door and threw it open.

"Across from where I am standing."

He turned, and frowned. Elda looked at him, and saw a pain in his eyes she had not noticed earlier.

"A family who was torn apart."

Elda turned and lifted the bags off of the boy. She paid him for his services and he raced off. Fiorella took a few of the bags into her own hands, and walked in.

"It is rather dusty, is it not?" she asked, walking in.

Elda followed, giving Ezio an apologetic glance. He shrugged.

Elda then studied the house. It was in need of repair, and looked as though it had not been touched in years. But, she felt somewhat safer.

"I have had people working on the upper floor, in preparation for you. The lower level will be finished within the next few weeks."

Elda turned and smiled. "Thank you, Ezio."

He shrugged again, seemingly embarrassed.

Fiorella emerged at the top of the staircase, a gleeful expression on her face. The bags from her hands were gone, and instead a lovely blue dress. She placed it against herself and twirled around. Elda frowned, thinking how she could pay him back.

Ezio read her expression wrong and sighed.

"It seems that someone likes it," he murmured, and headed up the stairs.

Elda followed, looking around.

It was quieter in the house than it was outside, letting her relax. She placed her hand on the wall opposite her, almost feeling the memories of the place. Happy families had lived in the house.

She saw Ezio emerge from one of the rooms empty-handed.

"This is the master bedroom," he said, frowning slightly, as though he had finally run out of suave things to say.

Elda walked in, her eyes widening. It was grander than her villa, with the wood polished and gleaming, and what looked like a Turkish rug laying under her feet. The rug seemed familiar, though.

"Did you pay for all this?" she asked, motioning especially towards the rug.

"Not all of it, as I may have found your villa and taken a few items from there. As well as found quite a large amount of money."

At this, Ezio withdrew a bag of gold from one of the drawers of a dresser, throwing it onto the bed. Elda shook her head smiling. She knew Angelo kept all of his money on hand; she was just waiting for someone to find the hidden treasure. And it seemed Ezio was the one with the map.

Elda turned back towards Ezio, stepping closer. Ezio watched her carefully, stepping back slowly, stopping only when his back hit the wall. She pushed back the hood, letting it fall and took in each line and curve of his face.

She smiled up at him and leaned up, kissing his cheek slowly, her eyes trained on his. Elda dragged her lips across to his other cheek, letting them lightly touch his lips. The burning in her stomach starting building, telling her to kiss him, to do things that would damn her to hell.

She ignored it, stepping back with a small smile in her lips. Ezio seemed uncomfortable, and debating something that was bothering him.

"Thank you again, Ezio," she said quietly.

Ezio looked at her, his eyes narrowing. "Not a problem."

With that, he walked away and out of the house, dropping the key on her dresser.

Also, with the house thing. How he payed for most of it should be a little bit obvious.

And, I think there will be a high possibility of a citrus fruit in the next chapter. I have a feeling that I will write one out to get the actual theme of this rolling. So early warning in case anyone has a problem with that.

AND TO ALL WHO HAVE THE GAME ON HAND, PLEASE COULD YOU FIND OUT THE YEAR THAT HE FIRST MEETS ROSA!

That would be so freaking helpful.