Hey there, this chapter's pretty long to make up for the last one. I decided that Shay needed a break so I wondered what Connor was up to. I'm not sure how many times things will change perspective but I thought it could show what else went on that day a little better. On with the story!


Connor's POV of that day.

It was awkward say the least. Mr. Cor- I mean, Shay was holding me by the chin and tilted my head up to face him. I was used to being grabbed but not in the way he did. His hold was firm but gentle and his thumb rested just a bit away from my lips. At this distance I had nothing else to look at but the features in front of me. His jaw was hard angles and his scar drew attention to his eyes. The look in them wasn't like anything I had seen before. It made my heart beat faster until it was pounding and I thought I was falling into a trance. It wasn't fear but something just as daunting building up in me as I looked in his eyes. Out of habit I instinctively reached into my coat's interior but that took all the thinking I could manage.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!"

I looked over to see Achilles. Shay said something and there was an exchange of words as I dropped the item in my hand to turn back to him. "Let's get on with business." I was embarrassed to let Achilles see me being helpless but I walked to him and tried to be discrete. "I'm sorry about that, I let things get out of hand because I was… uhm…" I couldn't tell him that I was more scared of how I reacted than what Shay did. How could I tell the man that trained men in fighting that I almost couldn't react at all? There was no way to hide the fact my face was getting red just thinking about explaining it to the old man.

He seemed to understand me without having to explain it. "Go on child, you don't have to speak of it but for now we still have work to do."

For the rest of the meeting I only spoke when I needed to. I was trying to hide my embarrassment from Achilles and the men across from me. Shay looked uncomfortable ever so often but I couldn't read him well enough to know what he was thinking. Haytham Kenway however, seemed completely unaffected by the situation. He talked calmly and had a dangerous air about him. It was the same feeling that mother gave off when she was serious and I wondered if I would develop it as well. While I knew a few things about him from when my mother was dating him I didn't know much of what happened after she ended the relationship. I wondered if he even knew I existed until now.

After what felt like an eternity of working we were out of time and Shay would finish up the last few documents. We stood to leave and Achilles asked to speak with Shay in private. Only Haytham and I were left in the conference room. Although I wanted to know all about him I couldn't think of a place to start when I had barely talked to him until this meeting.

"Your name is Connor, correct?" I missed my chance to initiate the conversation.

"Yes, what does it matter to you?"

He looked at me for a split second before broke out a smirk. "You must be Ziio's son." He was quicker than I thought he would be. Instead of bombarding me with questions he extended his hand, "Haytham Kenway, at your service."

"It's nice to finally meet you." We shook hands but it was weird. I didn't doubt this was the same man my mother talked about but he wasn't what I expected. He looked like age was creeping up on him. He was in his forties with the black and grey in his hair. Some lines were around his face but they couldn't be seen without someone paying attention to them. However, he stood strait like royalty while talking, he still had the broad chest and shoulders my mother described, the accent was correct, and he had the blue eyes my mother fell for years ago. I had to conclude this was my father. "How did you know about me?"

"Your mother called me a few days ago. I hear you will be living with me starting tomorrow while Ziio has business in Europe. Apparently she doesn't want to burden your godfather and I turned out to be the best option." He looked like he was musing over a question but there was a small enough shake of the head to dismiss it.

"Is something wrong?" It got his attention again and he shook his head.

"She said she went through all your relatives before she called me. I tried to ask her if you were related to me but she refused to answer. Tell me, do you know who I am?"

"I know a few things about you but it's all vague. You're British, you dated my mother, you worked for this company, Achilles knew you, " I guess he wanted me to say something specific but I didn't know what. "I was hoping to learn more about you actually."

"Oh? Like what?"

"I'm not sure," that wasn't the answer he was looking for, "but there is one urgent question I have to ask."

"What is it?"

"Um… Is it," I hope I wasn't about to make a mistake, "appropriate to call you father?"

He gave a tiny laugh like he was right. I assume he figured out who I was while we were talking. "I would say so, you are my son after all." He smiled a bit and something softened in his expression, he was less intimidating then. "If you don't mind answering, would I be correct in assuming Achilles is your Godfather?"

"Yeah, I've known him since I was thirteen and mother would leave me with him when she had work that took her out of the city."

"And he made you a trade expert in charge of his company as well?" I nodded. Everyone seemed to be surprised whenever it came up. I didn't think it would be all that surprising since I did get my experience from the man who started the company.

As we walked towards the entrance we talked about what I'd need to bring and what would be at the house when I got there. I gave him my number and father said, "We'll have to keep talking later. There's a lot I need to catch up on."

I saw the old man talking with Shay about something in a low voice. "Achilles, we should go."

Father and Achilles walked to the car and I had a minute to talk with Shay. In our conversation I don't think he gave me the whole truth on why he did what he did but I wasn't going to be bothered (it's not like I could do anything to stop what someone thought) especially when he meant no harm to me. As we talked I admit, I thought he was strange but he was perceptive. I guess he knew what I had in my coat could have been dangerous but I tried to assure him it was just for safety reasons. I could see his shock and it looked so out of place on him that I cracked a smile as I left. It's understandable to be surprised by what I said but when you live how I do, you learn to conceal guns pretty well.

I got in the car on the passenger side while Achilles drove. It was going to be about thirty minutes before we got home through the countryside and the rain had started to drizzle again. The memories of today were giving way to the absentminded blur of green, tan, and brown outside the window. I was fading in and out of thought when I heard him talking to me.

"Connor, I know you can hear me."

"Oh, sorry. I was staring out the window."

"I know. What did you think of today?" I shrugged. He knew I did what I had to do without fail. "What did you think of your father?" Ah, so that's what he was getting at.

"He's alright. I didn't get to talk to him much. I guess the bad parts are that he's a bit too formal and he seems like an emotional recluse." The old man started to chuckle,

"Like father like son."

"I'm not either of those though!"

"Then why do you say 'mother' and 'father' instead of mom and dad like other people? You also don't let anyone know too much about what you feel either but hopefully you'll grow out of it."

"I had to learn it form some one! Face it old man, I got it from you," I had to have won with that comment.

"You and your sass boy"

"I am not sassy."

Even though we started to butt heads every so often we always had some that were nonsense just for fun. We bickered back and forth with jokes like that until he pulled into the driveway. The brick manor stood solemn against the grey sky but it felt more lively than when I first looked at it. I helped Achilles rebuild it from what it was back then. When it was all done I spent years visiting and months staying in this old house with him.

I didn't realize it until I walked though the door that I might not be doing that again for a year. Although Achilles said I was more than free to visit I didn't know how far away my father lived from here or if my classes at college would keep me too busy. I would still work for him by faxing the papers and doing everything online but I would miss having the old man in the room with me.

"Hey, are you going to be living here alone again?" I knew he lived alone after his wife and his real son died. He was bitter and did nothing but stew in his worst memories. I couldn't let that come back, even if I could get to know my father better I didn't want him to relapse into that.

"Not if our little community has anything to do with it," I tried to be reassured when he said that but I still felt guilty and he picked up on it quickly. The old man turned and gave me a kind smile, "Look boy, I will be just fine living here. Besides, if I were you I'd be concerned about how your father will deal with your sneaking out and sarcastic responses."

I rolled my eyes, I always got in trouble for those things but his casual remarks were usually signs that he wasn't worried about things. "I'll deal with those things when I have to." He smiled again and walked into the study.

"I have some things to go through, in the mean time go call your mother. She must be anxious to see you."

"Alright, I'll tell her you said hello." I got out my laptop and opened up Skype. While it was signing in I put away my coat and hat and then straitened up my hair. I never really got it all settled how she wanted it but I knew how orderly it needed to be to avoid her complaining at me.

"You forgot to turn your camera on."

"Oh, sorry about that," it was a quick fix, "So where are you right now?"

"I'm laying over in Greenland. It's so quiet here it might as well be your room," I laughed and she held something up. "I got you something though," she held up a keychain in the shape of Greenland with a star where the airport was.

"You know I forgot you were sending me things from all these places."

"A mother never forgets her baby, Ratonhnhaké:ton."

"How long until you stop calling me that?" It never bothered me in private but I still poked fun at her for continuing to say that.

"No matter how much he protests being called a baby, a mother never sees him as anything else, so you'll have to deal with it." She laughed while she said those kinds of things. It must have been some deep-seated parent thing to keep your kids little in your mind. It was comforting to know she never really forgot about me no matter what she was doing. Neither of us would let things like that change, we were a tag-team after all. I was protective and she was intimidating, she would teach and I would learn, and if I fell she would catch me.

"I met father today."

"Hmm… was that a good thing or bad thing?"

"He was alright, the only awkward thing was… never mind," I was not going to tell her about Shay, "I mean he was a good guy but he was stiff and he did just learn I existed a few days ago."

"I imagine he tried and failed at saying your name?"

"I didn't tell him actually. By the way, did you not tell him I was his son?"

She sighed, "I didn't want him to know off the bat. If he knew you were his son before you moved in he might have been mad that he didn't get to plan your college experience and pick out what you did or have a stronger influence on you years ago."

The space was silent for a few seconds. She was waiting to know what I thought. "Well, I'd be a little upset too if I suddenly had a kid that nobody mentioned but I think I would still want to see him and not change who he was. Even if it was just for a while, I think we could make it work."

Mother's expression changed a bit where she wasn't smiling as much anymore but didn't have a frown. "You're always trying to find the good in people." She looked a little more satisfied with that statement, "I don't know where you got it from but I'm thankful for it."

"Well, I only had one parent so I guess it's from you" I shrugged and she laughed.

"Hey, I have to get ready to board again but I'll contact you when I land. Don't go making trouble now."

"I won't mom." That was a lie, I somehow always caused trouble.

"Mom? That's new for you. Anyways, good bye Ratonhnhaké:ton"

"Good bye." The call ended and now the room was silent again. I let it sink in that I was going to be separated from the two people who knew me the most and the home that I called a sanctuary. I didn't have much guaranteed time here but I wasn't going to be cut off from everything. I didn't know what this feeling was but I wanted to go through every inch of the woods I used to play in. I put my coat back on and opened the door to the balcony. The rain had stopped and the sun was setting. When I noticed Achille's office window was open I shouted "I'll be back before dawn!" and took off while he shouted something about disrespect and manners at me. So maybe I was already causing trouble but I think it was excusable. Besides, it might be a year until I'd annoy the old man again.


Shay and Connor? Don't know if it ships, but it's funny to watch and will likely show up again.