Act III

Jacob woke to the sound of Evie whimpering. "Evie?" he asked, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. He noticed that her nightgown had a red stain on it as did her bedsheets. She was staring at her hand, memorized by her slick red fingers.

Blood.

It was blood he realized, and he frantically looked around trying to find whomever had dared hurt his sister. "Evie… you're bleeding? Why are you bleeding? Evie?" he asked, slipping out of bed and walking towards her. Evie began to scream, tears falling down her cheeks and she crumpled to the floor. Jacob slid, catching her at the last moment and holding her tightly. He patted her body, looking for the source of the wound but finding none. "Evie, talk to me! What's going on, why are you bleeding?"

"Ja-Jacob…" she hiccupped between her tears. "Jacob, I'm scared."

"It's going to be alright, I promise," he assured her, though he felt powerless as to what to do. He glanced at the door, their father hadn't heard Evie's screams and Jacob felt nervous about going to look for him. "Is there anything in your fancy lady books about this?"

"I… I don't know…" Evie mumbled. Truth be told she found those books difficult to read, and any information about such things was disguised in vague flowery language. "Jacob don't leave me," Evie whispered, clinging to him. Jacob hugged her tightly. "It hurts Jacob."

"Hurts? What hurts?" Jacob asked. If something hurt, that could be the source of the bleeding. Wounds hurt and wounds bled, he was familiar with that.

"My stomach," Evie whispered, wrapping an arm around her lower abdomen. "It hurts Jacob."

"Shhh," Jacob whispered, giving her a quick hug. "Listen, I'm going to go get a doctor, see if you can't find Da."

"Don't go Jacob," Evie said. "I don't want to be alone."

"Evie, you're bleeding and you're in pain, you need a doctor," Jacob said, untangling himself from his sister and standing up. He stamped his feet into his boots and threw his coat on before opening the window. "Go find Da," Jacob said as he slipped out the window.

"I don't want to move," Evie grumbled, curling up into a fetal position with a soft whimper. Jacob bit his lip, torn between fetching help and staying with Evie.

"I'll be right back, Evie," he said and climbed out the window. He let go, dropping to the ground. He grunted softly, landing in a crouch before he tore off down the lane towards the doctor's house, their father nowhere in sight.

Jacob panted as he ran up the hill and banged on the door. "Dr. Hepburn! Dr. Hepburn! Dr. Hepburn!" he shouted. He glanced over his shoulder to his house before slamming his fist on the door again. "Dr. Hepburn! Open up damn you, it's my sister!"

The door opened and a bespectacled doctor with fly away grey hair stood before Jacob. "Jacob, what's all the ruckus?"

"It's my sister Dr. Hepburn," Jacob said, worry in his tone. "She's bleeding and says her stomach hurts. Please you hafta come and help her."

"Bleeding?" Dr. Hepburn mumbled.

"Yes, there's a lot of blood, gallons o' it," Jacob said, exasperated. He would not cry, he refused to cry, but the thought of a life without Evie scared him to his core. How could he live without Evie? They came into this world together and they'll leave this world together.

"Alright, alright," Dr. Hepburn said, "settle down son. Let me grab my bag and I'll be along in a moment."

Jacob nodded, waiting for the doctor to grab his things, which took a few moments. "Right," he said and grabbed the man's hand and practically dragged him back to his house.

They reached Jacob's house in short order, Ethan coming back from the early morning market. "Morning, Dr. Hepburn," Ethan said and then placed a hand on Jacob's shoulder. "Jacob, why's Dr. Hepburn here?" he whispered to his son.

"It's Evie, Da!" Jacob said, "She's bleeding buckets and she's in pain. Her stomach hurts and I don't know what to do."

"Bleeding?" Ethan said, eyes growing a bit wide. Ethan sighed, cursing colorfully. "Jacob, I want you to take this and put it in the house, I'm going to take Dr. Hepburn back to his home and then go get Mrs. Pumpernickle."

"How is Mrs. Pumpernickle gonna help Evie, Da? Evie needs a doctor! Not that old church-bell."

"Jacob, you will do as I say," Ethan hissed, handing his shopping to his son. "Now go," Ethan said. Jacob glared at his father before entering the house and putting the groceries on the table and rushing up the stairs taking them two at a time. He skidded to a halt at the door to their room and opened it.

"Evie?" Jacob asked, coming to his sister's still form. She hadn't moved from her curled up position on the floor. "Evie?" he asked again, as he knelt and pulled her into an embrace.

"Jacob… where's the doctor?" Evie whispered, arms wrapped tightly around her stomach.

"Da is taking him back home, then he's going to get Mrs. Pumpernickle," Jacob said, hugging her tightly. "You feeling any better?"

"No," Evie grumbled. "Why can't a doctor do? Why do I need to see Mrs. Pumpernickle?"

"I don't have the foggiest idea," Jacob said. "Don't worry, Evie. I'm sure everything will be sorted out." Jacob assured her before running his fingers through her long hair. Evie whimpered softly, snuggling closer to him. "Remember that one time you beat up Danny Hext. He clocked me in the face and I went down, you got so mad at him that you clobbered him good. And the next day he came to you with a punch of daisies says his mum told him he had to apologize to you."

Evie giggled weakly. "Aye," she said, "I remember. I think he was sweet on me after that, always sided with me in any argument and tried to convinced everyone else to side with me too." Evie looked up at her brother, a pain filled grin on her face. "I think that was the first time I saved your arse."

"Haven't the foggiest clue whatcha talkin' about Evie," Jacob said. Evie snorted and shook her head. "But, I've saved you plenty of time."

"Alright?" Evie said, "Name one time you've managed to save me."

"Uhm…" Jacob frowned, trying to think. "Oh," he said, "Edmund Calbert, remember him? Big meaty fella?"

"The one with the fat face and rocks for brains?"

"Yeah, him," Jacob said.

"I remember him," Evie said.

"He challenged ya to some contest and you trounced him thoroughly and he didn't like it. He hit you, and I wouldn't have. So, I beat him up," Jacob said and tapped his jaw, "that's how I got this remember?"

Evie looked up at Jacob, her needlework a stark contrast over his eye, and the scar on his jaw. She remembered Edmund playing dirty, using a rock as a weapon. "Bloody meater nearly broke your jaw," Evie growled. There was a knock on the door, drawing the twins' attention to it. "Come in,"' Evie called. The door opened to reveal their father and pinched faced Mrs. Pumpernickle. Ethan walked over to his children and took Evie's hand.

"You feeling better sweetling?" he asked. Evie shook her head, pressing herself closer to her twin. Mrs. Pumpernickle walked over to Evie's bed to inspect the bloodstain. "Aw, my poor girl," Ethan cooed, stroking Evie's hair. "Mrs. Pumpernickle will make it better."

"Don't see why she has to be here," Jacob groused, "doctor'll do just fine."

"Your sister doesn't need a doctor young man," Mrs. Pumpernickle said, clicking her tongue. "Evie when did you notice you were bleeding?" Mrs. Pumpernickle looked at Ethan and Jacob. "Mr. Frye, Jacob, I would like it if you leave."

"Alright," Ethan said, standing up after he gave Evie's hand an assuring pat. "Come along Jacob."

"No!" the twins cried, clinging to each other.

"I'm not leaving Evie, she's hurt and scared and she needs me," Jacob said, glaring at both his father and Mrs. Pumpernickle. "I'm not leaving."

"Jacob, please," Ethan sighed.

"No!"

"Young man," Mrs. Pumpernickle said, "this is women's business! This isn't for you, not meant for you. You shouldn't even know about it. This is between me and Evie. Now leave!"

Jacob hugged Evie tighter, a challenge in his brown eyes. "Make me," he dared.

"Mrs. Pumpernickle… Linda…" Ethan began, but Mrs. Pumpernickle cut him off with a sharp glare before marching over to Jacob and grabbing hold of his ear. Jacob yelped, but held Evie tighter, trying to pull his ear free from Mrs. Pumpernickle's grip. The woman stubbornly refused to let go and pried Jacob's arm away from Evie before dragging him.

"Jacob!" Evie screamed, grabbing her brother's hand. Jacob squeezed Evie's fingers tightly, as Mrs. Pumpernickle continued to drag him. The pinched face woman yanked his hand free from Evie's grip. She let go of his ear and when he tried to dive back towards his twin, Mrs. Pumpernickle shoved him out of the room. Ethan made a hasty exit, catching Jacob around the middle as

"Evie!" Jacob shouted, reaching for the door and straining against his father's grip. "Evie! Evie!"

"Jacob settle down, Mrs. Pumpernickle isn't going to hurt Evie," Ethan said, grunting as Jacob pounded his fists against his arm. Jacob growled, and pulled himself free of his father's grip. He slumped to the floor, drawing his knees close and resting his forehead against them, sobbing softly. "Jacob," Ethan whispered, he sat down next to Jacob, reaching out and rubbing his son's back.

"She's scared Da," Jacob mumbled through his tears. "Evie's scared and in pain and Mrs. Pumpernickle is an annoying ol' church-bell that only cares about Evie's 'reputation' and not about Evie!"

"She cares about Evie," Ethan said.

"No she doesn't! I do! You do! But not Mrs. Pumpernickle!" Jacob sniffed, rubbing at his tears. "That's why Evie punched Abagail. That's why Evie hates going to those stupid princess lessons. Mrs. Pumpernickle is trying to make Evie into something she's not."

"I understand your frustration Jacob," Ethan said. "But Evie… and you," he looked at Jacob, "need to start learning to blend into society. We can't go running around beating up people that don't agree with us."

"Why not? Suits the Templars just fine," Jacob groused.

"Because we are Assassins," Ethan countered. "We have to let mankind realize the folly of their thinking on their own."

"Well it takes too long," Jacob pouted.

"Best things take time," Ethan said, patting Jacob on the shoulder. "But it's good that you care about your sister. She'll need your support now more than ever."

"Do you love me, Da?" Jacob asked suddenly. He hardly ever got to sit and talk with his father. It was either lessons or lecture or Ethan just didn't have time to have heart-to-heart chats with his son.

Ethan froze at the question. Cecily's blue eyes begging him… no pleading with him to forgive their son, the sigh of Be strong Ethan on her lips as she breathed her last, the wail of newborn twins bereft of their mother too soon. Ethan knew Jacob was expecting an answer, hoping he wasn't rejected. He closed his eyes, the struggle warring in his heart. I can't Cecily… I can't forgive him. He took you from me. "Of course I love you, Jacob," Ethan said. "Why wouldn't I?"

"Because you're always mad at me and blame me for everything," Jacob said, looking at his father. "And Evie is the perfect little angel."

"Evie has her share of troublemaking same as you," Ethan said. Jacob snorted. Ethan sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Jacob, I love you. You're my son. I'm harsh on you because I see so much potential in you and you just… squander it."

"I'm sorry I'm not good at bookwork," Jacob growled. "Maybe if you trained Evie as an Assassin then you wouldn't be so disappointed."

"Jacob, don't use that tone with me," Ethan growled, "your accusations are very unfair. I love you and your sister with all my heart."

"Then how come you weren't home until we were six? Why did we have to live Grandma?" Jacob asked.

Ethan's face went blank and before he could answer the door opened, revealing Mrs. Pumpernickle and a sullen Evie. She was in a dress, her brown hair still loose. "Evie," Jacob whispered, getting to his feet and rushing to her. He wrapped her up in an embrace and Evie choked on a sob, hugging him tightly. "What did you say to her?" Jacob growled, looking at Mrs. Pumpernickle. The woman ignored him, eyes fixed on Ethan.

Ethan got to his feet and gave Mrs. Pumpernickle a weary smile. "Thank you Linda," Ethan said.

"Mr. Frye," Mrs. Pumpernickle said, "I know Evie is a bit young, but now that she's flowered, I highly recommend you search for a suitor of sorts for Evie. Of course, Evie will make the ultimate decision on whether whomever you find is right for her, but let me be frank with you Ethan, Evie is the type of woman that needs to be married swift and sure, to a strong man. She has too strong of a will, and it'll only increase the longer she's unmarried. She needs to be tamed." Mrs. Pumpernickle glanced at Jacob, "I also recommend separating them. He may not be able to keep it in his breeches for much longer. Good day Ethan." Mrs. Pumpernickle turned to Evie, "if you need anything just let me know, I'll send Elisabeth by with some more after breakfast." Mrs. Pumpernickle left, heading down the stairs and out of the house.

Just so ya'll clear, Mrs. Pumpernickle isn't really a bad guy. She's just a snooty old woman.

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Nemo et Nihil

PS: To the guest reviewer that thinks I'm copying someone else. I'm not. You may have seen the exact same story on Tumblr or AO3. I have accounts there too and I post my fics there too. I'm the same person. Unless you have proof that I'm ripping someone (other than myself) off, kindly fuck off.