Disclaimer: I don't own Assassin's Creed

Ch. 4

I had found some florins myself by, regrettably, searching the pockets of the men that Ezio hadn't. Quickly, I made my mind to find a dress above anything else. I had to blend in. After, I would search for Federico and Ezio again.

I walked among the people of Firenze for several minutes before my eyes landed on a tailor's shop. I came over to him. "Scussi messere," I began. "but do you have a dress that would fit me?" I asked.

The tailor raked his eyes over me, studying the contours of my body with a trained eye. "Sí!" he chirped. Before I knew it, he had gone and come back with a blue dress. "This should fit you, mia cara." He handed the dress to me, and I took it graciously.

"Grazie. How much?" I asked him.

"200 hundred florins," he replied. I glanced into my hand, counting the worth of the money. I wasn't used to this currency, as the Italy I remember used the euro, so it took me a while. 'Just enough,' I sighed, giving him the coins.

As I walked away, I turned abruptly to the tailor. "What year is it?" I asked, no petty excuses as to why I didn't know in my arsenal.

The tailor gave me an odd look, but answered anyway. "1476…"

I smiled happily at him. "Grazie!" and ran away. Jeering into an alley, I leaned against the wall for support. 'I'm almost 600 years in the past…' My eyes were wide, and my heart beat a mile an hour. How the hell had this happened! All I did was walk through the Auditore house gate… 'Maybe that strange force is what brought me here… Now that I think about it, it feels as though it's coming from one of those boys…'

I pulled the dress over my head, placing my old clothes on the ground so I wouldn't be found out, bidding my favorite jeans farewell. The dress fit me perfectly, and I thanked the tailor again in my head. I opened my locket again, gazing at the picture of my family longingly. Would I ever get to see them again? Tears welled in my eyes just thinking about it. At least I had ended on a good foot.

I headed out of the alley and, much to my luck, caught a glance of Federico. Ezio wasn't with him, but I decided to follow anyway. He seemed like the more cordial brother anyway. It felt rather stalker-ish to follow Federico like this, but he and Ezio were the best lead I had on the reason I came here. I must not have been watching where I was going, however, because I ran right into Vieri de' Pazzi himself, making him hit his head hard on the wall behind him.

"O-oh… m-mi dispiace…" I mumbled to him. He was grimacing, rubbing his head where it had hit the wall.

"How dare you!" he screamed at me. I immediately recoiled.

"I-I'm sorry! I was momentarily dazed, and was not watching where I was going!" I threw my hands up in defense.

My excuse didn't seem to be enough for Vieri. "Look where you're going, puttana! Or do I have to show you that you shouldn't mess with Vieri de' Pazzi?" he flung his hand upward, and I could tell he was about to hit me.

I winced, preparing myself for a hearty slap, but it never came. I looked back up, and, to my relief and surprise, Federico had grabbed Vieri's wrist, preventing him from hitting me. "Didn't your father tell you not to hit women?" Federico scolded. He dropped Vieri's arm, throwing it to his side, and pulled me by my wrist behind him.

"You Auditore trash just want to get in their pants. You have no intentions of being kind," Vieri spat. My eyes widened. 'Auditore…?'

"Your opinion is yours alone. But please, Vieri, learn the manners of a proper gentleman," he said, and began walking away, pulling me along with him.

"G-Grazie…" I murmured.

Federico said nothing, but led me far away from Vieri. Once Vieri was far behind us, he turned to me. "Are you alright?"

"S-sí…" I stared at my feet, embarrassed by how close he was.

Federico laughed under his breath. "Where do you live? I will take you home," he offered.

My eyes automatically widened, and my head shot up to meet his gaze. A home. I had never thought about where I would stay. "N-no it's quite alright. You don't have to," I told him.

He shook his head. "I want to," he stated. "Now, where is your home?"

I smiled meekly up to him. "I-I don't have one…"

He looked genuinely surprised. "But you're dressed so well," he said, and brought his head closer to my head. "And you smell too good to be homeless. What happened?"

I shook my head. "Long story," I told him. "I'm not even quite sure of the details. All I know is, that I do have a home, but it is nowhere in this country."

He raised an eyebrow. "Alright… then I shall just take you with me."

I threw my hands up and furiously shook my head. "Oh no… I could never—"

Federico placed a silencing hand on my mouth. "I insist," he stated, smiling a charming smile.

I nodded, and followed him as he led me for what I presumed was his home. "My mother, sister, and youngest brother are at home. My father is at work, and my other brother is doing God knows what," he explained. "Ah, right! My name is Federico. Piaceri di conserti." He lifted my hand to meet his lips, and a small blush made its way up my face. "And you are?"

"M-Melina…" I stuttered.

Federico laughed. "Follow me to my home, Melina," he said, and began walking again. I made sure to follow close behind him. When we finally stopped, I craned my head to look right at the Auditore home. My heart skipped a beat. This is the place that brought me here… this is the reason I have left my family.

Federico waved his hand in front of my face. "Melina?"

I snapped out of my daze to look into his brown eyes. "A-ah! Yes?"

"You may stay here for the time being…until you find a home." He motioned me to follow him as he walked through the gate. I stopped to wonder. If I went through this gate, would it bring me back to my time? I couldn't have stepped through with more enthusiasm.

Nothing. Not even the slightest feeling. My heart sunk, but another part of me was somewhat glad, and I had no idea why. I should be completely melancholy because I probably won't be able to see my loving family again, but my eyes didn't threat to spill tears, and the smile was still plastered on my face. Maybe it had something to do with either Federico or Ezio, but I couldn't be sure, the force- no, I don't mean like a Jedi- was not with me.

Federico opened the door to his home, and its hinges protested loudly. "I shall take you to see my mother," he explained.

"Va bene."

Federico cupped his hands around his mouth, screaming, "MADRE!" I jumped slightly, the boy would make one hell of a drill sergeant.

"What is it?" A middle aged woman, with a beautiful red dress and ebony hair scurried in through a door` on my right. "Is anything wrong, Federico?"

Federico gestured to me. "This is Melina," he stated, and I did a small curtsy. "She is currently homeless, and I was wondering if she might stay here until we could find her a suitable home."

Federico's mother looked to me, studying me. Her features suggested she was skeptical, but she agreed anyway. "Alright, the only thing I ask is that you help with household chores."

I nodded. "I wouldn't have it any other way. I wouldn't want to intrude without paying some kind of ransom."

"I ask for no money, child," she said, a curious tone evident in her voice.

"Sí, it was but a matter of speech.." I trailed off "never mind, it was quite foolish of me."

Federico patted my head, making me blush slightly. "I understood mia cara. "

I smiled up to him, then adverted my gaze to Federico's mother. She had a raised eyebrow, and a sly smile played on her features. I blushed again, knowing exactly what she was thinking.

"Come," Federico said "allow me to show you around."

I nodded, following him wordlessly as he led me throughout the rooms of his home. My room was on the end in the grand hallway, next to it was his brother, Petruccio's, and across from it his sister, Claudia's. Next to Claudia's room, was Ezio's, and next to Petruccio's Federico's. I was secretly quite terrified of what his siblings and father would think of my staying here. I really didn't want to be a burden, but I knew Federico would never let me leave until I had found a home. I was rather relieved when I realized that Federico seemed to like me, and I knew I could always go to him if I needed help, for he had already won my trust.

"It's night, Melina," Federico stated "you should go to sleep."

I nodded. "Grazie, Federico. Good night." I moved off to my room.

Behind me, I heard a quiet, "Good night, mia cara."

When I opened my room, I was quite amazed. The room was decorated to perfection, and the colors matched seamlessly. The plush bed stood in the far corner, and, when I laid down on it, I realized just how comfortable it was. Needless to say, I was asleep within minutes.

I love Federico :3 of course in a friendlier way XD i thought he was awesome! WHY DID HE HAVE TO DIE?

Review please :)