Haytham sat at the table as though Aveline hadn't just tried to kill him. He had fixed himself a cup of the tea that she left on the stove, occupying the table again while Achilles stood not too far from him, keeping him under tight surveillance. Connor didn't say anything to either man as he came back inside with Aveline. He felt better about facing his father after his confession to her.

When the two stood in the doorway of the kitchen, Haytham looked over to them, a ghost of a smile toyed with his lips before he looked away, focusing on his tea. Connor ignored it, but Aveline sneered at the Templar, still upset.

She stepped forward, coming to Haytham's side. "Were you telling the truth about not knowing the Company Man?"

Haytham didn't even look up at her, resuming sipping his tea with his eyes closed. "Not the best the tea I've ever had, but a good attempt. My compliments, Aveline. Not many people can make a fine cup of tea, especially quality English tea."

"Monsieur Haytham..." Her voice was calm but under laced with impatience.

"I am the Grand Master of the North, not the South. I haven't had contact with the South since coming to New York. I've had my hands quite full." He looked at her then, but there was no telling if his words were honest or not.

She sighed and inclined her head, turning and leaving the room. Connor caught her arm as she started past him. "Aveline..."

She cut him off with a sad smile and patted his hand on her arm. "Some things I have to find out on my own, I suppose."

Connor frowned at her words but released her, watching as she ascended up the stairs, probably headed to the room she'd been staying in since she came to stay. Stay... At least for a few more days. Maybe. He didn't know when she was going to leave, and it sort of did something to him. Fear? Disappointment?

"Connor." Haytham said his son's name, gaining his attention. "I figure it's time we go. We have much to do. Come along." Haytham turned and smiled at Achilles, who only glared at the Templar. "Your hospitality leaves much to the imagination." Achilles took a step forward but Haytham dismissed him, facing Connor once again. "Follow me. We should get this done with before sunrise."

Haytham walked past Connor, heading straight out the door with so much as a look back to see if Connor was indeed following him. He closed it behind him with a rather loud bang.

Achilles sat down at the table, watching Connor then sighing.

Connor frowned. "I'll be off after I speak with Aveline. Take care, Achilles." The old man nodded, waving Connor off. As he walked away, Connor knew he'd need to apologize tenfold to Achilles but later. He had things to do.

With a heavy heart over the guilt he had towards Achilles and this mission he had with his father, Connor slowly walked up the stairs. He didn't want to force his problems onto Aveline since she was in a tough situation as well. Her faith was waning and, honestly, so was his. Probably not as much as hers since he always had his people, but who did she have? Her Mentor wasn't the best choice. Her mother gone, disappeared when she was a child. Her father remarried and he knew little of her stepmother.

Reaching her door, Connor stilled, taking a deep breath. He'd not add to her burden. Knocking softly then loudly when he got no reply, Connor opened the door softly. Aveline was awake and standing by the window, shoulder leaning against the frame, her arms crossed. She had removed her coats and shed her weapons, the items placed neatly on the dresser by the door. She didn't even look at Connor as he came into the room, lightly shutting the door behind him through habit.

"Aveline..." He didn't know what else to say besides her name. She looked so down, so uncertain, and he wanted—needed—to help her. But how?

"Aveline." Connor called her name again, softer as he approached her side, gazing out the window. He could see Haytham walking around a bit, looking at almost everything, probably trying to remember the scope of the land to better attack them. Connor looked away from his father not wanting to think about the man.

His eyes fell upon Aveline's face. She kept her eyes focused on whatever captivated her attention outside. But, it allowed him to see her, truly see her for the first time. Her eyes were a bit strange. When they first met and a few times afterwards, he could have sworn that her eyes were green. The sunlight or any light made them shine with a greenish glint, but now, he figured they were as brown as his.

Her nose and facial structure showed her mix heritage, European and African. Her skin looked soft, free of imperfections and darker than his skin tone, same for her hair color. Deep black, curly around the ends, wavy. She had removed her braids after coming into the room. A lock had drifted free from behind her ear, kissing the side of her eye.

"Connor. Connor?" He blinked, eyes focusing on hers. She had been looking at him for the past two minutes already, a bit embarrassed but the way he stared at her, like he was memorizing every part of her face.

"Yes?" She noticed that he didn't step back though he responded, eyes locked on hers.

"Shouldn't you be off with...your father?" He noticed that she had to force herself to speak civil of Haytham. Connor nodded.

"But I wanted to know how you're dong before I left. Are you alright?" His hand automatically came up to her face, stroking her cheek with his calloused fingers before brushing that strand out of her face. She smiled softly, remembering that was something her mother often did. Her eyes closed, and she nuzzled her cheek in his hand like she once did with her mother's. Connor's and hers were quite alike, worn and rough from work. It spoke a lot about their characters. Their positions in life.

"I'm fine, Connor. Merci... I'm more worried about you. I don't trust that man... your father. He is—" Connor placed a finger over her mouth, stopping her words since he knew that she would go on a tangent about his father being a Templar. He knew. He knew that he shouldn't trust Haytham, but he did. Just a tiny bit.

"I know, but I have questions. I need answers. Answers I know he can supply for me... that he couldn't for you." Absentmindedly, Connor gently ran his finger over Aveline's bottom lip, feeling the warmth of her breath and skin. She didn't pull away. Just stared up at him, waiting.

"Connor?" Her breath glided over his finger, cooling it as her lips accidently brushed against it. He felt a tug in his heart. He likened it to a string. Every time he was near Aveline, that string would get plucked, would vibrate throughout his body. When she was sad, it vibrated strongly, making it nearly possible to breathe from the pain he felt at seeing her that way.

Going along with his heart, what it wanted him to do the most, he leaned over slowly. Their lips grew closer until he could feel her breath gliding over his lips. Connor moved his fingers down to cusp her chin, lifting her head. Their eyes locked before their mouths did. Both their eyes closed at the touch of their lips.

The contact lasted a few seconds before Connor pulled away, but Aveline grabbed hold of his lapels, bringing him back down to her. Their lips touched again, longer this time. Connor framed his hands around her face while her hands smoothed up and down his chest.

They separated again. Both breathing a little raggedly. Connor stepped back this time. His hands slide down her face to her shoulders and arms before leaving her to drop down by his side. Aveline clutched her hands to her chest before letting them drop to her sides as well. They stared at one another for a few seconds, processing what just happened between them. What the kiss might have meant.

Aveline looked away for a moment then back to the Native. "Come back to me alive, mon cher."

Connor's lips parted a bit in surprise, but he nodded, taking the hint for him to leave. The door shut softly behind him, and Aveline returned to facing the window. She had to wait a bit before he was outside, apparently calling out for Haytham. The man appeared from behind a stable, carrying the reins of two horses.

As they mounted the horses, Connor looked back towards Aveline's window. She was staring at him. He stared back at her, ignoring Haytham's attempts to get his attention. He waited a few moments more and saw she moved a hand to the glass. Connor's lips lifted in a lopsided smile. He mouthed that he'd return before turning to Haytham.

They took off after Haytham pointed in the direction they'd be taking.

Aveline withdrew her hand off the cold glass, crossing her arms to hug herself. She trusted that Connor would return to her, but in what shape, she didn't trust Haytham. He could poison Connor, not just literally, but with his ideals. Then where would she end up? It felt as though she and Connor shared a connection, one that went beyond just their uncertainty with the Brotherhood, but something. Inside, she wanted that connection to flourish which meant having Connor return to her.

Shaking her head, she pushed back from the window. No. She didn't need to think about this at the moment. It would only confuse her more. Same as Connor, she needed answers. Now.

Aveline left her room in search of Achilles. Maybe he could supply knowledge that would ease her heart. Her mind. Not her body. Something told her only Connor could do that.