Hello, my readers.
Okay, wow, I really suck at keeping up with things. I thought I had this posted already. Turns out I didn't and I apologize for that because I'd had it finished for about a month now.
This chapter is another co-op chapter with my best friend and writing partner, Kawaii Stella. I'd wanted to write this chapter for a while and it just so happened the timing was right for her because she was also in the mood to work on the contents of this chapter as well. We went back and forth on this. Constructing sentences and character conversations. So, I really hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy writing it with my friend.
I really hope you guys are enjoying it. Because I'm enjoying writing this. Please R&R.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the Assassin's Creed Franchise. Anything pertaining to Assassin's Creed belongs to UBIsoft.
| Chapter Six |
~Simon Peter's POV~
~Two Years Later~
Since my role as a glorified babysitter began, I found myself rather enjoying it. I grew to love it just as much as I grew to love the twin whose parents placed under my care and protection.
I found myself rising early each day, anxious to see them again and begin my job as their protector. I found myself enjoying those loud moments with them in the nursery as they played. Enjoying changing diapers and bathing them and feeding them. But I especially enjoyed those quiet moments when they would nap and I would watch them sleep. I found myself coddling them when they refused to sleep, sitting with them in my lap in the rocking chair; humming Hebrew lullabies until they finally slept. And I found it hard to abandon them at night when it was time to go to the bunkhouse.
Nicodemus had noticed how far I was going with the twins. What I was doing with them and for them. He also noticed my bunk was sometimes empty at night as I snuck away to visit with them. The older man frowned at me over breakfast one morning, which was nothing new as he frowned at me often since my arrival here. As the others geared up and headed out to begin their duties, Nicodemus held me back.
"You shouldn't get so close to them, Simon Peter." He cautioned me with such contempt. "They may be human now but they won't be for long."
"I know. They are the royal children. It's expected of them to be changed when they come of age." I said.
"It isn't just that. I see you sneak out at night and sneak back in a few hours later. I know what you're doing and it simply isn't done. It shouldn't be done. You are their guard. Not their friend. They don't need a friend, they need a protector. That's what you were hired to do and you'd best start remembering that." Nicodemus growled.
"Why do you make it sound like I'm doing something wrong?" I asked. "His Majesty, the King, is well aware of what I do with them. If he wanted to rebuke me, he would've done so already. Instead, he's told me what a relief it is to know his children are being looked after so well. Yet, here you are, throwing accusations around as though I'm breaking some sort of moral code."
"You are breaking a moral code, Simon Peter." Nicodemus said. "You are breaking our Creed. Remember, you are on assignment. Which means you shouldn't allow yourself to get so close to these people. If the Mentors find out how close you are to them, they can take you away and replace you with someone more suited for the job."
I sat on my bunk and laced up my boots. "Who is more suited for the job than me? The King chose me to guard his children and I shall do just that."
Nicodemus crossed his arms, left over right. His frown deepened and I wondered if he had ever smiled once in his life. "The Mentors own you, remember? You owe them your life—your very existence. If they do not feel you can complete a mission, they can take you from them just as quickly as they gave you to them. Never forget that fact, Simon Peter. Never forget it for one minute."
I stood up to cinch up my sword belt. The long sword they had given me upon my arrival here slapped against my thigh with each hard tug at the belt. Nicodemus was half a head smaller than I yet, I could still look him in the eye. Such deep, blue eyes they were. Those close-cut golden locks had lightened slightly to gray. I hadn't realized until now just how old Nicodemus actually was.
I knew Nicodemus was Greek. But unlike most Greeks within the Brotherhood, he wasn't an anfi zab. If he was, the Brotherhood wouldn't have given him to King Sartorius so willingly. In fact, Nicodemus would've been confined to Rosewood with the other anfi zab, only ever allowed to leave when on missions and never without a malp there to guide and protect him. Nicodemus was one of the few Greeks here who didn't have the anfi zab gene and I doubted he even carried it.
"What is your real problem with me, Nicodemus?" I asked. "Ever since I came here, you've been hounding me about many different things. But when was the last time the Mentors ever called on you to do anything? When was the last time you've been home?"
Nicodemus' eyes narrowed and his gaze turned hard. "I have resigned to being here for the rest of my able-bodied years. Soon, when I retire, I will leave this place and return to Rosewood. It is my duty, and now it is yours. And I expect you to do your job as a true member of the Brotherhood would."
I slipped the gloves on my hands, flexing my fingers until they fit just right while I returned Nicodemus' glare. "I am doing my job. As long as I am with them, I am guarding them. What difference does it make how I do it?"
"You are distracting yourself by playing with them. By letting them sleep on your chest, you are leaving yourself open to attack. You're making yourself vulnerable when you do these things." He warned.
"I know what I'm doing, Nicodemus." I said. "The King and Queen have hired me to guard the twins. You might be the head guard here, but my orders come from the King or Queen. Not from you." I said.
Nicodemus snorted. "Your orders come from the Brotherhood. Be sure you remember that." He said as he stalked out of the room.
Over the next several months, his words came rolling through my mind, no matter how much I tried to ignore it. I wondered if he could be right. The thing was, I couldn't help myself. Unlike him, I was guarding children. Toddlers, to boot. Children who needed a guard and a friend and I couldn't see why I couldn't be both.
Certainly, I knew my job and I did it well. The twins loved me and I loved them. But I didn't know how much my feelings for them would ruin me when faced with the near-disaster that was to come.
\|/
~Arella's POV~
All thirteen of my children were gathered around our large dinner table as Sar dished out helping after helping of spaghetti. Abel was already on his second helping by the time I got to cutting up Chazz and Dove's helping. Dove only seemed to pick at her plate. Simon had reported she had not napped well, despite being rocked for an hour. She was probably just tired.
At least, I hoped so.
"Dovey, don't you like it?" I asked my baby girl.
"No." Dove said, pushing her fork away.
I looked over at Sar. Dove was not a picky eater. Normally consuming everything put in front of her. Spaghetti had been one of her favorites before. Why wouldn't she eat it now?
Wiping his hands on a dish towel, Sar came over to the set of high chairs and squatted down to Dove's eye level.
"What don't you like about the spaghetti, Dovey?" He asked in his gentlest voice.
"Nothin'." Dove grumbled.
"Then why don't you eat it?" I asked. "Chazz likes it."
"Not hungry." Dove said. Her cheeks were pale, eyes very tired.
"Do you feel bad, Dove?" I asked, a pit of dread opened in my stomach.
Dove nodded. "No feel good."
Sar immediately had his hand on Dove's forehead. "She's not too warm." Dove told me. Despite saying that, I knew my husband was worried. So was I.
"What feels bad?" I asked Dove.
She pointed to her left arm. "Hurts." She said.
Her father examined her arm. There were no bruises; no swelling either. Dove grunted, and tat was when we heard the squeeze in her heart. In a split moment, Sar had her out of her high chair.
"We need to go, now." Sar told me.
"Abel, Lilith, you're in charge until we get back." I told our oldest. "Be good.
"Mom, what's the matter with Dove?" Lilith asked me.
"Hopefully nothing serious." I said.
I looked around for Sar. He was at the entryway giving orders to his guard. Nick was nodding and muttering words of respectful understanding. As I approached, I heard Nick's question.
"Shall I have Guard Simon accompany you and the little princess?"
"Yes." Sar said. "You, Simon, and Astra will come with us. Call in the others to keep an eye on the kids."
"As you wish, Your Highness." Nick said. He bent his head, then left our sight to retrieve the others.
We had only to wait a moment before he returned with the other guards. Nick had only to give them a few gestures with his hand and they went about their duties standing behind their respective charges.
I knew having their guards around them so late in the evening made the kids a little uneasy, but I had faith in their guards that they would keep the children calm and remind them they were safe.
"Daddy!" Dove whined, trying to curl into a ball.
"Astra, a portal, please." I begged of my loyal guard.
"Yes, Majesty." Astra clicked open a portal and we rushed into the emergency room at Aldenmor Memorial Hospital.
It hadn't escaped my notice that Simon couldn't stop looking at Dove. Concern showed in his dark-brown eyes and in the downward curve of his mouth. He'd known about Dove's arrhythmia for some time and for the past two years, he had been watching her very closely.
Sar worked closely with the other doctors to find out what was ailing our little girl. They quickly determined that she was having a heart attack.
My baby girl, only two years old, was having a heart attack.
They prepared her quickly to be taken away for treatment.
"Go with her." I begged Sar. "Look after her."
"Are you sure?" Sar asked me. "I can stay with you."
"No." I swallowed the lump in my throat. "She needs you. Stay with her and make sure everything goes okay.
Nodding, my husband kissed my head. I had a chance to kiss my daughter's cheek before they took her away from me. My husband and daughter disappeared, leaving me alone waiting with our guards.
Astra stood near my shoulder and Nick stood at the doorway, still as statues. But Simon couldn't be still. He often got up and paced the room, stepping outside to check the hallway, then coming back to continue watching over me. He seemed like a trapped animal. A trapped animal with a sword at his hip and a heart full of worry.
My heart arched for him. My heart was full of worry and fear and hurt for my little one. The pain on her features and in her cries echoed through my mind. I had prayed with all my heart that Dove would be alright.
As Simon passed Nick's post again, the older man seized Simon's elbow and shook his head at him. Defeated, Simon went back to standing at my other shoulder. Though, he fidgeted with the gauntlet on his left arm and the hilt of his sword.
I gave his hand a soft squeeze, hoping that would comfort him just a little bit. I knew he cared for Dove as much as her father and I did. He only seemed to relax a bit. Or, at least the hand on his sword hilt relaxed. But his jaw was still tight and I could hear his heartbeat thudding hard in his chest.
Astra took my other hand in hers. Her touch was as welcome as her words as she said, "Everything will be well, my queen. Princess Dove is in the very best hands."
I nodded, knowing she was right. This was one of the best hospitals in the best country. Besides that, her father was with her.
"Thank you, Astra." I said, squeezing her hand.
\|/
~Sar's POV~
Dove began to cry as we wheeled her away from her mother. I stroked her hair as we walked into the cardiac lab.
"It'll be alright, sweetie." I promised Dove. "You're going to be okay."
We hooked Dove to an IV line, gave her the best pain medicine we could give her young body. We sedated her in order to do angiograms and an arterial catheter. I just couldn't imagine Dove having a blocked artery so young. It came to be seen I was right. The heart attack hadn't been caused by a plaque blockage. It was caused by a collapsed artery.
The satisfaction of being correct was short-lived as I realized this would mean surgery for my delicate baby girl.
"We'll be as minimally invasive as possible." Dr. Nelson promised me in his soft voice. "Are you joining in?"
"Absolutely." I said without hesitation.
I took a moment to kiss Dove's head and reassure her things would be fine. The sedatives had made her loopy, and the resulting silly smile warmed my heart.
Dr. Nelson called me away to scrub up. Most times, I enjoyed the ritualistic process of preparing for surgery. It gave me time to clear my head and brace myself for what I would face. This time, however, all I could think of was that we would be taking a scalpel to my precious baby's chest. Her perfect soft skin forever scarred.
Inside the operating room, Dove was already soundly sleeping under the guidance of our pediatric anesthesiologist. Her tiny chest had been sterilized, the incision line mapped out with a blue surgical marker. It seemed we would be taking a less invasive approach by going in between her ribs. It seemed a little unorthodox compared to the traditional entry through the sternum, but I was glad that Dr. Nelson would not be breaking Dove's bones.
I reached for the scalpel, ready to begin.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Nelson asked me, taking the knife from my hand.
"I'm starting." I protested, a little surprised that my colleague didn't think I could handle this.
"Sartorius, this is your own kid. You're scared shitless, and I can see it in your eyes. You're assisting and assisting only. I'm calling the shots this time."
I huffed out a sigh, but I knew inside that he was right. He should be leading this operation.
After two hours and a half, we were done. Dove was taken to recovery and I went out to see my wife. Arella jumped to her feet and ran into my arms when she saw me.
"She's going to be okay. Surgery went well." I told my wife as I hugged her tight.
Over her shoulder, I could see Astra and Simon relaxing and I heard the sigh of relief coming from Nick behind me. They had all been tense and worried, even just a little.
"What happened?" Arella asked. "What caused it?"
"A weak artery collapsed. We went in between the ribs to make it less invasive. We inserted a stent to keep it open and restore the blood flow."
"So, no bones were broken, Sire?" Nick asked.
"No broken bones." I told him. "Just a very deep incision."
"What now, Sire?" Simon asked. This was the first he'd spoken since this began.
"Dove will remain here for a couple days to recover before she can come home. We'll be monitoring her closely for the next couple months to see what should be done next about the weak valve. If we're lucky, the returned blood flow will strengthen it and no further surgery will be needed."
Simon nodded his head in understanding. "Sire, am I to stay with her or am I to return home and watch Prince Chazz as well?" He asked.
"You may take shifts, though I imagine you will be here with them both. You know how they like to be separated."
Simon again nodded. He did know. He often had his hands full carrying both from room to room when they wanted to be carried.
"Can we see her?" Arella asked.
I nodded and, wrapping an arm around my wife, led her to Dove's room. There, Dove was asleep, but from her heart rate I knew she would wake soon. Arella, being the amazing mother she was, did not hesitate in taking her spot at our daughter's bedside.
The guards stood inside the room, seemingly eager as we were to see Dove awake.
Arella stroked our daughter's hair, cooing softly in that loving way she had.
"Hi, baby." Arella's lips moved into a smile as Dove's eyes slowly fluttered open.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Simon edge close. His entire body seemed to collapse in on itself as he relaxed.
"Momma?" Dove's voice was still tired.
"That's right, sweetie. That's right. Everything's okay now, see? I'm here, Daddy's here."
I stepped over and kissed Dove's forehead, which made her smile and relax.
"And so are Nick, Astra, and Simon. We're all so happy to see you awake!" Arella gushed.
Dove turned her head to peek around us, and smiled when she saw the guards. Her guard, especially. Dove adored Simon.
"Tevb leravet avetk 'er, Nesyekh." He said. It's good to see you awake, Princess.
Dove smiled more. I didn't know how much Hebrew she understood from being around Simon, but she at least seemed to get the sentiment. "My chest don't hurt now." She announced, gladly.
Simon smiled as he touched her head. "Good." He said.
"Where's Chazz?"
My eyes softened. The twins were not often separated, and I knew Dove would not sit well with her brother at home while she was here in the hospital.
"Chazz is at home." I told her, expecting the resulting frown.
"We can bring him in to see you." Simon suggested to her. Ever the mediator. Ever knowing what to say.
Dove looked to us, begging us to bring her brother to her.
I looked to Simon and nodded. "If Chazz is still up, you can bring him in. same for any of the others who may be awake. I'm sure they're all concerned."
Simon bowed. Then, squeezing her hand with the promise to be back, he left. I turned my attention back to Dove. After making sure her stitches and monitors were alright, I cuddled her close and let her cling to me all she wanted. Within minutes, there was a knock at the door. Dove's eyes widened. Smiling, I helped her sit up a little. Arella holding her hand.
"Come on in." I called.
The door opened. There stood Simon with Chazz on his hip. Chazz clung to his blankie as well as his sister's squirtle. Behind them were the rest of our children, eager to see their baby sister.
"Dove!" Chazz cried, and wiggled wildly for Simon to set him down.
"Easy, Chazz." Simon said, placing the boy on his feet. Chazz ignored him, running to the bed. His mother picked him up and sat him next to his sister. The first thing he did was hug Dove. "He was antsy the whole way here." Simon explained, matter-of-factly.
Arella rubbed Chazz's back. "I'm sure he was." She said.
"What happened? Is everything alright?" Abel asked.
"She had a vein collapse in her heart. We repaired it by surgery and she'll be fine." I told him.
The children looked among each other, letting out held breaths they hadn't realized they'd been holding.
"How long will she be here?" Lilith asked. My oldest daughter could always hold her head level in a crisis.
"Just a few days." I told her. "Once we're sure everything is stable, then she can come home."
"And play?" Chazz asked.
"And play." I smiled.
"Be gentle when you play with her, Prince. She may still be sore." Simon cautioned in that special way of his. Never bossy. Never scolding. Only asking the toddler prince to be mindful of his sister's condition.
"Why?" Chazz asked.
"Dove had surgery, sweetling." Arella cooed. She moved Dove's hospital gown and peeled away the bandage to show our young boy the deep red incision.
"That looks bad." Chazz said, sadly.
"She'll get better." Simon said with absolute certainty.
"That's right." I agreed. "She will. Dove started picking at the drainage tube and I pulled her hand away.
"What is that for, Sire?" Simon asked.
"It's to drain excess fluid." I told him. "If too much fluid builds, it could put pressure on her heart and stints."
"So, she needs those." Simon said.
"For a short time, yes. They'll be removed in a few days. Hopefully before she comes home."
"I understand, Sire."
"Daddy, it itches!" Dove complained of the tube.
I went to the storage cabinet and brought back a tube of itch ointment and applied it carefully around the tube. "I know it itches, but you mustn't scratch at it." I told my sweet girl. "Scratching will hurt it."
"I will make sure she doesn't scratch it." Simon offered.
"Thank you, Simon." I said to the loyal guard.
"Better not scratch." Chazz told his sister. "Simon will tattle to Mom."
Arella giggled.
"No. I will tell your father." Simon said, tickling Chazz.
Chazz squealed and squirmed. "Simon! Simon!" He cried as he tried to evade the tickles while Dove laughed at her brother's dismay.
Simon chuckled as his hands left the boy's sides and patted his raven-dark hair.
"Hehe! Simon got you good!" Dove teased, hugging her squirtle plush.
"Best not tease," Arella playfully warned. "You might get tickled when you're all better."
". . . nuh-uh." Dove's smirk slid off her face as Simon's fingers formed claws which he wiggled at her as though preparing to tickle her. Putting her squirtle before her like a shield, Dove's blue eyes went wide.
"See! Now you gonna get it!" Chazz grinned, mischief in his gray-blue eyes.
"Don't tickle me, Simon." Dove begged of her guard.
"I won't. At least not now." Simon said. He dropped his hands. The left hand coming to rest on the pommel of his sword. Dove looked to me as though to say, "protect me, Daddy" and Simon frowned. "I won't hurt you, Princess. You know that." His voice was soft now.
I stroked Dove's snowy-white hair. She relaxed until a machine's beeping spooked her. Simon frowned at the machine and I knew he was concerned what that meant.
"It's alright." I assured everyone in the room. "It's just telling me that it's time for a new bag of fluids." After silencing the alarm, I stepped out of the room to grab a fresh saline bag from supply. Dove watched with intrigue as I started a new drip.
"What's that for, Daddy?" Dove asked.
"It's to make sure you stay plenty hydrated." I told her.
"High-dray-tid?" Her attempt at pronouncing the word made me smile.
"That means you have enough water in your body."
"Oh." Dove said, mulling the information over.
"Having enough water is good for you." Simon said.
"Very good for you." Arella agreed.
"Just think, Dove, you'll be well enough just in time for Kite day." I said. That perked Dove up.
"You hear that, Princess? Kite Day! Now you have something to look forward to." Simon smiled at her.
Dove nodded excitedly and grinned. "I wanna fly a yellow kite! With blue bows on the strings!" She told her guard.
"Yellow kite it is." Simon said. "What kind of kite do you want, Prince?" He asked of Chazz.
"A great big green one!" Chazz announced excitedly. He spread his arms out wide to indicate size and grinned just as wide.
The twins were so excited this year knowing they were big enough to handle kites on their own. Last year, Simon had carried them on his shoulders and let them play with the tiny toy kites. This year would be no different. He would still be within their shadows, watching them and caring for them. But he would not hold on to them as tightly as he had in the past.
"Green one it is." Simon said. Talking about the twin's kites seemed to make him happy. His bearded face split into a smile and his eyes were full of glee.
"Will you fly a kite, too, Simon?" Chazz asked.
Simon shook his head. "No. I have more fun watching you fly."
"How come?"
I had expected to hear him say something along the lines of "flying a kite would take my focus off my charges and could endanger them", or "I would be too distracted by controlling my kite to watch you properly". What he said instead had nothing to do with his responsibility towards them.
"The joy on your faces as you fly your kites makes my heart glad."
Chazz smiled, as did Arella and I. I felt that we could not have picked a better guard for our twins.
"So, you get better, Princess. Then you can fly your kite." Simon told Dove.
"I will! I'll get all better!" Dove smiled.
I reached down and checked the gauze collecting drainage. Everything looked good. "You are well on your way to being better." I assured Dove.
Simon seemed relieved. I wondered if I had anything to do with her health or if he feared he was making a promise to her he couldn't keep.
"Can I go home?" Dove asked.
"In a couple days." I promised.
"We just want you to rest right now." I stroked Dove's hair. I could tell she was beginning to tire. "Rest will make you feel better."
Dove reluctantly let out a yawn.
"Rest and you will heal faster." Simon told her, squeezing her hand with only three fingers. Dove's tiny fingers curled around him. Her sleepy blue eyes blinked slowly. Simon's thumb rubbed her knuckles, eliciting a soft sigh from her and she was asleep.
Simon met my gaze, his hand still trapped in our little girl's fingers. "Orders, Sire?" He asked.
"Stay with Chazz. We can look after Dove." I said.
"Am I going home?" Chazz asked me.
"For the night. If you're good for Simon and Grandma and Grandpa, maybe you can come visit sissy again tomorrow." I told him.
"Okay, Daddy." Chazz yawned. It was far, far past his bed time.
Arella scooped him up in her arms and rocked him for a while. Simon stood over Dove, his eyes on his young charge and his lips moving in a silent prayer. I couldn't hear the words but I knew him. He was asking his god to look after Dove and heal her. Her mother and I appreciated his prayers. We certainly knew she could use them.
Simon finished the prayer by patting Dove's hand. In his mother's arms, Chazz was now sleeping softly. Simon bowed to us as he took Chazz from Arella and guided everyone out of the room. Waving goodbye to our family, and sending them off with our love, Arella and I turned our attention back to our sleeping daughter.
