September, 1785

It's been two years since Katherine Hewitt married Connor Kenway. Her father's health has since declined further, leaving him mostly bedridden. He was no longer able to perform even menial labor, so the operation of the farm was left to Katherine and her husband. George mostly ran operations from his bedroom or a chair. However, for as few words as he spoke, Katherine could see that something was bothering Connor.

One night, after putting her father to bed, Katherine sat, brushing her hair in front of a second hand vanity George bought her shortly after getting married. Wordlessly, Connor pulled the covers back, slipping into them.

"Connor?"

"Yes?"

Katherine slipped into bed beside him, running an index finger down one of his biceps.

"Something bothering you?" she asked.

"You could say that."

"Want to talk about it?"

Connor sat up, threading his fingers through Katherine's hair.

"Your father..."

"What about Pa?"

"I do not like seeing him like this," Connor said.

Katherine smiled at her husband's gentle touch. It was almost like he thought he'd break her.

"What do you mean?"

"My mentor. He died the same way. I did not want to see him like that. Eventually, he died. He went peacefully, but he had to suffer first. He already had limited mobility; seeing him in that bed, unable to move, it saddened me."

Katherine took Connor's hand in hers.

"Connor, I ain't looking forward to it neither, but I know Pa's time has to come. One day, he's going to join Ma in heaven. Then, he'll meet your Ma and Pa and your mentor and they'll all watch over us and our child. I just...got this feeling that Pa ain't going to live to see the baby. He really wanted to see me with children."

Connor placed his hand on his wife's slightly swollen belly.

"I'm worried about that as well. I would like for him to meet our son or daughter."

"I think Pa could go right now, happy that he at least lived to see me get married and expect a baby, but that ain't enough."

"Whatever happens, we face it together."

Katherine lay against her husband's chest in the darkness.

"That's right. Come what may...Good night, Connor."

"Good night."


March 25th, 1786

By now, George was completely immobile. He relied on Katherine and Connor for everything. While helping her father out of the bath, Katherine felt a sharp pain in her back.

"Ah!"

"Kitty?" George asked, placing a shaky hand on his daughter's arm.

"It won't stop," Katherine said, grimacing. "Is something happening to the baby?"

"Yes," George replied. "It's being born."

"Agh! Connor!"

The door opened, Connor shocked at the sight of his doubled over wife.

"She's in labor, Connor. Get the doctor."

"I've got to get you dressed first, George and get Katherine to a bed."

"Don't worry about me!" Katherine cried. "Just get Pa dressed and in bed. I'll get myself to bed."

Katherine hobbled through the pain to her bedroom. She sat on the bed, rubbing her stomach through the excrutiating pain.

Connor and the doctor bolted through the door, Katherine a little happy that her husband was now by her side.

"Find me some water and a rag. This could take a while."


Connor was between tending to George and being with Katherine. George hated to hear his only child in pain, but that was the only way his grandchild was to be born.

"Endure it for a bit longer, Kitty. It'll be over soon."


On the outside, Connor appeared cool and collected. Inside, his heart beat a frantic rhythm against his ribcage. He sat, prayed, paced and tapped outside the room where his wife was giving birth.

"Push! Push!"

An ear deafening scream from Katherine made Connor furrow his brows.

"Once more!"

Another scream and the room went silent. Connor stared at the door in fear.

"Is the baby okay?" he could hear Katherine ask from within. Well, she was okay, but what of their child?

Silence. Then, the faint stirrings of an infant. Before Connor could comprehend, the room was filled with the baby's cries. He allowed his body to relax and the door swung open.

"Come in," said the doctor.

There Katherine was, tired but otherwise okay, staring at the wiggling bundle in her arms with adoration.

"Connor..."

The doctor pat the man on the back. "It's a boy."

He joined his wife at her bedside, surveying the newest member of their family.

"Isn't he beautiful, Connor?" Katherine asked.

"He is."

"What should we name him?"

Connor scooped the baby into his arms gently. He stirred and whined, but remained calm. He studied the baby, smiling faintly.

"Ethan."

"That's a nice name," said Katherine.

"I remember seeing it somewhere."

"Ethan Kenway. I'm alright with that."

The new parents fawned over their child a moment longer.

"You gotta show Pa."

"Can he be away from you so soon?"

"If you bring him back, I think i't'll be fine."


Connor took slow, even steps to the room across the hall. He rapped lightly on the door, hearing George laugh inside.

"Come in."

Connor opened the door as George sat up.

"It's a boy," Connor said, kneeling to let him see his grandson. "His name is Ethan."

"Oh...he's just darling. He looks like Kitty when she was a baby." George rest a hand on his son-in-law's shoulder. "Are you ready to be a father? Are you ready to raise another young man?"

"I am confident in my and Katherine's ability to raise him," Connor said, shifting his son slightly.

George closed his eyes and smiled. "Then, that is all I need to hear."


They hadn't bought adequate bedding for the baby, so Connor made a makeshift bed for Ethan out of a few blankets and a basket. For now, he was content in watching Katherine nurse their hungry child.

"I hope he'll grow up to be a noble man like his father," Katherine said, smoothing the baby's hair.

"I hope he'll become a pleasant boy with humble beginnings like his mother's," Connor replied.

They looked at their child for a moment longer.

"We did it, Connor."

Connor gave his tired wife a gentle kiss.

"We did."


March 26th, 1786

Connor was the first to wake up, silently getting out of bed to avoid disturbing his wife and son. He knocked on George's door, but didn't receive an answer.

"George?"

Connor opened the door, George laying as he had been when he put him to bed.

"George?"

He put his ear to the man's chest.

No heartbeat.

Connor said a silent prayer for the man and left, closing the door.


He entered his own room as Katherine placed a crying Ethan in her arms to nurse.

"Oh! Connor! You're already up. Did you check on Pa?"

Connor sat beside her. "I did."

"...Well?"

"He's..."

"...He's what?"

"He's dead. He must have passed away in his sleep."

Katherine looked down at the covers, then to her son. She smiled past her tears.

"You know, I'm sad that Pa's gone now, but I'm happy too," she said.

"Whatever for?"

"Because Pa held on a little longer just so he could see his grandson."

She broke down into tears.

"I'm going to miss Pa, but now..." she sniffled, looking into the eyes of her newborn son. "I have a new responsiblity. I'm a mother now and I'm sure that Ma, Pa, your Ma and Pa and your mentor are watching over us and Ethan from heaven."

Connor sighed, pulling Katherine into a gentle hug, letting her cry into his shoulder.

"Katherine, you are far too pure for this world. If only more people thought like you, it would be a much better place. I love that the most about you. Your selflessness."

He rubbed her back as she sobbed, resting his chin on the top of her head.

"Let it all out. Leave nothing unsaid."

When one life begins, another is ended. No one understands this more than Connor himself.