forgive me if it stops making 100% sense towards the end. I was half asleep writing that.


What Would You Do by Bastille

Hawk shouldn't have been here, he knew that. Altair and Ezio had told him he needed to just forget them. But he couldn't. The echo of his heart yearned to be healed and feel the warmth he could remember with crystal clear clarity but couldn't conjure himself no matter how much he tried.

He was across the street of the Assassin Den in Baltimore, perched on the roof, looking down and in. Sarah had taken the room that overlooked the street. He could see her and their little son. Hawk knew everything about the two of them. His son's name was Micheal junior, after him, Sarah always was so romantic. Micheal was six and looked like the both of them. Hawk's wavy hair but Sarah's ashy brown color, Hawk's nose but his mother's mouth and delicate hands. Hawk couldn't feel love but when he looked at the little boy through the window where he and Sarah were playing on the floor with some of his toys he knew he loved his son, though he'd never met the child.

As for Sarah, she ran a tight shift at her Den. Baltimore was one of the best equipped cities on the Seaboard after Sarah had come. She'd stayed up for days straight to make it so and Hawk had checked in on her now and then during that time. Sarah worked like a woman possessed by a great cause, like she had to accomplish great things. Everyone knew that Baltimore's readiness and ability was solely because of Sarah, since before she'd come Baltimore had been ill prepared for Assassins. And it had been done by a woman. A woman who, at the time, was raising a two year old. To say it was impressive would be an understatement. Three different Assassins had tried to court her after Hawk had just vanished and a thread of worry had tugged on his heart when he'd found out. She'd turned every single one of them away with a fury. He'd even seen the last one and how she'd yelled at the man when he'd tried to kiss her and punched him for trying to taint her honor towards her husband. Everyone tried to convince her Hawk was dead, she refused to listen to them. She knew Hawk was alive, but that he'd just run from her. Guilt was an old smoke of sensation in his chest.

Hawk watched his wife and child play, fingering the golden band on his left hand idly, frowning. Altair and Ezio were right, he shouldn't be here. But he didn't leave.

Finally Sarah got up and left to do something Hawk couldn't see, leaving Micheal alone to continue playing. He got bored quickly without his mother and got up and walked over to the window. He looked out onto the street where there were a few people about but not many, then he looked up. Hawk wanted to shrink away when his son saw him but he couldn't move. The boy just looked at him and then smiled and waved at him, figuring Hawk was an Assassin. Hawk hesitated and then waved back, trying to smile. He had trouble doing that, the others said it always looked so forced.

Micheal turned away from the window when his mother called and Hawk got to his feet when Sarah came to the window when Micheal pointed. He pulled his hood up to hide his face better. It didn't matter, there was instant recognition. Shit how did she know? Hawk quickly turned away even as Sarah shoved the window open and climbed the roof. He was heading down the other side, away from the Den when he heard her shout, "Micheal!" That just made him run and he sprinted across the rooftops away from the Den.

Hawk had the curious sensation of emotionless tears on his cheeks as he ran. He didn't feel why, but his body and brain weren't on the same page as far as feelings. He didn't bother to wipe them away even when he stopped running. They were proof he wasn't totally broken.

He didn't stop running until he found Ezio in New York, using his Apple to track the immortal better than a bloodhound. Ezio was living it up in the aftermath of the Revolution. He was wealthy, handsome, and liked pretty women and fine food. Hawk was sure Ezio could provide for a small economy all on his own with his expenses.

When he arrived at Ezio's mid Atlantic home he knocked and waited impatiently for Ezio to open the door. He did, wearing a morning robe and probably nothing under it. Normally that wouldn't be so odd except that it was nearly five in the afternoon.

"Hawk," Ezio rose his brows at Hawk, "you look like hell."

"Help," Hawk said and Ezio frowned, guiding him inside.

"What's the matter?" Ezio asked.

"I did what you said not to do. I- I went to see Sarah-

"Hawk, me and Altair told you that was a terrible idea," Ezio told him.

"I know. I know," Hawk said, "I just… I miss her. I still love her. I just wanted to see her," he said desperately. "She saw me."

"She saw you?" Hawk nodded. Ezio sighed to himself in Italian and gave Hawk a little whap on the hand. "Stay away from her. You aren't a part of her life anymore. And she isn't part of yours. She's a mortal, you're not and have a whole host of problems on top of that," he motioned to indicate Hawk as a whole.

"But she knows I was there. She'll try to find me. What do I do?" Hawk said. He knew his own wife. He knew she'd want to track him down. She might even had an Assassin tail him. He hadn't seen anyone, he'd left so quickly, but he wouldn't put it past her.

Ezio frowned at him, "Stay away. From. Her," he said sternly. "That life is dead. You're basically dead. You can offer her nothing and even if you could feel, mortal women only hurt you." Hawk didn't ask what he meant. He knew Ezio knew. Altair and Ezio had told him the stories of them trying to have normal lives. Never worked out. At best they pretended to age with the use of Apples for decades, or colored their hair, used makeup to add blemishes to their faces. At worst their wives grew to hate them and left them, or the women just died of old age. "Me and Altair tell you that to save you, you know that right?"

"Yes," Hawk said softly. "I just love her."

"I know," Ezio put his hand on Hawk's shoulder, "and I know it hurts. But I promise you it is better this way. Learn from our mistakes, don't make them. Okay?" Hawk nodded mutely already knowing he was going to disobey almost immediately. Disobey and rub salt in the wound after ripping off the scab. Something told him he was doing exactly what the two of them had done when they'd found out they were immortal. Hawk was still a bit in denial even after six years and having gone Under three times. All for stupid reasons. "Would you like to stay for dinner?" Ezio asked.

"Yes, sure," he nodded fractionally. Ezio beckoned and Hawk followed him into his big house.

Some weeks later Hawk was passing through Baltimore again. He honestly was just passing through. He intended to go south to Roanoak because he had always been curious about the place and he needed something to do. Solving a mystery seemed like a good idea. Or at least trying to.

He ended up diverting and found himself across the street from the Den again, looking into his son's room. If he climbed down a bit he could see into the room and saw the little boy was taking a nap. He sat on the ledge and just watched. He felt nothing, not even the desire to go over and say hello or even the attachment that that child was his blood. There was nothing and Hawk sighed.

Hawk sat there a while before Sarah came and got Micheal from his nap, picking him up and taking him out of his room. Probably to have lunch, Hawk didn't know.

"'Cuse me, brother," Hawk's head whipped around over his shoulder and found himself looking up at three Assassins standing on the roof behind him.

"Hello," Hawk said slowly, ready to throw himself off the roof. If he landed it he'd land it and run, if he didn't he'd crack his skull and go Under. Your choices in life and plans changed when you knew you couldn't really die. Suddenly death as an escape was an option.

"Den leader's been looking for ya," said the Assassin, a small man with shoulders like an ox and a few days worth of growth on his face.

"Has she now?"

"Yes. She don't like it when she's made to wait," and Hawk nearly snorted. No, she certainly didn't. Sarah hated waiting, and was terribly impatient. How she dealt with Hawk's incompetence and being completely blind to her advances during their courtship Hawk had no idea.

"Well, that certainly is a problem, cause I have no intention of seeing her. I'm just passing through," Hawk said.

The man frowned, "Sorry, brother," and another of the Assassins reached for him. Hawk didn't think, he just dropped, pushing himself off the roof. He landed on a wide window sill ten feet below and twisted, facing the wall, to climb down. As he did he glanced up and saw the three coming after him.

Hawk hit the street first, jumping the last twelve or so feet and booking it down the street at a full sprint. He wove between people as he ran, shoving some out of the way but never stopping. He also didn't look over his shoulder. If Sarah had sent three hunters after him they'd chase him till they got to him. Especially if they were the special trained trackers who the Assassins used to hunt down and identify high priority targets. He wouldn't have to look behind him to know they were chasing him.

He led them through a chase through Baltimore, managing to lose them a few times so he could stop and catch his breath, but they always found him again. Between the three of them they could cover more ground when they lost him and they had a strange way of finding one another again just at the right moment. He had a feeling these three probably had Eagle Vision and were signaling each other from down streets, and probably tracking him like that too. Seeking his golden trail.

Hawk cursed as he was hiding in an alley, back pressed up against a wall, catching his breath. If they had Eagle Vision he'd never lose them. They could just follow his neat little golden trail.

Hawk took his Apple out and rolled it between his fingers, thinking. He could use it. Altair always suggested against it unless he had to. Altair said it was madness, and he was right, but Hawk was madness. But an Apple could help him escape.

Hawk looked up, frowning. Why did he need to escape? What was left of his heart, the shriveled apple core it was, didn't want to run. And what if he could be fixed? Altair couldn't know everything. Or what if the feeling was just temporary? But mostly he just wanted to hold Sarah again and even if he couldn't feel the love he just wanted to feel her warmth pressed against him. Being an immortal, even with Altair and Ezio, made you lonely, and even Hawk could feel lonely.

Movement at the corner of his eye made him look. His hunters had found him again. He wouldn't be taken in like this. His grip on the Apple shifted and it started to glow. Hawk shimmered and then he split into four, the Assassins' eyes widened under their hoods. Then the Hawks turned and ran the other way, out the other side of the alley and split into four directions, the Assassins running after them, having to split up. One of them was following Hawk and that wouldn't do. When he turned a corner he split again into two and entered a small crowd, got them confused on which was the real one and they ended up following his illusion.

Hawk walked back to the Den, knowing his illusions had enough false intellect to lead the Assassins on a merry chase, stopping and resting like he had, climbing buildings, and making possible jumps.

The back door of the Den was unlocked and Hawk went right in. The bottom floor was empty, but the second and third floor had tenants in them. Non Assassin tenants that had no idea the nature of the fourth floor. The Den looked like most Dens; clean, orderly, the rooms for Assassins to stay in were all open and small. The rooms were just big enough for a bed, a desk on one wall and a trunk on the other side. He went over to the Den leader's office and put his ear to the door. He could hear her inside, working, moving things around.

Hawk stood at the door for several minutes, unsure if he was ready to pick at this scab. Then he took a deep breath and opened the door without knocking. "I'm busy, go away," Sarah said, she was bent over a box on the ground by the wall, going through papers.

"You wanted to see me Den leader," he said and watched her freeze. Then very slowly she looked up.

"Micheal," her voice was thin and soft. Then she was on her feet and practically threw herself into his arms. He held her tightly, wanting to feel her warmth against him if nothing else. Then she kissed him firmly. Then she punched him so hard he saw stars. "YOU ASSHOLE!" she screamed at him and punched him again. Hawk was still stunned from the first punch to the face that the second to the shoulder nearly toppled him. "You awful, terrible, horrible man!"

Hawk was sagging a bit, trying to regain his composure. When he looked at her he saw she was blinking back tears that were both fueled by rage and happiness. Her face couldn't decide if she was furious with him or happy he was here. "Hello, my love," and she punched him again. He just took it. He felt he deserved it. He was surprised when she kissed him again. Good to know that neither of them knew if Sarah was actually angry at him or not.

The door got pushed closed behind them and Hawk was shoved against it angrily. "Hello," she said, breathless from her fury and kissing. Hawk forgot she could look so beautiful when she was angry, even when she was angry at him.

Neither of them said anything and just stood close as they were. Then he felt her fingers brush his and he took her hand. One of her fingers stroked the golden band around his ring finger and she finally started to cry. Hawk held her and she cried into his chest, clutching him. He felt bad he didn't feel the need to cry as well and he could only imagine the emotions Sarah was feeling. He wished he could feel them too. Instead he just offered himself to comfort, stroking her back and holding her hand.

"Why?" she managed to choke out against his chest. "Why did you leave me?"

"Its… complicated," he said helplessly. "I thought it would be better. I'm sorry," he told her softly.

"W-we have a son, did you see?"

"Yes," he squeezed her as she sniffled against his chest. "Though really you're an awful mother making our son be a junior," and that made her laugh and cry at the same time.

She wiped her nose a bit and looked up at him, "You didn't leave me because you don't love me anymore did you?" she asked him, her voice broken and afraid.

"No," Hawk promised and squeezed her again. "I still love you," even if he couldn't feel it, even if he couldn't feel anything. No remorse, no sadness, no love, no happiness. Nothing. The first time he'd seen Sarah as an immortal the silence of nothing had suffocated and terrified him. But he'd grown used to it like men without hearing or who were missing a limb learned to live with it. Only his 'missing limb' was his emotions. The silence wasn't so deafening now and lonely when he held Sarah now. "I've always loved you."

"Except when you thought I was troublesome," she sniffed with a smile.

"Oh you're still troublesome," he said fondly and kissed her. She kissed him back deeply and he knew he still loved her despite not able to feel anything. Her inflamed passion was enough to keep him warm. When they parted they were both breathing heavy and she wasn't crying anymore. Hawk pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped her eyes and nose.

She stepped back from him, holding his hand, and pulled him off the door and through her office to where she and Micheal lived. "Wait right here," she said, leaving him in the doorway of her bedroom and went into Micheal's room. Hawk wasn't an idiot, and he knew his wife. He went into the bedroom and took off his boots and started to take off his weapon harness. He could hear Sarah in the other room talking to Micheal briefly. "I thought I said not to move," she said as he was putting his sword on the desk.

"Yes but I know you hate fiddling with belts and buckles," Hawk said as she closed the door. He unbuckled the straps of his hidden blade and tossed it onto the desk with the rest of his effects.

"I do," she agreed, coming over to him. She grabbed him by the lapels and knocked his hood off. "I forbid you from leaving me again," she told him sternly.

"I don't want to," he said softly. "Sarah," he said before she could kiss him again, "I'm not- I'm different than how I used to be."

"And yet you still came when my men went to fetch you, just like you used to. But not until you dawdled around because you knew I was cross with you." He had to hand it to her there. How many times had he avoided going home after someone told him Sarah was looking for him? Sarah was only looking for him when he was in trouble. Like he'd left his dirty socks out or hadn't brought in firewood before he'd gone out or had eaten all the jam again.

"No I mean-" he sighed, "Its-

"Complicated," she said. "You can tell me later, because it never is as complicated as men claim it is."

He didn't argue with her, because she didn't know. Instead he just let her pull him onto her bed. In this respect at least nothing had changed. Took him a bit longer than usual but she didn't seem to mind, in fact she insisted he do it like that more often. Maybe because it was just physical for him now he was extra aware of making it as good for her as possible.

When they'd exhausted each other they lay on the bed together dozing. Muted diffused sunlight coming in through the window, the sun lower in the sky than it had been when they'd started. If nothing else Hawk felt a bit better and less stressed out by the whole Sarah thing than he did before. He watched her sleeping, lying on her back, her skin still a bit shiny with sweat, her hair clinging to parts of her face. She was so beautiful. He didn't want her to grow to hate him like some of Ezio and Altair's wives had.

She took a deep breath when she woke and opened her eyes a crack to look at him, "Hi," she said, smiling at him. He just smiled back at him and knew it didn't look fake. She rolled over and touched his face with gentle fingers. "You're going to stay?" she asked. He knew she meant that he wouldn't leave her.

He was conflicted. The others would be so disappointed in him for allowing himself to hurt and be hurt like this. But he didn't want to leave her. He hadn't felt so much like himself since he'd Woken the first time, before he'd noticed the lack of emotions. She made him better. Always had so he wasn't exactly surprised either.

"Yes," he said and pulled her against him.

She smiled brightly at him, "Good," she kissed him. "You missed so much while you were away."

"I know," he said.

"Things like our son."

Hawk sighed and stroked her cheek, "I know. I'm sorry."

"We can have another," she said.

He gave a little chuckle, "If we keep this up I don't think it'll take very long," and she laughed brightly.

"Mhm," she nodded, her lips thin in a wide smile. "But first," she propped herself up on her elbow, so she was above him. "Tell me, dear husband, what is so complicated?" she asked and patted his chest..

Hawk froze. Altair and Ezio said it was a secret. Their ailment was to be kept away from mortals, as they always sought such a power for selfish gains. But this was his wife. Sarah was a practical woman too. "I will tell you, but only if you promise not to breathe a word to anyone," he said, taking her hand in his. "It is more secret than our Order, and is important for both my safety and people's opinions on your sanity."

She frowned, "What is it?"

"It will sound impossible. But I promise its true and you have to swear to me you'll keep it secret."

She lifted his hand to her mouth and kissed the ring on it, "I promise."

"I'm immortal," and he saw the denial wash over her face and she sat up a bit more, looking down at him.

"But that's-

"I told you, it's impossible. But it's true," he pushed himself up. "I am immortal. I can be killed, but I cannot die."

"What's that mean?"

"I… come back to life," he said and watched her face change, reading the changes of expression.

"You can't," she said.

"If you want I could show you," Hawk said.

"How?"

"Well my pistol is just on the desk over-

"No!" she cried and pushed him down onto the bed. Well that had been a mistake. "No," she said again, close to tears.

"Its alright," he said and wiped at her eyes with his thumb, "I'd come back to you. You'd just have to feed me your good cooking and I'd be back to new."

"Don't make jokes Micheal."

"I'm not," he said seriously. "But you don't believe me."

"Its impossible."

"It is. But its true. I'm immortal, and I'm not the only one. There are others. One's from the third crusade, the other," he gave a dry little laugh, "the other is Ezio fucking Auditore."

Sarah blinked, "No."

"Yes," he nodded. "I'll write him, ask him to visit. You'll see. Its him, and he looks just like the painting in the Mentor's office. And oh Sarah he is such a prick." He could tell she didn't really believe him, but he supposed that didn't really matter. He could prove it to her. But not now.

They both looked at the door when there was knocking. "Mommy, I'm hungry," Micheal called.

Sarah looked at Hawk, "Get dressed, you need to meet your son," she told him and got out of bed.

"Sarah, you have to believe me," he sat up and watched her pull on a dress.

She turned to him, "I believe you think these things," she said, "but belief and reality aren't always the same," and he scowled at her. "Get dressed," she added sternly and then opened the door. "Is my baby hungry?" she asked sweetly down to their son.

"Yes! I want oats and honey," Micheal said and then Sarah closed the door between them and Hawk. Hawk thumped back onto the bed with a huff. He folded his arms and stared up at the ceiling for a moment before rolling out of bed and getting dressed.

He grabbed his Apple before easing out of the bedroom and found mother and son in the kitchen. Sarah had given Micheal some tea with honey in it and Hawk stood in the doorway watching. Micheal was watching Sarah make him a snack. The floor creaked a bit when Hawk shifted his weight and Micheal turned and looked at him. "Who are you?" they asked.

Hawk went over to the table, feeling Sarah eye him out of the corner of her eye. He squatted in front of his son. "I'm your dad," he said.

Micheal cocked his head at him, "You are?"

"Yes," he nodded a little.

"Where have you been?"

Hawk felt ashamed. "I've been on an important journey," he said. "So I couldn't be around."

"Oh. Mommy said we have the same name. So does that make you Micheal too?"

"That was my name," he agreed. "I don't really use it anymore."

"Why not?"

"Because it doesn't suit me anymore. Besides, there can only be one Micheal in the family, and I think the name looks better on you," and Micheal giggled.

"Then what is it?"

"Hawk," he said.

"Like the bird?"

"Yes," Hawk said, "and like the bird I can fly too."

"You can?" Micheal's eyes grew very wide.

"I can," Hawk said.

"I wanna see!"

"Later," Hawk promised him. "You can call me that if you want. Or- or dad," he felt slightly foolish, even though this was his son and his son should have every right to call him dad.

"Okay," Micheal beamed. "Did you finish your journey? Are you going to be staying?"

"Yes," Hawk said. "I'll be staying here with you and your mommy," and he hugged his son. "Oh you're a good hugger Micheal," he grunted when Micheal hugged him back and that made Micheal giggle again.

"Mommy says so too," he said brightly.

"Well your mommy is a very smart lady. You better listen to everything she says," Hawk said seriously. Still smiling Micheal nodded.

"If only you took your own advice," Sarah said, putting Micheal's snack down in front of him.

"I do sometimes," Hawk said, standing as Micheal became more interested in his snack than Hawk. "I need to go."

"Miche-

"I'll be back in a little bit," Hawk said, "I have my stuff at a inn."

"Oh," she said, feeling foolish for sounding so worried.

"And I'm going to send a message to Ezio to have him come to visit. Get the lecture out of the way as quickly as possible for my transgressions."

"Of course," though Sarah didn't believe him about Ezio or the immortality.

"I'll be back soon," he went around Micheal's chair and kissed Sarah firmly. Then he left.

He went back to the inn, wrote a message to Ezio. Altair was currently in Asia so he was the only one he really had to confess to. He told Ezio about what he'd done and then invited him to visit. Knowing Ezio he'd come right away to give Hawk a stern talking to. He paid for the post and then got his things together and took them and Clipper back to the Den. He left Clipper in the stable in the back, picking an empty stall for his trusty horse before going inside. As he did he kept telling himself it'd be okay.

Hawk knew Ezio had come the moment the immortal entered the building. While his Apple couldn't be used by anyone other than him it still responded to those with great ability. Hawk and his Apple were linked in a way he didn't quite understand and even when it wasn't in hand he could still sense it, still sort of manipulate it. He felt when Ezio entered the building because his Apple responded strongly.

There was a firm knocking on the secondary door of Sarah's apartment, the one that didn't lead to the office. Hawk was sitting at the table with Micheal, shelling peas for dinner. Sarah got the door and Hawk sort of laughed when Sarah just stood very still. Wasn't often you came face to face with a legend or something out of a portrait.

"God," she said.

"Sorry, wrong guy, I'll let him know you're looking for him," Ezio said. Then he looked over her shoulder. "You," he pointed at Hawk. "Get out here so I can yell at you some you giant nitwit."

"Who's that daddy?" Micheal asked him. Micheal had taken to him quickly, thrilled to have someone else who'd play with him and equally thrilled to have a father.

"A friend of mine. His name is Ezio."

"Etsio?"

"Close," Hawk said.

"Hawk," Ezio growled from the doorway.

"You could at least say hello to my wife," Hawk said, getting up. He went over to the door, "Dear," he took her arm, "go sit down you look like you're about to faint."

She looked at him, "You were telling the truth," she breathed, wide eyed.

"I told you I was," he said.

"Excuse me," Ezio said, "Mrs. Hart, I need to borrow your husband. He's a bonehead and we need to discuss something." Then Ezio grabbed Hawk's arm and unceremoniously dragged him away. He pushed Hawk into one of the rooms Assassins could stay in and closed the door. "Have you lost your mind?" Ezio asked.

"No," Hawk said.

"Then what is the matter with you?" he demanded. "You told her everything?" Hawk nodded. "About me and Altair too?" another nod. "Hawk, what part of 'its a secret' didn't you understand?"

"I had to tell her," he said.

"No you didn't."

"I want to. I wanted her to understand. I love her, Ezio. And since I've come back I feel… better."

"Wait wait," Ezio waved his hands a bit. "Better like… better? Like are you actually better or do you just feel better?"

"I still don't feel," Hawk admitted. "But I feel better."

"Have you told her about that?"

"I have. She doesn't really understand, but she understands I'm not the man I was. And I've been able to fake it well enough that it feels natural. You and Altair were wrong," Ezio blinked in confusion. "You said I'd never recover anything. But I have. Even just a few days. I don't think I'll ever be like I was but-

"And what about in ten years when she's older and you're not? Or what about in twenty or thirty years when she's an old woman and you're not?" Ezio demanded.

"I didn't-

"Think of that? No shit. Hawk, look," he put his hands on Hawk's shoulders.

"I know you love you her," he said sympathetically. "I loved my Sofia too. She was my first wife. I worshiped the ground she walked on and did everything I could to pretend I aged. Eventually I grew too old and everyone around me would start to grow suspicious. I had to leave her, and my children, before I wanted to. It broke my heart, it broke Sofia's heart, and the Assassins mourned for weeks that I was gone. If I'd just left with Altair years before that, before I'd ever become so important, before I found something I loved it wouldn't have hurt so much. I would have saved everyone, including myself, a lot of pain. And then, I was still a fool, just like you. After I 'died' I lingered for years, watching, unable to let go. I watched Sofia, my children, my friends all grow old, grey and eventually die. It was worse than when I had to leave them.

"The point is Hawk, that they will die. Sarah will die, your son will die."

"Why?" Hawk asked Ezio. He understood what Ezio was saying, but that didn't mean he had to agree.

"What do you mean why?"

"Why does my wife have to die?"

"She's a mortal Hawk. Mortals die. That is their right."

"But I was mortal. You were mortal. Altair was mortal. We're not anymore. We became immortal. Why can't I make my wife immortal?"

"It doesn't work that way-

"Why not?" Hawk demanded. "I am broken. Altair broke me. He couldn't just let me die. He had to meddle in my head. I remember my Apple visions, I had the perfect life. I could have died believing that lie. Instead he tried to save me and instead killed me a thousand fold.

"I appreciate everything you two have done for me the past six years," Hawk said. "But there's no rule that says my wife has to die, that my wife can't become immortal. Altair used my Apple to make me immortal, he made himself immortal with one, and you as well. Why does he get to decide who gets to live and die?" Hawk asked.

"Because he's the oldest. He knows best," Ezio said.

"Does he?" Hawk asked. "Or are you just too scared of him to ever question him?"

"No," Ezio said. The look in Ezio's eye was the truth even though his mouth was a lie. Maybe he wasn't afraid of Altair, but he had a healthy respect for his decisions. "He'd never make Sarah immortal," Ezio said.

"Well the Apple obeys me, not him, so he'll have to get over it."

"Hawk," Ezio grabbed his arm, "You can't be serious."

"Why not?" Hawk asked.

"You're not even going to ask her?"

"I was going to," Hawk said and shrugged off Ezio's hand. "More than was given to me. You've given me your lecture now. Do you want to stay for dinner? If you don't then just get out. I don't have time for scared old men."

"Now listen here kid," Ezio growled. "You don't know what you're doing."

"And neither do you," Hawk said. "So don't act like you're better than me. Go back to your sinning Ezio. Its all you have anyway." Before he'd become Hawk he'd have never said any of these things. But Hawk had no filter, and very little ability to show compassion unless he was paying attention. Hawk just said what he meant and didn't care for other people's feelings unless, again, he was paying attention. "I'm going back to my wife and son," and then he left the room.

Ezio didn't stay for dinner.

Hawk was sitting on the bed his Apple in his lap. Altair had taught him to scry as one of the first lessons. Probably so he could look in on his family without being close to them and potentially hurting them. He was scrying. For what he didn't quite know yet.

It had been five months since he'd seen Ezio. He'd talked with Sarah about the immortal thing and she still didn't really believe him and had just sort of laughed when he said he wanted to make her immortal.

He'd searched the Apple, with great difficulty, for the secret for immortality and found quickly that it was impossible. At least with this Apple. In ways he didn't understand his immortality and the Apple were linked. Now he was scrying for something that could make someone immortal, or help him make someone immortal. That was harder than it sounded. On the surface it sounded easy, but in reality it was difficult. Something was blocking his scry when he did it. All he got was a strange miasma when he turned his scrying towards a particular part of the world and when he pressed too hard he was met shown the snarling visage of a beast that was the cross between a dragon and a wolf with piercing blue eyes. He didn't understand it and kept pushing, but whatever it was was unseeable by him. It was so annoying and frustrating.

He sighed and gave up for the day after having to see the beast. He put the Apple on the bedside table in the little cup he had for it. Sarah didn't understand his desire to have the Apple close at hand, but she also didn't comment on it. She was still just happy to have him back with her.

Hawk went and found his son who was in his room doing his home school work. Just simple math and reading for now since he was only six. He sat with Micheal and helped him since Sarah was in her office working. Hawk didn't know how he felt about effectively being in the woman's position in their relationship. Helping the children, keeping the apartment tidy, staying inside most of the time. Not like he could go on missions, he was dead to the Assassins.

There was a knocking on the secondary door and Hawk looked over his shoulder, out Micheal's door. "Your mommy isn't expecting any personal visits is she?" he asked his son.

"No," Micheal said.

Odd.

"You keep working I'll get the door," and he got up. For a second he thought it could have been Ezio, or maybe Altair. But Altair was very hands off with him for the most part unless he asked. If he'd been capable he would have resented Altair for it since of course now that he was immortal Altair was hands off. Couldn't have been hands off and just let him die in peace.

He opened the door to a very tall man of oriental descent who dressed like an American. His black hair was tied back in a limp horse tail and his slightly slanted eyes were icy blue. For a second Hawk had a flashback to his scrying and the wolf-dragon beast he couldn't see. The man had a pleasant smile for Hawk when he saw him. "Hello, are you Micheal?" he asked.

"Uh… no?" Hawk said. He didn't know this man.

"Ah," the man seemed to remember something, "Right, you insist on being called Hawk now. Forgive me, memory isn't always what it could be," and Hawk saw a lie when it happened. This man hadn't forgotten.

"I do. Who are you?"

"No need to act so cagey Hawk, I'm a friend. My name is Cain," he held his hand out to Hawk.

Hawk took it and shook the big man's big hand. "How do you know me?"

"My brother told me about you. Some rather glowing words I might add, even if from someone else's mouth they would have been subjective."

"I'm sorry I have no idea who you are," Hawk said.

"No trouble. I didn't expect you to. I'm Altair's friend."

"Altair doesn't have any friends," Hawk said automatically.

"Ah, now we both know that isn't true. And I'm a very old friend."

A beat passed and then Hawk glanced back into Micheal's room before giving his attention back to Cain. "How old?"

"Very old."

"Either you're having a go at me, or Altair hasn't told me something very important," Hawk said.

"It would be the latter. I'm even more secretive than him. Half the time he forgets, the other half he wills himself to pretend I don't exist. Now, can I come in?"

"Depends. What are you doing here? What do you want? How did you find this place?"

"You called me here," Cain said seriously. "Quite insistently I might add. So why don't you tell me why I'm here as I'm just as curious as you."

"I didn't call you here. I don't even know who you are," Hawk said sternly.

"So you weren't the person trying to scry me for the past four months?" Cain asked.

"How did-"

"Let me in, lets talk," Cain said. Hawk let him in. "Lovely home, your wife has excellent taste," Cain was pleasant and soft spoken, removing his hat when he came into the apartment.

"I'll be right back," Hawk said and went into his son's room. "Mikey," he said, going to his son and putting his hand on the back of his chair.

"Yeah daddy?" Micheal looked up at him.

"I have a guest over. Its a secret guest. So don't come out until I come get you, and don't tell mommy about it okay?"

"Okay," Micheal nodded. Though he was only six Micheal knew how to keep secrets. He knew that the people Sarah met with were important people and discretion was key. Micheal couldn't go blabbering about the Order or what his mother did to his street friends. He also knew that sometimes he had to stay in his room when there was a meeting. Sarah also always told Micheal she and Hawk were having a secret talk whenever she decided they were going to make love during the middle of the day (which happened often even though Hawk had been back months).

"Good boy. Now you keep working on your school work and I'll be back to help you once I'm done."

"Okay, daddy," and Micheal went back to his work. Hawk gave his son a fond hair ruffle and went back out to the kitchen, closing the door behind him. Cain was sitting at the kitchen table, waiting for him.

Hawk sat opposite him. "So what am I doing here?" Cain asked him.

"I don't understand. I didn't call you here. I was just scrying."

"And from the way you speak of it you don't even know what scrying is. I'll save you the boring lecture for another time when you have a better understanding on the nature of things. All you need to know is that I felt you scrying me, and I do not like being spied on. I've killed men for less. But we both know that's only a temporary fix and I doubt would answer my question if I just made a point to put you Under for spying on me."

"I didn't mean to," Hawk said. He had a feeling Cain was supposed to be intimidating. It meant nothing to Hawk. He was quite literally fearless. "I was looking for something to help me."

"With what?"

"I'm immortal."

"Yes," Cain agreed.

"My wife is not."

"Yes," Cain said after a second.

"Altair and Ezio said I had to stay away from her. Because she will grow old, die, and I will be alone. But why? Why do I have to be alone? Why do any of us have to be alone? If you're an old friend of Altair's maybe you know what he isn't here to answer for," Hawk said.

"What do you think Altair would say?" Cain asked.

"That he wouldn't help me because he doesn't cause unnecessary suffering. Because immortality is a curse inflicted on us."

Cain sighed with a frown, "Altair is… troubled by his immortality," he said. "He sees it as a burden. But, it doesn't have to be that way."

"No?"

"No," Cain said. "I'm… very old Hawk. I won't tell you how old. But its older than Altair. Altair torments himself, and drags you and Ezio down with him. But it doesn't have to be that way. You're immortal. You have all the time in the world to do whatever you want. Pursue any path you can imagine. Learn every language in the world, learn to play fifty instruments, become a conqueror, be named a saint, have all the loves of your life you want. Endless time is endless possibilities. Altair is obsessed with dying. He can't wait until the sun explodes and kills us all for good- oops shouldn't have said that, that's science beyond you people yet still. Forget I said that," Cain waved it away quickly.

"That doesn't answer my question," Hawk said. "Why do I have to be alone?"

"You don't," Cain said.

"I want to make my wife immortal. I love her. I have a condition that makes it impossible for me to feel emotion. Its a void in my life, but when I'm with her it doesn't feel quite so expansive. I lived without her for just six years and was empty. In the five months I've been back with her I can almost pretend I'm fixed. I don't want to live without her ever again."

Cain studied him seriously. "What made you like that?"

"I don't know. I went Under the first time and when I Woke I was like this. Altair thinks it has something to do with my Apple, but he doesn't know what to do to fix me, and he's tried."

"You have an Apple here?" Cain asked, Hawk nodded. "Bring it here. Lets see." Hawk went and got it and rolled it across the table to Cain. Cain's brows went up in surprise. "Curious," he said, running his finger along the cut groove in the Apple. "You're a very curious creature, Hawk," he said. "Never seen anything like you before," Cain smirked.

"Do you know what's wrong?"

"I might. But its nothing I can fix. I don't have the ability. It'd take a greater power than I to undo what has been done to you, I'm sorry," he rolled the Apple back to Hawk. "It is very curious though," Cain's smile was like a serpant's, but not in a deadly way.

"Can you make my wife immortal?" Hawk asked.

"Yes."

"Will you make her immortal?"

"Does she want to become immortal?"

"She doesn't believe me about it," Hawk said. "I could convince her if she just saw that I wasn't crazy."

"What do you think would convince her?"

"If I went Under and came back," Hawk said.

"And what would you do to make your wife immortal if she agreed?"

"Anything," Hawk said without hesitation.

"Even have your son die?" Cain asked.

"If I had to. But why?"

"Because eternal life is not free, Micheal," Cain said purposefully. "We all have paid some price for our immortality. Life and death always has to have a balance. Immortals tip the scale too far onto the side of life. We are eternal. For our lives to be equal the universe must balance out with death somehow. At least when you force immortality. Myself and Altair are 'natural' immortals. We stumbled into it. You and Ezio were pressed into your immortality.

"For us there was enough leeway between life and death to allow our Waking rather painlessly. Ezio paid his price all through his life, because in this timeline he was destined to become immortal. He lost his family, all his friends, and led one of the bloodiest wars between you foolish Assassins and Templars since the third crusade. Your price was you. You're different, in more ways than you can imagine. The Apple changed you and you are your own price.

"And men are one thing. But a woman? There are no female immortals. Do you know why?"

"Why?" Hawk asked.

"Because they are life. A man is just the product of a woman, of the first woman, back millions of years. We all come from our mothers and while nowadays we take the surnames of our fathers and men treat women like their property; it wasn't always like that. A true female immortal is worth more than the four of us. While a man can sire any number of children, that's all he is, a sire and ultimately gives little in way of history to genetics. Because its through our mothers that humanity exists, not our fathers. A woman has the history of our entire species within her body, passed from her mother and their mother and an unbroken line of mothers since the dawn of time. To have such a strong component for life as an immortal would require a great price," Cain said. "Does that make sense?"

"I think so? Hawk was a bit confused.

"It might be above your scientific understanding," Cain said nicely. "But the fact is is that a woman would tip the scale between life and death more than a man. You want your wife to be immortal? You must pay in blood."

"What do I have to do?" Hawk asked seriously.

"No hesitation?"

"I don't know the meaning anymore," Hawk said. "You said my son would have to die."

"Yes."

"We can have another," Hawk said.

"You could," Cain agreed. "But death of children has driven women to madness in grief."

"Because they have nothing in their lives but to be a mother. Sarah is more than that."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. What else?"

"You're very serious about this."

"I refuse to live without her again," Hawk said.

"Very well. Many people will die because of your wife, can you live with that?"

"Yes."

"Okay. I will make your wife immortal."

"You will?"

"Yes. But you must be the one to kill your son. So you know that when you comfort your heart broken wife that you're the cause of her misery and grief."

"Now?"

"No. If you convince her. Then yes, you must before I do it."

"Fine. Kill me."

"Kill you?"

"Yes, and then go get her. I want her to see that death is not permanent for us."

Cain chuckled a little and got up. "You certainly are interesting Hawk," he said. "How would you like it? I find that suffocation is the easiest thing to come back from. At the very least the fastest. You're young yet, should take a few hours to Wake again."

"Then do that," Hawk said, looking ahead unflinchingly. Cain stood behind him and put his hands around Hawk's neck. "Wait," he said quickly and got to his feet. He went to Sarah's office and poked his head inside, she was at her desk doing paperwork. "Honey," he said.

"Yes dear?"

"I'm going out for a bit."

"Okay," she said, not looking at him. Hawk closed the door and motioned for Cain to follow him. He led Cain to one of the Assassins quarters and sat on the bed. "Okay, now do it," he said seriously. Cain put his big hands around his neck and put pressure on his windpipe.

"I'll get your wife before you Wake," Cain said.

Hawk had to fight the urge to fight back against Cain suffocating. He ended up just sitting on his hands as he choked and felt light headed. He passed out before he died, so that was something at least.

He Woke to the sound of sobbing. His eyes opened and he looked around. Cain was standing in the doorway, leaning against the side, arms folded. The crying was coming from Sarah who was sobbing into lap.

"Oh c'mon now, I'm not really dead," Hawk said.

Sarah's head shot up. "Micheal!" she hugged him tightly and he hugged her back. She took his face in her hands. "But- but how? I checked your pulse, you were dead."

"I told you," Hawk said. "I'm immortal. I can be killed, but I can't die. I will always come back to you," he gently stroked her face.

She just stared at him, trying to figure it all out. Then she looked at Cain, "Who's he?"

"He's also an immortal," Hawk said.

"Your husband brought me here," Cain said. "He wants me to give you our gift."

"Gift… Become immortal?"

"Yes," Cain said.

"I don't… You're joking."

"I've been known to but not about things of this gravity," Cain said. "Do you want immortality Mrs. Hart?" Cain asked. "Your husband will outlive you, and your son, and your grandchildren, and great grandchildren, and all your descendants until they are hardly your descendants. He can do it alone, or you can be with him."

Sarah looked overwhelmed. Hawk took her hand, "You don't have to decide right now," he said. "Its a big question. Right?" he directed at Cain.

"Correct. I will be around for if you need me. Good day Harts," and he pulled his hat on and left.

Sarah looked at Hawk wide eyed, "Is he for real?" Hawk nodded. "And you're okay?"

"I'm perfect," Hawk promised and kissed her. "Well, except I'm starving."

"And how is this different from any other time?" she sort of scolded, Hawk laughed.

He sat up and pulled Sarah to her feet when he stood. "Its known as the Waking hunger. Its a small price we pay when we come back to life. Our body uses a lot of energy to Wake us, so we need to eat to replenish that energy."

"I see," Sarah said thoughtfully. "Its dinner time too."

"Perfect timing," Hawk kissed her cheek and they went back to their apartment.

Hawk was sleeping when he was being woken. It was barely past sunrise when Sarah prodded him awake. "What?" he grumbled.

"Go find your friend," she said.

"What?" he asked tiredly.

"He promised he would make me immortal. I want that," she said and Hawk was abruptly awake.

"You do?" It had been two weeks and he could see Sarah thinking about it the entire time.

"Yes," she said and leaned over, kissing him. "I want to be with your forever," she took his left hand in her left. "Till death do us part," she whispered, their rings rubbing together a bit.

"Alright. I'll go find him. When its light out," Hawk yawned. She lay down nearly on top of him and Hawk held her against him. He slept a bit more and once it was light he got up and went to find Cain after breakfast. As he was leaving Micheal was off to see his tutor a few streets down and then after to play with his street friends. He found Cain easily enough with the help of his Apple.

"At last," Cain said when Hawk found him. "So?"

"Sarah wants it," Hawk said.

"Very well. You remember what I told you?"

"Yes."

"Then go do it."

"You'll do it today?"

"Yes. Or rather, we will."

"Okay," and Hawk left Cain and went to find his son, murder in his heart. But it wasn't cold or hot, it was just murder. Murder with a purpose. Hawk would give Sarah as many children as she wanted, he just had to kill their first born. Micheal would have balked, recoiled, and refused such a gruesome task. But Hawk was not Micheal.

He loved his son, but he didn't 'love' his son. He loved his son as a theory, an idea but there was no memory of love he could cling to like he could with Sarah. He felt nothing when he found the tutor's house and called Micheal from it, saying they were playing hookie and to not tell his mommy.

Hawk took Micheal down to the beach, which he knew his son and friends did sometimes. He let let him play in the water for a bit before eventually joining him. Hawk then put his hand on his son's head and pushed down, holding his head under the water. Micheal thrashed against him, trying to get his head above water but Hawk held him down. His little hands grabbed at him tugging urgently and nearly made something happen but Hawk just used his other hand to hold him down.

The death was passionless, and no one even saw. When Micheal stopped thrashing Hawk released him and the body of the little boy floated a bit. Hawk checked for a pulse. Satisfied there was none Hawk walked back to the shore.

He felt no guilt for what he'd done. He would murder and sacrifice whatever he had to to keep Sarah. He dressed in dry clothes and went back to Cain.

"Its done," he told Cain.

"No remorse?"

"No," Hawk said.

"Interesting. Lets go find your wife," and they both returned to the Den. Sarah was in the apartment, doing a bit of tidying up. "Mrs. Hart, you look lovely today," Cain said when they walked in.

"Oh, Cain, thank you," she said. She looked a bit nervous.

"No need to be anxious," Cain said. "Everything will be fine. It'll be done before your son gets home."

"Oh good," she said but was still gnawing her cheek anxiously.

"Sarah, really, its fine," Hawk said soothingly.

"If you say so," she swallowed, "So, what do I have to do?"

"I would suggest sitting somewhere comfortable. The process does involve dying, but you'll come back," she nodded and sat in her favorite chair. "Now then Hawk, the Apple?" Hawk produced it and held it out for Cain. "No, its yours, I can just use it with your permission."

"You have my permission," Hawk said dumbly.

"Act like you're going to scry," Cain said. Hawk did and was hit by the nausea as the Apple started to glow. Cain reached out and put his hand on the Apple, closing his eyes. "Now, Sarah," he said, "When I tell you I need you to touch the Apple, can you do that?"

"Yes," she said.

"All right," and Hawk heard the singing, high and soaring, nearly shrieking. "Shhh," Cain whispered and the singing softened. Cain mouthed words but Hawk couldn't read his lips. Then he removed his hand from the Apple. "All right, touch the Apple."

Hawk offered the Apple to Sarah. She touched it and there was bit of a flash. Sarah fell forward and Hawk dropped his Apple to catch her before she fell off the couch. "This is right?" Hawk asked Cain.

"Oh yes," Cain said.

"How do you know?" he asked.

"I just do," Cain said. "She'll Wake in half an hour or so. Have some food ready for her, she'll be ravenous."

"She's immortal?"

"Yes," Cain said.

"You said there would be more death."

"Oh yes."

"What sort?"

"I don't know. The world will balance itself out in time. I suspect there will be another war soon, a big one."

"Like how soon? Weeks, months, years?"

"I don't know," Cain said. "Could start soon, could take years or decades. But you will know it when you see it for it will be suffering like the world has yet to see in centuries. A woman immortal…" he looked thoughtful. "Keep her safe, Hawk. She'll be different when she Wakes. Not like you," he added at Hawk's question already forming on his lips. "But different."

"Thank you," Hawk said.

"My pleasure. Tell my brother I said hello, and if he's angry about this to come yell at me about it instead of you."

"Who is your brother?" Hawk asked.

"Why, Altair of course," Cain smiled then nodded to Hawk and walked out.


*mean laughter off screen*