Thank you again for the reviews! Also, I don't own AC2 or any of its contents. The only thing I own is the character, Ophelia. I apologize that this chapter took a while to get up. I had to watch some walkthroughs to remember exactly what happened in Tuscany. Though I'm still not following the storyline completely, Ezio needs to be going on missions and doing something. So again, I apologize for the wait, but here it is! Enjoy!

The next month at Monteriggioni was painful for Ezio, both physically and emotionally. Mario put Ezio through more rigorous training which often sore and occasionally cut and bleeding at the end of the day. His hands were becoming more calloused from free running and his skin which was once perfectly smooth and bronzed was now scarred. Mario had to admit, though, that he was surprised by his nephew's progress and dedication to training. He also assumed that training was the only thing Ezio could do to keep his mind off of Ophelia.

But Mario was wrong. Training reminded Ezio Ophelia. She was the one who he used to train with, more so than Mario. Without her there, he focused more but his enjoyment in the activity declined. Monteriggioni wasn't the same without Ophelia.

Ezio also began thinking of the murder of his father and brothers more. His emotional support was gone and the only people he had to talk to about such things were Claudia and Maria who were both still trying to cope with the event. Ezio took out his pain in the form of writing letters to Ophelia, one every two days. In the letters, Ezio expressed his love for her, his troubles, and told her about the days' events. He occasionally received letters from Ophelia and not nearly as frequently as he would like, but few letters were better than no letters. Ezio kept each one in a jar in his room which he placed on his desk. Before going to sleep every night, he would read one over again. Just knowing that her hands touched the piece of paper was enough for Ezio to smile.

Ezio was sitting at his desk, almost finished with a letter to Ophelia, when Mario made his way up Ezio's ladder.

"Napote?" Mario asked quietly, not wanting to startle the focused assassin.

"Si, uncle?" Ezio asked, his eyes staying focused on the piece of paper on his desk.

"We have another mission tomorrow," Mario explained, pulling himself up onto the floor from the ladder.

Ezio's heart fluttered at the thought of the mission being in Florence. He knew that chance was slim, but he still had hope. "And where will this mission be?" Ezio asked.

"Tuscany," Mario replied. Ezio's face instantly returned to its dark demeanor. "We will be there fulfilling a few different missions which I'll explain when we arrive, but mainly to assassinate Archbishop Salviati."

Ezio finished the letter to Ophelia and put down his quill. "What time will we be leaving?" Ezio asked.

Mario chuckled, holding onto his belt loop. "Well, you know me… the earlier the better. At sunrise," Mario explained. "So get some rest. We will be in Tuscany for a few days and you may not get much sleep there."

Ezio nodded and stood up to face Mario. "I will, uncle. Grazie," Ezio thanked before Mario made his way back down the ladder before disappearing into the hallway. One Ezio saw that Mario had left, he sighed and took out a letter from his jar. He collapsed onto his bed and slowly unfolded the piece of paper.

Tesoro,

Grazie per avermi scritto. Che bello sentirti! Scusami per non averti scritto per cosi tanto tempo. My work has been taking up much of my time, but my time with Leonardo has been great. His endeavors are impressive, so watching him work has been very entertaining. I can't talk of any of the details of my mission… I don't want such information getting out if this letter were to be stolen or lost. All is well for me here in Firenze though, and I wish to hear from you soon. All of your letters make me smile, so please continue to send them! Also, tell Mario that Leo has looked into many more pages. I trust you know what that means… I've gotten into painting. Leonardo has taught me many skills. Someday, I will send a painting to you for your room, if you even have room up there! Aside from painting and my mission, I haven't done much else. I can't watch Leonardo when he studies anatomy. My stomach cannot take it! He likes to work in peace when he has a new invention, so I don't help with them. Leonardo has been helping my reading. His books are very complicated so I occasionally pick one up and try to get through it. He helps me understand words I do not know. When we see each other again, I will teach you some of them. Mi manchi cosi tanto, e il mio amore per te cresce ogni minuto, Ezio. Rispondimi presto, Tesoro. Ti amo.

Con tanto amore,

Ophelia Moretti

Ezio smiled as he read the words on the page, followed by a kiss to her signature. Reading letters from Ophelia made him feel better and worse at the same time. Knowing she had contact with the paper somehow helped shorten the gap between them, yet, knowing a letter was the closest he could get to her overwhelmed him with sadness.

Ezio folded up the piece of paper and put it back into the jar. He sat back down on the bed after removing his armor and robes. He placed his hands on the sides of his head and his elbows on his knees before drifting off into thought. A mission would be good for him. He'd have to clear his head to be successful in his mission which meant that he wouldn't be stuck on his feelings for Ophelia and how they were being pulled at by their distance. He was madly, deeply in love with Ophelia, but he knew that for the sake of many, he would have to push that aside. The Brotherhood had to be his first priority.

Ezio lied back onto the bed, resting his head on a pillow. He pulled the blanket over his muscular body before closing his eyes and falling asleep.

Early that morning, Ezio was awakened by a frantic Mario. Ezio learned from his first mission that Mario was frantic when preparing to go out on a mission much like parents getting ready to embark on a trip with two small children. Mario had to make sure they didn't leave anything behind and that everybody was prepared. Ezio knew that this was a good quality but couldn't help but smile at Mario's actions in amusement.

Once Ezio, Mario, and a few missionaries had packed up their horses at the stable, they set out to Tuscany. The trip took about a day, Tuscany not being far from Monteriggioni. The group arrived at a small farm house where they dismounted and tied up their horses. Mario had the men, including Ezio, form a group in front of him so he could explain the missions of the day. "Our first mission of the day will be to assassinate Stefano de Bagnone in the abbey. He will be disguised as a monk. Hopefully he will give us information as to where Jacopo is. Ezio, it will be up to you to find de Bagnone but mercenaries will be around if you need them. Next, we will find Francesco Salviati. He, too, should know about Jacopo's location," Mario announced to the group. The men all nodded and armed themselves accordingly. Mario turned to Ezio and pointed in the direction of the abbey. No other words were exchanged; Ezio knew what he must do.

Ezio mounted his horse and rode unassumingly to the abbey. There, he took a quick survey of his surroundings using that special vision of his. He still didn't know why he had it but it definitely came in hand. He noticed that the area was heavily guarded, probably restricted. Many guards were disguised as monks. Clever, on their part.

"Psst!" Ezio heard coming from a nearby wall. There he saw a mercenary, not one of Mario's, waving for Ezio to come over. "Come! Quickly!"

Ezio quickly dismounted his horse and went cautiously to the mercenary. "Who are you?" Ezio asked suspiciously, looking around to see if guards were nearby.

"I've been in contact with Mario's mercenaries. I can help you find Stefano de Bagnone. He's inside the abbey. The last time I saw him, he was surrounded by two guards, also dressed as monks. You'll need to make a hasty escape. here, take these," the man said, holding out three bombs.

Ezio carefully took the bombs and hooked them onto his belt. "Grazie. Are the doors blocked?" Ezio asked the mercenary.

The mercenary nodded and pointed to the rooftop. "Come in from above. You'll have no chance through the entrances," the man suggested.

Ezio nodded his head in thanks and quickly moved toward the building. He looked up to a tall tower, tracing out a path to the rooftops. Many guards were on the ground, so he'd need to be quick. With stealth and dexterity, Ezio scaled the wall of the tower and quickly positioned himself in a crouch to avoid being seen from the ground. Slowly, he made his way toward the edge of the roof to look into the center of the abbey. He watched the many cloaks below him and finally saw his target glowing gold. Ezio grinned and watched de Bagnone's patters. He made a rectangular trip around the abbey. Ezio carefully determined when he should strike. He'd have to take down de Bagnone first if he had any chance of getting to him. If Ezio were to target the guards first, Stefano would be long gone into safety.

After formulating a plan of action, Ezio jumped to the top of a fountain at the abbey's center. Stefano was about to cross in front of him. Ezio waited for Stefano to walk just past before he jumped onto de Bagnone, driving his hidden blade through the man's back. Ezio held Stefano's head as he crouched over him.

"Where is Jacopo?" Ezio asked, being careful not to treat this body as he did Vieri's.

Stefano coughed and held his wound. He managed to shrug his shoulders before looking up to Ezio. "I guess there is no danger now… He will be meeting with the Gods…" Stefano took his last breath before his eyes glazed over.

Ezio wondered what the man meant by 'meeting with the Gods.' He would ask Mario later. "May death bring you the peace you seek… Requiescat in Pace," Ezio shut de Bagnone's eyes before his focus settled on the sea of guards around him. Ezio pulled a smoke bomb from his belt, quickly threw it, and made a run for the countryside. A few guards managed to follow Ezio. Instead of running further, Ezio assessed that they were far enough from the abbey for him not to be in danger for more guards showing up. Ezio took out his sword and quickly killed the three guards.

Ezio ran toward his horse which stood next to the mercenary that give him the leads on de Bagnone. Ezio quickly mounted it and rode back to the farmhouse to relay the information to Mario.

Mario saw Ezio coming and held his hands up high. "What news do you have for me, napote?" Mario asked, helping Ezio off his horse.

"Stefano de Bagnone has been silenced. After his last breath, he told me that Jacopo would be meeting with the Gods. I'm not sure what that means," Ezio explained,, shrugging his shoulders at the confusion in the information he was given by de Bagnone.

Mario scratched his chin in thought. He turned to a mercenary. "Try and figure more out about this. Ask the towns people if there is a religious spot around here that isn't catholic. Look for other places of worship. Come back when you are finished," Mario requested. The mercenary nodded, got on his horse, and rode off to the other farm houses of Tuscany.

"In the meantime, Ezio, you will take the other men and find Archbishop Salviati. He is in the walls of the villa," Mario pointed over to the villa of interest. "He has many men on guard, so you'll need all the help you can get. Make it quick as we are here for Jacopo more than Salviati," Mario put a hand on Ezio's shoulder and gave him a stern look.

Ezio nodded, understanding the importance of the swiftness of his mission. "Si, uncle. It is done," Ezio promised before motioning the men to follow him to the villa.

They walked over and stopped so Ezio could assess their way in. There was a farm house ahead that a group of guards stood at. This would be a problem. Ezio ordered the mercenaries to fight the guards, which they did. In the meantime, Ezio heard Salviati begin to yell to him.

"I see you assassin! You will not get through these walls! All that awaits you here is death!" Salviati called from inside the walls of the villa.

Ezio rolled his eyes at the man's comments. If he had any experience and knowledge of the order of assassins, then he'd know that the contrary was true. The assassins did fail, though rarely, but they definitely always managed to get in.

Salviati quieted for a bit. Ezio ran to the rooftops of the farm house and spotted the archers waiting for him and his men. Ezio took threw a throwing knife at each archer before he approached the villa by means of the rooftops.

Ezio looked back to his men fighting on the ground. They would need a different way in; not all of them could climb like Ezio. He looked to the lever that controlled the main gate. If Ezio could open up that gate, he would be able to let the men in.

Ezio quickly moved across the main rooftop of the villa and over to the main gate. Guards were down below. Ezio had no safe lien to the lever. He jumped down from the rooftop and quickly ran over to the lever, pulling it before fighting the guards that were now chasing him. The mercenaries quickly swarmed in and diverted the guards' focus onto them and away from Ezio.

Ezio started hearing Salviati's voice again, this time closer. Ezio quickly began scouting out the man who was yelling insults to him. He spotted him by the gate, hiding behind a crate. Ezio quickly went in and drove his blade through Salviati's chest. Ezio kneeled down next to the man, holding his head up.

"Where is Jacopo?" Ezio asked, looking down at Salviati.

"He knows that you're coming… He's meeting with the others in the darkness…" Salviati heaved, holding to his chest.

"Yes, that answers when he's meeting with them. Tell me where!" Ezio demanded.

Salviati let out his last breath. Ezio closed the man's eyes before saying his parting words, "Requiescat in Pace."

Ezio quickly fled the scene of the battle. The mercenaries were finishing off the few guards that remained. Ezio was confident that the mercenaries would succeed; the guards were greatly outnumbered by them. Ezio made his way back to the farm house where Mario waited. Once there, he noticed a delighted look on Mario's face.

"What is the good news?" Ezio asked his uncle.

Mario clapped his hands together. "We were able to find Bernardo Baroncelli! I was able to track him down and kill him. Before he passed, he confessed to us that the Templars meet at the church when a meeting is called," Mario told Ezio happily.

Ezio smiled. The news truly was good. "Fantastic, uncle! When is this meeting to be held?" Ezio asked.

Mario shrugged. "I do not believe it is tonight. We sent men to the church Bernardo spoke of, and they have not seen anybody. Tomorrow night, perhaps. For tonight, we will stay at a tavern in San Gimignano. We'll scout out the church tomorrow for any signs of Jacopo and the other Templars."

Ezio, Mario, and the mercenaries mounted their horses once more and made for San Gimignano. Luckily, the small city was not too far away from the farm house. The ride took only twenty minutes.

Once inside the tavern, Ezio joined the mercenaries for a drink. The men insisted they all celebrate the achievements of the day by treating themselves. Ezio felt obligated to say yes, though he was not in much of a mood to drink and celebrate. Ever since Ophelia left, Ezio didn't find enjoyment in being social. He liked to drink, but alone and in his room as of late.

Ezio took a drink of wine after sitting at the end of the bar. He looked around the tavern and saw many mercenaries with drinks and women at their sides. Ezio couldn't help but chuckle; he too, would once being carrying on in such a way. But he was stuck on Ophelia. When he wasn't engaged in a mission or training, his mind was on her.

Ezio felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Mario. "Why so glum, Ezio? We've accomplished a lot today!" Mario pried.

Ezio let out a small smile. "I'm just tired is all," Ezio lied, taking another drink of wine. Mario, of course, could see right through him.

"Please, tell me what is bother you," Mario asked, sitting down next to Ezio.

Ezio shrugged and shook his head. "It's nothing, uncle. I'll be okay."
Mario knew what Ezio was thinking about Ophelia, though he thought his depression was a bit uncalled for. Sure, he loved the girl, but it had been a month since they parted. A lot happened in a month. "Ezio… you have to let it go. I know you miss her, but he can't let that get in the way of your happiness. That's not what she would want you to do. She would want you to enjoy yourself and to be happy. Cheer up, napote! Remember, you'll see her again and that's better than the alternative!"

A small smile pushed from Ezio's lips as he took another drink. "You're right, Mario. I need to lighten up a bit," Ezio agreed.

Mario laughed and patted his uncle on the back. "Good! Now talk to people! Mingle!" Mario insisted. A prostitute walked by, giving Ezio a flirtatious wave. Mario nudged Ezio in the side, pointing at her. "Go talk to her Ezio! She's interested! You don't have to do anything, you know, but just talk!"

Ezio sighed. "Why with that puttana? Why not with a man or a woman who doesn't sell herself?" Ezio asked frustrated. Why would Mario suggest he just talk to a prostitute? Ezio had never just talked with a prostitute before.

Mario shook his head. "You forget, Ezio, that she is a human being too. Her profession is just one part of her life! Get to know her! Just because you speak with her doesn't mean you'll be getting to know her fessa!"

Ezio couldn't help but laugh. He stood up with his drink in hand. "Okay, uncle, I'll go speak with her," Ezio agreed before walking across the tavern to the girl. Her face immediately lit up when she saw him approach. She began acting flirtatiously toward Ezio and trying to discreetly show him what was down her dress. Ezio held a hand up to her and smiled. "Please, you don't have to try and sell anything to me. I just want to talk."

The girl's face instantly became frustrated. That was clearly not what she had in mind. That and he wouldn't be a paying customer which meant less money in her pocket. "Oh… I see," she said disappointed.

Ezio sighed and shook his head. "I mean no disrespect to you, madonna, I would just prefer to talk right now is all."

The girl took 'right now' as an indication that he would be interested later and immediately perked up. "Very well then. My name is Contessa."

"A pleasure, Contessa. My name is Ezio," Ezio replied, lifting up the woman's hand to kiss the back of it. No matter how hard Ezio tried, he couldn't turn off his charm.

"Ezio!" the woman repeated with a gasp. "What a handsome name! And what is it that you do, Ezio?"

He thought for a moment. He hadn't had to use an alibi yet. "I'm a banker," Ezio lied. He immediately thought of his father.

Contessa looked over Ezio's garb and rose an eyebrow. "You have many weapons and interesting robes for a banker…" Contessa questioned.

Ezio immediately became irritated. "I have a unique sense of personal style and a want to be able to defend myself if something should happen. As a banker, people can be vicious toward me."

Contessa seemed to buy the story as she shrugged her shoulders and carried on. "So, does business bring you to San Gimignano? I haven't seen you around before?"
"Si. I met with one of my associates earlier," Ezio explained. Evidently, he was a good liar. He had never known before; he didn't have any reason to lie.

"So you must have a lot of money, Ezio…" Contessa pried again, moving closer to Ezio. She moved to lean her back against his chest. "I know of a way to put that money to good use…" Contessa began to wiggle her bottom against Ezio, who gently put a hand on the woman's shoulder and pushed her away. "I'll be leaving, Contessa. It was a pleasure," Ezio stated before walking quickly away to Mario's direction.

Mario rose an eyebrow at Ezio, wondering why the conversation between him and the prostitute was so short. "What happened, Ezio?" Mario asked.

Ezio shrugged his shoulders. "She didn't want to talk, if you know what I mean," Ezio explained.

Mario's eyebrow went back down as he understood. "Sorry about that, nephew."

Ezio shrugged, putting his drink down on the bar. "I'll be upstairs if you need me," Ezio said shortly before heading up to his room. He quickly became aggravated with the events going on in the bar. The mercenaries were being loud, woman were hanging over the men, and Contessa had touched a boundary that Ezio did not want her touching. What made Ezio most aggravated of all though was that there was a time when he would love what was happened downstairs. He would have loved the attention Contessa gave him and the drunken stupor he would eventually be in. Ezio reached him room and quickly shut the door behind him. He removed his armor, weapons, and robes, putting them in a neat pile on the floor. He took out a small piece of paper from one of the pockets in his pants. It was a letter from Ophelia. He looked at it in confusion for the first time.

Should I be feeling this way? Is it good to feel this way? Is loving Ophelia hindering me from being happy? Before, I would be taking in the woman and the drinks, but they annoy me now… Is this good or is it bad? But, we all seek love and if this is what love feels like, then not wanting to drink and buy prostitutes should be a good thing… Ophelia, please come to me. I don't want to have these thoughts anymore…

Ezio opened up the letter from Ophelia and sighed as he began reading it. It was the same letter that he read the night before. He continued to read one line over and over again:

Mi manchi cosi tanto, e il mio amore per te cresce ogni minute. (I miss you so much, and my love for you grows by every minute.)

Was Ophelia feeling the same things as Ezio? Was she as sad as he? A part of him wanted her to be sad like him because he'd know that she was just as crazy in love with him as he was with her. But he also didn't want her to feel such sadness. He wanted her to be happy and he knew that there was a way to be happy and in love at the same time. He just didn't know how. Perhaps Ophelia knew how. He hoped she did.