Holy Schnike, I'm sorry for the wait guys.

This month has been super busy. I had two tournaments these last two weekends for softball and then class was pretty crazy. To make things simple, life kicked my fangirling in the cajones. But! I promise to get the next chapter to you guys as quickly as possible. I have no projects/tests due anytime soon so I should have more time to work on this in the meantime.

Anyway, enough with my pathetic excuses (which, really are legitimate and I hate to admit it).

Enjoy!

-Silverwing

The Aquila creaked in the warm, muggy night. The sounds of various taverns and the rocking of other ships were the only things that could be heard from the Captain's cabin.

"Close to a tree kissed by fire," Connor read aloud. He hummed in thought as he set it down next to the other pieces of leather. What did those little phrases mean? Were they landmarks? Did they have a hidden meaning?

Pushing himself away from the desk, Connor decided to worry about it at another time. He slowly pulled on his coat and walked out to the deck. A soft, salty breeze glided across the deck in the calm night.

Looking out at the harbor of Kingston, Jamaica, Connor wondered what it would have looked like in the past. When Achilles had told him of the Assassins, he mentioned that Connor's grandfather, Edward, was an Assassin and he had traveled the Caribbean.

Connor always wondered how the old man knew that information, but he never doubted that it was true.

He began to wonder if there were any Assassins in Kingston at the moment.

A figure began to make its way down the dock toward the ship, and Connor instantly recognized Mister Faulkner's gait.

"Fine night, isn' it Captain?" Faulkner greeted, walking up the gangplank.

"That it is, Mister Faulkner."

Faulkner strode across the deck and thumped Connor on the shoulder. "Why aren't you out an' about? The rest of us are, and the night is still young!" he slurred.

Connor grinned in amusement. While most men were annoying when they drank, Mister Faulkner was just downright amusing at times. The man knew how to hold his liquor, apparently.

"I was looking at Kidd's clues," Connor replied, leaning back on the railing.

Faulkner waved the comment away. "Why are you lookin' at those instead of coming with us?! You have all the time to look at those. You should come with me, and we can get you a drink and try to find a nice lass!"

Teasing green eyes flashed in Connor's mind as he shook his head. "I do not require either of those things, Mister Faulkner, but thank you."

Faulkner blinked in surprise before a sly grin came to his lips. "I see. You don't want to find a lass because you already got one. Don' ya?"

Connor arched a brow. Where was he going with this? His face suddenly fell. Achilles had guessed how Connor thought of Ellie before he even discussed it with him. Did that mean Mister Faulkner noticed it as well?

"I knew she was lying when she said there was nothin' goin on!"

"What?" Connor asked, furrowing his brow.

Faulkner let out a guffaw. "You an' Ellie! I asked her if there was something goin' on between you two and she told me there was nothin. Ha!"

Connor's shoulders slumped as he crossed his arms. So, Ellie did not view them as anything other than friends.

Faulkner seemed to notice Connor's disappointment. "What is it?" he asked, taking a drink from his flask.

Connor stared at his First Mate, wondering if he should even discuss what was on his mind. "It is nothing, Mister Faulkner."

"Tha's a cart load of shite and you and I both know it," Faulkner argued, crossing his arms.

Connor rubbed his forehead. "It is not something that should concern you, then."

"It does if it concerns Levi Miller's daughter."

Turning away and resting his hands on the railing, Connor considered his options. Should he tell Mister Faulkner?

He finally looked at his friend. "Should I tell Ellie that I care for her? Even with all of the work we have to do and the possible dangers?" He had asked Achilles the same question and he did not get a straight answer from the old man.

Blinking in shock, Faulkner scratched his cheek. "You mean with the Templars? Connor, she obviously knows the dangers with being associated with the Assassins. She's feedin' ya information about them, after all!"

Connor was shocked that Mister Faulkner was not even addressing the first question. Another concern was plaguing his mind, though. "I also fear the repercussions she could receive for being with…someone like myself."

Connor never could come to terms with why the colonists thought the way they did of his people. But he knew how they would treat her if they saw her with him. He knew his people would easily accept her. She knew their language, and she always seemed open and willing to learn about their customs.

"Since when did you care about how people think?! Let her make those decisions and don't make 'em for her," he paused and pointed a finger in Connor's face, "She's a tough girl, don't doubt her. Just don't cock it up."

He took another swig from his flask and walked away, leaving Connor alone with his thoughts.

Looking back out at Kingston, Connor weighed his options. Yes, Ellie knew the risk of being associated with the Assassins. And he was sure she knew how others thought of him and his people.

He rested his elbows on the railing, wracking his brain for answers.

All of the circles on the map seemed to make fun of Ellie as she glared at them. She was so close to finding Officer Davidson, and she wanted to tell Gérald as soon as she could. The sooner their French Brothers discovered and defeated The Company Man, the sooner the Templars here lost another ally. Unfortunately, she had no way of finding him easily and the regiment he was in always seemed to be on the move.

It didn't help that Connor seemed to be avoiding her, either. Ever since the Aquila's return, Connor started to act distant, and he seemed to always be gone or busy whenever she visited Davenport. He also never stopped by when he was in New York either.

And, to be frank, it was annoying.

What was going on in that lummox's head?

She wondered why he was acting that way after the way he looked at her before he left with the Aquila. Ellie still couldn't put a name to the emotion in his gaze when she bid him farewell on the docks.

All she knew was that she felt warm inside whenever she thought of it, and she found herself wanting to see that expression on Connor's face more and more.

Also, she just missed seeing him. She missed how he would protectively stand next to her on their errands. She missed seeing that small, barely there smile he would have only for her sometimes. She just wanted to talk to him and be around him again, and he was making it impossible.

With a huff, Ellie shoved her piece of lead away and grabbed her shawl. She might as well deliver some messages before tackling her search once more.

The crisp, autumn breeze bit right through her shawl, and Ellie couldn't help but pout. She hated that it was becoming cold again. It seemed like spring and summer didn't even happen. Ellie clutched her shawl around her more and kept a brisk pace.

Soon, she was passing by the part of the city that suffered from the fire. Sadness filled her as she saw the charred, empty skeletons of the neighborhood. The tall, eerie skeleton of Trinity Church loomed into view and Ellie did a double take when she saw something white and blue at the top.

As she squinted, Ellie hoped she didn't see what she was seeing. "What. Is. He. Doing?" she hissed, trying to keep her composure.

Connor, meanwhile, suddenly leapt off the top of the very tall church.

Ellie held back a scream, since many Regulars were standing nearby. Did he really just jump? She held a hand over her mouth as she walked over to the haystack she saw Connor land in. Her heart felt like a bird trying to fly out of her chest and her stomach was rolling. She had been told of this 'Leap of Faith,' but did it really happen off the top of tall buildings?! This was suicide.

"Connor?" she whispered, feeling silly for talking to a haystack.

She squeaked when his hooded head suddenly poked out of the top of the hay. He easily jumped out of the cart, brushing stray strands of hay off his sleeve.

Relief flooded through Ellie when he gave her a slightly bewildered look. Her previous irritation immediately came flooding back. She smacked his arm. "What were you thinking?! You could have died! How are you not dead?!" she demanded through gritted teeth.

She crossed her arms, waiting for an answer.

Connor nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders. "Doing that gives me a good layout of the area," he explained, walking down the street.

Ellie scowled and tugged on his sleeve before he could get too far. "Now wait just a minute! Are you alright?! And where are you going? When did you get to New York?"

Connor didn't even turn to look at her. "I arrived yesterday, and I am well."

"Why didn't you come to the house? I had some information from our French brothers that you would have been interested in."

"I…had other business to attend to."

Ellie let go of his sleeve, staring at him in shock. It was official, he was outright avoiding her. He would usually at least tell her what he was up to. All of her frustration and confusion from the past two months finally bubbled up and threatened to boil over in that instant. "Fine, don't tell me. Be a git for all I care," she snapped, turning on her heel and stomping away.

"Ellie, wait!"

Ellie refused to stop and kept walking.

Connor stared at Ellie's retreating form dejectedly, wondering what he should do. A voice that sounded strangely like Faulkner's told him to go after her in his head. He quickly ran after her. "Ellie, please listen," he begged as he caught up with her.

Ellie halted and turned to face him, causing him to almost collide with her. "Listen to what? Why you barely even speak to me now? I'm going to have to decline," she hissed, turning away again.

Connor almost growled in frustration. He quickly grabbed her elbow and led her toward a nearby alley.

"Let go of me!" she barked, digging her heels into the ground.

Connor rolled his eyes and wrapped his arms around her waist, picking her up and walking the rest of the way. Hopefully, no Regulars saw what happened.

Making sure the coast was clear first, Connor finally set a fuming Ellie down. She crossed her arms and started to drum her fingers. "Alright, I'm listening," she grumbled.

Connor suddenly lost what he was planning to say. He stared down at the ground and began to twiddle his thumbs. He really had no excuse for not speaking to her. He had decided that if he acted on his feelings, no good would come from it. His plan was to try to stay away from Ellie and see if these feelings would go away.

That was where his plan went awry.

The less he saw her, the more he wanted to see her. He also could not stop thinking of her.

But, he could not tell her that.

He tried to think of an alternative explanation as he stared at her flashing green eyes. He started to notice those freckles on the bridge of her nose again and he mentally hit himself. He suddenly remembered why he was in this area in the first place.

"I was helping someone nearby stop the spread of the pox," he explained, "I did not want to risk of spreading it to anyone."

It was a good excuse. He had visited his village once in the past month and he barely had time to stop at Davenport while he was running errands in Boston and the Frontier.

Ellie's brows shot up to her hairline and her eyes were not flashing with as much anger anymore. "The pox breakout? You've been helping stop that?"

Connor quickly nodded. "Yes, I have heard of a man actively trying to help as well. I was hoping to recruit him to our cause." There had been whispers of a Jamie Colley helping the victims in the area and Connor was hoping to find him soon.

His heart sunk when he realized how easily he just lied to Ellie and it was due to his cowardice.

Ellie tapped her chin. "So…you've been avoiding all of us because you feared the pox would spread?"

"Yes."

Ellie bit her lip and looked away. "I apologize, Connor. I feel like a fool," she admitted, looking down in shame.

Connor almost balked when he saw tears starting to form in her eyes.

She quickly wiped them away. "I thought that you were avoiding me for some odd reason. I am so sorry."

Connor's heart was starting to sink more. You fool, he cursed to himself. Before he knew what he was doing, he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her close. "Do not apologize."

She was stiff for a moment before she leaned into his embrace, causing Connor's heart to race. He loved the feel of her small frame leaning into his.

But then he remembered why he did this in the first place and he felt horrible again.

She finally gently pulled away and looked up at him with a small smile. "Well, now that that's out of the way, do you want to help me find someone for our French brethren? It's like finding a needle in a haystack."

"Of course," he replied, giving her a small smile in return. He was glad she was not upset now.

"Right, well this officer's name is George Davidson. He is believed to know the identity of The Company Man our friends down in the French colonies are trying to find."

Connor escorted her out of the alley and walked beside her as she explained all that had been going on in the past two months. He watched as she moved her hands as she spoke and the way her eyes lit up when she spoke of any new discovery she made.

Why did he stay away from her?

Heavy piles of snow covered most of Davenport. Ellie shivered in front of the fire, cursing the weather. Why did it have to snow so bloody much?!

She just hoped Connor and Aveline were alright. She knew the two Assassins were stomping through this blizzard trying to find a Templar, and she didn't envy them.

Connor and Ellie had traveled to meet Aveline in Monmouth and then the two Assassins left to travel in the wilderness together.

It had been two weeks since they departed and Ellie was beginning to worry. Davidson wasn't that far from Monmouth, and Connor said they should have returned by then.

Ellie glanced down at her unfinished letter to Gérald. She hoped that she would only have good news to tell him. "Hurry back you lummox," she growled, wrapping her shawl around herself tighter.

The door suddenly opened and Connor walked in, stomping the snow from his boots.

Speak of the devil, Ellie thought as she stood. Her heart started to flutter as he pulled back his hood.

"Unfortunate news," Connor grunted, leaning his weapons on the wall.

Ellie looked around for Aveline. The plan was for them both to return to the manor after the job was done.

"Is Aveline alright? What happened?" she asked, brushing some snow from his shoulder.

"She decided that she could not delay her return after the information we discovered," Connor replied.

"What did you discover?"

"Her step mother is The Company Man."

Ellie's eyes widened. "What is she going to do?"

Connor sighed and removed the rest of his weapons. "I do not know. But I told her to find us if she needs us."

Nodding in approval, Ellie began to shove him toward the fire. "Good. I'll send a message to Gérald and that will tie up all loose ends for them. Go warm up."

Connor rolled his eyes at her. "Yes, mother."

Ellie stuck her tongue out and quickly finished her letter to Gérald before walking into the kitchen. She grabbed two cups and hurried back into the study, where the fire was. She set the cups down next to Connor, who had sat down cross-legged on the floor. She pulled on a mitt and gingerly pulled out the kettle of tea she prepared earlier.

"Where is Achilles?" Connor asked, accepting the cup she passed to him.

"Resting. The cold isn't good for his health," Ellie answered, putting the kettle back over the fire and delicately taking a seat next to Connor. She spread her skirts out, making sure they covered all of her legs.

"Nia:wen," he mumbled, taking a sip of his tea.

"You're welcome."

They sat in a comfortable silence, just enjoying the fire and the warm tea. Ellie peeked up at him occasionally, noticing that he would look away almost every time she did.

When she visited Boston, Ellie had told Eliza how she had been feeling toward the Assassin, and then asked how to address it. Eliza was tickled pink and told Ellie that men like Connor needed a push in the right direction, whatever that meant.

When Ellie returned to Davenport, Connor's questions about how a man could tell if a woman returned certain feelings came to mind and she suddenly realized what Eliza meant.

It was time to see if Eliza was correct.

Ellie grinned impishly and scooted closer to him, resting her shoulder against his. She felt him stiffen and had to hold back a giggle. She kept sipping her tea and forced herself to not look at him again.

She wondered what he would do next.

The small 'clink' of his cup filled the room as he set it aside and she waited. She held back a broad grin when he shifted closer to her and rested his hand on the ground behind her, letting her lean onto his side more than his shoulder.

Ellie resisted the urge to scoot even closer to him. She finally peeked up at him, grinning when she saw a light blush on his cheeks.

Ellie almost couldn't believe that it worked.

I should listen to Eliza more often, she thought as he moved even closer to her.

February was just as cold as January and Connor almost frowned when the bitter wind tore through his robes. After uncovering information behind the martial law in the southern part of New York, Connor just wanted to go somewhere warm and hope that a certain person with green eyes would be there to keep him company.

"Will somebody please help?!" a high pitched voice cried out.

Connor snapped his head around to see a young girl running down the street. Her eyes were wide with fear and she was breathing rapidly. She caught sight of Connor and hurried toward him.

"Mister mister! My mother needs help! Please!? Please help her!"

All thoughts of going inside instantly disappeared as the girl looked up at him. This girl needed help. "Where is your mother?"

"Follow me!" she exclaimed, tugging on his robe before taking off down the street.

Connor loped beside her and frowned when he heard a gruff voice and high pitched cries from around the corner.

"Good for nothing wench!"

"Let me go!"

Connor quickly ran ahead of the girl and skidded to a halt at the sight before him. A man was holding a woman's arm at an awkward angle and Connor could see the bruise forming on the woman's cheek. Rage instantly filled him.

The man noticed him as he stalked closer. "Bugger off before I crack you one."

Connor did not hesitate to smash his fist against the man's jaw. He then brought both hands up and slammed them against the man's ears. While the man was dazed, Connor kicked his feet out from under him.

"Leave," he commanded, pointing down the street.

The man barely pushed himself to his feet and ran away, wobbling on his feet.

Connor sniffed in annoyance before looking at the woman, who was holding her arm.

"That wasn't necessary. I can handle myself. When he returns he'll try and give me twice the thrashing!" she huffed, backing away from him.

Connor's heart sunk at the sight. There was fear in her eyes. The little girl returned to her mother and was now beaming up at him.

"Why would you stay with such a man?" he asked, backing up a step. The woman relaxed a little with the distance.

"This is my house and business! It's my tailoring that paid for the place. I'll take his drunken buffoonery over leaving behind what I built," she admitted proudly.

Connor suddenly remembered all of the talks of needing a tailor at the Homestead as he looked up at the sign of her shop. "If I told you there was another place where you could live and work, free of him. Would you consider it?" he asked softly.

"The catch?" she asked, staring down her nose at him with distrust.

Holding up his hands peacefully, Connor hoped she could see that this was not a trick. "No catch, our village is growing and in need of all forms of trade. Just business and a new life."

The woman bit her lip, looking down at her daughter and then at her shop. Her gaze then went to where her husband disappeared. She finally looked at Connor again. "I'll come and see if what you say is true."

Connor smiled and decided that if any place would be safe for this woman, it would be at the Johnston's house in New York.

At least they could stay there until he escorted them to Davenport.

Ellie hummed as she stamped a seal onto her latest letter to her contact among Washington's troops at Valley Forge. Connor had told her that he was planning to depart to speak to the Commander soon, so she decided that it was time to get busy again.

She tossed it aside and glanced at Amanda's latest letter to her. Biddle had apparently been seen near Nantucket again and she promised to tell Ellie where he was heading as soon as she knew.

Blowing some wayward strands of hair from her face, Ellie pushed herself up from the table. She stepped into the kitchen to see Abigail and James talking over a pot of what looked like stew.

Ellie grinned at the sight. The two former slaves were finally looking and behaving comfortably around her and she wouldn't have it any other way.

"Do you need any help, Abigail?"

Abigail looked at Ellie over her shoulder. "You can get the bowls out," she replied, giving her a small smile.

Ellie gave her a salute and got the bowls out. She almost couldn't believe that the jittery girl from a few years ago was standing in front of her.

A steady knock sounded on the door and James grinned. "Looks like Mister Connor is joining us for dinner Miss Ellie."

With a broad grin, Ellie began to walk toward the door. "I'll get it. You two just get ready."

The thought of seeing Connor caused Ellie's heart flutter around in her chest. She opened the door and sure enough, he was there.

"Ellie, may we speak for a moment?" he asked quietly, stepping aside.

Ellie blinked in surprise to see a woman and a girl standing on her doorstep. "Of course," she said, letting them all in.

Connor pulled her to the side.

"Who are they?" Ellie asked, looking up at him.

Connor's jaw clenched as his eyes met hers. "I helped them from…an unfortunate situation. Can they stay here until I can escort them to Davenport?"

Ellie looked at the woman again and noticed a dark, purple bruise on the woman's cheek. The woman held her daughter close and gave Ellie a defiant stare. Ellie looked back at Connor, resting a hand on his arm. "Of course they can."

The crease in Connor's brow disappeared as relief overcame him. "Nia:wen," he whispered.

"You're welcome," she whispered back with a reassuring smile before looking over at the woman again. "What is your name? I'm Ellie," she greeted.

"Ellen. And this is Maria. Thank you for allowing us to stay here," the woman replied, giving her a weak smile.

Ellie looked up at Connor and rested a hand on his arm again. "Can you go tell Abigail that we're expecting two more people?"

Connor nodded and walked back into the kitchen.

"Is he your husband?"

Ellie jumped in surprise and looked at Ellen. She could feel her cheeks heat up and she waved her hand. "Connor? Oh no, we're just good friends." Ellie wished her answer was different, but what could a girl do?

"I apologize, you two seemed close and-"

Ellie waved the comment off. "It's quite alright. Now, let me show you to the guest room."

After Ellen and Maria were settled in, she invited them down for dinner and Ellie seemed extra aware of Connor the whole time. She always felt like she was shocked when his arm would brush against hers and her cheeks would always heat up when their gazes met.

Oh, what could a girl do?