Hey Everyone! Just gotta say:51 followers! Wow, thank you guys so much I'm just, wow. And here I am with a short chapter as thanks...

To the reviewers: I'm glad everyone seems to like the ending of the last chapter, haha! To TheScoutAssassin: Thank you! And I will admit to you that I kinda forgot a bit about the recruits... And I agree because I do feel like I rushed out the first chapters a bit, but what can one do? (this is also my first multi chap fic, but now I'm just fishing out excuses haha). To Ninja Star Light: I agree... To TC: Wow, thank you! It's really nice to know you find I'm portraying his character correctly, so thank you! To Life Is Like An Hourglass: Hopefully I keep that attention! To EpicCritic: Ah yes, the age-old dilemma for OCs. I'm gonna try real hard to keep her from falling in that group though.

A warm welcome to all the new followers and thanks to all the lurkers as well!

Chapter 10:

The room around was warm and had a welcoming feeling compared to the cold, bitter rain Anita and Connor had been in moments before. She shook in her coat, hearing the door shut as Connor walked in behind her. They had arrived in Boston after a miserable ride at best.

It had been several weeks since they were last in this town. After returning to the Homestead from Philadelphia, where Connor ended up missing his opportunity to speak with the Commander-in-Chief. He had made his rounds a few days after coming home, checking in on everyone to see if they were doing alright, to discover Prudence was with child. After the congratulations were said, the concern for the need of a doctor was the next topic of conversation. Which led to where they are today. Warren had mentioned a Doctor Lyle who might be interested in such an opportunity. It was a nice change of pace, though, as they rode to Boston, despite the weather.

She sat on the edge of one of the beds against the wall in the room to pull off her boots. She stretched out her toes as Connor crossed over to a small table under the one window on the far wall. She brought her up her legs, hugging them to her chest, watching silently as he began the process of unstrapping his array of weapons.

There had been many times she thought the night on the roof had just been a dream. A bitter-sweet dream her mind conjured to torment her more so. That, no, she had not in fact kissed him as deeply has she had, or giggle as she wrapped his arms around her, or take a slight pleasure in the noise he had made as she abandoned his lips for the curve of his neck. Or briefly wonder, as they sat in a comforting silence a few moments later, how he was quite good at something he had apparently never done before. Well, not that she was an expert either.

But then he would do or say something that caught her off guard, even in the short time they had spent on the Homestead since then. A small compliment on her smile as she cooked, watching her from over the papers he had brought from the study into the kitchen. Or a light kiss on her knuckles as they parted ways in the hall for the night, reminded her otherwise. Not to mention sent her heart racing. It was in those moments that any doubt she had of not going with her father disappeared.

However, back in her own bed, once the moment passed, her thoughts conflicted once more. There had already been a few more nights spent alone overlooking the Aquila from atop the hill.

Connor shrugged off his heavy robe, shaking it to get the remaining rain water off.

She had to tell him, she knew that much. Before anything else were to happen in their blooming courtship. He had so much on his mind already, though. Not to mention she was afraid, to say the least, of how he would react to such news. She trusted he wouldn't harm her, but there was still a hint of doubt which stilled her tongue. He was a big man and she knew if his intention were true, he could overpower her in a second.

She fell on her back, wrapping the blankets around her, not giving a care on who slept in them last.

"Go on and sleep if you wish," she heard Connor say. "I may not be here when you wake in the morning." That caught her attention.

She pulled the blanket off her face, propping up on one elbow to look at him. "What do you mean?"

"There were leads I never had the opportunity to follow-up on from when I were last here," he explained. "I wish to have a look around before catching any attention."

"Oh." She fell back on her back, studying the grain of the wooden ceiling. There was a soft thud as Connor pulled off his own boots, letting them drop to the floor. She turned her head to see as he picked up his tomahawk and her dagger, placing them on the night side table between them. "Do you have names?' She asked, trying to sound offhandedly.

He shrugged and gestured to his robes, "A list is in there. Why do you ask?"

"Just curious." He nodded, standing over her. She tilted her head up, trying to see what he was doing. She got her answer as he bent over, placing a small kiss on her forehead.

"Sleep well, then." She smiled as he climbed under the sheets of his bed.

"You, too." She crawled up her bed to lay her head on the pillow, blowing out the candle between them before wrapping herself in the warmth of the blankets once more.

It had been a long couple hours as she struggled to stay awake, listening as Connor fell deeper in his slumber, while still trying to keep her own breathing a steady rhythm. She knew if she told herself to just sleep for a bit, she would wake with the sun. So now she lay and listened as Connor's breaths turned into soft snores.

Taking the chance, she began to slip off the bed. There was a squeak and she froze, but Connor's snoring never ceased. She continued on, testing the wooden floor with her weight before standing. On silent feet she crossed over to the robe draped over a chair, pausing a moment to listen.

With careful movements she explored the pockets, feeling as if she was betraying an unspoken rule. She leaned forwards, delving deeper in the inside pocket and felt a slight tug around her neck. Her fingers grazed paper and she didn't give it a second thought.

A triumphant smile tugged at her lips as she unfolded the letter, bringing it under the window to catch the moonlight. She skimmed over the scribble of the first paragraph going straight to the listed names.

She cursed internally at the first name; Alcott. She didn't bother reading the other, for her family name was listed twice.

Racking her brain for an idea she glanced back at Connor. Three solutions came to mind. One being to just scribble out the names, while another being to re-write it. Neither of them seemed all that logical and she could see ending in the same result. With a heavy sigh, she folded it closed and walked back to her bed, slipping it between the mattress and frame.

She had to tell him, she decided. Tomorrow.