A/N: That's the last chapter and the reason I rated M that story.

Thanks again to all those taking their time to read it. Actually I didn't expect such big numbers.

As always, if you have suggestions or if I made some mistakes, let me know. :)

I am reading once again a letter about an attack on the Templars that ended well when I hear someone knocking my door.

It should be only Achilles. Connor is again in Boston, preferring the simple action to the bureaucratic work. As a matter of fact he just leaves me what he doesn't want to involve himself with. Having the control of all Assassins around the Colonies felt satisfying. It seems to me that I have much more power now than when I was with the Templars.

I open the door and I find Myriam looking at me.

-Hello, Haytham.-

-Myriam. Here, come inside. What can I do for you? I don't remember any trip in the woods planned for today.-

She smiles.

-It's only that… - Her gaze becomes anxious. - It's a couple of days that no one of us has seen Achilles. We are worried.-

I nod. Recently I see him leaving home with his unsteady rate going towards a hill with the graves of his family. He stays there for hours.

-You went to see him? Tried to contact him?-

-No. I came here because I know the two of you have a particular… relationship. –

I nod again.

No one knows the real story, of course, but the relationship between me and the old man is quite evident.

-We thought you could go there and see how he was doing.-

-All right, I'm going right now.-

She thanks me and starts walking to her house. What an unusual woman, I find myself thinking. She has an ability and effectiveness in the hunts that remind me those of Ziio. I remember the wedding between her and Norris, feeling a hint of envy. It is clear by now that I couldn't prove something like that.

I shake my head while heading to Achilles house. As I approach I feel that something is not right. The sixth sense that accompanied me during my Templar training awakens.

There is something wrong.

I knock the main door. No answer. No movement, no light coming from the inside. Everything is quiet.

I try to open but I notice it's closed.

I go to the back of the house, but also that door is closed.

I decide to climb on the balcony, finding that door still open.

As I enter I prepare the sword in my hand. I don't know what I can find.

I search the rooms upstairs and, not finding anything suspicious, I decide to go down the stairs. I approach that room in which he received me so many years ago. I can see that the fire is burning, painting grotesques figures on the wall.

When I enter the room I see someone sitting on the chair near the fireplace. I recognize Achilles' figure.

I approach, lowering the sword.

-Achilles! You got us all scared. – I smile.

He doesn't move. I feel a shiver running down my spine.

I see him watching the fire. He seems to be resting, but he is clearly not.

-Farewell, my friend. - I whisper him as I close his eyes.

I feel tears bathing my cheeks. I thought I finished them long ago, after all I went through in the past years.

Instinctively I activate my Eagle Vision. And I see him, Achilles, entering the room. It appears he has something in his hand. A letter of some sort. I watch him as he puts it in a hole in the wall. After that he continues his way, sitting on the chair to never get up.

I return quickly in my senses. The letter.

I go where I saw him putting it. I activate the mechanism and I discover an old and dusty casket. It seems to be there for a long time, not moved just a couple of hours before.

With caution I take it and bring to my home. I would have opened that later, with tranquility. Now there are other questions to attend to.

I write a letter for Boston, giving orders to find Connor and bring him here as quickly as possible.

As I finish I wear my cloak and start walking to the church.

During the walk I think about those last years. The losses I suffered, the rebound relationship with my sister and, especially, with my son. The drastic change I decided to take siding with the Assassins. I wonder if it is the time to stand up and be counted also in Europe. But I still don't feel the need to do that.

After all, I sense something new inside of me. Something that I haven't felt since I was a little boy back in England.

Peace.

Shortly after the funeral Connor is leaving once again.

-I cannot stay here. Not now. The people I loved most are dead.- He stops for a moment as if he saw the sadness in my eyes.- I have to come back to New York for an important job. There are the last Templars oppositions and I need to be there to help.-

I nod. Of course I know that.

He approaches me slowly, studying me as if I am some sort of spoils. I can see he is embarrassed.

He hugs me.

If I recall correctly this should be the first time he does that.

After a couple of minutes he slowly separates, opens the door and hesitates on the doorstep.

He turns around to watch me.

-I will be back, father.-

That simple word makes me tremble.

My mind, as always, comes back to the mother of that man who is finally starting to get closer to me.

In front of that wall I visited so many times in the last years. Me, dressed as English, full of expectations for that place. Not far, Ziio, absorbed in her description of the paintings in the wall.

I can still feel her hand on mine. Her breath on my skin as she approached me. I watched her in the eyes and I saw love, lust. I will never forget that look. And then the kiss. At first I couldn't even understand what was going on, simply not believing it was true and not a trick of my mind. Then I started to passionately kiss her, moving my hands on her back in order to decrease the gap between our bodies, hugging her close.

I shake my head, saddened.

I remember that I still have to open Achilles' casket.

I haven't told Connor anything about that, yet, since I have the feeling the old man didn't really want that to be discovered. Furthermore he didn't tell him about my special ability, he couldn't have known that.

I approach my basement. As I open the chest with my father's belongings I see the casket.

I warily take it, placing it on the table.

As I do not see any mechanism of some sort, I open it. There's no opposition.

Inside I find two documents. One seems old, with an unknown handwriting. The other, more recent, surely was written by Achilles.

I point my attention to the last one.

Dear Haytham,

Yes, I know it's been you to find that casket. And it couldn't have been otherwise, thinking about your expertise.

I am here, wearily sitting in front of the fire, on the chair that was one of few things the Templars left me, after they just let me go.

I have to admit that when I first saw you in front of my door I just wanted to kill you. I still remembered all the pain your fellows caused me, watching my Order being killed slowly without the possibility to do actually something about that.

But there was something in your eyes that made me think differently. After a while I discovered that there wasn't a Templar in front of me, but just a man.

In a way you reminded me of your son knocking at my door not so many years before.

This place changed you both. I could feel some sort of interior peace walking through you as you lived here, among those you should have considered enemies. Even if you didn't feel it, I could see you had actually found your place.

Shortly after your arrival I contacted our brotherhood in Europe, as I wanted to see if the story you told us was true. Not that I doubted it, but someone cannot be always completely sure. That's how I met Lucio, who confirmed your story. He also told me you were different from the other Templars he met. That is actually true, as you surely know.

I wish you to take the control of the Assassins becoming the Mentor in this area. Surely you thought Connor would take that role, but he is far too young and still need to continue training, with you helping him on that. And you just have to think about your role in the past years. As a matter of fact you already have all the power the brotherhood has to offer. It's about time to make it official. I trust you to continue what you always have done for us. And for yourself.

I leave my manor to you, with a little surprise described in the other letter.

I ask you one last favor. Take care of your son. He needs you right now, even though he doesn't admit that even to himself.

I hope you found the peace you were looking for.

Farewell, my Friend.

Achilles Davenport

He wanted me as a Mentor? Connor would probably understand that. He knows that's what I am doing in all those years, even if he had a key part. Besides, Achilles is right: I still need to train my son.

I focus on the second letter. It looks older and much frailer than the first one. I warily take it and start to read.

It's about the First Civilization. It describes the presence of some particular artifact and some sites, like the one I searched long ago. I find myself thinking about my father's book, the reason Birch killed him, which I, unfortunately, never found.

There's a note on the end of the page. Below Achilles' house there's another secret passage. And only I can enter it.

Quickly I dress myself and open the door.

In the heat of reaching Achilles' house, I hit against a figure which is in front of my doorstep.

-Haytham! - I hear a complain.

I focus on the figure.

-I do apologize for my indecent behavior, Ellen. The fact is that I am quite in a hurry.-

She chuckles.

-Yes, I can see that. - She gives me a bundle. – I just wanted to bring back your father's robe.-

I gave it to her long time ago, after the promise to put it under a better shape.

I approach and I take the bundle, smiling. Our hands touch for a second.

-I would like to see how it fits you. – She blushes and looks away. She adds quickly: - Just to know if I have to change something.-

I smile, feeling something inside of me. Something I haven't felt in a long time.

-Of course. - I gesture her to enter.-Come in, I'll make you a tea.-

-What about your urgency?-

I smirk.

-I am sure that a couple of old and dusty books can wait for me a little longer.-

She sits down in the kitchen while I prepare the tea. I notice she continues to look at me and that, I have to admit, pleases me.

-We haven't talked much since the wedding of Myriam. - She notices.

That's true. Lately I limited my social interactions.

-Let's say that I am quite a lone wolf.-

She watches me, smiling.

-Or maybe you had something else in your head.-

That is true, too. Maybe now that the major threat is over I can concentrate on something different. Or someone.

When her eyes leave me for a moment, I take my time to watch her. The soft features, the shawl covering her shoulders, her eyes concentrated on a glyph on the wall, her hands intertwined on her stomach.

Right before she starts looking at me again, I focus on the tea.

-I hope that things will change now that the war is over.-

I shake my head.

-I have my doubts about that.- She watches me intrigued.- Not to be the one destroying your dreams, but I feel that we changed only those who got the power and little else. –

My voice saddens while I start serving the tea.

-Connor discovered that too, when he went back to his village.-

I think about the suffering he showed me when he came back home. He thought his work was done for nothing, since his people were forced to move anyway.

-They talked about freedom and yet they continue to sell slaves in the market like they always have done.-

I feel her hand taking mine. It's so warm and soft that for a moment I am unable to breath. What's happening?

-Now, no more sad thoughts. - She smiles. - Go and try that robe. I'll wait for you here.-

I nod, take the clothes and go toward my room.

It is better than new. Ellen removed every single spot and mended some parts.

I remove my clothes and wear those of my new life. As I admire myself in the mirror I know I am looking at another version compared to the man I was so many years ago. In that moment I decide to write to Lucio the next morning and risk to be known also in Europe. Surely I don't mean to stay hidden for the rest of my life.

I return to the kitchen, smiling.

Ellen watches me.

-Well, I have to say that clothes benefit you.-

She approaches and watches carefully a specific point on my chest.

-That I need to fix…-

She pretends to fix a button that, I know, is perfectly placed. But her contact makes me feel again that sensation I had some minutes before.

I watch her in the eyes and after seeing her look I cannot stop anymore.

I get closer, trying to understand if she actually wants that. As I do not sense any form of rejection, I softly put my lips on hers. I feel her tremble and after a while her arms are around my neck, urgently approaching me even more. Tenderly I stoke her back while my tongue begins to explore her mouth, deepening the kiss.

After that, suddenly she separates.

She watches me and I see the same look Ziio gave me so many years ago. I feel my stomach jumping.

I regain a little composure.

-I'm sorry, I've been impulsive. - I sigh, taking her hands on mines. –But it's been a long time since I felt something like that.-

She smiles.

-I never felt something like that, actually. - Her gaze saddens.-My husband wasn't so… affectionate.-

From her words I can understand there was much more behind that simple phrase. Instinctively I take her in my arms, slowly embracing her.

-And surely I never heard him apologizing for a kiss. - I hear her smiling.

-What could I say? It must be because of my well known English good manners.-

We separate. I see her starting to distance even more when I slowly take her arm and start kissing her again, with more transport.

-Maybe we should go to your bedroom. - I hear her whispering against my lips.

We separate once again. I watch her, realizing after a while what she actually asked me.

Even though I quiver only thinking about that, I need to focus.

I take her hands and watch in her eyes.

-Are you sure this is what you want?-

Instead of answering she touches my cheek and approaches for another kiss.

I feel her hands starting to mess around the buttons of my coat. I continue to kiss her, my hands wandering on her back, passing through her neck, moving towards her belly and her breasts. I hear her moaning eagerly as I touch lightly that last part.

In the meantime she finishes unbuttoning my coat and I remove it. I separate for a moment.

-Wait only a second.-

I go towards the main door and close it with my key. Considering Connor's bad habit to enter here without knocking it's better to take some precautions.

I feel her hands on my back. I turn and start to kiss her again, lifting her figure in my arms. She wraps her leg around my waist, using her recently untied shawl to pull herself even closer.

As I walk towards my bedroom I think about creating some atmosphere in the room. I leave her on the bed, smiling when I hear a whispering growl of objection, taking some firewood to put in the fireplace.

I approach her and I take my time to contemplate her figure on my bed, waiting for me.

-Now I think there's the right atmosphere.-

She smiles.

-Well, I have to say that even if I was in the middle of the forest during a snowstorm right now, I wouldn't probably notice anything.-

-Anything at all?-

She chuckles and approaches to kiss me. I start to work on removing her blouse. After a couple of minutes without making any progress I hear her smiling against my lips.

-I'm afraid I need some help with that.-

-I thought you were skilled with your hands.-

She teases, while she removes every piece of cloth on the upper part of her body in a moment.

-I need to practice.-

-The others clothes are yours to remove.-

I notice her voice becomes deeper.

-I'll think up to something.-

She touches lightly my arm to get me closer. I start kissing her again, sucking her lips as my hands brush against her neck, running down to her breast.

My lips leave hers as I start licking her neck. I feel her hands on my back urging me to go on, even if I surely don't need any incitement.

When I take a nipple in my mouth she let out a soft moan and I feel her breath becoming faster.

In the meantime my hands are venturing towards her lower part, still protected with her skirt. Without separating I manage to remove it.

I let my mouth focus on the other breast while my hands continue to wander through her body.

As I approach the last piece of cloth she wears I separate to watch her in the eyes, asking silently for her permission. I know that I can't pull back after passing this moment.

She watches me and closes her eyes, sucking in a deep breath. When I touch her hidden part she let out a moan. I remove her underwear and stop for a moment to watch her beautiful body.

I approach to kiss her and I notice she is smiling.

-How is it that I am completely naked and you are not?-

-Well I think we should remedy that, don't we? - I whisper kissing her neck.

I sense her hands working on the buttons of my pants and, without separating, I put my hands on hers to help. Unlike her I wear nothing more and she let out a gasp of surprise.

After a moment her hands start wandering through my body. She kisses me eagerly as she softly touches my arousal. I cannot stop the moaning coming out of my mouth as she starts to rub me.

She stops kissing and I barely hear her whispering with a hoarse voice in my ear.

-I need you.-

I separate to watch her reaction, not wanting to hurt her.

Her breath hitches as I ease into her, moving my hips gently and slowly. A moment later I am fully inside her. I can't move for a few seconds, breathing deeply as I enjoy the sensation of her tight around me. I feel her hands on my hips, silently asking to continue. And I start moving.

She whispers my name and her loud moans are driving me crazy, my heart beating wildly in my chest as I follow her over the edge.