Here it is finally J Hope you love it!

Chapter 12: Stealing Hearts

Ezio slept deeply for what seemed like an eternity in his room. The loud cracking of fireworks startled Ezio out of his deep sleep. He was startled so much, he instinctively grabbed his sultan's knife hidden under his pillow and assumed a defensive position in the middle of the room. After looking around puzzled, Ezio deemed the room safe and snatched his tunic from the rod it hung off. He was quite surprised when he was greeted by a picture perfect scene of the sun setting over the Venetian canal. Could I have really slept that long? He wondered to himself. Hopefully he wasn't late to his own party.

Ezio took special care in dressing himself today. After all, he was either going to die today or kill one of the most vile men in all of Italia. Either way, he had to look good. His bleached white tunic was carefully folded and held in place by his leather belt. Next he pulled on his chest and shoulder armor, pulling the straps tight to ensure there was no movement during battle. Then he slid on his boots, and meticulously buckled them all the way up his calve. Ezio ran fingers along his instruments of the trade. He smiled at the cool steel of his throwing blades as he slid seven into the pockets on each side of his leather belt. Finally he slid on his most prized positions, his hidden blades and the sword of Altair. These were the blades his father, who used them to kill many infamous men before him. Now, Ezio was using these blades to write a legacy of his own. Tonight these very blades would end the life of an oppressor as well as a traitor known as Emilio Barbagio. Ezio gave a good tug on the hilt of his sword to make sure it was on securely then flipped up his hood and headed out the door for Antonio's office.

"Ezio! You look well rested." Antonio raised his hands in enthusiastic celebration.

"I am amico, nothing a bit of sleep couldn't fix." This was reassuring to Antonio, as he was petrified that his entire operation was in jeopardy.

"Is there anything I can do to help prepare?" Ezio asked eager to get started.

"I think we have just about everything covered Ezio. If you'd like you can go with Cristiano and assist the men in bringing your flying contraption to the top of the campanile. I'm sure one less trip they would have to take up there would be much appreciated."

"Va bene where could I find them?"

"They have taken the pieces to a nearby roof. I'm sure if you head in that direction you will spot them hanging around. Slackers." Ezio nodded and headed out.

The band of thieves was exactly where Antonio said they would be. Lounging lackadaisically on a rooftop a stone's throw away from the Campanile. They were startled when they saw the hooded man come forward.

"Uh, Ser Ezio, we didn't expect you to be here so early. We were just getting started bringing your contraption up." The flying machine was reduced to a pile of messenger bags centered around the thieves. The thief nodded his head to the side to urge the other thieves to begin grabbing the bags and scaling the Campanile.

"No problema I simply have come to help." Just as Ezio finished Cristiano appeared.

"Come to help I see. va bene we could always use a hand." Cristiano handed Ezio a satchel and leapt across to the Campanile with a bag on his own back. Ezio followed in a similar fashion. Two trips later, all the bags were atop the Campanile, their contents compartmentalized according to function.

"What now?" Ezio asked, having no idea himself how to put this machine together. Cristino whistled over two men. One was a rather young thief who had another man, similarly dressed to Leonardo but with glasses hooked under his arm. The younger looking Leonardo was looking a bit petrified at the height he was now standing at. He bowed to Ezio before he spoke.

"Leonardo could not make it up here today to construct the machine himself so he sent me, his apprentice to do it for him." The young man took another look over the edge and swallowed hard. "Rest assured I have taken apart and reassembled this machine many times. I should be finished within the hour."

"Bene I was not aware that Leonardo had an apprentice. I'm sure if he can trust you I can as well." The apprentice nodded his head and took off to work. Ezio and Cristiano stood on the edge of the Campanile overlooking the city.

"In a few hours, this beautiful city will be emancipated from the templar rule. And its all thanks to you Ezio. For this you have my respect as well as my gratitude." Cristiano held out his hand to be shaken by Ezio.

"I wish I could please everyone as I have pleased you Cristiano." Ezio shook his hand.

"You already have, Ezio. You know how stubborn she is. She just needs a little bit of time to sort out whatever she has going on in that heard head of hers." Ezio laughed lightly. "Speaking from experience I see?" Cristiano giggled a bit. "He wont be done for a bit" Ezio nodded toward the apprentice "why don't we go grab a drink and talk, I really don't know you that well." Ezio offered. He saw no harm in passing time with a drink or two so the two headed to a bar just a few steps away from the base of the Campanile.

When the two entered the bar, it wasn't a scene Ezio hadn't expected. There were many men already drunk hobbling around the bar, gambling or gabbing with one another. There was an acrobat in the corner, striking unnatural poses earning himself a pelting of coins from the drunken bystanders. Ezio and Cristiano weaved their way through the crowd up to the bar where they found a pair of seats away from the madness. The bartender plopped a pair of mugs down in front of the men and walked off. Raising their glasses to each other, they both took a long swig. Ezio's face cringed up. The liquor burned the back of his throat as it went down. It was quite a bit stronger than the vino he was used to.

"Its good" Ezio managed to squeeze out of his throat. "So tell me, what do you know about women?" Ezio said with a sly grin, referring to their previous conversation. Cristiano put his mug down.

"You mean about my sister." Ezio smiled again, guilty as charged. "Your persistent aren't you. But what I was going to say up there was Rosa's not one for relationships. Ever. I'm not entirely sure what you have done to her but its just not the same as her previous relationships. Her normal confident walls crumble around you and its like she's a teenager. And since this is unfamiliar territory for her, you should of expected that she'd run away, but like a moth to it's flame, she will come back." Cristiano's words were reassuring to Ezio but, the only thing that would settle his mind and heart were off running around somewhere in Venezia. Ezio was reluctant to ask his next question. "what happened between you and Alexia?" Cristiano's body tensed at the sound of her name. He hesitated before answering. "She just, left. Nothing I could do, I figured if she wanted me she'd come back. But that was years ago, and look at me now, still waiting. It's a mistake I warned Rosa of. I don't want her to suffer the torment I did by not going after what I wanted. But in the end she is her own person and will make her own decisions, weather we like it or not."

"That's women for you" Ezio added in. "I suppose it is." On that note the two men finished their drinks and maneuvered their way out of the bar that was getting even more crowded as the festivities began. It was almost nine now, only three hours until they were to strike. Ezio thanked Cristiano for the drinks and headed back to the top of the Campanile.

Not surprisingly the apprentice and thief were gone, all that was left standing was the contraption which stood facing the Palazzo. Ezio's only job now was to watch over his bird as well as take note of whatever was going on at the Palazzo until he received word that it was time to fly. He sat on the edge facing the Palazzo, letting his feet dangle over the side. He watched as crowds of people, who seemed like mere dot beneath him moved throughout the courtyard below. They moved from tent to tent observing and participating in whatever challenge lied beneath. The brilliant colors of blue, purple and gold seemed to shine all the way up to where Ezio was sitting. Maybe he thought to himself, one day he could participate in these celebrations rather than just stalk them from above, but that with his life the way it is now seemed like a far away dream. The pyrotechnics began almost startling Ezio again because of the loud boom. Ezio was entranced by the amount of light and sound that could be produced by whatever was on the ground. He had never witnessed fireworks of this magnitude back in Firenze. Ezio went into his pocket and lifted Rosa's beanie. He held it carefully in his hand, examining it for no reason really, just to feel it, to smell it, it was the closest he had to company all the way up there. Or so he thought.

"Ladro." Ezio almost dropped the beanie, startled at the sound of her voice. "I finally caught you."

His smile widened. Ezio stood up and raised his hands in mock surrender, not yet turned around to see her face. He could feel her coming closer to snatch the beanie from him. Just as she got within arms length he quickly pulled his hand down and tucked it away in his robe.

"Foolish assassino, that is not what I have come to reclaim." Ezio turned around confused. The moonlight illuminated Rosa, who stood within a foot from him, dressed in her usual blouse boots and vest. Her hair though wasn't a ravens nest, it was combed down to where it was almost straight except for her ends which kicked up defiantly. He had never seen her hair done outside of her beanie before, he wasn't sure anyone had. He had to admit, this was a beautiful surprise.

"Its not?" Ezio asked wondering what on earth she could be talking about.

"I have come to take back-" Rosa came closer and placed her hand on his chest so she could feel his heart beating rapidly. Ezio almost lost all of his breath when she touched him. "mio cuore" Ezio couldn't resist any longer. He grabbed her hand from his chest and pulled her into a passionate kiss, one she flew eagerly into. They stayed with their lips locked together until they came up to gasp for air. Ezio tried to go in for another kiss when Rosa spoke out placing her hands on his chest. "Wait. I have to apologize to you Ezio, I-"

"Its okay I understand I shouldn't have put you in that situation before." Ezio cut off and tried again to kiss her. Rosa placed a finger on his lips before they reached his. She pulled his hood off and looked intently into his eyes.

"No, Ezio, that is what I wanted from you. What I needed from you. I just didn't expect to get it. I told myself the second I saw you kiss Cristina that I was ready to let you go, but I wasn't. Part of me expected you to leave on your own like everyone else I loved did in my life. So I figured I keep you out, and beat you to it by leaving you first. But somehow you got in, and stole the very thing I need to stay alive. But now I realize, I trust you completely and I want you to have my heart, to keep it safe with you always because I feel like as long as I have you I will make it through anything alive no matter what. Ti amo Ezio, ora e per sempre non importa quale."

Ezio smiled and pulled out her beanie and slid it on her head. His hands never leaving her head, Ezio placed his forehead against hers, closed his eyes and whispered "your heart, will always be safe with me." Rosa smiled as she felt his scar on her lips once again.

"Alright assassino, lets not get carried away." Shivers went up Rosa's spine as she felt Ezio's hand slide enticingly up the back of her shirt. "I have a few loose ends to tie up before we can strike. Tonight we will all dine in the gardens of the Palazzo." Ezio walked Rosa to the ledge where an eagle's post lie. He expected her to begin a long line of expletives, but she simply looked over the edge and shrugged. Ezio was impressed with her show of courage, but she hadn't taken a leap of faith just yet.

"Are you willing to take the leap Madonna?"

"Only if you promise to catch me when I fall." She answered back with a smile. Ezio lifted her chin to kiss her one last time. "Always."

"One last thing." Rosa untied the ribbon around her neck and laced it around the bracer that covered his hidden blade. "This always gave me luck in the past, I don't think I will be needing it tonight seeing as you are the one jumping off the campanile with one of Leonardo's contraptions." Ezio removed his necklace and placed it on Rosa's neck. "If I am to wear this ribbon, then you must wear this. My father gave this to me when I was a boy to protect me whenever he was gone. Now I want this to keep you safe."

Rosa walked confidently to the very edge of the beam with Ezio close behind. His arms wrapped around her hips to prevent any premature falling.

"Just lean back and relax, feel the air passing your body. You will be on the ground before you know it."

"Sounds easy enough. I'll see you one the inside amor." Rosa lifted Ezio's hands from her waist, and turned to face him. She smiled coyly, spread her arms and closed her eyes. "Ciao amor" Ezio stepped forward and pushed her chest with his pointer finger. Rosa didn't even flinch as she began her freefall. Ezio peered over the edge and watched her as she quickly shrunk to a green dot speeding towards the ground. After seeing her safely hop out from the bale of hay, Ezio returned to his post and tried to keep track of Rosa as she moved to meet other thieves by the docks. He couldn't wait for dinner tonight.

******EDIT****** Sorry I was stupid enough to forget the translations. It was late and I wanted to get this up as soon as I finished it. Thanks to D for the review and reminding me :)

Translations:

Amico:Friend

Va bene:Okay

Palazzo:Place

Ladro:Thief

Mio cuore: My heart

Amor:my love

Ciao:goodbye

Ti amo Ezio, ora e per sempre non importa quale-I love you Ezio,now and forever no matter what.

(is it just me or does everything sound sexier in italian? ^.^)

Sorry it took so long guys but I wanted this to be PERFECT… I hope it lived up to your expectations. Drop me a line in a message or a review, I'd really appreciate it