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DISCLAIMER: Yeah...it's the 20th chapter. So do I REALLY need to do this STILL? Really? I know you guys know how it works ;)

Chapter 20: Murder, She Bloody Wrote.

"Well," Ezio replies, his tone a higher pitch than normal as he reaches into his robes, "you might want this, then" Ezio holds out an exquisite dagger which I study carefully.

"Is that-" I ask, quietly.

"The…murder weapon. Yes…" Ezio responds softly, careful not to hit a sensitive nerve. I take a deep breath as I reach out my hand to grasp the instrument. Ezio releases his fairly firm grip, allowing me to take it and study it in both hands.

"Why did you take it, Ezio?" I ask curiously, my eyes still fixed on the weapon and its intricate design.

"I don't know…" Ezio shrugs, looking at me. "I think deep down I was hoping you'd want to find out who did it"

"Well, I think it will come in handy, thank you. I'm going to go back to Leonardo's, and try and make sense of what I know" I explain as I get into a crouching position and then stand up.

"Wait. I'll come with you," Ezio calls as he too stands up. I turn around and wait for him to join me by the ladder.

"Megan, I…I'm going to be with you every step of the way in this. I'll help in whatever way I can" Ezio says kindly. I smile warmly back.

"I truly appreciate that, Ezio" I reply gratefully, and then lower myself onto the ladder and descend carefully.

"So, what is the plan exactly?" Ezio asks me as we approach Leonardo's door.

"I find the murderous son of a bitch and…and-"

"And what?" Ezio raises an eyebrow and half smiles.

"Look, I haven't got that far ahead yet…" I counter, as we burst through the door and then take a seat at the table. Ezio is sitting opposite me.

"Wait, so death isn't an obvious choice for this person?" Ezio asks, clearly surprised.

"Well, yes. Of course it is! I want to kill the mofo more than anything. I just… I honestly don't think I have it in me to kill anyone…" I explain, and then put my head in my hands as my elbows rest on the wooden table.

"Well, depending on who it is, maybe there is something more suitable to make them pay, hmm?" Ezio helpfully suggests. I look up, and then a faint smile appears on my face from sheer hope. He always knows what to say to lift my spirits.

"Yeah, you're right. Maybe, just maybe…" I reply, letting out a sigh of relief. "Right. It's going to be tricky. I have only two things to go on as of now. This dagger," I say, pointing to it as it lays on the table in front of us, "which looks to have an engraving, and finally what my dad told me. 'Hooded figure'…" Those two words have been echoing in my mind for the last couple of days. Haunting me. Teasing me. Just who the hell has killed my dad? And why?

"The only two people I know that are hooded are…" I focus my attention on Ezio. "You…" Seeing him slightly shift in his chair uncomfortably, I decide to carry on. "And Borgia" Ezio's concerned look, as if to say, "Why the hell are you looking at me for?" still lingers on his face.

"But, I guess it's safe to say we can cross you out" I smile warmly, as does Ezio as he lets out a sigh of relief.

"Pleased to hear it! You scared me for a moment there, bella" Ezio chuckles. "So, you really think Borgia could have done it?" Ezio enquires, looking at me intently.

"He's a monster, intent on causing suffering. He's a perfect suspect if you ask me"

"Bene…" Ezio agrees. "But, I didn't see a fat hooded person in the area when I was there…" What makes me want to burst out laughing for the first time in days is the fact that Ezio is totally serious when he says 'fat hooded person'. Oh lordy, the hilarity. But this puts a spanner in the works. If there wasn't a fat hooded person there when Ezio was in the area, Borgia may not be the killer.

"Ezio, were you with my parents when it happened? Is it possible you just weren't there when Borgia was there, if he is the killer?" I try Ezio.

"I only stepped away from them for a few minutes when they were choosing their clothes. I went over to the blacksmiths to get my armour repaired" Ezio recalls, and then pauses for a moment as a thoughtful look crosses his face. "Maybe it is all my fault…" he suddenly blurts. "What if I could have stopped it if I was there?" Ezio ponders aloud, guilt dripping from his words.

"Hey, listen to me. It's not your fault!" I reassure Ezio as I place my hand on his arm gently. "My parents aren't children. They don't need looking after. It was just a 'wrong place at the wrong time' moment"

Ezio nods slowly, a small smile emerging on his lips. "Thank you, Megan." I smile in return as I pat his arm once and then pull my hand away.

"What is the engraving on the dagger, Megan?" Ezio questions, nodding towards the dagger in the centre of the table. I reach forward to pick it up and examine it once more, running my finger over the inscription.

"It says… 'TG', in fancy letters. But that is all. Oh, Ezio. I don't understand…" I reply, already feeling defeated as I hand Ezio the dagger. I watch him as he carefully studies the sumptuous weapon. He then meets my gaze and sets the dagger back down in the middle of the table.

"Are you out of ideas too?" I ask, smiling faintly, but Ezio does not answer. He instead lets out a deep sigh.

"I'll take that as a 'yes' then" I mutter, looking to the side.

"This is going to be harder than I thought" Ezio mumbles quietly.

"We share the same view on that…" I mutter, resting my head on the table with my arms folded underneath.

"You know something I don't understand? Well, another thing" I spontaneously voice.

Ezio merely shakes his head slowly signalling for me to carry on, as he looks down at me whilst he props his head up with his hand as his elbow rests on the table. We both probably look pretty pathetic and defeated right now.

"The dagger is extremely ornate. And with the engraving, it gives it a more…personal feel to it" I explain, resorting back to my former position as I do so, and sit up straight.

"I agree, mia cara" Ezio responds.

"So why would the killer leave it behind?" For a moment there is silence as we consider the possible answers.

"Bloody hell. We're generating more questions than answers" I sigh, as I throw my arms up in the air in defeat.

"They will be answered in time. Just keep faith," Ezio says, trying to keep the little shred of optimism left alive. "Maybe the killer was losing their chance, and had to grab the opportunity while they still had it? Perhaps they threw the dagger and didn't have time to retrieve it, and instead had to flee?" he suggests. In fact, Ezio is coming up with a lot of ideas on the matter…

"It's a possibility, I guess…" I reply as I accept the suggestion. It is perfectly logical after all. I mean, I don't see why, if the killer murdered my dad at close range by physically plunging the dagger in, that they would not just take it straight out and leave with it. What reason would the killer have to leave something behind that looks so precious?

"All this thinking is making my head hurt" I tell Ezio as I let out a small laugh, "Besides, it's getting late. I'm going to go to bed, where I probably won't be able to stop thinking of this anyway" I add, shaking my head and rubbing my temples with my thumb and middle finger.

"Why's that?" Ezio enquires.

"I always think of things when I'm lying in bed. I don't know why. It's just where all my thoughts just…escape and bother me"

"Well, there is a spare space next to me if you want to join me and talk of these thoughts?" Ezio invites me, charmingly flashing "The Melter" smile.

"Whoa, hold on there, Romeo!" I laugh. Although in my mind I'm considering it. Nothing would happen anyway, right? It would just be like when we fell asleep together on the roof but in a nice comfy bed instead. Besides, I'm sick of feeling alone at night and not getting a decent night's sleep. Maybe sleeping next to someone might help? Just for tonight. Enough justification!

"Y'know what Ezio?" I voice, smiling warmly. "I think I might take you up on that… But only for some company tonight. It might help me sleep properly" I blurt, making sure Ezio gets the message loud and clear that nothing is going to happen. Not in the slightest. Well, I hope he has. If he's expecting more then he will be sorely disappointed. But deep down, I don't actually think he is.

"I understand. I didn't actually mean it in that way, you may be surprised to hear" Ezio responds charmingly as we walk together to the stairs.

"Oh! You're right there. I'm very surprised" I grin, as we walk upstairs quietly, as to not wake Leonardo or my mum.

"I hope you're not a duvet hogger" I say quietly as I lift part of the duvet up and climb into bed and get comfortable as my head hits the cool, fluffed up pillow.

"Fortunately, I'm not. At least I don't think I am…" Ezio ponders as he lies next to me, grinning like a mad grinning thing. "I hope the same goes for you, bella. I don't want to get cold"

"Man up, you big baby" I laugh as I grab a pillow and smack it lightly across Ezio's face as I go to lie down, much to Ezio's shock. Ezio throws his part of the duvet off of himself and gets into a kneeling position, looks down at me with a mischievous look and that charming lopsided grin on his face and reaches for his pillow.

"You'll regret that, mia cara!" Ezio laughs heartily as he whacks it on my chest lightly. I bounce up into a sitting position, and reach for my pillow again, laughing all the while and then repeatedly hit Ezio, as well as accept his hits, as we both let out a fit of giggles as we do so. Ezio then does the worst thing ever. Something that should be considered a torture method. He throws the pillow to the side and settles for his good old hands, and starts to tickle me on my stomach and under my arms. I am the most ticklish person known to humanity, and so cannot control myself or hide the fact I am ticklish. Oh so unfortunate.

"No, no Ezio! St-Stop!" I exclaim through a fit of giggles.

"Oh, you're ticklish, are you now?" he chortles, and tickles me even more.

"Stop!" I plead as I laugh so much my stomach starts to hurt, and I twist and roll over on the bed in a vain attempt to escape his hands and the tickling.

"What do you say?" he laughs, raising his eyebrows as he looks into my wide, watering eyes from the laughter.

"Just kidding! " I almost shout, desperately wanting the tickling to stop.

"There's something missing there…" Ezio teases, continuing to tickle me in the more sensitive spot he has discovered. I have no idea what he wants me to say, so I'm just gonna say the complete opposite of what I said earlier.

"You're v-very manly!" I exclaim, laughing so hard that the tears are starting to run down my face.

Ezio laughs and responds, "That will do!" and his head then makes contact with his pillow.

Ezio lets out a deep chuckle which reverberates in his throat. I do the same, wiping my damp cheeks and staring up at the ceiling. There is a comfortable silence and the sound of even breathing patterns. Complete calm. I suddenly get the strong urge to just cuddle up to Ezio. To rest my head on his chest. I shake the thoughts out of my head. The thoughts that will never turn to reality. I slap my hand to my forehead and gasp.

"Of course! How could I be such a douche?"

Ezio turns his head so he is looking at me, with a confused expression set on his face. I smile and turn on to my side, resting my elbow on the pillow to prop my head up, and look down at Ezio.

"My mum! I'm pretty sure she's the one person who was with my dad the whole time at the market before he was killed. She must be able to shed some light on the situation" I explain, my voice hopeful. Ezio smiles warmly at hearing this. "I'll see if she wouldn't mind talking about it tomorrow" I finish, smiling, before laying on my back again and resting my eyes.

"Sweet dreams, mia cara…" Ezio soothingly whispers.

"And you, Ezio" I reply sleepily, and the sound of Ezio's quiet, even breathing lulls me into a deep and peaceful sleep.