Before you start reading, I just wanted to say two things:

First one is that if you go to my bio I've put up a link to my deviantart. The pics that I posted are the ones of the girl that I model Piper after.

Number two, I was listening to my sister's iPod and a song came up that reminded me of the story. It's called Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. I really hope you'll check it out because they are a really good band!

Okay, I'll stop talking now. Onto the story!

I moved quickly through the forest knowing I had a long way to go because I was bypassing the bay. I needed to get there before Connor to ensure none of his people where getting hurt or killed because of my tardiness.
I slide to a stop behind a tree, listening for voices. An English accented voice filled my ear that was getting louder and louder every moment.
I quickly ducked in the safety of the bushes as I watched one of Johnson's patrols walk past me. I quickly buried my knife in his neck before running to grab it.
I heard another voice coming closer and closer. I grabbed onto the man's wrists and pulled him into the bushes so the other wouldn't see. I left as soon as the coast was clear.
I recognized Johnson's commanding voice as I neared the house where the meeting was being held. The mere sound of his voice angered me to no end but he was Connor's to kill, not mine.
I climbed a tree before jumping from branch to branch before I landed silently and safely upon the roof of the house.
No one seemed to notice me crouched on the rooftop watching them. I was lucky to have the sun facing me to make sure my shadow wouldn't be seen by anyone.
The Native's seemed to be standing up for themselves, at least until Johnson commanded his men to point their guns at their faces.
"Come on, Connor," I whispered glancing through the trees for my friend.
I spotted him charging towards Johnson, anger painting his face and movements. I guess that was my signal.
I shot two that were attacking the Mohawk with my pistols before throwing a poison dart at one. I jumped off the building, sinking my hidden blade into a man's neck before grabbing his bayonet.
I blocked a man's sword before hitting him harshly with the butt of my gun. I stabbed him once he fell to the ground.
I was knocked off my feet by a big fellow and landed harshly on my back. I looked up at the man, yelping and rolling to barely dodge the axe that was headed to my face. I kicked the man's hand, smirking as his axe fell to the ground. I grabbed the bayonet next to me and shot the man in the face before he had time to react.
I relaxed knowing that the fight was done. My eyes closed as my head swam. That concussion was a lot worse that I had expected.
A shadow passed over head, blocking the sun from my eyes. I opened an eye to see who it was.
A Mohawk man was standing above me, extending a hand out for me to grab. I took the hand gladly, standing on my wobbly feet.
"Thank you," the man said releasing my hand after a quick and awkward shake. "Some of us would be dead if it were not for you."
I nodded and popped my neck. "All in a day's work. Don't worry about it."
The man shook his head in agreement before turning to the other Natives, talking to them in Mohawk.
I glanced around for any sign of Connor or Johnson. There was none.
Johnson most likely ran when the fighting started. Connor of course would've had to follow Johnson to kill him. Knowing Connor, they couldn't have gotten far.
I jogged around the property yelling Connor's name before I finally heard Johnson's weak voice saying his last words.
I crept behind a tree and hid there, not wanting to interrupt them.
"...foolish girl," Johnson said. "She has no idea what she is getting herself into. She is going to get herself killed. Well, she's obviously almost gotten killed before. Else, why would she be here?"
I heard the rustling of fabric then Connor's angry voice. "What are you saying?!"
Johnson laughed before coughing. "She hasn't told you? That girl has done nothing more than lie to you for as long as she has known you."
I zoned out during the rest of the exchange. Johnson was right. I had been lying to Connor all of these years. I felt sick to my stomach as Connor said his last words to Johnson.
"Is it true?" Connor asked. He knew I was there.
I stepped slowly out of my hiding place. Connor had pain evident on his face. I felt horrible about everything as I walked up to Connor.
I nodded and clenched my fists. "I didn't want to lie to you. It just is hard to explain what my story is."
Connor didn't say a word.
"You have to trust me," I pleaded with him.
"How can I know if I can trust you?" Connor said.
I tried to swallow the lump in my throat as I spoke. "Let's head back to the manor. Achilles'll help with explaining it."
Connor sighed and nodded. He turned and began to walk away, not even bothering to look back at me.

XXX

"...that's why I hid it from you," I said in conclusion. "I know it's hard to believe."
"It's true, Connor," Achilles said looking at the man seated on the couch across the living room. "She came here when she was only nine years old. That's why it's so imperative that she stop her family."
"They shouldn't be here," I said leaning on the doorframe. "Neither should I. I shouldn't be born for another three hundred years."
Connor looked at the ground intently, fingers laced and his elbows resting on his knees. "But why were you sent here?"
Achilles and I glanced at each other and I looked back at Connor while shrugging. "We don't really know. I've found a few bits and pieces here and there but I don't really know. At least not yet."
Connor finally broke eye contact with the floor and looked at me. I couldn't tell what he was thinking at all.
Achilles excused himself, sensing that Connor wanted to talk with me alone. Right after he closed the front door, Connor spoke. "Why did you not tell me earlier? I would have helped you."
I furrowed my brows and licked my chapped lips. "It was my burden to bear*."
Connor stepped closer to me and put a hand on my shoulder. "It is not anymore. I will help you in any way I can."
I shook my head. "No, Connor, you don't have to do that."
"But I want to help you," Connor said. "One word and I will drop everything to be at your side. You were there for me whenever I needed it. Now it is my turn to repay that kindness."
I smiled. "That means a lot. Thanks for understanding."
Connor nodded and squeezed my shoulder before his hand dropped to his side. He cleared his throat as I took a seat on the couch with him following suit. "What is the future like?"
I laughed and smiled remembering my childhood. "Amazing. I've noticed I'm starting to forget a few things though."
"You should write them down," Connor suggested. "So you do not forget more."
"I don't know," I said. "I don't really see myself sitting and writing every detail down."
Funny. That's exactly what I'm doing now.
Connor dropped the subject and went onto another topic. "Do you still use horses?"
I shook my head and leaned back, crossing my legs. "We use these things called cars. They're kind of like carriages but can go from here to New York in less than half a day.**"
Connor's eyes widened as he leaned closer. "What else do you have?"

XXX

It took me a solid hour to teach Connor about cell phones and showers but it was fun to finally spend time with him. His faces he would pull would just crack me up. Even now I get the giggles thinking about it.
He asked question upon question until it seemed he was done. The next few questions were hard to answer.
"How is the Brotherhood fairing?"
I propped up my ankle on my knee as I took a deep breath. "My father always tried to make sure that we didn't hear his talks with my uncles but I know that we weren't doing too good. The Templars had the upper hand when I left and there was no end in sight." I picked at my fingernails. "We were loosing more men each day than we were gaining."
"What about this war?" Connor asked after a pause. "Do we win it?"
"Yes," I said. "I don't remember where or when, but we do."
Connor seemed done with asking questions and leaned back on the couch.
I lifted myself up and popped my back before walking towards the door.
"Will you go back if you have the chance?" Connor asked.
I stopped in my tracks, looking over my shoulder. The man had an unreadable look on his face though his eyes had a sadness in them that almost made my heart break.
What was I supposed to say? I'd been living here longer than before I was sent back. I was used to this lifestyle and had built a name for myself but I couldn't make myself say no to his question. But I yearned to go back to my home. I had never felt like I belonged here. I wanted to have my life back, my family together. I wanted what I had before.
My hand found it's resting place on the doorframe as I stood there. "I don't know."
Connor looked down on the arm of the couch and I sighed. I quickly retreated up the stairs, not daring to look back.
I walked briskly to my bedroom and fell on the bed. I breathed in the familiar comforting smell of the soft sheets and clutched my favorite pillow. I kicked off my shoes and curled into a ball on top of my sheets.
I closed my eyes and tried to get the previous conversation out of my head. I couldn't even get Connor's hurt eyes out of my head either.
An unfamiliar pain in my chest rose when I thought about leaving. It had never come up even when I thought about it before. Now, though, I couldn't get it to go away.
I started to feel my eyes droop from exhaustion. I didn't even try to stay awake, knowing that either way I would have to endure the terrible nightmares sooner or later.

XXX

Connor sat on the couch and listened to Piper walk up the stairs. He didn't know what to think about what had just happened. He sat there for a good half hour having a debate in his head.
He should've felt happiness when he bought of Piper going back home. Connor should've felt the need to help her get back. He shouldn't have felt sad. He shouldn't have felt the need to tell her she needed to stay.
Connor picked at a loose thread in the couch as he thought. Even the sight of the girl's face told him that she was having a tough time deciding too.
The thought of her leaving and never coming back killed him. He had refused to think she had died in the first place but if she did leave the chances of her coming back were slim. He didn't know why he wasn't happy she had a chance at getting her life back.
Connor heaved himself off the couch and made his way up the stairs slowly. He felt the need to apologize for putting Piper in the position he was just in.
He slowly opened the door to her room and spoke as he did. "Piper, I-"
Connor fell silent as he saw the girl on the bed sound asleep. Her hat had fallen slightly off her head, dark hair disheveled. The dark bags under her eyes showed the girl was absolutely exhausted.
Connor smiled and sat down next to the sleeping girl slowly as to not wake her up. She shifted but stayed sound asleep.
He walked to his room and grabbed his spare blanket before returning to Piper's room. Connor gently laid the blanket on top of the girl.
She moved onto her stomach and crossed her arms under her head before smacking her lips and turning her head away from Connor.
He didn't waste any time in leaving after that. The last thing he wanted to happen was Piper waking up and seeing him standing over her like a psychopath.

XXX

I woke up, breathing heavily and drenched in cold sweat. I recognized the room and started to calm down as I put my hands over my face.
I rubbed my mouth before looking out the window. It was still dark outside but the sky was starting to turn a light purple, telling me that the sun was going to be up.
I popped my back before making my way down the stairs quietly. I peeked into Achilles' room and saw that the old man was still asleep.
I took an apple from the kitchen and took a seat on the couch, looking out the window at the sunrise.
I sat there replaying the nightmare in my head over and over. It was the same as it had always been, me killing Louis again. The dream wasn't a memory though. I didn't remember anything after stabbing my brother, but I remember there was something after that that I couldn't remember. All I knew that it was important but I couldn't remember and it bugged me.
"Why are you awake?"
I jumped at Connor's voice and turned to see him standing in the doorway.
"Just woke up," I said quietly turning back to the window.
"What is wrong?" Connor asked sitting next to me.
I shook my head. "Nothing."
"You look tired. Why did you not sleep more?"
"It's just a nightmare," I said standing up. "Nothing that you need to worry about."
I quickly changed the subject so he wouldn't say anything about it. "Listen, I have to head back to out."
"Why?" Connor asked, standing up and walking over to me.
"I've got to check in with some people, sink a few ship," I said. "Tell Achilles I'll be back in a few weeks."
As I stepped out the door, Connor called out to me.
I turned, hand still on the doorknob. "Did you say something?"
"Just..." Connor struggled to find the words.
I tilted my head in confusion and took a step back inside the house. "What?"
I looked at Connor with concern and furrowed my brows as I stopped in front of him.
Connor placed a hand on my cheek, an intimate gesture to me that made my face burn red.
"Do not get hurt," Connor said sincerely. Either he didn't notice how red my face was or that he didn't care.
"I-i," I tried. I took a deep breath before answering with a smile. "I'll be fine."
Connor didn't look too sure so I put my hand on his arm and sighed. "Listen, Connor, I'll be fine. I'm not going to be in any real danger, okay? I promise I'll be back in a few weeks," I reassured him. "You and Achilles are my family now, my world. I swear that I'll be back."
Connor stared at me before giving me a nod and a look that he trusted me. I'm embarrassed to say that I had an overwhelming desire to kiss the man but I stopped the thought quickly. What in the hell was I thinking?
I made a quick exit after an awkward one-armed hug from the kid.
Why in the world would that thought go through my mind? Sure I thought Connor had gotten good looking. I thought that about a few men, thinking that they were easy on the eyes but I had never gone as far as to even remotely thinking of kissing them!
Luckily I had three weeks of nothing but blowing British ass out of the water to ease my mind. This was going to be fun.

*I don't know if it was bear or bare, to hopefully I got it right

**I live in Idaho (not very exciting, but our potatoes are deelish) and have never been on the East coast so I'm not sure how long it takes to get from were the Homestead is at (which is Massachusetts) to New York now.