"I'm leaving."

Achilles looked up at me as I stood in the doorway of his bedroom with a slight frown on his aged features. Even more prominent than the confusion was the expression of deep disappointment I noted on his face. His dark eyes studied me for a long time as he considered my words. He knew things between Connor and me had been rocky for a while now. He didn't pretend not to notice all the arguments we had, but he offered no reassurances or advise to either of us. The only counsel he had given was for us to watch our tones in front of Abby. We did. Sometimes.

"Where will you go?" he asked.

I was quiet. It had been a week since I'd made my decision, but my destination was still unknown to me. I just knew I couldn't stay here anymore. Even with Connor gone, it was too painful. This house held too many reminders of things I would rather forget. I needed to get away.

"I'll stay with Myriam until I...find something better."

The old man sighed. "And Abigail?" he inquired forlornly. "Do you plan to take her with you?"

"Yes."

Achilles nodded. "I see," he muttered.

The way he said that hurt me. It was as if he thought I was punishing him by taking my daughter away. That wasn't my intention. I knew he loved her and I wouldn't cut him from our lives out of spite. Achilles had as much of a right to be with Abby as Connor did. He had been there when she was born, had helped to deliver her. We were family. As messed up as things were in my life right now, I still thought of him as my father. My reasons for leaving had nothing to do with Achilles. It was because of him that I had put it off this long.

"I'll bring her to visit you," I told him.

He gave me a pained smile, as if he didn't really believe me. That hurt me even more.

"Your mind is made up," Achilles stated. There wasn't much emotion in his voice, but there was a fair amount in his gaze. "I can't stop you. You're free to do as you wish."

I nodded. More because I was accepting his sentiment than agreeing with it. I hadn't expected it to be this hard to say goodbye. I felt torn and reluctant. I couldn't look at him anymore. I turned away and started to leave the room. I already had my few possessions packed, as well as all of the baby's.

I had only took a few steps when Achilles called my name. I paused, but didn't turn around.

"Connor will be gone for some time," he said. "There's no hurry."

Tears rolled down my cheeks. I knew the longer I stayed the harder it would get to ever go, but I didn't need to tell him that. I was sure he knew. I think that was part of why he was trying to get me to stay. He hoped I would reconsider, change my mind. But I couldn't.

"I can't-" I choked on the words and couldn't finish what I had stared to say. I covered my face with my hands and began to sob with my back to him.

"You know Myriam doesn't have enough room for all of you," Achilles stated.

"I don't have anywhere else to go!" I cried.

I heard the old man get up. His cane tapped on the wood floor as he approached me. I almost expected him to hug me. I wanted him to. But he didn't. He only stood behind me, gazing at the back of my head.

"Yes, you do," he told me.

I turned around to face him. I started to tell him again that I couldn't stay here, but he didn't give me time to speak. His countenance urged me to remain quiet and listen.

"The building beside the house will make a decent home for you and Abby. It will require work before it's livable, I'm sure. But I think you will be happy there, in time."

I wiped my face. "You mean the old Assassin's quarters?"

Achilles nodded. "It has fallen into disuse. I'm not sure if it will ever be required again, but – if it is – other arrangements can be made. It will serve far better as a home for you and your daughter than it did as it's intended purpose."

I stared at him. "You're giving me a house?" I asked.

Achilles nodded. "Yes. Every family deserves a home of their own. And that can be yours."

I was overwhelmed with gratitude and relief. I hadn't wanted to go to Myriam's. I hadn't wanted to go that far. And he was letting me know I didn't have to. Achilles was making an effort to keep me in his life, but still let me have my independence. I didn't know how to respond, so I hugged him. He didn't pull back or push me away for long enough that I knew he loved me, too.

It took six weeks of work to get the house ready for Abby and I to move in. I enlisted Lance's services for repairs, but it was Achilles who paid him. I promised to work off the cost, and the old man only smiled at me. When renovations, were over, Myriam, Norris and myself took what little furniture I had to the smaller house. Achilles gave me a couple chairs and the couch I had been sleeping on. He said he had no use for them. They were only in the way. The woodworker gave me a dinning room set as a housewarming gift and the other families on the homestead gave me linens and cookware. I didn't have much, but I was grateful for what I did have. I didn't doubt the emptiness could be filled over time. It was a humble beginning, but the best I could hope for.

My only wish was that things hadn't happened the way they had. I loved Connor. I still wanted to be with him. I just couldn't take all the fighting anymore. I knew he couldn't either. He had more important things to worry about. His work demanded his attention. I knew I couldn't compete with the Brotherhood, much less Abby. Those were the things in life that Connor valued the most. I tried not to be bitter about that. I told myself it was a good thing that he was so committed. He was a great man, and a wonderful father. I could respect him for that.

I stood on the cliff overlooking the harbor below. The lack of the Aquila at the small dock filled me with a strong sense of remorse. It was my hope that Connor would be home by now. But he wasn't. He was off doing whatever it was he did. Taking care of the responsibilities he had sworn to uphold when he dedicated his life to the Brotherhood. His high moral values had been one the reasons I had fallen in love with him, but they were also one of the things that tore us apart. Connor refused to discuss anything Assassin related with me. He preferred my knowledge of his duties to be vague and generalized. He did this to keep me safe. I knew that. But I still hated how he pushed me away.

I glanced at the sun as it began to set behind the trees, frowning deeply. The day was almost over. I wondered where Connor was right now. What he was doing. Most of all, I wondered if he remembered that today was our anniversary. And I wondered if that fact meant anything to him. It did to me. Though we were estranged, I still thought of myself as his wife. Even if I didn't show it all the time, I loved him. Always and forever. Despite all the fighting and tension between us, I held on to the hope that we could work things out eventually. If not for us, for Abby. She deserved a mother and a father. Something Connor nor I had in childhood. I didn't want my daughter to grow up in a broken home. I didn't want her to turn out like me, never trusting and never caring. I wanted her to have the structure I had known for the last two years. The feeling of security and happiness that comes from a real home.

I sighed, wiping the tears from my eyes, as I went back to the manor. I knew I would have a time convincing Abby that we had to go home and leave Pops alone until tomorrow. She loved that old man so very much. And he knew it. That's why he spoiled her the way he did.