Disclaimer: I own nothing. Nothing! No Ezio. No Altair. I own nothing. This is purely for amusement, nothing else!

Story Info

Summary: Life or Death. That's usually what it all comes down to. But not for me. I got some thing else. I got a choice. Now follow me Olivia Steel, as I thrown into a world I never believed true and try to change a shattered future.

Pairings: Eventual! Ezio/OC, Mentions of Ezio/Many, Mentions OC/others.

I want to thank AgoTheTiny, Alex-Kurotani, Aspidon, Bloodrage, Butterscreen, Chester-Grey, Countess Vlad Dracula, DovahkiinSharpe, Dragonaia, Elementi3197, FireRain1999, GlaceNight, Hanane EL Mokkadem, Hawkbelly, Hawklan, Hyuga Nagani, KarstOfProx, Krenaya, Leo's Katanas, Luria, My Ashland, Peter the Otaku, PhantomChajo, Saqin, Scarlet Rosaria, ShinobiTwin05, Soxxy Moxxy Lacks A Lung, The Partner In Cream, Trauerspiel, TurtleFeathers, Union of the snake, UnknownFlux, Xiba, YTaMSPw, Yanderegrl43ver, azunyan3478, bakaprincess85, dragonsire13, irenia, madisongjohnson, miruka67, mrs. leonard mccoy, pretzel-logic, sleepingsnowwhite, sleepyPrincess, the mass halo effect, ramzgurl, Cherries and Bearbees, Trance20666, michellevillalobos12, GreyMemories, Antyto-sama, Master Chief the Champion, anionymm, Rain Nero, Scarlet Silvers, Baleful Gamer, crazyuser, Hugs4Every1, Illusa, Patches9812, Ballad of the Fallen, LeeBikes, ShioriOokami, xXBloodyIllusionXx, EzziBA, UmiNight Angel Neko, yiuyiufung, ShizukaRen-Hime, bibop, Kmanrocks, Shaiya Arai, xanna2011, GreentreeFrog, SurreptitiousFox245, Kira440, MRG101, Alozano14, LoveNivans, yarmantho, GingerPepperNinja, Tyvot, The Name Is Greed, GreenScalesWaggingTails, Puppystomper, Jade Celandine, TheifOfInsanity, Dark-Forest-Clouds, WandererRaen, Terra-Fair, Cursed-Dragon227, Allstars7, Slavaskia, DomJaoII and tigerfur for the follows all of you are awesome!

And I also want to thank, ramzgurl, A7x215 08-02-2013, AgoTheTiny Aspidon, Azriel Vincettia, Bitja, Electric-Rawr, Foresthunter, Hawkbelly, Hawklan, Kairi-loves-Sushi, KarstOfProx, LadyEvellyn, Leo's Katanas, LittleMissFortune, Reitzel-chan, Saqin, Scarlet Rosaria, Shi No Kitsune, Trauerspiel, UnknownFlux, Yanderegrl43ver, bakaprincess85, dableachenator, dragonsire13, mrs. leonard mccoy, pretzel-logic, sleepingsnowwhite,Electric-Rawr, xXmarciXx, Shi No Kitsune, bakaprincess85, Leo's Katanas, Aspidon, Bitja, Azriel Vincettia, KarstOfProx, UnknownFlux, A7x215, AgoTheTiny, ramzgurl, Alissin, YTaMSPw, Lady Northwind, Trance20666, Chester-Grey, Choco-Latte64, Antyto-sama, girl falcona, Scarlet Silvers, ihearux3, DayDreamNinja, Hugs4Every1, Dragonet-Dialga123. Illusa, SeaGreenSeaGlass, nekotea13, nafara, EzziBA, Kaore Ryu, Kmanrocks, UmiNight Angel Neko, Cho Tamazaki, RubysTheName, The Fox Familiar, ShizukaRen-Hime, Nicky43, Vendiche and Avalon, xanna2011, sleepyPrincess, Kira440, MRG101, Alozano14, LoveNivans, yarmantho, GingerPepperNinja, Tyvot, GreenScalesWaggingTails, Kyouki no kitsune, ArtChild96, DrAnime203, Jade Celandine, Terra-Fair, Cursed-Dragon227, Allstars7, DomJaoII and xXmarciXx for the favorites! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

If you have favorite this story and followed it and your name isn't above, just tell me that I missed you and I will correct it.

Thank you for the reviews, nekotea13 and MRG101! You guys and gals reviews helped me finish this chapter, thanks.

Got to give the Props to: The game, the novel by Oliver Bowden and the game script. It has really helped me keep up with the storyline and stay true to everything and everyone. Hope you enjoy!

Want to apologize for the late update! My only excuse is that I just let time get away from me and other projects (and fan fictions) came up and I just lost track of this one. A review actually prompted me to finish this chapter. It's a lot smaller than the other chapters, but I couldn't imagine making any longer. It just felt write to end it right there. Hope you all enjoy!


CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

"The Choices We Make"

"There you are!"

The shout echoed through the trees causing birds to flee and the hair on the back of Ezio's neck to rise in panic. Oh, that voice was unmistakable and he turned only to have to dodge a fist that came at his face. He caught her around her wrist and held tightly when she tried to pull it back. "Olivia," he stated, with a sigh of exasperation, but those eyes flashed angrily at him.

"You bastard," she snapped. It took her two days to catch up with him, and those two days of trekking across the beautiful Italy countryside did nothing to soothe the burning rage coiled in her stomach. How dare he just freaking leave her behind like that? When he would not release her hand, she twisted the heavy bag that was in her free hand and swung it straight at his head. It was really the only reason she brought it, to beat him in the head with it.

"Dannazione, woman!" Ezio cried, clutching the back of his head and released the smug woman. Panic spiked through his skull, so bad that it actually brought stinging tears to his eyes, but he pinned Livvy with a glare despite that. "What was in that bag?"

"Rocks," Livvy stated, her eyes cold and unforgiving.

"What are you carrying rocks for?" Ezio shouted.

"To knock some fucking sense into you!" Livvy shouted back, and she walked towards him with angry long strides that should not have intimidated him. It did though he would never admitted. "What were you thinking? Leaving me behind like that?" She hissed, her right hand jerking out as if she wanted to hit him, but was barely holding herself back. She stomped to a halt a foot away from him, and her hands were upon her hips as she stared up at him with a dark look. "Well, are you going to explain yourself?"

"Per amor di Dio! Explain myself!" Ezio ran a hand down his face, with an aggravated sigh before he gave her a dark look. "What is there to explain, Olivia? You were hurt. You needed rest, and you should have stayed in Florence to get it," he stated, crossing his arms over his broad chest and stared down his nose at her.

"And you are so full of shit," Livvy gave him the stink eye, and looked generally unimpressed with his glower. "You and I both know there is more to this than you are letting on so why don't you fess up now and I won't beat your skull in with my bag of bricks?"

"Look," he stated, holding up his hands in a sign of peace, "I understand you're anger. However, you have to understand something, Olivia. I have watched too many people die, and lost more than I ever wanted to…I will not watch you die. It is not something that I long to see," he stated, firmly. "And when you rush into things without thinking, I see that happening inside my head. The fight at Lorenzo-"

Olivia spat an expletive at him, cutting him off. "That is what this about? The danger?" She stated at him, her expression tightening. "Please do not tell me you are giving me the 'it's too dangerous' talk because you feel it's for my own good."

Ezio pursed his lips. His face was set in a stubborn kind of determination, and he stared down his nose at her with narrowed golden eyes. Olivia jaw clenched, and her fingers twisted into fists. She really wanted nothing more to do than to smack him, but obviously his head was too head to beat sense into. She considered his reasoning for the briefest of moments before she reached up and began to undo the strings of her shirt.

"What are you doing?" Ezio's eyes widened as the creamy skin was exposed with each string she undid.

"Oh, don't get all excited," Livvy snipped, something like amusement flashing through her eyes. "I'm not stripping down to my under things. You aren't that lucky."

"Olivia," he growled.

"Ezio," she growled back, but ended up sounding more like a purr than a growl. "Oh, geez, that was intimidating," she muttered, sarcastically. A brief smile flickered across Ezio face before it transformed back into a fierce scowl. He was about to open his mouth to once again demand what exactly she thought she was going when Olivia pulled the shirt back enough to expose a nasty dark scar right above her heart. His words got choked in his throat, and he saw Olivia look up at him with a flat expression. "You know this wound right here…nearly did me in," Livvy commented, her voice suspiciously light. "Do you want to know where I got this?"

His gaze raised up to meet her gaze, and he saw something dark swirl in her eyes. Something he hadn't seen since the execution. "How?" His voice sounded rough and faint to his ears as if he were underwater.

"I got it by putting myself between your father and throwing knife," Olivia stated, calmly. It was simple statement, but it threw him for a loop. "I know the dangers, Ezio. I've been at this for a few years now and I am not strange to wounds or near death experiences. I've been stabbed, been blown up and a lot more. Please do not treat me like some bumbling fool that can barely swing a sword."

"Then why did you act like one? You knew you were hurt," Ezio snapped, angrily. "You always do that. You push yourself to your limits without regard to yourself. You always put others before you, myself included not once thinking of protecting yourself."

"I don't…" Olivia tried to protest.

"Oh?" Ezio arched a dangerous eyebrow as his lips pulled into a catlike smirk. "You don't? Then answer this for me, Olivia. If it came down to my life or yours…which would you choose?"

"What?" Livvy blanched. "How can you ask me that?"

"Which would you choose?" Ezio glared down at her. His golden eyes dark with his stormy emotions, and the anger rolled in his gut like molten lava.

Livvy stared at him for a long moment, and she consider lying. But he would see right through it, she knew he would. With a sigh, she mumbled out her reply. Too quiet for him to hear it.

"I'm sorry. I did not catch that," Ezio leaned forward, and reached up to press one of his ears in her direction mockingly. "Why don't you speak up a little louder?"

"You, damnit!" She glared. "If it came down to your life or mine, I would choose you and you know it you smug bastard!"

Ezio gave her a grim smile. "Now do you understand why I am so concerned?" He asked, a triumphant gleam in his eyes. He knew that he was a bit callous, but if Olivia could not have seen why he was upset then her self-preservation would have been worse off than he thought.

"No," she denied, stubbornly. "You are important, Ezio. More than you know. You have done so much for Florence, for all of Italy." The entire world actually, she added silently. "I will always choose your life, Ezio. I've seen too much death, and have lost too many people already. I refuse to lose you, too."

Ezio stared at her, momentarily struck by her words and his mouth was a bit agape. It shut with a loud click, and he drew in a deep breath. "Fine," he relented, surprisingly easy.

Too easy, she narrowed her eyes and cocked her head to the side. "Fine? It's fine?" She asked, suspiciously.

"It's fine," Ezio smiled, too broad and too smug. "When it comes down to it, you can pick my life over yours. But when I choose? I'll choose your life over mine."

Panic jolted through her like white-hot lightning. "What? You can't do that," she protested, and suddenly images of Ezio dying just to protect her entered her mind. Her stomach twisted in violent knots as a sweat of panic broke out across her skin. It would ruin everything.

"As you said…it is my decision to make," Ezio stated, with a slightly taunting look in her direction. "Let's go. If we hurry we can reach Monterrigioni by morning." And he turned on his heel and marched away from her.

Olivia sputtered, unable to say anything for a moment before she narrowed her gaze into vicious slits. "Ezio Auditore, this is not over!" She picked up her bag of bricks, and hauled them over her shoulder. Just in case she needed them to beat in Ezio's skull further in. "Not over by a long shot!"


The silence between them was damn near unbearable, but neither was willing to break it. They walked for what seemed forever and by the time the sun started to finally set, Monteriggioni appeared in sight. They walked through the city's gate, and by the time they got up the steps of the Villa Auditore the town was abuzz with news of their return. The second Ezio crossed the threshold, Ezio found himself with an arm full of his sister.

"Oh, Ezio! It's so good to see you!" Claudia smiled, brightly. She pulled back from her brother only to throw her arms around a surprised Olivia.

"Whoa!" Olivia stumbled.

"It's good to see you, Claudia," he smiled, with a light chuckle.

"I am so glad you are here," Claudia laughed. "It has been so boring here! There is nothing to do except keep the books and books are…well, books are boring."

"Don't let Leonardo hear you say that," Livvy teased, with a trace of a smirk on her lips. Her gray eyes glanced around the Villa Auditore, a sense of calm flooded over her. There was something about this place that just filled with peace, and a feeling of safety she really did not feel anywhere else. "Where is your uncle at? There is something we must discus with him," she glanced around.

"I am right here," Mario strode down the steps with a welcoming smile upon his face. "Ezio. Olivia. It is good to see both of you. You have been sorely missed."

"Ah, didn't know you held us in such high regard," Livvy teased, an amused eyebrow raised.

"Oh, the highest," Mario assured her, with a chuckle. He reached them and clasped his hand on Ezio's shoulder. "It is good to see that you are doing well, nipote," Mario stated, with a smile before his face became shrouded with seriousness. "I can see from your face that you've been through much in the months since we last met. We have heard all the news from Florence, and I-even I-found myself praying that by some miracle you would be spared. But not only were you spared, you turned the tide against the Pazzi! The Templars will hate you for that, Ezio."

"It is a hatred I reciprocate," Ezio stated, with a tight smirk on his face. "But enough of about that. I've been sent from Firenze by Il Magnifico to attend to some unfinished business," Ezio divulged, with a frown on his face. "I'm looking for Jacopo de' Pazzi."

"Ha…" A bitter chuckle pulled from Mario's lips. "Who isn't? We've been searching for the bastard for days with little to no success."

"Then perhaps what I carry will help us both: a list of his co-conspirators. One of them WILL talk before he dies," Ezio smirked, and handed over the list.

Mario looked at the list. "Excellent! These men are sure to lack Jacopo's resources, which means they will be much easier to fine. I will put my scouts to it at once," Mario assured them. "For the meantime rest," Mario urged, gently. "Both of you. After you have bathed and rested, then we talk about this further in the morning."


The next morning the three of them sat down together in Mario's study. Mario listened intently as Ezio and Livvy told him all he knew of the events that had passed in Florence. He returned Vieri's Codex page to his uncle, and then passed over the one he had been given by Lorenzo, describing the design it contained for the poison-blade, and showing it to him. Mario was duly impressed, but fixed his attention on the new page. "Was he able to replicate such a blade?"

"Yes," Ezio said, and showed his uncle his new weapon.

Olivia rolled her eyes in faint amusement, though it was only faint. Ezio had been avoiding her for the rest of the day, perhaps too tired to get into another argument. She rubbed her temples feeling a tension build up in her skull, and she released a tiny sigh.

"Bene," said Mario, an tone of admiration. "In any case, only when the pages are reunited shall we be able to understand fully the meaning of the Codex. But this page, when we place it, together with Vieri's, with the others, should bring us a step further." He rose, walked over to the bookcase that concealed the wall on which the Codex pages hung, swung it back, and studied where the new pages might go. One of them connected with those already in place. The other touched a corner of it. "It is interesting that Vieri and his father should have owned pages that were evidently close together," he murmured, lightly. "Now, let us see what." He broke off, concentrating. "Hmmn," he said at last, but his voice was troubled.

"What is wrong?" Olivia questioned.

"I'm not sure. We may be just as much in the dark as ever, but there is definitely some reference to a prophet - not from the Bible, but either a living prophet, or one who is to come."

"Who could it be?" Ezio asked.

Olivia kept her gaze fixated at the window, in an attempt to distract herself and keep herself from fidgeting. Her heart was hammering in her chest, as a voice in the back in her head taunted her telling her that she knew exactly who the prophet was. She stomped down the guilt that rose in the pit of her chest, and slowly looked over at Mario and Ezio.

"Let's not go too fast." Mario brooded over the pages, his lips moving, speaking a language Ezio did not understand. "As far as I can make out, the text here roughly translates as 'Only the Prophet may open it.' Just another damn mystery!" Mario's brows were pinched in frustration. "There's reference to two "Pieces of Eden." But these pages offer no answers," Mario sighed, aggravated. "At least not on their own. You must find more."

"I've heard whispers of guards, and such pages as the codex being held at several different locations of the cities. We aren't the only ones trying to gather them and unravel the mystery," Livvy told them with a worried frown.

"Have you sent anyone to get them?" Ezio asked, looking over at her wondering why she hadn't said anything before.

"A few tails, but I have urged them not to do anything unless they tried to take the pages out of the city," she confided. "But with the templars already on edge, I doubt they will. They won't risk it."

"Then we'll attend to it for another day," Ezio decided, with a sharp nod. "Now we have a mission to attend to."

"As you wish. Now, if you hope to defeat these bastardi (bastards), I will need to teach you a few things. Meet me on the practice field," Mario informed him, grinning as his nephew groaned.

"More training?" He asked, a petulant whine to his voice that made Olivia snigger behind her hand.

"Yes. We will be working on your counter attacks."

Ezio seemingly pouted, though he wouldn't admit it. I don't need to learn more counter attacks. He thought slight sullen.

"Ah, don't worry Ezio." Livvy gave him a grin. "I'm sure an old dog like you can learn some new tricks."

"Old dog?" He choked out. "Your older than I am!" Ezio shot back, offended at being called old. His comment earned him a smack from his uncle. "Uncle-"

"Ezio, mind you manners," Mario told him, sternly.

"But she-" Ezio tried to defend his actions.

"No. It is a unwritten rule almost as sacred as our creed," Mario told him in a mock whisper. "Never-Never talk about a woman's age. It will never end well for you, nipote."

Livvy just laughed at the confused look on Ezio's face. It reminded her of a puppy dog not understanding why it got scolded. Ezio shot her a glare for her laughter then suddenly a wicked smile appeared on his face. "You know Uncle…Livvy might need some training too. She ended up getting herself stabbed due to recklessness."

"Oh, no, you just did not-" Livvy's comment was cut off by Mario crossing his arms over his chest while turning towards her.

"Is that true, Olivia?" Mario asked, his expression serious.

Livvy pursed her lips, feeling like she had just been caught with her hand in the cookie jaw. "Yes…" she muttered reluctantly.

"Then come. You will join us for training," Mario made the decision and turned expecting them to follow. They did, all the while Livvy was mouthing, 'I hate you' at Ezio, who just gave her every smug look in return.


Mario warned Ezio. "Alright, Ezio. You're familiar with counter-attacking - but what happens when your enemy is as well?" His uncle stood, his spine straight and his eyes regarding Ezio with intense scrutiny.

"I don't usually give them the opportunity," Ezio stated smugly as he rolled the tension out of his shoulders.

"You talk tough, but that won't help with guards breathing down your back!" Livvy called out, from her place on the stairs leading up to the Villa.

Ezio stuck out his tongue before turning back to the amused Mario. "Alright maestro (master) - teach me what to do!" Ezio bowed ever so slightly to his uncle.

"Dodge!" Mario simply said before lunging forward. The surprised look on Ezio face sent Livvy into a burst of laughter, but the younger man quickly regained his wits and swiftly dodged Mario's relentless attacks. For about an hour the two trained, until Ezio was out of breath and covered in grim and sweat. Mario decided to finally have pity on him.

"Magnifico! (Magnificent!) Once again you exceed my expectations!" Mario complimented.

Ezio's chest puffed out in pride. Livvy thought inanely that he looked like a peacock proudly strutting his stuff for the ladies. Her laughter ceased when Mario shouted, "Olivia, get down here. It is your turn." There was a petulant groan, in which Mario added, "The longer you dally, the longer you train!"

Livvy leaped down from the stairs rushing over, as Ezio hopped out of the ring. "I hate you," she whispered out as Ezio passed her.

Ezio smirked. "Oh, bella, you could never hate me. And if you do, I have ways to change your mind."

She twisted around, both middle fingers held up high. Ezio's put a hand to his heart, looking mocked hurt while laughter spilled across his lips. Livvy sent him one last dirty look before turning to Mario. She gulped, letting out a whimper, Oh. Boy.


"To your feet, Olivia," Mario demanded.

Olivia did as she was told, but she sent the man a withering stare. "I think…you're trying to kill me," she told him, taking much needed breaths. She glared at Ezio who stood just outside the ring watching with an unbridled amusement.

"Nonsense," Mario shook his head. "If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't have bothered going through all the effort to train you," he stated, simply. "You have skill, but you lack direction…imagination, if you will. Your moves are sharp, precise, but tame. In some battles this may pull you through, but others you must think quick, surprise your enemies by thinking outside of the box."

Livvy held back a wince. No one liked to hear they needed work, but she admitted, he did have a point. The cold, cut style of fighting her father taught her didn't always pull her through and she found herself in tight places. With resolve, she nodded, "Alright. I'm ready."

Approval shined in Mario's eyes, and Livvy felt her chest seize slightly as it hit her that her father had never looked at her like that. "Signore! (Sir!)" A mercenary brought them out of their training. He ran towards the training ring, stopping at its edge. "We've found Jacopo's men, and await your word to strike!"

"Relay the following: no man moves until they have spoken with Ezio." Mario instructed firmly. "Intesi? (Understand?)"

"It will be done!" The mercenary ran off to instruct the others. Ezio stood there stunned by the faith his uncle just placed in him, and squared his shoulders as Mario turned to him.

"Go, Ezio! Visit with my mercenaries in the countryside," Mario ordered, his expression serious. "See if Jacopo's lackeys won't lead you to him."

"Guess this means a rain check on our training?" Livvy looked hopeful.

Mario looked tempted to say otherwise, but in the end, he nodded. "Go. And Olivia," Mario whispered as she past him, "watch my nephew's back."

She met the man's eyes, and realized he was placing a test upon her. To prove her loyalty. Livvy nodded, her expression fierce and determined. "Always," she replied, and she meant it. Wherever Ezio would go, whatever burdens he would face, she would face and share with him. Even if I have to fight him every step of the way, she thought giving him a dark look as they saddled up and headed out.


END OF CHAPTER!

I know it's been a while since I've updated. My only excuse it that I really just let time get away from me. Anyways, I hoped you enjoyed!

Rrs are appreciated. :D