A/N: There is a time skip halfway through this chapter. I wouldn't have done it, but this chapter would have been cut really short if I had ended the chapter there and started from the next one.

Another side note to the story: Danor's age may suddenly jump a few times, but that's not to mean I am skipping plot lines etc. It is just so that he can progress quickly before any more brothers/sisters appear (to be honest I haven't decided on boys/girls yet as I am currently finding the right time for Al Mualim to die, and what the best way for him to go will be).

Chapter 36

Altair closed the door as the other Assassin left, and he turned to face Evangeline to let her know the news.

"Your father is fine." He informed her, putting a hand in front of his son before Danor could reach the door. "He's with the Doctor, but isn't up to seeing any visitors tonight."

By visitors Altair was actually referring towards the blonde herself. Al Mualim had passed on a message to say that under no circumstances, was his daughter to speak with him. But he couldn't tell the blonde that, she felt guilty enough as it was!

She nodded her head, getting up from the carpet where she had been sitting with Danor, "I will see how he is tomorrow."

"Perhaps it would be best," Altair began, picking up the young blonde boy as he made a run for the balcony; giggling once he was caught as he had been thinking it was a game. "To wait a few days."

She sighed, but nodded in understanding as she began to tidy Danor's toys away. "Then I will let him rest for now." She winced and placed a hand on her stomach, her posture faltering slightly when she felt a sharp twinge in her lower abdomen.

Something within the usually stoic, emotionless assassin weakened, and he reached out towards the blonde, actually concerned for her well-being. "Evangeline?" He questioned, his tone calm and on the boarder of mild concern.

"I'm fine." She replied after a while, straightening up and moving away from him. "I just need to sit down."

"Are you ill?"

"I don't know." She replied honestly, placing a hand on her belly as she lowered herself into the armchair. "My stomach hurts." Of course, she hadn't told him that she was pregnant...was there a complication?

There was a knock at the door, and Altair was hesitant to open it. He finally did so after giving the blonde one last glance, and followed Naim out into the corridor to hear his message.

The two were to leave for Jerusalem again, as ordered by Al Mualim.

She was a lot paler than usual as he stepped back into the room. He crossed the room towards her and placed Danor down on the carpet, "Do you need a doctor?" He asked.

Evangeline shook her head, "I'm fine." She repeated, picking up their son as he tried to climb onto her lap.

He nodded his head once before turning towards the balcony. "I'm to leave for Jerusalem." He informed her. "I'm not sure how long I'll be gone," Altair explained, "But I am to be kept informed of anything." He glanced at her from over his shoulder.

She looked up at him and nodded, "Of course." The blonde replied, watching as he committed himself to a Leap of Faith. That probably would have been the ideal time for the blonde to tell him that she was carrying his second child. She wasn't sure why she hadn't told him yet, he had been reasonable, kind even, maybe a little arrogant but they hadn't had a major disagreement for a while – the main reason as to why Evangeline had hidden her pregnancy from him in the first place.

Hopefully he would only be gone for a few weeks at the most, that way she wouldn't be showing by the time he returned, and wondered what had happened whilst he had been away. No, she would inform him when he arrived back to Masyaf. Although she was surprised that he didn't know, what with over half the citadel hearing from the nursemaids!

Altair had been absent from Masyaf a little over two weeks, and he never usually admitted when things were hard, but this assignment was tough!

The Duke had a very strict security system, and the patrols looked near impossible to slip past.

Altair needed inside intel. So he examined who visited and left the mansion. There were no Scholars, he noted, a lot of Templars and twice as many guards. But he did notice that the women were blonde. And not courtesans.

Altair frowned. If the women were not courtesans, then what? Married, he would least expect that. But to his surprise, the men that accompanied them into the mansion were in fact their husbands. He followed three couples to double check.

The Master Assassin had interrogated the husbands as well, and discovered that the Duke would pay them a handsome price if he could lay with their wives. The husband would walk his wife to the Duke's chambers, receive payment, and then wait for his wife outside.

Altair returned to the Bureau to relay what information he had discovered to Malik. The one armed Dai ran a hand through his hair, "It appears to me, Altair, that you may require some assistance from your wife."

The Master Assassin almost growled, "What would the Master think of that?" He all but snapped.

"I believe she wanted to return to Jerusalem one day, did she not? Al Mualim wouldn't need to know she will be playing a part in one of your assignments."

Altair looked away, "I do not trust the Duke with her."

"You said so yourself Altair, that the husbands deliver their wives personally to the Duke. Trusting the Duke with Evangeline, means nothing. It is trusting yourself to take care of her, which is what you are questioning."

Amber eyes glared at the Dai, "Of course I am more than capable." He snapped, "It would depend on our escape."

"Well," Malik commented, standing up straight and picking up his quill to continue his work. "We both know that she can run, almost faster than you I dare say! I don't think she will pose a problem."

Altair grunted his reply as he stood up abruptly, his chair legs scraping noisily against the hard flooring as he did so. "But she is weak. She may be able to run and wield a sword, but climb in a bid to escape? She will die. I cannot leave Danor without a mother."

Malik raised an eyebrow, "It appears as though I may have misjudged you, Altair."

"How?"

"I believed you to be heartless and arrogant...but the way you speak in regards to your son. You have changed."

The Master Assassin nodded once, "Everything he does, he looks toward me to see if I am proud of him. He endeavors even when his goal is completely out of reach, just to make me take notice of him."

"And do you?"

Altair looked up at the Dai, "Of course I do. And Evangeline will scold me if I do not say so."

Malik nodded, "She is a good mother."

"I wouldn't want anyone else taking care of my son." The eagle replied quietly, "She is good to Danor. I know what it is like, to grow up without a mother, being passed onto the maids all day. I couldn't let that happen to my son. This mission will have to wait, I cannot put Evangeline in danger. For Danor's sake."

"And your own?" Malik suggested quietly.

"I wouldn't push it Malik." Came the suddenly cold response, "The woman still frustrates me, she can still be as intolerable as she once was."

"When she disagrees with you."

"Yes." Altair replied honestly.

"You cannot always be right, Altair." Malik replied, "She may be a woman, but I think you'll find she is another key to finding the man who you once were." He waved his hand towards the door, "Now go. Eat, drink, whore, rest - do whatever you will. Just be quiet.I'm working."

Altair retreated to the next room and sat down on the pile of cushions in the corner as he began to don his weaponry onto the floor beside him.

The eagle thought about what Malik had suggested, but the Master Assassin knew that he had been right to disregard the idea of bringing Evangeline into his assignment. The blonde was needed to take care of Danor, and it was too dangerous for the young woman anyway.

Naim dropped into the Bureau a few minutes later, and suggested a similar idea to Altair – but hiring a courtesan instead. "I know a girl in Acre." The younger assassin stated, "Blonde, looks like she could be married-"

"-As long as she'll agree." Altair interrupted him. "You will ride out tomorrow whilst I return to Masyaf to see Al Mualim. I'll send word to the Rafik to let you know what he's said about your plan, if it is allowed to go ahead."

Naim nodded, "Of course, I'll ride back to Jerusalem with her as soon as I can."

"Don't screw this one up." Altair warned, "I don't take lightly to being partnered with imbeciles! I work alone, and so should you."

"I'm guessing you'll be staying in Masyaf then."

"This was you mission in the first place." Altair snapped, "I shouldn't need to keep digging you out of a mess. If it happens again, then I'll request to Al Mualim that you should go back to being a Novice. You're barely seventeen, boy!"

"I may be young for an assassin," Naim replied bravely. "But you're young for a Master!"

"What are you implying?" Altair growled, glaring down at the younger assassin - preparing to beat him for being rude.

"I asked for silence!" Malik roared, storming into the side room. "I'm trying to work. Sleep, both of you - I want you gone by sunrise!"

A/N: So my horses are alright-ish now. Just getting used to their new situations and new care etc...which is why I haven't really been updating regularly as I am spending most of my time with them. I tell you, getting back on a horse that I haven't ridden in over a year (and who apparently enjoys being fat and lazy) has been a chore these past few weeks. Seriously, I had to buy a new girth to fit round his belly! He fits in hi old one now though, and he no longer bucks until I'm off which is a relief! My grandfather has started his chemotherapy, and my two grandmothers are slowly getting there too :) Just updating for you after my morning ride, and before lunch at the grandparents house!

Hope you enjoyed the chapter, please review :) xx