Piper had been gone for two years. This was a fact that kept Connor up late the nights after Iris had been defeated. Her strained cries as she faded away still haunted Connor's nightmares every so often. Maybe if he had been quicker to get to her, if he hadn't sat on the side like a coward. If he had just been there for her like he had promised her...
As Connor struggled to sit upright on the horse, he thought he was going to join Achilles in death. His wound was still bleeding and he was amazed he had made it this far. Even making it to the tavern to kill Charles Lee once and for all had been an extremely taxing endeavor. Connor could feel his energy waning.
Being this deep in the forest Connor knew that if he fell off the horse that he couldn't get back onto it without help. He'd die here, alone.
Connor clutched his wound and groaned between clenched teeth. His vision was growing darker by the moment. The pain was growing. His head was beginning to feel light as his world toppled over.
Connor fell to the dust below. Luckily he had toppled over on his uninjured side.
The sudden disappearance of a rider had spooked the horse. It reared up before taking off down the small dirt trail, taking Connor's last hope of surviving with it.
Connor reached out to his horse from the ground. The pain from the wound rippled through his body as he did. His hand fell limp to the ground in defeat.
This was it. He didn't expect him to die like this. He didn't like it at all.
But then the ground began to vibrate and the sound of an approaching horse reached his ears.
"Connor! Where are you?!"
Connor recognized the desperate voice but he couldn't think straight. The blood loss was getting to him.
Connor heard the person call out his name again as the hooves came closer. Connor could only see the feint outlines of the surrounding environment when the horse slid to an abrupt stop in front of him.
A pair of hands flipped him over onto his back then one moved to press against his wound while the other cupped his face. He let out another groan of pain as the person pressed their hand harder against the wound.
"O-oh no…Connor, open your eyes. Open your eyes now!"
Connor slowly obeyed the voice, his energy waning. A dark figure was above him, their face blocking out the noon day sun.
Once his eyes focused he was greeted by someone he never thought he'd see again. "P-piper?"
Piper gave a smile that didn't reach her worried eyes. "Yeah, yeah, it's me. I need you to keep your eyes open, okay?"
Connor blinked slowly. "B-but you…left. You left and-"
Piper shushed him gently. "I know, Connor, but I'm here now and I'm not going to lose you."
Connor reached up a hand to brush his fingertips against her cheek. "You are here…I thought I lost you."
Piper moved her hand from his cheek to press his hand against her lips, kissing it lightly. "C'mon, I have to get you on the horse."
Connor felt her lift him up, pulling one of his arms to loop around her shoulders. The pain was extraordinary but Connor heard Piper call out his name.
"I know it hurts, Connor, but please," her echo-y voice pleaded, "please stay with me."
He kept focusing on Piper's voice because he was scared he might get lost in the darkness that was threatening to take away the feint image of her holding him.
Connor didn't know how she managed it but soon he had his arms weakly wrapped around her waist as they sat on the horse. He pressed his face into the crook of her shoulder and lost consciousness soon after.
XXX
Connor awoke back in the manor. His head was pounding and his side was still throbbing in dull pain. The familiar scent of his bed brought comfort and he was tempted to fall asleep again.
No. He needed anwers.
Connor turned his head to see a cold glass of water on his bedside table. An empty chair was positioned by his bed, his bloody shirt and coat hanging on it.
Connor sat up slowly, clutching his bandaged side. Whoever had bandaged it knew what they were doing. They were neat and firmly woven around his midsection. He only knew one person who had such skill.
Connor's thoughts moved to Piper as he looked around his empty bedroom. He would have expected her to be here. Maybe he had hallucinated her from the blood loss. She had been gone for two whole years. If she could've come back, wouldn't she have come sooner?
Connor heard his door open and looked to see White stepping into the room. The doctor jumped slightly when he saw Connor sitting up in bed but a bright smile made its way onto his face quickly.
"Connor!" White beamed happily. "You're awake. We were getting worried. How are you feeling?"
Connor swung his feet over the side of the bed slowly. "I am feeling better than I did. How long have I been asleep?"
"Two days," White answered. "I gave you something for the pain but I'm sure you were too dazed to remember."
Connor stood slowly, his hand still on his wound. The pain moved through his body but he refused to stay bedridden for long.
"Be careful," White said watching Connor closely. "Your wound is still very tender. The painkillers only help dull the pain. Speaking of, I need to go back to my house and make sure to get you all that you'll need." White stepped through the doorway before pausing. He stuck his head back into the room. "Oh, Piper is on the porch. I had to shoo her from your room because with the way she was watching over you, she'd lose some sleep."
Connor's heart began to pound in his chest. He didn't hallucinate her. She was here. He couldn't believe it.
Connor moved into the hallway while White made his way down the stairs. Connor saw that someone had cleaned up the manor, something Connor had been too busy to do since Achilles' passing.
His gaze moved from the hallway to the room in front of him, the same that Myriam had gotten ready for her wedding in.
As Connor limped his way into the room, he could see evidence of Piper being there. Her favorite dark blue coat thrown carelessly on the floor, a pair of muddy, bloodstained boots in the corner. A half-eaten sandwich on the table, the crusts Piper always despised left on the small plate next to the glass of water.
The door to the porch was open, a cool breeze moving through the room. Connor could see Piper leaning on the railing. Her back was facing towards him.
Connor moved through the doorway and could only move a few feet onto the porch until he couldn't move any more.
Piper was just a few feet away. The breeze provided him with her comforting scent of salt water and gunpowder. He had missed her so much and now that she was here, it took all of his strength not to grab her and hold her close.
Connor cleared his throat gently to announce his presence. Piper had jumped slightly at the sound before spinning around to face him.
She was just as beautiful as Connor remembered. Her thick, dark hair draped around her shoulders. She had a white button up shirt in, its wrinkles and rolled up sleeves evidence of continuous wear. The brown pants she wore fit her toned legs perfectly. Her wide and nervous brown eyes flicked from Connor's face to his bandages, dark circles under them showing him of lack of sleep.
"H-how are you feeling?" Piper asked uneasily.
Connor found his voice. "Better. I am thankful you found me when you did."
Piper wrung her hands. "Me, too."
An uncomfortable silence fell between the two. Nothing but the rustling of leaves and the distant sound of crashing waves filled the air.
Connor took a hesitant step forward. "I-I…thought you were gone."
"I know," Piper replied.
"You have been gone," Connor said quietly, "for so long."
Piper's eyes fell to her shaking hands. "I know. I left and I-I'm sure you're a-angry with me but – but I'm here t-to stay now. A-after I was sent back, I-I couldn't…I just – I realized that I…" She took a deep breath in and looked at him with tears gathered in her eyes. "I-I love you, Connor. I should have told you sooner and – and then I re-rejected you before I left and I...I just can't imagine my life without you. I don't care if I'm not supposed to be here, I just want to be with you."
The tears began to fall down her cheeks and she let out an angry groan as she wiped the endless tears away. She let her eyes fall to the floor in shame. "I-I don't know why I'm crying so – so much and I h-hate that I am but I can't stop, dammit!"
Piper wiped furiously before looking up at Connor. He was limping towards her and before she knew it, he had wrapped her up in a tight hug. Piper quickly hugged him back but she did it gently as to not disturb his wound.
Connor gripped her tight, scared that if he let go that'd she disappear. "I…love you, too."
Piper responded by tightening her grip, pressing her face into his warm skin. Connor could feel her tears wetting his skin as she drank in his presence.
They stood there embracing one another for a few moments before they pulled away slightly. Piper watched as Connor moved his head downwards but hesitate before speaking. "M-May I ki-"
Before he could finish the sentence, Piper had already stood up slightly on her toes and pressed her lips to his. At first Connor was unsure of what to do, his mind racing from surprise and excitement. He could feel Piper smile against him as she guided her lips along his. She was gentle and her lips were soft, something that Connor had wanted to find out for years. Now, as she kissed him, he felt as if his heart was going to explode.
They pulled away slowly. Both pairs of cheeks were bright red as they looked at one another.
Piper sniffled lightly; her eyes still wet from crying, and asked Connor a question. "Why did you cut your hair?"
"I will tell you another time," Connor replied before pressing his lips to hers again.
XXX
Over the next few weeks, I helped Connor with things his injury held him back from doing. I didn't like him limping around everywhere because it was a constant reminder of the pain he went through.
I had told him about how I had managed to convince Juno to send me back. I mean, Connor needed someone to, uh, have…babies with so Desmond would get born and according to my diary, I was that someone. That and a lot of ugly crying had probably annoyed Juno enough to let me go back. Queue me falling through the rooftop of some poor saps house and stealing his horse to find Connor.
I was preparing dinner when I heard Connor walking down the hallway slowly. I glanced over my shoulder to see him carrying all the portraits he had of the Templars into the dining room.
I set down the knife in my hand and quietly followed him in there, stopping to lean against the doorframe.
Connor leaned down, gently tossing the pictures into the small fireplace, stoking the fire I had started that hour.
I understood that he was hurting not just physically. We had both lost Achilles, yes, but he had lost his people. Juno had turned him into a pawn and did nothing but use him for her unknown ambitions. It made me worry about what I had done and if I had caused anything to happen because I had followed what she had told me.
Regardless, he had been dealing with all of this alone. Achilles had passed a few months ago and up until I had come back, he had no one. I felt bad considering that, to me, I had only been gone a few days before I managed to convince Juno. To Connor, it had been two years. It made me sick.
Connor kept his gaze focused on the ground as he walked past me. I could tell he didn't want to worry me, especially since I had been mothering him and his wound.
I grabbed his arm before he could get any farther and tugged him back to me. I said nothing as I cradled his cheek in my hand. I gave him a sweet, slow kiss that I could only hope would help his mood.
After the kiss ended, Connor pulled me into a tight embrace. I returned it, weaving my arms around his neck tightly.
"Thank you." Connor's chest rumbled against mine as he spoke softly into my hair.
We pulled apart and I offered a smile to him. "That's what I'm here for, right?"
Connor smiled back but it fell quickly as a hand went back to rub his head. "Do you…"
I furrowed my brow. "What?"
Connor seemed embarrassed but he answered. "Do you not like my hair?"
A laugh escaped my lips and I could tell it only embarrassed him more, causing him to stutter out an answer as to why he asked. "You – after we kissed, you asked and I got worried that you did not li-"
"Connor, stop," I interrupted. "I love you and your hair." I gave him a kiss on the cheek and stepped back into the kitchen. "I was just surprised that's all."
I looked over my shoulder to see Connor following me. "I do miss your braid, though."
"My braid?" Connor asked as he stood next to me as I continued making the food.
"Yeah," I admitted. "It reminds me of when we met. Before everything happened, before my family…"
I trailed off and slowly stopped chopping the carrots in my hand. I didn't know why mentioning my family caused me to freeze up like that. I had tried to continue with the carrots but Connor had seen my hesitation.
He placed a hand on mine, his other gently grasping my chin to look at him. "We have each other now, do we not? We are each other's family."
I grinned and we shared another kiss.
Connor was right. We were with each other and there was nothing that could keep us apart now.
XXX
To anyone reading this, I want one thing made clear: I don't know how you managed to make it this far but learn from my mistakes. Fight for what you have, for what you believe in. Accept help when it's given. Know that family is sometimes nothing more than shared blood. And don't wait to tell that special someone how you feel because they could be there one moment and gone to the next.
If you're a Templar: pull your head out of your ass.
If you're an Assassin: keep fighting.
If you're some random person who happened upon this diary: I'm sorry, you're probably really confused.
With this, I end this godforsaken diary. This thing has taken too much time and I have a family to take care of. Besides, I can hear Connor saying dinner is ready and we all know he can't handle James and the twins for too long.
NOTHING IS TRUE, EVERYTHING IS PERMITTED
Piper Mae Kenway
December 16, 1789
Holy bALLS
THE END
ITS OVER
This is weird.
I can't believe it!
I hope you guys enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. 50 chapters of writing and it's finally done! While I am kinda sad I'm closing the story, I'm relived that it's done.
Kinda bitter sweet, right?
I've really been toying with the idea of doing a TOKW spin off. Just a few chapters, not 50 I promise. But that's just me talking to myself.
Please leave a review! Tell me what you thought of the story! I'd love to hear from you guys!
3,
12174le1
