"One is never too old to yearn." – Italian proverb.
Jessica Raso was an Auditore in all but name.
This was never more obvious than at the moment the ship, a vessel far more grand than the one Jessica had travelled on, docked, the gangplank was lowered and in seconds, Jessica found herself sandwiched between a beautiful young woman and a incredibly tall and lanky young man with dark hair, a round face and deep brown eyes which were achingly familiar. Their hug was a messy one, with limbs and heads wrapped awkwardly around the three bodies, and though Jessica was not a huggy person, she could think of nothing else at that moment than wrapping an arm around each of them and holding them tight.
"Oh, Marietta! It is so good to see you!" Claudia cried, pulling back at last but not releasing her grip on Jessica's arm. "Oh, look at you, you haven't aged a day!"
Jessica grinned, allowing herself to inspect the young woman before her. A noble nose sat between high cheekbones and above soft, pink lips. Her brown eyes were lined with long, dark lashes beneath a delicate brow and her dark hair was held back in her familiar caul while delicate ringlets framed her smooth face. Her face was fresh and clear and strikingly beautiful in the most effortless way. But Jessica was enraptured by the look in those brown eyes; the shining intelligence and passion below the attractive surface, and also by the way the woman held herself; tall and confident and proud, even in her excitement to see an old friend. Here was a noblewoman to be admired and respected, and Jessica could not help but feel terribly inferior in comparison. "Claudia! I can hardly believe you're here!"
"Hey, Marietta. Recognise me?"
Jessica's head turned, and then her chin lifted to meet the eyes of the young man beside her. He was paler than his sister, and he had become gaunt as well as tall, giving Jessica the impression of a very well dressed scarecrow. But though his face had become as sharp as the rest of him, and his dark hair had grown long and was now held back by a red ribbon, his eyes were what gave him away. Though their shape was one shared by every man of the Auditore clan, the deep, old-soul look in their brown depths could belong to only one person.
"Petruccio!" she laughed, squeezing his arm and mentally wincing at how easily she could feel his bone beneath the rich material of his sleeve. "Of course I do. God, you've grown so much. Look how tall you are!"
"It's been a long time since you last saw us."
Though he hadn't said it to be vindictive, her smile faltered and she gazed at the boy she had saved so many years ago, who was now quickly becoming a man. She supposed she couldn't call him the Kid anymore.
"I know," she said softly, smiling tightly at them both. As they stared at her, she was grateful to see that there were no accusations in their eyes; their anger and hurt had been put aside a long time ago.
But as they stepped away to greet their brother who stood patiently beside her, and as Leonardo moved forward to greet a significantly less comatose Maria Auditore, her smile fell away completely as her green eyes met chocolate brown. A tight fist encircled her heart as her stomach lurched and she was paralysed with uncertainty and utter mortification.
Federico Auditore had aged well. His hair was longer and the stubble on his face was thicker, giving him a rugged look and sharpening his jaw line. His eyes seemed darker, and his face somewhat harder than before, with new lines on his forehead, on his brow and around his nose, which was still marked with that red scar. He looked paler, no doubt from all his time spent indoors, though he seemed no thinner. He stood tall and strong, with broad shoulders and a thin waist, emphasised by the red tunic he wore, which had a low collar that exposed the dark hair on his chest.
Jessica wanted the ground to swallow her whole as she watched his eyes sweep slowly down her body, and then back up again, taking in every inch of her form, before his gaze returned to her face. Her tongue felt like lead in her mouth as her mind screamed at her to smile politely at him and greet him casually, but her body had quite forgotten how to function and she could only stand and stare with wide eyes as years of guilt and regret swept over her.
She had written to him to apologise, as she had with Claudia and Petruccio, but he had not written back. She could only imagine what he must think of her now. Staring into his eyes, she tried to read him as she once had, but his mind was closed to her, and she could almost see the wall which had been carefully placed behind his eyes, and its presence hurt her more than she thought it would. Though she silently mourned for the friendship lost between them, she couldn't see any way it could possibly be mended. Their final actions toward each other had been reckless and driven by a fatal misunderstanding. He had proposed and she had rejected him. Not to mention there was also his association with the Assassins to think about. Really, what more was there to say? How could they possibly move forward from all that had happened? She hadn't much hope of reconciliation, even for the sake of his youngest siblings. Some things just weren't meant to be.
Jessica was saved from any kind of immediate confrontation by Ezio sweeping forward to embrace his older brother. As focus was taken off her, Jessica found that she could breathe freely again, though she was appalled to see how her hands shook as she turned away from the four siblings as they laughed and hugged each other enthusiastically.
Seeing Leonardo standing nearby she went to him, immediately feeling more secure and steady in his presence. Sensing her uneasiness, he said nothing, but placed a hand on her back and patted her gently, standing close and leaving his hand in place as he turned back to Maria. Jessica focussed on the warmth of her friend's body, and let his voice, as familiar to her as her own, settle her mind.
"Signora, you remember my assistant and dear friend, Marietta Sanfilippo?"
"Of course. È bello rivederti, Marietta. Come sta?"
"Sto molto bene, grazie. E lei?" Jessica replied politely.
"I am glad to be off that ship. It has been a long journey and I am not as young as I once was."
"Sciocchezza!" Leonardo protested gallantly. "You are as lovely as the day I first saw you."
"Flatterer," Maria laughed, obviously pleased.
It was the first time Jessica had ever spoken to the Mrs. Auditore, and though Leonardo swore otherwise, it was clear that she had been hit the hardest by the years which had passed. Her face was gaunt and drawn, with dark bags beneath her eyes which were filled with a dim weariness usually suited to people much older than the woman standing before them. Her dark hair was held in a caul akin to her daughter's, and she was clearly the source of the Auditore children's nose, mouth and chin. Jessica felt awkward in the traumatised woman's presence, uncomfortable even, as that look in Maria Auditore's eyes was one that she knew well. She had seen it every day for years after her dad had died in that mine collapse, in the eyes of her mother. It was the look of a person who had grown tired of living, but who was determined to keep doing so for the sake of those who loved her; her children.
Jessica was taken aback when the older woman suddenly took her hands within her cool, dry fingers and held tight. Stiff at the woman's touch, Jessica watched warily as Maria stared into her face, Leo's warm hand pressing into her back the only thing keeping her from flinching away.
"I never had the chance to thank you for saving my children. I owe you a debt that cannot be repaid."
Maria's voice was quiet but strong, and filled with all the sincerity and gratitude a mother who had almost lost everything could give. Jessica's chest clenched as she awkwardly tried to think of something gracious to say in response, but she was once again saved by Ezio's overzealous greeting of his family members. Jessica's hands were freed from Maria's cool grip and intense stare as she was gathered into her son's arms. Jessica let out a breath, feeling overwhelmed, and Leonardo rubbed her back, grinning at her as she sent him a sideways look. He leant in close.
"You've done a good thing, mia cara."
Blinking, she frowned in confusion, staring into his blue eyes which shimmered with light as he smiled at her. "Me? What have I done?"
His arm wrapped around her shoulder and squeezed fondly, directing his gaze at the Auditore family, who stood in a messy circle, laughing and kissing each other, overjoyed to be reunited after so long. Jessica's smiled faded as she looked at the family, together and whole, looking a picture of happiness against the panoramic backdrop of the cool Venetian morning. The four children, Federico, Ezio, Claudia, and Petruccio, all grown up and ready to find their way in this world, and their mother, who clung to them as if they were the only thing anchoring her to this life, appeared so picturesque in their elation that Jessica imagined for a moment that they were not but paint on a canvas; a masterful creation of Leonardo's doing.
She held onto this thought for several long moments, both in awe of the perfection of the scene, and as a way to soothe her aching heart. It had been some time since she had let herself think of her own family; her mother and father, her sister, Jasmine and her brother, Tommy, because though time had eased the pain of losing her world, it had not yet managed to relieve the heartbreak of knowing she would never again see the people she had loved and been loved by since the day she came into existence. She did not like to dwell in self-pity; she hardly had the time for it most days, but as Leonardo had once so aptly perceived, she was not always master of her darker thoughts and emotions.
Yet today, surrounded by so many people who cared for her and strengthened by Leonardo's stable presence beside her, she was able to shake it from her mind and by the time the greetings had ended and she was swept away from Leonardo and caught between Petruccio, who beamed at her with boyish glee, and Claudia, who entwined their arms between them and held tight with her empty hand, she had gathered the ever-trembling pieces of herself and stuck them back together with masking tape and a glue stick. And she smiled at them, because no matter how damaged she was and always would be, they were her friends and they were happy to see her and she hadn't ever imagined that it would feel so good to be with them again.
"Oh, Marietta, you won't believe how terrible our journey was."
"Mother told us not to tell you..."
"But how could we not? What? Are we to keep secrets from our dear Marietta?"
"Of course not! But we shall keep our voices down, shan't we, sister?"
"I will try if you will."
"Agreed. Where shall we begin?"
As the fast talking siblings, who were clearly now the best of friends, began to recount their long and strenuous journey from Monteriggioni to Venice, they were called to follow Maria, Federico, Ezio and Leo away from the pier and through the streets of Venice, presumably in the direction of their new house. Leonardo had already begun an enthusiastic tour, pointing out interesting landmarks and shops to avoid, and Ezio, who sounded happier than he had in a long time, joined in, expressing his opinion of the most beautiful areas of the city and recommending the finest shops selling food, drink and fabrics at the best prices.
"And once the bandits were gone," Petruccio was saying, "Federico having scared them off, we set up camp and thank goodness Uncle Mario insisted on packing the tents because no sooner had night fallen that the heavens opened and it rained like I have never seen it rain before!"
"And it was dreadful for poor Petruccio, sick as he was..."
"...But I gathered my strength..."
"...And when morning came we pushed onward, through the wind and the rains and all our Lord Almighty could throw at us."
Jessica frowned at the mention of Petruccio's sickness, remembering how Ezio had said he had been bedridden for months after she left. "I hope you're feeling better."
Claudia's mouth twisted into a rueful smile as she looked at her younger brother, who now towered over them both, with a dear affection. "He has his good days... as well as his bad."
Petruccio shot her a look of reproach and pouted. "I am fine. I feel stronger even now. You worry too much Claudia."
Claudia hmphed and squeezed Jessica's arm, muttering to herself, "He doesn't worry enough."
Jessica could still not say for sure what it was that plagued her young friend; she was no doctor, nor had she encountered such an unpredictable illness before. It struck him when the weather was too cold or too hot, or when the winds blew too strongly. Petruccio would be wracked with coughs, and find it, at times, difficult to breathe. But the spasmodic coughing would pass soon enough, with the aid of steam and a warm cloth on his chest, and then the strength would drain from him and he would not be able to move a muscle for days, or even weeks at a time, requiring help to change and bathe and eat, and all anyone could do was make him comfortable, keep him in company and wait until the day the colour returned to his cheeks and he could act as a normal child once more.
She had looked after him when he was taken with his illness a hundred times before, and she was dismayed to hear that he continued to suffer it. At his age, the blow to his pride as a result of his inability to even feed himself would be truly terrible. But now he walked beside her, gazing about at the red, orange and brown autumn leaves which clung defiantly to the branches of sleepy trees, peeking through bakery shop windows and tugging them away from the group to lean precariously over low rails and peer into the depths of the canals which ran like veins through the city, and there was colour in his cheeks and a red tint to his nose as a result of the cold, and she could honestly say she had never seen anyone with such an easy smile, even as the dark brown of his eyes revealed to her a past too terrible to mention.
"The storm raged for days and days, sometimes with thunder and lightning and raining all the while. I thought it would never end! I was sure that all of Italy would be covered with water and sink beneath the ocean and that would be the end of us all."
"But eventually it did stop."
"And yet, I will never get the sound of raindrops hitting the roof of the carriage out of my mind."
"Nor the mud off of my boots."
"Indeed. And I think that is rather about the time that Petruccio became bored and decided it would be a wonderful time to pick on Federico."
"I was just playing around with him."
"Of course, the grumpy old man did not take it well. They wouldn't talk to each other for days."
"Days?" Jessica wondered with a curious look. "How long did it take you to get here?"
"Almost a fortnight. It was because of the rain, you see. The roads turned to mud and the mud turned to rivers and we had to take many stops to rest the horses and let the carriage drivers dry themselves out. It must have been a dreadful journey for the poor men, but they were most valiant and commendable in their duties."
"Valiant in dealing with her," Petruccio leaned in to say, glancing at Claudia with a traitorous grin. "She would not stop complaining the entire trip."
"It is not my fault I was irritable. I had a terrible time trying to sleep, what with you and Federico arguing in the tent next to mine and Mamma's."
"Oh yes, because you were so very quiet."
"We were not almost as disturbing as you two."
"Spazzatura!"
Jessica laughed to herself as the siblings bantered over her head, and droned them out as the light argument continued, instead looking about to see that they had travelled quite far into the city. Leonardo and the older Auditores walked no more than a meter in front of them, still apparently enraptured by Leo's factual tour and as they moved through the cool autumn morning. Jessica could not help but stare at the back of Federico Auditore's head and wonder what he thought of her and whether she had reason to feel so anxious at the idea of finding herself alone with him, which she knew, with her luck, was inevitable.
"Ah, here we are."
They had stopped in a small lane lined by a canal which was scattered with gondolas painted in bright colours and their small group turned to peer through the bars of a large, square gate leading into what looked like a courtyard in the middle of a three story palazzo which had been constructed of red brick in the shape of a 'u'.
Looking up, Jessica stared at the arched windows and the shining glass of the face of the building and then took a breath as Federico pulled a large set of dark, heavy keys on a ring from his pocket, picked out the correct one and slid it into the gate, swinging it open and stepping aside to allow his mother and the others to enter before him.
Jessica avoided eye contact with him as she slipped through after Claudia, but was immediately distracted by her surroundings. Smooth grey flagstones covered the ground, and a covered stone well sat off to the right beside a grand old tree, the branches of which reached high above them, filling much of the empty space over their heads. Graceful white pillars held the building in place and allowed for a covered walkway on the three sides of the courtyard, which were filled with enormous pots holding a large variety of plants, some bare and well into their autumn and winter sleep, while others remained lusciously green, giving colour to the otherwise red and grey courtyard garden.
On the second floor of the building, overlooking this courtyard was a set of four enormous arched windows, tall and thin, and each one inset with even thinner glass doors which opened out onto a balcony. Smaller windows, alternately square and arched otherwise speckled the walls on either side and above them.
Jessica couldn't help but gasp as she took it in, dried brown and maroon leaves crunching beneath their feet as the group slowly dispersed, their eyes wide in admiration. Jessica was released by Claudia and Petruccio as the two moved toward the middle of the large area, both turning in full circles as their eyes flickered about, never settling on one thing, and as she heard Federico close the gate behind them, she moved quickly over to stand by the well, running her fingers across its smooth surface and watching him move toward Ezio who stood beside Leonardo and Maria by a rather large potted dark green fern in front of a pillar on the left side of the yard.
She watched as Leonardo and Maria laughed at something Ezio said, and Federico clapped him on the back with a grin and then glanced over, catching her stare. Jessica looked away quickly and casually walked to stand with Claudia and Petruccio who had discovered what must be the front door; enormous double doors made of a shining deep red wood and decorated with beautiful carvings in the design of vines and flowers.
"Hey, Federico! What are you waiting for? Let's see the inside!" Petruccio called eagerly.
The others joined them, Federico choosing the correct key on the ring after two attempts, and Jessica was surprised to see that on the other side was a white, marble half-landing staircase. An air of excited curiousity over them, they ascended these stairs and found themselves gathered at the top in astonished awe.
The roof was ridiculously high, and windows reached from floor to ceiling, covered in sheer white curtains beneath heavy deep red velvet drapes were on either end of what seemed to be an enormous, long room consisting of two elegant lounges rooms, and at the far end, a grand dining room. The drapes were thick with dust, and as Federico and Petruccio pulled open the drapes closest to them, and secured them with tassels, sunlight filled the house. White sheets covered what looked like a set of four couches around a coffee table in the room immediately before them, and looking further in to the absolutely massive house, they saw a sea of white sheets covered in pale dust covered every piece of furniture and hung over what appeared to be mirrors on the walls as well as tied around what must have been three enormous cone-shaped chandeliers which hung at equal distance in each separate but joined area of the hall.
The floors were a dark, lightly speckled marble, the walls were a smooth, solid cream colour, and the roof had been designed that the beams were shown, giving the magnificent house a solid, earthy feel which Jessica decided she very much liked, even as she consciously ignored the thick cobwebs which presently hung from and were settled within the dark wooden beams. Their footsteps echoed through the hall as they disturbed the dusty air and gazed about in silent wonder at what was the Auditores new home.
Various doors of the same dark wood as the beams above them were set at random intervals on either side of the hall, no doubt leading to the innermost areas of the house, and Jessica wanted nothing more than to be permitted to explore them all to her heart's content, but as the Auditores gathered in the middle lounge room, she realised that Leonardo and herself, although dear friends to the family, and though perhaps considered members in all but blood, were not, and would never actually be part of the intimate group, and as such, they suddenly felt as if they were intruding.
This house was enormous and magnificent and it had been a very long time since Jessica had last been reminded that the Auditores were, in fact, nobles; each of them born into wealth, status and privilege. But now, standing in this grand palace which they had purchased with their own coin and in which they were going to take up residence, it became a fact which was very hard to ignore.
Jessica lived a comfortable existence with Leonardo and Elmo. She never wanted for food or clothes; their home was furnished for the practical purpose of artistic endeavours, as was their business and Leonardo's main source – and thus her's, as she was technically entirely dependent upon him – of income. The house and her room was larger than the one they had inhabited in Florence, and it was comfortable and attractive to her in the most simple of ways, and yet she could not help but judge it in comparison to the expense and glamour of this palace, and find it inferior, in the same way she felt herself as inferior to Claudia's natural beauty, charm and wit. Like a gem against a rock, or a star against a moon, there was little competition as to what her mind naturally preferred.
But she didn't have to struggle to control the envy within her for even a moment, for she knew what her life was and what it had always been, and she knew that she had all she needed and she was more than content in sharing it all with the man who stood beside her in his red beret and short, funny cape. As lovely as the glamour and wealth was, it wasn't what she needed, or even what she wanted. It was a lovely picture, like a painting to be admired or a view to be gawked at; it was a thing which should be taken in small doses, so that the appreciation of its sheer glorious beauty would remain, and not become the norm. She believed such things were better to be looked up at instead of being looked down from.
So she smiled at Leonardo, who she knew shared her opinion; in fact she doubted that the man felt any envy for such fine things in the first place so contented he was in having a workshop and ample resources to do whatever and all he wished in the world of art and science. For this she admired him even more than was already possible.
"Isn't this place gorgeous?" she sighed, leading him over to the wall of windows and pushing aside the greying sheer curtains to see that they led to the balcony overlooking the courtyard.
"It is indeed impressive. You said that Claudia carried out all the necessary negotiations and dealings herself?"
"Yes. She's a cunning businesswoman. Where I'm from, people would kill for a place like this."
"Where you're from?" Leo caught her low words, and she was surprised to hear the encouragement in his tone and she turned her head to look at him, realising that she honestly could not remember the last time she had said anything about her home and her true identity out loud to anyone. In fact, it actually took a moment for her to recall her true name. Jessica. No one had called her Jessica in years. Even Leonardo had given it up some time before they had come to live in Venezia. Everyone knew her as Marietta, and it was the name she introduced herself by, and it had thus become her identity, whether it rightly belonged to her or not.
She tried to remember what Leonardo knew about where she had come from, and found that she could not think of telling him anything past the fact that she was not Marietta Sanfilippo, or at least, she hadn't been. She rubbed her forehead as her thoughts became jumbled in the mess that was her situation. This was why they hadn't spoken of it; it was unnecessarily confusing and had little impact on their lives on the whole.
Slowly, she nodded to him, hesitating as she thought of something to say to his curious blue gaze.
"People would have spent years and paid millions to replicate this. They didn't build places like this anymore, and it would have been hard to find the resources to put it all together; the furniture, the wood, the sculptures would have had to be bought at ridiculous prices, and then probably restored, or else just made from scratch. It would all be antiques, and antiques were always expensive."
As she spoke, she found herself stumbling over her words as panic and horror clutched her heart as three awful things suddenly became very clear to her: she had referred to the people belonging to the place and time she had come from as 'they'; all she had said and thought was in the past tense, and worst of all, it was frighteningly difficult to remember even some of the most simple things about the world she had once belonged to. Her words didn't come easily, though it was not a complex topic to discuss: restoration of antiques had once been as natural to her as breathing as Retro and Victorian items and clothing had been a special interest of hers, but now she had found it challenging to even remember the word 'antique' as she could not remember the last time she had had any reason to use it.
It had been so long. What else had vanished from her memory so subtly that she hadn't even noticed its passing? The thought absolutely terrified her, and she fell silent, her hands tightening to tight fists at her sides as her entire body stiffened and she had to bite her lip from crying out loud in agony of this revelation. She felt as if a part of her had died without her even noticing it.
In any case, she convincingly waved away Leonardo's remorseful apology and concern as he saw the effects his words had had upon her, and she continued as if her entire identity hadn't become a half-forgotten memory.
"Well, you've certainly got your work cut out for you," she called to Claudia, moving away from the window and toward the Auditores, who were in mid-conversation.
"Yes, but it's not nearly as bad as Uncle's villa," Claudia laughed, recalling how much work was involved in making the Auditore Villa inhabitable.
Jessica nodded, "True. I think the dust may be your biggest adversary."
As she said this, Petruccio sneezed loudly, and all present watched him carefully, obviously expecting the young man to descend into a coughing fit as was would be usual in a place with air as unclean as this, but with a final clearing of his throat, he calmed and was well again.
He looked at the sea of faces staring at him with concern and smiled, flushing slightly in embarrassment at the attention. "Excuse me. Don't worry, it was just a sneeze. I feel fine. It will be good to air out these rooms and get rid of all the dust."
"This house hasn't been lived in for almost half a year," Claudia said, sounding almost offended. "Of course there is dust."
"And spiders, I'm sure," Ezio laughed at the panic-stricken look which overcame Claudia's face.
Jessica rolled her eyes with a smile as Petruccio chuckled meanly and Maria chastised both Ezio and her youngest son, even as humour danced in her eyes. Though the conversation remained light-hearted, the tension radiating from Federico's silent form was palpable and eventually Jessica briefly met Leonardo's eyes and knew that he agreed with her silent decision that it would be best to leave.
"I do believe Marietta and I will take our leave and allow you to settle in to your beautiful home."
"Aww!" complained Petruccio, with a disappointed pout.
"You will come to see us tomorrow, won't you Marietta?" Claudia pleaded, clutching Jessica's hands desperately.
"Of course. I mean, if I'm not busy," she answered with a glance to her boss.
"You should both visit tomorrow," Maria declared diplomatically, appeasing her children as she turned to embrace Leonardo in farewell. "We will have lunch together and then you must show us more of this beautiful city."
"Oh, and your workshop too!" Petruccio added with an eager grin.
He was silenced by a sharp look from his mother. "We shall be in Venice for quite some time, Petruccio. There is no reason to rush. This visit is supposed to be a vacation."
"Yes, Mother," Petruccio said obediently as it was the only answer which would be accepted from the family matriarch, but when she turned, Petruccio winked conspiratorially across at Claudia, who sent a secret smile to Jessica, who shook her head at her friends exasperatedly. She could already tell that these coming months would be even more exhausting than usual, but in the best way possible.
"Of course we will visit tomorrow. We will see you then. Rest well, my friends." Leonardo farewelled the Auditore children, shaking Federico and Ezio's hands and kissing Maria's cheeks enthusiastically.
Jessica was warmly embraced by Petruccio and Claudia, as well as Maria, and was made to promise on pain of death that she would indeed see them tomorrow.
"I will show you out," Federico's low, even voice declared, playing the part of a good host.
With a final wave, they moved out of the gigantic hall, descended the marble staircase out the front door and followed Federico across the courtyard to the gate, which he held open for them. Leonardo stepped through with a grin and a hearty thanks, and Jessica followed behind, still too cowardly in her humiliation to even meet his eyes. Yet as she stepped through and joined Leonardo in the lovely, quiet street, listening to the groan of the gate as it was pushed closed behind them, she glanced back and saw him watching her through the bars and she found she couldn't look away.
Jessica saw pain in his eyes as he stood in the shadows, and her stomach twisted as she knew at once that what she had done to him so long ago had not been forgotten to his mind or his heart. He held her gaze for several long moments, simply drinking in her features like a starving man to a glass of water, before she saw the wall behind his chocolate brown eyes soften and fall away as his mouth twisted into a small and rueful, but sure, smile.
"See you tomorrow, Marietta," she heard him say quietly to himself as she turned away at last.
She swallowed hard as Leonardo took her arm, chatting jovially about how wonderful a morning it had been and how well all the Auditores looked and how he was glad Ezio had his family with him at last, and he led her away from the gate and away from Federico Auditore, whose eyes she felt on her back long after they had disappeared around a corner and out of his sight. It was only when she was within the walls of the workshop that she could finally breathe easily again, secure in the confines of her home and far from where his tense and meaningful gaze could reach her. That was, until tomorrow when they would go to lunch and she would be forced to endure the soulful eyes of the man she had hurt irreparably, once again.
She sighed as she collapsed into her bed that night, thinking of, and trying not to think of, all that had occurred that day. It had been a long time since she had felt such an awful mixture of overwhelming happiness and earth-shattering devastation, but she found that because Leonardo had worked her to the bone in order to compensate for the hours of work which would be lost tomorrow, she was fortunately too exhausted for her mind to torture her with all it wanted to, and so she fell into a dreamless sleep and didn't wake til the next morning.