I tried to get this up yesterday, but it didn't work out that way so here you go guys a Christmas special Chapter that gives a little insight of Desmond's past on the farm. At least how this AU past is anyway I know it was probably different in the actual games but whatever my story, my plot :P enjoy guys, let me know what you thought about it and I hope all your Holidays are Great!

~Line Break~

Desmond watched with a smile on his face as Natalie was moving around her bar humming Christmas tunes to herself while putting up the festive decorations. It wasn't common for Assassins to really celebrate any of the typical holidays of any of the different religions, but Natalie always had a love for Christmas and she made sure to have everyone nearest to her heart celebrate it with her. For once, Des could understand her love for the holiday.

To Natalie it wasn't about the gifts and lights, it was about the people she surrounded herself with. She was thankful for their presence and loved to bring joy into their hearts by having a gathering of celebration. Seeing the smiles that crossed Shay and Jacob's faces while they helped her around the bar and even the amused faces of his own Soul Mates while his brothers explained the holiday to them brought a genuine smile to Desmond's face. All this festive cheer and bright lights had Desmond's mind drifting to the last Christmas he'd spent with his brothers and Natalie. Even back then, when they'd been sixteen, Natalie had shown an absolutely obsessive love for the holiday and it had his mind drifting back to that time, for once allowing himself to remember the rare happy moments he'd had while trapped on the Farm.

Nine Years Ago...

Desmond panted as he was once again knocked down by one of the older Novices. Training was almost done for the day and then he'd be heading back home with his brothers and Natalie for the day. He was just about to get up and get back into a fighting stance when one of the Trainers called for them to go and clean up. Desmond sighed as his training partner sneered down at him and stalked away, it was such a pain to deal with his fellow Novices, just because he was the youngest son of the Brotherhood's leader he got a lot of crap from them. Most believed that he got special treatment by all the Trainers and higher ups, but it was exactly the opposite. He was treated as if he wasn't anything all because he didn't meet their expectations as William Miles son.

Desmond sighed again and went to push up from the ground when a hand was held out to him. Glancing up, he was meet by a pair of stormy gray eyes and a brilliant smile that made the sun appear like nothing more then a small flame in the dark.

"Come on Des, we gotta go find your brothers." The girl said making him smile at the sound of her melodic voice.

"Thanks Nat." He said, taking her hand and allowing her to pull him to his feet.

"Don't mention it Des, beside you can pay me back by helping me put up Christmas lights when you come to my house tonight." Natalie said with a smirk as he groaned in response.

He couldn't understand Natalie's obsession with Christmas. It was just a stupid holiday to make people go out and buy overly expensive products all of which they as Novices weren't allowed to own without permission from Des' father. However, if it meant she kept smiling like she was he supposed he could keep his grumbling to a minimum this year, but only to keep her smiling.

"Alright then let's go, I got find my knuckle head brothers." Desmond stated leading the way. "Who you calling a knuckle head?" A voice asked, making him glance over his shoulder. He was quickly gripped in a head lock while he flailed and struggled uselessly. "Duncan let go you ass!" Desmond demanded making his brother and best friend laugh at him. Duncan released him and Des straightened to glare at his older brother.

The Miles boys looked a lot like each other, except for the few differences in their hair styles and coloring, most assumed them triplets at first glance until they realized the age difference between them. Dylan was about four when Desmond was born and Duncan was only about two. Each boy had a two year difference between the next, which left Duncan and Dylan at seventeen and nineteen respectively right now. That meant Des had one more year before both his brothers would be gone on constant missions. Although he always had Natalie's house to run to, Des couldn't bring himself to always run there when he was dealing with the rest of the Brotherhood's asshole members. Besides his brothers were his safe zone, they always had been, even against their father.

"What were you doing laying in wait for us?" Desmond huffed, as he straightened his shirt.

"Is a big brother no longer allowed to pick his little brother up from training?" Duncan countered slinging his arm around Des' shoulders as they started walking with Natalie leading the way.

Desmond rolled his eyes at his older brother, but smiled anyway at the question while Natalie began rambling on about the decorations she wanted to put up as well as bragging about the awesome gifts she'd gotten for them and Dylan. Her rambling reminded Desmond that he still needed to get a gift for her, though he would probably have to borrow money from one of his brothers. His father didn't trust him with any funds of any kind, apparently he was too "rebellious" in his father's opinion not that he cared about his father's opinion anymore.

As he pulled himself into focus, he realized Natalie was waving goodbye as she split off from them to go to her own home. He waved back and turned to Duncan who was doing the same.

"You do realize we still have to get her presents right?" Desmond asked flatly watching in amusement as his brother flinched.

"How do you know I haven't gotten her one yet?" Duncan shot back defensively.

"Because you and I always wait until we can take Desmond with us." A third voice replied, making both boys turn and grin at the taller boy approaching them.

"There you are Dylan!" Desmond greeted happily, receiving an affectionate ruffling of his hair from his eldest brother once he reached them.

"Sorry for being late, my training got pushed a little longer thanks to William." Dylan explained with a wary sigh.

None of the brothers had ever referred to their father by anything other then William. The man was the furthest thing from a dad and not even close enough to call father, he was just William head of the Brotherhood and he probably always would be to the Miles brothers. In fact Desmond never referred to the man as his father outside of his mind, refusing to even vocally claim the man as blood, even the mere mention of him often made the youngest brother tense in anger.

"It's alright, brother. Why don't we head off now since we're all here?" Duncan suggested, seeming to easily sense his baby brother's growing anger at Dylan's mention of William. Dylan nodded apparently sensing Desmond's agitation as well. Desmond forced himself to relax and give both his brothers a reassuring smile before they headed off towards the city.

Shopping was easy for the elder brothers with Desmond around. Though they knew Natalie, they didn't know her nearly as well as Desmond did, and yet the youngest brother was the only one who hadn't found her a gift yet.

"Come on Des, you know Nat like the back of her hand how is it you haven't found a gift yet?" Duncan asked in disbelief as they walked down the street from the clothing store they'd just left.

"I don't know, everything I've seen just doesn't feel like the right gift to get her that's all." Desmond said with a shrug. He knew he only had the rest of the day to get her gift, what with tomorrow morning being Christmas and all.

"Well you better figure it out soon, little brother, because if you don't get her a gift you'll look like an ass." Duncan replied, handing a few twenty dollar bills to his baby brother, "Me and Dylan are gonna head home and wrap Nat's gifts, meet us at her place."

Desmond nodded as his brothers split at the corner of the street. Des watched them vanish before turning and walking down the next street of shops. He stared into windows, trying to find anything that he felt would be a good gift. This wasn't the first year he'd waited till the last minute to get Natalie her gift. She was the only one he took extra care to find the perfect gift for, after all she knew things about him that not even his brothers did. She was his confidant and only true friend outside of his older siblings. He felt he owed her every year to at least find something she would love, not just something that fit her or something she needed. No, his gifts for her were always unique and fit to Natalie's personality. Things she loved, whether it be knives or unique jewelry that was specific to the wearer, his gifts to the one he called best friend were always special and things no one else would ever think to get her.

However, this year he was finding it difficult to find something that he hadn't gotten in previous years. Desmond sighed as he strolled through the streets before something in a store window he passed made him pause. He faced the window and stared at the object for a moment before grinning. It was perfect and he knew Natalie would love them. Hurrying into the shop before it closed, he went to the cashier and discussed with him for a few moments about the items in the window and had them put in a box and wrapped for him so that he could head straight for Natalie's. Thanking the man, he headed out of the store and down the streets, back towards the farm with a slight smile.

When he reached Natalie's house, he could see the girls father outside putting lights up for the daughter he cherished so much. Now, William may have never been much of a father to Desmond and his brothers, but Ameer Azrael had more then earned the title of Dad in their eyes. The man loved Natalie with all his heart and was proud of every thing she did even going so far as to celebrate a holiday he had never personally cared for. The man had also took it upon himself to act like a fatherly figure to Desmond and his brothers, treating them as if they were his own flesh and blood.

Desmond waved to Ameer as he stepped into the house with Natalie's present under his arm. He was immediately greeted by a petite fiery red haired woman.

"Desmond, sweetie, there you are. I was starting to get worried with it getting so late." The woman greeted with a bright smile that was so much like her daughters.

"Sorry, Mrs. Ciara." Desmond said with a smile as she wrapped him in a hug.

"It's alright sweetie, just glad you made it. Natalie and your brothers are in the living room dressing the tree." Ciara stated, pulling back and lightly pushing him in that direction.

Like Ameer, Ciara Azrael had taken it upon herself to be the mother figure in the Miles' boys lives and they all adored her as much as her daughter. She was a kind woman who was meant to be a mother. Between her kind smiles and yet firm and protective nature, it was no surprise she had taken the boys under her wing and most days Desmond was grateful for her, but sometimes he wondered how she got dragged into this occultist group that was the Brotherhood, after all it was Ameer's family that had been born into it like Desmond's. Yet, the kind woman had joined them and eventually married Ameer and had Natalie, if anything Des was grateful for that for without them and his brothers he'd have gone mad and left long ago.

Pushing those thoughts out of his head, he walked into the living room, to find Natalie sitting on Dylan's shoulders as she was carefully trying to place a golden star at the top of the tree. Meanwhile Duncan was placing random glass orbs of gold, red and green all over the tree. He laughed at the sight, making his brothers turn to look at him which in turn made Natalie grip Dylan's hair painfully to keep her balance.

"Ouch, that hurts Nat!" Dylan exclaimed trying to swat her hand away without releasing her legs that dangled over his shoulders.

"I'm sorry, but maybe if you didn't move without warning I wouldn't have done it!" Natalie shot back, glaring down at him as she released her hold. Luckily the girl had managed to get the star on the tree before his brother had turned and Desmond moved to help get Natalie off his eldest brother's shoulders, dropping her gift by the tree as he went.

Duncan, noticing the wrapped box smiled as Desmond wrapped his arms around Natalie's waist so Dylan could let her legs slip off his shoulders.

"Finally found a gift Des?" Duncan asked, receiving a no duh look from his baby brother.

"No, I went and bought her an empty box and had it wrapped. Of course, I found a gift." Desmond replied sarcastically, receiving a slap to the back of his head from behind.

"Watch your tone young man and be nice to your brother." Ciara said as she walked past him with a tray of drinks in her free hand.

"Yes ma'am." Desmond replied sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.

"So you boys are staying here tonight, right?" Ciara asked as she set her trey on the coffee table near the couch.

"Yes ma'am." Dylan replied, smiling at the red-head.

"Excellent, then I will make a big breakfast in the morning." Ciara beamed.

All three boys grinned at the prospect of a home cooked breakfast. They didn't get it often since their own parents were never at the house and didn't believe in cooking for them when they were. They only ever got home cooked food when they would stay at Natalie's and they tried not to invade the Azrael families space too much. It wouldn't do for them to be cast from the house for pushing their presence on them too often.

"We appreciate you inviting us every year ma'am." Duncan said, slinging his arm around Desmond's shoulders.

"Nonsense. You boys are always welcome here. You are practically family." Ciara states walking back towards the kitchen, "Now finish up in here and all of you go get washed up I'll be bringing out dinner in a minute for you all to eat."

All four teens grinned and quickly removed any boxes and left over ornaments from the room before rushing to wash up for dinner. As Desmond followed behind his brothers and best friends, he couldn't help but smile. It was moments like this that made him realize why he stayed on the Farm. Being with his brothers, seeing Natalie smile and having these family like moments in the Azrael home, all of these things are what made him stay here without losing his mind. He couldn't count how many times he'd just wanted to leave it all behind so he didn't have to deal with the crap from the other members or even from his own parents, but every time he'd thought he was at his breaking point, he'd see his brothers or Natalie's faces light up with smiles when they were with him and he could never go through with it.

After they had washed up all four headed back to the living room where Ciara was setting down four plates on the coffee table.

"Go ahead and dig in kids, if you want seconds let me know." Ciara said with a smile as she headed towards the dinning room. Their table wasn't big enough for the three additional people, but none of the teens minded sitting in the living room eating while they chatted away. After a couple plates of food and a lot of chatting, Ciara ushered them off to bed, Natalie to her own room and the boys to the guest room.

Desmond heard Dylan sigh as he kicked off his shoes, when he turned he found his brother laying in the center of the bed with his arms spread out taking up most of the space. He looked to his other brother who was shaking his head at the eldest display. Chuckling slightly, Desmond moved over to the queen sized bed and crawled on before flopping across his brother's chest. Dylan let out a huff of air at the sudden wait and one arm came down across Desmond back as the youngest smirked at the reaction. A moment later Duncan took the empty space next to Duncan's still outstretched arm and set a hand on Desmond's head.

The brothers were used to sleeping in such a way since a young age, in fact it was only when their father was home that they even slept in separate rooms. So when they were at the Azrael's sleeping on the bed in a literal pile wasn't unheard of. Most of who saw them likes this in the Brotherhood frowned upon it and even spread incestuous rumors about them. None were true, though the lack of denial nor confirmation from any of the brothers didn't help their case.

Desmond was pulled from his thoughts as Duncan ruffled his hair. Smiling at his brother, Des let his thoughts and worries slip away as he let sleep take him.

Desmond was jolted awake as a sudden weight was dropped on his stomach, knocking the wind out of him. His eyes snapped open to meet the bright eyed and bushy tailed Natalie smiling down on him. Under his head he felt one of his brothers, who he assumed was Dylan, shift under him at the sudden jolt of his baby brother.

"Natalie, what the hell?!" Desmond demanded groggily as he glared up at her a bit.

"Get up, mama's making breakfast and then after that we're doing presents!" Natalie said excitedly jumping on Desmond's stomach a bit. Another puff of air left his lungs at her action and his brother once more stirred beneath his head, grumbling at the disturbance, while the feeling of another stirring on the other side of the bed let Desmond know that Duncan had finally been disturbed as well. The blonde on his stomach, finally got off of him as the youngest brother attempted to sit up. Still bouncing with excitement, Natalie watched as all three brothers sat up on the bed, all three sets of brown eyes turning to stare at her in slight annoyance and grogginess.

Groaning, Desmond fell back to rest his head back on Dylan's stomach who glanced down at him with a look that said to handle the little blonde girl. However, Desmond was about as skilled in handling her as his brothers were, which was to say absolutely unable to. Natalie did what she wanted and as much as he loved her attitude most days, being woken up before breakfast was even ready was one of the days he didn't. Dylan's hand carded through his hair as he too laid back down, but no sooner had the brothers tried relaxing Natalie launched herself on Desmond's stomach again knocking the wind out of him again.
"Either you all get up or I get the ice water!" Natalie hissed threateningly. All three brothers groaned before finally getting out of the bed.

Desmond decided to steal the shower first, grabbing a set of clothes that the brothers left here on a previous stay and heading to the bathroom. He locked the door behind him and pulled his shirt off before pausing as he glanced in the mirror. He stared at the three names on his chest for a moment, his hand unconsciously coming up to run his fingers over them, before shaking his head and hurrying to get in the shower. He was curious about the three names he carried, but he knew there was a good chance he may never meet them. He'd probably be stuck here on the Farm his entire life unless his father ever deemed him good enough to put with a unit, which would never happen. Sighing, he pushed those thoughts from his mind. Showering and dressing quickly, he headed down stairs and was greeted by the wonderful smell of bacon and pancakes being cooked.

He grinned at the smell and shuffled into the living room where his brothers and Natalie were circled around the coffee table, each with a plate in front of them. Not a moment after he entered Ciara came in with his own plate and handed it to him with a bright smile. He smiled back and sat down between Duncan and Natalie to eat, listening to Natalie prattle away about the day and what not. The moment the plates were gone and both of Natalie's parents settled on the couch, Natalie bounced to the tree and began grabbing presents. She bounced over to Dylan first handing him a bag and then put a box in Duncan's lap. She then set a couple of presents in her parents laps with a grin, she then scurried to the tree and grabbed her own and the last one for Desmond. His was a small rectangular present wrapped in green and red striped wrapping paper with a blue bow on top.

Desmond waited until his brother's opened their gifts; Duncan getting a knife cleaning kit for his over abundance of knives he called a collection, and Dylan received a gun cleaning set for that pair of guns he enjoyed carrying so much.
"Go on Des, open yours!" Natalie said excitedly as she watched him. Shaking his head, he tore off the wrapping and stared down at the beautiful pocket knife that was in a clear case. It could almost be considered a dagger with it size and yet it was just small enough to not quite reach that category.
"Thanks not, it's awesome." Desmond said with a grin. He hadn't been allowed to have his own weapon yet, thanks to William, but leave it to his best friend to tell his father to suck it in the best way possible. Natalie grinned at him and watched her parents open their presents before turning to her own. She had already opened the one from Duncan and Dylan; a set of training daggers and a new set of training clothes; and was finally on Desmond's present.

He leaned back and watched as she tore off the wrapping and pulled off the top of the box before pausing as she stared at the gift. Des could barely keep the smirk off his face at her response, he'd managed to actually out do himself from last year. He watched as she carefully pulled the black hoodie out of the box and stared at it. It was a reversible hoodie that could be either black or white, but it wasn't the reversible part that made Desmond get it, it was the Falcon design on the hood that made the hoodie appear as if the person was a bird that made him get it. Falcons were Natalie's favorite bird and she was excitedly waiting the day when the Novices got to their first Leap of Faith because she said she would love the feel of flying through the air.

The sudden squeal and cry of excitement dragged Desmond back to Natalie and he nearly fell over as he was tackled by the little blonde girl.
"Oh, Des I love it!" She exclaimed.

"Did you see the other half?" He asked smugly, making her release him as she dived back to the box. Her bell like laugh filled his ears as she pulled out a simple plush Falcon that had a Santa hat stitched onto its head.
"I love him too, Des! Thank you!" Natalie said grinning as she hugged both the plush and the hoodie to her chest. Desmond grinned at her before glancing around at everyone. He didn't understand this holiday in the least even after Natalie had tried a dozen times to explain it to him, but if he could continue to have moments like this where he got to watch his brothers and best friend smile like all was right in the world then it didn't matter if he ever did. Because moments like this were all that mattered to him in a life where he had no control over anything in his life.

Present Day

Desmond smiled at the memory, though a frown soon followed. He'd found out only a month after that, that both his brothers were being placed with a Unit across the world and wouldn't be returning to the Farm for a long time if at all. They'd left a day after that news and by his sixteenth birthday Des just couldn't take his father's over baring personality anymore. He felt like he didn't belong with the Brotherhood. Natalie was the only reason he'd stayed so long and when he'd finally snapped and gone to tell her, she'd shoved a large pile of money into his hands with a sad smile and told him to go where the wind took him.

Now, sitting here in this bar watching that same blonde prance around while wearing that hoodie he'd bought her all that time ago, while she was laughing with the loves of her life was a beautiful thing to him. And seeing his brothers after believing he'd never see them again was enough to make him feel like all was right in the world again.

"What are you thinking about Habibi?" A voice asked in his ear as arms wound around his waist making him jump slightly. He hadn't seen Altair move from where he'd been with his brothers.
"Just remembering the last time we were all together for the holidays." Desmond replied, relaxing into one of his lovers arms with a content sigh.
"I do not understand this holiday. It seems to be nothing more then a reason to get meaningless and useless gifts and put up fancy lights." Altair said, a slight hint of curiosity.

Desmond chuckled at his words. That had been exactly what he'd used to think of the holiday, but now he knew what the holiday could mean to a person.
"It's not about the gifts or lights or even about the holiday itself. It's about getting the chance to surround yourself with people you love and care about and show them how much you appreciate them." Des explained softly, "This isn't about the holiday, it's about the people you get to see."

Altair stayed silent behind him for a moment, before tightening his arms around Desmond and setting his chin on his left shoulder.
"I think I can see what you mean." Altair muttered, making Desmond glance at him. The Syrian was staring at him with a slight smile on his face, making it impossible for Des not to smile back at the older man, before glancing back around the bar his smile growing as he watched all of the most important people in his life talk and laugh with each other. And for a moment Des wasn't an Assassin, he wasn't in the middle of an ancient war, he was just a man standing watching his family being happy. For just a moment Desmond Miles let all of the weight on his shoulders lift and allowed himself to be happy too, while he leaned back against one of the Soul Mates he never thought he'd find.