Part Two

Chapter 13

Alexander Hernandez:

It's dark when they finally pile into his truck, the pavement damp from a light sprinkle of rain that didn't stay long enough to drench it, and the streetlights bathe the world in their yellowish glow.

He hasn't sat behind the wheel for more than three seconds before he realizes that he has no idea where to even begin searching. Nor does he think this is any form of a good idea even before he slides his keys into the ignition and starts the truck. Still, he does, enjoying the roar of the engine as it disturbs the otherwise quiet night.

"Okay," he says once the engine quiets down and he hears the click of two sets of seatbelts being fastened. A quiet tune filters out of the radio set so low that he can't make out the song without raising the volume. "Where am I going?"

"I don't know," Victoria answers, voice subdued but no less haughty from her seat in the back of his truck. Even though the tone of her voice rankles everything in him, Alexander keeps his mouth shut, swallowing down the words that went to come out. "We can try the school?"

"Okay, but let me call Anna," he tells, her easing the truck out of the driveway as he hits dial on his phone. He turns up the volume as the ringing of the call filters out just as quietly from the truck's speakers.

"Hello, dear, talk fast, I have surgery in ten."

His wife's sweet voice brings a goofy smile to his face as it reaches his ears. It melts some of the apprehension in his chest to hear it so sweet and indulgent even though she is still so royally pissed at him.

"Hey, love. I got Mrs. Chase with me here," he tells her, throwing the truck in drive as he does and heading towards the school. He doesn't need to be told where it is, not since all of his children have attended it before. The route to their school is engraved into his mind at this point "Apparently Anissa is a few hours past curfew and she's convinced the kids made off with her."

"But Jen, Ken, and Ezio are in Italy. And, as far as I know, Alexis has no reason to kidnap Anissa."

"Italy?" Victoria mutters, voice both questioning and confused when she meets his gaze through the rearview mirror. With how adamant she is about keeping herself out of Kenny's life and him out of hers and her family's, he's not surprised to find that she doesn't know just where the kids are supposedly traveling to. "Who is Ezio?"

"Hello, Mrs. Chase," Anna greets hers, always polite even though Anna knows just as much as he does about Victoria's burning, all-consuming dislike of their children. Especially since Victoria has never been one to actually try to hide it. "Despite what you may think, I can assure you my children have not taken Anissa anywhere."

And there it is again.

My children.

Those words. Said so easy, so casually. Even when those very words lit up a fire in Victoria with their sheer absurdity not too long ago. Like the very thought of Ken belonging to them is something to fight over. Never mind that this is less about Victoria claiming Ken as her own and more about how ridiculous she thinks it is that anyone would claim him.

"I've already told her, love," he says, cutting in when he sees something like rage curing Victoria's lips into a snarl. "I'm just calling to ask if you can check if, by any chance, she might have been admitted into the hospital."

"Sure thing. Give me a second."

The line goes dead then, muted as Anna goes about finding the information they need. Alexander waits as patiently as he can, trying to keep from asking Victoria why she hadn't thought to call the hospital first before rushing over to his house with accusations.

"Nope, no one by the name of Anissa has been admitted," Anna says when the line picks up again, the speakers picking up more than just her voice. There's a rush of sounds then, one sounding like the call of her name, hurried and frantic. "I have to go. I'll keep an out for her in case she ends up coming in later but try calling her school. Maybe there's a dance or something."

"On a Monday?"

"You never know," she laughs through the line, the sound out of place with the havoc he can hear in the background. "But, seriously, I have to go. Bye, love you."

"I love you too," he calls back just as the line is cut, taking the panic of the hospital with it. He shakes his head, a fond smile on his lips as he lets the call disconnect, filling the truck again with the soft melody of the radio. "Well, at least we can rule that out."

"Who's Ezio?" Victoria asks, something suspicious in her voice as she does. She meets his gaze through the mirror again, looking at him with her icy blue eyes. Eyes just shades off from Ken's own and, really, it's not surprising that they've kept up the rouse as long as they have.

Blonde hair and blue eyes run in the Chase Family, from father to son and even wife and daughter. But that's where the similarities end. Other than the blonde hair and blue eyes, Ken looks nothing like the cold heart matriarch.

So it's no wonder really, that Victoria can do nothing but hate, lashing out cruelly and bitterly any chance she gets for all that she refuses to just admit the truth. Rather than face the bitter reality, she continues to bury it even as she pushes Ken away time and again.

But Ken is a Chase, for all that she has had him all but legally disowned. Sure he's been kicked out of the Chase Home, forced to fend from himself as soon as he turned eighteen, but he is still his father's son, a Chase through blood, and there is nothing Victoria can do about that.

He'll be a Chase long after he's dead, so she has no choice but to bury the shameful secret and bear it with grit teeth. It's either that or let the scandalous truth hit the streets and tarnish more than just the Chase name.

But hers too.

"Ezio is Mario's nephew," he tells her nodding to the man in question as he turns at the sound of his name. There's a wide smile on his face when he twists in his seat to meet Victoria's gaze, one that probably doesn't bode well for Alexander if he's been honest. "The kids went up to Italy to visit his Villa."

"You have a Villa?" Victoria asks, something about the curiosity rubbing Alexander the wrong way. Because it's not just simple curiosity. No, it's something that probably has the potential to turn complicated, if not dangerous. "What did you say your name was?"

Not that Alexander is going to do anything to stop it.

As far as he's concerned, it's none of his business what Victoria gets up to. As nothing more than a very distant acquaintance, he's got no right to interfere with whatever she's cooking up. That and, if anyone deserves a raunchy affair, it's Victoria Chase.

Especially, with what Arthur Seth Chase has put her through time and again.

"Mario Auditore."

The name flows off his tongue like silk and Alexander has to try very hard to keep from rolling his eyes. Sure, he can't very well butt into Victoria's business, but he would very much appreciate it if Mario could wait to flirt with Victoria until he's no longer around to witness it

"Yes, that's his name. Now, let's get back to finding Anissa, yeah?"

~oOo~

Jennifer Hernandez:

The sight of the walls of Monteriggioni peeking over the horizon brings with it a relief I'd never thought I'd feel. Especially not when it means our vacation has finally come to an end. But the relief is there, strong enough to bring a smile to my lips as I kick my horse into a full gallop.

Ezio's laughter chases me as he pushes his own horse to a gallop. He catches up quickly so, together we race towards the end, laughing every time one overtakes the others. Ken and Leonardo follow in a more subdued pace, still deep into their talk of modern era everything.

So we reach the gets first, veering off from the dirt path leading into the walls of Monteriggioni only when we reach the stables. They're as grand as the city, walls built of sturdy stone, and just as beautiful. Though the walls are made of stone, the gates and rails are smooth, polished wood, and what windows there are, are skillfully crafted planes of colorful glass.

Stepping into the table is almost like stepping into an old church, the inside dim and illuminated only by the colorful sunshine that filters in through the windows and surrounded by a cool breeze only a stone building can offer in the middle of the day.

"Sir Ezio!"

The call comes from deep in the stables, followed by the sound of rushing footsteps as someone comes to take the horses off our hands. We hand them over willingly, already having unhitched our belongings from them. Not too long after the stable hand, a boy just young enough to remind me of Basil, has taken Alba and Oriana, Ken and Leonardo make their way into the stable.

"A new horse?" the stable hand asks, excitement on his face as he moves to take Leonardo's horse first. He runs appraising hands over the horse, taking him, and even goes as far as lifting the horse's feet and checking its teeth. "He's beautiful."

And he is.

He's tall, at least five feet tall, and definitely taller than any of our horses, and all black, from his large hooves to his snout to his long, flowing mane. He's also thick, sturdy, all muscle under that shiny black coat. He's the perfect picture of strength, of endurance, and one hell of a steal if all we had to trade for him was teatime with Caterina.

"He is from Forlì," Ezio tells the stable hand, as he helps Ken off his horse when the other takes too long to climb down. Taking Ken's hand, he helps him ease down onto the stone floor before he goes to unhitch Ken's packs for him. "Take good care of him as I will have him returned in the same condition, if not better."

"Of course, Sir Ezio."

We leave after that, itching to be home after a week of travel. Unable to keep the smile off my face, I take Ken's hand in mine and all but drag him through the gates of Monteriggioni. He comes willingly, his own exhausted smile on his face as he lets his hand slip out of Ezio's grip. Though there's no hiding the way he turns back to look at Ezio as he does.

Figuring I should leave Leonardo to Ezio so that the other can more or less tell him what to expect now, I waste no time making my way past the ever-bustling market stalls, up the winding white stairs, past the empty training ring, and towards that spinning, red swirl that almost feels like coming home.

"Should we say hi to anyone before jumping through?" Ken asks as I lead us to the ladder that we take us to the swirl. There's hesitation in his voice even as he asks, like he isn't sure it's a good idea to begin with. "Like Mario or Ezio's mom?"

"Maybe after cleaning up?" I suggest, eyes taking in our rumpled and dirt-stained clothing. We're hardly clean enough to offer anyone company and I can tell he agrees when he ushers me up the steps. "I mean, it's not like we're aren't going to be back here. I still have to talk to Minerva."

"That's true."

With no other suggestion, we climb the ladder, both too eager to get home to warm running water to wait for Ezio and Leonardo. Not that they're too far behind. This far up, on top of the Monteriggioni Villa, it's easy to spot Ezio at the foot of the stairs, a wide-eyed Leonardo standing next to him.

"Here we go."

The jump is easy, almost engrained at this point, so I don't even notice the way everything blurs, spinning out of control, until it all suddenly stops. I don't notice the falling until I'm caught, cradled by soft pillows and the darkness of an empty attic.

"Finally, home," I groan out as I crawl as best and as fast as I can out of the pillow bit. The combined purple glow of the swirls is enough for me to inch my way through the attic without stumbling or crashing into anything. So I find the light switch easily enough and flick the lights on just as another body crashes into the pit.

"I need a shower," Ken grumbles as he tosses his pack from the pit first. It scrapes against the unfinished wood floor, bouncing only once before it comes to a stop. He crawls out of the pit after it, swearing when he sinks back into the pillows more than once. "I call dibs on the first shower."

"We have two showers," I remind him as I toss my pack next to his and take a seat on the closest chair, already exhausted at the thought of having to shower. It seems like more work than it's worth but oh so promising that I can't help but yearn for it. "But first we should probably wait for Leonardo. So we can, you know, ease him into all this."

Ken doesn't answer, simply grunts from where he's sprawled out next to the pit. Having crawled out of it, he's made no move to actually get up and move. He's as exhausted as I am after days spent on horseback from early morning until late at night. Which doesn't seem like much until you remember that riding a horse for hours on end is in no way as comfortable as it sounds.

It's why there's such a thing as 'saddle sore'.

And, right now, we're both suffering from it.

"Maybe a hot bath would be better," I mumble, watching as Ken nods in agreement, hands searching for his pack even though it's too far for him to reach considering it's on the other side of the pillow pit. "All in all, this trip went better than the last one."

"Considering no one tried to kill you, I'd say this trip was a huge success," Ken grumbles, back cracking loudly as he sits up. The cracking only continues when he stretches, pulling all his muscles taut as he goes to stand. "We even got some of the answers we were searching for."

The sound of a body dropping into the pit cuts our conversation short as we turn to see who jumped through first.

"That was…that was amazing," Leo says, excitement in every inch of his voice as he pops out from underneath the pillows. "Absolutely amazing! To think that something so small could pull us through so quickly and so efficiently. I am surprised nothing got cut off or left behind with how small the swirl really is. Ken!"

Kenny jumps at the sound of his name, but still reaches down when Leonardo holds out a hand to him. Taking it, Ken hauls the other man out of the pit and helps him when Leonardo reaches back into the pit for his stuff.

"I must take notes," Leonardo says, pulling his pack out of the pit and rummaging through it. Ken, for his part, pulls out the box of tools from the pit just as another body crashes down into the pit. "Am I right to assume both swirls are identical in their methods of transportation?"

"Yes?" I answer for my seat, watching as a hand reaches out of the pit just enough to grab a hold of Ken and yank him in. Ken goes down with a yelp, tossing the box over the edge of the pit lest it crashes down on top of them as none other than Ezio yanks him down on top of him. "That's a dangerous place to cuddle."

My warning only earns me a chuckle, one that's deep and rich and belonging to Ezio even as he continues to hold Ken close. There's a silent conversation going on in that cuddle, I know there is. Especially when Ken stills, meeting Ezio's warm gaze with one filled with worry seconds before he all but melts in the arms that wrap around him and hold him close.

"Before you break out the ink and quill, here," I call to Leonardo, a small smile on my face at the sight, as I hand him a pen and notebook. Leonardo takes them both, curiosity on his face as he flips the notebook open and presses the tip of the pen to it. "This is a pen."

"It has ink!"

His genuine curiosity is heartwarming, endearing so much so that I chuckle and continue to hand him different colored pens and markers and even a few highlighters. He marvels at them all, creating strokes across the page as he tries out all the different colors and textures until I have no more to give him.

"A portable solution to the ink and quill," Leonardo says, awe in his voice as he turns the pens and markers in his hands. "and with none of the mess to boot. How Marvelous!"

"If you think the pens are neat, wait until you learn about cars," I tell him, standing so that I can finally go get the shower I've desperately been yearning for. "Seriously, you guys, get out of the pit before someone lands on top of you."

"No one's going to come through," Ken mumbles from where his face is pressed into Ezio's chest, trying to hide the blush that's turning even his ears red. "Other than Altaïr, we were the only one expected to come through."

He's not wrong. Other than us, no one has any business jumping into the past, so I give him the benefit of the doubt as I snag my pack off the floor and head towards the door. Already, I'm imagining soaking until my skin prunes.

"I'm going to go take the world's longest bath," I call back, not bothering to wait for a response as I make my way down the small staircase. "I love you all but unless someone is literally dying, please leave me the hell alone."

"We love you too."

Warmth settles in my chest at the reply, heavy and comforting as I make my way downstairs and to my room. Darkness greets me the whole way, all the lights are off as it's late, probably past midnight and the whole house is asleep.

With that in mind, I make sure to be as quiet as possible as I gather what I need and make my way to the bathtub, ready and willing to spent hours in it if I can. Turning on the radio as I enter the bathroom, I let the hot steam envelop me as I wait for the tub to fill with water as hot as I can stand. And, when I finally sink into the water, I can't keep from groaning as all my muscles suddenly go lax, melting into the hot water.

Laing there, I lose track of time. As the music continues to filter out through the radio and the water eases sore muscles, I doze, content and relaxed. It isn't until the water starts to chill, going from hot to lukewarm, that I move again, and then, it's only to pull the plug on the tub and start the shower with once more pipping hot water.

My bathing is all but then. Quickly scrubbing clean and rinsing, I don't spend any more time under the jets of water. Instead, I turn it off and move to dry off and change. Once all that is done and I've brushed both my teeth and my hair, I leave the cozy warmth of the bathroom and go look for Ken.

Stopping by my parent's room on the way, I'm surprised to find it empty so late at night, but not overly so. They are adults, after all, and free enough to enjoy a late-night out, what with all of their children being over twenty. Still, I make a mental note to call them as I continue my search for Ken.

That I find him still in the attic is not surprising. That he's still being cuddled within an inch of his life in the pillow pit is. Swiping my phone from where I left it by one of the computers before our trip to Italy I power it up as I head towards them.

"He fell asleep," Ezio mumbles, answering my unanswered question when he sees me peering down at them. Opening my camera app, I can't keep from snapping a picture of the pair. "I didn't want to wake him."

"Of course, of course, just hold on one second," I mumble, snapping more pictures. Leonardo peers over my shoulder as I do, curious as always. Once I have a decent number of pictures, I had the phone to him, allowing him to play with it only after I've switched it onto airplane mode. "This is a phone."

I don't need him accidentally dialing 911.

"A phone?" he asks, turning it around in his hands for a bit before he starts touching the screen. Not really caring what he manages to click on, I leave it with him as I move to Ken's pack and pull out his own phone.

"It's primarily for communication," I tell him, frowning when I find Ken's phone dead. How he managed to drain the battery when he couldn't really use it, is beyond me. Connecting it to charge, I take my phone back from Leonardo. "Here, let me show you."

Turning off the airplane mode, I dial dad's number first because he's the one most likely to answer. Where mom might be caught up in emergency surgery and unable to reach her phone more often than not, dad's always free enough to pick up the phone.

"Jen!"

"Hey, dad," I answer, a smile breaking out on my face as he picks up within the first two rings. Switching the call to speaker, I meet Leonardo's curious gaze as he hears dad's voice filter out. "Just thought I'd call and let you guys know we're back safe and sound since I didn't find anyone home. We even brought Leonardo with us. Hey, where are you guys anyway?"

"Jen, Anissa's missing."