Happy new year, all! Did everybody have a nice Christmas? I did - I got this spanking brand new laptop to which I only transferred the entirety of this fic to yesterday; that's my excuse for not posting :P Anyway, I know this is pretty long, and I was going to split it up into my normal phases but you guys deserve something big (AHEMAHEM) as a Christmas present and a Happy New Year's rolled into one! On with the show! :D

March 20th, 1500. Rome.

'Good morning, Doctor. Did you sleep well?'

'Me? No, of course I didn't. This is sixteenth century Rome, mattresses haven't been invented yet,' The Doctor replied, grabbing an apple from the table and bouncing it from the inside of his elbow to his palm before taking a bite. 'Besides, I don't sleep anyway because sleeping is for humans,' as he chewed on the apple, he eyed Machiavelli, inviting him wordlessly to a waltz of wit. Machiavelli smiled and just as wordlessly declined, dipping his head.

'You will get along well with Ezio, then. He was gone at first light to arrange safe passage here for our friend.'

'The clever one?'

'Indeed.'

'Ah, good! I do rather like meeting clever people.'

'Our friend is a very clever man indeed. Unfortunately, the Borgia know it too and see it fit to threaten deadly designs for war machines out of him. He plays a dangerous game, allying with us like he does.' Machiavelli said thoughtfully.

'What keeps him allied, then?' The Doctor frowned.

'An unwavering loyalty to Ezio and the Assassin cause,' Machiavelli explained. 'We would be truly lost without him.'

'Even Assassins need friends,' The Doctor said thoughtfully. 'So – the Borgia. What have they got to do with you lot?'

'To say that they have Templar sympathies would be an understatement,' Machiavelli said grimly, walking to stand by the Doctor and tactfully not commenting on that fact that the Doctor had propped his boots up on the armchair opposite his and left mud on the embroidery. 'Our Pope Alexander, known to us as Rodrigo Borgia, has been involved with the Templar Order most of his life and had infected his children with this deadly obsession – amongst other things.' He added pointedly, and the Doctor pulled a face, giving his apple a funny look as he tossed it over his shoulder, suddenly not in the mood for eating. 'His son, Cesare, now pulls the strings with his father supplying him with all the military powers he could ever ask for. We Assassins have had a hard time fighting him and his.'

'Ah, the infamous Cesare Borgia. The master deceiver himself. A phrase I do believe you coined yourself?'

Machiavelli blinked. 'I – I did. However did you know?'

'Call it a lucky guess, Mr. Machiavelli. Your second name is too long, did you know that? You need a catchy nickname – something snappy,' The Doctor clicked his fingers as he began to rattle off names. 'Machy, Mach, Mach, Mach daddio. Mach-daddy-velli!' The Doctor jumped to his feet, and shook Machiavelli's slack hand. 'Good to meet you, Mach-daddy-velli!'

Machiavelli was lost for words, but was thankfully saved by Amy and Rory dragging themselves into the room and slumping onto furniture.

'Wake up Pond!' The Doctor said, bounding over and nudging Amy with his foot – her head turned in his direction so she could give him an exhausted glare. 'And you too, Rory!' Rory moaned as the Doctor grabbed his shoulder and shook him. 'Ezio's bringing me a friend to help me fix the TARDIS!'

'That's wonderful.' Rory said humourlessly.

'We're thrilled.' Amy adjourned.

'What's wrong with you two, then?'

'No sleep.' Rory said dully.

'None whatsoever,' Amy said, groaning and letting her head fall into her hands, her fingers fingering the cut on her temple. 'Such a headache…' she moaned quietly, and Rory patted her on the back while staring blankly into space. The Doctor wheeled around on Machiavelli.

'S'your lack of mattresses, that. You've broken my humans!'

'…I'm sorry?'

'I should hope so.' The Doctor pulled at the front of his jacket and frowned at Machiavelli, and then turned at the sound of the door opening. An Assassin stood there – a tall and strong looking man, with sleek black hair and a finely trimmed moustache on his upper lip. He bowed in Machiavelli's direction, who nodded in return, and then nodded at the Doctor.

'The Maestro returns,' He announced to the room.

'Excellent. Thank you, Valentino. Have you any duties later? We may need an extra hand in bringing the Doctor's vessel here.'

The man called Valentino smiled, and it was a strange thing – it was almost as if his lips had never performed the action before. 'My evening is yours, Signore.'

'Thank you.'

Valentino nodded once, and just as he pulled the door shut, his eyes flickered to the Doctor's again. The Doctor watched him back for a moment, rocking on his heels, until Valentino's eyes moved away with a strange expression as he closed the door.

'Odd one, that one…'
'Excuse Valentino, Doctor,' Machiavelli said. 'He's a man who likes to keep to himself; to ask him to be sociable is like asking a fish to fly.'

'In my experience, its always the quiet ones you've got to worry about.'

Machiavelli opened his mouth to argue for Valentino when voices floated through the door, which had been left ajar.

'Ezio, once all this is done, I'm thinking of doing something extraordinary. I shall study a woman with child, to see how her body changes. To see how life is formed – it shall be such a splendour to behold, Ezio!'

Amy looked up, pleased to hear Leonardo's voice again, but then her face fell when she saw the Doctor look to the door eagerly.

It was going to be one of those moments where he was going to embarrass them all completely. When the Doctor met important figures in history, it was horrific to watch – a hardcore nerd meeting their heroes and babbling ceaselessly about how much of a fan they were and basically causing a lot of cringing and pity for the poor playwright or thinker hit by a gushing whirlwind in a nice shade of tweed.

And Leonardo DaVinci was the figure. The top dog.

This was not going to end well.

'Doctor, don't freak out, he's – '

'Be quiet Pond, I'm going to talk to some adults now.'

Amy opened her mouth to argue, but then the door opened, with Ezio holding it open for his friend as he walked through.

'But of course, wherever will I find such a woman who'd be happy to help me with my studies? Their husbands shall have something to say about it, I fear…'

Amy cringed as the Doctor's eyes widened in joy, and his whole body practically lifted itself up into the air as he opened his mouth –

'Amy!'

Leonardo Da Vinci walked straight past the Doctor and went to Amy, who had gotten to her feet. She seemed a little taken aback when he embraced her affectionately, and barely had the time to return the gesture when he'd stepped back, beginning to examine her critically. 'Your head, how is it?' He asked, brushing her hair back from the cut and frowning at it. Amy found herself grinning, feeling slightly happier at his obvious concern.

'Its fine now, just throbs a little.'

'That is good to hear,' Leonardo beamed, and then turned to Rory. 'Ah, the one with the nose!'

'The – the one with the what?' Rory said, going scarlet and touching his nose subconsciously.

'Your nose is fine, my friend. A noble thing if I ever did see one. Are you sure you're not a Roman?'

Rory was stunned. 'I, uh, spent some time here, a little while back.'

'That'll explain it then. Good to meet you, friend. Leonardo Da Vinci, at your service should you ever need it,' Leonardo shook Rory's hand while Rory gaped uselessly at him. 'I'm sorry, but I didn't catch your name!'

'He's Rory,' Amy interjected. 'My husband.' She added a little bashfully, and Leonardo's grin became wider.

'And what a pair you make!' He proclaimed, and then turned back to Rory. 'You are doing good by her, of course? Protecting her like the valiant husband should?'

'To be honest, its her doing the protecting rather than me.' Rory admitted, laughing a little. Leonardo chuckled.

'I am not surprised. Well, Ezio,' He turned back to the rest of the room. 'Where is this mysterious Doctor you promised me?'

Ezio smiled and motioned to the Doctor, who was staring at Leonardo. Leonardo bounded up to him at once, and took his hand to shake it.

'Do excuse my manners, I didn't see you there! It's good to see you awake, friend. Perhaps you could tell me more about that wonderful box you have?'

The Doctor struggled to respond for a moment. And then: 'You're Leonardo Da Vinci.'

'Why yes!'

'You're Leonardo Da Vinci.'

Leonardo frowned, and went to give Ezio a questioning look before the Doctor's sudden cry of "YOU'RE LEONARDO DA VINCI!" startled him – the Doctor's grip on his hand doubled and he began to shake it thoroughly.

'All my life, all my life I've dreamed of meeting you and here you are, all Leonardo Da Vinci-ish and just right there – you're standing there!' Leonardo looked down at himself, puzzled, and then yelped as the Doctor began to shake his hand again – his spare hand flew to his hat to keep it in place when it threatened to fall off. 'Oh we'll do all sorts, all sciency stuff and other stuff and you're Leonardo Da Vinci!'

Leonardo collected himself, and reached out to grasp the Doctor's arm, laughing. 'Your enthusiasm is infectious! Of course we shall do science Doctor, I would rather nothing else – but you must tell me about your wonderful box first, I am dying to know everything!' He pulled his hand from the Doctor's grip with some difficulty and clapped him on the shoulder with it, leading him from the room. 'Its proportions are startling, Doctor – I simply cannot phantom how it works! Start with that, and then tell me everything, everything you can think of!' He said as they walked from the room – the Doctor beamed at him as they passed through the doorway, but took a moment to seize Ezio by the shoulders, startling him.

'You bought me Leonardo Da Vinci, you wonderful man!' Ezio's eyes widened as the Doctor kissed him on both cheeks and abruptly released him, bounding after Leonardo.

Ezio looked to Amy and Rory, wiping his cheek with the back of his hand. 'I gather he approves?'

'Just a little.' Amy replied, grinning.

Nothing was seen of Leonardo or the Doctor until night fell over Roma. Ezio and Machiavelli seemed happy to wait, going over maps of Roma and the plans of the current movements against the Borgia, settling down after to play chess. For Amy and Rory, however, entertainment was hard to come by but eventually emerged in the forms of Vitorio and Gabriele returning after a successful mission on the outskirts of the city. Eager to make amends with Amy after their blunder in the women's quarters, they insisted on a game. They suggested all sorts – a sparring match, a throwing competition, a resilience contest, but after being abruptly told to keep it down by their Maestro, settled instead to being taught the demure game of "I Spy" by Amy and Rory. They were only just running out of subjects to play the game with when Leonardo and the Doctor returned, grinning and laughing.

'We were beginning to think that the Borgia had spirited you both away,' Ezio grunted, getting up from his seat and stretching out – his bones cracked, and he gave a satisfied grimace.

'We could talk them into letting us go, Ezio!' Leonardo laughed, clapping the Doctor on the back. 'Time travel! Can you believe it? I have only dreamt of such a thing!'

'Well, I hope that it will be time for you to see it,' Ezio said a little pointedly, and then turned back to Machiavelli when the man cleared his throat – he'd chased Ezio's king up the board, and defeat was looking inevitable. Ezio swore softly under his breath, and reached down to move one of his remaining pawns.

'Yes, of course! We're safe to go out now, aren't we?' The Doctor asked.

'As we will ever be,' Ezio said, and then turned to Vitorio and Gabriele. 'You can stay here and keep our guests company.'

'We don't get to see the magic box?' Vitorio asked, sounding bitterly disappointed.

'No. We need a small party, or we risk raising suspicion. We'll take Giovanni and Valentino, to be safe.'

The two boys pouted, and slunk back to their game in a sulk. Ezio motioned to Leonardo and the Doctor. 'Shall we?'

'Lead the way,' Leonardo said, beaming, as they followed Ezio from the room. Behind them, Machiavelli checkmated Ezio for his own satisfaction, and began to re-set the pieces.

'Gentleman, join me. Its time you were taught how to play a proper game.'

'Do we have to, Signore?'

'Yes.'

'Merda.'

Horses were brought from the Assassin stables. One for Ezio, two for the Assassins accompanying them, one for Leonardo and one for the Doctor, who fell off of his trying to get his foot in the stirrup. He was patiently helped up by a nearby Giovanni, and sat on the beast very gingerly the entire journey, gripping the front of the saddle rather than the reins for dear life so that his knuckles turned white. Luckily, the horse has the sense to follow its brethren as they made their way to the TARDIS. When they dismounted and the Doctor tumbled off at the bottom of the hill, he took a moment to insist that he was an excellent horseman, really, it was just that the last time he'd seen a horse it was wondering aimlessly around a spaceship and there hadn't been time for riding practice.

'Should we ask?' Leonardo had murmured to Ezio as they followed him up the hill, the Assassins behind them.

'I'd rather not,' Eizo had replied grimly, just as they reached the top of the hill. The TARDIS stood there, untouched and unnoticed – the Doctor patted the wood of the door fondly.

'Hello old girl,' He murmured. 'Let's get you fixed.' He added before opening the door wide and stepping inside. Leonardo, Ezio and the Assassins followed him into the gloom. Giovanni looked over his shoulder at Valentino, who had stopped in the doorway and was looking in with a stunned expression.

'It is something, eh?' He said, grinning.

Valentino composed himself. 'Quite,' He said, and stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. Giovanni frowned, thinking the man to be an odd one before turning away and forgetting about him completely.A little way away from him, stepping up onto the console, were Leonardo and Ezio. They watched the Doctor fuss around the console like a worried mother, running his hands around the rim, fingering buttons and murmuring something inaudible.

'I will never get used to this place,' Ezio confided to Leonardo.

'Don't even try to,' Leonardo murmured back. 'This is far too wonderful for any of that.' He added, lost in wonder until something brought him back from his thoughts.

'Leonardo?' The Doctor suddenly called.

'Yes, Doctor?' Leonardo left Ezio to follow the Doctor as he went under the console. He jumped off the end of the ramp and rubbed his hands together to keep out the chill while he waited for Leonardo to join him. Above them, Giovanni and Valentino joined their Maestro and squatted to watch through the glass floor.

'Why is it so cold down here?' Leonardo asked through chattering teeth, wrapping his arms around himself.

'The power crystals – one of them exploded when we were attacked.' The Doctor bent down to the gathering of light under the console. When Leonardo's eyes adjusted, he could see jagged outlines of crystal – one had a crack running down through it, almost splitting it in two. The Doctor tittered softly. 'What did those meanie old Templars do to you, hey?' Kneeling by the crystals, he pulled out his screwdriver – its buzz was an echo as he flicked through the numerous settings. Leonardo joined him and watched, the light of the crystals throwing blue light onto their faces. The Doctor had shown him how it worked briefly after he mentioned the device in passing and had shown it to him after Leonardo enquired after it, but he was still perplexed to how it worked. Come to think of it, there was a lot to do with the Doctor that was perplexing. And come to think of that, the Doctor himself was perplexing. The man was a riddle, a seemingly insolvable one that lured you into thinking that you'd finally cracked it, but at the final puzzle you'd unlock another that would take just as long to crack. An impossible man.

But Leonardo Da Vinci enjoyed a good riddle, and he'd be damned if the Doctor remained a mystery to him.

'Doctor – '

'Aha! Got it!' The screwdriver had settled into a soft hum. 'Don't you worry, we'll get you fixed up in a jiffy,' He cooed softly to the TARDIS, and pressed the screwdriver against the broken crystal. A sound like tinkling glass rose up, and Leonardo watched in wonder as the material began to seal itself. He shook his head.

'This is beyond my knowledge of anything,' He murmured regretfully. The Doctor stopped in his mending and turned to Leonardo, looking at him with wide eyes. 'You're Leonardo Da Vinci!' He said. 'There isn't anything that's beyond you!'

'You keep saying that as though it means something,' Leonardo murmured.

'Why do you doubt your brilliance?' Ezio called out – the Doctor and Leonardo looked up at him as he lifted his wrist and clenched his fingers – his hidden blade slid out and shone like a beacon in the dark. 'Could any man of lesser wit have done this?'

Leonardo smiled at him as he retracted the blade again. 'It was a simple feat Ezio,' He murmured, looking back at the crystals as the Doctor looked back at him again. He touched the man on the shoulder, and Leonardo looked round.

'Listen to me.'

What followed first was something the Assassins at the console could make no sense of. It was a frenzied whispering of complicated, extraordinary things – Ezio frowned as he strained to listen. Even with his heightened senses, he couldn't make out even the barest bones; sometimes he heard numbers, alien words, but on the most part it was just gibberish to him.

'What are they saying, Maestro?' Giovanni whispered, hoping that the frown on Ezio's face was one of understanding.

'I can't make it out,' Ezio murmured in response. 'An equation, perhaps? It is nothing like I've ever heard before...'

He trailed off as Leonardo suddenly jumped to his feet and moved purposely from under the console to join the Assassins at the top. He shooed them all out of his way and took up a place in front of the console, looking fiercely determined. His outstretched hands hovered over the levers and buttons, and he nodded to himself.
'Ready when you are, Doctor!' He called over his shoulder.

There was a buzz from under the console as the Doctor finished repairing the crystal, and Leonardo jumped into action. He seized a lever and threw it down, reached for a dial and twisted it, threw up a two further levers, threw up the first again and then danced away with a yell of triumph as the TARDIS sprang back into life. The lights flickered on, illuminating the place, and the console's glass column ground into life again. He and the Assassins gaped in beauty at the noise and the movement, committing it to their minds in the form of a memory that would surely last the ages.

'Magnificio...' Ezio breathed. Leonardo grinned a little breathlessly.

'Quite,' he agreed, and they were left to ponder the wonder for a moment until the Doctor bounded back up and threw out his arms.

'You did it, Da Vinci! You did it!' The two men laughed and embraced briefly. 'You flew the TARDIS!'

'Only because you told me how, Doctor! Those equations, they made it so simple!' Leonardo gushed, beaming. 'I suppose, though, that even the most complicated of things are simple once broken down...'

'Not my TARDIS,' The Doctor corrected him, clapping him on the shoulder before taking up his rightful place at the console. 'Now...where shall we park?'

'The hideout?' Giovanni suggested.

'No, s'far too small, you haven't got the room – no offense.'

'None taken,' Ezio replied.

'Where, then?'

Everyone became silent for a moment as they thought quietly. And then:

'Perhaps Signore d'Alviano's barracks would be a suitable place?' Valentino suggested, surprising everyone. 'They have plenty of room, and I'm sure it would be well protected.'

'Now that's an idea,' Leonardo agreed. 'Doctor - ?' He was cut off as the TARDIS lurched into flight, stumbling forward and grabbing hold of the console's rim. Behind him, the other Assassins had been caught off guard too – Ezio had managed to stay upright, but Giovanni had yet to develop his reflexes to such a degree and tumbled straight into him with a yelp. Valentino stumbled with the movement and fell back onto the railing, which he gripped on to with a shaken expression.

'Perhaps a warning next time, Doctor?' Leonardo managed as Giovanni untangled himself from Ezio with an endless follow of apologies. The Doctor looked over his shoulder and grinned, unperturbed after swaying naturally with the TARDIS's movement.

'Oh you'll get used to it.'

The Barracks

Bartolomeo was snoring, and as much as she loved him, it was keeping Pantasilea awake. The grunts and snorts wouldn't let her sleep. She turned his arms and briefly considered pinching his nose so that the snores would stop, but his face was so composed and peaceful that she thought she'd let him be. He hadn't had a moment's peace since those damned French had started their assault, and he would have been out there with his men that very night if Pantasilea hadn't insisted he get at least one night's rest, for his sake as much as hers.

Perhaps she could put up with the snores.

She kissed him on the forehead. He grumbled in his sleep and his arms tightened around her. She smiled, and had just shut her eyes again when she heard the strangest sound from outside, in the barracks. It was a beautiful, alien noise, and it made something within her thrum. She sat upright as the noise became louder, and shook Bartolomeo frantically.

'Bartolomeo, wake up!'

'Mm? Wha'?' Bartolomeo stirred, blinking sleepily at her in the gloom.

'Do you hear it?'

'Hear what - ?' Pantasilea pressed her finger on his lips and held up her hand. Bartolomeo listened, a strange expression coming over his face.

'What the demone is that?' Bartolomeo growled, reaching for his shirt and Bianca the sword. Pantasilea had only just allowed the sword in the bedroom, Bartolomeo's love for it only just falling short of actually having the damn thing in bed with them, but right now she was glad for it. Bartolomeo stopped at their bedroom door when Pantasilea reached for her shawl.

'Stay here,' he said, but was glared at in return.

'You think I'm going to let you go out there by yourself? Uomo stupido.' She said, joining him after shrugging the shawl on.

'Donna maledetta,' Bartolomeo replied gruffly in turn, but reached for her hand and held it tightly as he opened the door and hurried outside. The cold night air hit them both as they stepped out into the dark, and were greeted with the strangest thing – a blue box materialising from thin air. With every wave of the beautiful noise it solidified more, until it finally came completely into being and stopped with a thunk. A door opened inwards, and a man with a bow around his neck peered out and waved.

'Bartolomeo! Hello!'

'Doctor!' Bartolomeo said. 'What the hell are you doing here?'

'We got my TARDIS working, look!' The Doctor stepped out and motioned to the box, the Assasssins and Leonardo stepping out behind him. He grinned at Bartolomeo. 'I hope you don't mind if we leave her here, do you?'

'No, I –'

'Great!' The Doctor bounded over to them, and shook his hand. 'And who's this?'

Bartolomeo opened his mouth to introduce Pantasilea, but he should have known better. She stepped forward and extended her hand to the Doctor.

'Pantasilea,' she said. 'His wife.'

The Doctor took her hand with a raised eyebrow. He could see the fierce glint in her eye as she gave him an appraising look, and he knew she was making a very accurate judgement of him. Here was a woman not to be trifled with. He shook her hand once. 'Charmed,' he replied, and smiled slightly. She returned it, and then took her hands from his, going past him to greet the Assassins and Leonardo. She kissed Leonardo on the cheek, allowed Ezio to kiss her hand and then tipped her head when Giovanni and Valentino murmured her name in greeting. As she stepped up to the TARDIS to inspect it, Bartolomeo grinned a little bashfully.

'She is my better half,' he confessed to the Doctor. 'I wouldn't be half the man I am without her.' He shook his head, smiling. 'I still don't understand why she is content with me, but I thank God everyday that she is mine.'

The Doctor clasped his hands behind his back. 'Love happens when it's least expected,' he reflected, and then smiled to himself. 'From the most unexpected people.'

'Mio Dio!'

The Doctor looked around as Pantasilea looked into the TARDIS. 'How is that possible?'

'We don't know ourselves, Madonna,' Leonardo said, grinning.

'So it is true!' Panatsilea called back to Bartolomeo as she walked back to him.

'You didn't believe me before?' Bartolomeo demanded a little gruffly.

'Of course I did, I just wondered if you had been drinking, is all,' she said kindly, patting him on the cheek. 'Well, now that I have confirmed it with my own eyes – '

'You are more than welcome to join us on this.' Ezio finished for her, smiling. She smiled back at him, and nodded.

'Thank you. Do you have transport back to the hideout?'

'We left our horses at the hillside. We'll go fetch them now.'

'Good,' Pantasilea looked at her husband. 'Back to bed?'

'To bed.'

The Assassins, Leonardo and the Doctor made their farewells and exited the barracks with a lit lantern. Bartolomeo and Pantasilea returned to their room. She shrugged off her shawl and draped it over the chair, sitting on their bed.

'That noise…' she murmured. 'I shall never forget it, as long as I live.'

And then, Bartolomeo sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her waist and kissing her neck. Her lips sought his, and for the next hour she forgot that the TARDIS had ever been there at all.

There is not enough love for Bartolomeo and Pantasilea. They're so adorable and so well matched and I have never shipped any two characters so hard in all my entire life. Ever.

I WILL GO DOWN WITH THIS SHIP.

If you would kindly review. ;D