I decided to make these oneshots updated once or twice a week and I'm not going to write a lengthy author's note...so yuuuh...I feel that I sucked horribly on the last one, so I decided to take a break from the past and go to the future. (wait...does that count as the past or the present? Okay, so Altaïr and Maria existed 9 centuries ago, so any time there would be the past for us, but the moment they got together, would be their present onward and future is fast-forward and the cake is a lie even though I'm eating it...Ugh, time is such a complex scientific equation -.-). Plus, I like my OC kids =D they're adorable when curious!

Here we go!

Haytham walked rather slowly through the magnificent halls of the Assassin fortress, still pondering over last night's events when he and his siblings saw their parents doing...something they no where near understood what exactly.

Just a few minutes after they climbed into their beds, refusing to fall asleep, Zarif and Zahara turned to him and asked, "What were Mommy and Daddy doing, Haytham?"

Haytham, of course, did not have an answer. After all, he was looked up to by his siblings because he was the first born and therefore, in their eyes, had all the answers to life's questions other than their father. But that question was completely out of his reach to allow his mind to comprehend.

So that's why he decided to confront his parents.

Or at least his father...mother would punish him indefinitely for sneaking out past bedtime and 'practicing' his Assassin skills.

Calmly making his way to the study Altaïr takes refuge in every day, Haytham began to grow nervous. The very thought of asking his father the many questions on his mind was incredibly overwhelming. But his curiosity would not be satisfied with just simple pondering and fantasies. He needed to know.

Summoning up courage, he began to climb the steps toward the Grandmaster's study, the guards paying him much attention. They never saw their Master's eldest child act so calm before, and they began to grow worried about whatever was on the child's mind.

He stood in front of the desk, staring at his aging father who, at first, seemed oblivious to his son's presence and more focused on writing the parchment in front of him. Haytham cleared his throat, trying to break the silent tension in the back of his throat to speak, when Altaïr finally let his deep voice rise and break the silence, "What is it, Haytham?"

To call a child by name was something uncommon amongst the other Assassin families. Haytham was told many times over by his friends that he was lucky to have such loving parents; parents who showed their love to him and to take his ideas into consideration. To hear his name spoken so lovingly but firmly made Haytham suddenly forget why he came in the first place. He cleared his throat again, trying to regain his voice. "Can I speak to you alone, Father?"

Altaïr raised his head slightly from the canvas, hand poised over the inkwell. Why would Haytham request to be alone with him? Must be serious... "And why can we not speak here, my son?"

"It's...kinda important...and I don't want anyone else to hear it..."

Altaïr sighed and stood up from his chair. Placing a hand against Haytham's back and gently pushing him forward, they descended the staircase and headed towards the gardens.

Thankfully, the garden was empty of residents, allowing Haytham to relax slightly knowing that no one would intrude upon him.

They sat down on a bench underneath the shade of a blossoming tree, taking a moment to admire nature's beautiful rebirth from winter. Altaïr then spoke, his voice full of confidence and fatherly love, "What is on your mind, Haytham?"

Haytham squirmed uncomfortably on the stone bench, predicting what the thunder will be like once he asks Altaïr. How did the bench become so hard and bothersome all of a sudden? Taking a deep breath, he looked away from his father, pretending to focus his attention on a flower sprouting beneath his feet. "I was umm...practicing my skills of sneaking last night...and uh...I saw you and mother..." He shuffled his feet, choking them around the flower and pulling it out the ground to distract himself from the blushing of his cheeks, "what were you two...uh...doing?" Little did he know that his father suddenly turned red with embarrassment.

Altaïr sighed, pinching the skin between his eyes as he leaned forward, trying to think of an answer. He expected his children to one day grow curious on this subject, but never expected it to be brought up in this matter. Altaïr, being completely unprepared, was absolutely tongue-tied on how he would respond to his son.

Haytham was growing more impatient and distressed with his father's silence. He expected to be punished for sneaking out so late, but it seemed that there was more to the question than he originally thought. Was it really so difficult for his father to answer?

At last, Altaïr spoke, "Haytham...you still have a lot of growing up to do. I cannot simply answer your question because you're too young to understand..."

Haytham huffed, staring up at his father with his trade-marked look of defiance and arrogance he inherited from both parents, "But, Father, Zarif and Zahara want to know too, and I don't know how to answer them if I don't know anything myself!"

Altaïr's eyes bulged out of his head upon hearing this new information. "Zarif and Zahara were with you, too?" Haytham nodded in affirmation. His other children saw the act as well? Shit... "Son, I wanted to wait until you were old enough to tell you about love, but I guess there's no more running away for me..."

"What do you mean, Father?"

Altaïr took a deep, shaky breath before continuing, "You see, Haytham...when a man and woman meet one another, and both have...strong feelings towards the other..." he paused, and put in sharply, "and keep in mind; every living creature does this sort of thing as well." Altaïr resumed at a very slow pace, not wanting to frighten or confuse his son by telling him how living organisms reproduce, "They...er...as what our ancestors say, join flesh."

Haytham was silent for a few moments, making Altaïr extremely nervous and worried. Then, the young ten year old spoke, "So...you and Mother were...joining flesh? I don't really understand what it means..."

Altaïr tousled his hair in slight frustration at Haytham's curiosity. He was hoping a distraction would arrive soon...he didn't care if it would be temporary and only lasting a minute. He needed to get away from his son and draw up a reasonable answer. But no; no such miracles would occur for him...Allah, he couldn't breathe with his son's stare locked on his face, waiting for him to speak...

Altaïr bit the inside of his cheek as he spoke, "You see...joining flesh is...a beautiful thing, Haytham...but only adults can perform it, children cannot."

"But, Father...how can something 'beautiful' be like that? It looked and sounded like Mother was in a lot of pain..."

Altaïr sighed. He had enough of this discussion and he needed to consult Maria to tell her of the unfortunate news, "Haytham, I think we should leave this question alone for the time being. I cannot simply go into detail without speaking to Maria first." Haytham gulped at hearing his mother's name, knowing she will most certainly punish him for sneaking out AND making his siblings watch their parents 'join flesh'.

Altaïr stood up, motioning for his son to do the same. They walked through the gardens and returned to the library, where Altaïr sat back in his chair and returned to his writing, a clear dismissal directed towards Haytham. Once he was sure Haytham had left, Altaïr leaned back in his chair, letting a gust of air blow from between his lips. That was by far the most awkward conversation he ever faced...

TEEHEE! I love picking the most awkward moments XD I think those are some of my best writings for these two...

This crossed my mind after I finished uploading the last oneshot (I apologize for the crappiness of that one) and then I went back to Sneaking. The last line I wrote in it kinda made my gears working as I thought, "I wonder how the 'Birds and the Bees' discussion went..." and this happened =D Sorry it's so short...

I couldn't stop giggling while I was writing this, what do you think? Review!