It was getting later in the afternoon when Ezio and I got back to the mansion. While we went to pass the small door that Ezio had come out of that morning, I saw Federico leaning against the wall. He grinned when we walked up to him.

"Ezio, I think father wants you to run some errands. He asked me to send you to him." Ezio said thanks and nodded to me in good-bye. Then he disappeared into what I now realized was Giovanni's office.

Federico sauntered up to me once Ezio was gone.

"Alright Cara mia, I believe I was promised a walk." I was going to argue that I hadn't said one way or the other, but I swallowed the urge.

"Sure."

Soon we were arm and arm walking down the street. It looked like a kind of market; there were stalls and booths every-where. While we were walking we passed some girls in rich looking gowns. On of them cried out "Ciao Federico!" She gave him a flirtatious smile. He nodded back politely but kept walking. I felt a little smug, but at the same time wishing I'd put on the gown Annette had left me. Maybe I'd have been as pretty as that girl was. Something caught my eye, it was a jewelry stand.

"Could I look around here a moment?" I asked my companion.

"Of course." I scanned the stand with a girlish eye. My gaze kept returning to a certain necklace. It was a simple gold chain with a beaten gold rose pendant. I was simple, but very beautiful. Federico must have caught my gaze.

"If you like the necklace so much, I'll buy it for you.' The offer made me pause. I really wanted it, and he was offering.

"No Federico, it's fine." He mad a tutting sound as I began walking away.

"Why not," He asked "Pretty girls want pretty things."

"No Federico I don't want you spending money on me." He sighed and looked up. Then he looked back at me with a grin slowly spreading on his face.

"Follow me I have a place I want to show you." Then he ran off and ducked into an alleyway. When I caught up to him he looked like he was seizing up the wall.

"I guess that you don't know a lot about scaling walls. Eh?" I looked up at the huge wall in comparison to my small stature.

"Ah, no way." Federico chuckled at me and my scared face.

"Well then you'll just have to ride on my back.' He said it with such a wolfish grin that I put my hands on my hips.

"Excuse me?" I asked with some attitude. Now Federico laughed, long, and loud.

"Dispace Cara. I'll be a perfect gentleman." With that he turned around and held out his arms. I rolled my eyes and walked up to. He had to be at least a foot taller then me. So I had to leap to wrap my arms around his neck. As I dangled there Federico gripped my legs and pulled them up. So I was on him piggy back style, my legs around his waist.

"Better hold on tight Bella." I was going to retort something witty, and clever, but he took of at a run and leapt to the wall. As he was scaling the wall I happened to look down, bad idea. Because of my fright I kind of let out a half-shriek that was stifled as I pressed my face into Federico's doublet. I felt Federico chuckle through his back and my cheeks went red.

"It's alright Cara. I won't let you fall." He tone was soothing, but I still tightened my grip on him.

"It's not you I'm worried about." I replied in a quiet voice. I shouldn't have been so worried it wasn't long before we were on the roof. Now that I looked where we were, I saw we were on a church roof. Federico patted my hands to tell me to let go. Carefully I slid off of his back; I didn't want to loose my footing on the loose tiles.

"Follow me." Federico called as he started walking ahead. I watched as he climbed the top spear of the church's architecture. It was that big a climb and I could see where he'd found his foot and hand holds. So I was able to follow him easily. Federico gave me a hand up on the last bit, and I stooped down to get my breath.

"Look Cara." I heard Federico say softly. I straightened up to look, and it was incredible. You could see the whole city from where we were perched. It was twilight, the new moonshine sparkling of the river. In a simple word the view was spectacular.

"Thanks Federico." I heard myself say breathlessly, "This was defiantly worth the climb." Federico laughed a little and put an arm around my shoulder, which I was grateful for. Now that the sun had gone down it was getting cold fast.

"I've only showed this place to Ezio." He told me quietly

"This must be nice, living like this, having this amazing city." I said leaning into Federico's side. Maybe I was having girlish fantasies but I swear his grip around me tightened.

"Si bella, it is the best life." I wish we'd both known how short the "best life" could be.

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