-This may be subject to be re-written.-

"Doesn't mean you go looking for trouble son. It means standing in the face of your fears and over-coming them. NOT to go out and cause trouble for people or risk getting hurt."

Connor held the little boy close as they walked home, lecturing to him about what it meant to really be brave, poor little Edward, he was just trying to be like his father. He never meant for anyone to get hurt or get in trouble, just prove he could be tough and brave just like Connor. But all it ended up doing was getting his friend Josh hurt with a dislocated shoulder and concussion and him with a black eye and wounded leg, stupid thugs! He would have had them, if they hadn't been so much bigger and stronger then him.

…

It had all started earlier that day when Matthew Bonny and his son, Josh, had stopped by the house to talk to Connor about a few things. One in particular about a horse thief that had been riding around their part of the state lately, the man had already shot and killed five people and injured three others. "Have you had any luck in finding them Matt?" Addie asked placing some lunch in front of men, "No, that's why I was hoping Connor would be able to help me. I know he's here in this state and I think he's out on the frontier, unfortunately I don't know the frontier very well and thought Connor would be of assistance." Matt explained, meanwhile the kids played in the kitchen, the girls pretending to cook some food and the two young boys listening in on their father's conversation, "Ya know Josh I bet we could catch him!" Edward said becoming excited by the idea of going on a bounty hunt, if there was ever anything more exciting to him it was going out on the frontier to hunt with his father, but even more so was catching a crook! "I am more then happy to assist if in catching this criminal and bringing him to justice. He shouldn't be allowed to walk free after having heard what he's done."

"I couldn't agree with you more Connor! Now then -"

"PAPA! We wanna go! We wanna help you catch the horse thief!" Edward bounded up begging his father to take him, Connor glanced down at his young son, who wasn't much older then four, looking at him as if he were touched in the head and Matt just laughed. "I appreciate the enthusiasm lads, but you're just too young." Matt explained, Josh moaned in disappointment but Edward, much like his mother, wasn't going to give up so easily. "But pa! I know the frontier just as well as you! Maybe even better!" he argued, Connor tried not to chuckle at this seeing as he knew his son was only making a false argument to go. "Really? Then where is the best place to hunt for fox?" Connor said testing the little boy's little knowledge of what he knew about the frontier, he stood for a moment wide eyed trying to think of the answer, he knew there was a good spot near the homestead he just couldn't remember where it was at. "Uuhhh… Over by the ridge?" he said sheepishly hoping he was right, his father crossed his arms and raised a brow at the little boy. "Really? Then perhaps you could explain why it is, your mother and I always warn you children to stay away from there." Connor said, Edward knew there was a spot around the homestead he was supposed to stay away from but he couldn't remember where. "Edward, the foxes are near the Farmer's fields, you stay away from the ridge because of the bears over by the ridge." the little boy shrunk his head back feeling a little ashamed. The father stroked his young son's hair to help ease his embarrassment, Edward crossed his arms on his father's lap and rested his head on his arms as Connor and Matt continued on with their discussion. "

But I can help too Rake:ni." Edward whimpered but Connor continued on with the conversation thinking he would talk to Edward in a few moments, unfortunately that wouldn't be an option as the little one climbed into his father's lap and fell asleep from his hair being stroked.

"Stubborn little thing isn't he?"

"Matthew, the boy is worse then his mother." Connor said still playing with the child's dirty blonde hair, he had a great deal of Kenway in him. From his little short bulldog nose like his great-grandfather to his father's eyes. His parents always joked he may as well have been the infamous Edward James Kenway returned from the grave, but too much of his personality screamed Connolly so, it alas it was not meant to be. And they were fine with that, "Be mindful of that one Connor, I've a feelin he's an ambitious little fella." Matt warned, Connor just took it in stride not really understanding why he had said such, funny how that sort of thing always comes to be clear later down the road.

"Well, I best be off. Meet me at the Miles Inn later tonight, we can discuss this further from there and then be off." then Matt and Josh were off, Connor meanwhile just relaxed in the dinning room with Edward in his lap, he watched as Edward slept thinking he was starting to get his pay back for the years he'd given his mother trouble all those times when he was young.

"Why can't I go pa?" he muttered sleepily,

"You know why son."

"But I'm small and fast, that dirty ol' horse thief couldn't catch me if he tried to." Edward argued, he looked up at his father with pleading brown eyes begging him. "You're mother already has a hard time letting me take you hunting, imagine how she would be if I took you on a bounty hunt?"

"But I'd make a great bounty hunter."

"Yes someday you would my son, but today is not that day." he said laying his head back, continuing to run his fingers through the little one's hair trying to get him to relax and take a nap though Edward begrudgingly refused as he fought the sleep that was overtaking him.

…

The day had come and gone and it was now twilight out, Myra, Meredith and Edward along with their mother watch as Connor left waving and hollering goodbye and to come home safe and sound, from the dinning room window. "Alright now my little ones, time for bed go on. Off with ya now." she said ushering the kids to bed.

Edward slipped out once his sisters had gone to sleep, he quietly crept down stairs and hide along the wall when he had found his mother hadn't gone to bed and was waiting up reading in the den and slipped out the front door quietly trying not to let the front door creek as he closed it and then took off towards the Inn.

'Knock, knock knock!'

Came a pounding at room four's door, little Josh had gotten up to see who it was knocking on the door at this hour just as he was about to doze off.

"Edward?! What are you doing here? You're gonna get us in trouble!" he said looking around outside of the room making sure nobody was around, "C'mon! We're gonna go help our dad's." Edward said practically dragging poor little Josh into one of his not-so-well-thought-out schemes.

"Did you even think this through?" Josh asked scolding him as the boy's got set up on the road that lead outside of the homestead, from what they could gather from their father's conversation he usually came in and out around this area. "No, but I figure if we can trip him up we can wrestle him down to the ground and you can run and get our dad's while I sit and hold him down." Edward explained and resulted in a frown from his friend, "You're going to get in trouble Edward!" "No I won't! Now come on, let's get to trackin!" he said enthusiastically and began tracking down the horse thief, unfortunately Edward's tracking abilities weren't as refined as his father's so they ended up trailing random hoof prints wondering the road for hours.

"Edward, I think we're lost. Maybe we should turn back." Josh said as the two kept going further and further on the trail, along the way the sky had decided to open up and the two were caught in the never ending down pour. "No, Josh I know how to do this. And I know where we're going so keep quiet and follow me." he said leading them down a fork in the road that lead to Lexington. "Edward, it's raining and I'm cold and tired can we try to find an Inn to stay at?"

"No, besides it won't be too much longer before we find him! And then we can show our dad's that we're just a brave and tough as they are and they'll have to let us go with them on the next bounty hunt!"

"But we've been wondering around for hours now!"

"We'll find his hide out soon."

"But Edward, how do you even know these tracks belong to them anyhow?!"

He pondered that for a moment, he just assumed the tracks belong to them never once taking into consideration that these may not belong to them. But the more he sat on the thought the more annoyed he became with both himself and Josh, Josh for bringing that fact up and himself for possibly being wrong.

"Just stop you're whining and let's get going already!" Josh had just about enough of Edward's attitude and shoved him into the mud, furious that his friend and dragged him from the safety of the Inn, getting him drenched and caught in the rain and now to top it all off they were lost! "This all your fault Edward!" Josh hollered as he threw the first blow at Edward's face and got him in the eye to which Edward responded by pulling him down onto the ground nearly dislocating his friend's shoulder, Josh followed up by punching the younger square in the nose. "Aow!" Edward hollered and Josh stopped for a moment, Edward was able to use the momentary cease fire to get up and tackle the other to ground and they were soon rolling around in the muck and mud.

Not far off some men were leading a small group of horses away from the town, "Ey Jack! What's goin on up ahead?" asked a scruffy looking man to a much younger man who was clean cut, Jack rode up a little ways to check it out as he didn't know what was going on and saw the boys fighting. "Looks like the bounty hunter's boys."

"No, just one of them is. The other's the son of that assassin half breed."

"Harold?" Jack asked unsure of what he was talking about, "Get the boys we'll hold them for ransom." Harold spoke as he gathered the horses and lead them away from any prying eyes and Jack did as he was told, the task was certainly an easy one as neither of the boys were paying attention. Josh had pushed Edward away from him and the two stood facing each other, as Jack approached silently behind Edward. Josh stood in horror watching as his friend was knocked unconscious, the little boy tried to make a run for it but Jack was a little too enthusiastic in his efforts and accidentally ran over the boy, but it still made catching the children easier nonetheless.

..

"CONNOR! CONNOR COME HERE HURRY!" Addie screamed as she saw Connor coming up the road, she rushed down to him not giving a chance to reach her. "Where is he?!" she said on the verge of a panic attack as she searched Connor as if he had something that was precious to her, "He who?"

"Damn it our son, Connor! Edward! Where in the hell is he?!"

His heart dropped to his stomach as she ushered those words, "Edward is not home?"

"No he isn't! I've gone n looked all over the neighborhood for him, Connor I dunno what else to do, I thought he was with Josh and when I went to the inn they said neither of them was there! Connor, I can't lose my baby!" She said nearly in tears, Connor took the hysterical woman into his arms and held her tightly. "Connor! Is- Oh god, what's happened?" Matt said rushing up to the manor and saw the mother crying, "The boys are gone and we have no idea where they went."

"Damn it man don't tell me that! JOSH! JOSHUAH BONNY!" Matt said rushing towards the house, "Addie, Addie look at me. I will find him, and I will bring him home." Connor said gently holding her head up, "Promise me you'll bring back my little boy." she begged, "I will I promise." he said kissing her and then caught up with Matt.

The men road up to the path that lead out of the village looking for signs that the two young boys had been there.

"Connor, any sign of them?!"

"They've been here alright, now it's all a matter of hoping they had not gotten too far." Connor pointed out the tracks in the mud that appeared to be small enough to fit young children

"Well, hopefully these tracks don't let up. Should be able to find them soon."

…

"Ya think they'll come? Some parents don't always care 'bout their youngin's." Jack asked getting the boys tied up, "He'll come, I always heard wolves sacrifice themselves when they have close bonds, and what's closer then a father to his pups." Harold said moving closer to Edward as he began to wake up and faced Harold, "I'm not scared of you!"

"Ya should be mate."

"I'm a trained killer! Like my papa!" Edward spat back, "Really? Then I suppose a trained killer, could take this!"

"AAH!" Edward cried as Harold stabbed the little boy in the leg and drug the knife down his thigh, Edward dug his nails into the palms of his hands as the man drove the knife deeper and further into his leg, hot tears rolled down his cheeks as pain shot through his leg.

"PAPA HELP! HE'S HURTING ME!" Edward cried as Harold chuckled at the boy's pain, "A trained kill'er eh? More like a boy who's trying to prove he's just as big n bad as his pa."

"I am -choke- am too!" he shot back, trying to fight the pain. "HA! Don't make me laugh boy! A trained killer could withstand pain and he wouldn't be cryin out for his pa!"

Edward sat trying not to whimper and cry but it was no use he was in too much pain and Harold knew he had the boy right where he wanted him. He knew if he could break this child he'd be able to get out of this without much of a fuss.

'BAM, BAM, BAM!'

Harold motioned Jack towards the door. "Yes?" Jack said and he soon found himself with a blade to his throat, "You have something of value to me and I want it back." it was Connor, his hood hiding his face making him look more menacing then he already was, he was already angry and ready to hurt someone if need be and with his size, Jack wanted no part of this, "He's -"

"PAPA!" Edward screamed after hearing his father's voice, "Shut up ya brat!" Harold hissed at him, "Maybe I outta beat ya bloody, that might make ya quiet like yer friend here."

"My pop will kill if you hurt me! Or my friend!"

Harold gave a demonic grin to the little boy as thought came to him, "Ya just gave me a great idea boy." he said and walked out dragging Josh out with him to see the others "Get outta here Jack! I wanna talk to the big fella for a second." and Jack did as he was told, "Connor's your name right? I got a deal to make with ya."

"I have no time to make deals, nor am I in the mood to do so. I know you have my son, now give him back to me."

"Then let me go free in exchange for his life." Connor was ready to just plunge his hidden blade in the man, take his son and be done with all this mess!

"Pop…" moaned a small voice, "Josh!" Harold threw Josh at Matt's feet and he scooped him up but Jack pulled back on the boy, "Jack, get that mouthy little blonde boy!" Harold demanded and he soon appeared dragging Edward out of the back. Connor's heart sank seeing the shape his son was in, the large long gash in his leg dripping with blood and his eye throbbing from being punched, he wanted to scoop the little boy up and take him home. "POP!" Edward cried reaching for Connor, "Let'em go Jack."

"What?"

"Just do it."

Bewildered Jack let him go and Edward staggered towards Connor, but before could reach the safety of his father's grasp he grabbed the boy's shirt and pulled him back. "Not so fast mate." He said as he pulled back on Edward's shirt using it to choke him. "Give me the boy!"

"As I said before, my freedom for his life." He was torn, on the one hand Connor wanted to beat the living shit out of him for harming his son, the other just wanted to agree to the deal and take Edward, hold him close and leave. "What'll it be, the death of your only son…Or the money on my head!"

Connor's jaw tightened nearly breaking his teeth, his son watched the scene play out with fear flowing through his body and nearly on the verge of tears. "Papa! Help me!" he hollered, Harold viciously smacked Edward in the head nearly cracking his skull. "Shut up brat!" Harold demanded, Edward doubled over whimpering and shaking. "Papa, I'm scared. Do something please." Edward begged, all he wanted at this point was for his father to scoop him up in his arms and say that everything would be okay and take him back the warm sanctity of their home.

"Fine." Connor said, sheathing his blade and loosening his hold on his gun. "A wise choice, here! Take your lil half breed runt and get ou-"

POW!

Connor threw his arms up to block his face as the sound of a gun being fired cracked the air, his stomach tied itself in knots fearing the worst. "I never liked him anyway. Take your son, go home. I'll ride back with Matt and he can turn me in." Jack said pulling Harold off the little boy and handing him to Connor. "DAD!" Edward reached out for his father and he quickly scooped him up holding him close.

…

Now the two walked in silence, Edward resting cradled in Connor's arms and Connor trying to contain his anger. "Pop… I-"

"You could have been killed!"

"I'm sorry… I just –"

"And you put not yourself but Joshua in danger as well! What were you thinking!?"

"I was trying to prove I could catch him! That… I was as brave and strong as you are!" Edward explained nearly in tears shrinking in his father's arm afraid of his anger and disappointment, Connor held the little boy tighter in his arms. "Edward, do you know what it means to be brave?"

"To not show fear?"

"it means to face whatever scares you the most. Even if you don't want to." He rested his head on Connor's chest letting those words sink in, if that's what bravery was, then what was it he had shown? "Papa…I thought I was being brave."

"Reckless, son. You were being reckless, and that causes you nothing but trouble."

"How can I not be reckless?"

"You will have to train and practice restraint, and you must listen when someone tells you to do something." Connor explained, "Then I will train and become just like you papa!" Edward declared, Connor chuckled feeling proud hearing that from his son. "You will my son, one day you will. But for now let's get you home and your wounds tended to, besides your mother will be happy to see you."

"I missed mama." He said, and soon found himself drifting off to sleep in safety of his father's arms.