Ever since Connor succeeded in his goals to stop the Templars from taking over the new world, he has been busy recruiting more Assassins and training them to be the best. I myself, his wife and best friend, am an Assassin, though I don't do much of the teaching. I kept the books, kept the house in order, and organized Connor's dealings. He relied on me a lot more now that Achilles wasn't here. And I didn't mind. Though I did miss the fighting and the strength exercises. I always woke before everyone else, usually when Connor was away, and would head to the training center for my morning exercises. Being from the future had its advantages. I had more advanced fighting styles than the rest of the Assassins. And though Connor valued my abilities, he thought them too unfamiliar and a trail as to what the Precursors were doing. And today was one of the rare days that Connor woke up with me. I kept an eye on him as he did his stretches and practiced with his tomahawk, while I did my yoga and strength training. He was quiet, as usual, and I didn't think much of it. I balanced myself on my arms, twisting my legs through my limbs and taking deep and even breaths.
"How do you bend like that?" he asked, coming over to me, shirtless and sweating slightly.
"Intense practice and years of hard work. Much like you are insanely strong. I just focused my abilities on getting out of situations without using blunt force. Besides, it makes martial arts that much easier to use," I said, glancing up at him from my pretzel position.
"It is unusual," he chuckled, watching intently as I slipped my legs out from under me, not touching the floor until I was ready to stand.
"Yes, but highly effective. Do you have any idea how many fighting styles I even know?" I asked, giving him a bright smile.
"No. I only know of the four Achilles taught me," he said, looping an arm over my shoulders and walking me over to the drinking bucket.
"I know of one hundred and twenty eight different fighting styles. Each one equally devastating. I've spent the first twenty years of my life training," I said, watching in amusement as his eyes went wide and shock came clear on his features.
"Then how do I win when we spar?" he asked, frowning.
"Because I love you and I don't want to hurt your pride. I am fine with losing to you," I said, kissing him before he could pull away.
"So you just let me win?" he growled, glaring down at me, "I've given you bruises for nothing?!"
"Ratonhnhake:ton, they weren't for nothing. It keeps my body used to being sore and in pain. I must stay acclimated to our lifestyle or I will grow slow and fat," I laughed, grabbing his chin and forcing him to look at me.
"Spar with me. For real this time," he growled, pulling away and heading to the Japanese styled mats I had shipped from Japan.
"Just don't get mad at me," I said, feeling unease.
Connor was competitive, and I didn't want to hurt his ego. I took a tai chi stance and waited for him to move. He came at me like I knew he would, full force and in from the front. I dodged everything he threw at me, bending and twisting, lifting my legs when he would swipe at them to get me to fall. I could tell he was getting frustrated and backed off a bit, giving him some space.
"Connor. I do not want you to be angry. I didn't mean to hurt you with letting you win," I said as I dodged, watching his expressions as we went.
"It isn't that, Ashley. It is the fact that you never told me what you were capable of," he growled, rushing forward to tackle me.
I spun and hooked his leg in my arm, effectively flipping him onto his back and I cranked his leg behind me, trapping him on the mat.
"I felt that if I had told you, you would have hated me. You are a proud and amazing man, Connor. I didn't want what knowledge I had to ruin what we had created together. It would have killed me," I said quietly, letting him go and stepping back as he came to his feet, "It wouldn't have been the first time either. The last person I told of my abilities hated me. I lost my friend, and my family because of it."
His expression softened and his muscles relaxed. I turned from him to gather my emotions, not wanting him to see me struggle. I hadn't told anyone since the Templars killed my parents, all because I defeated their best fighters in a tournament, not knowing that the Assassin bracelet I always wore from my father would get them killed. I was punished for my success by their death. I shook out my arms and turned to face him, he was as calm and stoic as usual and I took in a deep breath.
"Again?" I asked, giving him a small smile.
"I believe the others want to try," he said, smiling back at me, pointing to the group of eight Assassins gathered at the door.
They all had grins on their faces and I let out a sigh.
"Nine on one?" I asked, giving them a challenging grin.
They all approached, including Connor and I took a Muay Tai stance. The first two came at me in a standard team attack, and I easily blocked them just as the next team of two came at me. I kicked them out of the way and then bent backwards as the next team of two went for a double punch. Connor tried to kick my feet out from under me but I flipped out of the way. For thirty minutes they couldn't touch me, until I started kicking their butts and knocking them out of the ring, which we all knew meant they were out of the fight. Until it was just Connor and me left. I saved him for last and smirked at him as he panted at me while I was calm and composed. He threw punches and swiped his legs, all of which I dodged with ease. And once I was close enough, I kicked his feet out from under him and pinned him in an arm bar. He tapped out like I taught him in sparring and I let him go. The other Assassins clapped and cheered, clearly surprised that I could beat Connor, who still remained undefeated by the other Assassins. I hauled Connor to his feet and he wrapped me up in a hug.
"I had no idea of your abilities, and I put you in the house, doing trivial things," he growled, giving my forehead a kiss.
"I do not mind, keeps me close to you so I can yell when you spend money when you shouldn't," I laughed, making him and everyone else laugh too.
"That it does. Come now, it is time for breakfast," he laughed, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and heading for the Inn for some food.
Connor and I ate in peace and quiet for once and we couldn't stop smiling for the rest of the day.
FOUR MONTHS LATER...
Connor had actually brought me on a mission to take down a fort, and for the first time in a long time I got to fight with him. We were taking down every guard we saw and I couldn't stop the smile on my face. I would throw random objects within reach when a guard would gather more to gang up on us and Connor would laugh at the ridiculous expressions of surprise and shock on their faces. Once the fort was ours he came to stand beside me, panting softly and a grin on his face. He hardly grinned and it was nice to see him at ease.
"You fought well today, Ashley. Glad to stretch your legs?" he asked, heading for the exit.
I followed close by and chuckled.
"Yes. It was nice to move around again. But it was even better to fight with you, instead of knocking you down all the time," I laughed, making him chuckle.
"You are a worthy opponent to lose to. Not to mention I could learn from your skills. As could the rest of the Assassins. Care to be a teacher for a while?" he asked, looking down at me as we came over to our horses.
"It would be my pleasure. And much easier on me know that I am eating for two," I said, dropping the hint that I was pregnant.
I giggled when he froze, and when his head whipped around and looked at me I nodded my head excitedly.
"I'm a father?" he asked, swaying on his feet slightly.
"You are indeed a father, Ratonhnhake:ton," I laughed, holding out my arms for him to hug me.
He swept me up into his arms, spinning me around in several circles and laughed with me. He had never seemed so happy, and to think that I was the cause was humbling. Once I was placed on my feet I pulled him into a kiss and when we pulled back to breath he looked down at me in awe.
"You are an amazing woman," he whispered, holding me close.
"And you are an amazing man. And you will be an amazing father. Now, how about some lunch? I'm starving," I laughed, cupping his face in my hands and looking around for a tavern.
"Of course, mustn't let the little one go hungry," he laughed, keeping a hand on my lower back and guiding me over to the nearest tavern.