The thick snow fell carpeting the city streets once more, it crunched under their feet and the flakes sparked on their dark hair. Emilia glanced over a Connor who was shivering slightly. She yanked out her shawl and handed it to him.

"I did ask if you were cold." She said. "You could use it as a scarf."

Connor looked at the shawl and took it. He wrapped it around him. "Thank you."

Emilia shrugged her shoulders, "It's alright. Besides I don't want you catching a cold before tomorrow."

"That would be unfortunate."

"Indeed it would be."

Connor asked, "Are we going to head back to the house?"

"Urm, no, we can keep wondering about the city."

Connor stopped causing her to stop and face him. "You cannot avoid what is happening."

"I kn-"

"Do you? Tom is ill and could possibly be dying. Being there might not cure him but it will help him to know that you care enough to help him through it."

Emilia paused scuffing her feet on the ground. "He knows I care about him." She paused for a moment, sighed and looked at Connor. "I don't want to watch him die. It's already happened to Halon, I don't- I can't face it again. He is like the brother I never had."

Connor looked her in the eye. "You might not be able to face it but at least be in the same building as him. He will feel that you have not given up on him."

"I haven't given up." She defended softly.

"Does he know that?"

Emilia stared at Connor, her face dropped a little, "I- I'm not sure... I'd like to think so." She spoke softly.

Connor stepped towards her, "Then let us return to house, let him know you have not given up."

Emilia nodded boldly and smiled a little. "Okay."

They walked back to house in silence. As they approached the house doctor Walton was leaving. "Doctor!" Emilia called, rushing up to him. "How is he?"

"Mr. Chilton has improved since my last visit, continue to give him the medication, he should be fine. I've also given him a tincture that will help treat the ailment; Miss and Mr Bishop know when to give it to him."

"So he's going to be okay?"

"If you keep giving him the medication, he should improve."

"Thank you, doctor." She said sincerely.

"It's no problem." He replied with a smile, and with that Walton left.

Connor glanced at Emilia. Her face brightened and he noticed her posture straightened. He could feel her radiate with happiness. That made him smile a little.

Emilia looked at Connor with twinkling eyes. "Thank you for telling me what I needed to know."

"You are welcome."

"Come on then, let's see him."

They strolled into the house and the whole place seemed to be brighter and happier. Jake greeted them when they entered. "Did everything go alright?" He asked.

"Like clockwork. And so did everything here by what I've been told."

Jake nodded, "I'm not getting to happy yet. When his fever has gone I will be happy."

"You and me both, Jake." Emilia said slapping Jake's arm. She and Connor headed for the stairs.

"Oh! Betty's gone out to fetch some groceries." Jake hollered spinning to face them.

Emilia held up a hand acknowledging Jake's words. "Ok!"

Connor and Emilia ambled up the flight of stairs before walking down the corridor to Tom's room. On the way Emilia told Connor that he wanted to introduce him to Tom even though he might not hear her. Connor felt satisfied that Emilia listened to his words and that she would stay until they needed to leave.

Emilia opened the door and the two stepped in. The smell of alcohol stung their noises and Tom's new medication sat on his bedside table. Connor finally got a better look at the ill man in the bed as he sat on a chair at the foot of the bed. Tom was in his early thirties with a stubbly, unshaven beard and understandably messy hair. He had a large burn scar on his stomach, it was fairly old judging by now faded the colour was. His laid on the bed with a bare chest and the sheets covering his lower body. His body and the bed were damp with his cold sweat from the fever. His entire body was pale.

Emilia sat beside the bed hold her carer's hand. "Hello, Tom. I'd like to apologise for not being around much of late... but you know how it is, you're a great friend and I can't bear to lose you." She cleared her throat. "Anyway, I'd like to introduce you to the Assass- well he's not one yet- to the apprentice who's going to help me." Emilia looked at Connor to introduce himself.

"My name is Connor and I am here to help Emilia with her assassination." He felt weird taking to someone who possibly couldn't hear him. "She has told me of the plan and I think it is good."

"We're acting tomorrow as discussed." She said. "We'll inform you of what transpired once it is over." Outside the sun set and darkness loomed over the city. The rising moonlight glinted off the crisp, fresh snow. "It's getting dark so we should head to bed. I'll speak with you before we leave."

Emilia kissed Tom's forehead and stood up. She lit a few candles and left the room with Connor. "So where is your room?" He asked as they were leaving.

"There." She pointed to the room opposite them. They stood outside the bedroom and Emilia opened the door.

The bedroom didn't look like it belonged to an adolescent girl. It had no signs that it had any personal touches to it, except one painting on the desk in front of him that had Emilia and her mother and father smiling in it. It sat by the window with shelves around the window frame. The double bed was against the wall to his left. He stopped. Emilia noticed what he was staring at and chuckled softly. Connor's eyes landed on the weapons beside the bed. Emilia owned a light cavalry sabre and an English flintlock pistol. A pair of daggers sat next to the pistol.

"All I need are my robes and the set is complete." She told him. She stepped past him and walked to the sword. She picked it up. "Fancy, huh? It's very good even though it looks a bit too big for me."

"I think it is fine." Connor said. She smiled.

Emilia put the sword down and gestured to the bed. "So how are we going to do this? Do you want the floor? The bed? Do you want to share?"

"It would make sense if we share." Connor said.

"Sharing it is." She replied.

They settled in for the night. Emilia warned Connor that she's a restless sleeper, Connor replied saying that it didn't bother him. They both dozed off as the moon peaked.