Disclaimer: If I owned Assassin's Creed, Animus Woman wouldn't be there.
The stranger knelt down and lightly patted her cheek.
"Cat." patpatpat "Cat." patpatpat "Cat." slap "Catherine!"
She jolted up and grabbed the stranger's collar.
"You left the girls alone? Who's gonna look after them, and who's gonna make sure Miley doesn't burn down the house and what are they gonna do?"
"Wow, Cat, I'm flattered that you're so worried about me." The stranger stood up and put a hand to his hip. He pushed it to the side and there was a loud cracking noise. He grunted. "But I'm okay…"
"We're here, Cat." A small voice said from behind Ezio and Leonardo. Two girls were standing by the sofa. Catherine rushed to them, knocking Leonardo to the floor again.
"Are you hurt? Did you break anything?" Catherine felt the girls' arms for any harm.
"We're fine." The taller one said annoyed. "Derek kicked the console." She pointed at the boy who was looking around.
"I was nervous!" he argued.
Ezio cleared his throat.
"Who are these?" he asked.
"Are these your siblings?" Leonardo looked at the two girls.
"Yes. I'm really sorry, Leonardo, I'll find a job and I'll leave as soon as I can, I don't want to be a burden for you." Catherine sighed.
"By all means, stay here." Leonardo smiled.
"But…"
"You are welcome here until you find a way to go back."
"Leo…"
"I insist."
Catherine sighed and hung her head.
"Thank you Leo."
Leonardo smiled and looked at the smallest girl, holding a pink rabbit toy. She had shoulder length strawberry blond hair and blue-green eyes. She was hiding behind Catherine.
"Hello little lady" he crouched down to her eye level. She hid her face in Catherine's dress.
"Say hello to Leo, Anny." Catherine stroked her head. The girl shook her head.
"Is this where we're staying?" the other girl interrupted. She had short dark blond hair, but the same eyes as the small one.
"Miley, don't be rude." Catherine hissed.
"Yes it is." Leonardo laughed. "But I'm afraid you'll have to sleep with your sister, I have no more rooms."
"Better than sleeping with the bear." Miley muttered.
"Bear?" Ezio asked.
"She means me." The boy frowned. "I'm Derek." He held out his hand to Ezio, who shook it.
"Ezio." He said. "Why 'bear'?"
"Because he's big." The girl said.
Ezio and Leonardo laughed. Derek was actually pretty short, only taller than Catherine, but still shorter than Leonardo.
"This is Miley." Catherine pointed to the older girl. "And this is Annabelle." She put her hand on the small head.
"Cat, I'm hungry." Miley said. She looked around.
"Stop being rude, I'm making lunch."
Catherine went to the kitchen, the two girls and Ezio following her. Leonardo looked at Derek, who had been quiet these last few moments. He was looking in awe at the same picture Catherine had discovered. Leonardo decided he would colour it with oil paint, so it would look more realistic. It wasn't even close to a finish, but Derek had the same expression as Catherine.
"Your sister liked it too." Leonardo stepped next to him and looked at the picture, deciding on the next colors.
"It's beautiful." Derek croaked out.
"Thank you. Do you paint?" Leonardo asked.
"No. but I know how to draw."
"Really? What do you like to draw most?" Leonardo held a piece of paper and a bit of coal to Derek.
Derek took it hesitantly and looked over his shoulder to the kitchen door.
"Catherine, when she's distracted." He said as he started to sketch. "Ever since mom and dad died, she's been so serious. She works 'till late and she cooks and cleans and looks after the girls, she's not the happy sister I once knew. When she thinks no one is looking, then she goes back to who she used to be. The only one she is comfortable with being herself is Annabelle."
Derek showed his sketch to Leonardo. It showed Catherine with her back turned facing the kitchen counter, but looking down to her left, where Annabelle was holding a handful of her dress in her left hand, and her bunny with her right. By Annabelle's feet, the little kitty was sitting on the floor, its tail spread behind it, also looking up at Catherine. Catherine had a smile on her lips, and Annabelle was looking questioningly at her. The sketch was quick, but the contrast between strong and faint lines of coal, and where Derek smudged it with his finger gave it a certain charm and depth.
"It's really good." Leonardo looked up to find Catherine and Annabelle there by the counter. The kitty was now playing with its cork, and Ezio's leg could be seen from behind the door. Leonardo assumed he was sitting by the table. Miley's voice could be heard arguing with Ezio. He smudged a little more here and drew a little more there. Soon, his imagination had removed the wall from the picture, so it now showed Ezio slouched on a chair, his back turned, and what he remembered of Miley kneeling on an opposite chair, reaching out to Ezio. Leonardo held the picture at arm's length.
"It's good." Derek looked at it. "May I ask a favor?"
"Of course." Leonardo put the picture away and looked at Derek.
"Can I be your apprentice?" He asked.
Leonardo was taken aback. He never had an apprentice before, he didn't know if he would be able to teach. But the young man had talent.
"I'm not sure I have the qualities to teach someone." He said.
"I know you do. You're a great artist."
"Alright. You're going to be my first apprentice."
"Thank you so much" Derek smiled widely. Leonardo laughed and admired the handsome features of his new student.
Catherine entered the kitchen with a little difficulty. Annabelle was holding her dress so tight, there was barely room for her legs to move. Catherine missed pants.
"Anny, I can't walk." Catherine picked the small girl up and put her in a chair. She went to the counter to finish making the meat. She felt a tug on her skirt. She looked down to the left and saw Anny looking up at her with those big eyes. She smiled.
"Don't you want to play with your bunny?" Catherine asked. The small girl shook her head furiously, her hair falling to her face. "I'm making lunch, sweetie, I can't play now."
Annabelle let go of her skirt, but followed Catherine around the kitchen as she moved to the cupboards and drawers.
"Why is she so shy?" Ezio asked Catherine as he sat in his usual spot where he could see the window and the door, and wasn't backed up in a corner.
"She's shy like that around other people." Miley kneeled on the chair opposite him.
"Sit up straight." Catherine scolded her. Miley did. As soon as Catherine turned her back to them, she knelt again.
'Brat' Ezio thought.
"Why do you have so many knives in your belt?" Miley asked.
Ezio looked over to Catherine. She shrugged at him.
"I kill people by throwing knives at them."
"Can I try?" Miley reached towards his belt.
"NO." Both Ezio and Catherine said.
"Cat, he's probably more irresponsible than you say I am, and he can throw them." Miley argued.
"Hey! I'm not irresponsible you little brat!" Ezio pounded his fist on the table.
"And I'm not a brat!" Miley pounded her much smaller fist too, making a much less impressive noise.
As they kept arguing, Catherine ignored them. Annabelle wasn't so nervous anymore, she was playing on the floor next to Catherine with her pink bunny. Leonardo (the cat) kept pouncing on the bunny and biting its ears. Annabelle would push him off with a soft 'go away' and continue to play with her toy.
Catherine drained the wine from the steaks into a pan and put it to boil with the herbs that were on the meat. She cut the steaks in half, since now there were six of them, and put them on a frying pan with some olive oil. They started sizzling softly. She cut some vegetables the size of bites and put them in the pot with the wine and the herbs. As she waited for the meal to get ready, she watched Annabelle play. A soft smile graced her lips.
She looked up when she heard laughter coming from the living room. Derek and Leonardo entered the kitchen. Derek went to Catherine and showed her a picture. She looked at it for a long time, then smiled at Derek.
"It's really good." Catherine said.
"Leonardo helped me." He argued.
"Cat, can I see too?" Annabelle said, tugging Catherine's dress. Her voice was quiet, and had the same high pitched quality of a small girl.
"I wanna see!" Miley jumped from her chair and ran to Catherine, yanking the picture from her.
"You know your sister is way more polite than you are, right?" Ezio scowled at Miley.
"Bite me." Miley muttered.
"Language." Catherine took the picture from her and crouched down to Annabelle to show her.
"Is that you?" She pointed and Catherine nodded. "And me?" Catherine nodded again. Annabelle took the picture in her small hands and walked shyly to Leonardo. She shuffled on her feet, looking nervous. Leonardo smiled at her. She held the picture up to him.
"It's pretty." She said.
"I'm glad you like it." Leonardo laughed as he took the picture from her.
She ran back to Catherine and hid behind her. Catherine smiled and put half a steak on each of the six plates, then a helping of vegetables with the wine and herb sauce. Leonardo stood up to help her with the plates.
"Thanks, Leo." Catherine said. She put a plate in front of Miley, one next to her, and another one next to that one. She picked Annabelle up and seated her next to Miley, who was wolfing down her steak.
"When was the last time you ate?" Ezio asked Miley.
"Catherine made pasta." She said with her mouth full.
"You haven't made anything since I left?" Catherine glared at Derek.
"We were looking for you!" He defended himself.
Catherine sighed and started to cut her steak in small pieces. Then she switched plates with Annabelle and gave her a spoon.
"It's really good, Cat." Leonardo said between mouthfuls.
"Cat makes the bestest food." Annabelle said shyly.
"Thank you, sweetie!" Catherine cooed at her.
"You're welcome." Leonardo said. Everyone laughed.
Catherine saw Ezio cut a piece of the steak and put it into his mouth. He chewed. He looked up from his plate to Catherine.
"This is so good." He said. Soon Catherine could not tell who had the least manners on the table, Miley or Ezio.
"Meow." Catherine looked down. Leonardo was looking at her with those big kitty eyes. "Meow?"
Catherine cut a tiny piece of her steak and patted her lap. The cat leapt up on it and started purring. She smiled and held the little piece of steak to it. He ate the meat and licked her fingers greedily.
"You're not supposed to give him that!" Annabelle whispered behind her hand to Catherine, even though the whole table could hear her.
"Why not?" Catherine whispered loudly back.
"Kitties only drink milk, Cat!" Annabelle held her petite finger up as if scolding Catherine.
"Right, I forgot." Catherine said. "You want some milk, Leo?"
"Meow."
Catherine stood up and filled a small bowl with milk. She put it on the floor next to the sink, and the kitty ran to it.
After everyone was finished with their meals (including the kitty), Catherine washed the dishes and Miley dried and put them away. Ezio had followed Leonardo to his workshop and Derek was looking through some sketches. Annabelle was also in the living room playing with the kitty.
"Cat." Leonardo came in the kitchen. "Come look at this."
Catherine followed Leonardo into the workshop. Annabelle was on the couch, curled around the kitty, using her toy as a pillow.
"It's her naptime." Catherine smiled. "I'll take her upstairs so she doesn't bother you." She picked Annabelle up and went to her room. Miley was rummaging in her closet.
"What am I going to wear?" she asked.
"Shh, Anny's asleep. We'll go out and buy you something later." Catherine put Annabelle on the bed and pulled her little shoes off. She brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face and tucked her in.
"You take such good care of them." Ezio said.
Catherine jumped and glared at Ezio.
"Stop creeping up on me." She hissed.
"I heard him…" Miley said smugly.
"Maybe you should ask him to train you to be an assassin too." Catherine shooed them out of the room.
"Can I Cat, oh, please Cat?"
Catherine looked at Ezio for support.
"I don't mind. As long as she doesn't get in the way of my work…" Ezio shrugged. Catherine looked incredulous.
"See? Oh Cat, pleeeeeeease!" Miley grabbed her dress and practically dragged her down.
"Are you nuts? Of course not!!!" Catherine pried her dress from Miley's hands and went outside to retrieve the dry herbs. Miley stomped away to the living room. Ezio followed Catherine.
"You prefer to have her bored and pestering you than to put her in my care, where she will learn to defend herself?" Ezio said to her back.
"I don't want her hurt." Catherine scooped the herbs in a small jar and closed the lid tightly.
"She won't be if she knows how to defend herself…" Ezio held her arm so she wouldn't walk away.
"Why are you insisting? You don't look like the type to like kids." Catherine narrowed her eyes at him.
"I don't."
Catherine raised an eyebrow.
"Look." Ezio sighed and turned her around so she would face him. "I just want to do something for you."
"Why?" Catherine was suspicious.
"You've been good to us. And both Leonardo and I don't think you're a threat."
"I'm flattered."
"That's not what I meant." Ezio groaned.
Catherine sighed and went back to the kitchen with Ezio in tow.
"Fine." She put the jar away. "But if I see so much as a scratch on her, it's your hide."
"Yes, ma'am" Ezio grinned.
"Get out of here!" Catherine pushed him out of the kitchen.
"Brat!" Ezio called, entering the workshop.
"I'm not a brat!" She called back.
"Cat said you could train…" Ezio smirked at her.
Miley's eyes widened.
"Really?"
"But I don't think I want to train you, you're too much of a brat…" Ezio turned to leave for the garden.
"I'll be good, I promise!" Miley ran after him until they were outside. Catherine and Derek were there talking about what they would do to the flowerbed. Catherine looked back at them and gave Ezio a warning look. Derek put a hand on her shoulder and murmured something in the lines of 'it's alright'.
"So, brat…" Ezio turned back to Miley and put his hands on his hips. Where to start…
"I'm not a brat!" Miley stomped her foot.
"First thing an assassin has to know: be quiet."
"But…"
"Quiet."
Miley huffed and crossed her arms.
"Good. Now, let's start with something easy. Pickpocketing." Ezio took a coin out of his pouch and showed it to her. "We'll see by the end of the day, how many of these you can steal from me." He put the coin back in his pouch and sauntered off to Catherine and Derek.
Miley went after him. She stretched her hand and reached for the pouch. She grinned when she felt the fabric on the tip of her fingers.
"Remember." Ezio grabbed her wrist and pulled her to stand in front of him. "Be quiet. You sound like a horse walking."
Miley puffed her cheeks out.
"Maybe we should just rip the weeds out and then think about what flowers to plant later." Catherine was saying to Derek.
"Or, instead of flowers, I'll keep you away from the roses, and we'll plant herbs for you. Then you don't have to go to the market every time you need some." Derek pointed out. Catherine seemed pleased with this answer, and they started cleaning the earth. Ezio went back to the house.
"Ezio, aren't you going to fix that hole in the roof?" Leonardo was chasing a pigeon around his workshop. The cat was angrily hissing at it.
Ezio sighed and went outside again. He slapped Miley's hand away again.
"You're too obvious, you can't follow your target around forever, it gets suspicious." He started climbing the ladder to the roof. "Come help me up here."
Miley followed him up the ladder. On the roof were many tools lying around. It probably had to be fixed a lot. Ezio started dragging planks over to the hole and nailing them in place. Miley kneeled down near him and watched, thinking how to get her prize.
Suddenly, a stronger gust of wind blew across the roof, unbalancing them. Miley grabbed the edge of the roof and planted her knees to the tiles. Ezio wasn't so lucky. He unbalanced and fell down the hole to the living room. Miley scurried down the ladder and ran into the house. Everyone was already standing around him, Leonardo poking his cheek trying to wake him up.
"Wait, wait, wait, don't wake him up yet!' Miley dashed forward and knelt down next to Ezio. She untied his whole pouch from his belt and stood up again. "Ok, I'm good." She grinned. Everyone burst out laughing. The noise woke Ezio, who looked around curiously, then frowned at Miley clutching his pouch in her right hand.
"Brat." He muttered.
"Well, you didn't notice it, did you?" Miley grinned. "Let's buy something!" she turned to Catherine.
"Sure, why not?" she laughed.
"Hey, that's my money!" Ezio stood up.
"Not anymore." Catherine took the pouch from Miley and put it down her front for safekeeping.
"Don't think I won't reach there." Ezio warned her.
"If you do you lose a 'weapon'" Derek frowned at Ezio.
"I support him" Leonardo crossed his arms.
"Fine." Ezio sighed.
Catherine smiled and headed for the door.
"C'mon, Miley, let's find something for you and Annabelle to wear." She eyed Derek's jeans and band T-shirt. "Derek too."
"Wait, you're going out like that?" Ezio eyed Miley's clothes.
"Uhhh, ya?" Miley was already outside.
"You're dressed all strangely, you can't be serious."
"Wach me." Miley walked off. Catherine smiled sympathetically at him and followed her.