Thank you for staying with this story, and if you like it, please consider checking out my other one, Our Caribbean Dreams.

! AC3 Ending Spoiler Alert ! Disclaimer: All characters (except Annora and Marie) belong to Ubisoft, as do the cover images.

Only after a reconciliation, Ann and Haytham argue over the nature of Haytham's Templar background. Charles visits for the first time since forever, discovering the young girl from the past is no longer his.

Enjoy! ^^

VI

'Too late he learned the truth of this – murdered by his own son. He gave his life as he lived it – in service to a dream we all share.'

Wednesday 19th Sept

"I guess you can walk now", she stated, still recovering from her previous state. Her voice weak and hoarse. Haytham looked over at her while they ate breakfast, she said she wasn't very hungry when she was preparing the food so gave him half of her portion.

"Yes I feel much better, although I can't be walking around very long or standing for more than a minute or so."

"So it would be better for you to stay in bed correct?"

"Yes, I mean I have never recovered this fast, and I believe I'm certainly not fully recovered yet so it would be best for me to lay down."

"Yes, it would", she nodded, her eyes sinking into her plate. She stood up to clear away her plate and cup, disappearing upstairs and returning with two pillows and his bed sheet. He followed her movements as she placed the items and arranged them on the leather lounge. She then stepped up to him and took his now empty plates, his eyes confused, looking up at her while he drank the rest of his tea.

"You can spend the day resting on the lounge", she motioned towards the little bed she made him, "it will be better than laying upstairs all by yourself right?"

"Yes, well thank you", he nodded and walked over to the lounge to swiftly lay under the covers. His eyes caught hers and she walked over, putting her hands on her hips questioningly. She sighed and reached out to tuck him in, carefully fitting the sheets around him to make him comfortable despite the crimson creeping up her cheeks.

"Like a child", she muttered, more playfully rather than annoyed. He put his hands behind his head resting on them and lead her eyes to a small space on the lounge next to him. She sat down, quite close to him, and clenched her hands together awkwardly, knowing that he already figured the truth out, being the older and more intelligent adult he was.

"You know who my Father was now", she gazed down at her hands.

"Yes, which makes me wonder how Charles knew you, if your family was indeed part of the Assassin Order"

"I-I don't know, Father never told me much, he trained me and allowed me to ask questions but, he never gave me any answers"

"I understand."

"Please Haytham, I'm not planning to kill you", she scoffed, turning her eyes immediately to meet his, her expression a mix of conflicted emotions. He smiled at her in response.

"I know."

"You don't believe me do you?"

"I do", he frowned and then gave her a look of satisfaction, gained by seeing her reaction at him toying with her, hoping it cheers her up ever so slightly.

"No you don't!", she reached her hand and pushed him softly, her lips turning into a smile.

"I do I swear", he laughed and sat up closing the distance between them. "And even if, right now you're the only one I would allow to". She looked away and he suddenly grabbed her wrist, his expression changing. His eyes becoming more serious, his voice almost threatening. Her own eyes forced themselves to stare into his, unable to tear away from the killer's gaze.

"I want you to kill me Annora", his cold hazel eyes pierced her heart and chilled her to the bone. Her lips opened but no sound came out, only a shocked gasp.

"What?", she let out a pained squeal as he forcefully shoved her palm to rest on his chest, his eyes still holding hers.

"I'm a monster. A murderer, I will be the one to kill you Annora". Her heart sank as he spoke the words, her skin shivering at the touch of his heated skin.

"But why-"

"You're an Assassin, I'm a Templar."

"I'm not officially an Assassin Haytham I-."

"If I'm not the one to do it, Charles will."

"But I thought he knew."

"His Father did, but he never found out, that's all that he told me."

"No! That's not possible!", she brought her free hand to her lips, shielding the gasps of fear from escaping.

"Due to your heritage Annora, even if you aren't an Assassin yourself."

"Haytham you won't kill me, I know you won't."

"I don't want to", he let her wrist go and put his head in his hands desperately.

"You won't have to-."

"I will!", he snapped, "we were to wipe out any Assassin's we knew of, or any of their trained offspring", his voice even sounded desperate, as if he wanted it all to be different but had no choice in the matter. She trembled in fear, her hand reaching back out, softly grasping his wrist. A tear building up in her eye. She knew since the day she saw him her life would never be the same, but to know he would be the one to take her life. It's not just the fact she saved him, it's the fact that she somehow – in the span of four days – grew to care for this man immensely. Mainly because she has been alone for a long time and anyone of company was very important. But, also, well he was different than Charles or anyone else she has ever met. He was special. And now he was telling her one of them has to die.

"That's why you want me-", she couldn't speak the words, she couldn't find them. She tightened her grip on his wrist, his sighed heavily and clenched his hands into fists.

"Yes, that's why I want you to take my life before I rather unnecessarily take yours. And, trust me Ann, I don't want to-."

"Then don't! Your superiors don't have power over you now-."

"I must go back to London as soon as I recover Ann", he smiled, knowing how hard she was trying, trying to reason with what was supposed to happen. She already altered his fate, but as in life, things must take their natural course. "I'm at risk here, and if I'm to stay and die then only by your hand, so that I am not tempted to be the man I always have been and hurt you", he took her hands in his delicately and folded them, bringing them up to his lips and kissing her knuckles. His lips feeling like heaven against her skin, bringing a red flush to her cheeks, and an even greater pain to her heart. She knew he meant it all, because he knew she wasn't ready to leave her house. Her father's grave or legacy, nor her life in America.

"I have sworn to protect you, but only just realized that I'm your biggest threat", her heart stopped for a second and flew to her throat, making her speechless.

"Please, end my life now, end everyone's suffering", his voice was warm, calm and soothing. He tried to be persuasive, to make it sound as if everything was going to be okay While her voice was breaking, shaking at the emotions she was experiencing. She shook her head hastily, unable to speak. She let her broken voice out in a fit of despair and anger, the whites of her eyes becoming red, tearing up, the once shining emerald turning into burnt grass.

"No! Haytham don't ask me to do that I- I would never-."

"Ann I want it, I want to finally embrace death-", she gritted her teeth and a loud slap could be heard. Everything went silent, and only then her whimpers could be heard. She brought her hands up to wipe her tears, while he massaged his red cheek, still pulsating and burning with the pain of a harsh and sharp slap. His shocked eyes never left hers, his eyebrows furrowing in pain.

"Don't you dare say you want to die!", she shouted at him, unable to control her temper, "Don't you dare suggest that you want to leave everything, everyone, behind shrouded in your own selfishness!", she neared her face to his until he felt her breath nearby. "Don't you even dare want to be separated from me", he eyed her, "And Charles, and everyone else, without thinking what effect it will have on them!", she quickly added to make her point more valid and hide her own feelings towards him, her voice shaking but loud, barely audible through her cries and tears. His eyes turned away in shame, shame he has never felt before, unable to face her any more. "You're not a monster Haytham, you're nothing more than a skilled and self-centred Templar, who wouldn't dare to honoura lower class passer-by with even a glance", she scoffed, her heart broken once again, full of newly found hate, hate she wanted to get rid of. "Yet alone consider if anyone like me would mourn you", her tears came back again, this time mixed with pure rage, "cry over your body helplessly and live with the guilt for the rest of their god-damned lives!", she knew she referred to herself, but it couldn't be helped, her heart overtook her mind, while this time he was the one lost, without words or remarks. "You maybe a skilled and knowledgeable Templar, but your heart which never even tasted love, would never be able to welcome your 'new world' into existence". He cowered like a beaten dog, unable to deny anything that she had said. She was on her feet by now, fuming and breathing through the rest of her tears.

"I'm sorry if I have been annoying, but- I- I thought I could change at least your perspective of life, because to me, yours is more important than my own", he glanced up at her – eyebrows shot up in surprise and heart sinking further down in shame – the moment she said that. But she was already out the door, loudly slamming it behind her.

"Annora, my- How could I-", he whispered in defeat, his pride destroyed, his heart dying, just after being born again.

"Annora! Ann!", a deep voice shouted from behind her as she walked down the sandy path, tears streaming down her face, her heart shattered in two. The clacking of hoofs could be heard in rhythm with the turning of carriage wheels. She quickly wiped her tears with her sleeve, putting on a broken smile and blinking a few times to ease the horrible look of her eyes. She could easily recognize the voice. But for some reason, she wasn't as happy as she used to be when he arrived. Actually, her heart was nothing but sorrow at that moment.

"Ann...", his voice muttered as he ran towards her, she waved and smiled, only pretending.

"Charlie!", she called out, trying to disguise her cracked voice with that of a sore throat.

"Ann are you okay?", he asked as he neared her, worry visible in his eyes.

If I won't, Charles will.

"I'm fine", she nodded, "I'm glad you're here, I've been waiting", his heart jumped up a little. He took her small palms in his, grazing over her knuckles with his thumb affectionately, to her disappointment, it certainly did not feel the same. Her heart wasn't skipping around, her breath hitching and on the verge of fainting. Nothing was the same.

"I've missed you Ann", he said, his eyes shining with honesty. But she remembered what had happened well, and swore he wouldn't be able to trick her again.

"Haytham's recovered", she changed the subject, although the latter only bringing her even more pain as she thought of Haytham's form alone on the lounge.

"That's great news! It honestly is", he nodded apprehensively. Sensing their conversation wasn't going the way Charles planned it to, he came closer to her, reaching his arms out, despite her sudden lack of comfort around him.

'Charlie!', the girl ran towards the man with love and affection, only to land in his arms, which eagerly spun her around. 'Annora, my dear, I've missed you', she gazed up at him with bright eyes and he let her tip toe to reach his lips, placing a sweet and quick kiss on them before letting him embrace her and deepen the kiss himself.

She looked away and then clenched her fists, keeping a distance and evading him by side stepping to avoid the incoming act of affection.

"Let's go, you probably want to speak with Haytham", she added as an excuse. He nodded, grunting professionally and clenching his hands behind his back, hiding his rather hurt feelings at the sudden rejection. He followed her back down the path and parked the men and carriage outside, commanding them to patrol the house. She opened the door to find Haytham lying awake to the side, suddenly spinning around at the noise of the door opening. His eyes first noticing only Annora.

"Ann I'm-."

"Sir!", Charles cut in, stepping in to greet the man. He hastily sat on the armchair opposite the lounge and lowered his head in respect, all to Haytham's sudden shock.

"Charles, you've arrived."

"Yes Sir, and I'm ready to be under your command once again", the man replied lifting his head up to meet Haytham's watchful eyes. Annora sat to the side, readying herself for being left completely alone again. She should be crying tears of joy, finally being left by these murderers and complete bastards. But she could feel her heart tearing at the thought of being separated from Haytham. Too much has happened during the past four days for her to dismiss it, she involved herself with him too much, emotionally and well, physically in some kind of way.

She grabbed onto his neck with one hand, and then reached out to tug at his hair as he deepened the kiss even further. This could not be avoided, it would have happened sooner or later, would it not? The trance suddenly broke, her hands landed on his chest again and pushed him away softly, breaking the string of emotions and desires all in a matter of seconds.

That day, the kiss, it wasn't the only one, she was a woman, she kissed Charles before but-

She crashed her lips to his for a few blissful seconds to his own shock and confusion, he quickly caught her lips after she let go, covering her soft mouth with his in a fit of desire.

Haytham's kisses were special to her, they were moments of contact that ignited in her the desire to be with someone, to not be alone all her life, to let go and try again. To love again.

"I will be going to London when I recover, however I don't know how long this will take."

"I shall arrange a doctor to immediately access your condition."

"Yes, especially for the journey being so long."

"Very dangerous as well Sir, we must be careful now after that bastard son of yours-."

"He had his reasons Charles."

"If not for you Sir, I would be dead", her eyes widened in surprise, Haytham saving Charles' life? What had happened? Her heart clenched in worry over both men while her thoughts stuck to the previous situation with Haytham. He swore to protect her, despite barely knowing who she was, despite her heritage as an Assassin, even if she was annoying at times or didn't give into the moment which there's no denying it would make them both happy, in a way. The moment of extreme human weakness, human desire. She looked up at Haytham as he diplomatically spoke to the other tall man, his face full of emotions, fully animated. His few wrinkles showing off the upper class life he has lived, almost visually displaying his many adventures and his immense power. His privileges as a man.

"Annora has been the most excellent care-giver I must say."

"Yes I agree, she's a caring soul no doubt about that, sir", Charles replied, said woman's eyebrows shooting up at the complimenting mention of her name.

"Please do not flatter me gentlemen", she stood up and approached them, hands uncomfortably clenched together, she was not used to compliments, words of comfort or flattering and especially not the act of showering one with gifts. She gazed up at Charles.

"Oh, pardon me I almost forgot", he suddenly reached his hand into his fine jacket feeling for some object, his eyes not tearing away from hers. She looked away, her gaze catching Haytham's, who propped up one hand to fiddle with his shirt, her eyes creeping away from his – for some reason – annoyed frown to the tiny and rather purposely undone show of flesh, her cheeks heating up and her hands reaching to pull on her dress, adjusting it in order to busy themselves with something other than their intention.

"Haytham", she whispered to herself, wanting to feel the warm flesh against her palms just one more time. She didn't however notice her whisper reaching him, causing his eyes to direct themselves to her eyes, which were gazing down. Charles slapped his forehead forgetfully and ran out of the door. Haytham's hazel orbs caught up with the spot which Annora was staring at so tentatively. He smirked and suddenly her eyes met with his, finally realizing what had happened, her skin gaining a bright color as a heated sweat came over her, the nasty feeling of embarrassment flowing within her. His eyes stared into hers so deeply she knew he could see right through her like an open book, her feelings becoming an unraveled mystery to him. His gaze as heavy as her heart, his eyes burning with sadistic satisfaction at her suffering. Suffering caused by her own manners and responsibility. By the lack of affection in a woman's life before marriage. Lack of love, replaced by constant mistrust and naivety. She never asked for it! It came to her, she tried but always failed. It was him. Charles. He ruined her, her eyes turned away, tears coming to their edges but she quickly wiped them away.

"Found it!", Charles appeared through the doors, prompting Haytham to look away awkwardly. Annora looked up, a less than honest smile covering her previous conflicting expressions of weakness, desire and immense emotional pain.

"Found what?", she asked, blinking a few times to dry her eyes. Haytham wished to take her into his arms that moment and caress her, whispering how he will protect her no matter what, how he was wrong. And how much of a selfish bastard he has always been, the reason why Ziio left him, why his son left him, and why Annora will leave him.

"This-This is for you", Charles muttered under his breath, taking out a navy blue square box, causing Haytham's eyes to jealously capture the scene. And then discovering what it actually felt like to be jealous, jealous over a woman. He bit his tongue at his childish stupidity but could no longer deny anything.

"What is it?", her voice came out weakly as she took the box from the man's large hands. Haytham dared himself to peek. And struggle to hide his most annoyed expression yet.

"A gift", Charles replied eagerly, "open it". She did as he said, carefully, as if something was about to pop out and scare her. She saw a shimmer of light and further opened the box, this time with more courage. Her eyes opened wide in shock as she saw a beautiful necklace, a thin white gold chain adorned with a bright emerald stone.

"The color of your eyes", Charles muttered as she inspected the piece of jewelry with care and awe. Haytham almost scoffed, imagining how he would rather buy her a good book, as she looked to be that type of woman, noticing all the full bookshelves in the room. He watched as her fully allured expression changed to one of betrayal and shame. She carefully put the necklace back in the box, but he knew she wouldn't dare to hurt anyone by rejecting their gifts. Her caring side showing up even in times of long-past memories and regrets. She closed the box and held it, looking up at Charles whose expectation was to put it round her neck, just like in the past. He noticed that something was off, something was different this time. She remembers, his heart sank.

"Thank you, it's a lovely gift, I really appreciate it Charles"

"No need to thank me. A special present for a special lady", pain coursed through his voice, she looked away, avoiding his disappointed gaze, which would furthermore break her heart.

"Annora, travel with me to London, please". Her heart stopped at the words, remembering how Haytham suggested the same thing.

"You should share the recipe with me, they would be famous little things back in London", he tried to get off the family subject, which she gladly appreciated.

"No you silly! It wouldn't be secret then would it?"

"Then you'll have to come with me."

Her eyes felt teary again but she fought it, the urge to break down right there and then. Haytham knew she remembered – which for some reason warmed him inside – and had no idea what to say.

"I-."

"You could live with me, I would give you anything you ever wanted", his words were harsh, demanding and to the point. She looked away but he grabbed her wrist, almost violently. Haytham watched, giving the situation a minute more before he knew he would have to step in for Annora's sake, Charles' possessive behavior towards her sparked that sense of worry in him that he felt the day before. I will protect you.

"No Charles, not if you act like this!"

"You don't know how long I have waited to take you with me", he spat out in anger.

"Charles control yourself", Haytham broke in.

"Has she told you Sir?", she looked from Charles to Haytham with horror in her eyes, finally settling on Haytham's hazel orbs, which caught her, he was intrigued.

"No Charles, don't-", she cried. He shook her violently, Haytham's hand reaching out to rest on Charles' tensed palm which loosened it's crushing grip on the girls wrist.

"How you loved me?", he tightened his hand again.

"No!", she cried. That old rope of pain and horror coming back up, destroying the love she bore for him all those years ago, coming back to strangle her again. Haytham almost smirked at Charles' childish accusation and took hold of his hand, trying to take it away. Charles grabbed her other arm and bought her close.

"How you screamed in horror when I-."

"Enough is enough Charles!", Haytham's shout broke through, angry and appalled by his cruelty. He shook Annora off and threw her into himself hastily, her face colliding with his chest, tears brewing in her eyes and her wrist red and inflamed.

"Sir-."

"I command you to leave Charles, you may come back after you cool down", his hard stare scolding Charles, burning with disgust. "I will manage by myself for the next week or so just fine", he added. Annora burst with tears, Charles' face taking on an expression of horror and instant regret. The box fell from her hands as she helplessly attached herself to Haytham's sleeves, her nails almost ripping through the fabric in sheer panic and shock.

"Annora, my God I'm so sorry, I-."

"Leave Charles", Haytham tied his arm around the girl tightly despite his difficulty standing and held her in place, his other hand pointing at the doors. She gazed up at him, his face full of authority, his voice reverberating through her ears, filled with authority and force. Charles gazed at her, jealousy mixing with hate and worry. Knowing he could never stand up to his superior, he stepped out of the house and shut the door. Horses could be heard outside and the fast movement of carriage wheels against the pebbled ground shook the wooden floor.

"Haytham!", he heard her cry and immediately attended to her when he was sure the threat was gone. He sat with her on the lounge, his arm around her shoulders offering protection which she very much needed. "I'm so scared", she whimpered. He held her as tightly as he could, their heat mixing together. He could feel her heart pounding against her chest in fear.

"I'm here Annora, I'm right here", he whispered letting her bring her legs up and bring herself even closer to him, inhaling his intoxicating scent, feeling his large and trained chest breathe against her cheek. Her hands reached down to grasp at his sides as tightly as her young weak body allowed her to, he sighed heavily and caught his hands behind her back, holding her with almost equal strength. She heaved and cried suddenly her hands on his shoulders and her face nuzzling in his neck, seeking what she never found before.

"I'm sorry Ann."

"What?", she muttered lifting herself to look into his dark hazel eyes, suddenly noticing how close their lips found themselves.

"I am a self-centered cold-hearted bastard who could not break off ties with his Templar ideals even if all that's left of the Templar's here is me", he rested his cheek against hers, which was burning already, "even for the sake of the one I wanted to protect, ignoring how much you would suffer if I persuaded you to kill me". He closed his eyes and embraced her warmth, dismissing every ideal and responsibility that was pushed into his young self. All that mattered right now was this young woman that he felt like he knew all his life.

"For all that, I apologize."

"Haytham it's okay", she lifted her cheek off his and smiled, guilt overcoming her previous accusations, she didn't even realize that he wanted to save her from him.

"You wanted to sacrifice yourself to save me, knowing what would happen but", she paused and then crashed herself to him, her arms around his neck, "if you weren't here today Charles would-", Haytham realized the truth in her words and decided to hush her and prevent another wave of tears.

"Shhh", he brushed her golden locks of hair with his hand, holding her waist with the other.

"Please don't leave me, I'm sorry, you don't know me and I know I'm being annoying but I've been alone for so long and I'm scared please don't-"

"Ann, I won't-", he tried to quiet her as her words escaped too quickly.

"Please don't leave me", she whimpered, her voice trailing off somewhere. She was like a little child, clinging to her father. She was lonely.

"I won't leave you Ann, never", he whispered and let his hand wander to the small of her back, massaging it comfortingly through the thin fabric. He let his head rest on her shoulder allowing her to breathe and feel his shoulders through his shirt with her fingers, trying to get a feel of their large and muscular shape. His eyes closed peacefully while her breathing hitched, her eyes looking up at the ceiling, disbelieving in the possibility of being held in this man's arms. Considering if this was all a hallucination of some kind, or if her mind was playing tricks on her due to her deprivation of human contact.

"Is this a dream Haytham?", she whispered. He shook his head softly and breathed her floral scent in, her neck becoming an obsession for him, even better than the finest and oldest cognac. He could hear her long and deep breaths, each corresponding with the rising and falling of her well adorned chest. His lips caught her soft skin and began to press kisses to it, earning a few quiet moans which escaped her throat. She instinctively let her head fall back, her eyes rolling back in satisfaction. She couldn't help herself, she didn't want him to stop. She wanted him to feel her skin, to cause goosebumps as his warm fingers feel her flesh. Every act that was forbidden became her darkest desire. "Haytham", her voice came out more vocal and sensual than usual. He lowered her dress slightly, letting her shoulders come into view and glimmer in the sunlight, reflecting their smoothness. She folded her arms protectively holding the short puffy sleeves of the ivory gown from falling down while unintentionally squeezing her breasts together, letting the dress loosen in the middle and show her cleavage, which instantly caught his hungry eyes. Her neck craned to the side, his lips suckling on the heated flesh with untamed passion. She was taunting him, tormenting him into committing the most forbidden act of all. A symphony of moans escaped her as she let him lay her down softly on the covers of the lounge and graze his lips over her shoulders, then brushing them over her collarbone and planting kisses in every revealed spot of flesh up to her jaw line, leaving a trail of shivers and heat in his elegant and experienced stride. She could feel his crotch press against hers as he bent over her, his legs apart and one on each side with hers in the middle. The thin fabric of her gown allowed her to feel that place, sparking something up inside her stomach that she could not comprehend. "Haytham you know we can't", she whimpered, her voice hinting disappointment. He gazed up at her, his lips turning into an understanding smile.

"Can't what?", he smiled again. He propped himself up and she reached out to press her palm to the unbuttoned part of his shirt, feeling his skin. She let a sigh escape her lips. "Can't go any further, we aren't even courting or anything", she whispered. "We barely know each other." He knew she would feel guilty, he knew she would hurt later on, and being a man of his age, he accepted that.

"Yes, I apologize, I got carried away", he muttered under his breath. She didn't move her palm though, and he gazed back down into her longing eyes. "Just- just let me...", she pressed said palm to his unshaven cheek and caressed it delicately, his eyes closing. "I want it to stay like this forever", she whispered and moved her hand to hold his neck softly, pulling it down until it was close enough to her lips.

"Ann, I promise it will", he said, his voice beautiful and deep, the voice that would make her fall in love with a killer. She wanted to surround herself with his voice, with him. She didn't want anything more, and she didn't know why. She reached out and their lips made contact, he eagerly deepened the kiss and for the very first time, never wanted to let go.

Hope that was alright, very long as well. Sorry. :3 Leave a review/fave/follow, share what you think of this chapter/overall story. I will gladly take in whatever critique I get. :)

Till next time!