Connor eyed the men approaching the ship cautiously but luckily none of them appeared to be his father. He walked down the plank holding out a hand to the man who approached books in arm. "You must be Ramirez. I've heard a lot about you." The man laughed and shook his head. "No, I'm Timothy Mitchell. Unfortunately Ramirez isn't up to coming down to the dock right now. And with our port master run off I'm afraid there will be a bit of a delay. I'll accompany you on the inventory then we'll send the books up to be processed." He glanced at the sun as it moved towards setting. "Given how late it is I'm afraid it might be tomorrow before it's done." Connor frowned. "And he will be back?" Tim shook his head. "Port Master Kenway? Probably not. Don't worry, if something needs to be discussed we'll work something out." Connor walked alongside the man as he took inventory and they discussed which goods were intended for sale and the pricing." At the end of the inventory the man sighed and headed down to the dock. "You're of course welcome to head into town. You needn't stay on the ship tonight." Connor nodded and watched as the man turned and handed the ledgers to guard. "Have these taken up to Ramirez's room please."
He nodded at the man and walked quickly for the town, stopping when out of sight to climb the wall of the fort. To his surprise he saw the guard hand the book off to a young black woman dressed in a clean uniform who entered the building and headed for the stairs. Sticking to the outside of the wall at first he followed her up the stairs, finally slipping in a window and climbing to the exposed roof beams to follow her the rest of the way. She paused at a door, knocking quietly and slipping in returning shortly with a grin and shutting the door behind her. Connor waited until she left and then tried the door which was surprisingly unlocked. He slid in the dark room, sliding the bolt behind him and reading his dagger. The single source of light was a candle sitting on the table next to the ledgers and he picked it up, searching the quiet room. A shape moved in the bed, adjusting its position. He approached it, placing the candle on the table beside the bed. "Ramirez?" His voice was hard and he grabbed the shoulder, turning the figure towards the light.
Carolyn turned over, blinking in sudden light. "Yes? What is it?" She froze seeing Connor at first but sat up quickly pulling the sheets around her. "Connor! I… I didn't expect you to come." Her eyes searched his sadly. "I'm sorry you had to find out like this." "What are you doing here?" He stepped back, positioning the knife from her view. Her gaze grew confused. "Where's Haytham? What's wrong?" She grabbed a robe from the end of the bed and pulled it on herself tying it off beneath her chest and sat at the end of the bed. Connor continued to stare at her. "I did not expect you here." She shook her head. "But I don't understand. Didn't Haytham bring you?" He shook his head. "I haven't seen my father since Fort George. Is he truly here now?" She clutched the robe. "He …went looking for you. Almost a week ago now. Connor, if he did not find you, why are you here?" He turned, the knife coming into view. "I'm looking for someone." Her mouth went suddenly dry. "Who? Please, Connor, don't." He turned to her. "Not my father, his assistant, Ramirez." She gasped and moved away from him, her eyes pleading. "I'm Ramirez." He turned in confusion. "You've remarried?" She shook her head, "I had to give them a name when I came here. Even before I knew your father lived I could not give them Kenway. Too many people knew him." He snorted. "Wasn't Blair good enough before?" She eyed him curiously.
"Connor, I'm Ramirez. Are you going to kill me? Please. Please don't. You can't. Not now." Her voice was soft, her eyes pleading as she moved away from him, noting that he was between her at the door. He gripped the knife. "Last time you seemed eager for death. Are you the one who's been stealing goods?" She looked at him seriously. "I'm the assistant port master. I search ships for contraband. Yes, smuggled goods are subject to seizure. The law is very clear." He met her eyes. "And outside the law?" She flushed. "Well there was an instance recently with a ship called the Constance." He growled at her, grabbing the front of her robe and pulling her to her feet. "So you admit it." She gasped and tried to pull away from him but his grip was firm. "Connor, you have no idea what you're talking about. Did they tell you what was 'stolen'? Did they?" He glared down at her. "It does not matter." She reached up and grabbed his hand where it held her dress and met his eyes, hers flaring with anger. "Yes it does."
She swallowed and turned her head. "It was a slave ship, Connor. All women. Their next port was Port Royale… need I go on? Do I have to say what they were going there for?" He released the cloth. "A pretty story. No doubt calculated to appeal to my honor. What proof have you?" She looked up at him and nodded at a pull cord on the wall. "The maid who cares for these rooms was one of the women. Shall I call her up so you may talk to her?" He paused but nodded briefly. "This had better not be a trick." He gestured angrily with the dagger. She shook her head and pulled the cord, picking up the candle and lighting a stand near a set of couches around a table. In a few minutes there was a tap at the door and the woman Connor followed was allowed in, her arms burdened by a heavy tray bearing a tea pot and some pastries. "I hazarded a guess as to what you would like." She smiled and turned to put it on the table, her smile slipped when she saw Connor standing there. "I'm sorry, ma'am. With Mr. Kenway gone I only brought the one cup." Carolyn smiled at her. "It's alright. Connor does not drink tea. Actually the reason I called is I hoped you would speak to him about the ship. He's a captain who has somewhat to do with trade in the area." She took the woman's hand and drew her to sit next to her on the couch. "But you need only tell him if you feel comfortable. I will be right here."
The woman trembled slightly eyeing Connor nervously and clutched Carolyn's hand. "If you think it best." She nodded. "If you can bear it. It may help others." Connor sat on the couch across from them and leaned forward. Shakily the woman began to describe the situation on the ship including parts that Carolyn was apparently unaware of such as the extent their use by the crew. She looked green but continued to hold the woman's hands as her story poured out. Eventually Connor cut her off. "I've heard enough." The woman looked up as if lost in the trance of the telling and looked at Carolyn with a horrified expression. "I'm so sorry!" Carolyn poured a cup of tea and handed it to her but she shook her head and replaced it on the table. "You must be strong. Never forget that this is something that was done to you, not something of your choosing. Now you must choose how to move on." The woman shook her head crying. "That is easy to say but hard to do." Carolyn was aware of Connor's eyes on her but her own were on a far off scene. "I know that. It happened to me too." The woman looked up startled and she patted her hand. "It was before I came here. I'm lucky that I barely remember what happened to me, but I'm here now and I'm safe and you will be to." The woman nodded and stood drawing Carolyn with her.
"If you need some time please go next door to Haytham's rooms. He will not mind." She turned to her. "He's a good man. I was near the top and saw his expression when the captain said that about you." In spite of the situation Carolyn's lips curled up. "That was rather worth the show, wasn't it?" The woman chuckled and Carolyn led her to the door sending her on her way and barring it behind her. She turned to the room, sitting on the couch and picking up the abandoned tea cup, not meeting Connor's eyes. "Would you have had me leave them there? I couldn't. Law or no law I couldn't turn my back on them. She's but one of a dozen." Connor sat there quietly lost in thought. "Did you say that for her benefit or do you truly not remember the woods?" She took a quick drink from the cup, setting it down shakily. "The woods I remember. The house… it's all blurry. Diana left me alone and I remember someone heavy on top of me. When the fever broke I still had bruises. I can guess well enough what happened." He swallowed. "Nothing happened." She looked at him angrily. "You were not there. How can you say that?" He moved over to the couch next to her. He touched her shoulder and thigh lightly. "Were they here and here?" She nodded, lost in thought. "And on my wrists." Her eyes went wide and she pulled away from him. He raised his hands in defense. "It didn't happen. I swear it. I was there, I just didn't want you to know. You were sick and Diana told me to hold you down while she got the doctor. I never thought you would think that something happened to you."
She began to cry, slowly at first and then in wrenching sobs. "I asked you, Connor. You promised. Talking to you in Boston was the hardest thing I've ever done." He wrapped his arms around her and drew her into his lap and she sobbed against him. "Why did you not say something?" He swallowed. "I didn't want you to think that I was coming back." The words sounded empty on his lips. "So instead I've spent most of the past year thinking that a stranger used me?" He flinched and held her tighter as she cried herself out. Eventually her breathing slowed and she leaned against him wrapped in his arms. Her voice was quiet. "Are you still going to kill me?" His arms tightened around her. "No." He shook his head. They sat there for some time before he shifted her slightly in his lap. "You've put on some weight." A strangled laugh erupted from her and he flushed. "It was just a comment. I have no objections." He turned her head up and pressed his lips against hers. She froze momentarily but relaxed into his kiss. He tried to deepen it but her hands pushed lightly on his shoulders and she dropped her head. "I can't. I'm sorry. If only you had come sooner." He sighed and leaned back, tightly wound from the frustration of being so close to her after so long apart. "If only I had…. Is there someone else? Someone new in your life?" Her eyes went wide and then an odd smile quirked at her lips. "Well I suppose you could say so. Yes." He closed his eyes. "Is that why my father went looking for me?" Her lips moved again. "Well, to be honest, partially." He moved her from his lap and stood. "I should go." Her hand shot out to grab his arm and she stood. "It's not like that. I want you to meet him." He turned his back to her. "No. You'll be happier this way. And I don't want to meet the man who's replaced me in your affections."
Her arms wrapped around his waist. "He hasn't replaced you. Nobody could. Nobody can. Sit down, Connor. I need you to know this." He sat quietly on the couch. She walked back over to her bed, going to the area between the bed and wall and bending into the shadows. His heart started to pound. She approached the couch again, clutching something to her chest. A worried smile played across her face. She sat beside him. "I want you to meet my son." He turned to her, his throat tight. "Who's the father?" Pulling back the blanket she said quietly. "You are. I know that now." He looked down at the sleeping child, his coloring a mix of their heritages. He clenched his fists. "You said you were sure." She nodded. "I was sure in the basement. This was your farewell gift to me." She chuckled dryly. "Your way of saying goodbye, remember?" "You knew in Boston, didn't you? Why did you not say something?" She sighed and leaned back. "You know what I thought, Connor. How could I have told you that I didn't know who the father was? I never hated enough to do that to you. I wasn't sure until he was born." "But nothing happened." She closed her eyes. "And I know that now. I didn't in January. Now you see why I gave them a false name here. I couldn't be a Blair anymore. I didn't dare be a Kenway. " He leaned over her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder to draw her closer so he could study the baby. "And my father knows?" She nodded. "I told him when the baby came and I was sure. I was going to write you a letter but he said he learned of you that way and he wanted to tell you in person. He left a week ago immediately after the birth. He must have just missed you."
She looked up at him, his eyes locked on the baby. "Would you like to hold him?" He nodded silently and she handed the baby to him, positioning his hands to support his head. His hands were huge, enveloping the baby. He tucked him carefully against his chest. "What do you call him?" She tucked back a strand of dark hair from the baby's face. "Edward." "After your father?" She nodded. "And your grandfather as well. His name was Edward too. A pirate and a doctor. I hope you won't mind that I hope he turns out more like my side of the family." She leaned her head against his shoulder looking down at him. She ran her hand down his arm, wrapping it under his hand where it held her son and running her finger over the ring she saw there earlier. "Were you going to tell me?" He pulled his hands away carefully. "You knew?" She shrugged. "I saw the ring when you grabbed me. I had a reason to keep mine. I could think of none for you to get a new one falsely. Does she know what you do? I assure you even if I hadn't known before I would have figured it out. The weapons. The bloody clothing." He nodded. "She knows. She's an assassin too." He swallowed. "She is three months gone with child." Carolyn's eyes went wide. "Not the dark haired one from Boston?" He nodded and looked at the baby. "What am I going to tell her?" She smiled at him tenderly. "She already knows." He shook his head. "She knows of you and that you live. How can I tell her of this?" Carolyn's hand tightened on his shoulder. "She knows of this too. We spoke before I sailed. She guessed." The baby started to squirm and fuss and she reached over and took him from his father's arms and settled back into the couch, undoing the top of her robe to hold him to her breast.
She flinched as Connor turned to her angrily. "She cannot have known. She would have told me." Carolyn clutched the baby to her chest. "She loves you, Connor. Even when I spoke to her months ago I could tell. I do not hold it against her that she was glad to see me go. I will not ask if you love her. You're not one to give your body where your heart does not follow. She's a good match for you. Your children will be strong." "And will they fight? Brother against brother? Assassin against Templar? I won't allow it." She looked at the child. "I had hoped not to raise him to be a fighter but no doubt it is in his blood." His eyes narrowed. "I will raise him. I will raise him with our child. To be an Assassin." Her voice tightened. "Over my dead body. This is my son. You cannot have him." He gripped her shoulders. "He is my son as well." A bitter laugh broke through her lips. "The son you didn't know or care about an hour ago. The son I carried and bore alone. The child whose creation you said meant nothing. If you try to take him you must kill me first for I will raise the entire fort to hunt you down. I'm sure your wife will be willing to take him if the cost is my life but she'll not have him while I breathe." He stood, shaking and staring at her. Her voice was soft but firm. "Just go, Connor. You know now. That must be enough. I will write to you about him if you wish it. Your father and I will raise him." Her eyes went dark. "I hope he returns soon. I worry about what he will find while he is off looking for you." He approached her, running his hand over the soft curls of their child. "I will go. If he is still in the colonies when I get back I will make sure he gets back to you. I never meant for this to happen." She nodded. With that he went to the window and was gone.
The next morning the maid returned and gathered up the ledgers nervously. Carolyn looked chagrinned. "I have not had a chance to do the accounts I'm afraid." The girl shook her head. "It is unimportant. The ship sailed last night without paying the taxes or unloading any goods." She looked at Carolyn nervously where she sat on the edge of the bed watching her son sleep in his cradle. "That was his father last night, wasn't it?" She nodded quietly. "So he's not dead?" Carolyn's shoulders began to shake. "He might as well be to me. He has a new wife and a child on the way." She looked up suddenly. "You won't tell anybody, will you?" The woman shook her head. "No. It's not your fault. As you said we must decide how to move on."