Chapter 7

We drove for two days until we finally got to Italy. Sure enough, the Templars took everything of value but left when they realised we'd moved on. We checked for anything that they left that might tip them off that we were here again but they were getting sloppy. We spent the rest of the day moving everything we needed inside and I was exhausted by the end from not getting enough sleep in the van for the past few days and still not having gotten enough exercise in the Animus. We all slept in the big room so Rebecca and I took one corner while the guys took another.

"That was an adventure and a half," Rebecca sighed quietly.

"I know," I replied just as quietly so the guys couldn't hear. "At least there were no fights."

"Well, no physical ones," she said.

"You know what I meant," I answered. "Damn it's cold down here."

"We'll get the heaters up and running tomorrow," Rebecca yawned. I laid there for a while and heard everyone else snoring to various degrees but I just couldn't fall asleep. I just about freaked when someone sat beside me.

"God Shaun!" I whispered and hit him lightly. "You scared me!"

"Sorry, I couldn't sleep," He apologized as I sat up.

"Neither could I," I sighed and faced him.

"Come on, let's sleep in our own corner," He said with a smirk in the dim lighting.

"You sly bastard," I said and got up to follow him with my sleeping bag. He zipped them together and we slid in awkwardly. We kind of just laid there for a minute until I started shivering again.

"Come here," Shaun said quietly and opened his arms. I shuffled over and into them while they wrapped tightly around me. I laid my head on his shoulder and felt warm and safe for once. How on earth did I get so lucky? I felt Shaun kiss me on the cheek and I smiled. "Goodnight Tess."

"Night Shaun," I managed to mumble before falling asleep.

In the morning, I woke up by harsh whispering and decided to eavesdrop and keep pretending like I was asleep. I was still wrapped up in Shaun anyways so whoever he was arguing with couldn't avoid me if they tried.

"You little bastard! I thought you had no interest in her!" that was Desmond, of course.

"Only until I got to know her, she's the most brilliant person I've ever met and if you can't step off maybe we'll need to switch teams."

"Now boys, we can't switch one of you off the team," Rebecca chimed in. "This is the Assassin dream team and I'll be damned if I let you break it up, especially with Tess now. Desmond, you've really been stepping over the line so you need to lay off Tess. She's not some girl who's pants you can get in and then leave like your famous ancestors, okay?! Shaun has actually been tolerable with her around when you two haven't been punching each other's lights out so will you please for the love of god, leave them alone."

"Besides, I know you only want me because I'm the only girl who's ever said no to you," I mumbled and sat up. I looked to see Rebecca bursting at the seams with held in laughter, a very proud Shaun and a shocked Desmond. "Now will you please accept that fact and leave me the fuck alone."

"Okay," he said reasonably and walked away. Rebecca was still howling.

"You are by far the most genius girl I've ever met," Shaun said, putting his hands behind his head while still laying down.

"Rebecca, uhm, can you give us a sec?" I asked politely. She laughed all the way across the sanctuary. I sat there for a while and looked at Shaun only really thinking one thing.

"What?" He asked, fixing his glasses before lounging like he did before.

"You kind of look really hot when you do that," I grinned at him and watched a bright red color his cheeks. "Like really, who knew you were so attractive under your clothes?"

"Stooooop," He whined almost like a child as I laid back down beside him.

"No," I said bluntly. "I like making you blush."

"You're so mean to me," He continued.

"I could be worse," I sighed. "I could get up and leave you here by yourself."

"As long as it's not for Desmond, it's tolerable," He smiled. "Now come on gorgeous, we have work to do."

"Nooooo," Now it was my turn to whine. "But I'm comfy and warm and you're going to have to bribe me."

"Can I bribe you with a trip outside tonight?" He offered and traced patterns on my arm with a feather light touch.

"Can you also make me breakfast?" I asked and gave him my best puppy eyes.

"Only if I can't get Rebecca to do it," He sighed.

"Fine," I agreed and got up.

"Oh so now you're just going to leave me here?" He sassed me.

"Oui," I replied simply and slipped into a chair beside William at the plastic table.

Rebecca handed me a plate of food which I ate gratefully and she went off to get Desmond out of the Animus. He was only running around anyways. There was an awkward silence between Will and I.

"I apologize for my son," He said suddenly.

"Thank you," I replied before popping a forkful of food in my mouth.

"How did you manage to tame Shaun anyways?" William was laughing to himself.

"I sassed him back and called him names," I laughed too.

"That would only work on Shaun," William was still laughing.

"I realize that," I sighed. "We have the same sense of humor."

"Fair enough," he said. "I never thought I'd find someone who was remotely like Shaun enjoyable but you and him are both good people. Especially when together."

"Thank you?" I laughed a little as Rebecca dragged me into the Animus. "Hey, you guys owe me breakfast."

"How about we owe you lunch?" Rebecca said as she pushed me down and started hitting keys.