A/N: Another chapter! I'm going to skip ahead a little bit. It's going to FINNALY get a bit romance-y. This is almost all romance.

Decisions

Chapter 8: Courting and Reconciliation

Connor's POV-Six Months Later

It has been a long six months. Six months filled with training and missions. Six months without my parents. I seem to always be busy, either settling the Homestead for Achilles or doing an assassination. Achilles likes to call my missions "experience missions". He says I get little accomplished, but I do gain knowledge of how to handle myself in certain situations. In the past six months, I have perfected my skills and made my first kill. I settled land, made friends, and even met a girl I am beginning to like. Her name is Evangeline Williams. When I met her I was fifteen and her seventeen; she was lost. Being a nice person, I said she could stay at our inn. Corrine eventually convinced her to settle on the land. She is a fantastic seamstress, so she decided to help Ellen with her tailoring.

I grin. At the age of sixteen, Father would be looking for someone I would court with. I miss Father and Ista immensely, but not enough to go back home. Yet. When I manage to get a bit of free time, I walk down to the shop to see Evangeline. And it just so happens that today is one of those free days. Achilles relieved of training for once. I have recently earned the Assassins robes, I finished the last experience missions and Achilles said I was ready. In a week, he plans to send me to assassinate Johnson. I suck in a breath, Johnson was my favorite of Father's "business partners", but it had to be done. I look down the trail, not many animals are present today. Looks like a hard day for Myriam. Myriam, another settler, is a fine huntress. I'd almost say as skilled as I, almost.

The shop is in my sight, Evangeline sits on a tree stump. She appears to be doing her needlework. I smile. Ever the seamstress. When she notices me, she smiles. She knows I like her, and I know she has some sort of attraction towards me. I breathe in to let all nervousness out; she is one of the few people who could make me squirm at the slightest word. I plan to ask her to court me as soon as I get my courage up. I take a moment to admire her before advancing. I was used to beautiful women around me, but she was absolutely gorgeous. She has long, wavy black hair that curls at the ends. Her skin is a shade lighter than mine, showing that she is mixed as I am. She is English and Italian. Her eyes are a beautiful shade of green. She is short, her head coming up to only about my chest. She is slim, but not as slim as the colonial women. She has wide childbearing hips, a small waist, and ample bust. After admiring her beauty, I stride to her.

"Connor! It is always a pleasure to see you!"

She seems rather happy today. I assume she finished another article of clothing.

"Hello Evangeline, aren't you in a happy mood. What is it that has you so excited?"

She blushes.

"Oh it is nothing, just another sale."

She's lying. I can detect that easily. She never thinks that a sale is a minor accomplishment. I try not to pry, but curiosity, as it often does, gets the best of me.

"You are lying, Evangeline. If you do not wish to tell me, there will be no harm done. But, I wish to know what makes you so happy."

My grin slowly fades into a flat line. She notices almost immediately and contemplates on telling me the answer.

"Well I guess the answer would be you. I think it is extremely sweet that you take time to visit me when you're free. There are many other beautiful unmarried maidens on this land at the inn. So it brings me joy to know you'd rather spend time with me than play with other girls."

What? That was unexpected. Pink shades my cheeks; I silently pray she doesn't notice.

"Well, you are one of my favorite people on the Homestead. I like to see you and talk to you. I'd best be off though. Warren asked for my assistance with the crops today."

I smile hoping she didn't notice my little white lie. I didn't want this conversation to start to start going in that direction just yet. We say our goodbyes and I make my way back to the manor. My mind drifts off to Evangeline. He beautiful raven hair and her soft skin. I make the decisions to start courting her after my I assassinate William Johnson.

~Haytham's POV~

It has been the worst six months of my life. Ziio has become very distant, not letting me touch her or even have long conversations with her. She blames it on fatigue, but I know she misses Connor just as much as I do. I long for her affection, but the most I can get out of her is to sleep in the same room with me. I know she loves me as I do her, but she is depressed. Her visits to her village slowly dwindled from once a week to once a month. She is empty without her child, her eyes totally vacant. I know she knows of the Templars and Assassins, and I know she knows that the odds of seeing Connor again are thin. But, she wishes and hopes to see him once more.

As for the Order, everyone was devastated when Connor became a turncoat. Hickey was the most saddened out of the group.

"Why? The lad had so much potential. He was an excellent fighter and a smart man too. He'll certainly make a worthy opponent." Hickey said.

This was the most sense I've heard from his mouth since I met him. Connor would indeed make a skilled opponent. He knew all of our weaknesses, for we showed him them in training. He was dangerous. Charles was the least surprised. Charles nearly hated the boy, all because of his Native heritage. The boys miss him, of course not as much as I. I've considered going back for him; I know we will cross paths once again, and if we do, I'd like it to be on somewhat friendly terms.

I try to think of some way I could convince him to come home with his family. After Connor left, I had a revelation. When Connor was born, all I was thinking about was the heir to the Order. Now, I see I was an idiot. If I had loved my son then like I do now, I would've kept him as far from this damn war as possible. If I had been the father I should've Connor would be right here, living a normal life. Hell, he might've actually started courting someone! I deserve to wallow in my anguish. I caused Connor to leave.

I try to switch gears. I have work I should be doing and a wife I should be keeping a close watch on. I decide that the Order can wait and climb up the stairs to Ziio and I's bedroom. When I turn the doorknob, I find her sitting on the bed sketching something. Always an artist. I silently sit next to her, relishing in our closeness. I decide that it would be safe to hold her hand so I gently lift my right hand and place it on her left. She doesn't object, I allow a smile to graze my countenance for a tenth of a second. She sets her quill and paper on her nightstand and turns her body so that she faces me.

Her expression is unreadable and I could almost taste the tension in the room. I stared into her eyes hoping she would see how desperately I needed her to be my wife. In a brief act of courage, I lift my hands and bring them to her face. I caress her cheek and then wipe my thumb over her eyebrow, something I've done since we've been together. She sighs, probably contemplating on whether to reject or accept me. She wraps her delicate hands around my wrists, pulling my hands down to my side. She is about to say something, but she thinks better of it.

"Ziio, we can't keep doing this. I know how sad you are about Connor, but he probably won't be coming back."

"I know, konoronhkwa. But, Ratonhnhak'e:ton will always be my beloved son. He should be that to you as well, no matter what side you fight on."

I smile, it has been a while since she referred to me with a term of endearment. Then it occurs to me that she knows of the war of the Assassins and Templars.

"Since when have you known?" I try not to look completely confused, but I think I failed miserably.

"Since I married you and met your 'friends'. I noticed something odd about your work so I talked to as many people as I could and gathered enough information." Ziio smirks.

"Well, I guess since you know everything, I don't have to explain. Good. That would have been a long, gory story."

She nods, understanding how hard it is for me to communicate such things. I continue speaking.

"Ziio, I know I haven't told you everything. I know that I caused Connor to leave, but I need you to be my wife. I need to know that I will always have you. I love you, and from now on I promise not to keep anything from you again."

She starts tearing up, but besides that her face hasn't changed. She lets her voice, thick with tears, fill the air.

"I still didn't hear 'I'm sorry'." She manages out.

I smile.

"I'm sorry, my dearest. I promise not to make the same mistake again."

She leans up to give me a long kiss, actually on the lips. She smiles up at me and I return her smile with a toothy grin.

"I forgive you, Haytham. I love you too."

A/N: WOOHOO! Another chapter down! This was a long one! Sorry for the lack of Connor. What did you think of Connor's crush? Isn't she pretty! Hope you enjoyed it! Thanks for reading! Now be a friend and REVIEW! Have a great day! =D