A/N: Thanks for the reviews! They make me happy! I would like to especially thank Shadow's Painting, LeafySummers, and Ghostukine. Thanks for being so diligent in reviewing! =D

Decisions

Chapter 9: Face-Off

Haytham's POV

I am currently in one of the Indian villages with Johnson. We wish to purchase this land so we may protect it. The Indians protest against us, demanding we evacuate at once. Some yell curses at us in their native language and the one that speak English beg us to leave. Johnson tries to calm them, but there is no success. I sigh. At this rate, we'll be here all day. I need to get home to Ziio; we actually plan to do something today. Deciding it's too much to stand, I sit cross-legged on the grass. I pick up a twig and draw a few circles in the earth when I see a flash of white out of the corner of my eye.

I unsheathe my sword and advance toward the white-robed being. When I get close enough, I can see that it's Connor. Knowing that danger is soon to follow, I crouch in the bushes. Best to see how good he is now. He climbs up one of the nearby houses and flings himself to a tree branch. It occurs to me that he's going after Johnson. I burrow into the bushes a little more. If he sees me, I'll surely be next. He comes up to the tree overlooking Johnson and performs an air assassination on him. I wince; this will get bloody very quickly. I sprint out of the bushes into the fight. If I want to talk to Connor, I must make sure he doesn't die.

I unsheathe my sword once again and begin my attack. I stab a redcoat and then manage to block an incoming musket. Eventually, it dwindles down to one large hessian. Connor has acknowledged me, but has made no move to kill me. I take that as a sign that he may have some questions as well. I hold the hessian while Connor shoots. After the fight is over, he runs for the trees. He knows I won't kill him, and he uses that to his advantage. I groan. Why must he be so damn difficult?! I start to sprint after him, but he has the advantage of tree climbing. I will never master that; I've been trying to since I met Ziio. Realizing that it is not possible to catch up with him, I resort to begging.

"Connor, dammit! I only wish to talk!" I chuckle, it dawns on me that this is exactly how I met Ziio.

He stops. I bend over to catch my breath. I am too old to be chasing after a sixteen-year-old boy! He jumps off the tree and lands directly in front of me.

"I have nothing to say to you. You may be my father, but you are still my enemy."

His words cut deeper than any blade could. I don't know what I will say to him, but I need him to come back. I need him to be my son.

"Connor, as much as you may hate me right now, you need to listen. I am so sorry for what I've put you through. You are my son and I love you more than anything in the world. I know now that if I had loved like I do now when you were born, I would've kept you as far from the Templars and Assassins as possible. But, if I did, you would become a target. You were doomed at birth. I'm sorry that it took me so long to realize that."

I hate to speak of such mushy things, but he needed to hear it. I wish I could take his hood off so I could see his reaction. From what I can see, his face is just a flat line. Not being able to take the silence, I speak.

"Say something, son."

He doesn't respond. I wish he were still a small child, because if he was I could lift him into my arms and he would think nothing of what I've done. But, he's not a child, he is nearly a man.

"I appreciate your apology, and I forgive you. But, you know this can't end well. As much as I'd like to ignore everything you've done, I can't. I told you six months ago that you either join me or you will die. You make that choice. You have done wrong. If you truly wish for me to be your son again, you know where to find me. If we meet again on unfriendly terms, I will not hesitate to kill you. But, I really hope it won't have to come to that. I know you can rise above the Templars. I know you can be something better, but that's a choice you make."

I let his word sink in. I do want to have him by my side once more, but am I really willing to totally change my lifestyle. I am getting older, but I can't stand to see my son so far from my grasp. I decide to sleep on it once I return home, maybe I'll ask Ziio. I decide to make one last request before I leave.

"Let me see your face, son."

He's reluctant, but eventually pulls down the hood. He hasn't changed much. His build is a bit sturdier, but that comes with age. The most noticeable difference is his hair. He has it tied back into a short ponytail instead of out. I smile; he resembles me quite a bit. He doesn't say anything. After a minute, he pulls his hood back over his eyes and begins to retreat. I contemplate on asking him to say goodbye, but I think better of it. I haven't seen him in a little over half a year and I rather not get deeper on his bad side than I already am. I actually for the first time in a long time feel genuinely happy. I whistle for a horse to make way for Boston. I think about what I am to do with the situation at hand. I can't have Connor and still be the Grandmaster of the Templars. I must switch sides; it is exactly what I need to do. Now I just need to find a way to tell Ziio.

A/N: So Haytham is gonna be the good guy! Decisions will be maybe 15-20 chapters. The main focus will be getting Haytham accustomed to the Brotherhood again. Also I wish to add some more ConnorxEvangeline fluff. Once I finish Decisions, I plan to write a fic just about their life. Remember be a friend and REVIEW! It will make me love you. Also tell me what direction you think this story is going to go in! I have a few ideas, but I'd like to see what you think.