A/N: Hey guys! As of right now I'm number eleven under most reviewed Connor fanfictions! That's amazing! Thanks so much for reading and reviewing. THEY MAKE ME LOVE YOU!

Decisions

Chapter 13: Reencounter

Haytham's POV

(Parentheses mean Mohawk Language)

Day 1

Frontier, mid-afternoon

It has been a few hours since Ziio and I left our home in pursuit of Connor's Homestead, or whatever it's called. She is bubbly in attitude, happiest I've seen her in a little while. She has been silent for the little time we've been out, but I can tell she's excited to be back in the forest with the animals. She still comes often, but for her safety, I ask her not to go any deeper than Lexington. I can tell that she's missed the days of her youth when she flung herself from tree to tree, preying on any unlikely game that would pass her. I smile at the thought of Ziio doing the same things as forty-one-year-old woman. I look down to her small frame and realize that she hasn't changed a bit. She is still small in stature, but great in power. She had always possessed the ability to make any man come to his knees in her presence, or perhaps that was just me.

I look ahead of us to the open path. There isn't a whole lot to look at in the Frontier. The most I see this deep in the forest is a farm every now and then. I feel a small pressure on my shoulder and I look down to see Ziio with her eyes closed.

"Tired?" I ask.

"No, just resting my eyes. As much as I miss the comforting smell of trees and the scenery of such green vegetation, it becomes boring after five or more hours."

I chuckle and her head bounces against my shoulder.

"I couldn't agree with you more. Despite your boredom with the travel, I can tell you're very excited inside. Mind to enlighten me on why?"

"Haytham, you are not stupid. You know good and well why I am excited. I'm anticipating seeing Ratonhnhake:ton. It has been the first time in about six or so months that I've seen him."

I frown at the realization that what she says is true. I may have seen Connor a few weeks ago, but Ziio hasn't seen him since the day he left for his first mission. No wonder why she was worried sick about Connor when I saw him. Ziio seems to leave the conversation with that so I let my thoughts drift to Connor. He probably would never assume that I would join him. Hell, he probably thought I would've killed him on sight, but the boy knew better than to fight me when he was still so early in his training. Despite all I have learned as a Templar, I don't think I would ever be able to kill my own flesh and blood if it came to such a battle. It's one thing to have your boy taken away by your previous enemy, but to kill him yourself would be heart-wrenchingly painful.

I continue thinking about my now sixteen-year-old son. He has matured nicely, his chest has broadened and he almost stands at my height of 6'2". He probably has the women of his Homestead gushing and bowing before his feet. I let out another small chuckle at the picture of grown, married women groveling and kissing the very ground my son walked on. Us Kenways always had an excellent gift to please the eye of any nearby woman. I continue down the dirt path to Connor's Homestead, anxious to see what awaits me.

Connor's POV
Homestead, Night

After my outing with Evangeline, I decided to ask Achilles about how he went about pleasing his woman, gift-wise. He said that most women appreciated flowers, romance, and any other sentimental trinket. He left it at that, but that won't help me in the least bit, for Evangeline is not a woman to be associated with items. I sigh at my lack of knowledge with women, this being the only time I wish I had interacted with the Bostonian women.

I get out of my bed covered by a red comforter and decide to go to the basement after realizing that I am far from sleep. On my way down the stairs, I hear the old man snoring in his old red throne-chair. I chuckle, I never seem to understand why he doesn't go to sleep in his bed. Wouldn't that be more comfortable? Oh, well. I continue to the basement entrance and pull the candle holder. After pushing the door open, I make way to the small armory. I scan my eyes over the many, lethal weapons. I look over the rope-dart and smile at the memory of trying to use it on one of Myriam's attackers for practice. I roll my eyes left to glance at my stone Tomahawk. Out of habit, I reach for my Assassin Tomahawk and remember that it is night and I am supposed to be sleeping. I let the reaching hand hang off my hip instead and look to the flint-rock weapon once again.

I can't help but let the memory of how I earned it flow into my head once again.

("Ratonhnhake:ton, now that you've mastered the way of hunting with a bow, I think it is time I reward you with your first hand weapon.)" I look up at Ista with one of the brightest smiles I could plaster on my face. I try not to look or feel conceited, but such is hard when you are barely twelve years of age and you provide almost all the food supply for your second home by yourself. She hands me the medium-sized flint weapon and I quickly stow it in one of my free belt notches. I wrap my already somewhat muscular arms around her. I smirk when I realize I stand taller than her height of 5'4".

"(Thank you, Mother! I will use it wisely, to provide meat for our family and village alike.)"

"(As I would expect no less, Ratonhnhake:ton. Now run along, the hunt is still afoot. We will never get anything done by standing around. Come!)"

I jog when I see Ista climb up the limb of a fallen tree and fling herself to the nearest whole tree.

I snap out of trance when I hear footsteps behind me. I turn around to attack out of instinct and I immediately see the Old Man lift his cane to parry my fury of punches and slashes.

"Dammit, boy! It is only I, your mentor who has provided for you since your arrival."

"My apologies, Achilles. I assure you it was nothing but instinct." I let my head hang in shame.

"Don't worry, war will do that to people. Believe me when I say this: alertness is the least you'll suffer." I nod in understanding and lift my head to meet the Old Man's gaze. "You best get to bed, boy. You will probably have work to do."

"Probably?" I sense a notion of hope in my voice. Maybe I could spend some time with Evangeline tomorrow.

"I relieve of you training for tomorrow; I believe you won't need it much longer. By work, I mean that woman that you are infatuated with." I contemplate on debating over that fact that my feelings for Evangeline are more than "infatuation", but he is right. I haven't been with Evangeline long enough in a romantic sense to know if my feelings have grown. Of course I am attracted to her exotic beauty and her jaunty mien. But, "love" is most likely a good ways away. "You best get to bed, boy. It will be morning in a few hours." With that, he walks off back to his room, leaving me where I stand. Sighing, I make my way back up the stairs to my room.

Day 2

Frontier, mid-afternoon

Haytham's POV

Ziio and I made excellent time yesterday, so now we only have a few more hours of travel left. I look to my right and see looking toward a small body of water. Sensing it's time for a break, I pull the horses off the road and halt the carriage. I feel Ziio's confused eyes on me.

"Why did you stop?" She asks, blunt as always.

"Well, you were looking very longingly to that small lake over yonder, and I thought it'd be a good idea to rest for a bit. Stretch our legs and what not." I reply laxly.

"Thank you. How long do you plan on resting?"

"Only an hour or so, why do you ask?"

"I think I'll go for a short swim. It has been a while since I've been able to be in a natural lake."

"Go for it, then. I'll be over here, holler if you need anything." She nods in acknowledgment of my comment and then starts to a slow jog to the lake. I tip my hat so that it covers my eyes ever so slightly as I watch her depart. Ziio climbs up a small tree and then performs a swan-dive into the water. I smile as I see the splash. Only a few more hours until I see him, a few more hours until the world I currently know burns to nothing but ashes.

Connor's POV

Homestead

When I awake, I immediately remember my plans for the day. Giddy with excitement, I rise from my bed and attire myself in my normal white robes. After a quick exchange of words with Achilles, I make way to the shop. While on the dirt path that leads to Ellen's shop, Godfrey and Terry approach me.

"Oi, Godfrey, it's Connor! How're you doin' today, lad?" Terry starts.

"I am faring well, how about you two?"

"Normal, thanks for askin'." Godfrey replies. Terry begins again.

"We were just wondering about the young lass we saw you with a few days ago. Was that Ellen's apprentice, oh what was it, ah Evangeline?"

"Yes, Terry. Evangeline and I have recently begun courting-" Godfrey interrupts.

"That's great, lad! We'll be waitin' for the wedding! Terry and I should let you go about your way. Have a great day!" He begins to pull Terry when he resists leaving.

"I was gonna ask him-" He tries to say. Godfrey cuts him off.

"That's his business, and we've got places to be." Terry finally agrees and follows Godfrey off. I shake my head and continue to the shop. I am stopped in my tracks when I see Norris running toward me with Myriam at his side. He bares a look of urgency on his face.

"What's wrong, Norris?"

"Myriam and I saw an Englishman and an Indian woman coming over the cliffs, they were in a large carriage. We were wondering if you might know who they are." Norris replies with haste. Myriam nods in approval with her significant other.

"I know them all too well…I'll be back." I run off leaving Norris and Myriam confused. If my parents are here, I hope it is not to stir trouble. Maybe Father did the right thing? Nonsense, don't get your hopes up. He's in way too deep to give up his whole life. I try to reason myself to think logically, but I cannot help the flutter of hope in my heart.

I sprint to the edge of Homestead grounds when I see the back of the carriage Norris spoke of. I pull my hood over my head as precaution and run in front of the horses.

"Stop! You tread on private property!" I stare out the corner of my eye and see Ista staring at me teary-eyed. It seems she didn't take my departure very well. Father looks down at me with blank eyes. After a few seconds of awkward staring, Ista hops off the seat of the carriage and jogs over to me. She wraps her small arms around me as best she can.

"Ratonhnhake:ton, my beloved son. It has been too long." She trembles in my arms for a while. I embrace her tightly as does she to me. Father, too, leaps of the seat and comes to my side.

"Connor, I believe we have some business to take care of."

"Yes, we do." I reply.

A/N: Sorry for the super long update wait! I hate it when people take forever to update and for lagging I am truly sorry! I had the worst case of Writer's Block. Since I have Monday off for President's Day, I might do another chapter this weekend. Thanks for having faith in me! Now, be a friend and REVIEW! They make me love you. Look at the box under this message and type words…I will give you a hug.