A/N: Whew! This chapter was tough for me to write! I just started back at college and damn, they already got me working hard. I hope you all enjoy the newest installment of the story! It definitely has a lot of Ezio/Aria moments but also some Ezio/Cristina moments. With that being said. THERE ARE SPOILERS FOR BROTHERHOOD AHEAD (at least the repressed memory missions), I will label the spots as you come to them. If you don't want to read the spoilers, you can still make it to the assassination without being spoiled. haha. R&R! (I cannot stress that enough, lol!) :3

Disclaimer: I don't own Assassin's Creed...

Thanks to every that reviewed (and favorited and put the story on their alerts! So far, I have 5,601 hits to this story!):

emochild123456: *NOT THE COOKIES ::::((((! lol; I love the idea! I will have to see how the story goes first but, I really like the idea! There definitely needs to be more Assassin's (at least, I think so). Thanks for the suggestion! We'll see when we get to Venice if some other Assassin's will be joining Aria and Ezio. ;)*
WolfAngel75
amica
RandomDoughnut: *It will definitely be an emotional chapter but do not fear! There will also be some sexiness :D (I'll most likely be bumping up the rating of the story once I get to that part of the story!)*
Commentaholic: *Thanks for the review! I am super glad that you like the story. I try my best to go over my chapters before posting them but some errors just escape my notice sometimes!*
Anna Cahil
Shelleythesnail
& kimaurameshi: *I believe that you will enjoy this chapter. I had been wondering to myself what I could possibly do with the whole Ezio/Cristina thing... My Ezio is a womanizer, that's for sure, but I hope that with upcoming chapters I will be able to expand more on his emotions and what he's really thinking (at least how I prefer him thinking in my head XD).*

If I Surrender

Chapter 8: Here We Go Again

Ezio and I woke up early the next day after a long night of going over what we knew of Francesco de Pazzi, maps of the areas surrounding the church, and trying to find easy exits and detours for when the guards are chasing us, which truly is unavoidable. Leonardo helped us see the flaws in our plans and showed us a better way to execute them. I felt relieved that we had his help. I had not ever planned an assassination without the help of my father before and I was feeling more than a little anxious to see how things eventually played out.

I was standing over yet another map in Leonardo's study, going over the plan again and again, when Ezio came in. He was carrying two dainty cups of hot tea and he passed one to me, which I accepted graciously and without comment. We both drank our tea in silence, neither of us have ever been morning people; at least, that was what I learned in our few short years together. In fact, that always seemed to be the time that Ezio was the most deadly; although, I'd say it was due to his short temper in the mornings. I had to learn this the hard way a few years back.

Leonardo bounded in, eventually, breaking the silence with a cheerful hello. I responded in kind but Ezio just grumbled back. But being the ray of sunshine that Leonardo is, he pats Ezio on the back with a few hard thumps, causing him to jump in surprise. Leonardo laughed and I couldn't help but chuckle at Ezios' sullen face.

"Aria, my assistant has brought you what you asked for." Leonardo suddenly turns serious as he passed the package to me. I nodded my thanks and he smiled brightly in return. Ezio watched the two of us, suspiciously and he eyes the package after I lay it on the table in front of me.

"What is that?" Ezio asked suddenly, causing me and Leonardo to look up quickly. Leonardo and I exchange a glance both wondering what Ezio would do if he knew and if we should just go ahead and tell him now. After giving him a rather pointed look, Leonardo excuses himself from the room. I shrugged at Ezio before opening the package to reveal a long, crimson cape.

"It's for the escape." I said as I pulled it out fully. It was almost an exact replica of Ezios' own cape. I held it out in front of us and we both studied the craftsmanship of it.

"I already have a cape." Ezio says as he runs his fingers over the soft material. I rolled my eyes at him before I pulled it back towards me.

"I know that." I said with exasperation in my voice. "It's for me, idiota."

He glances up at me with disbelief in his honey comb eyes. "I thought you said capes are a horrid idea?"

"They are! What happens if you're running and a guard just reaches out and grabs it? Or you're turning a sharp corner and it snags on the stones?" I counter back, coolly.

Ezio looked at the cape then at me and back again. "I don't understand why you have it then." He grinned at me swiftly with a impish gleam in his eye. "What is it they say? Oh, yes. 'Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.' I had no idea you admired me so."

I scoffed and glared at him, "Don't flatter yourself." I paused and frowned, knowing that there is a chance that Ezio would get a huge ego boost out of what I am about to tell him. There was also the chance of him getting very, very angry. I take a deep breath before whispering, "But, yes, I am imitating you."

"What?" Ezio seemed dumbfounded and slightly angry. I took this chance to pull my cape into place. After struggling with the clasps for a few seconds, Ezio steps forward and helps me. His fingers are moving quickly over the clasps and I suddenly realize how close he is standing to me. I can't help but think of the other morning causing my face to flush slightly.

"Grazie." I thanked him quietly but when I see that his eyes are darkened in anger, I can tell that the conversation isn't over yet.

"Tell me the meaning of this, bella." His usual compliment come out in a low growl and I am suddenly very thankful that we are both on the same side of the war. I shook my head and started to head for the door. "Aria." I stopped as I heard the warning in his voice and sighed as I turned back around.

"You have to get Lorenzo and Guilano out safely; you can't do that with guards on your tail." I flourished my cape to him as dramatically as I have ever seen him do. "I aim to lessen the amount."

He crossed his arms across his chest and gives me that look. You know, the one where his mind is made up and there is nothing I can do to change it. Or so he thinks. I plant my own hands on my hips and level my gaze back at his.

"It is simply out of the question."

"Why?"

"You're a woman!" Ezio raised his voice briefly before lowering it back to normal again. "If they captured you… Do you have no idea what they would do to you?"

"Ezio, I may be a woman but, I am trained to be unbreakable. No amount of pain and torture will change that." My fists were curled at my sides tightly and I was close to losing my temper. "I am very well aware of the risks."

"No, you obviously are not!" Ezio exclaimed and reach out to grab my fist. He gently opened my hand and held it; his gaze never leaving my own and we stood in silence, each of us trying to convey our thoughts to the other. His eyes were pleading for me not to put myself in danger but I couldn't be that selfish. I am an Assassin, a protector of the people that could not be heard; I should not be put on the sideline just because I'm a woman! "Please…" Ezio, all of the sudden, sounds more tired than I have ever heard him before.

"Ezio, I'm touched, truly." Ezio smiled charmingly and kissed the back of my hand for the extra effect. I shook my head as I pulled my hand away. He pouted a little as I continued, "But also, I'm a little insulted that you think I cannot handle myself. I'm not a little girl, Ezio."

"Si, I know. I am just worried for your safety." I reach out and patted his cheek as I walked by him to leave the room. Ezio placed his own hand over mine and I paused in my steps to look over to him.

"Just remember the plan and everything will be okay." He let go of my hand after a second of us both just staring at the other and nodded. We both grab extra supplies and head out to get to work.

Ezio and I stood in a shadowed alley just across from the church. It was a cramped space that had Ezio walking in front of me; I edged my way around an old ladder and took note of its placement. That could be useful, I thought to myself as Ezio came to a halt in front of me. He leaned back flat against the wall and nodded his head towards the church, signaling for me to take a look. I edged around him until we are face to face and start to scan the crowds for any sign of Francesco.

"Do you see them?" I asked and his eyes glazed over reminding me that I should ask him about his power sometime as it seems very interesting. I continued to scan the crowds with him. He nudged my arm and tilted his head to the north of us. A man dressed in blue and gold was leading his lady through the crowds, nodding to the people with grace. The woman threw smiles to different people and her dress was green and brown; simple but elegant.

"There's Lorenzo, and his wife." Ezio whispered as he watched a guard pass by our hiding spot, both of us barely even daring to breathe. We are both back to surveying the crowd, looking for any sign of Francesco when Ezio whispers to me again. "There's Guilano; Lorenzo's brother. But where is Francesco?" This man was dressed in a simpler outfit than his brother, though of the same color. He was accompanied by two women, as well. I strained my eyes to the best of their abilities to try and pick the man out of the large crowd.

"There he is." I pointed out to the black cap and a red and white feather that were floating among the sea of people crowded before the church. "Time to strike." Ezio and I gave each other a last fleeting look as we both parted ways; he was going into the courtyard as I climbed my way to the roof. I could hear screaming and angry Italian rolling up from the courtyard; clashes of metal and more screaming. Once I was on the rooftop, I kept to the shadows but kept a watchful eye out for Ezio. He was making his way through the crowd as the fat man in red ran forward and stabbed Guilano. The man fell back momentarily before leaping up and trying to escape, only to be foiled by Francesco. I searched for anywhere I could reach him but it was Ezio who was in charge of his safety so I turned my gaze to Lorenzo.

The man was turning towards his brother, getting ready to charge over and help him as the priest behind him held up a long dagger. I was running and leaping across rooftops somehow managing to not drawn attention. I could see the priest lifting his arm getting ready to strike and I tried to run faster. I couldn't make it in time and I hear Lorenzo let out a cry of pain. The priest raised his arm again, intending to stab Lorenzo once more but I was closer this time and I threw out two knives, impaling the two priests.

I saw Ezio leaning over Guilanos' body out of the corner of my eyes; Ezio was closing his eyes as Francesco charged at Lorenzo with his sword held high. He stopped before Lorenzo and screamed out, "Your day is done, Lorenzo! Your entire family dies by my sword!"

Suddenly, guards start pouring into the area and I see Ezio freeze, unsure of what to do before running to Lorenzo's' side and deflecting a blow from Francesco. I pulled out more throwing knives and leap down from the roof into the dark alley and began to throw the knives from the shadows. I was taking plenty of men down and the other men began looking around, trying to find the person attacking them and that caused them to leave serious opens for Ezio to exploit. I could tell that Lorenzo was beginning to get more tired as his shoulders were slumping and Ezio was looking toward him more and more often and always sticking close to his side.

Soon enough, Ezio, with a little help from me, finished off all the guards and was forced to watch as Francesco runs the opposite way from both of us. I turn my eyes back to Lorenzo and Ezio to see them speaking; Lorenzo dropped to the ground and Ezio rushed to help him back up. I watched as Lorenzo pointed Ezio towards the opposite direction and I see Ezio nod in return; are they just going to forget about Francesco? I wondered to myself as I notice Ezio is walking briskly towards the dark alley and enters with Lorenzo in tow.

"He needs help. We need to get to his home but there will be many guards chasing us." I can see Lorenzo looking at me curiously as Ezio speaks to me. "Can you handle it?" I gave him a brief nod before stepping out of the alley and into the church courtyard. I shrugged my cape over my shoulder and began to walk down the streets, keeping my eyes peeled for guards. Out of the corner of my eyes I can see the piles of bodies that were now covering the cobblestone streets and looking around, I saw frightened faces and heard loud screams when I come into sight.

"There he is! Get him!" I heard multiple shouts from behind me and I glanced back, spotting four or five guards before I broke out into a run. "Get back here!" They continued to yell at me as we ran, making me wonder how they still had any breath left to run on. Shaking my head, I turned a sharp corner and barreled my way into more guards. Fantastic, I thought to myself as I ran towards the man blocking my path before jumping into the air and landing my feet on his shoulders before I jumped again to a sign and a way to a rooftop. I almost laughed at how easy this was; I looked over the rooftops and saw a flash of white that I could only assume was Ezio and began to lead the guards further and further away from the direction he was going in.

After I was able to successfully escape the hordes of guards that were storming the streets, I made my way towards a meeting place that Ezio and I picked out in case we were separated. I appeared to have made it there before him so I sat on the edge of the well and waited. I waited for quite some time and my patience was wearing thin as I tapped my fingers against the edge of the well. I could faintly hear silent footsteps making their way towards me.

"Aria!" Ezios' voice came from behind me and filled up our meeting point with its deep timbre. "Come," He said once he was in my view. "We must go to the Palazzo de la Signoria. Francesco hides on the roof surrounded by his guard!"

"Codardo," I hissed as we left the meeting area in haste, all but running to our destination. I could see that Ezio was covered in blood but he did not appear to be hurt so I shook it off and allowed my mind to focus on Francesco. We walked briskly until finally making it to the large building. Standing at the bottom, we both looked up and gave small sighs at the size. Nothing can ever be easy, can it? I think to myself as we size up the building.

"You remember the fastest route up this building, yes?" I asked, turning my eyes from the building to Ezio. He shrugged, glancing up at me impatiently, his honey colored eyes were filled with concentration and determination. "Stick to the plan, Ezio." I said, seriously, as we began out ascent to the top of the building. Side by side, we climbed higher and higher, occasionally reaching over ledges to throw off pesky guards or to throw a well-aimed knife to an unsuspecting guard.

As we climbed, I could hear Francesco's voice shouting out from above. He was trying to taunt Ezio and tell him that he was only delaying an inevitable end. I could hear Ezio telling me that we were getting closer and I felt my body start tensing up in anticipation as I watched Ezio climbing above me.

As we walked onto the roof, we noticed that we were becoming surrounded by more and more men. We pressed our backs together, keeping our blades out and at the ready for anything. The guards would taunt us and try to jump at us to see how we would react; Ezio would only taunt back but I was growing angry and tired of their words.

A guard jumped towards me with his sword raised above his head. Using my superior skills, my hand flashed out and grabbed his wrist making it impossible for him to impale me with his blade and pressed my long sword through his stomach. He dropped and then all hell broke loose. It seemed like all the guards decided to attack us at once causing me and Ezio press against each other harder in an attempt to stay connected and unharmed. Another man ran forward, trying to swipe me from the side but I deflect his blade easily before slitting his throat with my hidden blade; my sleeves and robes were becoming more splattered by blood by the minute.

"Guards! GUARDS!" Francesco was screaming angrily as Ezio and I defeated the last of his guards. Ezio pushed a last guard off the roof before turning toward Francesco with a deadly gleam in his eye.

"No one's coming. It's just us now." Ezios' voice is low and deadly and I almost shiver at hearing it. Francesco actually does shiver and he cursed us both before throwing himself from the building. Not taking any chances, I bolted from Ezios' side and leap off the building towards the only hay pile I can see. I heard Ezio yell after me as I jumped but at the moment, Francesco was a bigger problem. We couldn't let him escape, not after all he has seen of us. Especially me, the Templars do not need to know that there is another, female, Assassin.

As I am falling through the air, I can see Francesco struggling to get out of the hay pile. He seemed to have hurt something during the fall and couldn't lift himself all the way out. As I flew closer and closer to him, I flicked my wrist back and allowed my hidden blade to emerge and then disappear in the mans neck as I landed on the body with a thud. I retracted my blade only after I am sure he is dead. I felt Ezio come up beside me and he leaned over to shut the mans eyes.

"Meglio essere felici in questa vita che aspirare a esserlo nella prossima." He whispered to the corpse as I looked towards the sky.

"Requiescat in pace." I whispered as well.

Ezio and I parted ways for a time, promising to meet the other soon. Ezio left to go speak with Lorenzo and hopefully gather more information about where we were to strike next. I had thought of coming with him to meet Lorenzo but we ended up deciding that the less people know of me, the better. With my upcoming marriage coming faster each day, I had to grow more careful. The Templars would much more watchful if they heard that another Assassin was about, especially a woman. They would check and recheck each and every woman they came in contact with; my missing finger would be a dead giveaway.

I found myself walking down the streets of Firenze without a real destination in mind. The assassination had gone well; although Ezio and I had not been able to save Lorenzo's family, something that I prayed Lorenzo wouldn't hold against us. We had tried, there had been many more guards than we could have anticipated. I shook my head and lowered my hood, letting my hair fall free; there were very few people wondering the streets after this hour so I didn't worry about it too much. I glanced up at the position of the sun; Ezio should be coming to meet me soon as it was growing closer to dusk. I snatched an apple or two from a merchants stand as his back was turned; winking at a small child that had spotted the deed, causing him to giggle loudly.

I turned onto a more deserted street that had no merchants and the like and slowed my pace. I finished up my apple and threw the core to my side but I heard two thuds instead of the one. Stopping and turning around, I glanced at the apple strangely before I looked around the abandoned street and at the buildings lining it. The only thing that I could see was a lone eagle soaring above the city. Shrugging my shoulders, I turned back around only to find Ezio about two inches in front of me.

I smiled and said casually, "Bene, Ezio. I almost didn't know you were there."

"Ah, you are always too hard to sneak up on!" Ezio laughed heartily and fell into step beside me. I passed him an apple which he devoured faster than I would have thought possible. I watched with wide eyes as he destoryed the apple.

"How is Lorenzo?" I asked as he threw his apple to the side. He lowered his hood and I looked away; I couldn't let him distract me from Assassin business with that charming smile and those lovely eyes. I shook my head again; did I really just think that about Ezio? I must be getting too much sunlight.

"Much better now." Ezio answered, before pushing me into a small alley. The alley wasn't really made for two people to be standing face to face, so we were pushed together so close that I felt like I couldn't breathe. Of course, this alley was forcing me to stare up and Ezio. Which was bad for my concentration. "Reach into my pocket."

"What?" I exclaimed, giving him my best 'you've got to be kidding' look.

"Sheesh, Aria, get your mind out of the gutter!" Ezio chuckled at what he thought was a clever joke. I could barely contain my blush as I reach into Ezios' pockets, searching for whatever it was that he… Oh! I thought as I wrapped my fingers around the familiar object.

"A codex page!" I said excitedly as I unrolled it as best I could in the alley, laying it across Ezios' chest, much to his dismay.

"I also have a lead." Ezio said through his chuckles at my excited behavior. "We should head back to Monteriggioni soon."

"The rest of the Pazzi?" I guessed and Ezio seemed taken aback.

"How did you guess so easily?"

****SPOILER ALERT****

I shrugged and stepped back out onto the street. "Just a hunch." Ezio didn't reply and I looked over at him to see him glancing at a house. He would look away and then look back, like he couldn't make up his mind. "Hoping to see someone, Ezio?" I asked playfully and he stopped in his tracks.

"What makes you say that?"

"If you want to go see her, we can." I said, laughing as he frowned at me. I hoped that I wasn't incorrect in my guessing; though, I very rarely was.

"I don't know…" Ezio murmured as his eyes were drawn to an open window. As we stepped closer to the building I could hear the faint sound of humming. Ezio froze and began to turn around and leave before I grabbed his arm and raised an eyebrow at him. "I'm not sure how I even feel about her anymore." Ezio whispered so lowly that I almost missed it. I was a little surprised to hear him speak of any woman in such a way; a little jealous as well.

As I stared at Ezio, watching him stare towards the window, I was tempted to just tell him to leave. To take him as far from this girl as possible. But as I look at him, looking for her, I just can't do that. Not to him, not to her, and certainly not to myself. It wouldn't be fair to anyone. "You'll never know unless you go and see." I spoke softly as I brushed his sleeve with the tips of my fingers. He looked over to me with some emotion in his eyes that I thought was gratitude but, there was something else there. He turned away and began climbing up the building too quickly for me to make sense of it.

I leaned against the wall, encased in the shadow just in case the woman Ezio was seeing happened to look out. I certainly did not want to start any arguments or something like that. I started studying my nails, hoping that this wouldn't take too awfully long.

I heard a surprised gasp and then, "Ezio! What are you doing here?" The woman's voice was beautiful; as I expected from a woman that had captured Ezio in her snares.

"I only just came back to Firenze!" I roll my eyes as Ezio fibbed to her slightly. "Look at you! Beautiful as ever…"

"But… Oh, Ezio…" The woman sounded extremely flustered. "It's been two years!"

"And I've thought of nothing but you." I looked towards the ground at his words, feeling tears start building up in my eyes. I scoffed to myself quietly as I blinked away the tears. I should have know, that damn scoundrel…

"Oh." The woman sighed, obviously charmed by his words. She paused, her next words seemed hesitant. "But, Ezio…"

"What is it?" Ezio asked cautiously.

"I'm engaged to be married." I gave a low whistle; I can only imagine Ezios' face at that! Then I frowned; how could I be thinking so harshly? I wondered to myself. Then I remembered what Ezio said.

I huffed to myself, "Serves him right."

"My father kept asking me to choose…" The woman's voice sounded further away before sounding closer. She must be pacing, I guessed. She spoke again and I strained to hear her. "I thought I would never see you again."

Then, out of nowhere, a woman runs up and lets out a scream, causing me to jump about five feet into the air. Didn't expect that, I thought as I watched a man and woman run up and look up to the woman's window. I heard a commotion in the room and when I looked up I could barely see well manicured hands holding onto the balcony.

"It's Manfredo. He's going to kill him!" The woman shrieked, loudly.

"What?" The voice above me yelled in confusion and horror.

The man laid a comforting hand on the shoulder of the woman beside him before speaking, "Those men that he lost money to! He's dragged them out to the end of the new bridge!"

"Who the hell is Manfredo?" I can hear Ezio ask with impatience and anger in his voice; though they were carefully veiled. Only someone that had taught him how to veil his emotions could tell that they were there; making me feel proud that I was still able to tell how he was feeling.

"My fiancé…"

A sharp whistle cut through the air and I stepped out of the shadows, scaring the man and the woman out of their wits, and looked up towards the sound. Ezio was looking down over the edge at me and the woman he was visiting came and looked down, too. The woman was indeed beautiful; her dark hair was put up into a fancy style and her face was perfect. Although, at the moment, her nose was scrunched up at the sight of me. I suddenly wished that I had put my hood back on before stepping out into the light.

"Aria, will you go and help out?" Ezio asked and I raised a brow at him. He sighed, looking over to his woman before looking back and promised, "I will be there very soon. Trust me."

Nodding, I turned and began to make my way to the new bridge. As I leave, I can hear the woman Ezio is visiting almost shriek in anger, "Who is that?" Chuckling, I dodged out of the way of tons of people roaming the streets, trying to make my way to the new bridge as fast as possible. There was only a matter of time before the woman's fiancé became fish food.

"I'll pay you back, I swear!" I hear a man pleading desperately as I approached the bridge. I could see at least four people; three of which were surrounding one. I assumed that the one being surrounded was Manfredo.

"It's too late for that now." The leader of the group of men growled back and started to advance on the defenseless man.

"It wasn't my fault! I was going to have the money for you today but a payment came in late!" The man was backing away from the advancing men, his hands held before his body as if he was going to use them to protect himself from the swords.

"Hey!" I yelled to the men. The men paused in slicing Manfredo to pieces and I took the time to pull out my dual swords. Twirling them around me once, I said, "Why don't you pick on someone that can fight back!"

The leader of the group sneered and told his men to take care of that little puttana. I almost hissed at the name, tensing up angrily. The two men charged at me as Manfredo tried his best to dodge the mans attacks. One man was faster than the other and ran to me with his sword raised and ready to cut my head clean off. I didn't move until the man was pretty much right on top of me before I kneeled down; his sword missing my head completely and I crossed by blades and sliced at his torso. Blood spurted out almost immediately and the man fell to the ground. I impaled him with my sword and I blocked the other mans attack with my other.

The other man stabbed at me but I pushed his blade away with my own, taunting him as I took my blade out of the other mans chest and wiped it on his tunic. Next thing I know, I see a flash of white and the hiss of steel and the man drops dead before my eyes. By the time I had actually gathered my senses, Ezio had already made it to the end of the new bridge to where the leader of the group and Manfredo were fighting.

Ezio pushed the leader of the group of the bridge like he was nothing but a rag doll and Manfredo started to straighten up and thank him before Ezio grabbed him by his tunic and held him over the side of the bridge. Manfredo was screaming and I started to walk forward to tell Ezio to stop as I heard him speak, "Do you love her?"

I stopped in my tracks; a little stunned at how angry Ezio sounded. Ezio was demanding an answer from Manfredo, who was holding on to Ezio's arm as if it were a lifeline and pleading for him to not kill him. "DO YOU LOVE HER?" Ezio's voice rose and I begun to edge closer, hoping to God that the mans answer was yes. The man only shrieked who over and over and Ezio answered, "Cristina! The woman you are about to marry!"

"Yes, I do! I swear I do!" I kept edging closer, smirking and thinking that the man was definitely lying to save his own hide. "Kill me now and I will die, still loving her!" I paused in my steps. That wasn't a lie, I could tell that now and I saw Ezio begin to bring Manfredo closer to the edge of the bridge and to him.

"You are never going to gamble again, capsice?" Ezio was inches away from the mans face and the man told him yes, several times. In fact, I was starting to think that the man wet himself. "You will be a good husband to her." Ezio leaned even closer and hissed murderously, "Or I will kill you myself."

He threw the man onto the floor of the bridge and stormed away; he went past me without saying a word or even looking my way. Manfredo was staring at the two of us like we were crazy as I turned and hurried after Ezio. I finally caught up to him and touched his arm to grab his attention but he shook me off. I followed his eyes and saw Cristina walking towards us in a hurry before Ezio grabbed her and pushed her against a nearby wall.

And so, I was forced to watch them kiss and I was forced to listen to Cristina's sounds of pleasure and happiness at the attention because I couldn't turn away; I was that shocked at what was happening. After a few heartbreaking moments of watching the intimate display, Ezio stepped away from her and began to speak.

"He's fine. He'll make a good husband. I made sure of it." His voice is veiled again but, I am still too in shock to even try to figure out what his true feelings of the matter are. Cristina is surprised as well and voiced that as Ezio turned and walked away. This time, his eyes met mine and I can tell that he's worried about something. He stopped by my side briefly and whispered, "Do not follow me."

Cristina and I watched Ezio leave and as soon as he was out of sight Cristina turned towards me and said in a haughty voice, "You!" I merely stared back at her, trying to figure out what made Ezio be so in love with this woman. She seemed too… spoiled. "You… Take care of him." With that, Cristina walked away with her head held high. My mouth was hanging open as she left and seeing how Ezio had taken the street in front of me and Cristina had taken the street to my side; my only path left open was behind me and so, I turned and wondered around the city for hours on end.

****END SPOILER****

Thanks for reading my story!

Codardo - Coward.

Meglio essere felici in questa vita che aspirare a esserlo nella prossima - Better to be content in this life, than aspire to it in the next.

Capsice - Understood.