A/N: No excuses, just busy. I love this story so much and I really want to finish it because I already have plans for other stories following this one so I hope this will sate your tastes while I finish up Venezia. The story still has several chapters left in it, though! There may be errors but I hope to do a full edit once the story is done to fix minor things :) R&R!

Thanks to everyone that reviewed (and alerted) You guys keep me going! Thanks so much! :

Sweet Candy Rain
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Fly On By
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Brella the Alchemist

EDIT: I came back to do, what I hope is, an adequate description of Luca; Aria's Templar husband. I'm not sure how it escaped my notice but thanks to THEJN, you will now have the description. Continue to enjoy the story and don't forget to review!

I had spent the last few days with Luigi and Alba Mancini, including their son, Ciro. They were kind people, taking an instant liking to me as we talked about the upcoming wedding and the things I needed to know. I was nervous, understandably so but Alba calmed me and Ciro kept my mind of the events coming. He was a sweet little boy; he had rich, dark hair and beautiful dark eyes to match. He was nobility in every sense of the word; kind and polite, a good combination.

"Are you ready for the wedding, signora Aria?" Ciro asked gently from my side as I read through a short book with him. I laid the book on my legs and smiled at him before shaking my head no. He gave a boyish laugh and stood. "I think you will look beautiful."

"Thank you, Ciro. You are very kind." I replied, ruffling his hair affectionately. I had never had a younger brother but if I had to have one, I would want him. Alba came into the room before the boy had a chance to reply and shooed him away for a while, so she could speak with me.

"Is everything all right, Alba?" I asked, knowing that the day I was leaving this sanctuary was coming soon. A part of me didn't want to leave, I liked it here with this nice people but I knew that I had a job to do. I wouldn't let my father down now.

"The matrimonium is today, are you prepared?" I sighed, the ring day. Wonderful, had it been 3 days already?

"As ready as I'll ever be." Alba nodded and gave an understanding smile.

"You'll be fine, just smile and consent to the marriage when the notary asks you to." I nodded as she helped me slip out of my comfortable dress and begin to dress in a fantastic gold and red gown. It was beautiful, probably the most beautiful and expensive outfit I had ever wore. It had a hood, much to my delight that served as a veil due to the size of it. I kept it down for the time being as she tightened the front laces on it tightly. It was tight but not uncomfortable and when I looked in the mirror, I couldn't help but be impressed with how well it went with my lithe body shape.

She sat me in the chair near the vanity and began to help me paint my face. She used a cream that I had never seen before that evened out the color of my face before pinching my cheeks and instructing me to bite my lips. I did so and she took some red paint; the same color as my gown and painted them over, making them stand out even more. Next came the kohl around my eyes and the look was finally coming together. I had wondered if the red paint on my lips would overpower my eyes but Alba definitely knew what she was doing.

She crossed the room to a small dresser and opened it, pulling out a beautiful ruby necklace and earrings. She held them out to me with a tender smile. "These were meant to be my daughters on her wedding day." She seemed lost in thought for a moment as I looked at the jewels in shock. "I would like you to have them, Aria." She finally said as she came back down to earth.

"I… Are you sure? These are more money than I possibly have to repay you with." Rubies did not come cheap, that much I knew and as beautiful as they were, I was not sure about taking something so precious.

"Aria, you are a wonderful girl and there is no other woman I would rather have these." A small tear built up in my eye and she smiled, tutting slightly. "Now, now. No crying. You'll mess up all my hard work." I nodded as I pulled her in to what I hoped was a meaningful hug. She hesitated before hugging me, patting my back and pushed me back down on the vanities seat before brushing out my long hair. After that was done, she placed a crown of flowers; mostly rosemary, as was tradition, on my head before standing back to look at me. "Beautiful." That was all she said before she left the room, leaving me to stare at the beauty in front of me. I wished Ezio could see me now, all dolled up. I looked down at my manicured hands for a moment and sighed before standing to leave the room.

Here goes nothing, I thought to myself as I started down the stairs to the already full foyer. I could already see many Templars from beneath my hood and they bowed their heads at me respectively. I made my way through the crowd of people toward my 'family.' Luigi took my hand in his own and said, "You look beautiful, dear." He even got a little teary eyed as he turned toward the Barbarigos and the notary. He was very good at pretending, I decided with a small smile as I listened to them go over the contract. I took the time to study my soon to be husband. He was very handsome, I noted thankfully; it would make my mission easier, considering I had to sleep with him tonight. I'm not shallow or anything but all Templars are pigs so I just assume that they would reflect that outwardly.

His deep brown hair was tousled, yet neat. I wondered how he could look like he just rolled out of bed but still be that handsome. He looked at me then, as if he knew I was watching him and the darkness of his eyes almost startled me. They were dark brown, so dark that I thought they were just completely black. He smiled, his teeth were tinged yellow but were whiter than most peoples in this city. He looked away again, back to the notary and I took the chance to study his stance. He was leaned back a little, arms to his side. I could practically feel the confidence rolling off of him, mixed with a large dash of arrogance. I bit my lip, wondering if I could really go through with this mission.

I listened to the terms of my dowry and paled slightly when I heard how expensive it was. I noticed that my soon to be husband was staring at me again and I tentatively gave a smile from beneath my hood that he returned.

The ceremony was beginning; the notary took the boys hand in his own and began to speak. "Do you, Luca Barbarigo, wish to have this woman as your wife, to love her, honor her, keep her and protect her, in health and in sickness, as a husband should his wife, to keep from all other women except her, as long as your lives shall last?"

Luca smiled at me before answering. "Of course." The notary took my hand in his free one and began to speak to me.

"And do you, Maria Mancini, wish to have this man as your husband, to love him, honor him, obey and serve him, in health and in sickness, as a wife should her husband, to keep from all other men except him, as long as your lives shall last?"

"I do." I answered strongly, not letting my voice falter like I wanted it to. He smiled and placed my hand in Lucas', who ran his thumb over my fingers lovingly. I resisted the urge to lose the content of my stomach as he reach over and lowered my hood from my head, showing my expensive jewels and lovely crown of flowers. He smiled more widely then and I started to get nervous as I smiled back timidly. He looked behind him, to his vile father and took a ring from his outstretched hand.

He slipped in on my ring finger on my right hand, not even bothering to look at my left, with no other words, unlike our customs but I could care less. He kissed my hand and I blushed prettily, causing all his friends to catcall and clap him on the back in congratulations. I felt sick. He turned and left with his family and his families allies to return to his home for the feast as I prepared to be publicly paraded around town. I hated this damn tradition and if I ever truly got married, I would simply refuse to be paraded around. But this time around, I had no choice at all. I was nobility so I was to ride a white horse through the town to my husbands home. Well, to my new home. Ugh.

"This is for you, dear." A woman, who I assumed was Lucas' mother, approached me as the rest of Lucas' family left house. She slipped a bridal belt around my waist; it was made up of silver medallions that was meant to signify an increase in fertility. I thanked her but grimaced as she left, earning a small laugh from Ciro, who I nudged playfully as I started my way to the door.

Luigi stopped me, "You did well, Aria. You keep yourself very composed, which is important for nobility." He patted my shoulder, a little awkwardly. "You will do well."

"Thank you, Luigi. I truly appreciate it." He nodded before moving out the door and Alba came to my side.

"You better come visit sometimes… You know, to keep up appearances." Alba coughed and looked like she could cry. "Ciro will miss you, of course." I smiled and took her delicate hand in my own rougher ones.

"I will visit you as often as I can, Alba." She smiled gratefully as she walked out after her husband. I looked at small Ciro as he came to stand by me. "And you? What have you to say?" I kneeled down to his height and he laughed at me as he hugged me tightly before letting me go, a small blush on his young cheeks. I would miss him the most, I decided.

"I just don't want you to forget about us, sorella." My heart clenched, that was the first and only time he had ever called me such.

"I wouldn't dream of it." I kissed his forehead and stood, holding out my hand to him and we left the Mancini home together.

I dismounted my white steed at my new home after being paraded around. I sighed, it was as horrible as I imagined. Men pining over my beauty called out to me to run away with them and women glared at my white horse and what it signified. The Mancinis' were waiting beside the door for me and I joined them with a nervous smile as we entered the home and went to the ballroom to join the others.

Luca was by my side in an instant. "Hello, cara." I smiled at him but was secretly disgusted by the use of dear. I couldn't help but feel like that was reserved just for Ezio.

"Salute," I replied sweetly as he passed me a cup of wine. I smiled widely as I sipped on it.

"When my father said I was getting married… I had no idea it was to such a beautiful woman." I looked at the Templar boy and raised an eyebrow at him; he was obviously trying to charm me and if I had been any other girl, it would have worked. Also, it may have worked if he wasn't trying to get a view down my dress.

"You are very sweet, Luca." I replied with a small blush on my cheeks; it was from anger of him trying to get a good look before the consummation of the marriage tonight but he didn't have to know that. I paled as I wondered if others were to be there, just to make sure it happened. I hoped not.

"I try, amore." Luca said as he finished off his wine. He looked at my near empty cup. "I will go get us more." I watched the seventeen year old walk off and started to sigh in relief when I felt a small tapping on my shoulder. I composed myself and turned with a bright smile to whoever it was. Roderigo Borgia stood in front of me but I kept my cool and greeted him nicely.

"I wanted to congratulate you on your wedding." Borgia gave me a strange smile and I almost felt as if he knew who I was, but that was impossible, right?

"Grazie, signore gentile." I replied and he nodded before walking off again but not before he left his eyes run over my body carefully as he if was studying me. I felt strange when he left and downed most of the wine that Luca brought back instantly. I knew that I should act like drinking wasn't an often thing for me but I was pissed. Luca looked impressed, though, so I guess it didn't matter.

"Why don't we retire?" Luca said, a little quietly as if he was nervous. I glanced at him before taking another drink of my wine, wishing the drink had been stronger than it was and nodded at him shyly. He grinned and pulled me to my feet, ignoring his own swaying and almost falling in the process. I giggled and he laughed as I helped him walk out, ignoring the cheers around me. I caught Borgias' eye as I started up the staircase and shivered as he raised a cup to me before drinking it down.

Luca collapsed on the bed once we made it to the room and sighed contentedly. He sat up and looked at me with a sultry look that made me want to gag. "Take it off… slowly." I felt appalled, what happened to the sweet boy from the wedding and feast? I took my crown of flowers off first and laid it on my vanity, followed by my jewels. I could feel his impatience but I made him wait anyway.

I caught his eyes as I straightened fully. I bit my lip as I grabbed the string on my gown and pulled slightly. He sat up, looking a little more excited as it finally came loose enough to cause the dress to fall down my body slowly. I knew there were scars all over my body, from the night I was taken to my training and bad luck. Luca didn't seem to mind as he studied me in my slip. I started to raise the slip to take it off but stopped and he looked annoyed. I walked over to him and whispered in his ear.

"Why don't you help me with this, amore." Luca grinned wildly, I could visibly see how excited that made him and I gulped, hoping that I was emotionally ready for this. He took the end of my slip in his teeth and pulled it up as he stood. As soon as it left my body, it was replaced with cool, grasping hands. He wasn't clumsy about it so I assumed what his father had said was true. About having his fill of women, I was disgusted by that but I pushed the thought out of my mind and thought of Ezio, touching me and kissing me.

I closed my eyes as Luca finally kissed me and I tried to pretend it was Ezio, although, the boy was no where near the expertise level of kissing that Ezio was. He pulled me down to the bed, on top of him and so begun my first night of marriage.

I sat up slowly and moved my hair out of my face, sighing softly. I rubbed my calloused hands on my thighs as I looked toward my husbands sleeping form. I leaned over the bed and hovered over his face, not even breathing. I let my eyes stray over his neck and I thought about how easy it would to slit the mans throat. He made a small noise and I turned and stood from the bed abruptly, causing him to shift and sit up sleepily.

"What's wrong, dear?" Luca asked as he yawned and stood from the bed, letting the sheets drop from his body to the ground. I was looking in my mirror but saw enough of his body that I had to look away before I was disgusted with myself any more. He was attractive, I would give him that. Does that make me want to kill him less? I watched him as I combed my hair. He smirked at me through the mirror and I smiled back timidly. No, definitely not. I thought to myself as I stood to get dressed.

"Nothing, just a little hungry." I said as honest as I could. I was struggling with lacing up a new pale green dress when I felt his hands touch my neck. I froze and he kissed my neck softly as he laced up the dress. I shivered and he smirked cockily, mistaking the movement as something other than disgust. He turned me around after finishing with the laces and kissed me once. I laid my hands on his chest, just to keep from punching him.

"Let's go downstairs, Maria. I have someone I want you to meet anyway." Luca said as he pulled away and moved toward the door. While his back was turned, I withdrew my dagger from under my side of the bed and strapped its sheath on my thigh before he even turned back around. I smiled and followed him when he looked back at me expectantly, wondering who I could possibly be meeting at a time like this. My pondering had made me lag behind my husband a bit and he had already entered the dining hall by the time I made it down the steps. I could hear his voice and then it was joined by another. It… sounded familiar. My blood was freezing in my veins as I entered the room. My husband turned and held out his hand to me and as I got closer, I began to see who I was to be meeting.

It was like seeing a ghost. He was taller and much more broad than he had been but it was still him. I was sure of it. His light blonde hair was shaggy but short with the front spiked up a little and his sky blue eyes sparkled as they met my green ones. This was so utterly nerve-racking, that I was almost afraid to speak or move.

"Dante, this is my wife, Maria." I held out a hand and Dante took it and placed a chaste kiss to it before dropping it slowly. I could see a faint glimmer of something run through his eyes and my heart began to pound.

"It is nice to meet you, Maria." Dante's tongue rolled over my alias and I took a small breath and smiled. His voice was so much deeper now. He kept his eyes locked on mine and I got a strange feeling in my gut. He knew. He had to know who I was. I was cursing in my head, of all the damn luck in the world, he had to be in my house. If he revealed my identity, I would have to kill them both and I had already put too much time and effort into this mission not to see it through. I had already lost Dante once and while he may not be the sweet little boy I had grown up with anymore, I didn't want to lose the only connection to my past. If only we had met another way…

"You as well, Dante." I answered, somewhat stiffly as I was still in shock to see him here. "What do I owe this pleasure?" I asked and looked toward my husband, hoping he would say he was just a family friend. Just visiting or something along that nature.

"Dante is a present for you from my father. A loyal member of our family guard and now your own personal guard." Luca smiled as if he was presenting me with the best thing in the world. Personally, I felt sick. This could ruin every single plan I had. Not to mention that it meant Dante was a Templar. Oh god, I wanted to run away. My best childhood friend was one of my enemies and I am sure we will have to meet in battle… I don't know if I could strike him down if the chance arose. He is a Templar, I reasoned with myself, the very thing I am fighting so hard against but I knew, deep down, that it would kill me to kill him.

"I…" I was shocked. "You must thank your father for me." I said weakly as Luca and Dante smiled at each other, seemingly not noticing my unease. I thanked God for small wonders, at the very least.

"Dear, I must go see my father but the maids will have breakfast ready soon. Why don't you and Dante get to know each other, yes?" He kissed me on the cheek and was walking out of the door before I had a chance to respond. Dante had a friendly smile on his face as he pulled out a chair for me and waited until I was seated to sit himself.

"So, where do you hail from, Dante?" I asked even though I already knew. He tilted his head and laughed a short laugh. It was nice to hear the laugh again, despite the chills it ran down my spine. All the questions I had were pent up inside and no matter how much I wanted to ask about my life, I couldn't.

"I am originally from Ferrara. My father is in service to the new Duke, Ercole." My uncles name, I recalled to myself. I could vaguely remember the man; a lover of the arts, if I was not mistaken.

"Did you not wish to be in the same service?" I asked, politely and Dante smiled sadly as he looked out the window.

"The one I was supposed to be in service to is long gone now." I sat silently as he turned and stared at me hard, his blue eyes felt like they were piercing my very soul. He started to say something but the maids walked in with the plates of food, silencing him for a time. I averted my eyes from his as I started putting a small amount of eggs on my plate. I slipped a knife under the table as Dante thanked a maid before she left the room. The topic was getting dangerously close to Aria d'Este and I could not have that happen.

"You remind me of her, you know." I almost stopped with my fork in mid air but I took the bite and sat it down the table, to not show my shaking hands. I gripped the knife under the table as he smiled warmly at me.

"Oh?" I tried to sound disinterested as I took a drink of juice. I was looking out the window but I could feel Dante's eyes on me. I glanced over at him and he was looking at me across the table in a way that was so similar to when we were young and yet, so different.

"Yes, actually. You have the same eyes." I cursed my eyes and him; if he truly recognized me then I wish he would just come out and say it! I don't know what I would do but I was sure it would end with this dining room in a mess and a strange situation to explain to Luca.

I nodded once, "That is strange. My eye color is rather rare. I wish I could meet her." I tried to establish the difference in people to him but I couldn't tell if it was working. He kept eating and chuckled at my response.

"Oh, I'm not sure if you would have liked her, Maria." His eyes met mine as he said my alias again and the blood in my veins almost turned to ice. "She was a handful, always spoke her mind and never let anyone push her around."

"She sounds charming." I said dryly, trying to dig more information out from him as indirectly as I could. It was working, so far.

"Oh, signora. She was so charming. Once we were in trouble for stealing a pie from the kitchens but she insisted it was the dog." He laughed and I smiled, not really remembering this memory but hoping he would go on.

"Did they believe her?" I asked, genuinely becoming interested now.

Dante nodded with laughter in his blue orbs. "Yes, they did." He stopped and laughed a little more and caught his breath before continuing. "The funny thing was: they did not even have a dog!" He laid his hand on the table and I laughed with him; the memory fully coming to me now. My mother had seen through this lie but never said anything to the cooks as she led me away. A few days after that was the first time Dante ever held my hand…

I blinked the memory away as he dabbed at his mouth, finished with his breakfast. I scooted mine away, not hungry anymore and stood. Dante stood with me and we looked at each other for a moment.

"I will show you to the military personnel quarters." I turned and walked that direction and I could hear him behind me. I looked over my shoulder at him and said, "I would have made you up a room, if I had known you were coming."

Dante walked a little faster and made it to my side and shook his head. "It's definitely not a problem. I had no idea I was coming, either. If that helps." He gave me a crooked smiled and continued walking but I was busy sizing him up as a fighter. He was a little taller than Ezio but less broad. He had a shield and a sword and it looked like he preferred his right hand. I stored the information away for later use, if it ever came up.

"Right this way." I said, a little nervously as we turned into another hall. He kept looking over at me strangely and when the lone maid in the hallway left he cleared his throat and I bit my lip, hoping he would not do this now.

"So, are we to keep up this charade?" He spoke lowly as we walked and I took in a sharp breath, looking over at him. My mind drifted faintly to the knife I had strapped to my thigh and how quick I would have to be to reach it before he drew his sword.

"I don't know what you mean?" I said, sounding extremely confused. Maybe I could trick him into thinking that I was just very similar to… Well, myself.

"Really, Maria?" He said my alias more harshly now and I heard him stop walking so I turned to face him. He gave me a inquiring look, "Or should I say, Ariana."

"Ariana?" I repeated, dumbly. Was that my full name then? I wondered, I had not ever really thought about it until now. Dante nodded at me, his blue eyes looking like they could burn me through. He stepped closer to me as I stepped away but my back hit the wall with one step and he was inches from me. "What are you talking about?" I asked, desperately, trying to add a touch of fright to my tone. He frowned at me before running a hand through his hair. He looked at me with desperation in his eyes but I didn't look away, holding his gaze.

"Aria… Do you really not remember me?" Dante spoke louder as I pushed past him and continued toward his room. He trailed after me closely, not saying a word before I came to the door and opened it. He stepped inside before he turned towards me, his eyes pleading for me to explain.

"Listen, I am not this Aria that you think I am." I said as I started to turn away and close the door.

"Your necklace proves that you are." I froze, my fingers twitched as I fought off the urge to reach up and touch the green gem. I heard Dante cross the room and he was so close that I could feel his breath on my neck. The gigs up, I guess. He could ruin the entire mission and I couldn't allow that. "I wanted to go after you." He said after a moment, surprising me into looking at me. His voice had been low and I noticed that his head was bowed; he look ashamed and for a second, I could see the boy that I had once known. "My father, he begged your father to let the guard go search for you but your father wouldn't have it."

"That monster is not my father." I replied viciously, not bothering to skirt around the subject any longer. My voice was harsh and Dante visibly flinched. I let my mind wander to my real father, Mario; the kindest man I had ever had the pleasure to meet. I missed him right now, he would know what to do. I didn't notice Dante reaching for me and I jerked away when I felt his hand touch my cheek.

"I can't believe it's you…" Dante said in awe and then he looked distressed. "Signor Barbarigo said the woman that married his son was broken and impure." I could hear the question in his voice and I was growing annoyed with this man.

"I was beaten and raped!" I snapped at him and Dante looked as if he had been slapped, his blue eyes flashing almost angrily. "Is that what you wanted to hear? Hmm? I don't know what you want from me Dante but the Mancini raised me and I am Maria now. Forget Aria, it's better this way."

He looked completely shocked as I pushed him back and slammed his door shut. I walked away, even though I had so many questions for him about life back then. It was still kind of fuzzy for me and I wanted to know more. I shook my head as I continued down the halls, I cannot do this because he is a Templar and I, an Assassin. I was in a slight daze as I walked, nodding as I passed the maids and guards that Antonio had somehow planted into the household. They nodded at me with respect and I returned the gesture with a small smile.

Once the door to my room was closed, I leaned against it heavily and sighed before placing my head in my hands. Things just got complicated, I told myself as I thought of what I could do.

Thank you for reading my story! :) It's short, I know! It was hard introducing so many new characters but next one should be much longer! I hope you all liked it!

Matrimonium - ring day.

Sorella - sister.

Signora - Lady.

Signore Gentile - Kind Sir.

Amore - Love.