Interlude 3

I was walking back from the dock in the pouring rain, soaked from head to toe. Most people around me were running from cover to cover, trying to keep from getting too wet. I didn't mind the rain, though. I actually enjoyed it. It felt refreshing after the stifling heat of the day.

I wondered if the market would still have some stalls open. Ezio and I had planned to meet there to do a little shopping for the palazzo. We had gotten word from another group of Assassins from Europe that one of their own would be visiting to hunt down a target and we wanted to stock up on provisions.

I turned down a street, dodging a few people that were sprinting down the path. I mentally listed all that we would need. With this rain I decided to add on some extra casual clothes in case the assassin visiting did not bring extras. According to the letter, he was a new initiate to the brotherhood so I wasn't sure if he would have thought of extra clothes and so on.

I entered the merchants square and was pleased to see that the covered stalls were still open and filled with bored merchants. I looked around the square and could see why. The weather had cleared almost everyone out. I didn't see Ezio yet so I browsed the stalls, looking over trinkets and such as the merchant immediately began to converse with me.

"Ah, you have wonderful taste, cara," said an elderly man as I looked at a silver bracelet. I smiled up at him as I moved my hand away from it. I learned early on that if you touched something, it usually meant that you were buying it. The man smiled, "I have something that I believe you would enjoy." He shuffled underneath his table and pulled out a small box. When he flipped it open, my smile grew as I took in a dainty silver ring.

It was lovely. The silver band twisted like a vine and came together at the gem. The gem itself was beautiful as well. It had a nice green color to it and I noted that it was almost the exact color of my necklace.

"Emerald?" I questioned as he laid the box in front of me.

"Si!" The merchant exclaimed with a smile. "I knew you were a woman of taste. Would you like to try it on?"

"Oh no," I replied with a frown. Honestly, I would have loved to. "I'm afraid that I'm out to buy necessities today, signore."

"Sciocchezze!" the man said as he picked the ring out of the box. "I will not force you to buy it but I cannot pass the chance to see such a beautiful woman wearing one of my wares."

He held it up and I simply couldn't resist. I was a sucker when it came to compliments and the ring was beautiful. I let him slip it in my finger and surprisingly it was a perfect fit. Not too loose or too tight. I admired it on my finger as the merchant chuckled, "It's as if it was made especially for you."

I took it off before I got too attached and handed it back to him. "It's truly lovely but I just don't have the ducats to buy it today. Perhaps I will come back for it."

The merchant nodded, "Then I will put it back for you."

"You don't have to do that!" I answered, surprised by his words.

"Insisto!" The man replied cheerfully and put it back under the table. I thanked him bashfully and moved on to begin gathering food and other things. As I picked up my basket of food and covered it with a heavy cloth, I felt a pair of strong arms wrap around me waist.

"How are you today, amore?" Ezio whispered in my ear as he turned me toward him and kissed me softly. I smiled against his lips and replied,

"Molto meglio ora."

He chuckled as he took my basket from me. "Good. Sorry I'm late. Antonio had me working with some of his thieves on free running in the rain."

"It's fine." I said as we moved to the next stall. "I was just browsing now anyways. I have already gotten all that we need for the week."

He nodded, water dripping down the tip of his hood. "See anything you like?"

"Certo, but I don't have the ducats to waste on frivolous things."

"Ready to head back now?" Ezio asked and I nodded. We headed out towards the gondolas to take us back. Ezio sat silently until we were off the small boat. He decided to speak as we walked down the streets, "I got something for you."

I looked at him as we walked, arching a brow. "Oh, and what's that?"

Ezio grinned mischievously and stopped under a covered corner. There was only room for one person but I didn't mind standing in the rain. Besides, I was excited to see what Ezio purchased for me. I did not see him at any of the merchant stands while we were there. He sat down our packages before going through his pockets. His hand stilled as I presumed he found what he was looking for.

Ezio got down on one knee and I smiled, not sure what he was doing. His hood fell back as he looked up at me. His golden eyes sparked and he said, his tone low and protective, "I asked you to marry me already but I wanted to give you something to show others that you are mine." Ezio pulled out a small and took my hand with his free one. He flipped the box open with one hand and I gaped at the emerald ring I had been looking at earlier.

I was in shock as he slipped the ring on my finger. Ezio smiled and stood after putting it on. "You know why we put rings on our left ring finger?" I shook my head, unable to speak as I looked at the ring. How had he known that I had been admiring it? I bet that's why he had late, I thought in awe. He lifted my hand and kissed my palm. "It is said that the vein in your left ring finger goes straight to your heart."

I looked up at Ezio from the ring and smiled so hard that my cheeks hurt. I grabbed the front of his robes and pulled him out into the rain with me and kissed him with all I had in me. It was so damn romantic and so Ezio. I shouldn't have expected anything less from him.

My hood fell off my head as he put a hand on the back of my neck, pulling me into him. My hair was soaked in moments and sticking to my face but it didn't bother me at all. I had heard noblewomen and the courtesans talking about kissing in the rain. I hadn't believed their words of how sweet it was. I figured the dampness would be annoying.

But they were right. It was wonderful.

A/N: Hey guys! Happy New Years! Sorry it's been awhile but I got a new computer from my brother and I've slowly been transferring all my files over to it. Lucky for you guys, I've been writing on my iPad and have two more interludes to add in after this one but I'll probably do that tomorrow since I have to go to work soon. :( sorry if there are mistakes, I edited this pretty quick while drying my hair haha

Anyways, I love you guys! 11 reviews on the last chapter! That's so awesome. I'm so lucky to have such epic readers as you all! I hope you all liked this one, too! I thought it was pretty cute. Let me know what you think :)

Alsoooooo, I assume that you all have seen my new cover page for the story by now! I love it and I want to think Nerdman3000 for it! So awesome, thanks again!

Translations:

Sciocchezze! - Nonsense!

Insisto! - I insist!

Molto meglio ora - Much better now.

Certo, - Sure,

Thanks to everything that favorited, followed and a super special thanks to the eleven that reviewed!:

littledhampir13 - haha, I thought it would be an interesting concept to throw out there. She'll learn to love little Nico, though! And I haven't :( I've watched my brother play it though and I was thinking about getting it next payday. It looks awesome!

Anne Elric

Nerdman3000 - thanks! And I am! In about interlude 6, I think.

Sera - aww thanks! :) I will continue this story, no matter how long it takes! :p

LadyParabellum

xXspidercatXx

ibleedpink

XxSweet-NightmarexX - I'm glad you like it!

hannahhobnob - aww, you're so nice! I'm glad you like the story!

Guest - thanks :)

SUP126 - haha, thanks! It's not my first story but it is my first assassins creed story. lol and I liked Nico, too but I needed something that was going to affect Aria deeply. Thanks for reading!

Review! We're close to 200 now :)