Nobody talks much that day, but the next morning, when they all wake up, still in 2012, and still visible, it's obvious that they need to make a plan. Sitting in the forest less than five miles from the temple isn't a good long term strategy, so they gather together and talk shop.

They find a clearing on the edge of the trees, which leaves Connor feeling irrationally disgruntled. When he knew this forest, it had extended on for miles past this point, but now there's a neighborhood there, dozens of identical houses in neat rows. He sits on a tree stump with his back to the houses, trying to pretend like they're not there. His father hesitates, then leans against a tree nearby, arms crossed, watching the other two. Ezio stands next to him, and Altair sits cross legged between Ezio and Connor, completing the circle.

"So," Altair says, and everyone looks toward him. "It looks like we're not leaving here any time soon."

"Why not?" Connor asks. "It had something to do with what Desmond's apple did in the temple, right?"

"It's the only thing that makes sense," Altair says. "But before you ask- no, I don't know how or why. It was acting differently."

"Acting?" Haytham repeats. "It's a piece of metal. It doesn't do things on its own."

"Trust me," Altair says. "Working with the apples isn't like using a tool. It's more like dealing with an especially stubborn person."

"Like you," Ezio adds.

"Hmm." Haytham shoots him an unamused look. "Clever." He turns back to Altair. "Alright, so accepting that you're the expert, what you're saying is that we're here until the apple decides to send us home."

"Yes."

Haytham heaves a sigh. "Perfect."

"So until that happens, we need to find a way to live... here," Connor says. "And now."

They all sit in silence for several minutes, dwelling on this unpleasant prospect. They could do it, probably. Between them, they have enough knowledge of 2012 to get by, thanks to months sharing a head with Desmond. They can live. But what will they do.

There's only one answer to that, but there's an obvious sticking point. Ezio brings it up first. "We need to find Juno," he says. "And that means working with the assassins."

Looking at Haytham, Altair says, "You can leave now, or you can stay. But make your choice, and don't expect to be able to change it later."

"It's not a hard choice," Haytham says. "Of course I'm staying."

The other three stare at him, and he smirks, clearly enjoying it. "Don't be so surprised," he says. "This isn't a question of assassins and templars. Juno, and whatever she's planning, is bad news for everyone."

"And that's all you need?" Ezio asks. "To work with the same people you've spent most of your life trying to destroy?"

"It goes both ways, doesn't it?" says Haytham. "And you've spent a lot more time killing templars than I have assassins."

"Why are you really staying with us?" Connor asks.

"I just told you," Haytham snaps.

"Part of it, maybe," says Connor. He's spent most of his time over the past few months with no one but his father for company. "I know you're lying."

Haytham shrugs. "All right," he says. "I told you about the... dream I had."

"What dream?" Altair interrupts, but Haytham ignores him.

"I spoke to my father," Haytham continues. "And he as much as told me that he's going to get caught up in all this. He told me Desmond was going to die-"

"And you didn't say anything?" Ezio demands.

"It just happened," Connor says quickly, because Ezio looks ready to start drawing blood. "He told me right away. Then ten minutes later, we were all in the temple and it was too late anyway."

"Fine," says Ezio. "So you don't want your dad to get involved."

"I don't think I can avoid him being pulled into this," Haytham says. "But... he is my father."

"Alright," Ezio says. "Fine." His expression softens a little. "I can understand that."

"Now that we're all find with Haytham coming," Altair says. "We need to decide where we're actually going. I'm going to assume no one knows where to find the assassins in this century?"

"The templars do," Ezio says. "They found the temple."

"Just lucky they didn't find it before the others got out," says Altair. "But that is a good point. The templars have been picking off the assassins for months, and that means they know where they are, or they know how to find them."

"The templars are tied to Abstergo," Connor says. "That makes them a lot easier to find than the assassins. They can't just disappear when someone gets close."

"And conveniently enough," Haytham says, "There was a whole group of them less than an hour from here yesterday. They're probably gone by now, but it's a start."

"Let's go," Ezio says.

"Wait," Altair says. "The way we are now, we'll just draw attention." Connor looks at him blankly, and Altair offers him a faint smile. "Clothes, Connor. Modern clothes."

"Fine," says Connor. "We go shopping, and then we go find us some templars."

"And Juno," says Ezio.

"And my father," says Haytham.

"And Desmond's body," says Altair quietly. "He deserves more than whatever the templars have waiting for him."

The rest of them nod, and then Connor says- "This... this is a terrible plan."

"But it's all we have." Altair stands up and nods. "Let's make it work."

-/-

I just remembered that this story was originally going to be a one shot, and started laughing.