The next month goes by too quickly. It's one of the best of Haytham's life, even with the bullet wound. It turns out that the twenty first century has some pretty decent pain killers, and this is the first time since he was ten years old that Haytham feels really safe. And why shouldn't he? His whole family is around him, not just Edward and Connor, but Desmond and Altair and Ezio, too. Even Shaun and Rebecca and Mary are more family than Haytham's used to.

They spend the time laying low in the apartment, because Abstergo is very interested to know who broke into their building, killed five security guards, blew up one computer in the basement, and then left. Melanie apparently never mentioned seeing anyone on her way in that morning, possibly because she couldn't believe her own eyes, and since John was the one with control over the security cameras, they never find any other leads.

So the day finally comes when the nine of them are safe, when Haytham and Mary are healed enough to lead the apartment, and Altair announces that it's time they all go home. Rebecca and Shaun are out somewhere, so only the seven time travelers are around to hear the announcement.

It probably shouldn't come as a surprise, and Haytham isn't exactly shocked. He is a little disappointed, though. After everything they've been through- together- he doesn't much want to just drop back into his old life like nothing's happened. He's not even sure he can.

"You three should probably leave first," Altair goes on, indicating the three Kenways. "You're the ones without apples, so we'll need to drop you off."

The room stays awkwardly silent for several more seconds, then Edward asks, "Do we really have to go?"

"Well, if you don't go back to the past, Haytham's never going to be born," says Altair. "And that means Connor will never be born, and that means Desmond will never be born-"

"Alright, I get it." Edward makes a face. "Doesn't mean I'm happy about it."

"Thanks," Haytham says dryly, and Edward gives him a suddenly thoughtful look. "What?"

"I'm just trying to picture you as an infant," Edward says, and tilts his head sideways. "It's not easy."

"Just wait a few years and you'll see it for yourself," Haytham says.

"Fair enough," says Edward. He walks across the room and gives Haytham a handshake that quickly turns into a hug. Not something Haytham would usually be alright with, but then again, this could be the last time he ever sees his father alive. "I'm looking forward to getting to know you the right way around."

Then he steps away, and Haytham watches as Altair takes hold of his arm. A moment later the two of them vanish as Altair takes Edward back to the eighteenth century. That just leaves Haytham and Connor.

Connor glances over at his father. "What are you going to do when we get back?" he asks, and Haytham hears the question he doesn't say out loud- Are you going back to the templars?

"I'm not sure yet," Haytham says, which is true. He's been with the templars since he was ten years old, but staying with them now would mean that all the people he's come to trust and even like will go back to being his enemies. His father. His son. "But I'll need to keep an eye on you, obviously."

Connor snorts, but it's been less than two months since he went back to being human, and Haytham knows he's terrified of losing it again. "What about you?" he asks. "You're the one with the bullet wound."

"I-"

"Hey!" Mary interrupts. "I think I'm going to be the one watching both of you."

"Wait, what?" Desmond asks. "I thought you agreed to stay here?"

"I agreed that I can't go back to my time," says Mary. "But this is too far in the future for me. I can't do three hundred years, but I think I can manage a few decades." Haytham sees Connor open his mouth to argue, but Mary doesn't give him the chance. "Besides, you two are a disaster waiting to happen."

Haytham doesn't argue. He knows Mary isn't as comfortable in this century as the rest of them are, and besides, it's worth it just to see Connor's face go red. Although actually, Haytham can't remember ever seeing Connor blush like that before…

"Come on," Desmond says. "You ready to go?"

Connor nods, and Mary says, "Yes." Haytham only smiles- he's fairly sure that between the three of them, they should be able to generate enough chaos to keep them busy. For a while, at least.