I do not own AC, or Connor...even though I wish I did.

However, I own the Cunninghams and the Quattons.

Enjoy!

Arlette touched the bright mark on her skin with her fingertips, her lower lip curling inside her mouth as she reminisced of what had happened just a few hours ago, of her encounter with Connor.

He had marked her skin.

Connor wanted everyone to know that she was his. And only his.

Arlette was blushing violently, tugging a bit of the collar on her dress to expose the light bite marks upon the junction of her neck and shoulder, not sure of how long those marks would last, she preferred to hide it with one of her scarves or chokers, the last thing she needed was her dear father asking what had happened to her. But she was happy, for the first time in months...Her trail of thoughts were interrupted by three violent knocks on the door, followed by her father's voice calling her name, "Coming, father!" she said, quickly wrapping a silk scarf around her neck to hide the bite marks. Arthur arched one eyebrow at the sight of his daughter wearing such a thick scarf in the middle of autumn, "Is everything alright, dear?"

"Y-Yes..." Arlette cursed inside her mind for stumbling over her words, quickly managing a smile on her face, "I am fine, father." she opened the door wider, thinking her father would want to step inside, but Arthur held up his hand meaning there was no need to do so, "I just wanted to tell that I'm going to get the doctor so he can check on your mother." Arthur had a frown on his face, "She's been feeling really sick these days and I just want to know what is happening." Arlette bit her lower lip as her eyebrows curved downwards, the tone on his voice seemed that he was giving up on her mother. Well, according to the doctor, she was slowly 'fading away'; there wasn't much they could do about it.

Arlette managed to whisper a simple 'Alright' to her father, noticing the sad look upon his eyes and the frown permanent on his face, she knew there were no words that could make him feel better. By the time her father had left, Arlette walked down the staircase, keeping an eye for any of the maids and her brother, she didn't needed them asking the reason of her new acessory, and even if they asked, she'd manage up an excuse.

"Arlette?"

The girl yelped, quickly turning around with wide eyes and a hand upon her heart, surprise taking over her features, "Mum?What are you doing out of bed?" Helaine smiled, tucking one of long ginger locks away from her face, "I wanted to walk. I can't stay in that bed for the rest of my life." the woman's voice was quiet and calm, a serene smile on her face, "Take me to the kitchen?" Helaine held up her arm to Arlette, the two walked to the kitchen in silence, Arlette was too worried about what her father would do if he saw her mother out of bed. Helaine huffed gently, supporting herself before sitting on the wooden chair, sighing in relief, "Do you need anything, mum?" Arlette asked gently, leaning close to her mother with a hand upon her shoulder. The older woman smiled brightly, "I'd like a slice of pie." she pointed to the cooling pie by the window sill, the aroma was almost enchanted, it was begging to be eaten.

"Are you sure mum?" Arlette asked, already picking a plate and a knife, holding both close to her chest, "Wouldn't it make you feel worse?I mean... wouldn't the doct-" Helaine held up her hand, sending a small yet gentle smile towards her daughter to calm her down. Helaine didn't minded that Arlette was worried about her, she knew that the poor girl couldn't help it, but Helaine was so tired of staying on that bed.

For days!

For weeks!

It was so painful, it was worse than her mysterious illness. Helaine wanted to walk around her house without any worries, to go to her garden and take care of the bright red roses with Arlette, like they did when her daughter was younger. "Thank you, dear." Helaine said, looking at the delicious slice of strawberry pie in front of her, "Marvelous, get me a cup of milk, please darling?" Arlette did what she was asked, pouring milk for both of them before taking her seat next to Helaine. The woman smiled in bliss, a moan vibrating on her throat as the delicious filling danced along her tastebuds, "Oh, how I missed this..." Helaine whispered, slowly chewing to taste all of the ingredients. Arlette had her hands on her lap, her eyebrows furrowing in worry as she continued to look at her mother, "Mum, don't you think you should go back ot bed?"

"I've spent the last 8 months in that bed, Arlette." the woman said, cutting another small part of her slice, "I want to live again." that was enough to make Arlette close her mouth and look down at her hands, her mother was right. Helaine sighed through her nostrils, moving her eyeballs towards Arlette, "Why are you wearing a scarf, darling?" the woman had a small, almost invisible smirk on her face as her daughter stumbled over her words, fingering her hair nervously while averting her gaze towards the floor. Helaine curled her fingers around the scarf, slowly pulling it away from Arlette's neck. Her eyes widened a small bit," Oh my..." her daughter seemed like she was attacked by angry bees, a huge red and round spot stood out on her pale white skin, "Good God, Arlette! What happened to you?"

Arlette bit her lower lip, blushing a violent shade of red before replying, "A-A bug bit me." she whispered quietly, lowering her gaze to her hands while her mother scrunched her elegant eyebrows together, before they went up to her forehead, "Oh...a bug?" Helaine smiled knowingly, moving closer to tilt Arlette's chin and take a better look, "That's a bite mark, Arlette." Helaine said, feeling her daughter tense up suddenly, "And, as far I know, you despise James so most likely...he wasn't the one who did this."

Arlette bit her lower lip, clenching her eyes shut as her mother let go fo her face. She was so embarassed, somehow ashamed that her mother discovered the bite marks, "What's his name, dear?" Arlette snapped one of her eyes open, moving the eyeball towards the older woman. Helaine was smiling gently, moving her hand to cup her daughter's, caressing the back of it with her thumb, "It's okay darling, you can tell me."

The girl hesitated for a few minutes, until her mouth opened, "Connor." and a smile formed, "His name is Connor."

Achilles was sitting on the small chair by the balcony, closing his eyes as the breeze touched his face, "Better tell your girlfriend to control her cat, that damned thing is already thinking he owns my house." he said bitterly, glaring at the large cat sprawled by his feet. Adrik lazily opened one eye, purring slightly before letting his eyelids fall again, flicking his tail from time to time. Connor managed to chuckle quietly, pulling a chair from one of the rooms upstairs and sitting next to his mentor. Achilles rose one eyebrow, smirking knowingly towards Connor, " Well, that's something I'd never thought I'd live long enough to see." Connor looked at him in question, "You are like a young boy in love. Look at you."

Connor blushed, moving his face to the side and crossing his arms. As much as he'd hate to admit, he is in love with Arlette, she was capable of remembering him he was still human and still had feelings. A small smile formed on his face, his eyes moved towards the sky, "Maybe I am." he shrugged one of his shoulders, "She makes me happy."

"Then it's love indeed." Achilles said, leaning against his cane while staring towards the horizon, "Do not let this girl go. She likes you too much..." he mumbled, noticing that Connor was staring at the horizon as well. The young mohawk tapped his thumbs together, "I don't plan on letting her go." he said, leaning back on the chair and craning his neck back against the chair's backboard "She's special." Connor whispered, closing his eyes as he reminisced their moment on the kitchen, a small red line adorning his cheeks and crossing his nose, his stomach seemed to have millions of butterflies at the thought of Arlette. He wondered how she was doing, if she was alright. Of course she was alright, he should stop worrying so much.

"Will you see her again?" Achilles asked, turning his head towards Connor. The young Assassin rubbed one of his eyes with the tips of his fingers, "I don't know. I have a few things to do..." Connor replied, standing up soon after and stretching his arms up his head, "I will go to Boston, though. Maybe I'll see her there."

"You want to see her there." Achilles smirked coyly, chuckling at his apprentice's expression, "Oh Connor, don't fight it. Love doesn't make us weak, it's the contrary." Achilles stood up with a grunt, supporting his body on the cane before walking inside the house, it was the right time for a nap. Adrik rose his head lazily, blinking his yellow eyes slowly before locking his gaze upon Connor. The large black cat stood up, stretching his body and clawing the wooden floor very briefly, turning to look up at Connor with his pupils slit. Connor rose one eyebrow, "What?" he questioned the large cat, who simply leaped on the Assassin's lap, pressing his front paws on his chest. The two had a stare contest, and by the look of it, Adrik was winning.

"I know what you are doing." Connor said, placing his hands on the cat's ribs to lift him up, "And I don't think it'll work. I won't see Arlette today, I just saw her a few hours ago!" he explained to the black cat, Adrik meowed frustrated, narrowing his eyes as Connor placed him on the floor, "Don't worry.I'll see her soon, just not today." and with that being said, Connor left the balcony. Adrik flicked his tail from side to side angrily, growing irritated as he followed Connor around.

He wasn't going to give up that easily.

Arlette had explained everything to her mother, and amazingly, Helaine did not reprimanded anything that she had said. She actually smiled and said that she'd love to meet Connor, since he was the one who made her daughter so happy. Arthur got home with the doctor, widening his eyes at the sight of his wife out of the bed, but before he could scream at Arlette for letting her mother doing so, Helaine smiled and got up to walk towards the two men, "Gentlemen." she nodded, hooking her arm on her husband's as the three of them marched up the stairs. Arlette smiled fondly,wrapping the light red scarf on her neck once more and standing up to walk to the garden.

Robert was there, looking towards the large pine trees with a somber gaze. "Robert?" Arlette asked gently, touching his shoulder and making her older brother flinch and snap his gaze at her, his worried eyes calmed down at the moment his gaze locked with his sister's "Hello,Arlette."

"What are you doing here?" Arlette questioned, sitting besides him on the iron swing, hands on her lap. Robert shrugged with his lips in a slight frown, "I'm thinking." he whispered, leaning his head back against the swing and closing his eyes, "I'll go to Dublin tonight." the 26 years old told his younger sister, moving his gaze towards her and patting her scalp gently, a warm smile on his features. Arlette frowned, a sick feeling taking over her insides, "Can I say good bye to you?" Arlette sounded like she was asking to play with one of his tin soldiers when they were younger, she sounded so scared to ask him...

"Of course you can." Robert smiled, hugging her close and kissing her temple, "You're my little sister...I would feel horrible if you didn't said good bye to me." he whispered, hugging his sister close while closing his eyes, "I promise I'll write. And I promise I won't take long."

Arlette smiled gently, sighing through her nostrils, "I know, you never break promises Robbie." she whispered, using the nickname of when he was younger. Robert smiled, kissing her forehead, "And I promise I'll be back for your wedding with James." that made the smile on her face turn into a frown, but she managed to cover it up before her brother could notice it. She had forgotten about that already...her wedding. Arlette had to push it away as far as she could...and without calling James' attention.

"Just marry the damn girl!" a fat man screamed, throwing a huge bone towards the large dogs by his feet, his son had his legs crossed while forwning, "She's not as easy as I presumed. She's backing away from me." James said, picking his nails while sneering, "Arlette's smart. She's ignoring me, running away from me...she knows I want the money."

"Hah! Don't be ridiculous!" James Sr. mocked off, drinking his wine elegantly before narrowing his eyes, "They are Irish! They only eat potatoes and play in the dirt! Like pigs!" he snorted, slamming his glass down before leaning towards his son, "Look, Jamie; these people have lots and lots of money. And we need it... marry the girl, then dump her after. Then you can marry anyone you want!" James Sr. smirked, digging his hands on his pockets as his son leaned on his fist, pursing his lips in thought. James hummed before smiling, "I think I know a way to make her trust me."

"That's the spirit my boy." the older man chuckled, grabbing his glass and lifting it up, "A toast to us,son!" he laughed, clinking his glass with his son's, before sipping the wine in one single gulp. James smirked, standing up and brushing his hands on his clothes, "If you excuse me, I'll go see my fiancée." James smirked malevolently, whistling a tune while putting his coat on to go outside. The blond man smiled, placing his hat upon his head and cane on his shoulder that evil smirk remained on his face, "Be prepared Arlette." he whispered, pulling out a cigarrette, "Because I don't give up that easily." he chuckled with the death stick on his lips. James sat up on his wagon, propping his feet up the seat as he tapped the wooden door, meaning that the driver was supposed to go towards the Cunningham's and fast.

With a haughty smirk, James placed his arms behind his head with his eyes closed. 'Who said that getting married wasn't fun?' he thought, chuckling to himself as the wagon started to move. It wouldn't take long until he arrived at the Cunningham's Estates, but James di not cared about it much. He could appear dressed like a maniac that Arthur would greet him with open arms, "Stupid man." he chuckled, "He really thinks I care about his stupid daughter." he laughed louder, wiping his eye with the back of his hand. He didn't cared if her brother disliked him, he was what he last worried about. James had to act nicer if he wanted to gain her trust, "I can't mention her sick mother, it brings the worst in that girl." he mumbled, chewing the end of the cigarrette slightly, not enough to break the thin layer of paper that separated the tobacco from his mouth, "I'll think of something eventually." he said with another smirk, sighing arrogantly while closing his eyes again.

Yep! Chapter 13 is separated in many parts D:

So, now you guys can hate James even more! He just wants the money!

lolol

Anyway! Review is love :3