Altaïr- READ AUTHOR'S NOTE else I will shank you!

Me- Ok ok! Everyone just calm down… but seriously, important info in authors note. Please read guys! Thanks ^.^

Altaïr- It's simple. Read or get stabbed.

Me- ALTAIR. CHILL.

Malik- Idiot.

Altaïr- I heard that!

Hey guys! Sorry about that. Anyways, so listen up. I put constellations in here. I did as much research as I could to see if people knew much about the stars in 1191…I didn't get the info I needed so…What the hell! I'll just use it anyways cause I like it! I hope you guys like it too. Also that below is the name of the real chapter so for the one in the little box i just shortened it to stars. Also, I had like a major romance streak and I just had to write all this stuff down, but I PROMISE that the next chapter will be something awesome. Such as…BLOOD GORE VIOLENCE KICKING ASS CURSING BLOOD SPLATTERING MAJOR ASS KICKING and such. :D stuff that we love! BUSTING KNIVES IN GUARDS ASSES! Yay for violence! Cause while it may not be the answer, it is the solution. ;D Have fun guys! Hope you like it and PLEAZ remember to REVIEW!

~Read, Review, be Merry!~

~Dora (Aena Firestar)

Chapter 18

Of the Past, Scars, and Constellations

I decided I was too tired to hear the story, so they let me sleep. I slept all that night and into the next day and all of that day as well. Except for the occasional changing of my bandages. Alario was beside me too, whenever I was up. He liked to fly in and check on me. I sent him out to look after Altaïr.

My cut had stopped bleeding and had stopped throbbing also. I was able to get up and walk around so I had to wear my robe over my tunic. I still couldn't put my pants back on because I still had to change the bandages so I just put my robe on and wrapped it around me. Altaïr kept me up to date on all the information he had gathered. I wanted to help him so bad but both Malik and Altaïr insisted that I stay and rest. I didn't have a choice so I did as I was told. Malik wasn't as harsh to Altaïr as he had been the first day we arrived.

The second day he just ignored him mostly and when Altaïr asked for his help for the mission, he was reluctant but he knew he had to give him the information. The third day, today, Altaïr had left out early to get the remains of the information. I slept mostly but I put a new bandage on my leg. It was the afternoon when Altaïr had returned. The door was open to my room so I heard him drop in and saw him walk in. I got up slowly and wrapped my robe around my body. I slowly walked into the room and leaned on the door facing.

"So what happened? Do you have news?" I asked. Altaïr looked at me.

"First I want to know how you're doing." He walked over to me. His eyes scanned me from under his hood. He looked at me up and down.

"I'm fine. Keep your eyes from wandering. Even though my legs are exposed that doesn't give you the right to rape me with your eyes." I said with a smirk. Altaïr laughed.

"I'm not raping you with my eyes. I was just looking at you. Checking your leg. Seeing if you were ok." He said with a smirk.

"Oh, I'm fine. Just feeling a little vulnerable. I'm in nothing but a thin tunic and a robe and I'm sharing a room with two good-looking guys. So yeah, I'm quite satisfied at the moment." I said with a smirk and a light in my eyes. That comment earned me a smile from both Altaïr and Malik.

"Well I'm glad your feeling better." Said Altaïr and Malik at the same time. I covered my smile and bit back my laugh. They looked at each other.

"Thanks guys." I said, trying to ease the tension. "But anyways, back to your information." I said to Altaïr.

"Yes. Your wasting my time, Altaïr, so be out with it." Altaïr seemed to be calm at the comment and he composed himself. He turned around to Malik.

"I've found Talal and I'm ready to begin my mission." He said.

"Um… Excuse me! I may be injured but that is no reason to disregard me. You gathered up the info and I get to take his life. So it's our mission." I snapped.

"That depends on whether you can climb run and fight, Alera. You are still injured and I know these are our missions, but I might have to take this one alone." He looked at me. I bit my lip.

"Change the subject before I snap again." I said quietly.

"Anyways… Are you willing to hear what I have, Malik?" asked Altaïr.

"I don't want to, but I have to so be done with it." He spat out. Altaïr sighed.

"Very well! Here's what I know: He traffics in human lives, kidnapping Jerusalem's citizens and selling them into slavery. His base is a warehouse located inside the Barbican north of here. As we speak, he prepares a caravan for travel. Either me or Alera or both of us will strike while he's inspecting his stock. If I can avoid his men, Talal himself should prove little challenge."

"Little challenge? Listen to you! Such arrogance." Spat Malik.

"Malik, there is a fine line between arrogance and confidence." I said softly. They both looked at me. I turned around and walked back into the room and closed the door behind me. I slipped my pants on over my clean bandage and then opened the door back up. I slowly sat down on my bed and then propped my feet up and laid down.

"Are we finished? Are you satisfied with what I've learned?" I heard Altaïr ask.

"No. But it will have to do." Said Malik. "Rest, Prepare, cry in the corner. Do what ever it is you do before a mission. Leave early tomorrow." Said Malik with so much spite in his voice. I shook my head and stared at the ceiling. There was a knock.

"Can I come in?" asked Altaïr. I rose up and nodded. He strode over and sat beside me. He put my legs in his lap and moved closer to me. I took a deep breath.

"I'm ready for you to tell me." he looked at me and also took a deep breath. He slowly ran his fingers through my hair. I cocked an eyebrow at him.

"You're stalling." I said with a smirk. He raised an eyebrow.

"How is this stalling? I thought it was distracting." He did that smirk. Damn it… "Stay focused, Alera." I thought to myself.

"It is distracting. So stop it." I said. He chuckled that blood-warming chuckle.

"Alright." He said quietly. "I'll tell you."

I sat there. I had listened to everything. He told me of how he had killed an innocent old man and had ordered Malik and Kadar to do specifically what he had said to do. He broke the first tenant. Stay your blade from the flesh of an innocent. He went on to tell me how he had broken the second one too. He was not discreet in his actions. He brought attention to them. And I saw how it pained him to tell me this. He broke the last tenant, do not compromise the brotherhood. He told me how he was stubborn and foolish. He confessed that it was his fault that Kadar was dead and that Malik lost an arm. He told me how his bloodthirstiness raged out of control and Robert and caught him and kept him from delivering the killing blow. He also told me that Robert spoke of me.

"That doesn't surprise me." I said. "He's been trying to catch me for years."

"Same here. Maybe his thug Templars thought you'd be alone and helpless." He said smirking. I smiled.

"Little did they know…" I said. We laughed some but then he kept going. He told me how Robert followed Malik back to the fortress. There was a short battle and since he screwed so much up previously, he did what he was told and drove them away, but Al Mualim had different plans for him.

"It was so…weird. He stabbed me in the gut with a knife and I felt the icy chill of death overcome me, then everything went black. I woke up a couple hours later in the library. Al Mualim told me that I was to be reborn and was to re-learn the way of the Assassins." He held shame in his eyes and he down cast them.

"So that's why you've been getting a weapon and a rank restored. Its like he wiped the slate clean." I said. He nodded. "Well, now it all makes sense. It's hard to believe…that you caused so much… I warned you Altaïr. I warned you not to make a mistake but you didn't listen." He looked me in the eyes then. I shook my head. "I…I just can't believe it. Kadar is dead and Malik… What was the damn treasure that was so important?" I asked him.

"I don't know what it is. All I know is that its gold, powerful and Al Mualim needed to keep it away from the Templars." He said quietly. I shook my head again. I was getting upset.

"Still. A piece of gold is not worth someone's life. Kadar shouldn't have died. If you had only toned down your arrogance-"

"I know I was wrong, Alera. Trust me, I have paid the price. My best friend wants me dead and a young novice is dead because of me. I even died, but was given another chance. And now… now Robert is after you and part of that is my fault too." I could see the guilt in his eyes. I put my hand on his knee.

"Why didn't you just take my advice? Just once? All of that could have been avoided."

"I was a fool. I thought I was invincible and I thought I knew everything. Guess I was wrong."

"Yes. You were wrong…" I sighed.

"What now?" he asked.

"I want to hear Malik's side to all of this. I just need to soak all of this up." I rubbed my forehead.

"I told you the truth, Alera. I told you everything. I hope you can forgive me, and I hope that if your trust in me is destroyed, then you'll give me another chance to gain it back." He got up and opened the door and walked out. Malik strode in after him and shut the door. He sat down on the bed beside me.

"So, what did that traitor tell you?" he said angrily. My eyes flashed at him.

"Don't call him that. He is not a traitor." I said sternly.

"Well then, he must not have told you the truth. Did he tell you how he killed the innocent and how he brought attention to us? Did he tell you how he made us attack Robert needlessly?"

"Robert stood between the treasure and you. I would say it was necessary." He glared at me.

"That is exactly what he said."

"Malik, I'm sorry. And Yes, Altaïr told me everything. The innocent, the fight, the battle…Everything. He left nothing out." Malik looked down. "Listen Malik. You are my best friend. Altaïr feels guilty enough already. I can see it in his eyes. I know you are mad at him but you must give him a chance to change. He's really changing. He's come a long way from the arrogant ass that I once knew him as." I laughed and Malik chuckled a bit too. He looked up at me.

"Alera, you have such a good heart. I don't see how you put up with him." I looked away as I felt myself blush.

"I trust him Malik. I know he has changed. I know he's still changing. You can't expect him to cast out all of his arrogance. He's a man. Both of you are. And I know that all men have to have that cocky arrogant side to them. That's what makes them a man." That one made him laugh again.

"Of course. But it's going to take a lot longer for my trust in him to be gained back. I need to see that he's changed. I can understand you though, you're the one who has spent the most time with him."

"He's saved my life more than once Malik. He saved me from a horde of guards and he saved me from the damn Templars who were going to kidnap me." I put a hand on his shoulder. "I like to believe that there is a little bit of good in everyone Malik, and I know its in Altaïr." His eyes scanned my face.

"You feel something for him don't you?" he said quietly. I smirked.

"That's really none of your business now is it?" he raised his hands up in surrender.

"Alright, I will not press you." I smiled.

" 'Preciate it. But I'm still a little agitated at him. He shouldn't have been so hardheaded. But I know something that will relieve me of my agitation and slight anger…"

*Altaïr was leaning up against the wall, straining his ears for something, but he didn't hear anything. He had gone ahead and lit the candles since it was getting dark and the moon was showing. They had been in there for a while. He was worried that Malik would tell her a different story. "After all he is her best friend. And was mine… That's a good enough reason for her to trust his word over mine." He thought. He waited a few more minutes but no sound was heard. Another thought popped up in his mind.

"What if their… No, she wouldn't… But what if he kissed her?… No. Remember the way she looks at you, Altaïr. The way she welcomes your touch and the way she touches you. The way she whispers your name and teases you with those lips." His thoughts were silenced as the door opened. Alera stepped out first and she walked over to him. Her robe was on and her hood was thrown up. Her face was emotionless….

SLAP!*

"That's for being such a hard headed bastard!" I said sternly. I tried not to slap him too hard. I didn't want to leave a giant mark, although Malik wanted me to, but I didn't. Altaïr rubbed his cheek.

"I guess I disserved that." He said quietly.

"You bet your ass you did." I looked at him straight in the eyes. *Altaïr saw that blue fire in her eyes and knew she was slightly pissed. But he knew he disserved it so he shrugged it off.* I walked passed him and out into the entrance area. I looked up at the bookshelf and saw Alario perched and already asleep. I smiled to myself. I then turned my attention to the open roof. I jumped up and grabbed the ledge and scaled the wall. My leg was still sore but I managed.

I pulled myself up onto the roof and stood up. I walked over to the other side and sat down with my legs crossed. I looked out over the city. Some lights were on in the windows. The stars were out and so was the beautiful moon. I looked up at the stars and looked at all the constellations. That brought back memories of my father and I. They flashed through my head as if it were yesterday. I felt the lump stick in my throat. I fished under my tunic and pulled out my necklace. The assassin's charm shined in the moonlight and the eagle feathers felt soft underneath my calloused hands.

"If only I had been a little faster. I could have gotten to you. Why did I have to wait so long? Why was I so weak?" I quietly said.

"You were fifteen Alera." Said a deep, smooth, all too familiar voice. I glanced over to see the tall hooded figure standing up on the other side of the opening. I looked back down at my necklace and ran my fingers over it.

"Still. That's no excuse for my hesitance or my weakness." I said in a hard tone. I heard his light footsteps. He walked over and sat down beside me. We sat in silence for a minute. I guessed that he didn't want to pry my about what had happened that night, but I wanted to tell him. After all, it was only fair since he told me his story. I took a deep breath.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, Alera." We looked at each other. "If it's too painful…" he added. He slowly slipped his hand onto my knee and rubbed it. I curled my arm around his and laced my fingers with his, not paying any attention or caring about his missing ring finger. It wasn't foreign to me and didn't bother me in the least. He moved over as close as he could get to me, and that's just where I wanted him to be. My right crossed knee was now resting on his thigh and I rested my head on his shoulder.

"I want you to know this Altaïr. I trust you and…" I closed my eyes and took a breath… "I care about you. I really want you to know my past." I felt him lean down and kiss my forehead. *A huge weight was lifted off of Altaïr. "She still trusts me and cares about me." he smiled to himself.*

"So was there any other reason behind the slap? Besides me disserving it, which I completely understand." I heard the smile in his voice and I looked up at him with a smile.

"Yes, you did disserve it and I also needed to relieve some stress and agitation." He smirked and touched his forehead to mine.

"There are other ways to relieve stress and agitation, my Desert Rose." That made me smirk as well. Not to mention a few tingles went up my spine.

"Such as?" ah yes… I love playing hard to get.

"Can you think of nothing? Well, maybe I'll just have to teach you." He chuckled deeply. That sent chills over my body and caused my blood to warm. Oh, how I love that feeling.

"What would Malik say if he caught us?" I whispered, the smile never leaving my face.

"I don't really care what he would say. He might actually try to kill me though, but it would be worth it." His smirk changed into a smile and that soft light appeared in his green eyes. I saw the brown around the iris again and it was just beautiful. There was a silence between us, but it was comfortable. We stared into each other's eyes as he ran his fingers through my hair and lightly traced my jaw line. It was so comforting. He repeated it for a while and I closed my eyes, reveling in the beautiful feeling.

I felt his hands blaze a new trail as they moved down my neck. *Altaïr felt her pulse slightly speed up under his trailing hands. This made him smile.* He followed through and ran his fingers along my collarbone then he ran under my tunic and traced a lazy circle on my shoulder. His fingers found their way back up to my jaw line. This opened up a new definition of 'bliss' for me.

"You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to, Alera. I just want you to know that." He whispered to me. His breath ran down my neck since our foreheads were still touching. Goosebumps were popping up everywhere of course. I opened my eyes and nodded.

"Thank you." A small, comforting smile tugged at his lips. Oh…those lips… They looked soft and warm and very welcoming. "Tonight could be the night…" I thought. *Altaïr saw Alera smile. Her soft lips teased him so badly. They looked smooth and warm. He wanted nothing more than to claim them. Devour them and make them his. Make her his. "Tonight could be the night…" he thought. Alera turned her head and looked out over the horizon. Altaïr watched her.*

"I will never forget that night. It was like a bad dream, or at least I thought it was at first. I was fifteen. Ever since I was young enough to wield a blade, my father taught me everything about the order. He even taught me the techniques," I smiled a bit. "Well, the ones that he could do. He was in his late thirties, but he had a tendency to have back pains. What skills he couldn't teach me physically, he explained them to me verbally and very descriptively."

"I would imagine your father knew a great many things. The 'Black Eagle' is what we called him. Even though he chose to retire, he was still a master assassin in our eyes." I glanced at him and smiled.

"I'm glad. He was a great man and I loved him so much. But that night… God I can remember it… The thunder had woken me up. That's when the storm started. I had a bad feeling so I took my dagger from underneath my pillow and made my way down the hall. Something told me the trouble was in my father's room, so I crouched down and peeked through the crack in the door…Lightening flashed… and I saw him… a man dressed in black robes and dark silver armor. He had a hood on and a black veil cloth wrapped around his face, only revealing his eyes…" I stopped talking as my voice cracked. There was a lump in my throat and I lost my voice for a minute.

Altaïr pulled his hand from mine and wrapped an arm around me. His other hand took mine and held it.

"Shhh…Alera…You don't have to continue. You can stop…" he whispered to me. He let go of my hand and gently turned me to face him. I felt the tracks of my tears being softly wiped away by his calloused hand. I put my hand over his.

"I have to tell you this. I want to tell you this." I said softly. He lightly smirked.

"There's that stubborn side." I laughed a little bit and his smile grew wider. My smile faded as I went back into the story.

"I crawled into his room. I can remember the way the cold sweat felt on my skin. How my heart pumped wildly sending the blood rushing through my veins. Another flash of lightening came and I saw the man raise his dagger…Then the thunder came…and with it, a yell and a cry… I sprang up and stabbed the man in what I thought was his side, but the lightening flashed and showed it was only his arm.

He turned to me and pulled the dagger out of his arm. His seemingly lifeless eyes stared at me. He shoved me up against the wall with such a force that my head hit the wall and knocked me half unconscious…That was when he gave me this…and with my own dagger too." I pointed to the scar on my cheek and continued. "The man jumped out the window. I ran to my dad but it was too late. He was passing. He told me to take the dagger from his stomach and deliver the killing blow that would bring him final peace…I hated to see him suffer and he told me to be strong…So I did it…and that was it." I breathed out a sigh. It felt like a weight had been lifted off of me. I needed to tell someone about this, I'm glad it's Altaïr.

*Altaïr finally understood why she would get angry when he traced the scar with his hidden blade. It reminded her of the dagger that gave her the scar.* "Now I see why you would get mad at me. It reminded you of the dagger and in turn reminded you of that night. Damn, now I really feel like a jerk." He said. I smiled at him.

"You didn't know. It's all right. There was nothing to forgive in the first place." He smiled at me and ran his finger down my scar. That made me smile wider.

"What is it?" his eyes glistening with curiosity.

"What is with you and my scars? You run your hand down my dagger scar, you trace my symbol scar. The next thing I know, you'll be running your hand up my thigh on my Templar scar." We laughed, and then Altaïr ran his eyes over me and gave a contented smile.

"It's my way of trying to take the pain away. When I stroke you here," he ran his finger slowly and smoothly over my scar. "I want to take the pain of the past away from you… When I stroke you here," he moved his hand to my symbol scar and traced the red, damaged skin. "I want to take away the pain that the Assassin's and I put you through so you could gain our respect… And When I stroke you here,"

We kept eye contact as he placed a hand on my bandaged knee and slowly and softly ran it up to my thigh. My lips parted and I had a quick intake of breath. My eyes slowly shut and I rested my forehead on his again. He slowly came to a stop on my upper thigh. "I want to take away the pain the Templar's put you through, and I want to take away my pain of regret that I didn't get to you fast enough." I opened my eyes on that one. I didn't know what to say…it was so beautiful. I have never had anyone say something like that to me. It was absolutely beautiful.

"I know you have pain too, Altaïr. I want to help ease it as well," I put my left hand in his. "Guide me to a scar and I shall ease the pain." I saw him smile.

"All of mine are underneath my clothes. None are visible outside…save one." He said. He directed my hand to his face and put my fingers on his lips, then I felt it. The corner of his mouth. That scar that I had seen before, but never really paid attention to. It stretched from his top lip to his bottom lip. He held my hand there and my thumb crossed over it. I felt his lips, and they were smooth. He pulled my wrist up closer to him and kissed my symbol scar. It sent a warm shock down my arm and to my very soul. His lips lingered and he kissed it again. They felt so smooth, so warm. I couldn't believe it. I was actually feeling his lips on my scar.

He pulled back and I immediately missed his touch. The wet spot he left on my wrist went cold from the slight breeze that blew. He guided my hand back down to his scar and I traced it slowly and softly.

"Altaïr," I whispered. *There was that breathless whisper that always sent shivers down his spin when she said it. He saw her lean closer and he leaned closer as well.* "Let me ease your pain…" I whispered to him. I leaned in closer and he leaned in as well. I never took my eyes off of his. Our noses brushed and his breath was warm on me. His lips were parted and so were mine. My eyes closed to half lids. This feeling was unlike any I had ever felt before. It was so warm, so beautiful, so…Right. I felt my knees go weak. Thank god I was sitting down.

I slowly leaned to the left and brushed my lips against the corner of his mouth. I felt the scar. *Altaïr was in complete bliss. Alera brushed her lips against the corner of his mouth on his scar and it felt smooth and cooling. His eyes closed in content and his blood warmed.* I completely closed the space and my lips met with his scar and the corner of his mouth. This was no ordinary peck of a kiss either. I lingered, and I wanted to linger. I moved my lips again and kissed it, leaving a wet spot. I moved two more times and pulled away, but he didn't allow me to pull away completely.

"Don't think you'll be getting away that easily." He smirked and laced his hands with mine. He pulled me towards him and started to lean back. He laid flat on the ground and I was straddled and perched on top of him. Hands still laced together.

"You are so doing this on purpose." I said with a smirk. He suddenly pulled my hands back further and I slid forward. He made it to where I was now laying on top of him. I was inches away from him as those eyes stared into my soul. That damn…amazingly hot…smirk played on his lips.

"Maybe…" he said in his smooth tone. His eyes roamed me. They had an interesting glint in them. "Tense?" he asked. That's when I realized it. My back was arched and the muscles in my legs and thighs were tensed.

"I'm sorry. It's a habit. When I think I'm about to fall flat on my face, reflexes tend to kick in." I said with my bite of sarcasm. I relaxed my muscles and slid off of him. I also caught the disheartened look that crossed his face for a split second, but I solved that by lying beside him. My head rested on his chest and just for good measure (and because I wanted to) I wrapped my leg around his. So half of me was still on him pretty much. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

*Altaïr was worried that she was going to leave, but instead she did something he wasn't exactly expecting. Alera curled into him. He couldn't believe this was happening, but he was very happy and relaxed. "This is perfect." He thought. "She's so beautiful." He looked down at the blonde haired assassin in his arms. He smiled and wrapped his arm around her. Her left arm was resting on his chest and he brought his right hand up and just ghosted over it, stroking it softly.*

"Well, look on the bright side. If you would have fallen you would have landed right on my lips." I laughed. There was just something about this. It was so right and I was so happy and content. I hadn't been this happy and this relaxed in a while. I looked up at the sky and saw all the stars and constellations again. A few memories in particular flooded my mind. The stars on Orion's belt twinkled. I spotted Pegasus and Leo. And there was Aquilis, the eagle of Zeus. I slowly sat up and rested my chin on Altaïr's knee. He leaned up and wrapped his arm around me again. I leaned into him but kept my eyes reading the stars. "Something wrong, Alera?" he asked softly. I broke my sight and looked at him with a smile.

"No. It's just… My father and I used to do this. We'd sit up on our roof for hours on end, sometimes till dawn. He taught me all of the constellations that he knew and he'd tell me the stories."

"There are stories behind them? I knew they were there but I never could point them out. Will you teach me some?" he asked. I looked at him and smiled.

"Yes. I will teach you some, Altaïr." He smiled. He brought his arm around behind me and snaked around my waist. Warmth shocked up my side. I let out a giggle.

"What is it?" I heard the smile in Altaïr's voice. I leaned back into his side and tried to compose myself. His hand rubbed my waist. I leaned back and I rested my head on his shoulder and in the crook of his neck.

"Nothing. My waist is just a sensitive spot. And so are my sides." damn it. Did not mean to let that slip out. I felt his fingers lightly rub the spaces between my ribs. I squeaked and shot up about, what I thought was, four feet in the air. I glared at him from underneath my hood. "Not fair!" I said with a pout. He chuckled.

"Shouldn't have told me."

"Yeah…starting to regret that now."

"Don't worry. I won't poke you while your teaching me the stars."

"Good. Because I'm gonna start now." I smirked at him. I felt one last squeeze and I caught my breath. I laced my left hand with his to stop him from squeezing me again. I smiled but didn't let him see. I turned my attention up and scanned the sky. "Hmm…What's an easy one… Ah! I've got it. This is the first one that I learned. Ok, do you see those three stars?" I pointed up and tried to pin point them.

"The ones that are almost in a perfect straight line?" he asked.

"Yep. That's Orion's belt. Now, here comes a bit of a tricky part. Do you see the two bright stars above them? Sort of at an angle? That's his arms. The other stars below the belt are his legs. That is Orion himself." I felt proud of myself for remembering this.

"I do see it. Wow that's… amazing. Is there a story behind him?" he asked curiously. This made me smile and laugh. He was so cute sometimes. So curious. "What is it?" said Altaïr. I looked up at him and he was smiling and very close.

"I love it when you're curious. I think it's cute." I smiled at him.

"Well, maybe I should be curious more often hmm?" he said as he kissed my forehead. That made me laugh.

"Anyways, back to the story." I looked back up at the sky.

"Yes, satisfy my curiosity." He said with a teasing tone.

"I could satisfy a lot more than that." I mumbled. Oh that was a big boost of confidence! Wonder where in the hell that came from….

"What was that Alera? You said you could satisfy a lot more than that?" I looked up at him.

"Oh you heard that? My bad." I teased. He moved in closer and I backed down. We were both teasing each other.

"What is it do you think you could satisfy for me?" he smirked. Before I knew it my back hit the ground. I was lying down and he was leaning over me. I smirked back.

"Name it." His smirk faded and turned into a slight smile. His beautiful eyes met mine then shot down and back up again…I could have sworn he stole a glance at my lips. He had a light in his eyes…Passion. I stared right back at him. He ran his fingers through my hair and down my jaw line. *Altaïr stared into the beautiful blue sapphires that he had became accustomed to seeing. Every time he was around her he would always see a light in them. Whether it was mischief, sarcasm, lust or…this… This particular light was soft and beautiful… "Just as Alera herself is." He thought. He ran his hands through long soft blonde hair.*

"Can you satisfy an everlasting hunger…" he whispered softly to me. He leaned closer. I felt his breath on me. His eyes held want in them but they were soft. This felt so right. This feeling was…beautiful.

"Anything…" I whispered back. He smiled slightly.

"What about a hunger for you?" he whispered. He leaned in closer and he traced my scar with the back of his index finger. There was a small, but comfortable silence between us.

"Kiss me." I whispered. He leaned down all the way. Our noses brushed and he rested his forehead on mine. We lingered there. My eyes were half lidded…waiting for him to close the space. I felt his breath on my lips,

"ALERA! ALTAIR!" came a yell from the bureau. I opened my eyes all the way and looked at Altaïr. We both let out a sigh of frustration. "DAMN IT ALL!" I thought to myself. Our eyes were still locked.

"That would be Malik." I said with frustration.

"He can wait." Said Altaïr.

"I heard that. Get down here now." Said Malik. Altaïr growled and let me up. I let out a groan of annoyance as I stood up and popped my back. Curses flew around in my head faster than I could think…is that even possible? Apparently so… I walked to the entrance and climbed down first. I didn't want Altaïr to go first and then chop Malik's head off when he touched down.

I was careful with my leg, even though it was healing good. I dropped down and turned to see Malik with a raised eyebrow. I looked down and chewed my bottom lip. Bad nervous habit, and Malik has known me long enough to know what it means. I rubbed my neck. My skin was still on fire from Altaïr's touch and I felt as if I was rubbing off a handprint so Malik couldn't see.

"What?" I finally snapped. I heard Altaïr drop down behind me.

"Nothing." Malik said innocently to me. I knew he had read me though. Shit. "I suggest you get some sleep if your killing Talal tomorrow. You can sleep on the bed again tonight Alera. That way you'll be well rested for tomorrow." He gave me a slight smile. I didn't want to argue or cause problems. Good lord I felt like a young teenage girl whose father had found out she had a boyfriend. I just nodded to him.

I turned around towards Altaïr who was leaning up against the wall… Damn he looked good… Keep calm Alera…

"Altaïr?" I called. He pushed off the wall and walked to me.

"Goodnight Alera. Sleep well." He took my hand and ran his thumb over my Assassin's Scar. I couldn't help but smile.

"Goodnight Altaïr. You sleep well too." I said to him. Oh fuck it all. Screw Malik! I leaned in and kissed Altaïr on the corner of his mouth right on his scarred lip. I pulled back and winked at him. That earned me my favorite smirk. I turned around and Malik was just staring at us. "Night Malik!" I said cheerfully as if nothing happened. I gave him a quick hug and walked off to my room. I closed the door behind me and shed my robe off and just hoped in bed in my tunic and pants. I had a single candle lit.

My mind started swirling. "Ok. Gotta get back on task. Talal. Damn slave trader. I've been cooped up for too long. Its time to get my bloodthirstiness back. Altaïr better not leave with out me. I am not afraid to kick his ass and beat him to it. I am going to kill Talal tomorrow." Damn it, I am an assassin, and a woman assassin at that. And a badass one so I'm told. Its time to regain myself… Tomorrow, Desert Rose bares her thorns.

So did anybody catch the Smokey Robinson reference? The tracks of my tears? Anybody catch that? I hope at least some of you did. Anyways I love that song but sadly I don't own it. Smokey does and he sings it awesomely. I also haven't put an Assassin's Creed disclaimer on here in a while so I think I will… I don't own Assassin's Creed, I just own the things you've never heard of…although I wish I owned Altaïr. *pout*

Altaïr- You don't own me!

Me- :O I love that song! "I'm not just one of your many toys!"

Altaïr- *Facepalm*

Me- "You don't own me!" take it away Maura! (my best friend)

Maura- "Don't say I can't go with other boys!"

Me and Maura in unison- "Ba ba ba ba ba ba baaa!…"

Special thanks to the movie First Wives Club, which me and my best friend love to watch…Sadly I don't own that movie either. :P but I love to watch it! Meh, I'm just rambling now and its 11 minutes past midnight now so GOODNIGHT EVERYBODY!