Assassin's Creed (c) Ubisoft

Concept: Sannam

Haytham poked his cereal in a half-hearted manner. "What do ya want for your birthday, son?" Edward asked.

"Uhm… I gave you a list of things already," Haytham said, looking up. He scooped a spoonful of Cheerios out of the milk and stuck it into his mouth. "I wanted that Lego set and those dinosaurs."

"I know what you want," Edward said, sitting down with a cup of coffee. He took Haytham's glass of milk and poured it into his coffee up.

"Why don't you just pour milk from the jug into your coffee, Father?" Haytham asked.

"Always forget by the time I sit down," Edward said, ruffling his son's hair. Haytham frowned and pulled out the tie, he then gathered his hair back into a low tail and tied it at his nap. "Why don't you let your Aunt Anne cut it for ya?"

"I like my hair long," Haytham replied.

"Alright, alright," Edward said, holding up his hands defensively, Haytham pulled his lips together and gave his father a playful beady-eyed stare, before breaking into a smile and going back to his cereal. "I meant early was how do you want to celebrate you turning seven this year?"

"Like how we've always done it. Uncle Thatch, Uncle Ben, Uncle Áddie, Uncle Jack, Aunt Mary and Aunt Anne come over and we eat ribs and Aunt Anne makes a cake," Haytham said, shrugging.

"Well, what if I did something different this year," Edward prompted. Haytham looked up at his father, spoon in his mouth, "what if I invited some of your little school friends over."

"No."

"What? Why not? Wouldn't you like to have your buddies over? You kids can play games and stuff. I'm sure hanging around a bunch of grown-ups on your birthday isn't the most ideal birthday for a seven-year-old."

"I don't want my friends over," Haytham said.

"Why? Is it me? Do I embarrass ya, Haytham?" Edward asked, and Haytham stared at his father. He sounded hurt at the prospect of embarrassing his son.

"No, no, no!" Haytham protested, backpedaling quickly. "I'm not embarrassed by you Father. I just… feel… uh… uncomfortable bringing my friends over," Haytham said. "That's all."

"I understand," Edward said, placing a hand on his son's head. "I just want you to have a good birthday. Birthdays should be celebrated with your friends."

Haytham smiled, realizing that he had no choice but to agree to this birthday party idea. "Alright, I guess I can have a birthday party," Haytham sighed, and when his father smiled, he realized that his father would have found a way to get invitations to his friends, regardless if he wanted a party or not. Edward leaned backward in his chair and grabbed a small stack of party invitations. "You were planning this," Haytham muttered as his father handed him the stack.

"I think it's time you had a normal party like a normal kid," Edward said. Haytham accepted the invitations mutely. "Now hurry up, finish your breakfast and run a toothbrush through that mouth of yours. We need to get going otherwise we'll both be late."

Haytham would be damned if he gave his friends party invitations. He had an image to keep and he didn't want Thomas making fun of his house for the rest of the school year or Charles giving him discreet pitying looks. He worked hard to craft an image that didn't reflect his lower middle class economic status as best he could. Thus, he avoided his friends on the playground and made his way to the group of boys that were calling themselves Assassins.

"Uhm… uh… hi," Haytham said, a bit shyly. The five boys looked over at him, and Haytham was glad Achilles was absent from school that day, since Haytham frankly couldn't stand him. He had six invitations to hand out; he had to bring six people to his house.

"What do you want?" a boy with black hair and dark green eyes asked. Haytham looked at the invitations in his hands.

"Ethan," a round face boy with light brown skin chided his friend. "Hi, I'm Umar," the boy said and held out his hand.

"Haytham," Haytham replied, shaking Umar's offered hand.

"That's Ethan, Charles, and Giovanni," Umar said, pointing to his friends in turn.

"Why are you here?" Giovanni asked. "Finally decided that playing at knights is dull?"

"No!" Haytham seethed. "We are the Knights Templar and will be rulers of the world one day, just you watch!"

Ethan and Charles snickered. Haytham felt his cheeks turned pink and decided that he rather suffer Thomas making fun of his house for the rest of year. "Stop it," Umar snapped. "Whatcha got there?"

"Invitations to my birthday party," Haytham said.

"Why give us any? We aren't even friends," Charles Dorian pointed out.

"I get it," Ethan said, snapping his fingers, "he's embarrassed and doesn't want his real friends finding out that he lives in a trailer. So, he's gonna ask us, because he knows we aren't really friends."

"I don't live in a trailer," Haytham snapped. "I live in a normal house. I was going to ask you, but I changed my mind!" Haytham turned around.

"We'll go," Umar said, stopping Haytham in mid-step. "If you want us to, we'll go."

"Are you sure?" Haytham asked, looking at the four boys.

"Yeah, we'll go. Nobody should be alone on their birthday," Umar said, holding out his hand. Haytham looked at the others, who nodded and held out their hands, all save Ethan. Charles nudged him.

"Alright fine," Ethan held out his hand. Haytham handed Ethan the invitation, but before Haytham could let go Ethan got close to him. "You leave Cecily alone. She's mine."

"What?" Haytham gasped. All he knew of Cecily was that she was friends with Maud, Maria and Marie, and he didn't like those girls. They were always talking about girly things and whispering conspiratorially with each other.

"She's mine," Ethan hissed.

"Leave him alone Ethan," Umar sighed.

"Yeah, he doesn't even like Cecily or her friends," Giovanni pointed out. "He likes that weird girl. Diio or whatever her name is."

"It's Ziio," Haytham stressed, looking at Giovanni, "and I don't like her."

"Right," Giovanni agreed, though his grin belied his seriousness. Haytham snorted and let go of the party invitation.

"I hope to see you all there," Haytham said and walked off. He glanced at his watch once he was far enough away from Umar and his friends. He still had plenty of time to find the last person he wanted at his party. He could invite Shay, but Shay may tell the others and he couldn't have that. So, Haytham wandered towards the outcropping of pine trees on the other side of the playground. He heard this was where Ziio liked to hang out.

"Ziio? Ziio, are you here?" he asked, looking around the trunks. A pinecone hit his head. "Ow!" he looked in the direction of where the pinecone came from, rubbing his forehead. Ziio suddenly appeared, legs hooked over a low hanging branch, hands holding the branch.

"What's up smelly butt?" she asked, a cheeky grin on her face, her twin braids dangling towards the earth.

"Don't call me that," Haytham hissed. "Did you throw that pinecone?"

"Did you throw that pinecone?" she mimicked.

"Ziio, stop that."

"Ziio, stop that."

"I mean it!"

"I mean it!"

"Ziio!"

"Haytham!" she shouted, giggling at his flummoxed expression. "What do you want?"

"I want to invite you to my birthday party," Haytham said. Ziio blinked and swung herself down. "It's Saturday."

"You aren't having your stupid friends there are you?" Ziio asked, folding her arms over her chest. Haytham stared at her face, noting she had a smudge of dirt across her nose.

"No. Charles isn't coming… well, Charles Dorian is, but not my frie—"

"I'll come," Ziio said and held out her hand.

"Pardon?" Haytham arched a brow.

"I said I'll come," Ziio repeated and made a grabby motion with her hand.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah," Ziio said. Haytham shrugged and handed the invitation over to her. "Thanks." She stuck the invitation into her pocket. "Why me though? You have friends."

"I… well," Haytham stammered. "I don't know," he admitted.

"Whatever," Ziio said, she turned and noticed Charles Lee heading towards them, "Looks like your little doggie has found you."

"He's not a dog, Ziio."

"Maybe I should scare the pee outta him," Ziio said with a grin.

"Don't," Haytham sighed, "please."

"Fine," Ziio huffed, before climbing back up into the tree. "You better go before he finds you hanging out with me."

"I'll see you Saturday," Haytham said, and run towards Charles.

Ziio was the first to show up to his party. Haytham was shocked to see her standing at his doorstep, staring at him with her wrapped gift in hand. "Hi, Haytham," she replied, grinning like the mad little tomboy she is.

"Haytham, who's this?" Edward asked, coming to stand behind his son. "He looks kinda girly for a boy."

"I'm a girl, and you look kinda scruffy for being a dad," Ziio quipped. Edward laughed, while Haytham hid his face in his hands.

"Oh come now, Haytham," Edward said, patting his son on the head. "I'm not gonna embarrass ya in front of your little girlfriend." Edward said, before heading towards the kitchen shouting, "Blackie, Haytham invited a girl!"

"She isn't my girlfriend!" Haytham snapped, glaring down the hall towards the kitchen. Ziio arched her brow, quizzically.

"Oh, Ziio," Umar said showing up before Ziio could ask Haytham further question, "I didn't know you were coming."

"Yep," Ziio said, smiling.

"Haytham, don't be rude, bring your friends in. I got Hawaiian punch," Edward called from the kitchen.

"Where are the others?" Haytham asked, gesturing for Umar and Ziio to come in, which they did.

"Giovanni, Charles and Ethan are on their way. Giovanni's mom is bringing them," Umar said, taking his shows off. "Wow… your place is uhm…"

"Trashy?" Ziio supplied.

"Don't you live on the reservation?" Umar asked.

"Nope, folks moved because they wanted me to go to school where the school books didn't have their names in it," Ziio said.

"Oh," Umar and Haytham said together. The doorbell rang again. "Uh, the kitchen is just straight ahead," Haytham said, pointing towards the kitchen. He answered the door, pleased to see Giovanni, Charles and Ethan. "Come in," he said, gesturing for the other boys to come in.

"Whoa, this place is a dump," Ethan said.

"Don't insult the host, Ethan," Charles said.

"What, I mean it as a good thing," Ethan protested. Haytham frowned.

"Kids, in here," Edward said. The four boys drifted towards the kitchen, where Umar and Ziio were already sitting around the table with silly pirate hats on their heads.

"Father, no!" Haytham whined.

"Cool," Ethan shouted, eyes falling to Thatch, who was kneading pizza dough. "Check out that dude's beard! It's awesome!" Ethan trotted up to Thatch. "Is your beard real?"

Thatch stared at the little boy. "Sure is."

"Haytham, who is that man?" Umar asked, looking at Thatch.

"Oh, he's my Uncle Thatch," Haytham explained. "Well, he's not my real uncle, but I call him that anyway."

"Alright, got some more! And Haytham you get the special birthday boy hat," Edward said, handing out four more hats before setting a blue-grey tricorner hat upon his son's head. "Alright, I've hidden one of Haytham's presents in the house, and you have to find it," Edward said, pulling out a crumbled up piece of paper, he straightened it out before handing it to Haytham. "Alright Haytham, you're the birthday boy, so you're the captain."

"Father," Haytham sighed.

"Go, have fun! Find your hidden treasure!" Edward said, making shooing motion and the six children.

"Pirates!" Ethan shouted, screaming as he ran towards the living room. "I'm gonna find the treasure!"

"C'mon Haytham! Let's go," Umar said and ran after Ethan, with Charles and Giovanni following. Haytham stared after the other boys.

"C'mon, they're gonna find your present by tearing the entire place apart," Ziio said.

"Actually, its right up there," Haytham pointed to the wrapped present on top of the china cabinet. "Father always hides one present up there, and makes me look for it."

"Oh cool! Check out this toilet seat!" Ethan's voice came from the bathroom. "It even glows! Umar, Giovanni! Look at this! Haytham has a glowing toilet seat!"

"Ethan, get out of the bathroom!" Haytham shouted, running towards them.

"Stop being such a killjoy Haytham," Ethan sighed, coming out of the bathroom. "What are we supposed to do? Do you know where the present is?"

"Yes, I do. Its on top of the china cabinet. Father hides it there every year," Haytham huffed.

"This party stinks," Ethan grumbled.

"You know," Ziio drawled, "we got a huge dump of snow last night, let's go outside and have a snowball fight. Your backyard is big enough."

"Yeah, but—"

"Then it's settled," Ziio said, "Three to a team; Umar, me and Haytham, versus the rest of ya lily-liver landlubbers."

"Ziio, I don't—"

"Unless you boys are afraid to hit a girl," Ziio said, looking at the five boys. "I bet I can beat all of you by myself."

"Pfft. No you can," Ethan snorted.

"What? Afraid to lose to a girl?" Ziio asked.

"No, cause I know I can beat you," Ethan replied.

"Prove it, and just to give you boys a fighting chance," she dragged Haytham closer to her, "Haytham will be with me since he throws like a girl."

"What! Ziio, Ethan… this is getting out of hand!"

"Can it Haytham," Ethan snapped. "Ziio wants to get her face covered in snow, let her. We can take her just find."

"And you do throw like a girl," Giovanni quipped.

"Mr. Kenway, we're going outside!" Ziio shouted, as they made through way to the front door to retrieve their shows.

"Uh… okay," Edward said as Haytham and the others marched to the backdoor. "You sure you don't want to play inside?"

"Its fine Father," Haytham said.

"You kids go on ahead," Edward said, holding Haytham back. "You having a good time?"

"Yeah," Haytham said, forcing a smile. "It's just… that…"

"What?"

"Nothing," Haytham said, smiling again. "I'm having fun." Haytham hugged his father around the middle. "Thanks," he bolted outside when he heard Ziio shout.

"He's not happy," Edward said, watching Haytham play in the backyard from the window.

"Come off of it, Kenway," Thatch said ladling tomato sauce onto the pizzas. "He appreciates the gesture."

"Yes, but Haytham isn't happy. I mean, look at him! He's getting pelted with snowballs. He's not friends with those boys."

"Friends or not, he's not faking those smiles with those kids out there," Thatch growled, "Come help me makes these pizzas."

"I'm just worried."

"Edward," Ádewalé said, walking into the kitchen holding a treasure chest piñata. "Where do ya want dis thing?"

"In the garage, I got a pulley and rope set up already for it."

"I don't dink dat yar old clunker should be out in da snow, Edward," Ádewalé said.

"It'll be find Áddie," Edward said, sprinkling cheese over a pizza. "Did you fill it up with candy?"

"Yep. Took five bags of jolly ranchers."

"Good, they'll like those," Edward said and glanced out the window, to watch his son and his friends.

Haytham and Ziio won the snowball fight, though Ziio did most of the work, while Haytham proved an effective distraction. They played out in the snow until Edward called them in for pizza. Haytham introduce them to his Uncle Áddie, and the six hungry children fell like ravenous wolves on the pizza and potato chips and Hawaiian Punch.

They opened a few of Haytham's presents, which consisted of a Lego set and a ship in a bottle model project, before they headed off to the garage, where Ethan busted the treasure chest piñata open.

"Ethan, you were supposed to let Haytham bust it open!" Giovanni protested.

"He'd've taken too long," Ethan said, pushing the blindfold up and watching the jolly ranchers spill out.

"That's okay, Giovanni, I don't mind," Haytham said, before stooping to scoop up the candy.

"Where's my birthday boy!" a woman's voice shouted.

"Is that your mom?" Umar asked, when a woman with red hair came in.

"Aunt Anne!" Haytham shouted, running up to her and giving her a hug. "These are my friends: Umar, Giovanni, Charles, Ethan and Ziio," Haytham said, pointing to each on in turn. "Ethan busted open the piñata."

"Sweet," Anne said, "I'm glad you kids are having fun. Your dad and Aunt Mary are setting up the cake. They want me to tell your friends to go get their gifts and put them with the others, it's time to cut the cake."

"Cake!" Ethan shouted, and bolted out of the garage.

"Wait, Ethan, you aren't the birthday boy!" Umar called, running after him. Haytham chuckled and followed them.

Like every year, Anne made an angel food cake with vanilla frosting, though this year the cake was nestled in more presents than normal. They sung Happy Birthday, turning Haytham's ears pink. He blew out the seven candles before unwrapping his presents; Mary whisking away the cake to cut and dish it out.

Dinosaurs, a kite, a robot with buttons that made it say things, and a pretty leather bound book. "That's a funny book," Ethan said, grabbing it from Haytham's hands and flipping through it. "All the pages are blank."

"It's supposed to be like that," Haytham said, snatching it back. He ran his hands over the leather of the cover, his named pressed into hide and painted gold. "It's a journal. You write about stuff in it."

"Well that's dumb," Ethan grumbled.

"Where's your gift Ziio?" Haytham asked, looking at her. She stared at him before going back to her cake. "Ziio?"

She huffed, before heading to the front door and returning with her gift. "Here," she said, handing it to him. Haytham thanked her and opened it; he pulled from the shoebox a soft leather bag with beadwork and crude stitching.

"What is it?" Umar asked.

"Looks like some pouch," Ethan mumbled.

"Did you make this Ziio?" Haytham asked, running a thumb along the beadwork.

"Yeah, sorry it sucks," Ziio mumbled. "I didn't know what you wanted, so…"

Haytham picked up his journal and slipped it into the large pouch. "It's perfect!" he grinned, smiling as the leather journal fit into the pouch. "Thanks Ziio, it's beautiful."

The little Mohawk girl flushed. "Y-You think so?" she asked. Haytham stared at her, surprised by her lack of confidence.

"Yeah, I do," Haytham assured her. Ziio smiled. The party wound down from there, as the parents came to pick up the boys, until only Ziio remained. The doorbell rang for the final time that night.

"That's my mom," Ziio said, gathering her little bag of candy. "Thanks for inviting me, Haytham, I had fun."

"Uh… no problem," Haytham said, "I'm glad you could come." He watched her put her coat and shoes on.

Ziio looked around, making sure nobody was watching before pressing a chaste kiss to Haytham's cheek. "Happy birthday, Haytham," she whispered before leaving the house. Haytham stared at the door, one hand at his cheek.

That night as he laid in bed, desk lamp aglow, he wrote the first line in his journal: Today the girl I liked gave me a kiss.

Cute and happy and terribly long chapter to follow up the depressing one.

Maud, Maria, Marie and Cecily are Altair's, Ezio's, Arno's, Evie and Jacob's mothers respectfully.

I didn't have a lot of parties growing up, so I'm sorry the party fell flat.

Ziio's reason for not living on the reservation is actually has a story behind it. Last year, Sherman Alexie, a well-known Native American author and poet, and a member of the Spokane Tribe, came to my college to speak to us. One of the stories he shared was finding his mother's name in his textbook at the reservation school, which prompted him to ask his parents to send him to a school outside the reservation.

Anyway, review and tell me how much you enjoyed this chapter.

Don't review and I just assume you thought this chapter was horrid.

Save an author; leave a review!

-Nemo