Assassin's Creed (c) Ubisoft
Night had a way of making things look scarier, especially the dark alleys between the houses. Being upset also increased the fright factor and Haytham wished he brought a flashlight with him, but he didn't have one in his room and he wasn't about to go sneaking through the house looking for one with Jenny there. He shifted his backpack higher up on his shoulders and sniffed, rubbing his nose. The July night was warm, fireflies flashed neon yellow-green every few heartbeats, he could hear the chirp of crickets, the drone of cicadas and the croaking of frogs. Every now and then there was a car that drove by lazily. Haytham hugged the shadows, not wanting anyone to recognize him. He knew the way to the Green Dragon.
He reached it, the trip feeling longer than the normal ten minutes. He glanced up at the street lights, casting an orange glow on the side walk. William's house was the next one over from the lot on the right side, he didn't know who lived in the houses adjacent to the lot. It didn't matter, they wouldn't realize a little boy had climbed up into the treehouse anyway. Haytham watched as a car drove by, before sprinting towards the ladder. He grabbed it, heart thumping against his chest. He heard a noise, a cat yowling in fright. He looked around, seeing nobody but he scrambled up anyway, pushing against the trap door. He creaked open and he climbed in, closing it with a shut and putting the cooler they always kept in the tree house on top of the door. He glanced around.
The Assassins in their unjust occupation of the tree house, didn't seem to have really done anything to it. Many of the times Haytham and his friends had brought to add to the tree house had remain. The only thing was that their cross was taken down and replaced with the stupid upside down V symbol the Assassins seem to favor. Haytham snorted and took it down, pinning the red Templar cross back up. He sat down, and opened his pack. He pulled out his jacket and laid it out on the floor of the tree house, he removed his stuffed eagle and his picture before zipping his backpack up. He took his pouch off, and set it beside the picture before hunkering down, using his backpack as a make-shift pillow.
"It's just us now Eagle," Haytham muttered, snuggling up to his eagle. "We'll be okay." He hoped. He needed to figure out where to go. He frowned, then it hit him suddenly. He'll go to New York, which was where Jenny came from. He'll find her mother and ask her mother to take Jenny back. Then Haytham can have his old life back and Jenny will never bother them again. "I know what I gotta do now," Haytham muttered, shifting about trying to get comfortable. "I hope Father will understand."
"Ugh, I know Britney! He's such an annoying little shit. It's Haytham! Hay-tham! It's not that hard! Well it fucking is! He thinks he's such a special snowflake!" Jenny said, into the phone as she sat on the couch eating popcorn and watching a reality show on TV. "My dad's okay. Weird, but okay. He calls me his little sea star," Jenny snorted with an eye roll, "I know. Lame-o! Ha! That'll be nice. My stupid little brother runs away and never comes back. Won't have to worry about him anymore," Jenny said, "takes care of that fucking problem."
She grinned as Britney began to yammer about something happening in New York, she glanced at her watch. "Hey, Brit, I need to let ya go, my dad should be coming home soon, it's almost two-thirty. Yeah, of course I'll call tomorrow… or later, heheh, yeah, we talked the night away, ugh. I wish I had just stayed in New York, but whatevs! I'm here now. Yeah, bye girl!" Jenny said, giggling as she hung up. She yawned and stretched, glancing at Haytham's closed door. He hadn't come out to get his sandwich, so she had stuck it back into the fridge. She frowned, thinking she should at least check on him but then decided against it. She turned her attention back to the TV.
It was only fifteen minutes after she got off the phone with Britney when the door opened. "Oh, hey sea star," Edward said in a low voice, "didn't know you were still up."
"Yeah," Jenny said, smiling at her father. "Just watching some TV."
"Is your brother in bed?"
"I don't know," Jenny said flippantly. "He was a little brat this evening and locked himself in his room, hasn't come out since. He didn't eat his sandwich so you can have it."
"Jenny," Edward sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, "did you at least check on him?"
"Err… no," she mumbled. "Look, Dad, it's probably not that big of a deal. Haytham is probably asleep. I mean it's almost three in the morning."
"That's not the point," Edward said, heading to Haytham's room. "When you're babysitting I expect you to keep an eye on him. If you can't do that I'll get someone who can and they'll keep an eye on both of you."
"Great, I'm nineteen, I'm not a kid," Jenny said, rolling her eyes.
"You are my daughter, Jennifer, and you're only nineteen. Hardly worthy of being an adult. And if you insist on acting like a child I'll bloody treat ya like one," Edward said, opening the door to Haytham's room. "Haytham?" he asked, noticing the window opened and the screen popped out. He flicked the light on. "Haytham, son, are you hiding?" Edward swallowed, feeling his heart beat quicken. "Jenny, where's Haytham?"
"Isn't he in his room?" Jenny asked, getting up off the couch to come to the door.
"No," Edward said, turning to her, "he isn't and the window's open with the screen popped out. Haytham!" Edward shouted, going to his room. "Haytham, son, are you in here? This isn't funny Haytham! Haytham answer me!"
"Dad, relax. I'm sure he's just hiding in a closest," Jenny said.
"I left you in charge! I trusted you to watch your little brother!" Edward shouted, tugging at his hair. "He's only seven, Jenny!"
"I never asked for this! I never wanted to be a big sister to an ungrateful little brat!" Jenny snapped.
"He's your brother, Jenny!"
"So what! You always pay attention to him! It's always about him! What's so special about him!" Jenny snapped, following her father as he looked through the house for Haytham.
"You were supposed to be watching him, Jennifer! HAYTHAM!" Edward bellowed as he stomped around the house looking for his son. "Haytham, games up son, come out! Haytham!"
"Don't you realize that I'm your daughter too? You left when I was two and the last time I saw you I was five! I wished I had you, Dad," Jenny snapped, tears pricking her eyes. "I hate you!"
"Jenny…" Edward said, stopping to stare at his daughter. Jenny sniffed, unable to hold back her tears.
"No! All you care about is stupid Haytham!" Jenny cried, arms around her herself. "I should just go back to New York, it's clear you don't want me here."
"No, Jenny, that's not it," Edward sighed, grabbing his daughter and pulling her into a hug. "I love you too. It's just… well, I think it's taking all of us a bit of time to adjust to this new living arrangement."
"It's not fair," Jenny sniffled. "I try being nice to him but he's just such a brat to me."
"I'm sorry lass. I think he's unsure on how to react to this. He's only ever had me," Edward muttered. "I think he may be jealous."
"Well, I'm jealous of him," Jenny muttered. Edward chuckled. "He has you."
"I'm here now, Jen. I'm here now and I never stopped loving you," Edward said, stroking her hair. "I love you and Haytham so much."
"I'm sorry, Daddy," Jenny muttered.
"Shh, next time just be more careful. He shouldn't've gotten far. Let's go see if he's somewhere outside."
"Okay," Jenny said. Edward smiled and kissed her forehead.
"C'mon, let's find your brother," Edward said. He let Jenny go and headed to the cabinet, pulling out two flashlights. Father and daughter left the house. "You'll go up that way, I'll look down this way. We'll meet back at the house after sunrise."
"Right," Jenny said.
"His full name is Haytham Edward," he said, "though Haytham is a pretty unique name."
"Yeah, I know. I got it Dad," Jenny said. She wanted to get going now, not waste time yakking about things.
"Right, just…"
"I'll be alright," Jenny said, flicking the flashlight on. She glanced over her shoulder as her father began walking down the street in the opposite direction, she smiled and began walking down the sidewalk calling for Haytham.
Haytham didn't sleep well. It got too cold during the night, despite the muggy heat. Haytham really just wanted to go home. He wanted his father to hug him and cover his faces in kisses, hold him tightly and run his fingers through his hair. Haytham sat up and sniffed, hugging his stuffed eagle. "I miss him," he whispered to the eagle. "I miss Father."
The eagle toy didn't reply. Haytham frowned, staring at it. It had lost an eye somewhere along the way, and Edward had sewn a button in its place. There was a big patch on its back, cut out from Edward's old utility shirt from his Navy days. There was another one on the left wing. He had this stuffed eagle since he was a baby. Haytham threw it with all his might over the railing of the tree house. It reminded him of his father and his father brought Jenny to their house and it's all his fault everything is wrong in the first place.
As soon as he did it, Haytham regretted tossing the toy away. He scrambled to railing and stared at the toy lying abandoned in the dirt. He swallowed and debated if he should go down and retrieve it. "No," Haytham muttered. He was about to go back to his corner when he heard his name, faint and distant but still his name. A smile spread across his face, his father was worried and looking for him. He heard his name again and realized that it wasn't his father's voice but her voice. Haytham folded his arms over his chest and pouted. Jenny's voice grew closer and closer.
"Haytham! Haytham Edward Kenway! Haytham!" Jenny called, walking passed the lot. Haytham watched her, flashlight moving side to side as she called for him. "Haytham! Haytham where are you!" Jenny shouted. "Haytham, c'mon! Enough of this, I'm sorry! Dad's really worried about you! Haytham!"
Haytham swallowed, he wanted to call out, to say something, to bring his father back to him, but he stubbornly refused to answer his sister's calls. Jenny shone her flashlight in the direction of the tree house, and Haytham scuttled back, only to realize he had thrown his eagle. Jenny gave a small gasp of surprise, clearly spotting the toy and running towards it. Haytham heard the scuffing of her sneakers stop as she picked up the toy. Cautiously he peeked out, only to gasp when her flashlight shone into his eyes. "Haytham?" Jenny called, rushing towards the tree house.
"No," Haytham whispered and dove on top of the trap door. It thumped closed, his weight preventing Jenny from entering.
"Haytham, open up! I know it's you, so open the hell up!" Jenny said, smacking the trap door with the flat of her hand. "Now squirt!"
"Shut up!" Haytham shouted.
"Haytham, now! We need to talk!"
"No, I hate you!"
"You barely know me; how can you hate me?" Jenny asked. Haytham paused, realizing that she had a point. "C'mon, open up, let's talk."
Haytham sighed and slowly crawled away from the trap door. Jenny eased it open, tossing her flashlight and the stuffed eagle onto the floor before hauling herself up. Haytham grabbed his toy and cuddled it as he retreated into his corner. He watched Jenny close the door and folded her legs into the lotus position. "Okay, talk," he said. Jenny didn't say anything for several moments, but she did grab her flashlight and held it beneath her chin.
"I'm going to tell you a spooky story," she said in a spooky voice. Haytham stared. She sighed, clicking the flashlight off. "Look I'm sorry," Jenny said.
"You should be," Haytham muttered. Jenny huffed, running a hand through her hair. "You come here and ruin my life! Everything was going perfect! It was just me and Father! It's always only been us! Ever since my mother died…" Haytham trailed off.
"Your mom died?" Jenny asked, curious. Haytham glanced at her, then away, staring at the picture of him and his father, thumb stroking the eagle. He mutely nodded. "I'm sorry," Jenny whispered. "At least you… remember her right?"
"No," Haytham replied, eyes downcast, "she died when I was only a year old." Jenny gave a low whistle. "Father has always been there for me. It's always been him and me against the world. It's always just been us."
"I know what you mean," Jenny said. Haytham looked up at her then, shock clearly written on his face. "Dad… well, he didn't leave but he and my mom always fought. He was overseas when I was born and when I was around two Mom packed up, put me in my car seat and left, moving back to my grandparents in New York." Jenny laughed. "I clearly don't remember it, but I've heard my mom tell the story enough times that it feels like I remember." She tucked some hair behind her ear. "Mom never talked about Dad. It was like he was dead to her, I did have on picture of him though. Do you wanna see?"
Haytham stared at Jenny before slowly scooting over to her as she pulled out a tattered old picture. There were two heavy creases in it, where Jenny had folded the picture in quarters. "See, this is my mom," she said pointing to a woman with strawberry blond hair and bright blue eyes. "Her name is Caroline Scott. She and our dad got married rather young, maybe that's why it didn't work out."
"She's pretty… your mom," Haytham mumbled.
"Thanks, so is your mom. I saw the pictures." Jenny said, "What's her name."
"Tessa," Haytham said smiling. "She use to sing me lullabies and she liked baking. At least… that's what Father said."
"Well, my mom liked to cook. She was always in the kitchen and she'd give me life advice as she cooked. She was also very passionate and headstrong. I remember she scared away this boy I was dating. He apologized the next day to me and was a complete gentleman to every girl he met from then on out," Jenny said, giggling, "I've often wondered what my mom said to hm. Sometimes during the Fourth of July if she had it off, we'd go to the roof of our apartment with a six pack of orange soda and climb to the roof and watch the fireworks."
"Father and I do that!" Haytham said, "Only this year was extra special because you were here. That's why he bought those tickets."
"Oh. I didn't know," Jenny said.
"Yeah, we'd climb to the roof with a blanket and a six pack of root beer and watch fireworks. Father says when I'm old enough we'll do it but with real beer." Haytham looked at his sister, "But root beer is real beer."
Jenny snorted with laughter. "Oh, wow… you really don't know anything." Haytham frowned. "Don't worry, Mom was like that with me too. There would be days I'd catch her smoking on the balcony. I think those were the days when she missed our dad the most. I always pretended that I never noticed or how she cried every time new bills came or that she took a second job at the strip club when I was thirteen. I always just smiled and told her I love her."
"You did that?" Haytham whispered, "Pretend not to notice those things?"
"Yeah?"
"I do too…" Haytham looked away. "Father tries really hard. He'd always get drunk when the bills come. I'd pretend not notice and put a blanket over him before going to bed, leave the TV on too. He'd steal gas from the neighbours because sometimes money'll get so tight that it was either buy groceries or gas for that week. Normally we'd go to Uncle Thatch's or Aunt Mary's then for dinner or they'd bring us groceries."
"Mom would send me to my grandparents during those times. It was only ever for a week or two, then she'd come and pick me up," Jenny said. "Sometimes a social worker would come to my school and ask me questions."
"Did they ever ask you if your mom touched in a bad way?" Haytham asked.
"No, why? They'd ask if my mom's boyfriend did. But Mom never had a boyfriend. I guess Dad was her one true love."
"A social worker asked me if Father touched me in a bad way," Haytham muttered.
"Eeew, what a bitch. Dad would never do that! He loves you too much," Jenny said.
"That's what I told her!" Haytham said, leaning against Jenny, shivering. Jenny put her arm around him. "Jenny," he whispered.
"Hmm?"
"I'm sorry I was mean to you," Haytham said, "we… we have a lot in common."
"We do. I mean, we're pretty different but we have common ground. And it's okay, I… I guess I was also pushy. I was trying to get you to like me on my terms, instead of letting you come to me."
"What was it like?" he asked.
"What was what like?"
"Having a mom, what was it like?" Haytham asked.
"Having a mom is the greatest thing in the world," Jenny said softly. "Moms are always there for you. Mom always knew when I was sad, and she'd cook my favorite food or sing my favorite song, badly and off key. I went on a school trip to Canada one year and my best friend Becca didn't want to be my friend anymore. I called Mom and just talked to her, she made everything better. She'd come and hug you at night when the monsters feel like they are too close. Moms always give you hugs and kisses and watch really cliché TV dramas with you while eating ice cream. Moms kiss your hurts and let you cry on their shoulders or let you vent when you're angry.
"They can be really scary when they're mad, and punishment is really awful. I remember this one time I snuck out to see a boy and my mom caught me. She spanked me right there in front of everyone and grounded me for a month! I cried myself to sleep, but that night she snuck into my room and ran her fingers through my hair and whispered that she'll always love me and that I'll always be her precious baby. Moms are best friends with a life time guarantee and they are angels on earth, because a mom will always love you no matter how badly you screw up, your mom will always love you," Jenny said.
"I miss my mother," Haytham whispered, snuggling closer to Jenny.
"Well, what was it like with a dad?" Jenny asked. Haytham looked at her and bit his lip, thinking.
"Father is… special. Father tries to do everything and fix everything, even if he always can't. Fathers kiss your hurts, and scare away the monsters by being scarier than the monsters. Fathers are always willing to let you be the hero and will appreciate whatever you do so long as you put your heart into it. Fathers try to be cool in front of your friends even when you really don't want them to be because they end up being dorks. They crack really bad jokes that you just laugh at so their feelings don't get hurt. Father always could tell when I'm sad, we'd eat sardines and crackers with mustard then or he'd make hot chocolate.
"Fathers can also be really scary. I broke a vase that belonged to my mother, by accident, and I lied about it and Father found out. He spanked me so hard that I couldn't sit down for a few minutes, but that night I had a horrible nightmare and came running into his room. He went into my room and beat my parka with a baseball bat to chase the monster out of my closet. Fathers give you practical advice and tell you to stand up for yourself. Fathers aren't stingy with hugs or kisses, but they do them less often so they are more special. They also enjoy doing crazy things. Father and I got into an epic snow ball fight one winter, I sprained my wrist because we were wrestling and he landed on me wrong. That's what having a father is like."
"So they can be like moms then too," Jenny said.
"Yeah, but I think… I think fathers understand that you grow up and have to make your own mistakes in the world."
"And moms just want to protect you no matter what happens, they want to fix it all for you because you are their precious baby," Jenny finished. "Yeah, I think you're right."
"So… what's it like having a little brother?" Haytham asked.
"I don't know, how's life with a big sister?" Jenny replied.
"I don't know," Haytham said. Jenny laughed.
"C'mon, let's go home, I'm sure Dad is about ready to send a search party out for both of us," Jenny said, shifting around to open the trap door. Jenny got down first as Haytham gathered is things and shoved them into his backpack.
"Hey, Jenny… can I ask you a question?" Haytham asked.
"What, squirt?"
"Don't call me that," Haytham grumbled, "and I was wondering if you could help us take back our tree house from the Assassins tomorrow."
"Oh? Why me?"
"Well… because you're bigger than everyone and stronger and… a girl," Haytham said.
"What does me being a girl have to do with anything?" Jenny asked as she took Haytham's backpack. "Where did you get the pouch? It's pretty."
"Ziio made it for me for my birthday," Haytham said, grinning broadly. "She's really cool. She's Mohawk, and she isn't afraid of anything! She beats up the bullies! She even beat up my friend Charles… but he called her a mucky savage, which apparently is a bad thing. She really likes cooking but she's so incredibly bossy."
"So… Ziio's your girlfriend," Jenny said.
"What?" Haytham snapped, missing a rung and falling. Jenny caught him. "Ziio isn't my girlfriend, Jenny!"
"Uh-huh, what's her favorite color?"
"White."
"Her birthday?"
"January 14."
"Favorite season?"
"Winter."
"Favorite ice cream flavor?"
"Vanilla."
"Favorite food?"
"Duck."
"Favorite movie?"
"She has two, Dances with Wolves and The Last of the Mohicans."
"Favorite book?"
"Weetamoo: Heart of the Pocassets."
"Favorite drink?"
"Milk."
"Dream job?"
"Owning her own restaurant."
"Does she have any pets?"
"A dog, named Koko."
Jenny smirked as she led Haytham towards their house. "Does she know everything about you?"
"Of course," Haytham scoffed, still unsure as to where this conversation was going. "Why wouldn't she? We asked each other all the most important questions."
"Does she boss you around?"
"Sometimes… especially in the kitchen."
"She's your girlfriend."
"Ziio isn't my girlfriend, Jenny! She's just a friend that happens to be a girl!"
"How many kids does she want?"
"One and she wants it to be a boy."
"Why only one?"
"Because she has a really large family, so she wants to have a really small family so she can smother her child with all the love. And she wants a boy because she knows what it's like to be a girl."
"Not your girlfriend, my ass," Jenny muttered. "Daddy!" Jenny shouted, waving at Edward who was nervously pacing before the front step. "Daddy, look who I found!"
"Haytham!" Edward cried, running up to them and scooping up Haytham. "Oh Haytham! Haytham! Haytham!" Edward muttered kissing his son all over the face and holding him tightly. "I thought I lost you. I thought I lost you and I'd never see you again."
"I'm okay, Father," Haytham muttered, wrapping his arms around his father's neck. "I'm really okay. Jenny found me."
"Did you two work out your differences?" Edward asked.
"Yeah, we did," Haytham said, looking at his sister, "right Jenny?"
"All the major ones at least," Jenny said, resting her hand on Haytham's shoulder. "Though he's still an annoying little squirt."
"Well, you're a mean butt-face," Haytham said, though a smile was on his face. Jenny laughed.
"C'mon, it's early enough I thin Denny's is still open, let's go get breakfast, then we'll come home and sleep till noon, how does that sound?"
"Awesome!" Haytham shouted.
"That sounds excellent," Jenny agreed.
"Alright, let's go to Denny's, everyone into the car!" Edward said and they headed off to Denny's, laughing along the way.
This is the last chapter for a while. I'm going off to Seattle and then I'm going to be working on my original fiction all next month since I'm part taking in Camp NaNoWriMo. So, until then leave reviews, read my other stories and if I need a break from my camp story, I'll update another chapter. This has to be one of my favorite chapters because it's really touching, Jenny and Haytham get to bond and realize that they aren't so different.
Anyway, thank you for reading and leaving me kind reviews, at least those that do leave kind reviews, thank you.
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-Nemo
PS: Weetamoo is a Royal Diary book.