[A/N]: Thanks for reading! Feedback is always welcome!

50 chapters! Again, this is the longest thing I've ever written.

Chapter 50

Ezio would get a more complete answer about a month later. There was little for him to do while he waited for Ugo to track down Bartolomeo's men, so he accompanied Rosa and some of the other thieves on their missions. Most were straightforward and dull, but he appreciated having something to keep himself busy.

After a month of such monotony, he was pleased to be given a letter by one of the thieves' couriers. He recognized the handwriting immediately.

Ezio,
Please come visit me at your earliest convenience. There is no emergency, but it is urgent.
Leonardo

He smiled. It had been too long since he had seen the master inventor, and since he was waiting to hear about Bartolomeo's men, there could not have been a better time to visit.

He sent word to Antonio that he would be unavailable for the day, and then began his walk. It was not long before he was intercepted by Rosa outside the den as she was returning.

"Where do you think you're going?" she asked.

"To see Leonardo. He invited me to visit. He says it's urgent."

"I'll come with you. Otherwise he might let you test another one of his machines."

They made their way to his workshop and knocked on the door. He answered promptly.

"Ezio! And Rosa, what a surprise! Please, come in!"

They did, and they immediately noticed the boxes and crates stacked around the room. Many of his projects had been removed from his walls and workbenches and packed away.

"What's happened here, Leonardo?" Rosa asked.

"I'll get to that later. First, I need to find some wine."

He went off into another room and came back shortly with what he was seeking. He poured some for each of them and they took a few moments to enjoy it before starting their conversation.

"What is all this?" Ezio pressed him.

Leonardo sighed as he looked around. "I'm leaving Venezia," he confessed.

"Leaving?" his companions repeated in unison.

"Yes, to Milano. A patron has taken an interest in me. It's only temporary."

"When will you be back?" asked Ezio.

"A few months, perhaps. No longer than a year, I hope."

They all sat in silence for a few moments. Ezio was pleased to hear of Leonardo's success, but the prospect of him leaving was upsetting to all three of them.

"Will you need an escort?" offered Ezio.

The painter chuckled at this. "The last time I used you as an escort, I barely got away alive," he reminded Ezio.

"But you did get away alive," Ezio replied.

"Hold on," Rosa stopped them. "I haven't heard this story. Tell me what happened."

The other two obliged, and they spent the rest of the afternoon helping Leonardo pack and finishing his wine. He assured Ezio he didn't require an escort, and Ezio reluctantly dropped the subject. After a meal and some long farewells, Ezio and Rosa left him to finish his preparations.

Ezio's question came during their walk back to the thieves' den that night. Out of what seemed like nowhere for both of them (they had been walking in silence), Ezio spoke.

"Do you remember the time in Monteriggioni when I beat you in a sword fight?"

"No, you must be thinking of someone else," was Rosa's immediate reply. Ezio knew she was lying.

"You promised to answer any question I had. That was our bet."

"Merda. I was hoping you'd forgotten about that."

"So you do remember."

"Yes, I remember," she admitted with a groan. "Just make it quick."

Ezio drew a breath. He knew it was now or never.

"About a month ago, the day after I killed Doge Barbarigo, we went for a walk," he began.

"That is not a question."

"I'm getting to it," he shoved her a bit as they walked. "I told you I loved you."

"That's right," she remembered with a laugh. "You could barely get it out of your mouth."

"But you didn't say anything back."

She stopped and turned to him with a confused look. "I didn't?" she asked.

"No," he replied with an even more confused look.

"I…wait, is that your question? Are you asking if I love you?"

"Well, I….I guess I was wondering…"

She laughed again. "Of course I love you, Ezio. I thought you knew that."

"How would I have known that?" Ezio demanded.

"I thought I told you at some point," she explained, still giggling.

"I want my question back."

"No, you wasted it," she insisted.

He smiled and simultaneously had half a mind to push her into the nearby canal (regardless of what would happen to his face once she got out), but they were interrupted by a familiar voice.

"Ezio. We need to talk."

The blunt and impatient tone could have belonged only to Ugo.