Color The Sky

by Mystic Blade

Connor's life at Davenport homestead brings a sense of family after leaving Kanathséton as he makes new friendships with the residents and finds himself slowly assimilating into one large family. He partakes in a part of life that isn't tied to the assassins while one young resident tackles the new wild frontier to carve a dream for herself as they cultivate their new community.

72. More Wedding Bells

More Wedding Bells

---

25 May 1779

Michael had requested the presence of the Burnett siblings at the school during the late afternoon when classes were out for the day. The five siblings were quick to notice that Amelia was not present and an appetizing selection of pastries and small cakes decorated the teacher's desk in her place. Michael sat at the teacher's desk since he had only let school out an hour prior and prepared the treats for the group of siblings. Samuel, who was still dusty from his work outdoors in the mill, crossed his arms and eyed the platter suspiciously to ask, "Are we being bribed to keep a secret?"

"No, but I figured you'd all be hungry after a hard day's work" Michael answered awkwardly at the accusation but the display of sweets could be misinterpreted. He blamed Ruth's handiwork after she dropped off his order and arranged it herself before scuttling off. She was aware of her brother's intention of calling the meeting but would keep to herself back at her bakery. She would get the truth at the end of the day back home anyway and would not need to spy. He motioned to Martha and Caroline, who juggled their babbling infants, and added in, "And childrearing."

At one month, Cora was more aware of her surroundings but preferred slumbering against her parents' shoulders during walks. She was bundled into a little pink dress and white bonnet to protect her fair features, a trait that her mother was now trying to adapt after many years of personal defiance. Martha shuffled the five-month-old Matthew from one arm to another as he tried to reach out for anything grabbable to explore his world. Elizabeth playfully batted his little hands with her fingers to stir a perky smile to keep him occupied. Meanwhile, Cora snuggled against her mother's shoulder and fell asleep once more.

All of them wondered why they were summoned to the schoolhouse, looking at Alice for any hints. The petite brunette shrugged with uncertainty because Michael informed her yesterday for a meeting and she assumed it dealt with the school. They were at a loss, especially with one of their sisters missing in action, and she asked awkwardly, "Why are we here?"

Michael inhaled to calm his clenched stomach, not that it helped, and decided to come clean with his intent. After spending time with Amelia since late fall, he felt comfortable enough in approaching the next step of their relationship. The problem was whether the idea was reciprocated so he decided to approach her siblings before risking embarrassment with her parents. Clasping his hands over the desk as he leaned forward, he began with subdued nerves, "I have been courting your sister for several months-"

"Getting closer to a year" Elizabeth corrected slyly with a knowing wag of her eyebrows, earning a smack to the head by Martha. How was she able to strike when holding a giddy child? Pouting at her older sister, she bit deeply into her fat pastry in defiance. She was only stating the truth! How was that an insult?

Michael cleared his throat modestly since he respected Amelia and would not rush their courtship. Winter put a pause on their outings when the weather was dangerous and there were plenty of days he kept his siblings indoors like Amelia did. They complemented each other's similarities and they were always trading books before offering them to others and earning the same exchange to keep their nights full of imagination. He held no trepidation with Amelia, trusting her like one of his family, and told her siblings, "And I wanted to seek the advice of her most trusted before speaking to your parents."

"It's happening!" Martha squealed to Caroline and the two women huddled together with their confused children glancing at each other. Oh, they felt like young women again learning that their affection was returned by their partner for the very first time! Except this time, it was for Amelia. They knew it was only a matter of time before their sister tied the knot but they were still excited to hear about it. What else could it possibly be?

Samuel's eyebrow quirked to their girlish giggling and he turned around to peek at his perky sisters. What were they going on about? Although time allowed him to understand certain topics his sisters spoke about, there were some things like romance that eluded him. He looked to Alice, who shrugged uncertainly, and asked aloud for a little help, "What's happening?"

"The thing!" Caroline piped up brightly with a happy grin that Michael was ready to commit to her sister. Amelia tried her hardest to make a good life for herself from the moment she began teaching and her sisters knew she was reaching the culmination of her hard work. She and Michael could run the school together while tending to their own homestead. Amelia was well-respected by the community and they would chase the teacher down if he broke her heart, which she doubted would occur.

"You're speaking gibberish!" Samuel shot back with an amused laugh to their silly banter and waved his hands to figurately wash his hands of it. He decided to sit down on a nearby chair to enjoy a small vanilla cake with sugar frosting and berries. Whatever Michael sought agreement for, he had his consent. His brothers-in-law knew that food swayed his mind greatly.

"Do you think Amelia will accept my marriage proposal if I asked?" Michael asked them earnestly for their opinions since his confidence was strong enough to ask their parents. Still, he wanted to ask Amelia first to prevent embarrassment if she declined. He hoped that would not be their finale but he had to prepare for both outcomes. He struggled to sleep at night as he dwelled on whether it was the right time. Now, he had to figure out how to ask his bride-to-be – that is, if she accepted. He assumed that asking her siblings for their input would aid him in his objective and so far, he was witnessing positive reactions.

"You promise to take care of my sister?" Caroline questioned firmly to assess the most important part of a marriage. She protected and kept her husband happy however she could with him returning that same commitment. There was never a question in her mind about their marriage, even through their hardships. There was no issue with Martha's marriage at all as she basked in being a mother and that kept Caroline happy. Martha was adamant to return to work but she wanted to shift gears with the general store since running the inn was hard work for a new mother. Walter let her do as she wished since their prime focus was their son now.

Michael agreed instantly because he would be a lousy man of ill repute if he were anything else but kind. He saw Caroline's commitment to her family which reflected in himself with his own siblings. Just as she was their caretaker, he was the only family they had left. Ruth and Sebastian liked Amelia and he wanted to hear the opinion of her siblings, even if all the words weren't positive. Samuel went in a different direction with the question and was quick to add in, "And not give me tons of homework?"

"Will Amelia be allowed to continue teaching?" Martha asked firmly because her sister deserved to continue her work in the school after passionate years of work. She had watched her study endlessly, just their other siblings, to pass her exams and gain a foothold in the field. Amelia came close to being lost to their family and Martha didn't want another mistake to ruin her dreams yet again.

He would not restrict her work in the school, especially after she offered him a job to begin with. If the family had not spoken to them upon their arrival, who knows where his family would have wounded up. Her outreach saved them from wandering north and enduring a dangerous winter. He would give her a good life as best he could but she was free to continue finding meaning in her teachings. He admired her intelligence, feeling no threat from it, and reassured them, "Yes, except for the homework part – Amelia creates the curriculum."

Samuel slumped in his seat since he was strapped for time between work and school. He missed the days when all he worried about was playing with his toys and a random reading lesson in between. Snapping his fingers, he sighed with disillusion but understood, "Fiddlesticks."

"I believe she would accept" Alice answered helpfully with a kind smile, much to Michael's relief. Her sister was happy whenever she mentioned him in passing and he always had a treat for Alice whenever he brought coffee. She didn't want to feel like an odd third wheel when working at the school but Michael made her feel like a little sister, similar to Ratonhnhaké:ton. Her sisters had yet to choose lousy husbands so she had no qualms at all with Michael. His own siblings were very sweet as well and Sebastian always invited her to fish whenever Samuel headed out with him.

"We've heard nothing negative" Elizabeth confirmed to back up her little sister's opinion and picked up another pastry to begin devouring it. Amelia was a good judge of character, giving everyone the benefit of the doubt, and trusted her judgment. She highly doubted that her sister would choose to date someone unsavory so Michael had nothing to worry about. Her remarks about him were always positive and amused, never negative. Now that it was only her and Alice with Amelia at home as sisters, their older sister confided more in them. With Martha and Caroline jugging infants, their time was occupied a lot and they dropped by intermittently when they could.

"Then might I ask for your hand in helping me decorate this room to ask her?" Michael requested quietly since he wanted a private proposal before their loved ones bounded in. He and Amelia were quiet people by nature and he didn't want to fluster her needlessly. Apart from fate allowing them to meet, the school flourished their friendship into something deeper and he couldn't think of a more special place. To some, it might have seemed simple but he hoped Amelia grasped his underlying meaning. He did ponder about asking her by a bed of colorful flowers but the threat of buzzing bugs might make them flee prematurely. Glancing around the room with its spotless desks and filled bookcases, he smiled with warmth, "This school means much to us. I will prepare to ask for your parents' blessing as well."

Caroline had no qualms with him asking Amelia for her hand in marriage but like their father, she was protective. After shielding her siblings most of her life, she sought their happiness and safety with partners that would continue that same dedication. Like her parents, she was not eternal and did not want to leave the world without seeing them happy. With a sisterly wag of the finger, she pointed out firmly about her only demand, "As long as you treat her well and keep her where she belongs, they will accept."

"You're becoming a mother bear quite well" Elizabeth chuckled with mirth to her maternal edge and leaned over to rub Cora's back, earning a happy coo. Her eldest sister was always protective of them, which she appreciated, but Caroline had a family of her own to worry about now. The redhead grinned at the compliment but stopped short when her little one released a fart. Her siblings tried not to laugh at the newborn's innocent digestion and Caroline buried her face against Cora's shoulder, stifling a laugh herself.

Michael managed not to laugh at the gassy musical and reassured the group of siblings, "Yes, I would not dream of insulting her."

---

1 June 1779

A week later, the Burnett siblings gathered inside the school on a weekend to sneakily decorate the building like fairies out of children's tales. Ratonhnhaké:ton and Walter had been dragged along to help but they ended up caring for their infants more than anything. Cora was tied snugly against her father's chest in a fabric sling that Caroline sewed since she was still unsure about the cradleboard for their baby. Once Cora could hold up her head decently, she would be all for it. Ratonhnhaké:ton, on the other hand, was worried that he'd drop cut confetti all over his child since she was in front of him. Cora simply cooed happily, oblivious to the party planning of her parents, and sucked on her little fist. Matthew, on the other hand, was inside his wooden carriage attempting to sit up to play with his toys. Walter tossed a few inside to keep him occupied rather than storing the confetti paper because he would put anything in his mouth.

"A year ago, we were practically newlyweds" Walter laughed amicably at the positive life events that brought them all together. He had arrived in the town to visit for the summer and ended up staying to build his own family and find a profession. Matthew focused on grasping a toy block while babbling nonsense but Walter was happy to see his son enthused. His friend, on the other hand, dealt with his sleeping infant while he tried not to sprinkle paper over her. If he accidentally got a piece in her eyes, he would never hear the end of it or forgive himself. Walter was proud of his life, content with a job, homestead, and family. He couldn't want for anything else and told him, "Now, we're fathers and will hopefully be celebrating another engagement."

"My home was hardly lived in" Ratonhnhaké:ton chuckled softly at how quickly his life changed in a year. Last summer had been the worst of his life with the second being after the second previous summer Caroline threatened to end their friendship. Summers were beautiful to witness but they had generally not gone well for him at all. He hoped that this year would be different now that Cora existed in his life and treasured his little one, "Now, we have children depending on us."

Elizabeth noticed the two chatting away while she and Alice were handling the pastry platters that Ruth sent over. The two had chosen the delicious chore and were dressing the teacher's desk with a yellow tablecloth. The desserts were all placed on porcelain plates borrowed from Achilles and the Mile's End for the event. They were quick to shoo Samuel away from the table before he picked off a treat and tasked him with mopping the floor to keep his hands busy. Meanwhile, Martha and Caroline handled tying bouquets of white and pink flowers to place around the tablet. Others were placed in vases in the open windows, which now held new curtains in a calming white. It was a small and quaint engagement that the sisters found sweet. The shorter redhead snapped her fingers at the two men and teased playfully at them, "Are you two reminiscing hens cutting the confetti?"

"Yes!" they both assured in unison that they weren't being lazy while watching their children. Ratonhnhaké:ton made an emphasis of his work by displaying his paper-covered hands at his wife. Caroline didn't doubt his commitment but she was happy to find him enjoying himself. It wasn't the most heroic or glamorous work but he worked hard for his family.

"How dare she call me a hen?" Walter blurted with mock insult at being labelled a plump fowl and claimed aloud, "I'd like to think I'm a socially loyal hound."

"We finished decorating the walls" Martha shot back to silence her husband's joking since he could easily become distracted and diverge from his main task. At work, he was focused but during leisure time, he was a free bird. She and Caroline were accustomed to working swiftly to meet deadlines for both work and home. With this being their sister's engagement, they were giddy to get their task done right. This meant that they did not want their husbands to dawdle on their task and Caroline tried not to laugh when her little sister demanded, "Are you two finished?"

"Somewhat?" Walter supplied innocently with a charming smile aimed at his wife to sway her firm stare. Elizabeth and Alice couldn't help but laugh since it reminded them of their parents.

"We have tiny children to fend for" Ratonhnhaké:ton reasoned to back up his brother-in-law before their wives heckled them further. He was not the type to partake in arts and crafts, unlike his family, but he did it for Amelia and his wife's family. He found the situation rather humorous and heartwarming since he finally found his true home so he didn't mind innocent chiding. It brought them all together as a family.

Samuel pointed to the baby sling over his chest where Cora lay curled against him and asked with a sly smile, "You mean the one that's half-asleep and the other who is playing quietly?"

"Don't pick on our husbands" Caroline chuckled softly at the well-mannered infants, who were oblivious to their parents' dedicated work. Her daughter was more worried about napping and feasting on her meal times before unleashing a hefty diaper for her. Being a mother was a new role for her and Martha but they wouldn't trade their children for anything. Sure, Caroline missed traveling but Cora kept her father bound to their homestead so far. She shooed her siblings playfully and reminded them cheekily about their special privilege, "Only we may pick on them."

Martha agreed since they were not required to help with the decorating but the two kindly offered. They had generous personalities because otherwise, she and Caroline would not have married them. She scurried over to peek in on her son, who cooed happily, and pointed at his toys. Grabbing one of the toy blocks, she held it out to help him continue his grasping strength and Matthew latched on happily. Her son was just as mild-mannered as his father, which she was thankful for, and she told them, "They could be relaxing at home after work with the children rather than here."

"That was an option?" Walter asked innocently, faking obliviousness that he could have slid out of the task. He preferred spending time with his family rather than working alone or staying home alone. Like his wife, they preferred to socialize and speak with others to brighten his mood. Ratonhnhaké:ton, on the other hand, was not a decorator and would have preferred to clean while tending to his daughter.

Elizabeth laughed at the disgruntled fathers in their struggle against paper confetti and clapped her hands to order, "All right, let's finish up or we'll blow the surprise."

---

The party planning group scattered to linger in Ruth's bakery and silently observe Amelia's arrival. The siblings tried their best to ignore the delicious aromas emitting from the ovens in the rear room. When Ratonhnhaké:ton offered to buy treats after noticing the glued faces of his family against the windows, they accepted unanimously. He did not want them scaring off Amelia since the bakery was clearly visible from the entrance of the school. It was not a busy hour for Ruth, who didn't mind the group congregating, and assembled fruit pastries onto a wooden platter. She was happy that the town enjoyed her creations and chuckled warmly when Alice and Samuel skittered over to help with plating the goodies.

"I really hope your sister says yes" she mused softly since her brother was enamored with the kind redhead. Unlike her brother, she would labor by trade but Amelia was humble from her meager origins. She did not carry any hubris or ulterior motives nor looked down upon her. After receiving such in the cities, it was a breath of fresh air and she was happy that Michael found someone kind.

"So do we" Alice agreed with a nervous smile since this was the first time they prepared for an engagement. Caroline had been asked privately on the Aquila while Martha was asked in a pre-planned party by Walter. Now, another of their siblings would be headed down the wedding aisle.

Cora, who was the only one too little to nibble on soft foods, whimpered at the delicious smell and receiving nothing in return. Before Ratonhnhaké:ton could scoop her out of the carrier sling, she blew into a fussy cry that demanded prompt attention. Ever the diligent father, he gave his kicking infant freedom by pulling her against his shoulder. Her teary blue eyes blinked at the large room for a brief moment before resuming her cry once more. Caroline was amused by her defiant child but knew there was either hunger or a dirty diaper involved. Grabbing her brown knapsack full of baby goodies, she walked over to retrieve her daughter and smiled, "Time for a feeding since you're still toothless."

Ratonhnhaké:ton tried not to chuckle when his wife departed to one of Ruth's storage rooms to privately feed their little one. Cora sputtered nonsensically as she drifted away from the sweet scents and received a comforting pat on the back from her mother. He smiled in amusement to their little one's defiance that quelled instantly to her affection. Elizabeth chuckled from her seat at watching the alarming cries of Cora and told him, "I cannot wait until she can talk."

"Neither can I" he spoke earnestly at the chance to communicate with his daughter. She was such a tiny little being but each day, she impressed him with her growing development. Her nonstop naps were more spaced out and she was becoming more active, holding her head more steadily than her first month. He still kept a firm grip on her neck whenever they traveled to keep her safe. Her eyes focused on people compared to her lazy stare during the first month. He was fortunate to witness each little milestone.

"She's inside!" Alice squealed eagerly with clenched fists that tapped Elizabeth's backside. The two were glued to one window while Martha held Matthew to peer out of the other. Samuel took the next closest window to avoid the girlish laughter of his sisters to spare his ears. Walter and Ratonhnhaké:ton stuck back from the windows by the counter where Ruth was currently slathering frosting over cooled cinnamon cookies.

"Your giggling will alert your poor sister" Walter advised the laughing trio but his wife was prompt to shush him. Their son babbled nonsensically in consensus with his mother, oblivious to what their parents were saying. This only spurred the other three siblings to laugh harder at their innocent bickering, which greatly resembled their parents.

"It's summer, they'll think it's kids playing out there" Elizabeth justified easily since noise was constant during the hottest season of the year. It was too hot to stay indoors and she was happy to work outdoors with the fresh breeze until it was time to return home to help with dinner. In wintertime, however, the town was as silent as a ghost town.

"You forget they're sharp people" Ratonhnhaké:ton reminded the siblings with a fatherly tone and earned disappointed sighs from them. He had gone from their cool watchful older brother to a protective father ever since Cora was born. The days of him joining their hijinks were over. He knew them all very well after almost a decade and they were not the quiet type. Well, all except Alice.

The siblings remained glued to the windows, stressing their hearing for any laughter, crying, or yelling. They really hoped the latter would not happen. Ruth and Ratonhnhaké:ton stayed close to the counter to prevent being associated with the quartet of siblings while Walter joined his wife with similar curiosity. Caroline returned from the rear of the bakery with a happier Cora in tow, who wiggled in her arms and cooed absentmindedly. She was growing hungrier with each day and her fussiness knew no bounds when unsated. Ratonhnhaké:ton reflected his daughter's attitude and held out his hands to receive Cora once more. With her siblings to corral, his wife conceded their daughter to him and passed her on with a fond kiss to her forehead. Cora settled contently against her father's chest to coo softly and he held her close with a fond smile. He couldn't be more thankful for his family.

"They're coming out!" Samuel called over his shoulder to let everyone know he spotted his sister exiting the church. Amelia always had a casual pace about her compared to their eldest sister and himself whom were hasty in speed. Today, however, fire was at her heels as she sped away from the church and his stomach sank to the thought that the proposal went south.

Caroline was rapt at attention at this and darted forward to meet up with her siblings to question swiftly, "Are they happy? Mad? Sad?"

"You're worse than Elizabeth" Martha sighed with disappointment at her sudden impatience as if they were teenagers all over again. Caroline could care less about propriety among her family and plastered herself to the closest window to peer outside with bright eyes. Her husband tried not to snicker under his breath at her childlike curiosity, peering down at their blue-eyed daughter. Would she take after him or her mother?

The redhead was prompt with her rebuttal as she failed to budge from the window, "I have been feeding and diapering an unsatiable baby for two months – this is my weekly highlight!"

"I can't argue with that" her sister agreed since she had been in the same shoes months prior with Matthew. Once he became stronger and was able to sit up, she no longer worried about clutching him close for fear of hurting him. Now, he was happy to try out soft foods as he stopped feeding in clusters like his early months. She did not envy her sister at all after spending sleepless nights with her child.

Both women watched Amelia leave the school with Matthew in tow behind her and none appeared distressed. Had it gone well? The siblings quickly moved in unison from one window to the next towards the left to mimic the movements of the couple. Walter and Ratonhnhaké:ton followed their spouses, children in tow, and Ruth laughed behind a flour-caked hand at their behavior. She was giddy for her brother to be engaged but there was something about the Burnett siblings that was endearing with their tight-knit family. Her eyes widened when Alice called out expectantly to her, "Aren't you coming with us?"

The entire troop was heading to the front door now that they had run out of windows to peer out of. Alice waved her hand to beckon her into the group since half were already out the door. Ruth patted her hands down on her flour-splattered apron and hesitated briefly, "But the store-"

"That's why you have a closed sign" Elizabeth pointed out and flipped the wooden sign on the door to make her unavailable for the next hour. Ruth saw the round sign sway and she removed her flour-caked apron to toss it onto the counter. She had never cast aside work after living in poverty all her life and felt awkward simply doing so. Still, she had no pending orders and everyone had picked up their goodies with only her cookies left over for anyone who slipped in to purchase something for their sweet tooth. The blonde joined the family to partake in whatever shenanigans they had planned and Elizabeth shut the door close behind her as she told everyone, "Let's go!"

"I've never left work early" Ruth blurted with guilt for leaving her bakery unattended when she was the only worker. Thankfully, her ovens were cleaned out to prepare for tomorrow's prepping so there was no concern for potential fires. The cinnamon cookies would survive being unattended.

Walter understood her worry since he had never skipped out on his work duties until he married Martha. Whenever her siblings were up to something or one was in need, all of them gathered to solve the problem. Now that he had a son, Matthew came along for the ride. This would be part of a new routine for Michael if he married Amelia and he told her earnestly, "When you're a part of this family, you're bound to act out of character."

Amelia was over the moon with joy as she raised her left hand to smile widely at her silver ring with a pearl in its center as engraved flowers decorated the sides. Michael's proposal inside the decorated school fit her perfectly and as a private person, preferred it that way. He did admit to her siblings' handiwork in the pretty presentation and she would leave it that way for her students to enjoy when school returned on Monday. Gazing down at her simple green dress, she would have dressed up in nicer attire if she'd known he was asking her a special question. Instead, he had asked her for a walk under the guise of input on next week's lecture. He had played the unaware teacher role quite well but she would happily marry him. As a young girl, she listened to Martha prattle about their future spouses while their sisters ran away. Now, she would join them as a married woman.

I never thought this would happen, she thought gleefully to the unexpected but welcome surprise. Her heart was committed to the school after being offered the job and frankly, assumed she would be a spinster. It was not a lifestyle she minded at all, given her siblings living nearby, but Michael made her happy upon meeting. Like Caroline, she met a friend she could confide in and formed a deeper bond with him than her other friends in town.

Speaking of her family, she spotted the large group of her siblings walking down the road while her sisters' husbands entertained an awkward Ruth. What was this about? Before Michael could flash them a thumbs up of success, Amelia turned around in the dirt road to face the oncoming group. Caroline pretended to laugh naturally as she wiggled to the forefront and declared, "What odd coincidence bumping into you out here-"

"She knows" Michael interjected to save them the trouble of spinning a tale of quirky coincidence for her. He could not lie to Amelia out of respect for her and the group had done a great job setting up the decorations. The redhead raised an eyebrow in question to their presence so quickly after accepting the proposal and wondered where they had hidden.

The group dropped the pretense of sudden surprise and Elizabeth sputtered, "Oh . . . well?"

"We're getting married" Amelia confessed modestly, finding it surreal and expecting the moment to disappear like a dream. She looped her right arm through Michael's with a fond smile but held out her left hand for her sisters to see the ring. Their waving hands of expectation were hard to deny and she remembered being in their shoes with Martha's and Caroline's engagements. Now, it was her turn to deliver the news to her loved ones. She wanted to bask in the moment before having to plan out the wedding.

"Congratulations!" they blurted happily with Alice and Martha clapping with pride for extra measure. Their voices echoed down the main road and Amelia blushed heavily at having the entire town hear the news before telling her parents. Cora whimpered fussily at the volume, earning soothing pats to her back from her father, while Matthew looked to his father for aid at their strange behavior. Amelia shushed the group gently before their joy overpowered their quaint town or made the children bawl.

Martha didn't skip a beat at the next phase of their proposal plan and emphasized, "Were you heading to our parents?"

"Yes, they should be informed" she replied evenly to be a good daughter and avoid scandals if everyone else heard it first. Her stomach quivered nervously on whether they would approve. What if they didn't think she was ready or didn't like Michael? She had never heard anything negative but one never knew! Their courtship was the shortest from all her sisters but she clicked naturally with him. They held clear expectations of their relationship and with each other to avoid discontent and conflict.

Elizabeth waved in the direction of their home on top of the lonely hill and marched onwards to usher everyone, "Let's go!"

"All of us?" Amelia asked tentatively at the large group that followed her footsteps. While Martha had a party present for hers and Caroline had their family in their home, she had an entourage carrying the news.

"Why not?" Samuel questioned to share the jolly news, mainly because their parents were expecting the couple to arrive. If they did not, their plan would go to waste. They didn't want to make the trip awkward but they wanted to surprise their sister.

Ratonhnhaké:ton cleared his throat purposefully to draw his wife's attention and proposed quietly, "Maybe we should keep it private – ow."

He frowned with disappointment when she nudged him in the ribs to silence that option. What was everyone's fascination with an engagement? Caroline was not about to thwart her siblings' effort to congratulate Amelia on her engagement and neither would their parents. She wanted her sister to enjoy her engagement and remember it fondly. She adjusted Cora against her shoulder, who peeked at her aunt with curiosity, and Caroline insisted, "We will drop you off."

The group turned left on the main road to walk away from the school and head to the small green hill overlooking the town. They allowed Amelia and Michael to take the lead which made the redhead suspicious but Michael grasped her by the hand to seize her attention. He hoped to keep her unaware of their surprise but if she questioned him, he would likely cave out of guilt. With that in mind, his pace was hasty which spurred on the small group behind them with excited chatter. Amelia, on the other hand, was stuck between staring at both while keeping her footing straight uphill.

Before they approached the closed door of the Burnett home, Caroline called out jovially to announce their presence, "Mother, Amelia has a surprise for you!"

Cora wiggled in her arms with a defiant whimper at having her hearing disrupted by loud noise. Caroline chuckled apologetically at her temperament, briefly reminded of her husband and his serene disposition. The door to her childhood home flew open and Catherine stood in the doorway with her usual blue and yellow attire. No spoon was in her hand today and she ushered the young couple inside with a warm smile, "Come on in then!"

She retreated inside the home and Michael tugged on Amelia's hand to pull her through the doorway. Amelia's suspicion gauge rose when the group stayed outside with innocent smiles while only she and Michael entered the cabin. What was going on? She didn't have time to ponder when she received the answer when looking inside. The dining table was packed full of fresh and hot food with a vase full of vibrant wildflowers that brightened the home. The amount of food, her parents' presence, and her rabble of siblings outside told her something was amiss. Where they in on Michael's plan? Her eyes darted between her parents to ask uncertainly, "What's all this?"

"It's only right to congratulate an engaged couple" Godfrey pointed out with a jolly laugh to reveal the inside secret she suspected. Had she worried over nothing? The nervous flutters in her stomach faded immediately at seeing her pleased parents rather than disapproving glares. She always expected the worst instead of staying optimistic, unlike her sisters. She really needed to stop thinking that way.

"You knew?" she asked with relief that she did not have to tiptoe around the topic. Their awareness created a safe space where she could divulge her true feelings rather than hiding them. It was not uncommon for young ladies to defer to their parents wishes if they did not approve of their match. Thankfully, her parents had never been the type to eagerly kick them out the door and did not reject their beaus.

"Michael asked us two days ago" her mother replied easily with a humorous wink since they respected his wishes not to inform Amelia until the question was asked. He would rather face the humiliation under the guise that she was not aware of the multiple hands helping behind the scenes. Godfrey expected another year to pass before one of his daughters was married off but here he was again. This would be the new phase of his life as a father but he was happy for his daughters, especially when seeing them with their children. Catherine cooked food hearty enough for celebration or depression and told her daughter with a motherly smile, "We prepared for both an engagement and condolence party."

Amelia blinked awkwardly while Michael sighed in relief that he was not walking back home in shame. He managed to voice the question in one breath without stuttering but blushed madly, which delighted his now fiancée. She had never heard of a party for the latter disappointment and asked with confusion, "How do you even set up a condolence party?"

"Ask Walter, he finds any reason for a festivity" her mother reasoned easily to the multitasking abilities of her son-in-law. Unlike Ratonhnhaké:ton, he was more inclined to throw parties which helped her other son-in-law grasp colonial customs a bit better. The storekeeper smiled with pride for the compliment because his wife was mainly the party planner of the town. Peering down at her, she chuckled softly at his innocent enthusiasm.

"Welcome to the family, Michael" Catherine spoke kindly to their newest member and wished nothing but happiness for the couple. Like Ratonhnhaké:ton, he came from humble origins and appreciated being accepted into their fold. After lacking a maternal figure for half his life, he was happy to have someone he could depend on for advice. He was accustomed to tackling any job and raising his siblings which was a trait Amelia admired after watching Caroline do the same for her. He smiled modestly at facing his in-laws but it was more of a calming effect after having his stomach in knots when asking for their blessing. Ratonhnhaké:ton and Walter had given him tips on successfully wooing the Scottish couple and he could finally relax. Catherine pulled out one of the wooden chairs to emphasize they sit down and piped up excitedly, "Do not be a stranger. We are more than happy to help you with anything."

Godfrey, on the other hand, stuck to his father bear disposition and wagged a warning finger one last time to remind him, "Stick to my stipulations and you'll be just fine."

"Boban" Amelia groaned with embarrassment at having her fiancé scared off the property. He was not a rural survivalist by nature like her father and Ratonhnhaké:ton but Walter had been the same as a city dweller. The storekeeper learned quickly how to live in their quaint town and Michael learned the same. He just happened to take longer since he had his siblings to corral before he headed out to work.

Catherine shot a small glare at her husband but he was a protective father that wanted his daughters with the same dedicated defenders. He would never have to worry about Caroline, Elizabeth, and Samuel but his other three children needed dependable partners. He relented at his wife's insistence that he tone down his attitude and she chuckled modestly to reassure the teacher, "He says that to everyone."

From outside and out of Godfrey's view, both Walter and Ratonhnhaké:ton agreed with a silent nod. Their wives tried not to snicker since they had been lucky in not having in-laws anywhere in the colony for similar interrogation. Caroline struck it close by meeting her husband's grandmother but Martha and Amelia would be spared a visit to the in-laws. Elizabeth and Alice would be the last Burnett women to land in the hot seat one day but both women hoped it would be a long time away. Samuel, on the other hand, would face the ire of his bride's parents one day but like his sisters, it would be even longer.

"You can all come inside now" Catherine beckoned the group awaiting outside since the roof offered little shade. Martha and Caroline piled inside with their little ones to keep them cool, which instantly drew Godfrey to his grandchildren. Matthew babbled giddily at his grandfather's smile while Cora wiggled a fist in half-interest. At two months, Godfrey didn't expect much from her except to look adorable. He offered to carry Matthew to spare his parents the weight in their arms and Martha happily accepted. Caroline opted to keep her baby close due to frequent feedings and soiled diapers.

Catherine fawned over Amelia's ring as another of her daughters was whisked away to build their own family. She was proud of her after watching her study and work relentlessly to become who she was. Most women tended to a home after marriage, forgoing any previous work, but her daughter refused to give up her trade unless absolutely necessary. She hoped that would be true and that life would be kind to her child. Amelia was trying her best to be humble but she was glowing from joy. Having their loved ones present was both endearing and humorous and she told them, "Thank you all for everything"

"Oh, we won't be done until the wedding" Alice piped up mischievously with a bright smile since she liked the party planning. Martha was happy to have her and Walter as her decoration team while everyone else was dragged in automatically for support. Each of them had helped for every wedding and this time would be no different. Amelia and Caroline took great care of them during childhood and Alice owed them greatly for that. She would make sure her older sister had a perfect wedding to remember.

"You're going to make me blush" she chuckled softly at the outpour of emotions from her family and was grateful for the approval. She expected Caroline to ask whether she was sure of about getting married but the other redhead was cheering her on. Amelia had a smarter head on her shoulders than herself and Caroline would not question her decisions, only support them. Her little sister was no fool but she held a great and gentle heart so she expected Michael to treasure her like their family did.

Michael eased her family's worry when he spoke softly to promise to do his best as her husband, "I can't give you the world but I will do my best."

"All I want is to keep teaching and build a home of our own" she told him earnestly on her two requests with the first being the most important for her own independence. She did not want to lose her identity behind the role of a wife and one day, a mother. Her mother taught all her sisters to have a sharp mind to survive in the harsh frontier and she was thankful for that. She and Alice would carry on the tradition of teaching after being taught by their mother.

"I do have unmarried siblings living with me" he reminded sheepishly since he was not a single bachelor in his homestead. Sebastian depended the most on him while Ruth was more independent now that she had her bakery. She was playing with the idea of creating an addition to the business to live on her own to grant her brother more privacy in his upcoming marriage. Their little brother tried his best to earn money with odd jobs around town while also attending school.

"We don't make a fuss" Ruth promised because they did not want to chase her away. She and Sebastian loved the kind woman and they learned much from her, not only for education but survival in the outdoors. Living in cities, they never grew up within the forest like her family did and they were enthralled by her childhood stories.

"I'm used to company" Amelia admitted with a friendly smile, aware that Michael was the only parental figure they had. Even though he was their brother, he stepped into parental shoes to keep them afloat. They were humble people, just like her own siblings, and she would not mind sharing space with them. They were not the type of people to tiptoe around and made her feel welcome in their home from the first moment she visited. Ruth smiled widely at having a new sister that accepted her without issue.

The men shied away when happy squealing emitted from the women and Ratonhnhaké:ton tried to swoop in for his dozing daughter. Caroline played keepaway with their little one but backed away from the giggling group to let them mingle with her happy sister. She congratulated her new brother-in-law to-be with a fond smile, "Take great care of my sister. I will hear if a single hair is harmed."

"I will" he vowed with a firm nod because he would protect his wife with every fiber of his being. He was not a fighter by nature but he could now handle a rifle after learning from the townsmen. A happy home with a safe roof over her head and working enough to keep her fed every day would be his goal. He would not disappoint his future wife and dim the bright perky light in her blue eyes. Amelia shushed her sister with blushing embarrassment but appreciated the care from her siblings.

Catherine sighed softly at watching another interaction between her children about marriage and told her husband with lament, "Another one down the aisle."

"Most parents would be happy" Godfrey agreed reluctantly because it was bittersweet to release their children. They had raised and cared for them over a decade and not hearing their voices at home would make their home emptier. Now, it would only be Elizabeth, Alice, and Samuel living in the cabin. The ample room he created through partitions to grant his children privacy were now becoming empty rooms. For the trio, they would finally have their own private rooms to gain more freedom.

Amelia overheard their parental melancholy and turned around away from the crowd to reassure them, "It won't be instantly overnight."

She was not in a rush to head straight into the town church for marriage because she needed to plan out her future life. A new home would need tending, new commute to the school, balancing her home and work life, and becoming a wife. Each role was delicate but intertwined to the rest. Some couples were ready to marry within the month like Myriam and Norris but she needed more time. Caroline was already the forerunner in a long engagement and teased her younger sibling, "Do I hear someone threatening my record for longest engagement?"

In protest to the long engagement of her mother, Cora began to fuss in her arms to point out she arrived in the world within a short time. Caroline clutched her little one close, soothing her back, but felt a squishy bottom with her opposite arm. She was punctual with her soiled diapers and met her big blue eyes to coo at her cherry-cheeked daughter, "Oh no, have you unleashed another poop surprise for your mother?"

When a weak whimper was her reply, Caroline chuckled softly and excused herself from the happy group. Motherhood called yet again to change a diaper but she was ecstatic on today's news. Her Cora would have a godfather now as well and kissed her fair cheek to dote, "My tiny but precious Cora."

---

9 June 1779

Haytham debated on whether shooting himself in the foot for mentoring Lee or shooting the man would be the better option. No, he would not resort to violence. He promised to keep a cooler mind on approaching problems that treaded his patience. At the moment, he was trying to convince Lee to lie low after his embarrassing suspension. Unfortunately, he listened to part of his order by physically moving between cities at random intervals but he failed catastrophically in not drawing attention. He was still writing letters to printing presses that would listen to his slanders on Washington to bring the man's image down. Haytham wouldn't have minded the commander being brought down a peg or two but it was petty and unneeded at a time like this.

He was trying to ignore the fact that his son was enemy number one after his impromptu visit earlier that winter. Given that it would soon be summer, he assumed his first grandchild had likely arrived by now. He wasn't exactly sure how to process those feelings – should he even have them? His son was quite vocal at keeping him away from the child but there was an annoying knack of natural curiosity. Did he have a granddaughter or grandson? Were they thriving and healthy? Child mortality was not uncommon and he fought the brief flicker that jabbed him to do some surveillance on his son's family. He was not in the mood to be attacked by fowl or be shot at but traveling would be far more comfortable without ice and snow.

Tired of traveling, he forced Lee out of hiding to visit him in Virginia because he was not going to have his boots cleaned for the fiftieth time. That, and he wanted to enjoy some time at home and not worry about Templar business. It was during quiet moments at night that he wondered how life could have been if he left it all after meeting Ziio. Would he and his son share a better relationship where he could see his grandchild without fearing for his life? Everything he had worked for in the last four decades would be left for the Templars and were they worthy of it? Was it the outcome he expected? In the beginning, he would have agreed but betrayal and tragedy turned his dreams into bitterness. Would the Templars truly continue to seek balance and order after he passed or would they be self-serving power-hungry fools?

Lee would be the one to carry on that work and currently, Haytham was not satisfied with his approach. He had done marvelously in pinning crimes against his son back in New York but his attention shifted to Washington. The last thing he wanted was for him to be arrested and while the two stood in the main hall of his home, he requested sharply, "Can you stop writing letters for a week? A month, maximum?"

Charles was aware an invitation to the Grandmaster's estate could be a reward or punishment. After enjoying dinner, he assumed the latter because one never knew where they stood with the man. Years ago, he would have contested that claim as a loyal follower but Haytham was a very dangerous individual. He found horrible irony at knowing his son was the one they were all trying to eliminate but failing terribly at every turn. He was trying to thwart the commander of the Continental Army after being slighted repeatedly, debating on whether to kill him first or the Assassin. Since the man was an open target and more easily found, he pointed out, "But they offered me a weekly column to relieve my grievances."

"They offered or you convinced them to let you purchase space?" Haytham questioned to clarify the truth since Templars were sharp with a silver tongue. Or at least, he trained them that way.

"Is that really important?" his second-in-command supplied vaguely with no answer at all. Why did Haytham automatically suspect the second with that poor reply? His prose could have been intriguing to readers!

Haytham refused to answer that to save himself the headache and pointed to the front door to emphasize, "Go, do not disappoint me."

Lucy, who had been standing in the adjacent room for further orders (and innocent overhearing), quickly appeared to scuttle for the front door. Her bright blue skirt billowed between the two as she dashed for the doorknob to pry it open. When her boss pointed at or mentioned a door, there was a silent rule that the door must be opened within the minute. Charles took the silent cue to leave and nodded to his leader to promise, "I will keep you aware of any word on Connor's whereabouts."

He nodded silently with agreement since he had his own intel but would keep that tidbit to himself. His second in command was more focused in destroying Washington so his son was temporarily in the clear, especially since he was also lying low. Haytham wanted to handle that specific problem, but would accept any intel, and sharply reminded him, "I can track that but you need to throw off your notoriety. We will speak again after that happens."

"Safe travels" Lucy spoke with overt cheerfulness and flashed him a peppy smile before closing the door promptly. For his sake, she hoped he had all his belongings because her boss was not the type to reopen the door for one's shortcomings.

"I could have shut the door myself" her boss pointed out dryly but would not chastise her swift action. He would play the part of a good host but when he lost interest, he would call an end and Lucy would take care of it.

Lucy shrugged nonchalantly since she knew how to read his nonverbal cues and explained reasonably, "Yes, but if it comes from me, he will stay loyal to you and give me the stink eye."

Haytham was more concerned about Lee's plans rather than his distaste in his house staff. He could not risk having their work jeopardized for exposure simply for the sake of taking down a military commander. Did the Templars see him as a figurehead now rather than the leader he was? Sometimes, he really pondered about a purge and restarting the branch with his own ideals of what a Templar should be. Was his daughter-in-law onto something? Brushing all his questions under a mental rug, he sighed under his breath, "What part of lying low does he not understand?"

"Have you pondered the fact he may be deaf and simply nods for your approval?" Lucy piped up helpfully at the man's endless loyalty and obedience. He was the only one that frequented the estate compared to other Templars but if she was honest, she was partial to her boss' blood bonds.

"He can't be deaf, he's younger than me!" Haytham exclaimed with embarrassment at having his Templars' senses fall apart before his own. He expected competent agents that were capable of espionage and fighting, not yes men that were useless. Worse, those that appeared loyal at face value but were vying for their own taste of power with secret agendas.

"He's been around quite the cannon fire" she justified because repeated exposure to cannon fire could alter one's sense of hearing. They were painfully loud weapons and being in their near vicinity could deafen one momentarily from its booming sound. Maybe he was unsure of his orders and was playing it by ear?

Haytham highly doubted Lee held deficient senses and turned away to say he would retire to his study for the afternoon. He made it clear that he would not see any visitors unless it was an emergency. Playing chess with his Templar forces was done for the day but he still had that pesky knack about his grandchild. What memories would he leave with them? Or would they know of him at all?

---

23 July 1779

Nobody said parenthood would be easy but Ratonhnhaké:ton was ready to rank it high as eliminating a strong Templar. Their baby decided to sleep more during the day and awaken at night, disrupting his sleep cycle since he refused to let Caroline stay awake alone. He would hold her to support whatever feeding position Cora desired and keep his wife comfortable. The feedings were numerously endless and he had taken the side job of a wash maid for her little clothes. He loved his daughter endlessly so he would bear all of it, even the soiled diapers. It just meant his baby was thriving and growing day by day.

Whenever a cry erupted in the night, he would investigate for a soiled diaper before rocking her to sleep. If it worked, he and Caroline cheered silently before returning to bed to snore like hibernating bears. Most of the time, however, she was a hungry girl. The first month felt terribly long, mainly because they attempted to switch Cora's sleeping habits to normal human hours. True, it was wonderful to do housework and chores when she slept soundly but they required sleep at night as well. Thankfully, the Templars kept quiet and he wondered if it was on his father's order after he realized his wife's pregnancy. Or was he being lulled into a false sense of security? Suspecting the latter, Clipper kept a closer eye on Davenport now that summer arrived. Elizabeth was able to hold her own as a new recruit but she would not travel outside the town without either himself or Clipper.

Caroline swore she used Cora's diapers as soon as she pulled them off the clothesline. Her little one was still cute as a button and getting plumper with her ravenous feedings. She did not mind that part and enjoyed snuggling her after each feeding to bond with her. Her hair still matched her father's and her stormy eyes were clearing to resemble a pale blue. She had been fetching another set of squeaky clean diapers off the clothesline when her husband's yells caused her to dash back into their home rapidly.

What had caused him such a reaction? Her heart thudded rapidly in her chest as she ran fretfully for the first time in half a year. Her footsteps thundered over the porch steps as she entered her home and ran straight to the rear of the cabin when she didn't see her husband in the main room. She expected something awful had happened to their dear child but Ratonhnhaké:ton was the victim. She found him in their bedroom with the front of his brown flannel shirt covered in . . . baby poop. Cora, meanwhile, cooed innocently from her spot on the changing table.

Caroline stared in bewilderment that she had run desperately for this and tried not to grin when her husband groaned miserably, "She was like a cannon! She exploded and . . . oh, I need to change."

She took his spot at the changing table to change her little one and watched Cora coo happily as she tried to reach for her mother. Ratonhnhaké:ton hastily left the room, practically ripping the buttons off his shirt to change swiftly in the bathroom. Their daughter was blissfully ignorant to what she'd done to her poor father and Caroline smiled sweetly as she cleaned her up, "You are a handful, my little Cora. You've made an Assassin flee the battle and not just any Assassin, mind you."

Cora merely wiggled her legs with glee while her mother tidied her up and focused on her right hand to nibble on it. Her eyesight was more focused on items now compared to her first week and her hands were the newest fancy. She and Ratonhnhaké:ton had to frequently pry a fisted hand away to prevent her from turning her skin red. Caroline couldn't help but chuckle at his frantic yell and hoped she wouldn't bear the same attack soon. She could only imagine if she had a son instead and her husband was splashed with a urine stream.

Nonetheless, her father proudly carried her after being tidied up to see the beautiful fields of Davenport. With summer in full bloom, the gorgeous blanket of colorful flowers covering the hills were perfect for a leisurely stroll. Gazing from the northern hills out into the cove was a warming sight since their little cabin was faintly visible under the cover of the trees around the shore. His chores would take longer that day with his stroll but his Cora came first. Her merry blue eyes were lighter than her mother's but she was a stunning little baby that never took her eyes off him. The little white bonnet that Caroline placed over her head made her eyes bright like sapphires. He couldn't be prouder of his first child!

He would visit Achilles with Cora every week since she would brighten up his day now that age caught up to him. She was a fond reminder to the old man that Ratonhnhaké:ton and Caroline had been the first children of Davenport after his own son. They never hesitated in helping him, especially during the cold and hot seasons, and he couldn't help but see them as his extended family. He may not have Abigail and Connor anymore but Cora reminded him of his first year as a father which were joyous days. Ratonhnhaké:ton was happy to see his mentor bond with Cora by reading to her while he tidied up the manor for him. His mother always lingered in his thoughts whenever he wandered between Godfrey and Achilles but she would've loved his little Cora as well as he did. Maybe she would inherit his freckles.

He frowned when Cora sucked on her forefingers again since he really wanted to avoid illnesses with his firstborn. Gently, he pulled her hand away which immediately caused her eyes to widen at having her newest toy removed. Her bottom lip quivered at her father's intervention, looking at him with disappointment. Before she attempted to cry, he pointed to the trail that led to the old Burnett homestead and smiled, "Would you like to visit your grandmother?"

His daughter merely blinked uncertainly since she was innocently naive of the world around her but smiled again at her father. His soft voice and warm smile never failed to reflect the same from her. She would slowly learn the languages of her parents and he couldn't wait when she uttered her first words. Her little feet kicked out as he bounced her gently in his arms but kept her head cradled securely against his shoulder. She might be growing but that didn't mean he'd be careless about the little life in his hands.

Her relatives never tired of her and after two months, he felt comfortable wandering through town with her. Everyone in the family happily greeted her and little Matthew was young enough not to care about sharing the spotlight to prevent any jealousies. Catherine spoiled Cora with songs while Godfrey tended to scare her with his jovial voice. She did, however, love the little ball at the end of his hat and he let her push and pull at it. Little by little, she was growing to recognize the faces and sounds of her family members.

Caroline trudged behind the two as she continued to return to her old habits and pre-pregnancy body. Carrying Cora for nine months restricted her running but now that she was out, her body protested at having to move without restriction again. She blamed complacency but with their daughter in his arms, she was free to return to her old self. She was nowhere near her strength and speed during the excursion to the Caribbean, but time would aid her. She followed the duo with a knapsack full of Cora's items in case of another soiled diaper but she still carried her hunting knife by the waist. Inhaling deeply, she sighed aloud with lament to her old capable form, "Motherhood has winded me."

Ratonhnhaké:ton highly doubted that was possible but he was aware of the postpartum changes in his wife. He tried not to laugh when she poked her leftover baby bump after dinner and reassured her it was expected. He did not want her to push herself too hard to return to her pre-pregnancy body for the sake of keeping pace with him. After all, he did not endure childbirth. Cora was not borne from him but her, reminding Caroline of the inner strength she held. He slowed his pace to await her, feigning nonchalance when she shot him a suspicious glance, and told her, "I'd rather you take it easy for the entire year."

"You spoil me" she chided gently, treasuring his caring nature over her and wrapped her left arm around his waist. With Cora being juggled in either of their arms, it was up to the hands free partner to latch on for affection. Ratonhnhaké:ton chuckled softly because if she were a different colonial woman, she would likely have never married him.

"I have to protect my family" he pointed out easily because her health came first over physical prowess. They had overcome every obstacle thrown at them and he would not tempt fate by having her exhaust herself before she was ready. Just as he kept an eye on her during her Assassin training, he did the same after Cora's birth.

His wife reminded him of her younger teenage self when she threw up her hands and exclaimed with expectant glee, "Exactly! What if someone dares to attack? I need my finesse to protect my cub!"

"Caroline, you're a mother first now" he chuckled softly at her enthusiasm to defend their family and empathized that she did not want to feel weak. They were both individuals with the inner drive to survive and disliked injury or physical setbacks. Caroline pouted at the reminder of staying behind in case danger arose but beamed at Cora when her little hands wiggled in her direction. For her daughter, she would linger behind but she worried endlessly for the day her husband would leave their home for a mission. His smile widened just for her and he reassured her concern, "You will be my backup and nobody really gets past me."

"I can't lose my sharp skills for homemaking" she insisted with a lackluster sigh but shook her head to lose the negativity. She couldn't think that way! Spinning a positive look to her current predicament, she tapped her chin to ponder aloud, "Or should I deceive with my homely look?"

He would allow her impersonations and fake identities inside their home but not out on the field. Frankly, he was wondering how she would return to active missions now that Cora was born. Their daughter would depend on them heavily for several years and they could not exactly carry her through dangerous elements, places, or firefights. After being independent adults, they had to put Cora first for the first time instead of each other and he advised her, "Think of it as a temporary rest while you care for our daughter."

"Only because you're here with us" she agreed with a fond smile for having him safe at home rather than out in the harsh wilderness. Even having him in the cities made her nervous with how colonists behaved with the natives. She did not want him to leave and return injured or worse, him not returning to their daughter. Her emotions were more labile after Cora's birth, finding it harder to control a straight face. He picked up on the tighter squeeze to his waist when she asked quietly, "What will happen when you need to leave?"

"I will always have someone protecting you" he promised firmly, leaning over to kiss her left temple, and smiled when he saw similar on her lips. His family was the priority and he would never leave them vulnerable to harm if he had to depart. He would station an Assassin nearby for protection while they had walked through their own plan of escape during danger. With Cora now in tow, they added her belongings to their emergency travel pack. Caroline did not want to drag others into danger but she was not careless or prideful enough to decline aid for her child. He would never leave Davenport without leaving them in capable hands and reminded her, "If anyone breaches our home, you follow our evacuation plan."

She nodded to reaffirm that plan but hoped it never came to fruition. With both his father and Lee out there, their family was at risk until the Templar threat ended. Inhaling deeply to ground her mind and enjoy the faint sweet smell of flowers in the air, she smiled at Cora before reaching over to tickle her left cheek, "We're going to grandpa's, yes, we are."

---

18 August 1779

The heat of summer swept over the land to flourish wildlife and fauna through the forests of Davenport. As beautiful as it all was, the heat waves didn't do so well on delicate stomachs. Cora began to fuss with the newest one that suffocated the town, sleeping fewer hours during the day and reaching for her parents whenever they passed by. Caroline carried her little one to the shaded cove frequently to sit in the water with her infant to let her cool off. Now that she was gaining greater control of her limbs, she was happy to kick and splash at the water. It kept her daughter comfortable for a few hours but Caroline felt guilty sticking her husband with the chores while she relaxed. For Ratonhnhaké:ton, he could care less about the chore load as long as their daughter was comfortable.

When she began having too many soiled diapers, her parents began to worry. Dr. White always told them that she should be eating more than soiling which led the couple to the doctor for help. As new parents, they didn't want to miss any warning signs. The physician informed them it was common during the hot summer months and keeping her cool and hydrated was the best care. She showed no signs of fever and abdominal discomfort, apart from fussing, so keeping an eye was all they could do. Cora continued to fuss through the persistent heat wave, keeping her parents awake at night like she had during her first month of life. Caroline persisted with frequent feedings to help her little one recuperate what she lost, even when the heat aggravated both from sweat accumulation.

After almost a week of nonstop poopy diapers, Ratonhnhaké:ton decided to create his own remedies from his tribe's recipes for ailing stomachs. He headed out in the early morning to forage for herbs known to his people, crushing them in a stone mortar and pestle at home into a fine paste. Catherine informed him to add a little grated nutmeg and crushed rice paste to help with the frequent stools. Caroline appreciated his initiative since her hours were spent solely with Cora to keep her fresh in the cove, sponge baths at home, feedings, and frequent diaper changes.

Caroline was spending her late morning on the porch after the most recent feed to cool off her little one. Cora wiggled her limbs as her mother held her up by the arms over her lap to let the wind flow over her. Her blue eyes wandered over the porch to absorb any new sights but her fingers latched on tightly to her mother. Caroline kissed her forehead to reassure her she wasn't going anywhere and bring her comfort. It was hard being unable to know what ailed her child's stomach, especially when her Cora couldn't talk. All she and her husband could do was guess and hope they were doing their best.

The floorboards creaked behind her and she turned to find Ratonhnhaké:ton approaching them. She offered him a tired smile and noticed a small wooden bowl in his hands. Had he broken out the tiny dishware that they commissioned for Cora when she began to eat solids? They had laughed at the petite size of the utensils, plates, cups, and bowls when picking them up. Now, she was curious to his plan and bounced Cora in her lap to keep her happy. He sat down beside his wife with an equally tired smile and showed her the wooden bowl with a creamy but unappetizing green-brown concoction.

"I prepared something for her stomach" he explained carefully when her eyebrow rose in hesitation because it was not visually pleasing. After crushing herbs, spices, and rice, it would be the least pleasant for an infant. He mixed it with the small spoon, finding the small utensil strange in his larger hand, but his daughter needed him. He would do anything for his little one when she was uncomfortable and told his wife, "My clan's recipes and your mother's combined into one."

"I didn't think we'd start out her solids this way but let's try it" she agreed solemnly to help her little tummy handle whatever was brewing inside. She settled down Cora on her lap, who wiggled closer to her for snuggling until the heat made her whimper with disillusion. Caroline wondered if she should just leave her bare in her diaper to keep her cool in the summer heat. Ratonhnhaké:ton held out the spoon to her pouting lips to see whether she accepted the new food. He made it thin enough that she could drink it rather than a true solid and watched Cora sniff at the offering.

"Drink this, Cora" he coaxed gently to have her accept the mixture and smiled with success when she sipped the paste. It was her first attempt at feeding on something other than breastfeeding and Caroline smiled at her trying to latch onto the spoon. Drinking the contents of the spoon with little spillage, he chuckled softly when she smacked her lips uncertainly. Her blue eyes peered at her parents with unasked question at the strange taste but Ratonhnhaké:ton encouraged her with a fatherly smile, "You did very well, my little one."

At seeing her parents smiling, she clapped happily at pleasing them. Ratonhnhaké:ton decided to take advantage of her cheerful mood to continue spoon feeding her and Cora accepted her father's remedy. Caroline was pleasantly surprised at her willingness to drink it because it did not look tasty in the slightest. Still, she hoped her husband's concoction settled her discomfort rather than aggravate it. She kissed the top of Cora's damp head, brushing back her locks of raven hair to dote on her. They were both plagued with concern for her well-being and as their first baby, they were lost. For the first time, they depended on others for help with their Cora and the parental (and medical) advice kept them from going crazy.

The couple was happy to see her finish everything without complaint and Ratonhnhaké:ton wiped her mouth with a fond smile. She really was their precious child. Scooping her out of Caroline's arm, he set the empty bowl on the porch to hold her close. Cora hugged her father happily with eager babbling and he turned to his wife to state quietly, "If she doesn't get better in a week, I will have to take her to an infirmary."

He smiled forlornly at his babbling daughter who deserved the best and spoke with disappointment, "But . . . I am afraid. With the way colonists look at me, I doubt I could get help for her. I wish the views of the world were different-"

"We will go together and I will do whatever I must for her" Caroline reassured with a firm tone because every life mattered, no matter the color of skin. There were doctors that treated patients of all kinds without discrimination and she would exhaust herself until finding one. That, or raising enough hell to get their daughter treated. She would not stand for any lip from anyone when it came to Cora. She would be the best of both worlds, just like her father, and Caroline would never think otherwise. Their little one wiggled her arms for freedom when his hug lingered too long and Ratonhnhaké:ton chuckled at her tenacity. Even when ill, her personality shined. Caroline tickled her chin to draw her attention away from fussiness and suggested, "Still, we must hope for the best right now. We have Dr. White but send for Jamie's input just in case."

"You have to keep eating frequently, my Oháhsera" he encouraged their little daughter and gently bounced her to see if a smile was returned. Cora chose this time to burp loudly before staring blankly at her father for her own behavior. Her parents couldn't help but laugh at her innocent bodily function and this stirred Cora to babble happily for the attention. She was never without one of her parents and their dedication kept a satisfied and cheerful baby.

It relieved them to see her comfortable that day and he kissed her forehead, promising that she'd feel better tomorrow. Honestly, it was more of a hope for himself just so she would gain relief and stay a healthy child. Children were frail in their early years and he did not want to watch his daughter struggle with any disease. If anything happened to his little Cora . . . there could be nothing worse after the recent years he'd had. She brought him joy from the simplest of motions and he treasured her presence in his life. His Cora depended on him to keep her safe and healthy, leading him to smile fondly, "You are so precious to me."

Clutching her close again, he smiled when she whined in complaint at being squished and doted, "I love you dearly and so does your mother."

"My beautiful girl" Caroline smiled tenderly, grasping her tiny left hand to squeeze it. Cora latched onto her hand and her father passed her back to his wife, who hugged her close just as Ratonhnhaké:ton did. Cora wiggled in her grip since she wanted to cool off and fussed at having to bear the suffocating heat. Her mother knew her little one would be ready to cry based on her little pout, furrowed brow, and brightening eyes which meant an intervention was needed. Standing up, she slipped Cora into her right arm and smiled at her husband to invite, "Any chance I can interest you with a dip in the cove?"

"Yes, it's been a long morning after that hike" he answered with a happy smile at dipping his feet in the cool water. The chores could wait for another half hour and he would rather spend time with his family. Wrapping an arm around his wife's shoulder, she grinned at clinching an agreement since he deserved a break from his fatherly duties. His clothes were already sticking to his skin and envied his daughter for being able to slide by with only a diaper. However, when glancing at his wife's dress and its numerous layers, he decided not to complain mentally. Leaning over, he kissed Caroline's temple with a smile and whispered, "I love you."

She understood the underlying meaning as they worried for their first child and reassured him, "We'll get through this. We always do."

When it came to helping hands, the couple was never alone and Caroline's family bounded in to help two days later. The concoction made by Ratonhnhaké:ton and Caroline's frequent feedings kept Cora comfortable with the diaper count decreasing each day. They were calling it a shaky success since she was still producing loose stool but her fussing had decreased and she managed to sleep longer like she used to. Caroline was happy to see Cora sleeping soundly without a whimper. Ratonhnhaké:ton kept watch at night over her since he wanted to stay vigilant if her health declined. He barely slept as he watched over her and Caroline took over the chores to split their homestead's work since he appeared exhausted. If he cared for their daughter, she would tackle the home. He supported her without complaint during her first month of healing after delivering Cora and would never take advantage of his kindness.

Catherine took over washing the bundle of soiled diapers to let her daughter bathe and feed Cora to keep her comfortable. Ratonhnhaké:ton was able to take care of the chores with Elizabeth's help to return home on time. Amelia and Alice brought over food from the Mile's End to buy the two a meal and some rest for the evening. Caroline was grateful for the help since they kept regular tabs on them after they visited Dr. White. With the summer heat billowing through the town, the family lingered outdoors on the shaded porch while sunset loomed over them.

Cora was laid out comfortably on a cool thin blanket on the porch, napping her mind away. Ratonhnhaké:ton tried not to smile at her starfish pose and the little twitches of her limbs while she dreamed away. This was the best view he had in days of his daughter and he hoped she truly was on the mend. Alice and Samuel kept watch over her on either side but with several months to go before she could crawl, she would be safe with stationary supervision. Caroline passed around cups of fresh juice to her family to quench the heat but Amelia took the tray of cups halfway through to let her sister rest. It was not easy raising a baby, especially when they became ill. Caroline sighed softly for needing aid yet again and apologized for raising alarms, "Sorry, it's the first time she's been a little under the weather."

"It's all right, dear" Catherine soothed with a sympathetic smile because every parent experienced that phase. It never ended, no matter how old a child became. Being a new parent was not easy and coupling that with illness threatened one's confidence and sanity. She remembered staying awake many nights with each of her ill children while Godfrey sent for a doctor or worked extra hours to afford whatever medicine was recommended. She did not want her daughter to feel defeated for not banishing an illness and reassured her, "I went through the same with you."

"These are the hardest moments as a parent" Godfrey advised the two as they stood on the grass watching Cora twitch in her sleep. He worried over the health of his grandchildren just as he did with his grown children, aware that they were in turmoil when their babies were ill. Ratonhnhaké:ton nodded silently but he hated being unable to soothe their child and Caroline squeezed him arm with understanding. They would always question whether they were doing the right thing. Godfrey did not want them to be discouraged at all because they were dedicated parents and stated, "You're doing the best you can for an ailing child."

"I dislike the helplessness" Ratonhnhaké:ton muttered flatly because he wanted to fix every problem for Cora. She was little and unable to speak so she depended on them greatly. Being a natural protector, he would shield her at the cost of his own health. He would hike every morning to fetch herbs for her if he needed to and make as many bowls of paste to see her well again. Shifting in his spot at having to disclose his inner feelings, he admitted, "It reeks of failure."

"We're only human, Connor" Godfrey pointed out to their limitations since they would all move heaven and earth for their children. There were many things he wished he could have provided his children in their early years but he never gave up. His daughter was better off financially than when he started off as a new father so he believed in her and Ratonhnhaké:ton. Cora was loved greatly by her parents and he encouraged their efforts by reminding, "She's improving, isn't she?"

Caroline managed a weak smile after endless shifts of feeding, naps, baths, and diaper changes to keep her comfortable. Cora was none the wiser but she had gone from crying and fussing before every dirty diaper to sleeping comfortably and whimpering when hungry. Her appetite was returning strongly which relieved Caroline and she no longer felt warm to the touch or fussed painfully against the heat. They were still visiting the cove for cool baths but Cora was able to splash at the water happily rather than simply falling asleep against her. Her father's words uplifted her defeated spirit and she agreed, "Yes, she's able to sleep now and the diapers are less. Dr. White says she is on the mend."

"You both did very well" Amelia agreed with a confident smile to cheer up the couple and pointed to the sleeping Cora, "Look at her. I've' never seen a more content baby."

Ratonhnhaké:ton decided to stop blaming himself for not being able to cure his daughter but she was improving. There would be moments like this in her life, as Godfrey predicted, and he had to be prepared for that. Caroline found it daunting to care for a little life dependent on them but she would not fail her precious child. Cora was sleeping away by herself, no longer curled against them like days prior, and Caroline took that as a win. She couldn't have done it without her husband and smiled warmly at him, "He's a great father. She couldn't ask for a better one."

"She has a great mother too" he replied earnestly with a fond gaze at his wife and she batted his arm playfully. She appreciated the vote of confidence from her spouse. All their attention was on Cora and together, he knew they could succeed. There was no other woman that he ever considered in being his partner and the mother of his children. Now that his dream was a reality, he was committed to keep both safe, fed, and happy.

---

14 September 1779

Cora wiggled with a disappointed frown on her round face while her mother squeezed her five-month-old form for comfort. She was dressed in a snow-white dress that complimented her fair features with her dark wavy hair brushed back. The little infant was not happy to play a support pillow for her mother when Caroline clutched her close at watching her little sister marry off to the man she loved. Just as Amelia comforted her during her preparation for the ceremony, she helped her sister calm her own nerves.

Caroline brushed Amelia's hair with gentle downstrokes, humming an old song from their mother. Catherine would brush their hair before sending them off to bed as little girls and now, they were sending Amelia off to a new life. Amelia kept to tradition by choosing a braided bun at the base of her neck to match her emerald green dress. Alice had helped her pick the fabric at Ellen's to match the fading green trees and she chose a design that could be used every day. Sitting down by the vanity shared by all her sisters at home, she sighed at her own reflection and asked, "I can do this, right?"

Caroline, who stood behind her, smiled brightly with understanding and soothed, "Many women have been in your shoes before."

Despite knowing her spouse for years, nervous jitters struck her as well. Her palms were sweaty, her stomach churned, and her mouth was dry. Her fingers combed through her sister's lighter hair to begin braiding it neatly and to add comfort to her. This was her last day as a single woman and the transition should be seamless through her support system. She smiled with reassurance at her little sister, who bit her bottom lip while glancing at the mirror. That look was all too familiar to her now but it was entirely new to Amelia. She didn't know how to make sense of her whirlwind emotions when instinct told her everything would be fine. Logic, on the other hand, was missing a bit for her today. She fanned her face with her right hand, freckled cheeks blushing, and chuckled awkwardly to admit, "Why am I nervous?"

"New home, new life, a new husband" Caroline reasoned easily to the swift change that would occur from leaving their childhood home to a new one. Amelia chose her eldest sister to comb her hair while Martha and Alice would help her with the wedding dress. A few solitary moments with her oldest friend to comfort her fears would soothe her thudding heart. Their mother was off assembling a pastry platter to keep them fed during the preparations. Elizabeth, on the other hand, was happily babysitting Matthew on Amelia's bed while her sisters fiddled with hair accessories. With Walter in charge of the cuisine and Martha assisting with the wedding dress, their little one required observation and Elizabeth happily offered her time. As for Cora, her father happily watched her at home until it would be time for the wedding.

Caroline understood her discomfort and leaned down to hug her from behind, smiling fondly when she returned it tightly. Amelia released a worn sigh to steady her heart and Caroline promised, "It is a lot to absorb for a new role in your life but you will be great at it. We are all here for you and this will be a beautiful day to remember."

"You have nothing to worry about" Elizabeth assured with a bright smile after watching two of her sisters marry off to their partners. Amelia was the next one and she didn't doubt that her sister would do marvelously in her new home. She was experienced in caring for both a home and working independently – a package deal.

Amelia bit her bottom lip as she mulled over a question and dared to ask quietly, "Did you miss home?"

Caroline smiled sympathetically because they were all very attached to their childhood home. They held strong bonds to each other as siblings which made it harder to break when each left to live a separate life. It was completely natural and Caroline had been the same as Amelia on her own wedding day. Each new day soothed that grief with the joy she felt at being beside her husband. She leaned down to kiss her smooth forehead with a fond smile and admitted, "Very much for the first weeks but Ratonhnhaké:ton was – is – my heart."

"So, I am being silly?" she muttered flatly at her nonsensical flutter of nerves and took another deep breath to calm her clenching stomach. She trusted Michael with her heart after spending her days beside him when not working or at home. The fear of the unknown is what threatened to overwhelm her but Caroline would keep her head tied to her neck.

"You are simply being human" her elder sister answered helpfully to not minimize her concerns and Amelia nodded silently. Everyone held pre-wedding jitters, no matter how much they loved their spouse. It was a part of their walk of life and Caroline would soothe her fears. Nobody knew what the future held but they could not cower from it. She would always protect her siblings and promised her with the truth, "It is completely normal and I felt the same with my husband despite knowing him for years. You will live a great life, my dear."

Her shoulders relaxed to the vote of confidence as she prepared to walk into her new life and whispered gratefully, "Thank you, Carrie."

Caroline clutched her close from behind, just as she had when little, and vowed with a wide smile, "Always, Amelia, always."

Footsteps bounded up to the open doorway of Amelia's room and the women turned to catch Alice and Martha returning with the beautiful green wedding dress in their arms. Neither would risk it touching the floor yet so each woman held one end and Alice piped up brightly, "Time to change!"

Ratonhnhaké:ton sat beside his wife in the town church, surveying their daughter and her blue eyes locked onto his. The little blue orbs pleaded desperately for fatherly assistance and he conceded to the adorable pout on her lips. He could not deny his daughter anything and quietly offered to take Cora off her hands so she could join the happy sniffling with her other sisters. Caroline released her and Cora squeaked happily when her father juggled her into one arm with endless freedom.

The couple sat beside her parents and Martha's family on the first pew while their other single siblings sat on the opposite row. Michael's family were only his two siblings and they fit perfectly beside the Burnetts as they all dressed in their best church clothes. Ratonhnhaké:ton stuck to his corner of the bench to occupy Cora's attention while Caroline latched onto her mother's right arm for comfort. Their beloved Amelia was leaving their family fold to build a life of her own and both women were proud of her milestone.

Amelia stood in the center forefront of the church to utter her vows of marriage to her soon-to-be husband. To her siblings, she was sophisticated in her lean figure with her tightly woven auburn hair and rich emerald dress in the wooden church. While her family and loved ones stared on, Amelia's heart hammered in her spot as she glanced back at her relaxed fiancé. Michael, on the other hand, was also enduring the same wedding jitters and having everyone's attention focused on them. He and Amelia were more introverts by nature so being in the spotlight of the town was pushing their comfort zones.

She was grateful and overjoyed for the outpour of love from the town that attended her wedding. Being the meek sister when compared to Caroline and Martha, she never expected to garner such attention. Each of her siblings held specific roles in town and Michael had to remind her that she was also an important staple of Davenport's education system now. She had grown from a girl hoping to earn a few coins to being the unofficial director of a school. Now, she and her husband would work to keep it operating year-round and draw other students from nearby towns that couldn't make the trek to Boston. They would build a life in Davenport and after spending her childhood moving from place to place, she refused to budge from the town.

"Do you take Miss Burnett to be your lawfully wedded wife through sickness and in health, till death do you part?" Father Timothy asked the groom to end the small ceremony, catching the modesty in their downcast eyes. Each couple offered a glimpse to their personalities during the ceremony and he found the teachers as the quietest compared to Norris and Myriam with their happy outburst at the end of theirs. He would not stretch this part longer than he needed to grant them peace.

Michael nodded immediately to the question and smiled at his bride to answer, "Yes."

Turning to Amelia, Father Timothy addressed her with the same question, "And do you take Mister Archer to be your lawfully wedded husband through sickness and in health, till death do you part?"

"Yes!" she agreed instantly and blushed lightly in embarrassment at her forward answer. Why did her voice emit louder than she expected? She blamed the placement of the rings for her excitement. Her rosy cheeks darkened further when she caught her fiancé grin faintly at her expression. Did everyone feel a little foolish on their wedding day? Maybe this was why this was a once in a lifetime event. She closed her eyes briefly when she heard Samuel snickering from behind her.

Father Timothy ignored her innocent blurt and nodded to the new couple to announce their marriage, "Then from this moment forward, I pronounce you as husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Archer."

It was surreal to hear her new surname but she would keep a good reputation just as she had brought to her Burnett name. Her childhood name was now behind her but she would not forget the trials that made her who she was. She could not linger in the past, no matter how much comfort it brought, and her new life deserved to be lived. Both her married sisters encouraged her to fall into that uncertain future and she reached out when Michael offered his right hand to her. He would be the one she woke to and fell asleep beside for the rest of her days and she trusted him wholly. Squeezing his hand tightly, she brushed away the mental cobwebs of anxiety for the unexperienced joy awaiting her in their new home.

Turning to meet the crowd gathered in the rows, the couple smiled happily when their families bounded up to them. The sound of congratulating applause echoed through the church to lighten their spirits. Michael expected his siblings to join his side but they rushed to Amelia instead to hug her happily as their newest family member. Amelia chuckled warmly at their open affection and fell instantly at ease with their kind faces, remembering her siblings reacting the same when she arrived home years prior. A new door opened to another life and she embraced her younger in-laws while flashing a friendly smile at her siblings. They were releasing her to another family that they hoped would treasure her as they had.

"You are indeed shining today" Caroline complimented her sister with a proud smile as she led their small troop of siblings. She did not draw her into a hug, content with watching her in her husband's arms, and was satisfied with Amelia's new chapter after their adolescent troubles. She would no longer worry about her walking alone during late nights, living far away from their family, marrying an unknown man, and having to relinquish her passion of teaching for marriage. Alice agreed emphatically, gently jabbing her sisters by the side to follow her in agreement. None of them would question her bridal glow.

Amelia tried to downplay with attention by shaking her head but her husband smiled widely to agree with her sisters, "She is a beautiful bride."

This threw Elizabeth, Samuel, and Alice into playful snickers until Martha cleared her throat. They were not about to embarrass their sister in front of her new family. All of them straightened up when their parents appeared behind them with both Martha and Caroline sneaking back to their husbands again. Walter contently tended to a sleeping Matthew while Ratonhnhaké:ton dissuaded Cora from pulling on his loose hair. This was all nothing new for Amelia and she chuckled softly to tell them all, "Enough about me, let us proceed to the reception."

Walter shook his head at allowing the bride to work on her special day and instructed her, "You let us take care of that, you enjoy your wedding day."

With that said, he ushered his helpers for the inn to follow behind him as he turned to leave the church. Martha waved on Elizabeth and Samuel since they all volunteered their services just as they had for the last family wedding. She was quick to yank Patrick away from Norris and Big Dave on the way out since he was automatically included in their numbers. Ruth excused herself politely from the Burnett family and her eldest brother before grabbing Sebastian to follow the other family out. As the town baker, she was supplying all the sweet goodness and a wedding cake.

"Congratulations, my dear" Catherine smiled faintly at the bittersweet moment of letting go of another child to their own independence. All her daughters were gradually pairing off and her home would be a little emptier without her sweet mild-mannered daughter. She had never been prouder to see her happy and Godfrey nodded in agreement to his wife, holding a tighter rein on his own sentiments. Ratonhnhaké:ton offered his sputtering daughter as a consolation and the lumberjack scooped her up with a nostalgic smile, remembering Caroline's words that their bonds were only transformed and never broken. Amelia tried not to tear up at her family's outpour of love and blinked back tears when her mother smiled tenderly, "May your years be full of joy."

Michael was prepared for this very moment and withdrew a white handkerchief for his wife. Amelia grabbed it with appreciation, dabbing at her left eye, and cleared her tight throat to speak earnestly, "Thank you. We are most happy today and will be for many a time."

"Always" her husband promised with a fond smile since he would never disappoint her and keep strict to his vows. Like his siblings, she made him want to be a better person and though Amelia would never ask for more, he would give her everything he could. He would love and care for her for the rest of their days, even when his old bones complained and his energy withered. His life would be hers and she would return the same dedication.

---

A/N: This chapter was late since I took a vacation for the first time in three years and it was good to reminisce abroad with my family. It was a much-needed break as I now head into my last semester of graduate school (which means a whopping 30+ page research paper). I expected my relaxing days would help me type more of my stories but I kept falling asleep quickly, especially since the evenings were all pouring rain. That, and I adopted a new dog after the loss of my female in June and my remaining dog has taken to his new friend who is the same age (I adore adopting senior dogs).

All right, this chapter was more slow-paced in activity as the new parents juggle a fussy baby in summer and Amelia pairs off permanently. She will be the last Burnett sister to be married in this story but she will not be the last to be engaged. In the next chapter, we will have Cora's first birthday (which Haytham tries to crash) in 1780 as the story speeds up a bit and Elizabeth's induction to the Assassin's Order. Although Cora is small and silent, she does have a personality shining through already.

Thank you to my last chapter reviewers:

East Coast Captain: Thank you, I have snippets in mind for the older Cora as she interacts with her family members. She will have a larger age gap than her siblings so she will be much like her mother in taking charge of protecting them. To bear hard decisions for her own life and others which makes her lean heavily on her father for advice during her formative years. I can't wait to begin writing her development. For now, she will be a cute baby and next chapter, a cute toddler.

iHateFridays: She is adorable, just wait till Haytham meets her!

Next Chapter Excerpt:

Ratonhnhaké:ton woke to gentle taps to his face and he opened his eyes groggily. He knew who his secret attacker was immediately and smiled up at Cora's grinning face. She clapped happily in success at waking her father as she sat down beside him and tumbled down onto the bed to imitate him. She was still wearing her navy sleeping gown and her stocking-covered white feet wiggled in the air dramatically. Her dark hair was stuck out in whisps from her sleeping positions through the night. Now that she was approaching her first year and was capable of walking, her parents had a hard time keeping her in bed at night. They knew the transition to a crib was inevitable and though her parents missed their privacy as a couple, they would miss their little one beside them at night.

He had become pleasantly accustomed to sleeping in bed without worrying about a mission. Now that his Order was growing in strength and numbers, he didn't have to be the one tackling every single problem. If only that could last. Gazing at his mischievous daughter, he tapped her button nose and asked, "Did you escape ista?"

"No" she replied innocently because she had awoken beside her father and nobody else. She had whimpered for her mother naturally and Caroline swooped in to bundle her back into bed. Naturally, she fell asleep to the cozy blankets before waking once more.

Now that his Cora was able to talk, he was enthusiastic to develop her speech with vocabulary repetition. He waited months to hear her first word, which was delightfully in his language for mother, and Caroline would hear no other endearment term for herself. Even his own moniker was in his native language and the couple encouraged her bilingual efforts. He drew her tiny form into one arm to kiss her forehead and smiled warmly, "Were you with me this whole time?"

She laughed merrily to the open affection, turning to her father for a hug, and beamed proudly, "Yes!"

"You are small but brilliant, Ohaserá" he doted fondly to their small moment and hoped his daughter would never pull away from him. After having little to no contact with his father, his only positive memories were of his mother. He wanted to be present for all of Cora's milestones and there was uncertainty that she would resent him if he failed to show during special moments in her life. He would have to tread a precarious line between saving the world from Templars and not disappointing his daughter. As long as the enemy was present in the colonies, his time with his family would be on borrowed time.

Cora pondered over sleeping more but when her stomach rumbled loudly, she pulled away to sit up. Before she even dared to glance over the edge of the bed, Ratonhnhaké:ton grabbed her from behind to thwart any brave feats. He did not want to nurse a bump on her head and worry for hours over a preventable injury. Seeing that his daughter would not be contained, he sat up and picked her up to leave the bed. It was time to start another day.

She patted her tummy in emphasis that she demanded sustenance and he pointed to it to help her learn, "Hungry."

She nodded silently to agree and Ratonhnhaké:ton repeated the word for which she slurred, "Ungee."

"Decent effort" he chuckled softly because she was trying to learn rather than staring at him funny. He tickled her left side to draw her attention away from hunger and Cora batted his hand away with a high-pitched laugh.

"Are my wolf and baby cub awake?" Caroline's voice beckoned down the hallway and the two straightened at the delicious smell of sizzling food. They must have slept through the prep work and most of the cooking by the strength of the scents emanating through their home. Cora sniffed at the air eagerly and pointed in the direction of her mother to steer her father's steps.

"Yes!" they both replied with Cora sputtering as she continued to learn how to vocalize new words. She was no longer a baby that could only cry to communicate and her father kept all of her progress in his journal. He wanted to remember every moment with her.

---

Thank you for reading as always!