This fic will be wrapping up soon, but I promise it won't be the last of Catherine! She will get an AU, as well as a second fic! I will most likely make the second fic in 1st POV, so we will see how it goes. I might put a preview of it at the end of this fic and I love to hear your opinions. I hope to finish this fic before school starts in the fall. :)

-Moon

Azura waited by the harbor in the later evening after what she had seen today. Catherine dressed in fine silk clothing. She was talking to a gentleman in a captain's outfit, but she couldn't tell who it was. She did notice James who dressed in a similar manner. She didn't know if the two spot them, but she wasn't going to risk it. Azura dismissed Hickey who left in disappointment. He was hoping to get lucky.

The woman needed to track down the ship that Catherine arrived on. She got the name of the vessel and the destination. The Aquila was heading to Philadelphia. She had no name for the captain, or why Catherine was heading to Philadelphia. Why was going to Philadelphia when Catherine was supposed to be in Upstate New York. Azura had sent a message out to both, Haytham and Shay. She agreed to meet them outside of the Snowdrop Tavern.

The hour almost struck ten when she noticed the two gentlemen approach her. "Haytham, Shay, thank you for coming at such quick notice." She pushed the door open for them. The tavern was closed early due to her emergency meeting. It took a few days for them to arrive from New York, but they arrived as quick as they could.

"What is this about?" Haytham asked when he took a seat at a tablet.

Shay became eager to have his question answered first. "Is this about my daughter?"

"It is my friend." She took a seat across from the old sailor. "I saw her dressed like she had money. We are talking only a rich noble can afford."

"I thought she was in New York," Shay fretted. "What is she doing here?"

"She was, but she is traveling with her friend James." The Persian woman bit her thumb as she explained. "I bribed the harbor master to tell me where her ship was heading. She is going to Philadelphia."

Haytham shared a look with Shay, "what is there for her?"

"Nothing, she knows no one there that I know of."

Haytham came only to one conclusion, the manuscript artifact. He had order false rumors to spread about the information of the manuscript. He even had a decoy of the document shipped to the Shippen house.

"I have contacts in Philadelphia that might dig more information on her. We should head there if I am right." Haytham stood up adjusting his coat.

"What do you mean if 'your right?' " Shay followed his suit.

"We need to get to Philadelphia, we are a few days behind her and if I am right she might be after something."

"I thought we cleared her from working with the assassins."

Haytham sighed, "I hope we are right on that end."

The city of Philadelphia was in view from the Aquila. Catherine had changed into her dress she was wearing when she stepped onto the ship. James was adorned in expensive clothing to look like a son of a nobleman. His face was clean and shaven with his hair pulled back in a loose ponytail with a silk ribbon.

"Are you ready for this?" Catherine asked glancing at her partner in crime, but James gave her the cold shoulder.

"Yes," he replied in a sharp tone.

Catherine gave an odd look, but shrugged it off, she passed a glance towards Connor as he gave orders to dock the ship. He smiled at her, for a moment they shared an intimate glance.

When the ship pulled into the harbor, Catherine was the first down the plank with James behind her. She noticed admire glances from men who were in awe of her beauty.

"No one can keep their eyes off of you."

Catherine blushed but cleared her throat. "We need to find Mister. André." She glanced around the harbor when she noticed an older gentleman with carriage near him.

He fit the description that Dorian had given her. The man had a long thin nose and spectacles that sat tip of his nose. His hair pulled back into a ponytail that always made him looked flustered.

He glanced up at them and walked towards them, "Mademoiselle Cormac?" The gentleman had a thick French accent.

"You must be Martain André." He reached out to shake her hand and James. "This is my close friend, James Quinn."

"A pleasure," He shook James's hand. "Monsieur Dorian had everything arranged for you, we have a lot to do in a few short days." His eyes scanned over Catherine with a fine thick comb with his eyes. He touched her hair making a ticking noise, "a lot of work."

He pulled away to open the door for them both, "come along you both," She climbed in with James following her inside.

Catherine felt assaulted by this man, this was probably will not be the last. Her mind was preoccupied with the thoughts of Azura betraying her trust. Especial when Catherine had welcomed her to the tavern with open arms. She even allowed her to live in the tavern while Catherine was away.

How much did the Templar know about her besides what her father had relaid to them? She felt exposed like a lamb to a pack of wolves. Her mind wondered until James finally talked to her after the long quiet ride. "What's on your mind?"

"I am afraid we could be compromised,"

André gave a look of concern, "What do you mean?" he asked as he fixed his glasses.

"A woman that works for me is a spy for the Templars."

James let out a sigh, "they don't know anything,"

"How do you know?"

"Because I discovered Azura true identity awhile back." He was short with her, "that's why I came to you for help. Kenway threatens my family so I needed to get them out."

Catherine gritted her teeth. "You knew and let me be nice to her."

André spoke over Catherine, "you two need to put whatever you have going on behind you."

"I'm sorry, what do you have a plan?" Catherine pinched her nose.

"My goal is to squeeze as much information on social standing within in the next few days. You are going to eat, drink, and breath having the manners of a Templar. You will be entering a party filled with high ranking templars and their associates. Some might not even know what kind of event they are attending." He went into his pocket to pull out the details of their new identities for the week.

When they arrived at a brick house on a closed street where all the buildings were close together. People peeked out their windows to see the trio to step out of the carriage. "This is where you both will be staying." André held the door open for them. "You have access to two maids. They will be doing your cooking and cleaning, it's a small home for the rich, but no one will question it."

The coachmen were kind of enough to unload the luggage that was packed on the back of the carriage. It was a few things packed away for James and Catherine.

"No one knows of this location beside a select few."

Catherine felt in awe at the humble home. The décor inside the house held the low end of nobility. How wealthy was Charles Dorian? He must own an side business, or come from a rich family. Catherine made a personal note in her mind to inquire about it later to the master assassin.

As she entered the home, her maid staff was waiting in the foray. One was a redhead, the other was blonde. They both looked to be a little older than herself. That made her feel a bit uneasy at having a staff wait on her hand and foot. She came from the same social class as these young ladies and knew that she might end up as someone's servant. She already felt awkward for asking a request of Emily back at the Dorian household. Her mother had drilled into her head to always treat everyone as equal. No matter where their background came from. The only exception is if someone had done anything wrong to Catherine, or the people she cared about.

The redhead maid name was Mary, whose voice carried a very heavy Scottish accent. The blonde name was Caroline who was Irish like Catherine herself. Catherine could only give a weary smile before André had pulled her attention back on himself. He shoo off the maids to conclude their housework.

"We have a lot to go over till we can make you both shine like the rest of high society. You stick out like a sore thumb in public Catherine."

"Excuse me?" Catherine's voice ripened into a snap.

James frown has flickered into a smirk at the edge of his lips as he listens to Catherine. If André wasn't mindful. he would have to watch his back while turning, or Catherine would pounce like a fierce lioness.

"If you want to survive the night, you will want to learn and act like a lady." He beckons them to follow down the hall to a side room off to the side. The room was empty besides a table which had a collection of books. "I want you to try to skim through these. Learn a bit to the art of conversation." He gave Catherine a pile of four books. He gave the same copies of books to James, "I don't expect you to read them, but I hope you learn enough to rehearse."

"Thank you," James nodded, not showing much emotion.

André nodded at the two, "We will start tomorrow. I will make an appointment with a hairdresser, or a wig maker for you. I haven't seen such matted hair in a long time."

Catherine touched her hair. She felt herself losing confidence, what was wrong with her? Sure, she didn't brush it every day, or it hung over her shoulder. André gave a quick goodbye before leaving the small house.

"What an arse."

James rolled his eyes as he headed towards the door. "He is only here to help."

"And finally he has spoken!" Catherine jested, "you've been quiet all morning, why?"

"I have a headache," James lied about his true feelings. "I am going to lay down after such a journey."

Catherine watched him leave the room not lingering a second longer. "Alright."