Sorry for taking so Long to update, but here you go! Enjoy :)

-Moon

Connor placed the flintlock pistol in Catherine's hand. She clutched the pistol nervously while playing with the trigger with her finger. Knowing very well that the weapon was loaded. Training was three hours long with Connor. She was glad to be rip away from Martian's tedious education plan.

Catherine wasn't sure how she felt when Connor agreed to help her with the fears. Catherine had confided in the native assassin about her reaction to the gunfire. The sound seemed to haunt her dreams as she watched her mother clasp in a pool of blood.

The two teens headed out of the city before sunrise to start Catherine's training. They did every morning for the last week. It was two days before the ball, but it felt like Catherine wasn't going anywhere.

The Native Assassin set up two dummies in a clearing from any prying eyes. The dummies were stuffed with straw and wearing cheap red coats.

"Remember what we discuss, it's not going to hurt you."

"How will it hurt me? It's an object." Catherine joked with an uneasy laugh. "Unless someone were to fire at me."

Connor unsheathed his own flintlock pistol. It was part of a matching set that Achilles presented too him. Catherine was holding the other. Conner fired the first one, knocking the straw head off one of the dummies.

Catherine's jaw clenched at the loud noise, but it was better than hitting the ground and covering her ears. It was embarrassing to have such a fear. Even though she had been on a ship before with canon noises that had no effect on her. Aries was flying over the top of the two novices watching his mistress, waiting for a command from her. He landed on a branch above her head watching. Catherine held up the pistol at the second dummy, she gritted her teeth as her hand shook. She took a moment before giving up in a sigh of frustration.

"I can't do it."

Connor swooped up behind her, gripping her shoulder, "yes, you can." He gave a vote of confidence. His hands massaged the tissue in her shoulder. "Just focus."

Catherine bit her lip fighting tears"It's hard Connor." She shuddered "every time, I hear a gunshot, I can't help but think about the massacre."

The native could see the aching pain in her eyes, he knew how she felt. The same horror haunts his dreams of watching his mother be burned alive.

"Let's try something," Connor spoke. "I want you to focus on yourself. Think of something that brings you happiness as you pull the trigger."

Catherine frowned at the notion. That seemed like an odd combination. Though she considered it for a moment. The red hair lass took a moment to herself to decide on the thought she would focus on. A memory flashed of her mom passed in her mind as she thought of the night before her death. Her palms cooled from her nervousness. Catherine sucked in a deep breath before pulling the trigger. A loud echoed followed as Catherine watched her target got hit from the musket ball. In a flash of smoke, it was over.

"I-I think we are done for today." Catherine shudder.

Connor nodded in agreement, he was proud to watch her overcome her obstacles. He went to take the pistol from her to re-sheathed it. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder to give her reassurance. She laid her head on her friend shoulder.

"Do you think it will ever be okay?"

"I do," He reassured her, "You've got a great conviction, so I do believe you will be alright."

She smiled as she pulled away to whistle for her winged companion. "Come on, ya silly bird." The teenager sniffed as she pushed a strain of her wild hair out of her line of sight.

Catherine extended her arm for Aries to land on, keeping him close to her chest.

"Connor, I needed to swing by the Aquila, I seemed to have forgotten my journal in my cabin."

"Of course, I don't mind." He said, "I know you're not eager to head back to the house due to your tutor."

"Oh god yes," Catherine groaned as she stroked her bird head.

She shook her arm outward to let him fly off as they neared their horses at the edge of the field. Thankful the creatures weren't spooked by the gunshot noises. She patted the horse neck before pulling herself onto the saddle of the bay mare. Catherine named the creature Cherry.

"He calls me Mademoiselle Desorde." She groaned. "Miss messy."

Connor snorted, "That is creative."

Catherine tisked "Don't remind me," She gripped the reins in her hands.

He climbed on a black horse next to her. It was not a long trip to back into the city. Catherine and Connor held a casual conversation, their minds far from upcoming events. Catherine and Connor made a casual conversation as they headed towards the docks. Catherine hopped off her horse petting its snot before heading any further on foot. Connor followed suit handing the reins of the horses to a stable boy. The Aquila was a little bit further down the dock from where the horses are stored. They rented horses from the stables for the last week.

Catherine strutted forward whistling a soft tune thinking about the mission. She straightened her scarf as she walked, tucking the loose end in her shirt. Catherine wasn't paying attention until she saw a familiar ship from the corner of her eye. The young girl turned her head at the sight of the red sails to notice the fierce wolf figurehead at the tip of the bow. A ram stretched out from the bottom of the ship. It was for breaking the thick ice in the North Atlantic.

Catherine Cormac knew this ship and knew this ship well. It was the Phantom Queen, the Morrigan. Her Father was in the city. Catherine 's heart was caught in her throat as her rosy skin crawled. She knew her father was only a hundred meters from her. The feeling of fear and panic overwhelmed her to see her father in the same place as her. Especial after she had stumbled upon him at sea while on the Aquila. Catherine knew it was childish to had use Aries to return her gift to him, but she was still angry at him. She had admitted it was a childish reaction, but she felt justified.

A part of her wanted to storm upon that ship and barged into his quarters to demand him to leave her alone. Even though she was unsure of the reason why he was here. Azura could have leaked information about James leaving for Philadelphia.

The other half of her wanted to flee, to leave the city behind her. She was scared of what he wanted with her. Would he scolded her like a small child and place her in timeout? Think not.

Rumor was that they suspected her of being with the Assassins. James and Charles Dorian worked hard to keep a cover that she was in Albany, New York. The girl pulled her scarf to disguise her face. she had left her assassin robes back the manor and took a regular coat to fight the cold air. She thought the robes were too ostentatious for a casual ride out of the city. Connor didn't care if he stuck out. He was Native, he would always stick out.

"She is a beautiful ship! Isn't she?" A cheerful voice caught the attention of the younger Cormac. Catherine almost jumped from her skin at the sound of the man's booming voice. She turned around to face a man dressed in a long coat made out of leather with a matching hat. His face was covered in a grizzle beard. "I happen to be her first mate."

Catherine expression dropped a little before she could speak. "Y-yes," She tried to mask her voice. With the French she had been studying a little, it was an easy task. He was Christopher Gist, she had met him a few times when she was a young lass. She hoped he didn't recognize her. "Who is the captain of this fine ship?"

"Captain Shay Cormac, I am Christopher Gist, and you are miss?"

Catherine faked a smile as she reached out to shake with her non-glove hand. "Cosette Dorian, I am waiting for my fiance when I noticed your ship. May I ask what you are doing in this fine city?"

Gist grinned, "Engaged? Aren't you a little young?"

Catherine shrugged as she tried to press for more questions. "Unfortunately yes, I am here in the city for an event."

Gist scratched his chin, "You're about young as the Captain's daughter. We are actually in the city to bring her home."

It was a punch in the gut to hear the man speak of the relationship between Shay and herself. To an extent, she missed him too. She missed her family.

"I am sure she must miss him too. I hope you gentlemen find her."

"Wait I didn't say anything about her missing."

Catherine was caught in her mistake, but thankfully she saw Connor. "Darling!" She called out causing the native to give her a confused look, but she quickly walked over to link her arm around his. "I've been waiting for you. We need to get going, or my brother will have our head." She pushed him off to walk but gave a quick wave to Gist, who looked only confused. Catherine clanged onto Connor's arm as they ducked out of the sight down an alley.

"Connor, I need you to tell Faulkner to get the Aquila out of the harbor. Our whole mission could be in jeopardy if they know the Aquila is here. Then meet me back at the manor quickly, we may have to get back to the homestead by horseback."

Connor took her hand with great care, "who might know?"

"My father, he is here. He is looking for me." Her whole body felt clammy as she explained. "I need you to hurry and not get caught. I will head back to the house quickly and refocused our plan."

Connor didn't want to leave her side, but she pleaded him too. "Alright, I will tell you what Faulkner and I had decided."

"Thank you." He stepped away pulling up his hood deciding to take the rooftops toward the ship to not be caught.

Catherine slipped away from the dock to head back to the house. She knew it was a slim chance that Gist wouldn't have recognized her since he hadn't seen her since she was a young child.

Gist felt puzzled as he thought about the young woman that he had stumbled upon. After the encounter, he was in awe of the young redhead. She shared a somewhat strange French accent, not one he had ever head before. The young miss then took off with a tall Native man that she called her Fiance.

He had helped to finish up restocking and repairs from the storm from the ship. Shay and Gist soon went to a tavern to get a drink, but both men were preoccupied with their thoughts. Shay had taken a few papers and a stick of graphite. He only got a peek of the letter, it was another letter to Catherine. He wasn't sure what Shay was going to do with it, but he stayed silent.

Grand Master Kenway walked into the tavern taking a seat at the table with the two gentlemen. "I managed to secure an appointment with Shippen. Though it will be during his annual party on November 5th."

"Ah yes, the gunpowder treason. I can't fully remember that silly rhyme." Shay spoke. "Doesn't good ole Shippen throw a masquerade party every year for it?"

"A tradition that his wife started and that his daughters continued as a family." Haytham seemed to have a disdain at the idea of spending the evening at a party.

"A little odd to be celebrating an death of Assassin," Shay commented with a laugh. He glanced over at his lifelong friend and first mate. "Are you alright, you've been dazed all day."

Gist played with his fingers as he talked. "I ran into a lovely young lass,"

"Oh, Love is on your mind?" Shay could on jest at the idea.

"Gods no, she was a baby. About the same age as your girl." Gist shook his head. The first mate braced himself for the next comment. "I think it was Catherine."

Haytham gave a solemn look. "How do you know?"

"A red hair girl looking at the Morrigan with shock? I thought she was admiring it at first, but when she inquired about the Captain and what we were doing here. I got suspicious and she took off with a young man. It didn't occur to me till now." His pitched lowered as he gave Shay an apologetic look. "I should have followed her."

The Templar Captain wasn't sure how to feel, but he was relieved that Catherine was in the city.

"If she is working with the Assassins, she might be after the manuscript. The one that Edward Shippen has is a fake. If that is what she is after. The girl will walk into a trap and realize it's a fake." Haytham's voice stood stern, "We will catch her and her assassin counterpart."

"I am going to set her straight. I just need to talk to her." Shay bit his thumb.

"She will be fine, she is a teenager. How hard is it to manage a teenager? You just need to put your foot down and tell her how it is going to be." Gist waved it off. "Everything will be alright."

"I agree with Gist, you both need time to rekindle your relationship. Maybe take her with you to find the box and explain the errors of the assassins." Haytham suggested. He believed this was the only way to deal with Catherine without her demise.

Catherine paced in the study of the house waiting for Connor to return. James kept watching outside for any sign of any strangers.

"Calm yourself girl, you will pace a hole into the floors." Martian enjoyed a cup of tea as everyone waited with anxiety. "Everything will be alright, I am sure your cover wasn't blown with some Templar."

"He could have recognized me. Even though he hasn't seen me since I was a small girl."

James tried to make her feel better. "You have nothing to worry about than."

The front door open and shut in a quick instant with Connor briskly walking into the living room.

"Mister Faulkner took the Aquila away from Philadelphia. We will have to travel back to the homestead by horseback. We shouldn't be risked being spotted here by ship."

Catherine gritted her teeth, "Why is he here?"

"No doubt for you," James replied as he drew the currents shut to prevent any eyes from peeking in on their meeting.

"Gobshit!" The younger Cormac flopped into a chair with a sigh of exasperation. "Who says that my father might be at the party, better yet what if Kenway will be there too. He has been on my arse since HE had the British troops fire on the innocent people of Boston."

Connor frowned, "I didn't hear, but he might know about the importance of this artifact."

Catherine huffed. "He would, he had practically taken down the colonial brotherhood for it."

Martian came up behind her to tap her on the shoulder to sit up straight like a proper young woman. "It sounds like you need a plan."

Catherine sat up giving the Frenchmen a stink eye. She crossed her arms in silent frustration as she tried to figure out their new plan. Then it struck her.

"We don't have to change everything." Catherine spoke, "James, I might need more of your help."

James raised an eyebrow. "What do you need?"

"I need you to solely break into Shippen's study. You know to crack a safe without me."

"What about you?" James gave her an odd look.

Catherine swallowed before speaking about her idea. "I give a distraction to my father and Kenway."