1476 - Florence, Italy

Age: 17-18

"This is it." Giovani told them as they came to stand in front of an older building. On the outside it looked the same as the rest of the houses in the small square but upon entering she smirked. This was exactly what she was expecting to find in the house of a courtesan mother. Women stood on the stairs conversing with each other. Each in the same outfit that barely had any material to cover the important bits. A red garland lined the banister and the walls were covered in elaborate paintings.

"Giovani!" "Father!" Two female voices called out and she looked up in time to see Maria and Claudia running down the stairs to embrace their family. She stepped back and allowed the family their little reunion. Her heart hurt at the sight, knowing she would never have that again.

"Beautiful sight isn't it Amelia?" A voice said beside her and she hid her jump. She looked at the woman beside her and smiled. She hadn't seen or talked to Paola in a long time

"Indeed it is Paola." She replied.

"I understand the pain you are feeling at this moment. We were informed of your fathers passing a few days after it happened. He was a brilliant man and an even better father. I am sorry for your loss, young one." Paola expressed and she could only give her an appreciative smile.

"Paola! You have thanks for protecting my wife and daughter." Giovani said walking over with his wife under his arm.

"It was my pleasure, old friend." Paola replied, bowing her head slightly in respect.

"I hear I have you to thank for my husband and youngest son's safe return." Maria spoke softly to her. She simply nodded. Over Maria's shoulder she could see Ezio heading for the door.

"Ezio. Where are you going?" She asked, walking around his parents to approach him.

" I can't stay here. Not when my brother's killer still lives." Ezio told her, pain in his voice.

"I understand your desire for vengeance, but Gonfaloniere is a powerful man. You're not a killer, Ezio." She explained and he looked at her, his eyes pleading with her to help him. She turned and looked at Giovani for his opinion. He nodded his head at her and she sighed. "I guess we will just have to make you one."

"And why are you going to teach me how to kill?" He asked, looking between her and his family.

"We're not. We are going to teach you how to survive." Paola stepped forward addressing the now eldest Auditore. "But tomorrow. Tonight you shall rest and at dawn we shall start your training."

"But..." Ezio began to protest but she cut him off.

"Exit you can't expect to even retain or even train properly when you haven't had food in a day or slept. Get some rest." She ordered him and he closed his mouth, silencing any of his previous protests. Behind the teenagers, Giovani and Maria shared a knowing look. Even after all the years Amelia had been gone she still had the same effect on their son.

"My girls will show you to your rooms. We only have two available so Amelia and Ezio will share and your youngest can room with you Giovani." Paola announced and she blushed slightly. "Can you two handle that?"

"Yes. And if not he can sleep in the hall." She replied and Giovani laughed.

With her final remark made two girls came down the stairs and took the small family to their rooms. Upon entering the room she was to share with Ezio she smirked at the lack of a second bed. Opposite the bed was a fireplace and in the corner was a screen with a steaming bath behind it. Finally, opposite the door was a set of double doors that opened up to a small balcony. The courtia left them with a small bow and closed the door.

"You should use a bath while it's hot. I'll bathe after you." Ezio told her to settle down in one of the chairs by the fireplace. She hasn't the heart or energy to argue so she disappeared behind the screen and began to undress.

Her weapons belt fell to the floor with a clang first. Then her assassin's coat, leaving her in a black sleeveless top tucked into her leather trousers. She hissed as she pulled the coat off, suddenly remembering that her upper arm had been cut in the scramble to escape the execution square. She stripped out of the rest of her clothes and slowly sank into the water. She sighed as her muscles relaxed.

Taking a deep breath she plunged her head below the surface. In an instant pain shot through her right arm and she came up, out of the water gasping. She looked at her arm and saw the wound that she had earned from saving his family.

"Amelia?" Ezio asked. "Is everything alright?"

"No actually. Um..." she stuttered out thinking of how she would solve her problem. Her arm was bleeding into the water, turning the water red. "Could you bring me my pack?" She asked shyly, knowing he would see her in the tub. After a moment he came around the screen carrying her dirty rucksack.

"Your arm is bleeding." He pointed out.

She didn't get the chance to say anything before he was kneeling down beside the tub, going through her bag looking for her herbs and bandages. Once he found what he was looking for he put his hand out for her arm. With a deep blush she put her arm out of the water. His hands were gentle as he began to clean the wound. She couldn't look him in the eyes as he took care of her. She felt very exposed and with his reputation she felt slightly uncomfortable. But she wouldn't have called him over if she didn't trust him.

"Thank you for what you did today. You risked your life to save my family." Ezio said quietly. She looked up at him, but he too wouldn't look her in the eyes.

"I would do it over again in a heartbeat. You're the only family I have now." She told him, her eyes tearing up at the thought.

" I wish I was more useful. I couldn't do anything to save Federico today." Ezio's hands falter as he looks up at her. She could see that he was overwhelmed with what he was feeling after today. His hands continued to wrap the bandage around her arm gently. "I'm sorry I pulled you into this mess."

"You didn't pull me anywhere, Ezio. I chose this life. And if there's a chance to protect you, your mother, claudia...I would do anything to make sure you aren't alone like I am - I would die for that." She told him quietly, refusing to look him in the eyes. Her free hand was paying with the surface of the water, drawing patterns lazily to distract her from her thoughts.

"You've always been stronger than me, Amelia. Even when we were kids, you were the one always looking after others, always ready to fight." Ezio chuckled, shaking his head. She smiled softly remembering a few times she had attacked a bully or two for Petrucio and Claudia.

"I'm so tired of fighting..." She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. She could feel his gaze on her face but she refused to look at him. "But for you, for your family...It feels different. Like maybe it will be worth it. Maybe this time I can save everyone." She opened her eyes, blinking a single tear away to roll down her cheek. Ezio's calloused finger reached up and wiped it away tenderly. Without thought she leaned into his touch, blinking again as another tear gave way.

"You shouldn't have to carry all that alone. Maybe...maybe I can be strong enough to fight by your side, too. You've saved me more times that I can count Amelia. Let me try and return the favor." She smiled at him, feeling the exhaustion on her face and she looked into his eyes. She nodded in agreement, allowing herself to believe that she wasn't alone. She had been so scared that when her father died she wouldn't have anyone. It had been ten years and as seventeen year old there was no telling if her relationship with the Auditore's would be the same.

"We'll face it together, Whatever may come." She whispered to herself. He squeezed her hand and she looked down and realized that he had been holding her hand for a while, her arms fully bandaged. She could see that his eyes were trying to look everywhere but the bath and she smirked. "But if you try to peek while I'm still in this bath, I'll throw you out that window, Auditore."

"Noted. I'll guard the door. No promises about the window." Ezio chuckled, standing up and making his way out the door. Amelia rolled her eyes, a smile on her lips as she watched him step out of the room.Everything is going to work itself out.She thought to herself. She knew that nothing was ever going to be the same, but having Ezio on her side gave her the confidence to know that she would be okay eventually.