Warning: of course, after all the mushy mushy stuff I had to write some drama…

Notes: I got confused writing this in one POV, so I'm writing it as a narrator. When I get the gist of it again, I'll go back to POVs.

DISclaimer: that says it all.

Chapter 7 – Must…kill…Rosa…

BANG

"Leonardo!" Said artist jolted awake at the sound of Ezio's voice. He looked to his left where Alexandra was frowning, but was still asleep. He carefully slid out of bed and hurried down the stairs.

"What is it? What happened?" he asked when he entered the living room. Gasping, he watched as Ezio helped a bleeding Rosa on the couch. There was an arrow sticking out of her thigh. He ran to the kitchen to heat up some water.

"Leonardo?" Ezio called. He had not yet seen the man. He sprinted up the steps to his room and barged in. He halted when he saw Alexandra jolt awake. She had no shirt on, and on her back was painted a rose. Next to the bed was a table full of painting supplies. He found it strange, but…

'Whatever floats his boat…' he thought, trying to picture the scene.

"What happened?" Alex was sitting up, holding a shirt to her chest. Ezio paid no attention to her and continued looking in the other rooms for Leonardo.

Back downstairs, Leonardo was kneeling in front of Rosa, having already yanked out the arrow and was now trying to stop the blood leaking out with a wet towel. He sighed when he noticed he could stitch the wound without having to worry too much about Rosa losing more blood.

"Oh, Leonardo, you saved me!" she threw herself on top of him, making him fall back on the floor with her straddling him.

"What are you doing?" Ezio chose that moment to come in.

"Yes, do tell us…" Alexandra came in behind Ezio.

"Alex! It's not what it looks like!" Leonardo tried to push Rosa off him.

"I'm merely thanking him for saving me, silly girl." Rosa sneered at Alexandra.

"No, that's not it, Alex wait!" Leonardo called after her retreating back.

"Cazzo." Ezio swore. "You get her wrapped up." He threw Rosa not so gently back on the couch, helping his friend up and giving his shoulder a comforting squeeze. "I'll talk to her." He strode to the stairs. Before he left, he rounded on Rosa. "You better be out of here before I come back, woman." He pointed a threatening finger at her.

Ezio found Alexandra in her room, sitting on her bed, hugging and sobbing into her pillow. Ezio sighed. He walked over to her and sat next to her. Putting a comforting arm around her, he let her lean on his shoulder and cry. He shushed her, stroking her hair and rocking gently back and forth. When she calmed down a little, he pulled her away and looked into her puffy eyes.

"Will you listen to me if I explain?" he asked. She sniffed and nodded. "I told Rosa about you, and how I thought you and Leonardo should get together, and I must admit, I think I sounded a little overenthusiastic." Ezio chuckled. "We always come here when we are hurt, and I think she just wanted to cause more trouble." He explained, wiping at Alexandra's cheek with his sleeve. "Remember what I told you in the kitchen? Leonardo really likes you. Really. Let's go downstairs and sort this out, hmm?"

Alexandra took a deep breath and nodded. They entered the living room, and saw Leonardo finishing wrapping Rosa's thigh with some gauze. She looked at Alexandra and narrowed her eyes. After Leonardo stood up, she threw herself on him and forcefully kissed him. He, in shock, stood there, rooted to the spot, holding her arms.

Ezio strode forward and yanked Rosa away from Leonardo, throwing her (again) on the couch.

"Why didn't you push her away?" he frowned at Leonardo. "And you!" he rounded on Rosa. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"I was merely thanking him." Rosa batted her eyelashes at Leonardo. "I know he always steals glances at me, I wouldn't want him to simply get rid of his needs on this ragazza." She sneered at Alexandra.

Leonardo whirled around to Alexandra, speechless.

"You like her?" Alexandra narrowed her eyes at Leonardo. "And you were just going to use me? After all you said?" tears started leaking again from the corners of her eyes. "And I fell for it! I was actually starting to fall in lo—" she gasped when she realized what she was going to say.

"Oh, oh, what was that, dear?" Rosa mocked from the sofa.

Alexandra screamed in frustration and whirled around, storming out of Leonardo's home and slamming the door behind her.

"You…you…" Ezio grabbed fistfuls of his hair and rounded on Rosa. "You whore! Get out of my sight, and don't you dare follow her!" he didn't even finish his threat, Rosa was already out the door.

"Ezio, I—" Leonardo was at a loss of what to do.

"I'll go get her before she gets into more trouble." Ezio assured his friend. "Don't leave the house, don't let anyone inside, and don't do anything stupid." He waited for Leonardo to nod and sprinted away after Alexandra.

Who, in her tragic state, was already blocks away and lost in the dark streets of Venice.

"Hey, there, pretty lady?" she heard from behind her. She hastened her pace, looking around for something familiar. "Why are you all alone? It's dangerous, don't you know?" the man's greasy, fat fingers grabbed her arm and pulled her closer. She shuddered in disgust as she felt his sweaty shirt touch her exposed back. In her haste, she hadn't buttoned the back of her dress properly. "What's this?" he took hold of her dress and lowered it a bit. "What a pretty flower. I wonder how far down it rea—gah!" Alexandra felt something warm and liquid fall on the back of her neck and run down her back. She pulled away from the man's grasp and whirled around.

Blood was flowing down the man's mouth. When he collapsed, Ezio was standing behind him, wiping his hidden blade in disgust. Alexandra started to hyperventilate, catching Ezio's attention. Her knees gave way, but he caught her before she hit the ground.

"Alex?" he called. She didn't answer. She wasn't sobbing, but tears were flowing freely from her eyes, like a broken dam. "Alex, it's fine now, you're safe." He hugged her limp body.

"He…" she whispered between quick breaths.

"He won't hurt you anymore." Ezio referred to the dead man behind him.

"Leo…" she didn't even seem to notice her aggressor was sprawled out in a puddle of his own blood in front of her.

"It wasn't his fault, Rosa forced herself on him." Ezio said firmly.

"He…kissed…her…"

"Did you not hear what I said?" Ezio pulled her away and made her look at him. "He didn't do anything! Don't you understand what happened? It was all Rosa's fault!" Alexandra slowly nodded. "Let's go back." Ezio helped her up and they made their way to Leonardo's home. The whole way, Ezio softly talked to her, telling her how he knew Leonardo liked her, and explaining over and over again that Rosa was the guilty one.

When they arrived, Ezio opened the door and they entered. Leonardo was pacing around. When he heard the door, he whirled around and looked expectantly at Ezio. The assassin moved to the side, letting Alexandra come into view.

"Alex!" Leonardo lunged at her and hugged her tightly. She started to cry again. "Alex, I'm so sorry, it wasn't what it looked like, if you would just let me explain, please, I—"

"I already did, Leonardo." Ezio shut the door. He watched as Leonardo sighed in relief and put his hand on Alexandra's head.

"I was so worried…" he kissed her hair. Taking her chin in his hand, he turned her face up. He kissed her tears away, then her mouth. He swept his tongue over her cold lips, asking for entrance.

'please' he thought. 'please don't be angry at me, please.'

He felt her grab the collar of his shirt and hold on tightly to it. She stood on her toes and started kissing him back, and he sighed relieved, and deepened it, hugging her tightly.

"Well, I'm glad everything's okay now…" Ezio said loudly. They only deepened the kiss, and Leonardo put his arm under her thighs and lifter her up, while she hugged his waist with her legs. "I'm leaving!" he yelled at them. Leonardo stepped back and collapsed on the couch, Alexandra straddling his legs and…well…Ezio shut the door behind him and climbed on the roof. He could manage sleeping outside for one night. 'I hope I don't hear anything…' he thought.