And finally we have chapter two!

Crimson Stems

Ezio was breathing steadily as he made his way through the Templar base. Three guards lay in his wake, and he had no qualms about killing more if necessary. No one stole his principessa and got away with it.

Another guard fell to his hidden blade, and he quickly stowed the body in a near-by crate. Thank God he was in Italy; otherwise missing guards would have been a sure sign of an intruder. As it was, though, most disappearances were put down to fine wine or fine women… Or, more often than not, both.

As the Italian Assassin crept down the next hallway, he reminded himself that time was running out. Mario would be off to marshal the troops if Ezio wasn't back in the next twenty minutes.

As he came around another corner, he caught a whiff of perfume on the air and his heart started to pound. That was Peach's scent, no mistake. Light and sweet, just like the woman who wore it.

Peach frowned as she heard the shuffling of her guards on the other side of the door. She pulled herself up into a more dignified position and held her chin high as the door swung open to reveal a tall man with wild red hair and vibrant amber eyes.

Peach glared at him. "What do you want, Signore Bowser?"

Bowser gave her a toothy grin. "Well you, my dear. And since our dear Assassino is nowhere to be found, I may very well be able to have you."

Peach felt a shudder run down her spine as Bowser's gaze drifted over her, taking in the tattered state of her dress and her disheveled golden hair. "He'll come for me."

Bowser smirked. "I think not, belle. My men have been told to remain on high-alert while you are here, and I trust them to know the consequences if he slips past our defenses."

Peach's eyes widened as she stared past Bowser at the entrance to her cell.

Bowser followed her gaze, turning around to do so, and found his own eyes widening as he saw the tall, handsome Assassin that was leaning casually against the doorframe.

"Let who slip past, now?"

Peach held onto Ezio tightly as he carried her up the two flights of stairs to her room in the Villa Auditore. "You should have killed that bastardo…" She muttered softly as Ezio opened the door to her room.

"Belle, if I had killed him, I would have lost a rather interesting rival…"

Peach gave him a fierce scowl. "So you're willing to put me at risk in order to keep yourself entertained?" She demanded.

Ezio frowned comically, pushing the door closed with his foot. "Belle, please, don't be like that. His injury will keep him bed-ridden for at least a month or two. And I promise to keep you safe."

Peach continued to pout as Ezio gently put her on the bed. "That's not the point. We could have avoided a lot of mess and heartache if you'd just killed him, amante."

Ezio's frown faded to be replaced with a smirk. "Amante, huh? Is that a hint, belle?"

Peach wrapped her arms back around his neck, pulling him in for a kiss. "Perhaps. After all, I need to show my appreciation for your saving me."

"Again." Ezio reminded her.

Peach giggled. "Yes, again."

"Now, why don't we get you into something warmer, hmm?"

Peach smiled brightly. "Like your bed, perhaps?"

Ezio's eyebrows crept up his forehead. "Why, belle, what a splendid idea!"

Bowser felt his chest start to ache as the poison that had been coating the Assassin's blades started to take effect. "Damn him!" Bowser breathed heavily, trying to focus his gaze onto the far wall, his sight fading.

"You've finally beaten me, Assassino…"

Ezio slipped out of the bedroom quietly, carefully closing the door behind him. There was a flicker of regret in his chest as he heard Peach murmur in her sleep.

He hadn't told her the whole truth. But it was better this way. He wasn't sure why, but it was.

With a soft sigh, he placed the black sheet over Bowser's portrait, sure that the poison he'd used had done its job by this time.

"Resquiescat in pace…"

Yes, there is a bit of a bitter-sweet ending, I know, but that's just the way it is.

Ezio cares too much for his dear principessa to let Bowser live...

"Principessa" means Princess

"Signore" means Sir

"Assassino" means Assassin

"Belle" means Beautiful

"Amante" means Lover

"Resquiescat in pace" means Rest in peace.