Music Inspiration: Jesper Kyd- "Earth" and Ramin Djawadi – "Finale"

Connor's Way

25 December 1776

The banquet for the town's Christmas celebration was considerably larger than last year's. With the assassins joining them for the holidays, their extra provisions for the feast filled two rectangular tables from end to end. Stephane had practically become the adopted cousin of the Miller family as he learned their recipes to incorporate them into his own restaurant. In return, he provided information on French drinks and cuisine to the English family to develop new dishes. Clipper had provided food from his catches outdoors to contribute while Duncan dug into his old days in the church to provide a service for the small town. Aveline and Gérald handled the decorations from the community's stored goods so they reused the white linens from Clara's summer party and a bundle of cranberry and gold to add a splash of vibrant color.

Ratonhnhaké:ton was impressed to the heavily decorated inn and the numerous banquet tables. Caroline had pulled their friends together to decorate the inn and set up everything, not wanting Corrine or Oliver to lend a hand so they could focus on the food. In a few hours, everything was complete and Aveline lit a few candles by the windowsills and tables to create a cozy ambiance. He fiddled with the annoying cravat around his neck since he donned colonial attire for the festivities like he always did. Caroline reached up to adjust it, smoothing the white fabric down evenly, and he remarked, "This pulled together quite nicely."

"We have to do this every year!" she suggested eagerly with a peppy smile as her fingers smoothed down his brown coat to settle his discomfort. It wasn't from the fabric but more on nerves on engaging in another social with a small crowd. Despite his culture was heavily into socialization and group dynamics, he still held reservations and preferred the quiet outdoors. Caroline squeezed his broad shoulders with support before her mighty wolf decided to bolt outside for some fresh air and winked, "Davenport Homestead and Assassins unite!"

This was the first time both worlds were uniting and it figured the person that personified it brought them together. His assassins were happily mingling to begin the party and he was surprised to see the old man chatting up Oliver by the counter. He had convinced Achilles to make his way down to the inn but old age was catching up quickly to the old assassin so he'd enjoy this outing, which could be his last to avoid slipping on ice or catching a cold. Either way, Ratonhnhaké:ton managed to hold a conversation with his mentor that didn't leave him frustrated so he'd take that as a positive sign.

He gazed at her with light amusement to her positive energy and smiled to ask, "Does this mean you're following along with me on Aveline's mission?"

"I'm invited?" she blurted with bright eyes to following along on another adventure. Well, more like an assassin's mission but still. He wasn't kidding about training her at all and her heart fluttered nervously to that prospect. She had prepared to be a sailor on the Aquila that year, accomplished it, and wondered if the following held passage into a secret order. Proud to be at his side once more, she hoped to meet his standards and admitted sheepishly, "Wow, I didn't think. . . uh, sure!"

"You agreed to let me teach you but you can easily say no" he spoke carefully to leave the door open for her to decline in case she worried about the danger. She didn't have to join their order and risk her life in his business because her safety was the priority for him. Having her on the Aquila was already a risk but being an Assassin would raise it and he wouldn't forgive himself if she was injured.

Caroline waved a hand to dismiss skipping out on the chance and assured enthusiastically, "Absolutely not, a promise is a promise."

"Cap'n!"

The couple cut their conversation short as they turned around to greet the head officers of the Aquila. Caroline invited their faithful crew since she had grown to trust them while learning the ropes. She felt they deserved to celebrate another year gone by after traveling all over the Atlantic Ocean and Ratonhnhaké:ton asked with surprise, "You invited the crew too?"

"Of course! Ain't no true Assassin gathering til the Aquila joins" she answered with pride to their brave crew and waved happily at the gunnery officers and Robert. She had expected them to dress casually for the event since they were bachelors used to living simply. Instead, they faced well-dressed officers that were bathed and clean-shaven. To say the least, the couple was surprised to their rosy fresh faces and Caroline opened her arms to compliment brightly, "David, you look dashing!"

"I feel like such a tool" he sighed dismally to dressing like a gentleman, which made his brother burst into hysterics. It was clear onboard the Aquila that Richard attempted some work into his appearance while David put on whatever clothes were nearby and smelled half-decent to call it a day. He wasn't the type to focus on his image which is why he shaved his head and face to avoid the hassle of grooming (and also avoiding critters to stick there).

"Still, I appreciate the effort" she beamed happily with a peppy pat on the shoulder to encourage the gunnery officer not to run out and abandon ship. David grumbled under his breath to appearing formal, in his view, but he'd done it out of respect for his captain. His solace was knowing none of them were comfortable as they all fiddled with at least one part of their ensemble. Caroline fussed with her skirt, Robert with his hat, Ratonhnhaké:ton with his cravat, while his brother was the only one enjoying the getup. The redhead pointed to the large banquet tables behind them and invited cordially, "We have plenty of drink and food."

"Haven't been to such a swanky party" Richard whistled with approval to the festive hues, fancy linens, and the shiny silverware. The captain and navigator had gone all out on the party and he would not disappoint them, eyeing the kegs instantly. Nudging his brother on the side, David sighed in relief at the thought of a cold ale and prayed it wasn't plain cider or juice. The lack of kids around them raised his chances.

"It's not fancy" Caroline assured the trio because she wasn't one for upscale parties but fun ones. The loggings camps and living in the countryside appealed to her as they brought merry and boisterous socials as basic propriety was the requirement. Her father could drink with the best of men and still walk home without wobbly steps so she wasn't one to talk.

"Then why are we dressed up?" Robert pointed out dryly to their getups but the attire kept them warm on the walk from the cove. The saltwater from the bay kept it from freezing but the water lowered to hypothermic levels similar to the frozen rivers and streams. Snapping his fingers towards their perky navigator, he emphasized to her clothing, "Even you're wearing a dress."

"Because you respect your cap'n" she shot back sarcastically with a laugh since they dressed casually for their summer socials. The winter required more layers which made it perfect for the residents to dust off heavier formal attire to wear it. She hadn't worn a thick wool dress since the previous year and after returning to her old self, the clothing no longer hung off her frame. Smiling politely, she spoke earnestly to the top officers, "Also, I want to thank you for taking me under your wing this past year and allowing me to learn."

"You made our jobs easier, kid" Richard scoffed easily since the two worked together when boarding ships to protect the captain. When not in active battle, she helped his brother on the deck in directing the barrages of fire to protect their ship. She'd come a long way from the modest deckhand and found her niche on the crow's nest.

"You were made for the position and the deckhands actually like learning from you" Robert agreed because he'd had a tough time finding anyone that enjoyed the heights and movement up there. Caroline, however, resembled a bald eagle on her perch and protected her crew. The new deckhands soaked up her knowledge as she showed them the ropes to determine whether they wanted to work below deck, topside, ship maintenance, or medical. Each position was important as it kept the Aquila running.

She patted her captain on the back, smiling widely to reply with pride, "I wouldn't be there if it wasn't for this fella."

"Thank you for all that you do" Ratonhnhaké:ton spoke respectfully to his loyal officers but they merely brushed it off with a laugh. Robert had seen the young boy grow into adulthood, grooming him into a competent captain that treated his crew with respect. He had earned the crew's loyalty with his humble values and naval expertise, forming a formidable team.

"Now, go on and feast" Caroline suggested with a laugh to let them join the festivities and the officers headed off to the keg area. Liquor and sailors were a team so she made sure Oliver stocked enough for the town. The assassins and sailors mingled right away after being familiarized in their work, especially earlier that year. Happy that the yearly party was off to a great start, she nudged her partner's side and teased with a compliment, "You always dress well for the holidays."

"Likewise" he smiled modestly to her opinion because he tried his best during her holiday gatherings. As the years passed, he became familiar to all the colonial attire layers- not that he was becoming fond of it. If anything, the numerous layers confused him. He was relieved in finding agreement from his partner whenever she fiddled with her petticoats. She scoffed bashfully to the comment to appear nonchalant and he added in, "The pink complements your eyes."

Her cheeks flushed to his disarming voice as he kept his words short but meaningful. Their Christmas party last year was bittersweet as their reunion resulted in friendship only. Now, she was by his side and happy to reach that point after believing that it would not happen at one point. She felt incredibly lucky for it, hoping she did not resemble the shade of her dress, and replied earnestly, "I haven't worn such feminine colors recently. . .but you make me feel like a lady."

Noticing the familiar navy color of her bonnet, he asked with curiosity, "Is that the bonnet I gave you years ago?"

"Of course" she replied proudly because she took care of her beloved gift years ago. He worked hard for a living, especially now that she saw his work firsthand, and she would treasure any gifts. Twirling the ribbon ties dangling under her chin, she untied the silky fabric carefully before removing the bonnet. Finding an empty hook by the door as they stood to await the rest of the residents, she placed her pretty bonnet there for safekeeping and told him, "I promised to keep it in top shape."

"You are my captivating lady of disguise" he commented slyly to her craftiness at building identities to camouflage her identity. She had deceived him during her year at sea and managed to outrun him with her sailor disguise intact. Nowadays, he could pinpoint her in a crowd when she decided to tag behind him as a male sailor when he traveled alone. Her ability to slip into fictional identities was a good trait to have as an assassin but he wasn't ready to have her infiltrating into enemy territory just yet.

She blushed heavily to his charming tone, uttering a girlish giggle that was quickly concealed by an awkward cough. Boy, he was getting good at stirring femininity from her. Years ago, she couldn't wait to be a graceful lady as an adult but the idea had been tossed by reality. Thankfully, he was not attracted to that trait in a woman and preferred an equal partner that was mutually independent. He was happy to stir the modest reaction in the open since she was more confident with him in private settings.

"Did you give the poor girl hot peppers?" Duncan teased humorously at seeing her reddened face as she patted her cheeks to tone down the hue. The preserved heat in the inn wasn't helping and she had the briefest inkling to dart out into the snowy road.

"I can handle my peppers" she assured embarrassedly to her tolerance of spicy food and crossed the room to meet the other assassins. They were all perusing through the banquet tables to fill their plates and the aromatic smells teased her nose to beckon her closer. She ignored the tantalizing aroma to focus on the party and informed cheerfully, "We were discussing our upcoming work. I'm going to New York!"

"I won't risk placing you in danger, this is my fight" Aveline reassured with a firm tone because her mission was for her alone. She would not risk placing either of the two in danger for a target after they agreed to accompany her. Their role was to simply guide her through the unknown terrain while she would handle the targeting, infiltration, and fighting.

Caroline waved a hand to dismiss it because she would help her friend if she fell into a bind. So far, her partner surrounded himself with individuals that were amicable and hard to say no to. Even if she couldn't partake in a battlefield, she would lend a hand somehow. Grinning with enthusiasm to the mission, she claimed with confidence, "I can tussle with the best of 'em. . .or at least, that's what I tell myself."

"There's nothing wrong with taking a backseat when needed" Gerald reminded optimistically in case she doubted her skills on the open field. He wouldn't be dangling from cliffs or performing fancy aerial maneuvers or deadeye shooting and accepted his limitations.

Stephane broke into the gathered circle of assassins to disperse them like chickens, urging them, "Mingle while you eat- the food will get cold!"

"I think I gained five pounds from all the food I've eaten here" Aveline sighed with dismay to the hefty meals that she had been eating since arriving. She was not exercising enough to burn through all that energy and felt her clothing becoming snug. She did not want her attire to pop a button in the middle of a covert ambush on an enemy. It would be embarrassing to say the least.

"Don't even notice the difference" Gerald complimented smoothly to reassure the sudden rise of self-consciousness. He couldn't help eating the delicious food either so they were on the same boat. Aveline nudged his left side to end his humorous nonsense, causing the other couple to laugh.

Caroline ushered their friends to begin serving themselves while she welcomed the rest of the guests. She wanted everyone munching and mingling to bring in the festivities. By this time, the Davenport guests were beginning to pile in for the celebration. She opened her arms happily to greet her siblings as they bundled into the warm inn from the snowy exterior. Her sisters wore heavy wool dresses in a variety of rich colors to contrast the pure white snow outside. Green was the majority shade since it complemented the brunettes and redheads while Amelia wore navy and Martha chose white. Caroline smiled at seeing Alice ditch her monochromatic blue collection of dresses for a new shade. Darting forward, she squeezed her beloved sisters before releasing them and pulled Samuel into a hug instead of ruffling his hair. He smiled broadly for not receiving the average greeting in public this time and laughed when she flicked Patrick's forehead instead.

The lumberjack reared back from his headstrong cousin and batted her hand away with a protest, "Ow! What was that for?"

"Calling me a siren" she retorted indignantly for the jab because she did not want to chase off her partner. Ratonhnhaké:ton didn't even bat an eye to their heckling, simply amused to the family banter. He had lived beside the family for too long to be run off.

"Should I have called you a sea hag?" he shot back cockily to continue the nautical theme of jokes to rile his cousin. It was innocent fun and Amelia grabbed Caroline by the shoulders before she flew at Patrick to grab him into a headlock. The brother-sister relationship had been great for her since she finally had someone to tumble around with her that was older. She could not do that with any of her siblings though Elizabeth was coming close. He poked the center of her forehead as he made his way inside the inn to fetch his delicious dinner.

"Child, don't make Connor regret wanting to be part of this family one day" Catherine reprimanded her eldest about appearing respectful and she calmed down. She didn't want to embarrass both her mother and boyfriend during the holidays. Crossing her arms, she pouted humorously for pity but her mother didn't buy it while her siblings laughed.

Ratonhnhaké:ton surprised them all by stating dryly, "This isn't the worst I've seen."

"Be still my beating heart, he joked!" Elizabeth gasped with delight to hearing the rare joke from him and her family laughed. He shot her a fake reprimanding look but she darted behind Caroline for safe refuge, laughing mischievously. The elder redhead shook her head to her playfulness and shooed her away, pointing to the banquet tables. Saluting her family like a sailor, Elizabeth skittered off without another word.

Her siblings began to disperse as Samuel and Alice followed their elder sister to see what food awaited them. Their heavy echoing footsteps reminded Caroline that her little siblings that barely reached her hip when arriving in Davenport had grown to reach her shoulder. Martha's happy giggling pulled her back to the inn as her middle sister headed off to reunite with Walter, causing her father to sigh. Amelia simply chuckled to their antics as they split in different directions and headed further in to keep an eye on them all. That, and try a piece of blueberry pie.

"Boban, you look sharp" Caroline chuckled to seeing bear grease in her father's hair and not a speck of dust on his face. Her smile widened into a cheeky grin at seeing his mountain man beard had been trimmed down. Even his attire was ironed neatly and clean without sewn patches, warming her heart to see her father appear like a city resident. She had gotten accustomed to his simple tunic and trousers most of her life due to the laborious work in the forest. What had brought this change? Had he forgotten an anniversary? Lost a bet to their mother? Arching an eyebrow, she chided her parents with a joke, "I'm not getting a new sibling, am I?"

Catherine shushed her oldest to such an audacious claim, batting a hand at the air to make sure it never came true. She was done after six healthy children and ready for her little birds to fly out of the nest. Caroline could not help laughing at their dismayed faces since her parents were ready to be grandparents.

"Martha said she wanted her old father to look presentable" her father muttered with a sullen sigh to dressing up but he took solace on it being the festivities as well. Catherine had been more than happy to set out his best clothes and felt like a young woman all over again with her beau. When would they be able to dress so sharply again? Crossing his arms, he frowned to changing his appearance for someone other than his wife and complained, "Never had to dress up for any suitor of yours."

"That's Martha's doing, not Walter's" she pointed out simply because she liked her family to roam free and Ratonhnhaké:ton fit that description. Her sister, however, preferred propriety but it came from a good place after being teased in childhood. Walter wasn't the type that demanded perfectionism, being more modest like Amelia, and she sighed, "Poor boy's ready to have a heart attack."

Glancing at Ratonhnhaké:ton, her blue eyes brightened as she leaned against him with a dreamy sigh, "Besides, he's not the polished type and I rather like it that way."

"You look nice" Catherine assured the young man with a motherly smile and leaned over to straighten his cravat again. Godfrey held back a laugh since his wife had done the same back home to prevent any fashion snafus. Ratonhnhaké:ton was grateful for the motherly aid, blushing lightly at seeing Caroline's impish grin, and she released him with a bright smile, "There, can't have my boy looking unkempt."

"I don't think you'll ever be done mothering" Diana's voice chided from behind as she arrived with her family in tow. They had left shortly after the Burnetts to keep their families together for the trip, especially when snow began falling again on the town. Her young son was bundled warmly in her arms while Anne sported a white dress to match the snow outside while a red scarf and fur hat kept her warm. Terry wore clean but simple attire in heavy layers to keep warm, adding a scarf and hat like his daughter against the chill cold.

"It's been in the blood for too long" Catherine replied with a warm chuckle and smiled at the children, "How are the wee ones?"

"Trying to escape me every second now that he's capable of walking" she sighed with disappointment and hushed Daniel when he wiggled in her grip to be free. The aromas, sights, and sounds fascinated his young mind and he pointed to the colorful dresses of the Burnett sisters. Anne laughed behind her gloved hands to his curiosity and reached over to pat his head. She'd been like him once ages ago but barely remembered any of it.

Terry caught sight of his best friend, trying his hardest not to laugh when seeing their clashing dress styles. When had he become the type to dress sharply? The women ignored their jesting as Diana gazed at the hanging lanterns from the ceiling to compliment, "My, look at the place. It's quite festive."

Terry whistled with admiration, not for the gorgeous décor, but the well-dressed tables displaying numerous platters of food. He counted himself lucky for living in Davenport. The scents emanating from the tables did not help and he shook his head to inhale with delight, "Look at the feast back there."

"I saw you eyeing the ales at the door" his wife teased knowingly because the kegs were hard to ignore as they laid next to the tables.

"That too" he admitted shamelessly because food went wonderfully with an ale, especially in a cozy establishment. He would ignore the winter wonderland outside until the party ended.

"Did all of this come from the town?" Catherine asked the couple with surprise to how professional it appeared. The dangling lanterns gave the place an ethereal touch while the rich colors of the table linens and pinecone decorations around the windows added a winter touch. It wasn't a high-society party but they had done their best to imitate one with a rustic taste.

"That and our friends" Caroline answered proudly because the decoration ideas were all Aveline's. She simply listened to her directions to avoid ruining anything. Her friends, however, had done great in catching game and cooking it alongside the innkeepers.

"Please enjoy yourselves" Ratonhnhaké:ton stated to allow the couples to venture inside instead of keeping them by the doorway. Despite the double doors were closed, the wind was strong enough to flutter them open slightly since their guests were still inbound. He didn't want anyone catching a cold on his behalf and stepped aside to let them through.

Alice and Samuel waved over Anne as they showed her their plates full of hot sizzling food. Marinated chicken, sliced ham, potato wedges, scrambled eggs, corn, and cornbread filled their plates. Both siblings would be returning for seconds since they had smelled the soups and chowders as well. Caroline wondered how they would fit all of that food in their stomachs but it had become a daily mystery nowadays. The blond girl smiled eagerly and scurried off to her friends with a quick goodbye to her parents and brother. Diana sighed at remembering the little girl that arrived in town who barely left her side and lamented, "They grow rather fast."

"It's never too late to have another in a few years" Prudence chuckled as she carried her own infant in her arms, passing through the door as Warren held it open for her. She had created a makeshift carrier from linen to strap it around her shoulders and waist to tie it in the back, securing her son. Instead of choosing a heavy coat like her husband, Prudence wore a cloak to keep her head warm and wrap the fabric over Hunter to protect him from the cold.

"Oh no, not until he's her age" Diana declined swiftly because she wanted another year before enduring another pregnancy. Fate had been kind in separating her pregnancies and she didn't have Catherine's strength or heart to carry more than three children.

Terry slowly kept sidestepping towards the front of the inn and casually flicked his thumb over there to suggest, "Godfrey and I-"

"Just go to the kegs" she sighed to his fib because she knew him better than that and shooed him off. If it was him alone, she'd keep a strict eye but Godfrey kept her husband in check with alcohol. Catherine eyed her husband in a way that made Caroline wish to have that power of suggestion one day and Godfrey nodded slowly without a word. He would not be overdoing it tonight and stumbling over things.

The two took off in seconds towards the tables, practically imitating their children, and Ratonhnhaké:ton remarked to his partner to chide, "I see where you get it from."

She nudged him in the ribs with an awkward chuckle while Catherine eyed her daughter with suspicion. Oh no, the dreaded mothering look had turned to her now. Quickly, she shook her head to clear any mistrust and shot her mother an innocent smile. Well, it appeared she would have to be secretive with sneaking an ale in that night.

Diana smiled at the women and took the spotlight away by proposing, "Shall we go eat, ladies?"

Caroline sighed in relief when all three headed into the inn together to avoid another motherly interrogation. The three mothers would stick together for the night by the banquet tables to keep an eye on both their children and husbands. Brushing a hand over her forehead, she murmured flatly, "I think half the town will nurse hangovers tomorrow."

"When Dr. White gets here, we'll keep a closer eye to prevent that" Warren assured the two with a warm chuckle since they were the non-drinkers of the town. Someone had to keep their boisterous friends from breaking out into brawls or finding their way home at night. The couple uttered a meek thank you for the help since their gathering would be large.

"I love how our town pulls together" Caroline smiled proudly with a content sigh as she placed her hands on her hips to peer into the inn. It was the single event of the year where they could bring everyone together under one roof to show camaraderie, kinship, and loyalty for each other. He agreed wholeheartedly since their humble holiday gathering that originated in Catherine's home in 1770 expanded to the entire lower floor of the Mile's End.

The two were interrupted from their reverie when a cold gust of wind struck their backs and Norris' voice called out, "Are we late?"

"No, why?" Caroline smiled to his enthusiastic voice as he burst inside with snow covering his trademark hat with the puffy ball on the end. Like Terry and Warren, he had worn simple clothing with a dark wool coat and scarf to keep warm. From behind, Myriam emerged with a frown that rivaled a hen being bustled out of her warm coop. The redhead couldn't help but aim a questioning glance at her friend out of sheer curiosity for her glum pout.

"Norris decided I needed an escort" Myriam muttered flatly as she brushed snow off her fur coat, wiping the underside of her boots on the soiled mat by the doorway. She didn't want to make a mess inside the inn but the snowfall outside made it difficult. Having Norris guide the way like the northern star did not help since she wanted his company, not his overprotection.

"There could be bears wandering about!" Norris reasoned swiftly since the environment was not the only thing that could make you disappear. There were still wild animals about in the frontier that could lunge out from the dark brush. He would feel guilty if he let her wander alone and something happened while he could have been there to stop it.

"I have Bullseye" she reminded matter-of-factly as she waved her faithful rifle in her right hand. Living in the outdoors for most of her life, she knew the precautions of traveling alone. Otherwise, she would have perished years ago. She needed to find Corrine to tuck away her weapon for safekeeping and sighed, "I need a stiff drink right about now."

Norris' confidence plummeted as he failed to impress his love interest and his shoulders slumped with defeat. Caroline and Ratonhnhaké:ton offered a sympathetic smile since his path to romancing the huntress was not going well. Sheepishly, Norris glanced at the floor to avoid Myriam's gaze and offered with apology, "I only meant to help, the weather's been unpredictable."

Myriam did not mean to sound disheartening or rude because she wanted his attention as an equal, not a delicate spring flower. She did not want to cast his friendship aside at all or sound bitter for his concern since she was still adjusting to having friends that genuinely cared for her. Being a loner most of her life, Myriam didn't want to ruin her friendships and shook her head to sigh softly with regret, "It's fine. . . I appreciate the thought. Now, can we drink?"

"Gladly" he answered eagerly and she returned his enthusiasm with a wide smile of her own. Caroline and Ratonhnhaké:ton exhaled with relief that the two were happy again instead of leaving one brokenhearted or lonely. Norris wouldn't take a bold move and offer his arm to her, choosing to let her lead their night by motioning for her to move first. He did not hesitate to follow her and quickly waved to their friends, "Merci!"

The two skittered off to the rear where most of Davenport's working class had congregated around the kegs. When did the alcohol become more important than the food? It appeared the children and the women would be devouring the mouth-watering food. Caroline crossed her arms as she watched their good friends leave and sighed softly to ponder, "Think those two will finally be together next year?"

His response surprised her when he admitted frankly, "I believe we're liable to be married first before that happens."

How did he come to that conclusion? Their own relationship was not a walk in the park or short in terms of reuniting. Norris was modest and conservative when reaching out to Myriam but some of his words came out more platonic than anything. Caroline smiled sheepishly in remembrance to their own shy dance of courtship and chuckled, "They can't be worse than we were."

"They don't have the Aquila to bond them" he pointed out because their friends only had their town to interact in and rarely traveled to Boston together. On the other hand, he and Caroline traveled often due to the Aquila or she offered a ride during her trips to Boston which allowed more contact between them.

"We have to help poor Norris" she declared woefully since their friend had been trying his best since last year. His efforts were going unrewarded so far, especially when Myriam preferred her solitude up north. She refused to not give the two a fighting chance and vowed with a challenging twinkle in her eyes, "It should be one of our Davenport missions for 1777."

They had already jotted down a list of things to do and short trips for the following year, prompting him to point out, "I thought building a dock and a swing by the cove was first."

"We can have more than one" she reasoned quickly because a year was a long time and they planned to spend it at home. If Templars decided to invade into their private life, she would travel with him to end that problem quickly. She had enjoyed the recent months having him at home as they lived as a true courting couple rather than a professional one that kept strictly platonic at sea. Being able to hug and kiss him was a blessing instead of simply walking by his side.

Ratonhnhaké:ton smiled warmly to her humorous fussing since she'd never hesitated to spend time with him. The past two months had been the best for him that year and he slipped an arm around her waist to pull her close. Her freckled cheeks flushed to the affectionate action as the physical contact delightfully warmed her side and she squeezed his hand to return the sentiment. Her happy gaze met his warm one as he clutched her close and questioned playfully, "You're going to keep me homebound, aren't you?"

"You promised it first" she smiled impishly as she doted a kiss to his lower cheek to show her appreciation.

The last to join the merry fun were David, Lance, and Lyle as the three came together due to proximity of their homes. Like Norris and Myriam, they were covered in snow at the shoulders as they bundled inside hastily for warmth. Despite the harsh climate outside, their boisterous conversations along the way kept them laughing and nipped the cold away.

David's stature dwarfed the other two as he stuck to the rear of the group and flicked his thumb at the doctor to joke, "Found him half-frozen along the way. Can't lose our only doctor."

"I didn't expect heavy snow to blind me" Lyle fussed swiftly because his home was diagonally across the inn but the blanket of snow turned him around. Having his glasses cloud over from moisture only added to his confusion. Living alone, he had to continuously dig out the front of his home from the piling snowfall unless he wanted to be caved in for the next three months. Despite his medical education, the other artisans had burst into laughter when they found him heading away from their homes.

Regardless of his horrible sense of navigational direction, the doctor dug into his heavy overcoat to unveil small glass bottles. Before he had left his home, he'd been bottling his newest elixirs. Each brown bottle was small enough to fit in his hand and he smiled widely to reveal enthusiastically, "I brought hangover draughts."

"They exist?" Caroline asked uncertainly because this was the first-time hearing about them. She had been guilty of waking up with a hangover once or twice that year but she had yet to find a cure aside from strong bitter coffee. If there was an easier solution, she would take it! Ratonhnhaké:ton glanced at her with a deadpan expression because more incentive for her to drink was the last thing he needed.

"They do now!" he laughed eagerly to his newest invention because he had a knack for experimenting with tinctures. He was not a quack crazy enough to use cyanide or some other poisonous substance, boldly testing his own creations himself. This one just happened to be created after a night out at the inn with his friends. With another festive night on the horizon, he was stocked well to fend off a hangover.

"He might've started celebrating a little early" Lance stated dryly since slipping alcohol into hot drinks had become the newest fad in the colonies. The only substance it didn't combine with was tea so they left it alone. Caroline smiled to his words but bit her cheek to prevent laughing aloud to the doctor's accomplished smile. His new life in Davenport had allowed him to practice, treat, research, and apparently, create draughts now. The carpenter nodded to the couple politely for being included in the party and stated courteously, "Thank you for the invite."

"Thank you for my order" Caroline winked with sincerity to his help in creating her Christmas present for Ratonhnhaké:ton. After spending a year with him at sea, she saw room for improvement in his large but modest cabin to keep her favorite captain comfortable. Her partner shot her a questioning look for the cryptic response but she simply smiled innocently, giving nothing away. Dodging his inquisitive gaze, she changed the subject and motioned to the interior of the inn to encourage, "Enjoy the food, dance, drinks- everything!"

"Don't mind if we do!" David agreed wholeheartedly because the holidays brought the best food. As a bachelor, his home cooking wasn't the greatest when compared to Corrine or any of the other women. It was of no surprise that most of the town flocked to the inn for sustenance and drinks. Even the married couples enjoyed their time there to spend an hour to themselves away from their families.

Dr. White rubbed his hands together eagerly to the hot food and declared, "Time to eat and then we shall return to hibernation."

"Did you hit your head before we found you?" Lance snickered to the doctor's choice of words and hoped his friend hadn't accidentally smacked into a porch beam or slipped over ice. He had an eccentric way with words but for the most part, everyone understood him.

Lyle frowned to such an insinuation because his motor coordination was fine and dandy. Couldn't he be excited for a holiday party? Or carry a dash of eccentricity? Raising his nose defiantly, he objected to his remark, "No! I'm being figurative!"

Caroline covered her mouth to bite back the laughter as the doctor chastised his friends. Living in close distance, the three had become good friends and their professions meant they could lend each other a hand. The trio blended into the crowd to join their entire town as Caroline nodded to confirm that everyone had arrived. Soon enough, she heard piano music echoing in the tavern and figured Aveline had found it to add more cheer to their mood. Unlike herself, her friend had musical skill from classes and Oliver offered the piano to any customer that knew how to play.

"Our town's really flourished since arriving on that cold morning in 1770" Caroline beamed brightly to the progress of their small tight-knit community, looping her arm through his again. She was happiest by his side and did not conceal her sentiments- plus, he offered body heat. Running her free hand through his loose hair at the nape of his neck, she smiled with regret, "Time went by rather fast. I still remember you running about in deerskin outfits and short hair."

"I miss the games we would play" he agreed solemnly to their innocent happy times before the harshness of world reminded them both they were outsiders. The dangerous life of an assassin only increased with the passing years as well. Adulthood had matured their view of the world and the stark realities of life on the frontier but he was fortunate to have her by his side. Her blue eyes glittered mischievously as her left eyebrow arched in romantic emphasis. Not wanting the entire town to find them kissing outside on top of a lump of snow, he dissuaded her amorous ideas, "Don't. I know what lurks in that mind of yours."

"Spoilsport" she pouted humorously to his propriety since she was always up for a game that would yield her a kiss or two. Her partner, however, was modest so she would literally have to drag him to the darkest corner in a forest for privacy. Sighing softly to the infinite passage of time, she murmured, "I'm sure we'll lament this moment in six years."

"Are you with me for six more years?" he asked softly with a playful edge because she had yet to budge from his side. The country girl he had met six years prior had transformed into a competent sailor that enjoyed adventuring with him. They had started off as neighbors turned friends but those seeds had blossomed into love and he saw a future with her for the next six years. He hoped to have her as his wife and make a family of their own.

"I'm with you into the next life, my dear" she promised earnestly because she wasn't going anywhere. She was committed to him, especially after their tumbles and discovering his entire life. There was no other man who would rival him nor would she let them.

"I hope Clipper isn't about to meet his next life" Ratonhnhaké:ton commented under his breath as he watched an interaction between his friends. Unfortunately, the father of the redhead in that conversation was just around the corner and he was handy with an axe.

She turned to find the assassin chatting up her little sister and watched her smile innocently at their father. Godfrey was already observing Martha and even herself so seeing another out of towner approach one of his daughters was suspicious to his fatherly warning bell system. Clipper introduced himself cheerfully to remain polite while Elizabeth piped up he was a friend of Ratonhnhaké:ton. The lumberjack turned to the couple in question for verification and the two waved since they were also keeping an eye on her. Satisfied to have the extra watchful eye, Godfrey grumbled out a welcome to the hunter and left to rejoin Terry and the other men.

Are all my daughters running off come next year?, he thought with dismay to that possibility because he expected only Caroline to get hitched. With Martha running around with figurative hearts in her eyes, he was not ready for Elizabeth to follow. One daughter was fine but losing half of them was too quick for a protective father like himself.

"That was close" Caroline chuckled softly to seeing her father bear saunter off to drink an ale of forgetfulness. She understood his concern but their Elizabeth had a smart head on her shoulders, despite her basic schooling. Looping an arm through his at the elbow, she leaned against him to ask with curiosity, "You think his little crush will fade?"

"Mine didn't" he replied earnestly because he loved his interactions with her during their adolescent years. His fear was being rejected due to the color of his skin and culture but Caroline embraced him with love and respect. Her cheeks blushed faintly because she still could not believe he was hers. How lucky was she? Gazing at her, he pointed out the similarities between the four of them, "She's a lot like you and the redheads in your family tend to fall for men wielding sharp weapons."

"We courted at sixteen and that's only one year away for her" she muttered sheepishly and gasped softly at realizing her little sister was not so little. What had happened to all her siblings? She still remembered when they were babies! The years were passing quickly, filling her chest with melancholy as she whispered solemnly, "My little sisters all grew up."

"Alice is thirteen" he reminded gently to soothe her glum expression because her family mattered greatly to her. They had been a part of his life as well and his own memories of the youngest girls as children had now been cast to the wind. He was no longer the uncertain and awkward adolescent boy that arrived in Davenport with dreams of heroism and saving the world. Adulthood had brought a somber outlook to his life as the obstacles and losses in life dented his hope but he refused to give up. With Caroline by his side, that hope increased.

"Look at her, she was a tiny sapling when she first arrived and resembles an oak now" she pointed out disappointedly because Alice had been seven years back then. She had been a timid and meek child full of warm smiles for everyone, ready to make a friend with every new resident. Now, her youngest sister kept that kind optimism in a muted demeanor as she began to explore her new path in her adolescent world.

Ratonhnhaké:ton noticed her somber expression as she clung to his arm and he smiled sympathetically to jest, "You're lamenting a lot, did you sneak in an ale?"

"Maybe but that's not the point" she evaded quickly because she might have snuck in an ale while waiting to settle her nerves. She would be spending the entire evening with him, along with their town, so she wanted to be relaxed rather than nervous. Squeezing his arm fondly, she sighed softly to peer at the glowing lanterns, "I blame the festive mood."

"Despite the passing years, I will never leave you" he vowed to his dedication to their relationship and snuck a chaste kiss to her right temple. He would be by her side to the very end, if she would have him.

She laughed merrily to the open affection and words, returning a soft kiss to his left cheek and murmured against his skin, "Neither will I."

Once everyone had finished their meals and cleared half of the banquet table, Ratonhnhaké:ton assumed it was a good time as any to unveil his news for the following year. With everyone in town gathered in one place, the mood was jolly enough for him to begin. Tapping on his tin cup of cider, he called out from his spot by the banquet tables to beckon, "May I have your attention?"

His low reserved tone went undetected by the mingling masses as multiple voices echoed and he tapped his cup with a spoon this time. Maybe he needed a louder chime? Again, it failed to stir the attention of more than a few people in the forefront. It appeared Caroline's holiday party was a complete success as the multiple conversations pulled everyone's attention. Samuel noticed his friend being ignored and whistled loudly to yank everyone from their chats, drawing everyone's gazes. Ratonhnhaké:ton sighed to having his little friend speak for him, wondering if his own voice was really that low, and nodded, "Thank you, Sam."

He placed a hand to his forehead to salute him like a miniature sailor and replied loyally, "No problem, cap'n."

Ratonhnhaké:ton cleared his throat modestly as he began to speak earnestly, "I want to thank all of you for your hard work this year and am glad you were able to make it tonight. I would also like to extend thanks to my friends who traveled here in the snow, which is not something I would have believed years ago. Our small town has grown from a few people to an entire thriving community and I am proud to see the fruitful lives you've all built. From the mill, to the farm, even to this inn- it's all work from our own hands and nobody else's."

"To the Lord of the Manor!" Elizabeth whistled confidently to her friend that made it all possible, which led to everyone clapping. She enjoyed instigating compliments towards her friend since he'd never accept or boast any of his accomplishments.

His ears grew warm to their reaction, not wanting to take credit for their work, and tried to dissuade, "No, that's not-"

"Hip hip for the captain of the Aquila!" Caroline interjected as she followed on the coattails of her sister by ushering in their naval crew. Their fellow officers joined Elizabeth's whistling while the navigator clapped over her head with a cheeky smile. He deserved the praise because he never took an ounce of credit for his hand in projects despite spearheading them. Onboard the ship, he was their hope during chaos and a force to be reckoned with that saved their butts during battle.

He was quick to turn down the fanfare towards himself and raised his hands, "Wait-"

"Just take the damn thanks" Stephane called out to convince him to accept the recognition from all three groups. He had brought them all together from across the colonies to fight for freedom and make a new life. His native friend was the first to lend an ear to his plight against the Loyalists and from that, earned his trust.

"He's a modest one" Prudence chuckled softly to Ratonhnhaké:ton's modesty as he stammered nervously to the compliments. He was not the type to bask in such words and tended to hide from it but now, he was standing before everyone. There was no nearby door for him to bolt through for escape.

"You're the unofficial boss" Myriam reminded warmly to his important position in their town. He was the one who offered them use of the land to make a living and continued to lend a hand when they needed it. Heck, he'd helped her hunt down a mountain lion! His shoulders slumped to hearing that and she smiled widely to tease, "I don't think it's changing soon."

"You led all of us here to build our lives, nobody else can say that" Godfrey pointed out since he'd met the man as a young boy and that meeting led to finding his homestead. He owed the native for that but Ratonhnhaké:ton would not hear of it. The lumberjack found humor in the fact that his eldest had fallen for him and there was no doubt that the two would build a life together. He raised his cup full of ale to finish his say, "Not the Crown, not the Patriots- nobody."

"Thank you" he smiled appreciatively for the support because he had heard enough scathing remarks in the cities. There were nights when he'd wondered if he was worthy of even existing when remembering the horrible slurs. His new friends and family, mainly Caroline, had helped dissipate those horrid thoughts at home. Glad to share another year with them, he disclosed, "What I mean to say is that with all of you gathered here, I have an announcement."

Martha gasped to his words, grabbing Caroline's left arm tightly to pull her close, and whispered, "Do you think he's proposing?"

"We've only been courting three months" she hissed to that unlikely possibility because they were private people with their relationship. She expected an engagement on the small scale between just the two of them, not in front of the entire town. The thought of that sent blood rushing to her cheeks and sunk her stomach to facing such a prospect.

"You've known each other for six years" she shot back to their extensive history because other young colonists would be married with children by that point. She was aware that their working lives, adventures, and even society's views set it back. They deserved to be together and nobody would complain if they settled in Davenport. Scoffing to her resistance, she stated knowingly, "You've been circling each other like honeybees since 1772."

Their hushed whispering caught Ratonhnhaké:ton's attention but the two stopped when Patrick placed a hand over their mouths. The taller redhead nodded to let him continue while his two cousins glared heatedly at him. The assassin tried not to laugh at his partner's annoyed glare to being subdued and continued, "With our town expanding, I figured it was time to build a school for the children that are here and the ones who are now growing."

He motioned to little Daniel, who clung to his mother's skirt, and Hunter, who slept soundly in his mother's arms. There was a new generation rising now that his cohort had become adults and he would nurture the new seedlings that were growing. Well, his friend would. He had kept this innocent secret from his partner and announced, "We already have a teacher in town and she happily agreed to take on the task."

Amelia walked forward to join him at the front, eliciting a gasp from her siblings as she waved modestly to the sudden attention. Her sisters resembled owls with their wide eyes and open mouths as they stared at her- she hadn't mentioned anything to them! When the five Burnetts turned to look at their parents for acknowledgement, the redheaded couple simply beamed happily. They had been waiting for Amelia to regain the gumption she lost after her return home and Ratonhnhaké:ton had offered an amazing solution.

"Our hope is that the school will be open by mid-spring since construction will begin by the end of winter" she explained gently since the harsh winter prevented construction but it would allow her to design the schoolhouse with her parents' help. At the same time, it would grant her time to develop a curriculum tailored for each age group. Teaching in the cities had given her nightmares that woke her at night and she dreaded returning there while the revolution continued. She might have escaped the crossfire once but that didn't guarantee it a second time. She wanted to stay home where it was safe, among her beloved family, and she smiled widely, "I am happy to teach the children with the best of my knowledge or anyone eager to read."

Samuel's stomach filled with dread instead of indigestion to hearing that and he turned to his parents to whisper, "Does this mean I have to go to school?"

"You bet, mister" Catherine answered peppily because she wanted the best for her children. She did not intend to raise dummies but smart independent children capable of surviving in their harsh world. When she was gone from the earth, her teachings would live on in them.

"That's not a present at all!" he groaned miserably as the holidays kicked his butt with that news. Even if Amelia was his sister and the greatest teacher ever, he despised school!

"The last piece of news is that a general store will be opening as well by late spring" Ratonhnhaké:ton informed to the new business that would increase merchandise for the town. They utilized the land for their needs but some items like fabric, tea, coffee, and gunpowder still required trips to the cities. He hoped to cut those trips short with his importing business and explained carefully, "I am aware we are already trading our goods to other towns with Davenport's Prospect but with this store, we can import other items from cities to last us during harsh seasons and we can sell our own goods as well from one source."

"Will it have candy?" Anne asked timidly since her favorite item from Boston's general stores. Despite growing older, she still carried a fancy for sweets. Diana shot her a motherly look but the blond girl simply smiled innocently before hiding behind her father. Terry simply shrugged at his wife with an amused smile because it was a valid question.

"Why not? Peppermint candy's still pretty popular" Walter replied cheerfully to adding more inventory to his list when Ratonhnhaké:ton hesitated. The native didn't have a sweet tooth like the younger children and let him deal with that aspect of business. He moved forward to join him to answer any questions from the town to continue deliberating on the new venture, "I will be running the general store, which will be close to the Mile's End. Back in the city, I assisted my father in running our store so it won't be an entirely new venture for me. Though I might need to hire a worker or two for stocking and runs-"

"I'm your man" Patrick interjected to sign up for the job to earn a few extra coins for his savings. No job was too hard or menial in his mind after seeing his elders work hard for a good life.

Walter crossed his arms with an amused smile to the redhead that picked any odd job and reminded, "Aren't you working at the mill? And helping Mr. O'Donnell?"

"And me" Norris chuckled since the redhead often offered to wheel his ore for a small price. Being the owner and only employee of his mine, he didn't mind the help and treated Patrick like an employee.

"I can work at other places" he replied easily to his flexible scheduling as he managed to fit in numerous jobs into his week. His cousin worked at the mill and ran off to be a sailor in her spare time so he could handle multiple jobs too. Pointing a thumb to his chest, he insisted confidently, "I'm a jack-of-all trades!"

Walter realized that the Scottish family was a hardworking confident bunch that did not step down from a challenge. Even Martha hadn't hesitated to help his grandparents when large lunch crowds threatened to overwhelm his family. It was a good idea to work with her family to continue gaining their approval and he agreed, "That. . .actually works."

"What about the inn?" Corrine asked worriedly because he'd been a good addition to their home and business. He had picked up the life of a chef, bartender, and server during his stay and continued to learn now that he was permanently settled. His help had removed some of the physical burden of running the inn as their popularity increased throughout the town.

He had a plan for that since his grandparents were getting older and pitched his idea, "I figure with ordering the inn's inventory, this will take away some of the burden for you. While you run the mill during the daytime, I can run the store and head here to finish the evening shift to take that load off your shoulders."

That plan sounded ideal for the innkeepers and they shared a glance of consensus. They enjoyed the time spent with their grandson in the bustling inn but they also wanted him to succeed. He had abandoned a life in the city to stay in the countryside alongside them and they wouldn't hold him back. Oliver wrapped an arm around his wife's shoulder and nodded with a proud smile, "He's a smart one."

"We'll make it work, grandpa" Walter promised because he refused to fail in his first true venture. It was one thing to work at the inn as a second hand but this would a business under his hands and the town counted on him. He still had the addresses for business associates that his father worked with for supplies so he'd give them a shot for a contract while heading to Boston. He motioned to his favorite brunette as she nibbled on a second helping of apple pie while Caroline helped her along with a fork as the two shared a plate. Martha was quick to stop eating when gazes turned to her and shoved the plate towards her sister. Caroline kept eating the leftover pie happily while Walter suggested, "We can also hire Martha permanently to help grandma if both are receptive to it."

"Full-time? Me?" Martha asked tentatively since she had not expected to land a job at the Mile's End. Life had been interesting for her that year as she fell for the New Yorker and became involved with his family. She didn't mind helping them and the thought of a steady income was appealing.

Corrine didn't bat an eye to the offer and smiled at the young woman to chuckle fondly, "You're practically family, why not?"

Martha flushed for the vote of confidence from his family and Caroline rubbed her back to bring her usual gumption. Catherine saw the hesitation in her eyes to accept the position, looking to them for input, and smiled with encouragement, "Go on."

"What about being a seamstress?" Caroline whispered to her since she had disclosed her dream early in the year. They had even traveled to Boston to dip Martha's feet in the interview pool. She had hoped that her sister would open her own tailoring business but would not push her in any way. If she was happy where she was now, it sufficed.

"I don't mind, it was just a dream" Martha replied earnestly because she enjoyed her life so far and had no complaints. While Amelia and Caroline held a passion in life for their work, she was more comfortable going with the flow. She had the easiest commute to work, loved the people she worked with, and saw her paramour every day while being paid. What more could she ask for?

"Wait, Carrie has a job, Amelia has one now, and Martha just got hired- am I next?" Elizabeth spoke thoughtfully as she pointed to each of her sisters and then jabbed a thumb at her chest with alarm. When had she become a grown-up? What happened to the days when only her parents worked? The years had gone faster than she anticipated.

"You already work at the stables" Caroline reminded flatly with a playful swat to her lower back and she whined in feigned protest. Elizabeth had pestered Ratonhnhaké:ton often enough with her daily visits that he had no choice but to hire her. Or at least, that's how she joked about it. Her little sister carried a great passion for horses and he had hired the perfect employee to care for them when he headed out.

Alice squeaked at realizing she was next on the list for adulthood, especially now that her sisters were independent. She had often been at home with Amelia to help with chores but now that her sister would be opening a school, she would be alone. Amelia had been the only one that kept her company at home while their other sisters worked for a living. They were all leaving her behind and it filled her chest with melancholy to the future awaiting her. Would she be alone or eventually pull away from them with work? Her brown eyes widened when feeling an arm around her shoulders and she looked up to find her mother squeezing her close.

"You'll be next in due time" Catherine comforted to soothe her worries since she was her last daughter and expected to see her leave their home last. Being thirteen, Alice was shedding the last lingering days of childhood since her sisters ventured independently to find their own jobs. She didn't want to leave Davenport at all and hoped to find her own calling before it was too late. Catherine, however, would shelter her chicks until they were ready to fly.

"That is all for my announcements and enjoy your night" Ratonhnhaké:ton finished to fall back into obscurity within the crowd and nodded to his friends with thanks.

"Any chance you can find a tailor or handyman out there in your travels?" Lance asked with curiosity because they had a few positions that they sorely needed in town. The residents had a multitude of skills but they were still missing key artisans to fully bloom Davenport.

"I will try, Mr. O'Donnell" he promised politely since he wanted to bring as many people that would aid the land and benefit the people. Their town began with the Burnetts and Galloways but had grown to numerous families that banded together when one needed a helping hand. Excusing himself from the crowd, he was quick to return to Caroline to enjoy his night by her side.

The redhead had been conversing with her siblings about the new school and ruffled Samuel's hair. The eleven-year-old clung to Amelia's waist as he pleaded desperately for a compromise, "I don't want to go to school! Please, I'll wither and die."

"That's up to mother" she reminded gently and rubbed his back to comfort his distaste towards school. Elizabeth had managed to escape it with age but she still had some hiccups with fancier words. Alice didn't mind attending school but at thirteen, she might have been a little old since Caroline and Martha taught her at that age.

Samuel groaned miserably to his rotten luck and Caroline muffled a laugh before waving to them in farewell as she joined him. Her arm looped through his with a fond squeeze and a happy smile to match, resting her head on his shoulder. Their cozy moment was cut short by the scandalous whistling from Elizabeth but Martha smacked her shoulder to silence her. The couple was quick to scuttle away with blushing cheeks to regroup in the far-right corner of the inn closest to the door. If they needed to run off for escape, they wanted an exit nearby.

Everyone else was mingling and eating happily as the couple gazed at their town with warm pride. Her fingers intertwined with his to grip his hand tightly as she leaned against him with a fond smile, closing her eyes to simply savor the moment of peace. Ratonhnhaké:ton smiled faintly to the affection while his heart beat happily against his chest, grateful that their year ended on good terms. They had returned to each other and were stronger than ever, which solidified his decision to propose early next year.

His unaware bride sighed against his shoulder with a smile as she spoke pensively, "This year, you let me hop onboard the Aquila. What will this new year hold?"

"Better news, hopefully" he replied quietly to end the year on a happy note and take it into the next. The ending year had taken a toll on his emotions as he came close to losing her and his own life. He counted himself lucky for being able to simply have another day of life but it only served to strengthen his resolve to end the Templar threat.

"I'm excited for the new buildings" she piped up excitedly as she tilted her head to gaze up at him. He smiled fondly when her lips kissed his cheek to sneak in affection and appreciated her public display, even if they were tucked away in a corner. She never shied away from their relationship, especially with the way natives were seen by colonists, and loved her raven-haired hero. No matter what life threw at them, she would stay by his side and toasted, "To a new year, guv'nor."

He reached into his coat with his free hand and withdrew a wrapped present from the interior of his coat to present to her. Caroline blinked with surprise to the small paper wrapped box that fit in her hands and she released his hand to grip the box. Curious to the light present, she glanced at him with a sly smile, "What's this?"

"For you" he answered simply because his gifts for her were meant to be private. He took time to make her presents by hand nowadays to show his commitment to her.

Unwrapping it carefully, she smiled to seeing a wooden box with an intricate floral design over the top lip. Folding the wrapping paper neatly to tuck it under the box, her left hand ran over the delicate carving over the pretty cherry wood. Had he made it? Her blue gaze met his with gratitude as her cheeks flushed rosy, speaking gingerly, "This is so beautiful, you-"

"Open it" he encouraged with a playful glint in his eyes and she sighed with embarrassment to being spoiled in gifts. She was happy with a simple flower or a sturdy fork but happy that he cared to give her meaningful gifts. Her flustered expression delighted him as she tried to hide her modesty, which surged at his side in private, and he brushed a light kiss to her temple. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, she turned to hide a girlish giggle against his shoulder which caused him to laugh to her infectious behavior.

There was more in the jewelry box? Opening it, her eyes widened at seeing a bone hair comb that held an assortment of polished gemstones. Blue. White. Green. They glittered brightly against the lanterns in the inn and she wondered where she'd gotten such a beautiful item. Her large blue eyes searched his for answers as she gasped with shock, "This is . . . how . . . I can't accept this, it's too expensive-"

"You would think so but I am quite self-sufficient and creative" he interjected with a confident smile to his skill in crafting and the friends in his midst that helped. Norris had helped him find the specific stones since the mines had several colorful gemstones and he'd chosen those that complemented her fair features. The rest was left to him as he gathered the materials and set to work in his room until it was time to unveil it. His Caroline deserved everything he could offer her and she always enjoyed his handcrafted trinkets. He remembered the young girl that had peered at fashion accessories back in the city and although the current woman in his arms denied wanting them, he knew there was a little part of her inner child that enjoyed them.

She closed the box quietly to secure her newest treasure and promised to store it in a place nobody would find it. He squeezed her by the shoulders and assured her worried fretting over the value to point out, "It is yours, for accepting me for who I am- even if I haven't fully answered the question myself."

"I accepted you the moment we met but my heart has been yours for five years" she smiled sheepishly to her girlish crush that had solidified into true love for him, averting her gaze to quickly rewrap her box. Tucking it into the pocket in her skirt, she shoved her left hand into it to ensure it never left her side. Sneaking a quick kiss to his lips, she smiled widely to unveil her own present, "Your gift has been installed in the Aquila, courtesy of Mr. O'Donnell."

Installed? What had she gotten him? Curiosity bit him about the gift now but tried not to let it show on his face. Despite the years, he was still becoming used to gifts from others while giving them felt natural for him. Caroline, however, grinned cheekily to his unwavering stoic display and traced her finger down his chest to tease, "My captain deserves the best."

"You spoil me" he chuckled softly as his resolve broke to her charm and she pulled him into a tight embrace by the waist. She would always have something to bring a smile to his face, whether it was a holiday or not. He deserved to have someone care for him with the same dedication that he gave to his work and she would protect and love him until her last day.

Ratonhnhaké:ton would enjoy his new cabinet set, reinforced desk, and upgraded bedding on his next trip. She had even added a howling wolf motif on the wall serving as his headboard to signify her nickname for him. A captain deserved to have a cabin that shined just as well as the Aquila did.

7 January 1777

The Aquila had docked in the port of New York city after dropping off the Bostonian Assassins, ending their merry group. The holidays had been a relaxing getaway for the assassins and Caroline promised to coordinate future meetups to bring a family feel to the colonial brotherhood. Ratonhnhaké:ton had enjoyed himself and complimented her efforts in bringing solidarity in their small group. He hadn't spent time with them that didn't deal with ending the Templar threat so it had been a welcome reprieve.

He left the Aquila docked for the day while the captain headed out with Caroline and Aveline. The southern assassin was on the hunt for a specific person and her leads directed her to New York. Gérald had stayed behind in town to set up their getaway to ensure nobody followed them back to New Orleans because speed and anonymity would keep them safe. The trio had headed out of the city into the snowy outdoors as the cold wind was unrelenting against them in their hike out. The northerners were accustomed to the heavy snow but Aveline was unfamiliar to the climate and terrain, which led Caroline to lend her extra furs to layer her outfit to keep warm. Light layers and inadequate clothing would grant one a deathly cold and frostbite.

The group had been traveling the woods for an hour when they spotted a trail of broken crates, along a lightly indented snowy road. The light snowfall of the early morning had failed to cover their tracks which allowed them to track the enemy. Aveline exhaled a trail of white smoke from her lips as she spoke quietly, "I seek a loyalist - Officer Davidson of Lord Dunmore's Ethiopian Regiment."

Ratonhnhaké:ton found it hard to avoid the evidence before him and commented flatly, "That regiment passed through here. Look at the destruction they left."

He wasn't a fan of seeing the natural beauty of the wilderness tainted and Caroline pointed to the indented snow to inform, "Their trail leads this way."

"We will follow them carefully" he ordered to discover their location but keeping covert by utilizing the environment. The snow was a decent way to hide tracks and prevent noise to avoid alerting any guards nearby. Aveline had the roughest time traversing the deep snow and mimicked the movements of her friends. It was a good thing she'd taken the time to practice free-running in Davenport before tackling the mission.

Aveline had barely stabilized her footing when she saw movement to the left in the trees. Spotting a dark figure running through the foliage, she informed her companions, "Over there! Through the trees!"

"A trap! Keep after the sentry!" he realized quickly as their surprise attack became compromised and ordered her to move ahead. She knew her enemy better than he did but he would offer support to buy her time. There was no point in sticking together if it would let the enemy escape while bullets flew at them from the rear. A group of four men ran out of the snow-covered trees to surround them and he stated simply, "I will hold off these men."

Aveline darted off to stay on their tail while he looked to tackle the number of enemies. As he assessed which to fight off first, his partner in crime had a different idea. Caroline kicked a nearby wooden crate to draw attention for a diversion and called out, "You'll hold them back?What happened to 'we'? Am I chopped liver or what?"

Her dramatic exclamation was enough to make them hesitate and she raised her right hand, which held Albert, to unload her bullets into two of the men. While he was the silent attacker, she preferred a bit of subterfuge to gain the upper hand. Ratonhnhaké:ton chose to knock away the rifle of one man to see whether he was willing to flee and save his own life. When that attempt failed, he didn't hesitate to drive his hidden blade into the man's neck. Caroline brought a quick end to the injured men with her hunting knife and the two were left with one last enemy.

Seeing that the fight was severely lost on their end, the last man tossed his rifle at them and ran into the snowy tree line. Well, that was one way to end a fight. They would not fight unarmed enemies if they were fleeing and they had bigger fish to fry. Caroline nodded with success as she sheathed her knife and he took off north after Aveline's trail to close the distance. The snow was deep to their knees as the hills rose with each step and Ratonhnhaké:ton exhaled in surprise at seeing Caroline beat his pace. Her figure was lighter than his, along with her lithe movements, so he decided to send her ahead in cold elements if they ever had a similar mission.

The two caught up with Aveline as she finished interrogating the sentry that had run off. She kicked him on the side to get him moving and the startled man quickly scrambled up, throwing snow in all direction. Shaking her head, she was done playing games and warned swiftly, "Come on! Time's up!"

"He's in the fort" he blurted instantly as his resolve cracked away at seeing her fierce glare.

Relaxing her shoulders, she pitied his stance in the conflict and muttered, "That was easy. Why is it you call yourselves Loyalists again?"

"Easier to be loyal in the safety of the fort than out in the snow with a knife to your neck" he replied bluntly to his luck in life because self-preservation came first in the wilderness.

Aveline reached forward to smack the man's shoulder roughly and ordered sharply, "Run home- now. Don't let me see you again, you won't be able to run then."

He was surprised to hear she was releasing him rather than ending his life in the middle of nowhere. Not willing to test her kindness, he obeyed hastily with a vehement nod, "Y-yes ma'am."

She watched him leave the area with haste while Ratonhnhaké:ton and Caroline waited for further orders. For the first time, he wasn't leading a mission and didn't mind taking a back seat. With Caroline in tow who was learning from him, it also gave her a different glimpse in terms of leadership. Aveline walked towards a tall frozen waterfall before them and pointed to the top to inform, "To the fort!"

Ratonhnhaké:ton looked Caroline, who quickly adjusted her leather gloves, and murmured, "We climb."

"First time I'm climbing a waterfall" she chuckled softly to subdue her nerves and reassured herself it would be a breeze. Hopefully, no sudden breeze would knock her away.

The trio climbed the frozen waterfall as it sparkled under the sunlight above and Ratonhnhaké:ton advised Aveline to check for any moisture to prevent falling. Ice could either stick to your clothing or slide you right off so it was a meticulous calculation. With her being unfamiliar to those elements, he kept an eye on her as well. Caroline, however, surpassed his expectations when she climbed the ice easily past his head. He had begun to realize that his partner was a force of nature in the cold when he spotted her hunting knife between her lips as she climbed upwards. In case she slipped, Caroline had Ruth ready to embed into the ice to stop a fall just like she had last year when she'd fallen into the river back home.

Did I teach her that? I don't remember that part, he thought with surprised admiration to her survival skills. Then again, she was a child of the rural outdoors so her father must have told her numerous survival tales. He still remembered a few on his journeys that kept him out of trouble in the rivers and dense forests.

Aveline felt the trip was endless when her fingers began to feel numb against the curved ice and relief struck at seeing the start of the waterfall. Ratonhnhaké:ton made his path to the top first, beating his student as her stamina decreased, and he pulled himself onto the rocky edge to find stable ground once more. Surveying the area, he saw that they were alone in the snow and quickly looked below for his companions.

He outstretched his right hand to Aveline as she reached the top and pulled her up easily beside him. She landed on her butt and gripped the snow-covered rocks to pull herself away from the edge. That was a climb she didn't care to repeat, exhaling heavily to pent out lingering nerves. Ratonhnhaké:ton reached down to grasp Caroline's left arm as she pushed herself upwards to finish the climb, falling onto the snow beside him. It hadn't been a short waterfall by any means and she leaned into his arms to catch her breath. Her heart hammered against her chest from the energy spent and she sighed in relief to making it in one piece.

"You did well" he assured gently as he brushed snow off her blue hood to conceal their moment. She shook her head quietly with disbelief because her confidence waned halfway through.

Once everyone had caught their breath and cursed the climb, they made their way through the snowy embankment covering the frozen river. Ratonhnhaké:ton tore through the snow like a bear while Caroline and Aveline were slower in deeper snow, using their hands for balance. Their short hike through the snowy hills led to an old broken bridge that was surrounded by more loyalist militia.

This time, Ratonhnhaké:ton used his bow to silently remove solitary enemies that would be harder to find. The quicker he removed the numbers, the faster they would reach their target. Aveline and Caroline used the cover of the bushes to pull in enemies to knock them unconscious. Together, the two were able to grip a man easily and dispatch him in seconds. Quietly, the trio cleared the camp of loyalists without alerting anyone in record time rather than alone.

They approached the start of the bridge to find its entirety broken in shambles. Beams stuck out in jagged ends while wooden panels dangled listlessly, shifting under the cold wind. Ratonhnhaké:ton looked to Aveline to determine her skill mastery and asked carefully, "Can you get across?"

She nodded quietly since she had dealt with ice enough times now but would tread carefully. It wasn't the worst free-running scenario and she darted forward towards a jutting beam. Jumping forward, she landed on one of the broken wooden remnants and felt the tiniest of creaks as she walked further in. Ratonhnhaké:ton glanced at Caroline, who was trying her best not to shake her head to the shoddy foundation, and he reassured, "I'll be with you every step of the way."

"This is the part I hate most" she sighed with apprehension to tackling that dilapidated bridge. She had no problem climbing small buildings and trees, but dangling over an endless precipice or deep chasm was frightening. If she survived, she'd hit the nearest tavern for a heavy drink to calm her nerves.

He tried to cheer her up by joking gently, "Not the steep waterfall climb?"

"I stand by my statement" she replied grimly but the corner of her lips crinkled to his teasing. The waterfall had been lengthy in climb but it had rocky spots for her to fall and catch her breath before returning to the ice. If she slipped on the bridge, there was no second chance or safety net below her.

He waited for Aveline to cross the bridge plank to the next jutting beam as she used her whip for assistance. Caroline was impressed with its gripping strength and whistled in compliment while Ratonhnhaké:ton landed on the empty plank. He whistled in return to call her forward and end her daydreaming, causing her to sigh before running forward to jump.

She froze in place when felt the floorboards sway under her weight upon landing and he quickly jumped onto the beam across to remove the extra weight. Once he was at the end of the beam, she jumped forward to escape the rickety boards for the sturdier wood. Aveline made her way across the chasm using her whip to propel her forward to the broken end of the bridge, rolling into a landing. Standing up with little effort, she found a beam long enough to reach the other end where her friends were located on the last plank and dragged it to the edge. Lifting it from one end, she pushed it over to connect the broken pieces of the bridge and allowed the two to cross. Ratonhnhaké:ton pinned the wood under his foot but held out his hand for Caroline, who grabbed it with apprehension in her eyes.

"Go first, I will support this end" he advised carefully to watch her back since he knew she wasn't fond of heights. She did perfectly fine onboard the Aquila but for some odd reason, the outdoors brought nervousness. Still, he would guide her to shed those concerns and run without fear.

Caroline squeezed his shoulder with gratitude before making her way across the beam, keeping her feet close together. She avoided glancing down as snow swirled around them, locking her gaze on Aveline as she held down the other side of the beam. Quickening her pace when a cold gust of wind struck her back, she crossed the distance to hop onto the wooden bridge. Leave it to mother nature to get her running.

Ratonhnhaké:ton joined them with little effort in crossing and the trio resumed their pace to the fort. They caught sight of two more men on guard but Ratonhnhaké:ton easily dispatched one with an arrow while Aveline used her whip on the other man's legs to bring him down. She wasted no time in driving her hidden blade into their neck and stood upright to put away her whip.

Caroline smiled with admiration to her unique skill and whispered, "Where can I get one of those?"

Ratonhnhaké:ton was not going to explain to her parents how she managed to get a whip and ushered the two women forward. The snowy hill concealed the fort as they walked above it and he kneeled behind a pine tree to conceal their presence. They needed to infiltrate the fort quietly and for that, he needed to remove obstacles that would allow her to slip inside. Keeping his voice low, he asked carefully, "Can you find a way in? I will go around and divert attention."

Aveline nodded silently before moving to the right to begin her path while he headed left, grabbing Caroline's shoulder to beckon her. He trusted Aveline with her mission but he held himself responsible with Caroline's safety. He treaded snow as he headed up the snowy hill and Caroline motioned to spotting two more sentries at the top by tapping her brow, holding up two fingers. As they began to travel together for missions, he employed a silent nonverbal mode of communication using hand signals like his tribe used during hunts. She couldn't risk making noise with her pistols and used a well-aimed throwing knife to support his accurate arrows. The two loyalists collapsed in the snow within seconds and made no attempt to stand up.

There was a rocky ledge past their deceased enemies and he pointed to the tree towering above the rocks, "This way."

Running forward, he jumped off the edge of the jutting rock to land on the thick branch of the tree. Waiting for her at the trunk, he watched her mimic his movements with ease as she landed beside him and he asked with curiosity, "You have no fear of the trees but-"

"When I understand my odd phobias, I'll let you know" she interjected with embarrassment as her cheeks turned rosy for her moment of weakness. She wasn't an indestructible force like him and liable to hiccups in the path to learn his skills. He smiled sympathetically because everyone had a peculiar fear- his was encountering bats in pitch black darkness.

Moving around the trunk, he walked over the adjacent branch before jumping onto the tree across from him. Several white trees were intertwined which allowed the two to jump across the branches as if skipping rocks on a river in summer. A fallen tree was their route off the tree system as they returned to the powdery snow to find a way into the fort. A wooden bridge loomed over them as the stone fortress kept visitors out but Ratonhnhaké:ton chose the path under the bridge to find a covert way inside.

"There" he whispered when he spotted a damaged piece of the wall that had frozen rubble stuck at the bottom. Using those pieces as a boost, he jumped to grasp the broken wall to hoist himself inside the fort. Kneeling to conceal himself, he held out his hand to help Caroline finish her path and the duo slipped inside.

They had barely walked a few steps when a guard made his way around the wall and he used his bow once more for a stealth kill. Caroline spotted the gated section that housed artillery and they ran across the roof to jump onto wooden crates on the lower floor. Rolling off neatly to land in the snow, they snuck up quietly against the metal gates to meet three guards on duty. With a short-range fight at hand, he unleashed his tomahawk against one before the man could even react while she used her hunting knife against the closest one. The third man was the one who claimed an advantage by using the butt of his rifle against Ratonhnhaké:ton's head to knock him away. Caroline was quick to kick the man across the abdomen to push him away from her partner and gripped his rifle to block him. This allowed Ratonhnhaké:ton to attack with his hidden blade to end their last enemy while his left temple throbbed to the petty strike. They annoyed him almost as badly as strikes to the nose.

Caroline's hands flew to his head to assess for any bleeding since strikes from blunt objects were not enjoyable for anyone. She didn't want anyone laying a hand on him, surging her protective drive at that moment. One slip from her end could cause him harm and she'd never forgive herself if he sustained injuries. He appreciated her concern as her blue eyes probed his for insight on his pain but he could tolerate worse. Touching his forehead to hers, he whispered with assurance, "I'll be fine, let's keep moving."

With their enemies laying at their feet, they moved forward inside to search for any explosives. Being familiar to Norris' arsenal, she tried to find anything remotely flammable around the area. Ratonhnhaké:ton found a neatly wrapped package for him on the side of the weapons barrack as three tightly stacked barrels were fully stocked with gunpowder. How convenient. Caroline kept a lookout while he searched the snow for two rocks to light the wick of the barrels. Rubbing the damp stones against his clothing, he dried them somewhat before placing them over the wick to strike them together.

Caroline checked her pistols in case they needed to buy more time but soon, she heard his order, "Go!"

He kept his promise of a diversion as he escaped with Caroline past the doors to hear a deafening boom behind them. The force knocked them forward into the snow since they couldn't detonate it at a distance but they were on their feet quick. He grabbed her right arm to pull her under the roof of a nearby building as debris filled the air, striking the snow in small smoking craters. They heard a rabble of noise further ahead before a carriage barreled down the snow to escape the fort.

Davidson.

The explosion was enough to cause him to flee in the carriage and they knew Aveline would be on his trail. Intending to chase after him, the two ran forward to run across the empty fortress to the edge of one of the walls. Their job was finished inside the fort and they would follow Davidson's example to keep chase. Wooden planks for scouts stretched over the stone wall where a sheer drop followed, leading him to run forward to escape. Caroline knew this was about to be another one of his famous drops and sucked in her breath. While he was perfectly finessed like a cat, she was lumbering cub in midair.

He dove into the air first for a leap of faith and she followed faithfully after uttering a quick prayer. Before jumping, she had to have her target lined up to prevent serious harm. Practicing at home from tall trees into hay bales had helped but she had miscalculated plenty of times and earned back spasms. Ratonhnhaké:ton landed neatly into a hay cart to conceal himself against the numerous guards outside the fort. He didn't move from his spot until Caroline fell in directly on top of him, sucking out his air from the force. Being a solitary assassin, he hadn't expected that and quickly took a deep breath.

She gripped him tightly around the shoulders for comfort since she was still new to his death-defying stunts. It was not her intention to turn him into a flapjack since she was trying her best to survive in his world. She couldn't help but form a heart shaped sign with her hands over her chest with a sad pout attached to convey her silent apology. Despite the tense situation, her affectionate sign diffused it and he mimicked the same sign over his chest. It wasn't every day an assassin could partake in a mission with their romantic partner.

He returned the affectionate squeeze before exiting the cart, pressing his back against it to count his enemies. Six. Even if he went for a stealth kill, they would be alerted. Their path was impeded and he began to clear it by firing off shots against the men closest to him. With the rounds alerting the Loyalists, they zoned in on him which allowed Caroline to slip out behind them. Grabbing the dead body of one man, he used it as a shield from a rifle barrage. Caroline sneaked in behind them to unload her own bullets into their backs to end them. With four down, the last two were handled separately as they used physical force to take them down. Ratonhnhaké:ton bashed his head against man's before punching him across the face, sweeping his legs out from under him. Caroline punched the man's throat before kicking in the man's legs to unbalance him, raising her intertwined hands to strike his back to bring him down.

Dealing with their enemies, they heard another boom in the short distance and Ratonhnhaké:ton assumed Aveline had destroyed Davidson's wagon and caught up to him. Otherwise, they would switch to a rescue mission. He ushered Caroline forward as she tried to reload bullets into her pistols in case of another firefight. They left the smoking fortress behind to run into the wilderness, noticing the trails of broken wood and black scorch marks on the snow. It appeared their friend had damaged the wagon and they followed the physical trail, brushing away snow that struck their faces.

They found their friend standing above the deceased corpse of a man and approached her quietly. Aveline thinned her lips at seeing her target die from the little information she earned and stood upright to sigh into the air, white smoke billowing from her lips. She caught sight of Ratonhnhaké:ton and Caroline as the two put away their weapons at seeing she was safe.

"Did you find what you sought?" he asked carefully before sweeping his gaze over the field for any last-minute traps.

She nodded quickly as she approached them and sighed with uncertainty, "Oui and much that I didn't. Connor, are you always... certain in the means and ways of the Brotherhood?

He pondered over the question because that secret life had led him down unclear paths and he'd yet to reach the end. Still, he had a strong sense of justice and admitted frankly, "I... trust my own hands."

"Of course" she agreed as she took his words into consideration because their order was scattered throughout the colonies. Alone, an assassin could twist ideals to fit their own means of success or struggle to find meaning in them. Together, they could shed light on and reach consensus on moral situations and rules that could become outdated. Nodding quietly, she smiled at the two who had become like family to her and spoke kindly, "Thank you for your hospitality and for your help here. It will be missed on the trip home."

"Travel safely, my friend" Caroline smiled sympathetically before reaching over to hug her friend tightly. Traveling in the wintertime could be turbulent at sea and hoped everything worked out well for her. She'd traveled a long distance to seek answers and Caroline hoped she found them.

Aveline chucked softly to the concern since she was stubborn to die and sighed, "It's the arrival that concerns me."

"Then you are on the right path" Ratonhnhaké:ton remarked because being prepared for the unexpected raised your chances of survival. He had plans fall apart and improvising on the spot had saved his life more than once. An assassin's life would never be easy and one always had to look over their shoulder.

20 January 1777

Aveline had left for New Orleans not soon after her mission was completed, hopping onto a new ship to hit the ocean. She had assured the crestfallen redhead that they would meet again but she needed to return to the familiar warmth of her land. Ratonhnhaké:ton and Caroline decided to remain in New York to explore the area and spend time as a couple without familiar eyes on them. However, seeing the charred remnants of the fire last fall within the city killed most of the romantic mood. Many buildings remained burnt to a black crisp and lay abandoned, allowing the homeless to seek refuge in the skeletal remains. With a war raging for independence, the colonists were left to themselves to survive in the harsh elements. If they ever aimed to travel for leisure one day, it would have to be in a place not ravaged by war.

The two were wandering the marketplace in the city, specifically the fashion district. Caroline was searching for new fabrics to bring home for new attire for the upcoming spring. She had found two fabrics for her younger sisters and was on the search for Martha and Amelia. Her redheaded sister was saving her money from tutoring the town's children to purchase books for the new school so Caroline wanted to treat her kindness. Ratonhnhaké:ton already planned to purchase everything since the town fund had more than enough money for the school and its supplies. With Godfrey and Terry discounting the lumber and providing the labor, Lance providing carpentry services, and Amelia picking out the curriculum, he was set.

"She's more excited to teach in town than when she left for the city" Ratonhnhaké:ton commented warmly about her delight at teaching again, especially close to home. Catherine was already planning to sew new dresses for her while Amelia focused on outlining her classes. With winter in full swing, they were waiting for the snow to start melting to begin building the foundations of the school.

"You've made her dream come true, I wouldn't be surprised to hear if she wants to build her homestead beside the school" Caroline chuckled softly to hearing her sister's random blurts of the day about the new school. She entertained her suggestions since it had been a long time since Amelia had been happy and enthusiastic towards teaching. The battle of Bunker Hill had rattled her and left nightmares for much of the first year but now, her sister had overcome that fear. Caroline's own concerns decreased at having her close to home rather than a large city. Clutching her fabric rolls closer, she beamed cheerfully, "Even Alice wants to apply as her assistant."

He smiled faintly to hearing that and offered a new perspective to Alice's proactive behavior, "With you traveling beside me, Elizabeth at the horse stables, Martha at the Mile's End, and Amelia heading to teach, I wouldn't be surprised if she feels lonely. Alice has been quite close to you all, she might feel she's being left behind."

Her blue eyes widened to that possibility since Alice was quiet with her sentiments like him and she agreed with dismay, "You're right!"

Ratonhnhaké:ton noticed a young girl waving her arms in the center of the street, clearly in need of assistance. She wasn't a poor homeless child as her clean pink dress and appearance betrayed that idea, wondering what was causing her problem. Residents ignored her distress, darting in different directions, as she called out desperately, "Help! Help me, please!"

At seeing nobody coming to her aid, her brown eyes filled with tears as the brunette pleaded, "I'm begging you to help me! Why won't you listen?!"

The young couple didn't hesitate to approach the young girl as they worried for her panicky behavior. Children didn't normally approach strangers in the open streets so it had to be important. Her eyes widened at finally drawing someone's attention and she exclaimed with alarm, "Mister! Mister! My mother needs help! Please help her!"

Ratonhnhaké:ton looked around the street but saw nobody in trouble, asking carefully, "Where is your mother?"

The young girl didn't hesitate to move and shot down the street to call out, "Follow me!"

She darted through the alleyway between two buildings as the couple chased after her to keep up. The little girl didn't have far to run since the alley was the quickest detour to her home. Ratonhnhaké:ton kept faster pace with her and she emerged into another street as the alley came to an end. Beckoning them quickly with a raise of the hand, she ran to her home across the street as a couple argued in front of the one-story home.

A burly man towered over a humbly dressed woman as he hollered drunkenly, "Good for nothing wench!"

"Let me go!" she shouted painfully as he pulled sharply at her wrist, ignoring the resistance of her joint. She was trying to deflect him with her free hand but his strength outmatched hers.

"Shut up!" he barked to silence her pleas to be left alone and the young girl gazed at her parents helplessly. She couldn't help her mother without being hit by her father, leading Ratonhnhaké:ton to approach the disputing couple. He wasn't the type of man that would allow anyone to hit a woman or child, annoyed that nobody else was willing to speak up against him.

Caroline didn't hesitate to join the fray to protect the poor woman as she hollered, "Get your hands off her!"

The violent oaf triggered Ratonhnhaké:ton's protectiveness over his own partner when he threatened her, "Bugger off before I crack you one."

Before he even moved a hand towards her, Ratonhnhaké:ton clenched his fist to punch the man across the left cheek. The force behind his strike was strong enough to release the poor woman in his grasp, who quickly ran to sweep her worried daughter into her arms. She didn't want anyone involving herself in the family dispute and shook her head when her husband spat at the native, "I guess you want a beating."

Beating was an understatement because it only took one well-aimed kick to the abdomen and a quick strike to the head to knock the man out. Alcohol did not serve him well in the fight and Ratonhnhaké:ton's skill set outmatched him from the start. He hadn't even broken into a sweat as he rubbed his knuckles to the simple knockout.

Not willing to stretch out a fight, he narrowed his gaze at the fallen man who was now crawling away and ordered coldly, "Leave. I will not ask again."

Caroline thinned her lips to not laugh as the drunken man sloppily crawled away into the alley across from them. Boy, that had ended quickly without dramatics. She had yet to meet anyone that could make Ratonhnhaké:ton think on his toes and was glad that a simple drunk was their problem of the day.

The young couple turned to the battered woman, who was dusting off her dress, and she sighed with disappointment, "That wasn't necessary. I can handle myself. When he returns, he'll try and give me twice the thrashing."

Ratonhnhaké:ton didn't want to cause more problems for the woman but worried why she'd linger around that environment. A broken home would not benefit a child and he could see the concern on the girl's distressed face. He could never imagine laying a hand on the woman he vowed to protect and much less, their child. Quietly, he asked for understanding, "Why would you stay with such a man?"

The dark-haired woman pointed to the small home next to them and pointed out protectively, "This is my house and business! It's my tailoring that paid for the place. I'll take his drunken buffoonery over leaving behind what I built."

Caroline sympathized with her dilemma because many women of her time were tied to their husbands, losing everything if they ever decided to leave. She would have likely endured the same under different conditions but it was no place to raise a child. No woman deserved such a bleak life when they held more talent than their spouse and she suggested grimly, "You could always get him drunk, naked, and leave him in a ditch two towns over to get him out of your life."

Ratonhnhaké:ton had a better idea after seeing distraught individuals and offered carefully, "If I told you there was another place where you could live and work, free of him- would you consider it?"

She eyed him suspiciously because it sounded too good to be true and asked, "The catch?"

He shook his head to show he had no ominous intentions and answered truthfully, "No catch, our village is growing and in need of all forms of trade. Just business and a new life."

Caroline showed the woman her new fabrics to prove their point and smiled genuinely, "We do have a strong need for a tailor."

This also gives Martha a chance, she thought with determination because she knew her little sister enjoyed working with fabrics. She wanted her to have a chance to experience that dream before calling it quits instead of never having the chance.

Seeing as they had saved her from a beating and offered a way out of her dismal life, Ellen Wilson weighed her options. She could leave her oaf of a husband and start a new life or stay in familiar settings. The only driving factor to not wither in the city was her daughter and with her in mind, she nodded slowly to agree, "I'll come and see if what you say is true."

"We have a ship at the dock but if you prefer to travel later, we're in Massachusetts" Caroline informed helpfully with a friendly smile to show they were good people ready to lend a hand. She hoped she would take their offer to escape that brutish life, especially when a child was at stake. Hugging her fabrics, she deliberated further on their whereabouts, "Our town is Davenport, a little north from Rockport. My name is Caroline and this is Connor, we're returning home to finish waiting out winter so please join us."

A/N: This chapter came out way longer than expected . . . but I'm glad! Sometimes, the characters take a life of their own and they're all growing up. It also took me longer to post due to work and the higher influx of ladies delivering and the rise of covid positive women, which means tighter staffing. Now that the year 1776 is behind the town, winter is in full blast and Connor would prefer to chill at home instead of suffering the cold. Not that I blame him. The next chapter is one that I think the readers have been expecting, aside from their reunion.

Thank you to all my past reviewers and readers (the US, UK, Canada, and Finland/Spain topped the June top 5 countries) so thank you!

East Coast Captain: I agree with Connor being unable to assist in the French Revolution since he'll be a family man by then as well. Raising four kids while running the colonial assassins will give him and Caroline a run for their money, haha. Once I wrap up the majority of my other ongoing stories, I would love to delve into Connor's and Caroline's descendant line. We have the War of 1812, Civil War, First World War, Second World War, not to mention the territorial expansion with the Louisiana Purchase- a lot can be explored.

Jynxhasadragon: Haha, she's right on that edge.

Chriswill02: I seriously spent over an hour simply fishing in that game, it was therapeutic. Thank you for the compliment! Unlike Haytham that's stationed in the colonies, Shay and Arno being in France make it hard for them to meet. I have to move them around like chess pieces around the timeline.

Faron Oakenshield: Thank you, the two went through a thresher for most of 1776 so the new year is bringing them happiness that's been long awaited. Carrie will definitely meet Haytham, she'll be heading out to Valley Forge with Connor when the two reunite and head to Martinique. It's going to be a hoot- maybe not for Connor.

Jojorichief: Thank you for pointing out the typo! I fixed it once I read your feedback, my fingers must've been eager to start off 1777.

The Antic Repartee: Thank you for enjoying my story and welcome to the AC wagon! I love the comparison to Pride and Prejudice (I love Jane Austen) although part of me felt I started off a tad Little House on the Prairie, haha. I like for each of my characters to have a set of traits instead of being flat and randomly in the background. With five siblings for Caroline, that was a lot of exploration for their family dynamics. Although they squabbled and have their ups and downs, they're still a family and protect each other at the end of the day. I did do quite a bit of research into the AC lore, missions, and actual history for the story to make it believable since the 18th century is a long time away from the 21st century. As of now, I'm researching Mohawk and Scottish wedding traditions for those time periods but man, outlawing interracial marriage started early in the colonies.

Gracie A: Thank you for the compliment and I'm glad to have you onboard for my story! Haha, thank you for finding delight in each different character. The large family dynamic was a new one for me but back in the age of 1770 when there was no birth control, babies were bound to happen so I decided to explore it. During the early chapters, their personalities as kids were peeking out as the older ones matured faster out of the need to help parents run the household chores while the younger ones could relax more. Now, they've each mastered their own unique traits with only Alice and Samuel left but they will soon start finding their own dreams and goals just like Martha and Elizabeth have come into their adult identities. Caroline and Connor have gone through several tumbles but you're the first to enjoy Clara. She served the purpose of providing more insight to their broken relationship and the weak spots until it finally shattered when Caroline called it quits. A pregnant Caroline will make Connor overprotective with worry since he'll expect the worst to happen with every step which will be hilarious. I already have her sending him to feed their chickens while she's laboring to occupy his time. Thank you for appreciating each and every one of my characters, not to mention the canon ones.

Next chapter excerpt:

Winter was in full swing in the countryside of Davenport as blankets of snow covered the land, outlining the residential homes peeking out from below. Everyone preferred to stay bundled indoors but work never ceased in the small town. The main river had partially frozen which shifted the mill workers towards the interior of the forest while the rest continued to work from home. Regardless of the fierce elements, the human population persevered in survival.

David, or Big Dave as everyone called him nowadays, was busy in the rear shanty of his home hammering a piece of hot metal. No matter the season, he was always in business whether it was ammunition, weapons, or simple metallurgy. The flaming orange piece straightened under his heavy strike and he flipped it on the opposite side to continue the process. Despite the intense focus on his work, he caught sight of everyone's hometown hero and called out with a friendly smile, "Connor!"

The assassin had kept to staying in Davenport after returning that month, not eager to head out anytime soon. His assassins had headed south for missions while he had finished helping Aveline with hers to simultaneously teach Caroline. His favorite redhead in question had returned to the administrative job at the mill but stayed in Davenport in respect to him. She didn't like traveling to Boston unless he was headed there and with the numbing cold lingering through the months, she was happy to stay home. Despite the freezing winter, it only brought them closer as he made the trek to her home or he met her halfway to the manor whenever she dropped off for him and Achilles.

Ratonhnhaké:ton had an agenda for visiting the smith and stopped outside the wooden shanty, crunching snow under his boots. The snowfall cascading down on his shoulders barely dented him as a trail of white smoke left his lips, "I have the tools you requested."

He removed a bag that he had hoisted over his shoulders to make the trek easy from the manor. Placing it at the smith's feet while he worked, he closed the latest favor to one of his neighbors. So far, nothing had bested his patience except for Prudence's stubborn pigs. David could hear the heavy weight on the landing, which meant his tools were definitely inside, and exclaimed with relief, "Ah! Excellent! I'll get right to work. Norris has been hanging around pestering me about his knife."

Without the proper tools he had before arriving in Davenport, he couldn't unveil his true skills with the mediocre ones he sported. With his neighbor's latest travel, he had hoped he would be able to find the last meaningful remains of his work. Ratonhnhaké:ton wasn't done with the gift giving but this one was more on the bleak side as he informed, "I thought you should know I overheard some Regulars talking. They are looking for you."

It was only a matter of time before they managed to get on his trail. Hopefully, they wouldn't be led to Davenport since the roads were covered in mounds of snow and hard ice. David sighed into the cold air, sending another trail of white smoke from his lips, and nodded with finality in his voice, "I imagine they are. I'll have to face them some time or another."

"Ask for my help when it's time" Ratonhnhaké:ton reminded the smith because they were all in it together. If anyone threatened the safety and stability of their town, he wouldn't hesitate to end their lives. They had all worked hard to rebuild their lives and he wouldn't let anyone jeopardize it. David nodded silently with gratitude for the extra help and the assassin cleared snow from his hood to change the subject, "When you are finished with Norris' task, I would like to make a request of my own."

"Do you have the materials?" David asked carefully since any work commissions required the materials first. With his tools now returned to their proper owner, he could tackle different metal works for the town. It was the main reason that he couldn't finish Norris' request since the miner kept asking about his request.

Ratonhnhaké:ton, however, was well-prepared for his request as he replied evenly, "I wouldn't ask if I did not."

David took a break from striking the metal, wiping his hands on his apron, before crossing his arms to ask curiously, "What do you have in mind? Knife? Bullets? New axe?"

He was already familiar to the man's arsenal of weapons and had become his number one customer in purchasing ammunition. Whatever he did for a living kept them safe and David wouldn't complain. Caroline and Myriam tied for the second spot as one traveled with him while the other hunted. Wondering if he wanted a new weapon design for the winter, Ratonhnhaké:ton shook his head to admit quietly, "A ring, with a specific design."

David blinked with surprise because he did not peg him as the type to wear rings. The only other possibility was that it was meant for a woman and wondered if that was the case. The assassin interpreted his questioning face for confusion and answered modestly, "It is for my bride to be."

Ratonhnhaké:ton had told nobody of his plans to ask for Caroline's hand, except Godfrey. He needed his blessing as her father and insight on wedding tradition among their culture. Being from the Kanien'kehá:ka, his traditions focused on assimilating his new life within his wife's family and the affair involved the entire clan. The path to marriage, if she agreed, would be a complete blend of their customs and their small town would be witness to it. Godfrey had reassured him nothing would block his path to marrying her and had happily supplied their Scottish traditions.

David chuckled to hearing the unexpected words from the stoic man and teased gently, "Taking the dive into marriage, are ya? Congratulations!"

"Yes" he replied earnestly because his future was intertwined with hers and he would seal it in marriage. He would not wait years to ask her to share their lives and have another tumble in the road separate them again. They were grown adults now and he could provide a safe home for her and their future children. He was not full of bright-eyed promises from immature youth anymore but a determined man ready to carve a life out of a harsh world.

The smith nodded with approval to his decision to take another step into adulthood and informed happily, "Should have it ready in a week. Far easier to make the ring than the knife."

Thank you for reading!