January, 1478

The new year that begun in the absence of Francesco and Vieri de' Pazzi, Ezio had sprung into action to eliminate other Pazzi members who were involved with the murder of Ezio's father and brothers. In San Gimignano, multiple conspirators resided in hiding, awaiting the call to attend meetings to devise the end of the Assassins. Little did they know, their time had run out.

(Y/n) and Claudia's love raged on as much as Ezio and Mario approved of their relationship ever since the two came to live their lives much differently than before - positive character change. Every now and then, more mercenaries were hired to work for them and some were a bit too forthcoming with battle as well as partying as well as in the company of courtesans.

On one such occasion, (Y/n) had come back fresh from a fight in Venezia where he came to find a party being around with his girlfriend involved with the boys. (Y/n) joined his friends in their partying yet he was not as punch-drunk as the rest such as one in particular hitting on his girlfriend. With a tap on the shoulder, (Y/n) and his cousin were last to notice Claudia's distress.

"... need to back off! I'm already spoken for!" Claudia exclaimed as she struggled to push away the drunken man hitting on her.

His advances were too physically strong for her as the drunkard became too handsy until Nicolò intervened. Almost instantly, the drunkard lashed out at Nicolò, dagger in hand where the blade cut the fabric of his shirt. The two danced about until Nicolò lost his footing and tripped over with the drunkard falling after him with the blade now somewhere warm.

Enraged, (Y/n) flicked his wrist which shot out the thin blade and embedded itself into the drunkard's jugular, instantly putting his struggles to rest. Around them, the group fell into silence as (Y/n) sat on his legs and cradled his cousin in his arms. Hot tears ran down (Y/n)'s cheeks as his cousin looked at him with a weak smile as if he'd finally found inner peace.

"Resta forte, cugino, e metti fine a quei bastardi Templari. Italia libera. Stay strong, cousin, and end those bastard Templars. Free Italy." Nicolò croaked with his dying breath.

(Y/n) sniffed and nodded, vowing to uphold his duty and free Italy. To comfort him for his loss, Claudia pulled him into a hug and nestled his face in the nook of her shoulder while the others shared their condolences by raising their glasses in respect. Mario ordered a few men to carry the body off to be buried almost immediately.

The mercenaries paid their respect for their fallen brother while the other was simply tossed aside into the pig pen to be eaten by the pigs - due to having such a bad status with Mario and his mercenaries. A decent ceremony was held where those who attended gave silent prayers for the brave soldier while (Y/n) stood by, hiding his true feelings behind his scorn.

As soon as the ceremony ended, Claudia accompanied her lover but found that he was psychologically not with her. Her concern for his wellbeing grew as they entered their room where (Y/n) unclothed himself and climbed into bed before clinging onto Claudia where he cried silently into her chest as she combed his hair until he eventually settled and slept.

With the multiple deaths of Pazzi ties, he had finally located Jacopo de' Pazzi. In the dead of night, Ezio tailed his suspect in hopes of finding more names to cross off his list. Unfortunately, there was a turn of events not in his favour. A Templar meeting with Jacopo, the Spaniard and another one of their associates where it appeared Jacopo's failures had come to its end.

"I am sorry, Maestro! I did all I could, but the Assassin proved too strong." Jacopo pleaded knowing that his life was in serious danger.

"Clearly," groused the hooded Spaniard. "Else the others would be here with you. To say nothing of the fact that Firenze remains in Medici hands..."

"It's Francesco's fault! His impatience made him reckless! I tried to be the voice of reason..."

A third man stepped in and talked down to the oldest male. "More like the voice of cowardice."

"You're one to talk, Signore Barbarigo. Had you sent us quality weapons instead of this garbage you Venetians call ar--"

"ENOUGH!!" The Spaniard barked. "We put our faith in your family and you repay us with inaction and imcompetence?! Then, when asked to account for your failures, you make excuses and insult us!? How do you expect me to respond?"

Like a child caught red-handed, Jacopo bowed his head in shame when he cried in agony when the Spaniard punctured his chest with a dagger. His hands cupped the stinging wound but when he realised blood was coming out, he was shocked and still begging for redemption and forgiveness.

"What a mess... So sorry to have claimed your prize, Assassin!" The Spaniard yelled, calling out the hooded figure watching from a safe distance when suddenly two guards caught him.

While Jacopo sat on his hands and knees, shaking violently from his wound, Ezio was brought out to face the guards while the Spaniard and his other accomplice took their leave. With the amount of guards present, it would mean that Ezio would not get the chance to kill the man present at his father and brothers' execution.

For now, Jacopo had to do.

Once Ezio had fought off all the guards, he rushed over to where Jacopo laid, his blood seeped into the soil until Ezio put the elder Pazzi's suffering to rest. And with that, he was able to hand out a prayer for Jacopo before he went into the light. With the deed done, Ezio could relax and recuperate back at the villa before going to report back to Lorenzo de' Medici.

It was sunrise when Ezio returned to Monteriggioni. The clouds were brightly lit by the sun that ascended into the sky while the sky turned into a brighter shade of blue. When Ezio returned to the city, he'd come to find that his friends and allies did not share the usual excitement as they would every time the hooded Assassin would pass by.

Instead, he was met by warnings. When he reached the villa, the first place Ezio went to was the office where his younger sister worked and inquired about where (Y/n) was and the reason behind everyone's solemn attitude about the subject. Nonetheless, Claudia informed her brother of what he'd been missing out on whilst he was out hunting Templars.

Coincidentally, (Y/n) walked in at that moment and pulled his best friend into a hug where he received further condolences before sitting himself on the desk where his girlfriend worked, now distracted from her duties. When Ezio left the room, Claudia broke away from her work in order to console her lover where words could be shared in secret.

"What's on your mind, piccolo, little one?" (Y/n) cooed and touched her chin with his fingers, lifting her head up to face him.

The brunette fluttered her eyes at him and let out a sigh. "There is... I think we should get married sooner than expected, beloved."

"W-Why do you say that?"

Claudia couldn't refrain herself any further and bit her bottom lip and touched her stomach with her free hand and announced that life had sprung in her womb. Such news took (Y/n) back as he became euphoric and cupped the brunette's cheeks in his hands, staring longingly into her chocolate-brown eyes before she made confirmation.

Tearily, (Y/n) pressed his lips against hers and found comfort knowing that she was pregnant with his child, or children. With the need to announce her pregnancy, (Y/n) removed the ring he'd kept on his finger and jumped off desk before kneeling down on one knee, holding the ring in the palm of his hand.

"Claudia Maria Auditore da Firenze... words cannot express the love I have for you. Ever since we were kids, ever since the day I rescued you from Vieri de' Pazzi I knew you were the one I wanted to be with. You loved me like no other girl did and you treated me fair and just. So I ask you one question: will you marry me?"

"YES!!" She replied ecstatically as he slid the ring on her finger. 

The decision to make the right decision in refraining from making a public announcement. With the plan to wait until the time was right, (Y/n) kept his beloved fiancé company and adjusted money to suitable businesses and defences and other such supplies to ensure Monteriggioni would receive attention and income. 

June, 1478

In the few months that had passed, nothing much had changed. Ezio had been consumed with locating the remaining Templars. In secret, (Y/n) and Claudia plotted their marriage and the birth of their future child or children while (Y/n) continued his crusade as a potential Assassin. Only time would tell until he would fund his place within the Brotherhood. 

On a cold sunny day, (Y/n) had found himself rather unpbased by the cold, strangely enough. He roamed around the fort's defences, ensuring everything worked as it was supposed to when something caught his eye. Three lone riders ventured towards the gate, suspiciously concealed by black cloaks as they rode along as casually as one could appear.

(Y/n) then made his way off the battlements to greet the three men when he also noticed a certain brunette roam the markets with a basket in hand with roses sticking out. His pregnant fiancé carried the most joyful expression on her face as she greeted fellow citizens of Monteriggioni until that happiness was crushed when the three men drew swords and lashed out at the civilians.

The men targeted the men and viciously murdered them while the women and children scattered whereas Claudia was immobilised, unable to escape the clutches of the armed men when one of the hit her on the back of the head and pulled her onto his horse and made off with his fiancé. Helplessly, (Y/n) cried out, his arm reached for his lover.

It was too late when backup arrived as the three men were now long gone. Fortunately, somebody saw which way they went. (Y/n) stormed over to where his allies were and groped both hands on the collar of the nearest man and hissed so violently any man could fear death by his blade. Even with Mario's comfort, there was no consoling (Y/n).

"Li uccidero'! Dove sono?! Giuro su Dio, gli tagliero 'le palle del cazzo, gli strappero' la gola e gliela ficcero ' in gola! CHI ERANO?! HANNO PRESO CLAUDIA!! I'm going to kill them! Where are they?! I swear to God, I'm going to cut their fucking balls off and rip their throats open and shove it down their throats! WHO WERE THEY?! THEY TOOK CLAUDIA!!" (Y/n) screamed at the top of his lungs before he broke down and sobbed in fear of her safety. 

"(Y/n), (Y/n)! Calm yourself! We'll get her back. I promise. Alfredo! Where did those men go?!" Mario said reassuringly and put a hand on (Y/n)'s shoulder. 

A man rushed over, his bandana concealed his left eyebrow as he nodded his head. "Si. They were heading for Firenze. They... Hey, (Y/n), where do you think you are going, eh?" 

(Y/n) stormed off, fists clenched as he gave no regard as he left. "To get Claudia back."