The first thing that alerted Altair that he was back was breathing in the dry, summer air of the desert. The second was how warm he was. His eyes opened and he looked at the sea of paper on his desk, and the Codex in front of him. He remembered. He had fallen asleep at his desk. Carefully, he sat up and looked around. He was home, and this time, he was whole.

Bringing his fingers up to his face, he moved them around and saw nothing but flesh and his leather fingerless gloves. Looking down at his robes, they were the same ones he had left in. So, had it all been a dream? Had his work with the Apple created a new world for his mind to wander in? Gently pulling back the layers of fabric, he made enough room to slip a hand into the neck of the robe to touch bare flesh and then he felt it. The small puckered scar where the lead ball entered his shoulder when he first arrived.

So his mind had not deceived him. He was really there, but he had been brought back to the same time he had left. No time had passed, yet five hundred years lay between him and the time he had just came from. His heart grew heavy thinking about all the people he had called friend, and family he had just left with a closing of his eyes.

"You are still down here, Novice? I would have assumed you would have wrapped up your writing and gone to join your woman in your room."

He turned his head to see Malik walk up, book tucked under his one arm. He shook his head. "I think I will head there now. I must have dozed off."

Malik raised a brow. "Why are you talking in English? I think you have been with Maria for far too long." His accent in the English was thick and he wondered if that was what he sounded like a year ago to Ratonhnhake:ton and everyone at the Homestead.

Clearing his throat, he bowed his head. Using his birth language, he addressed Malik. "I apologize. I guess I have been."

The retired assassin just merely smiled at him. "Just be glad that it was me and not someone else. Not many can speak the Northern language."

Returning the smile, he stood and felt his back pop. "I will retire for the night. Will I see you in the morning or are you heading back to Jerusalem?"

"I will not be returning for a few more days, so I will see you in morning." He grabbed another book, and walked off towards the fortress' sleeping quarters.

Walking in the direction Malik had, he diverted into the gardens. The stars shone brightly in the heavens as he walked to the edge of the lush grass. He looked over the river and remembered the last time he was here, the water below terrified him, but now, he was so warm that a nice dip in it would feel refreshing.

"Altair."

He turned when he heard his name. Maria stood there, her cloak pulled around her to stave off the nightly chill, but to him it still felt warm. She walked over to him, and he opened his arms to her. She walked into his embrace. "Maria, I have missed you so."

She chuckled as her slender arms went around his waist. "It has not been more than a few hours since you and I have been apart."

His laid a kiss on the top of her head and inhaled the scent of her hair. "To me it has seemed like a year." The bad part was he was not kidding. It had been over a year since he had laid eyes on her soft face, and beautiful eyes.

"You are in a good mood, Altair. What has put you there so I may remember it later?" She smiled up at him.

He laid a finger under her chin and gazed into her eyes. "A dream was all. I fell asleep at my desk and had a dream." They would think him insane if he was to tell the truth, but no matter. It would be his secret to hold onto. His secret only.

"Then come to bed, I am sure we can have the same dream together." And she lead him up the stairs and back to his normal life.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Connor sat in the manor, looking through the history books, learning what he could about the remainder of the life Altair lead. It was one that he could never hope to accomplish. Grandmaster at twenty-five, a father of two boys, a wife that loved him unconditionally. He had a good life, until he lost Maria and one son, Sef, to betrayal. He also lost his best friend, Malik. He had talked about the man all the time. About how he was responsible for the loss of Malik's arm and his little brother, Kadar.

It was those things that changed him. Made him the man that Connor knew. Made him the man that he called friend and brother.

"Son." He raised his head to see his father standing there. "The horses are ready."

Ever so carefully, not aggravate the healing wound, he stood from the chair, and grimaced from the slight pulling at the newly knitted flesh. It was not painful, just severely uncomfortable. "Good. I would like to get this done with as quickly as possible."

Haytham just merely nodded and walked with him out to where the horses sat. They mounted and rode to the old tribal site. He had not been since before he was wounded and hoped to catch the tribe before they had departed, but the wound took longer to heal than Dr. White had suspected. Just the slightest movement at one point would rip the scab from the wound. He had been bedridden for the better part of a month.

The village was deserted by the time he arrived. A lone man sat by the fire, warming his hands from the morning chill. He looked up as he and Haytham entered.

"Well, good morning to you gents. Care to join me by the fire for a spell?" He smiled warmly and gestured to the fire, but Connor shook his head.

"When did everyone leave this place?" He asked.

The older man scratched his head dislodging his cap from its resting place. "Round about a month ago. Said they were heading west. This land here was sold to pay off some old war debts." He picked up his cap and dusted it off against his leg.

"Thank you." He inclined his head and began to walk around. He wandered through the Clan Mother's long house and as he passed the cold fire pit, he spied something under one of the beds. The box that held the relic that started him on this quest.

Pulling it out of its hiding place, he lifted the lid and stared at the glass orb. Would the spirit woman come to him once more? He still had questions that only she would be able to answer. His hand reached into the box, and pulled the orb out.

Light flared from within and filled the longhouse with its glow. Connor attempted to shield his eyes, but it did little to ward off the blinding glare.

"You have done as you were instructed to do. Well done."

He blinked his eyes a few times and saw her standing there. The woman Altair had called Juno. "I have questions."

She smiled. "And you will have some answers. Ask if you must."

"Did Altair make it home safely?" That was a question that plagued him since he awoke the next morning to hear the soft sobbing of Kara on Haytham's lap as his father told the child that the man that she loved more than anyone was gone and not coming back.

She nodded. "He did. He made it home, but is now dust in the grave. All that remain are the memories you carry and what another with see."

"Will I ever see him again? If even just to say goodbye." That was something he regretted. Not being able to say goodbye.

"Would you like to see your friend once more?" Connor nodded. "Then it shall be."

He was blinded by the light once more and when he could see once again, he stood in a grassy garden. Altair stood near the rail, his hands gripping the edge. "Altair." He could not help but smile at his friend, and second mentor.

The man's head lifted and he turned. "Ratonhnhake:ton." And a smile crossed his lips.

And thus concludes Unconventional Alliance. I left it as a cliffy for a reason. I may do a sequel or may not. I have decided yet, but I have left it open for that reason. I hope everyone enjoyed the story and it was great writing for everyone. See ya!

*Sassiersphinx*