Iris nodded and got up, going over to the group.

"My turn, I take it," she said. She looked over the group; they all seemed to be fairly competent, and they were all looking at her with varying expressions of 'you're kidding'. She glanced up at the side of the building, making note of the handholds and footholds, and then looked back at the trainees. "Meet you at the top."

And then she proceeded to scale the side of the building. She definitely went slower than usual, but she still made it in under a minute. It wasn't a particularly tall building.

They all looked floored, and Altair smirked, both proud of her and amused at them.

"You have a minute and a half to get to the top. I'm being generous. You three, go."

The three Altair pointed at scrambled to obey, starting up the building.

Iris sat on the roof of the building, leaning over to watch the trainees try to climb. They were going about it all wrong, but they were trying. Only one of them seemed to be trying to mimic her and take the route up the building she did.

Altair noted who the smart one was and then waited for the other two to get up to the top. He wouldn't make them get down just yet; instead he pointed out good handholds and gave them a few tips. He did actually want them to succeed, after all.

Iris kept watching, making note of the ones who seemed to be improving. She was kind of impressed they were learning so quickly.

Altair nodded and kept them going up in groups of three, trusting Iris to watch that batch, while he watched the ones coming down on the other side of the building. They were improving fairly quickly, which was good, since they did claim to be full-fledged Assassins.

Iris kept each group of three on the roof until it was their turn to climb down again. Quite a few of them eyed her with disbelief, as if they couldn't fathom how she had managed to make the climb, let alone make it faster than they had.

Altair kept track of them and kept them going in a loop, so that they were climbing up or down fairly frequently. The more practice the better.

And once they improved enough on this building, he'd move them to something taller.

Iris helped him keep track, moving the trainees along when they started to lag behind. At first they didn't want to obey her, until she pulled out one of her blades. Then they took her a little more seriously.

Altair silently approved of this, and he made a mental note to include her in any other training they had to do other places, because he knew he'd have to do more retraining later on. She was rather good at this.

The re-training in Italy didn't take much longer after that. With no more reason to stay in Italy, the Italian branch of the Order pointed them in a new direction: America. Apparently, the Americans were in dire need to training, too, if Europe was so bad. Ezio was a little down at having to leave Italy again, but Iris was looking forward to being back in the States.

By the time they got back to the States, Iris was very noticeably pregnant and the baby had started kicking for real; enough so that she was often up late trying to get the baby to calm down enough for her to sleep. But she put up with it, because she could see how pleased Altair was every time he got to feel the kicks.

On one such night, Altair sat in front of Iris and put a hand out, starting to rub her belly gently. Before she could ask, he volunteered, "One of the Assassins back in Italy said this helped his wife through their five children. I thought I might try."

Anna, meanwhile, was still relishing in being back home. She loved Italy, she really did, but she enjoyed having some time off before they had to go kick the Americans back into shape. That she was not looking forward to at all. But it had to be done.

"You know, we can go visit Italy whenever we want. Or, hell, when we're done retraining everyone we can move back there." Anna looked over at Ezio. He'd seemed kind of homesick and wistful ever since they'd left.

Iris blinked a bit, surprised, but nodded. It was worth a try, and besides, she wasn't going to refuse Altair a chance to feel the baby.

"Go ahead," she said as the baby kicked around energetically.

"Perhaps," Ezio replied. It wasn't necessarily Italy he was missing, but his Italy. Modern-day Italy wasn't the same, not really. "We will see what happens in the future."

Altair settled in to his work, rubbing gently and not focusing on anything in particular. He worked in small, soothing circles, as the man had recommended, absurdly pleased to feel his child kicking.

"Yeah. We'll see." Anna sat down next to him. "Anything I can do to help?"

Iris sighed in pleasure and relaxed as Altair worked.

"That feels wonderful," she said softly.

"I am just a bit homesick, la mia dolce," Ezio said, putting an arm around her waist and pulling her close. "I will be fine."

Altair hummed quietly and nodded, continuing to work. The baby didn't kick as hard or as frequently, so he figured it was helping, at least.

"Uh huh." Anna looked at him. "You don't look very fine, Ezi. You know if there's anything I can do to help you need only ask."

Iris relaxed more and let him continue. Even the baby was settling down as he worked, and she was grateful.

"I think the baby likes it," she commented softly.

"I will be alright," Ezio said. He gave her a brief kiss. "I'll let you know if I have need of anything, I promise."

"Good." Altair smiled a little, expanding his circles to her sides too. He'd noticed how much she liked this, and made a mental note to do it more often, and not just around her belly.

"Good. You'd better." Anna gave him a look before she kissed him. If he wouldn't admit to needing anything, she'd just have to make him need something.

Iris's sighs gradually turned into soft moans as he went from rubbing her belly to massaging her sides and back.

"You're good at that," she murmured as she let him work.

Ezio returned the kiss, gently pulling Anna into his lap so he could reach better.

"Just what are you planning?" he asked around the kisses.

"Good." Altair smiled faintly, shifting so he could get her back more easily, working his way up slowly.

"You'll find out," was all Anna said, kissing him again and settling herself there. This she could work with.

Iris reached up and moved her hair out of the way so he could keep going, and rested her hands on her belly after that. The baby gave a sleepy sort of roll and finally settled in.

Ezio returned the kisses as they came to him, slipping a few of his own in when he could. He was more than willing to keep kissing her, if that was what she wanted.

Altair rubbed her shoulders and then her neck gently, taking his time about it. Hopefully now they were both relaxed and ready to sleep. Iris certainly needed it.

Anna finally pulled back a little ways, grinning. "Still think you're good as is?" she teased, resting her hands on his shoulders.

"That feels amazing," Iris murmured as he worked on her shoulders and neck. Oh yes, she was definitely relaxed now, and it would be much easier for her to fall asleep now that the baby had settled down.

Ezio smirked slightly and moved in again to give her a slow, thorough kiss, pulling her close to him as he did so.

"Mm. Time for bed soon," Altair murmured, working a few kinks out of her neck while he was there. Hey, he might as well. And she'd feel better in the morning, too.

Anna let him, grinning briefly between kisses, and settled in with him for the night.

"I agree," Iris sighed. Once he'd worked the kinks out of her neck, she settled into the bed, curling up on her side and snuggling close to him. "Thanks for that," she murmured as she got comfortable.