He smoothed the worry with a gesture, fingers splaying. "She did not want children at all when we first wed," he answered. "In fact, I doubt she even cared for me, but being my wife gave her freedoms she could not have otherwise. Our caring, I believe, came with time. And children... followed. As nature insists.

"She knew the dangers of carrying and birthing a child, and two were enough for her. And who would I be to insist?" Altaïr shook his head. "I loved her and I wanted her to be happy. So I cared for our two, loved them with all I was. As they grew older, being a parent became easier for her, as did our love."