Answer to Deanangst's prompt for: Leverage, De-aged Eliot/team, First steps.
It was poker night at Nate's and the whole gang was there. Sophie sat closest to him, opting out of the game so that she could cuddle a sleepy Eliot. He had been quite busy earlier in the evening. He stole Parkers chips, deciding they were perfect to chew on with the new teeth coming in. No one seemed to mind the new marks on the chips. Then he found the Ace Hardison had stashed for another hand...that had gone over really well. Later, as Nate held him hoping to hide a few of his own cards, Eliot tried to help himself to Nate's beer...that didn't go over to well either.
Now Sophie sat, gently rocking the little one. She smiled at the others around the table, amazed at how at ease everyone seemed to be. A year ago, they had been strangers, their only common bond was Nate. Now....now they were a family. Things had certainly changed for this team of misfits, especially for the little one in her arms.
She looked down at the baby who was beginning to squirm. He was wide awake now, and obviously hungry. "Would you like some cereal?" A frown was her answer. "Apple sauce?" Judging by the smile she knew that was a yes. "Apple sauce it is." Standing up she said, "Excuse me for a moment. Eliot needs a snack." She grinned, then frowned at Nate as he held up the beer nuts. "Noooooo, and I can't believe you would even go there." She left the group for the kitchen, leaving a smirking Nate behind.
In the kitchen Sophie sat Eliot on the floor while she gathered the needed items for his snack. He clapped his hands and jabbered, and she loved every moment of it. Suddenly it was quiet...too quiet. Sophie turned to see what the little one was up to, only to find an empty space where he had been sitting only a second ago. "Eliot?" She called, worry coloring her voice. "mammamamama." Came sweetly from the other room.
She entered the dining room to find him pulling up on the back of Parker's chair. He had been pulling up for weeks now and it was a constant job to make sure he didn't pull something over and become injured. "There you are you little monkey. Are you ready for your snack." Now everyone's eyes were on the baby as he giggled and let go of the chair. Little chubby hands reached out for Sophie as he stood on wobbly legs. Then the most amazing thing happened...He took his first step....then another, and just as he was about to take a third, he started to lose his balance. Before he could fall, Sophie scooped him up, hugged him, and praised him for being such a big boy. Everyone was clapping, and smiling at the little one and his feat.
"Two steps, I salute you sir." Alec said, grinning from ear to ear.
"We'll have to go shoe shopping for sneakers." Parker added, her mind already on a red pair of Converse she had seen earlier in the week.
"That's my boy." Nate said, taking Eliot from Sophie. "Soon you'll be running all over the place."
Sophie looked around the house with a frown. "We need to baby proof even more now." She said thoughtfully. The rest of the team members began looking around as well, each looking at the house in a new way. Plans began to form, and soon the game was forgotten. The discussion turned to baby proofing. Everything was planned as if they were about to run a con...they're a team...it's what they do.
The end