Chapter 1: Prologue
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They had retired. Buy an island and go legit retired as they had announced, quoting one Alec Hardison from five years ago. They had all flown out to the beautiful island of Capri off the Sorrentine Peninsula for the wedding two months later. Sterling had sent a gift despite receiving no invitation.
Maggie and Tara had joined them for the ceremony but the family had stayed another week. One week of being… normal.
When they all look back on this week later, in the years to come, they will not remember the divine food or the breath taking view from their rooms. The squabbles over Parker's casual lifting and the teasing over Hardison's freak out on the chairlift would have long faded from memory. All they remember would be that feeling of bliss, joy and contentment.
For one week,they were not thieves and they were not vigilantes. They were simply family.
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The honeymoon lasted six months. They spent it all making love all over Europe, adding memories at some places and creating new ones at others. They had never actually discussed how long the honeymoon would last or where they would eventually settle down, if they settle down at all.
To nobody's surprise, they ended up back in Portland. Sophie spends her days at the theatre while Nate spends his consulting at headquarters and visiting the various bars around town. They might very well have settled into this routine had something significant not occurred a fortnight later.
Sophie had announced it with the dramatic flair that Nate has come to expect from her at dinner that evening. For a moment, Nate was transported back to another dinner 15 years prior, another woman making the same announcement, albeit with much less fanfare.
Just as quickly, he was back in this moment. A second chance, another chance to make it right and this time he will do whatever it takes to do the right thing.
The family was over the moon ecstatic at the news, a new addition to their family. Parker started babbling about lock picking lessons and safe cracking tips. Hardison started listing a multitude of gadgets that would be required. Eliot shook Nate's hand and gave Sophie a big hug before whispering softly; "It would be best to just tell them now."
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They had to retire. Actually, truly, completely retire. Over the years, the number of people who might come after them have only increased and to protect their child, they have to cut off this life, for good.
On the day of farewell, the mood was understandably sombre. New identities have been secured, without Hardison's help. Belongings have been sold or destroyed or left with the family as keepsake. Hugs were exchanged, tears were shed and final advices hurriedly whispered until finally it was time leave.
Nate pulled Eliot aside at the last moment, pulled out two identical burner cells and handed one to Eliot. "For emergencies." He said simply.
And with that, Nate and Sophie walked off, hand in hand. They were still family, they would always be family and that was enough.