Life's Sacred Journeys

Summary: The Leverage team has stuck together through countless cons. Their relationships take a different colour, though, as the team celebrates engagements, weddings, children, and more.

Pairings: Nate/Sophie, Parker/Hardison, Tara/Eliot

A/N: I'm just dipping my toes into the Leverage fandom here… this probably isn't my best work, so a) don't hate me! and b) suggestions and comments are particularly welcome. :D

This is set after the end of the second season, but with one minor detail altered: Sterling was never able to send Nate to jail. (I've always hated the b-tard anyway- Sterling, not Nate!- so denying him the thrill of sending Nate to jail is particularly pleasurable. :D )

Enjoy!

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Chapter One: Why Tara Came Back

(Tara's POV)

At first, I didn't know why I returned.

They were mad as hatters, all five of them. Sophie included.

Still, I was sitting on Nathan's sofa with my legs up on the coffee table as the team returned to the apartment after wrapping up a con.

"Heya, everyone," I greeted them, grinning in a slightly cheeky manner.

"Um, hi, Tara," Hardison said dubiously.

I stood up and my face became dead serious. "I know this is kind of a strange thing to ask after breaking into your headquarters and everything, but, by any chance, do you have any interest in taking me back? Not as a replacement for Sophie, of course. I thought it might make the cons easier, having another grifter around."

The last part came out with a bit of a stammer. Damn, now they knew just how much I wanted to return.

They stared at me, stunned. Well, Eliot wasn't so much as stunned as, well… he looked as if he'd just gotten something he'd wanted, but hadn't really expected he'd get. My eyes met his for a moment, and a thrilling feeling ran down my spine.

"Of course, now that I'm here of my own choice, no fee is involved," I added, desperately hoping this would ensure my place on the team.

Parker, Hardison, and Sophie looked at Nate to see his reaction. But Eliot kept his eyes locked on me.

I raised my gaze to meet his, then dropped it again. There was something in that gaze that made me uncertain. And if there's one thing I don't like, it's uncertainty.

"Nate, it's up to you," Sophie said quietly.

I raised my eyes once more, this time to meet Nate's scrutiny. I met his gaze calmly, without an ounce of cockiness or disdain.

Just with myself.

Nate's gaze seemed to search my very soul, seeing my darkest corners, assessing my motivation for coming back.

My heart almost burst with joy when he nodded.

"Welcome back, Tara," Nate said.

Eliot grinned. Stepping forward, he asked, "Tara, could you come with me for a moment? I had something I wanted to discuss with you."

I nodded and followed him up the stairs.

When we were out of sight of the downstairs, he turned around and met my eyes again. This time, there was no uncertainty is his gaze. Just… something that could have been determination, stubbornness, joy, or anything else.

"I'm sorry I never worked up the guts to do this before you left," Eliot said quietly.

Before I could ask what he meant, he stepped forward and kissed me.

And that was why I came back.

Because on that day, I realised what my unconscious had been telling me since I left.

I love Eliot Spencer.

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A/N: What do you think? Like it? Love it? Think I should throw the Eliot/Tara storyline into the garbage? Or worse yet, the whole idea?