"Where is everybody?" Parker asked, coming into the kitchen. Sophie sat there, eating dinner. "The men are downstairs, in the pub. Watching... What is that game they can't get enough of?"

"Football."

"Ah, yes. That one. They'll stumble up here in a few hours. No doubt, discussing the game in great detail, and expecting us to sit through that."

Parker pulled the Chinese takeout out of the frdge and sat down next to Sophie. Despite their differences, they'd bonded, even if it was over the things they'd stolen, and being women in a man's world.

"You don't like football?"

"The game? Not particulary. I mean, the working out and staying in shape I appreciate. Football players... well I prefer the Europeans myself, had a chance to meet and be several of them. But watching it and critiquing it? You are aware that only one of them can play, yes?"

"Eliot. He'd probably be making them call an ambulance or two." A smile appeared on Parker's lips. "You know, Nate, he'd be the coach. Hardison...he's the referee."

"You really like him don't you?"

Parker choked on a piece of brocolli. "Hardison? No, no and no."

"I meant Eliot. You two really match, you know?"

Parker nodded and looked down at her food, scraping the bottom of the paper box. "How did you know?" She asked quietly.

"Hardison blabbed. I would've asked anyway, what with the gigantic red mark where Eliot threw something at him."

"His Italian cookbook. I'd forgotten about that." Parker chuckled.

"So... It's good?" Sophie asked, smiling softly.

"It's good." Parker smiled.

Several hours later was bottle of wine they were passing back and forth, sitting on the couch watching Sophie's soap operas. Nate came in first, heading straight to the liquor cabinet. Hardison set down in his usual seat with his laptop already in hand and Eliot set down next to Parker, half pulling her into his lap.

"The game was great. You would've liked it. Two players had to get hauled off on stretchers."

The completely inexplicable reason that had both women laughing till they cried seemed to escape everybody.