Back at the Inn:
Hardison and Parker know something is wrong given Eliot's reaction and disappearance into the night. They are tempted to ask the others but they do not yet know who they are dealing with so they pass on that idea. Parker and Hardison excuse themselves from the group, heading up to their rooms to do some recon. It is time for Hardison to do what he does best. He reaches into his bag retrieving his laptop. It is time to take a little detour into Eliot's past and now he knows where to look. Hardison reaches for the bag that contained Parker's treats. "Treats by Tess" Tesla Baines, owner, it is time for an introduction.
Parker watches intently over Hardison's shoulder as he pecks at the keys and opens the door to Tess' life. The search is simple and easy, Tesla Baines was not one of their marks. Tess was a "normal" person who lives her life out in the open. Hardison pulls up Facebook, Instagram, and that is when they see the pictures displayed by a proud mom. Hardison stops on a family photo from a Christmas of the recent past. At first Parker doesn't understand Hardison's fascination with it. It is a normal picture... just a picture.
"Parker... don't those boys..." Parker finishes his statement as the image clicks in her brain. "look just like Eliot. Like totally like Eliot." They look at each other with the appropriate mix of curiosity and shock as Hardison goes further back into this story. He googles Tesla Baines in combination with Eliot Spencer to see an engagement announcement among the return along with pictures from much further back in Tess' timeline. This part of Eliot's life is in plain view. This was Eliot before he was Eliot. This was so easy, Hardison wonders why the hell had he not googled Eliot before? He then remembers it was likely because Eliot would kill him. The threat of the wrath of Eliot Spencer was enough to keep his fingers out of Eliot's past. Before Hardison can even turn around, Parker is calling Sophie. The only words he can hear are "you are not going to believe this... Eliot is a father." Hardison can hear bits and pieces of the conversation that ranges from why are you stalking Eliot to the directions to the inn.
"Eliot is going to kill you for calling Sophie." Parker looks down at Hardison with a smile. "Alec, there is no way that Eliot knew he was a father. You and I both know that he would have moved heaven and earth to be with his children." Hardison looks back down at the photo that is still upon his screen. From what he knows of his friend, Parker is speaking the truth. "If Eliot is about to find out that he is a father, he needs Sophie." Hardison knows that for once, Parker just might be right.
Hardison hears the familiar sound of Eliot's truck as he arrives back at the in. Parker watches Eliot from the window, from the expression on Eliot's face, he already knows. "I think Eliot may have just found out." Parker looks back down at Hardison after her quick survey out the window. Hardison joins Parker for a peek at Eliot. "Oh he knows. I have never seen Eliot look like that. Now, to learn a little more about Ms. Tesla Baines and why she is not Mrs. Eliot Spencer." Parker taps upon Hardison's laptop. "Get those fingers moving. For once, Eliot needs us to protect him even if we are protecting him from himself."
Downstairs:
Eliot is not quite sure what to do with himself as he paces on the porch for a long while before going inside. He is wearing holes in the floor boards tracing the same path over and over again. The image of the boys is etched in his mind. Those are his boys, there is not a shred of doubt in his mind. The pair are carbon copies of him at the same age. He, well he just knows. Eliot can surmise that a parent just knows and Tess' reaction was pure and true. She is spoke the truth. Eliot's world is based on being able to lie and know when he is being lied to. Tess has nothing to gain and needs no protection from him. She is telling him the truth. Eliot remembers the last time he saw Tess. It was his last visit to this place. Eliot remembers the kiss and the promise that he would be back soon and would start working on their future. It was a promise that Eliot did not keep. He chose Damien over a promise to Tess. He never returned to her and shut her out of his life. Eliot had told himself that he did it to protect Tess from the darkness that entered his world. Eliot had convinced himself it was an act of love. He did not return her calls. He did not answer her letters. Eliot compartmentalized his life. He told himself the lies he needed to hear to justify turning his back on someone who he truly loved.
After a certain amount of time passed, Eliot could no longer face Tess for what he had done. He loved her and he hurt her to protect himself. At the sight of her today, Eliot knows that he loves Tess still. Seeing Tess at the Inn was a flashback to some of the best times of his life. With what he just saw, how can Tess ever forgive him for walking away. Paddy knew everything. Paddy was as close as a brother to Tess. Paddy would have had to have always known Tess' pain and about the boys. It killed Eliot to just walk away from Tess and now with the realization that he walked away from his children too, the wound is fresh and a significantly deeper cut. Eliot cannot even imagine what it was like for Tess to be pregnant with his children and so very alone. Eliot knows that he broke Tess' heart. The godsend silver lining is that he did not break Tess. To do what she has done, Tess still had plenty of steel left in her spine. Eliot knows that Tess is the reason that he is here. Paddy wanted him to know about the life he left behind. The unanswered question is why tell him now?
Eliot walks into the kitchen to find Mrs. Hannigan alone at the table waiting for him. She taps the table signaling for Eliot to take a seat as she pours him a cup of tea. Eliot is amused by the tea. It would seem that all of the women in his life are all cut from the same mold. Tea to soothe the soul. Mrs Hannigan can see the mixed look of wonder and pain in Eliot's eyes. She knows from the look of Eliot and a tell tale call from the Gunny that Eliot has seen the boys. This was not the way that any of them had planned for Eliot to find out but sometimes, the fates take control. The only thing that matters now is that Eliot knows about the boys. Mrs Hannigan walks to a nearby cabinet where she shuffles among the shelves to pull out a small box. She gently places the box on the table in front of Eliot and lifts the lid exposing the contents. "I have known that girl her whole life, she is a good mother. I am not going to tell you that she was right or that you were wrong but now that you know, Eliot." She taps the box. "They are wonderful boys." She leans down kissing Eliot on the cheek before leaving him to the contents of the box.
Eliot looks down at the box to realize that it is filled with pictures of the life of his children and their mother. Eliot hears familiar footsteps in the hallway. He knows from the silence who the footsteps belong to as he calls her out of the shadows. "Parker don't lurk. I am assuming the two of you already know." Parker and Hardison take seats around the table noticing the box of pictures. "Tess was practically a daughter to the Hannigans. Tess' parents died young and the Hannigans are her family." Eliot does not really look at Parker as he speaks. His eyes are locked on the photos as he shuffles a stack in his fingers.
Eliot trusts Parker and Hardison enough to accompany him on this journey into the unknown. Eliot digs into the pictures with wonderment. He scans through the history of his sons in pictures. He hands various pictures to Hardison and Parker to share. "I'm a father." Hardison smiles at the pictures of the boys, Eliot's boys. "We know." Hardison passes pictures to Parker. "They are beautiful, Eliot. They look just like you." Parker smiles at the candid shots of kids at play. Hardison decides to ask the hard question now knowing fully where he went when he left them. "How did it go with Tess?"
Eliot looks up from the picture in his hand. It is a picture which must have been taken right before the twins were born. Tess glows in the photo with a belly that looks ready to burst. Eliot grazes Tess' face with his thumb as if to console the picture. "It didn't. Tess wouldn't even talk to me." Eliot puts down the picture, walking to the window to look out into the night and to sort through his thoughts. "How did you find out?" Hardison asks the question that he knows is also on Parker's mind.
Eliot turns and looks at Hardison. "I saw them. It seems everyone knew about the boys but me." There is a mix of shame with a bit of anger in Eliot's answer as he continues to speak. "I didn't know." Eliot turns towards his friends as waves of emotions pass over him manifesting into contorted expressions on Eliot's features. Parker walks up wrapping her arms around Eliot to surround him in a hug. "We know Eliot." Eliot allows Parker to linger in the hug. At this moment, he could use one.
"What are you going to do now?" Hardison looks down at the pictures in his hand.
"I don't know, Hardison, I just don't know." Eliot's expression is hard to read as he runs his hands through his hair. Both Hardison and Parker know that he is fighting a battle with his greatest opponent at the moment, himself.