A/N: I am so sorry! I did not mean to keep you all waiting for a month! The shame :( There was a lot going on in the real world. I really hope I did this chapter justice. Again, I want to thank EVERYONE for the support and positive feedbacks! Thanks so much!

Disclaimer: I do not own Leverage.

Nate and Hardison were busy researching background information, so that they could come up with a plan to take down Vladimir; and Sophie, was in the middle of trying to figure out which one of her aliases she could use if necessary, when they heard a loud crash come from Eliot's room.

'And now he knows'. Nate thought to himself. While he knew the reason Eliot was most likely in the process of becoming a human wrecking ball, the others however...

"What the hell was that?" Hardison asked. He and Sophie immediately started to head towards the hitter's room; but Nate stopped them. They both looked at him with questioning eyes and he told them to sit down.

"Everything is fine. Eliot is...just reacting." Nate stated assuring them, and Hardison frowned. The hacker knew at times that his friend could turn a rock into a mountain and get aggravated over the tiniest of problems. He himself was no different; while Eliot uses physical reaction, he just ran his mouth...sometimes.

"Reacting to what?" Hardison asks after a moment, and looks around the room before adding. "And where is Parker?"

"She's...in there with him." Nate responded. This time, Sophie gave him that look that she uses when she is trying to figure-out something. She new that it was no secret that Parker annoyed Eliot just to get a rise out of him. She'd even told her once that she had made a game out of it. But it never escalated to him destroying something. No, this was bigger than that. She thought back to when they were discussing Parker's past and she noticed that Parker kept glancing at Eliot. And now that she though about it, while she knew that Parker was not a 'touchy' person, she always found her sitting next to or directly across from the hitter whenever they were in meetings, or having a meal, or in transport. Her eyes widened...

"Oh...my...God." she gasped. She noticed Nate's expression change and she knew that he realized that she had figured it out.

"Sophie...don't" He tried to stop her...but it was too late.

"It's Eliot!" and Nate sighed 'So much for her not blurting it out.' Before Nate could respond, he saw the topic of their conversation storm into the kitchen.

"What the hell is wrong with him?" Hardison asked. Nate didn't answer. He immediately got up to follow, leaving a stunned Sophie and a confused Hardison alone in the living room.

After grabbing a beer out of the kitchen, Eliot went outside and sat on the back of his truck. He popped off the cap and took a long swig while watching the sunset; his mind trying to process everything he learned today. 'Abby'; the woman who plagued his thoughts...was Parker. He...slept...with...Parker. He had a child...with Parker. No matter how many times he repeated the mantra in his head, his brain refused to process it. As he sat there, absently drinking his beer, his mind drifted back to the first time the team assembled. He immediately cursed himself for not realizing it earlier. He knew he had seen Parker somewhere; but he couldn't place it, so he just dropped the matter all together.

Before Moscow, sex with other women was just a physical release, a web of meaningless encounters. Sure, there had been others since then, but none of them could compare to her. And it wasn't just the sex. He felt that something was missing. It wasn't the same as before. 'Not that he didn't take care of business' , but he didn't connect with those women like he use to.

She was different, and he couldn't understand why. Even when he reconnected with Aimee again, it wasn't the same. He had completely given up on relationships and a normal life. In the short time that they were together, he found himself wanting those things again; he didn't want her to leave...and that unnerved him.

The moment she stepped out of that room and shut the door, he went after her. Only to find that she was gone...completely vanished. He never forgot her, and thought about her almost everyday, while occasionally wondering 'what-if?'

Abby...Parker, knew all this time...and to top it all off, there was a kid. Just thinking about this realization was pissing him off all over again. The whole point of him going outside was to calm down. He heard footsteps approaching him from behind; and due to his years of awareness training, he knew who's walking pattern they belonged to. He took another swig of his drink and without turning around, acknowledged his guest.

"You do realize that I can hear you." He stated gruffly

"I wasn't trying to be secretive" Nate replied. Eliot gave him a look and shook his head.

"...Right"

Nate knew he would have to approach the subject cautiously.

"Eliot..." he began but Eliot just spun around on him.

"How long have you known about this?" He asked taking another sip of his beer.

"Not long...What are you gonna do?" Nate replies and Eliot scoffs.

"I would think that the answer is obvious" Nate nodded his head.

"Of course...but Eliot listen..."

"Nate, don't." He growled out. "I already have an idea of what you are going to say."

"Do you really? Well if you know what I am going to say, then you know what you have to do." Nate countered.

"I'm not..." he growled again trying to keep his temper in check. "Look, I will talk to her when I am good and goddamn ready" He hopped off of his truck and began to walk towards the house when Nate stopped him.

"Eliot, I know this is going to take time, and you have every right to be pissed...but before you back in there and lash out; you think about this. Think about what it must have been like for her. You and I both know trust is not easily earned especially for people like us. She was protecting Lizzie and herself."

"You think that's the only thing I am pissed about? You don't know the whole story Nate; so don't comment on things you know nothing about." Eliot said warningly.

"You're right I don't. But I do know that the only other person that was helping Parker is gone. Lizzie is not going to understand that. I am not taking sides Eliot, just prioritizing. The two of you need to focus on the here and now. So have your fight...get it out of your system, so we can go from there." With that, Nate walked passed him and went inside.

It was late when Eliot found himself walking towards Parker's room where Lizzie lay sleeping. After silently opening the door, he walked into the room, sat down in the chair next to the bed, and just stared at her. He couldn't believe this. There was no way that this little girl could be related to someone like him. She was innocent; he wasn't. After everything he's done, he didn't deserve to be anyone's father. That was one of the reason's he never settled down. He had to keep moving, to keep fighting. He was searching for something and he had no idea what it was.

As he watched her sleep, he felt a small sense of nostalgia. He was almost jealous. He couldn't remember the last time he was able to sleep so peacefully. He reached out and gently ran a hand through her hair. She stirred a little while leaning into his touch, but didn't awaken, and he notices a small smile appear on her face.

He couldn't help it, he smiled as well. A wave of different emotions came at him all at once. Things he hadn't felt in a long time. He'd only known about her paternity for a short period of time, and he wanted to give her everything. He wanted to protect her from everything.

Maybe she was his last chance for redemption.

Lizzie shifted again and a stuffed white rabbit she was cuddling started to fall, and he caught it just before it hit the floor. Gently placing the toy back under her arm, he noticed a pink ribbon with and inscription in white that read: 'Elizabeth Abigail Spencer'

Cooking had always relaxed him. It was his art. Creating something out of nothing was his way of expressing himself without having to knock someone unconscious. He hadn't seen or spoken to Parker since last night. His senses went on alert when he felt eyes on him as he sliced up a few apples. While normally, he would immediately strike his spectator, this was not one of those situations.

"Hi" He heard a light chipper voice behind him. He turned his attention to the little girl who shared his DNA and gave her a smile.

"Hey..." He looked down at her and froze. Those eyes...his eyes or at least what they used to look like. She tilted her head to the side, smile never faltering as she stared back at him.

"What are you doing?" she asked, and he blinked coming out of his trance.

"I...am slicing apples." He answered while continuing his task.

"Why?..." she asked.

"Because I am going to make something with them." he answered.

"What are you making?." she asked and he chuckled. 'What was this, an interrogation?' he smiled to himself.

"Its a surprise" He replied finally. Honestly he had no idea what he was making, he was just trying out something.

"Oh...I like apples; the green ones." She was pretty damn sharp for a three year old, but he wouldn't expect anything less, and he didn't care how egotistical it sounded.

"Is that so? Apples are my favorite." He gave her a slice and ate one himself. She hummed in appreciation as she chewed on her piece. He went back to slicing before she grabbed his attention again.

"Can I help?" He thought about it for a split second. He was only prepping and wasn't dealing with anything hot right now so he didn't see why not.

"You sure can" He picks her up and places her on the counter next to him. He gives her a bowl and instructs her to put the slices that he set aside in the bowl. She does as he asks for a second, before she sneaks another slice. He smiles as he pretends not to notice. 'Just like her mother'. He suddenly stopped at that thought. She 'stole' her third slice before he finally spoke up.

"There wont be enough apples left for what I am trying to make if you keep eating them." he chuckles

She smiled back at him in mid-bite "but they are good." she stated. 'Damn those pleading eyes' he thought to himself and gave in.

"I tell you what...I will use another fruit to make with this, and you and me will keep the apples for ourselves...it will be our little secret." He winked at her.

"Okay!" she stated excitedly as she took another slice.

Both parties didn't know that they had audience. Parker stood in the doorway with a small smile at their exchange. She hadn't spoken to Eliot since she told him Lizzie was his, and she knew that he needed time to process before he would come demanding answers, and for that she was grateful. She honestly had no idea what she was going to say to him. She had already ripped of the Band-Aid; now she would just have to wait. She noticed Lizzie look in her general direction and she braced herself.

"Hey mommy! Want some apple?" Parker smiled and took the offered slice. She stooped down to Lizzie's eye level and embraced her.

Eliot watched the exchange. Watching Parker with Lizzie was...weird but not in a bad way. Parker wasn't being a thief, or her crazy self right now; she was being a parent; and it was all too real for him. Once he saw Lizzie run out of the room, he turned his attention back to Parker a frown slowly marring his features.

"You...gave her my last name." It wasn't a question. He saw Parker take a deep breath and gave him her full attention.

"Lizzie is named after my mother, and myself. I thought about you...for her last name and it just fit." She sighed before adding "Everything I told you when we were in Moscow was true...including my real name" she replied.

"Why didn't you ever tell me who you were? As pissed off as I am; I'm trying to understand...why. That's the big question. Make me understand Parker." He stated as calmly as he could.

"What was I supposed to say? It's not like we were a couple or anything. Our situation isn't exactly normal...I never expected to see you again." she replied. 'No matter how much I wanted to' she kept that part to herself, before continuing. "When we first came together, and I saw you again...I couldn't believe it. You were a thief like I was; we just specialized in different areas. It was kind of ironic. I had wondered if you remembered me; which you obviously didn't, and I'll admit that I felt...a bit of...resentment towards you because of that, and it was...weird for me."

"And Lizzie? I had a right to know about her. We have been a team for years now and you never once mentioned her to me!" He stated, voice escalating with each sentence.

"I didn't keep her from you to hurt or manipulate you!" she sighed before continuing. "During our first job, I kept asking myself if I should tell you who I was, and tell you about Lizzie, but you were so cold and untrusting like the rest of us were and I had my answer. I convinced myself that it didn't matter, and I would just finish the job and walk away...move on. But then for some reason, we stuck around, got to know and care for one another, and we became a team...a family. The whole time I was questioning myself about my decision. I had so many scenarios running through my head...and this was not one of them." She replied.

"Look, I get it. In the first year, there wasn't a foundation of trust and...hell I didn't really care for any of you at first. It was just another job. But when we decided to stick around, and this became a thing? It took an act of desperation for you to come clean and that is what I am pissed about!" He began pacing.

"Eliot...there are people that want me dead! And knowing that there are people that would use her to get to me... get to us, makes it that much worse! I did what I thought was best to keep her safe; and I am not going to apologize for that. Yes, I should have come to you earlier and I am sorry. I am really sorry..." she defended, eyes watering.

A few tears fell before she could stop them and Eliot sighed. He hated to see a woman cry; no matter what the situation. He closed his eyes and calmed himself. She was right...they both had a past. His was darker and he accepted that, and if he were honest with himself, he would have done the exact same thing if he were in her shoes. His thoughts went back to his conversation with Nate; and he was right, they had to move forward. There was no point in holding grudges or holding on to the past. He took a seat in the chair next to Parker's, and handed her a tissue, which she gratefully accepted. The two sat in silence for a moment before Parker spoke up again.

"Eliot, I just wanted to do everything that I could to make sure that she didn't end up like me. I wanted her to be normal; to have a normal life." She said in a low tone and he sighed again.

"Here's the reality Parker...she's never going to be normal." she snapped her head up to look him in the eye, and he gave her a small smile. "Because the two of us..." he pointed to her and himself "are not normal; she has thieves for parents. But, she'll be happy, she'll be safe, and she'll be loved. And as her parents; we are going to make damn sure that when she is older, she can look back on her past and not feel the things that we feel." she nodded at him. Both knew that there was another pink elephant in the room that they had yet to deal with.

"So...about Moscow..." She began, but he stopped her.

"Don't...we can deal with that later..." He knew what she wanted to talk about next, but for right now...he didn't want to get into it...not yet anyway; and he could tell that she really didn't want to either. The two of them was a separate matter on its own. So he saved them both the trouble.

"Oh...good..." She was relieved. "This isn't going to be easy is it?" She said

"Nothing ever is." He replied.

A/N: Well, they still have a ways to go. Again, I am so sorry for the wait...this chapter was so hard to write. I never meant for it to be this late. Anyway please review and tell me what you think. I will have the next chapter up ASAP.