Nate was watching me as I stared at the chess set. "Why do I have to play chess with you?" I snapped finally making my move.

"Because your mother did all my crosswords," he muttered, taking one of my knights.

I groaned, and took one of his bishops with my rook. "Then play her."

Sophie glanced at me over Nate's paper where she once again continued his crossword. It had become a challenge of hers to do his crossword before he had the chance to even read the paper. Sometimes she'd even get up early and get his paper.

"He doesn't like losing," she muttered.

Nate moved his queen. "Check."

After staring for a few long moments, I finally kicked over my king and growled. "Screw it." Pushing my chair out, I moved around the couch to Sophie and Phantom. The dog had his head on her lap as I moved to the opposite side of her.

Nate put the chess game away, looking annoyingly smug. "Sophie tells me you're going out with the boy from the arcade tonight," he said glancing at me.

My cheeks lit up. Of course she would have told him. "Yeah, but it's not a date. We're going to his friend's house."

Nate glanced over at Sophie and she shrugged. They were really starting to co-parent more. They even began the whole "go ask Nate-go ask Sophie" thing that had be bouncing between the two of them. They weren't too bad usually, but it was weird. It was somewhere between living with divorced parents or something. Then again, I wasn't exactly an expert on parenting styles.

Eliot tended to do some parenting every now and then, even though it was just when I did something stupid and he felt like Nate and Sophie jumping down my throat wasn't enough. Hardison usually encouraged me to be and kid and Parker acted like a kid with me. Whatever, it worked.

Finally Nate looked back up at me. "Be home by midnight."

My jaw dropped. "What? Sophie said one! It's not like I go to school!"

Sophie held up her hands. "Hey, calm down," she said softly standing up and moving to the kitchen to get more tea. "I did say one Nate."

Nate glanced over at me, but nodded. "He will be coming up to meet us," he informed me curtly.

"What is this, the 1940s?" I muttered crossing my arms and sneering at nothing.

Both of my parents shot me a silencing look. They were not going to sway after last time.

When seven o'clock rolled around, I found myself waiting at Nate's apartment. I was very thankful I didn't have to explain to Aaron why I changed the location, but I was dreading the fact that the rest of the team was insistent about being there too.

My hair was straightened and I wore a leather jacket over my v-neck tee, plus my skinnies and favorite pair of black boots. Nate tried to make me change but Sophie shut him up. I was not dressed provocatively or badly, Papa Bear just didn't enjoy the fact I was going out at all.

"You have your cell phone?" Sophie asked for the second time.

I glared at her. "I'm beginning to miss Maggie, all she did was pat my head and send me on my way."

Sophie glared at me. "Maggie doesn't do what we do, she has less to worry about."

Nate muttered something but I didn't catch what. There was a knock on the door and everyone turned and looked at me. Sometimes these people drove me insane. Glaring at all of them, I moved to the door and opened it. Phantom immediately jumped off the couch to check out the guest.

Aaron smiled at me and bent down to pet the excited pup. "Hey, ready to have some fun?"

I smiled back. "Definitely." Nate cleared his throat in a reminder and I rolled my eyes. "But my, uh, family wants to meet you." There was a silent I'm sorry in that and Aaron just kept his smile.

Stepping out of the doorway, I took a deep breath. "Guys, this is Aaron. Aaron, er, meet the family."

He immediately stuck his hand out to Nate. "It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Clive. Thanks for letting Anna come hang out with."

Nate didn't seem the most comfortable but he shook his hand. When he only grunted in reply, Sophie glared at him.

"Just call him Nate," she said sweetly. "He's a bit grumpy." Then she offered out her hand to Aaron. "I'm Sophie."

Aaron accepted her hand and nodded before looking at the other three people in the room. Hardison and Eliot playing big brothers, just as uncomfortable as Nate, and Parker who seemed almost bored.

"And you all are…" Aaron said, obviously confused.

I grabbed his arm. "A really long story, well be back later. Bye guys," I tossed over my shoulder, but Phantom wouldn't get out of my way. Finally I groaned. "Dad, call Phantom please."

Nate blinked but did so. We rushed out the building, mostly because I was worried one of them would try and say I forgot something, which I didn't. As we made it out to the front of the building, I could feel Hardison watching us on the outside cameras.

"I'm really sorry about them; they're over protective," I told him, but he just laughed.

"They're nice," he said as he walked over to a motorcycle and picked up a helmet.

My legs froze in place. "That's your ride?" I gasped, staring at the beautiful black paint.

"Yup, my dad and I rebuilt her. Pretty cool huh? I thought you'd like her. You seem like a daredevil."

Aaron threw his leg over the bike and offered me a helmet. I grinned and climbed on behind him. "Boy, you have no idea."

Hardison and Parker watched from the computer screen as Anna climbed on the back of the motorcycle and buckled her helmet. Anna wrapped her arms around his waist and laughed heartily as he took off.

Parker whistled. "Nate's not gunna like that."

Eliot and Nate both whirled around to look at the two huddled over the computer. "Something come up on the background check?" Eliot growled moving toward them.

Hardison shook his head then pulled up the fifteen seconds of video with Anna climbing onto back of Aaron's bike. Sophie looked conflicted while Nate sighed and fell into the couch with exhaustion.

It was difficult to set fair boundaries and rules. Neither of them wanted Anna on a motorcycle, but that wasn't fair. Anna was doing more dangerous things than that on jobs, but being on the back with a teenage boy driving killed them.

Nate loved very few things in life, his family was one of them. His love was not expressed normally, but that girl was the most normal thing he had at times. Plus, she was so much like all of them. She had Sophie's beauty, Parker's need for thrill, Hardison's quick study, Eliot's strength, and his ability to destroy herself.

He glanced over at Sophie. She looked at him and gave him a confused look. It was at that moment where he realized he was smiling at her. Finally, he stood up and offered him her arm. "Well, if Anna's out for the night I think we should get dinner," he said to her before heading to the door. "Don't mess up my apartment guys," he tossed over his shoulder before closing the door behind him.

Sophie smiled at him. "Dinner?"

"Dinner at your place."

*Anna*

So, there were drinks at the party and they were really good. They said it was jungle juice but it tasted like fruit punch. Four red cups later and I was really feeling it.

"This is fun," I told him as his friend Michael filled my cup again. We were dancing, Aaron's arm around my waist.

Aaron laughed and let me go. "We better get going. Your parents said be home by one."

There was a moment where I was going to argue, but I didn't argue. Saying my goodbyes to the other guests, Aaron and I headed outside.

Aaron steadied me by my arm and smiled at me as he helped me onto the motorcycle. "You don't drink very often do you?" he asked.

I flirtatiously batted my eye lashes at me. "Let's just say I have more of a liver than my father."

He laughed at me and got on the bike as well. With one hand he made sure I was holding onto him tight, and my drunken state wasn't leaving me reckless. He kicked the bike started and we took off toward Sophie's apartment.

I loved the wind in my face and the way we leaned into turns. As we pulled up in front of the building, he helped me off the motorcycle and steadied me. I looked up at him, smiling mischievously.

"I think this is where you kiss me goodnight," I whispered taking a step closer to him and going up on my tiptoes.

Aaron smiled at me. "You mean," he gave me a soft kiss on my lips, "good morning."

When we pulled away, we both looked at each other and started laughing. "Look," I said touching my mouth. "I'm not really into dating, or anything." Finally, I extended my hand. "Friends?"

He laughed too. "Sounds good. That means next time I drink and you drive."

I shrugged. "I have to go say goodnight to my mother, let's see if she ever lets me out of the house again."

I was careful to be as quiet as possible as I unlocked the door and stepped in. Phantom was laying on the couch, but didn't get up to greet me, just wagged his tail until I petted him. As I headed down the hallway, Phantoms followed me. I opened my bedroom door for him and crossed the hall to Sophie's room.

As I opened the door, the lights were off and it was almost completely dark. Slowly I walked over to the side of her bed and reached out touched Sophie's shoulder.

"I'm home," I whispered, shaking her softly. When she didn't immediately reply, I turned on the lamp.

Sophie and Nate both jumped up, clinging to the sheet.

I stared at the two of them. "You have to be freaking kidding me.

So here we go! Anna finally discovered Sophie and Nate's secret! But, she also found them while she was drunk… Anyone else see a problem coming? And maybe a really awkward conversation? Please review. Love, Marilynn.