"We should go dancing tonight," Parker suggested, visiting Eliot and Hardison in their suite while Sophie put away her new purchases.

"Dancing? Like old-style ballroom or an underground club?" Hardison asked.

"Somewhere Sophie can wear her new clothes. She likes dancing."

Eliot frowned, "Parker, we talked about this..."

Parker ignored him, keeping her face turned towards Hardison, "can you try and find something, pretty please?"

"Fine," Hardison went to get his tablet and start the search, leaving Parker and Eliot alone.

The thief headed for the door but Eliot moved to block it.

"You need to stop. Sophie is still grieving Nate."

"It's been a whole year."

"There's no set cut off switch for this Parker. Everyone handles loss differently, some people find it hard to let go and some people are hard to let go of."

"You told me to wait and I did. I want to tell her."

"She's not ready to hear it. You're only going to get hurt and none of us want that."

Eliot recognised the look on Parker's face. He knew it meant that she was no longer listening to him. He counted to five then stepped aside to let her go.

"Do I want to know what that's about?" Hardison asked, eyes on his tablet.

Eliot made a noise that could have meant yes or no, but when Hardison looked up the Hitter just shrugged. Since he and Parker had split up - if their five minutes of trying to date could be called that - discussing their private lives had felt a little awkward. He and Eliot talked when she wasn't around, but he was never sure how she would react if she found out he'd been dating. From what he gathered half-listening to that conversation it sounded as though Parker might like Sophie and Eliot knew about it.

Hardison put the tablet down, looking his friend in the eye, "how long?"

"I found out after Nate proposed. She got drunk, it wasn't good. Apparently she'd been having feelings for Sophie for a while and she was just waiting for Nate to screw things up. She figured he'd get drunk and Sophie would end things, but when he proposed she went off the rails. I don't think she realised just how much she liked Sophie, or what it all meant, but she knew Sophie loved Nate and she kept quiet," Eliot seemed relieved to get it all off his chest at last. "Now Nate's gone and her feelings haven't gone away she wants to see if Sophie could feel the same way."

"I didn't realise."

"It's going to be such a mess."

"Sophie will know what to say to let down gently," Hardison reminded him.

"I hope so."

"So I guess that's why things didn't work out between me and Parker back then, if she was into Sophie."

Eliot decided to tell him the truth, it was only fair, "I think she was still working out about feelings. She loves you, but I think she came to understand that it was more like a brother than a romantic attraction."

"Oh."

Eliot grabbed two bottles of beer and offered him one.


Sophie wasn't sure that she was ready to go out dancing, but Parker had been so eager to go that she had given in. She'd helped the younger thief choose her clothes and hairstyle for the evening, before selecting her own outfit. Apparently Hardison had narrowed their options down to three locations, so Parker had headed over to his suite to discuss them while she got ready.

When there was a knock on her door, she was confused. Parker didn't need a key to get into the room, so even if she had lost hers then whoever was on the other side of the door wasn't going to be Parker. Feeling cautious, she looked through the peephole. As soon as she recognised the woman on the other side she shook her head and smiled, opening the door to her old friend.

"Tara. What are you doing here?"

Tara hugged Sophie before stepping inside the room, "your friends mentioned you were here and as I was in the neighbourhood I figured, why not drop by?"

"Well it's wonderful to see you."

"I hear we're going out dancing tonight. You can be my wing-woman, just like old times - except with no ulterior motives, though I might practice some of my accents before we get too drunk."

Tara took off her coat and Sophie complimented her on the incredibly form-fitting dress she was wearing underneath. The blonde took another look at Sophie's clothes and shook her head before asking which room was hers.

"Why?"

"Because you've definitely brought something better than that for a night out and we're going to find it."

"I don't think there's time..."

But Tara didn't listen. When Parker returned to the room she was surprised to see Sophie wearing her new dress, with the belt she'd brought. Tara prompted her for her opinion.

"It looks great," she felt a little lost for words but managed to avoid saying that she thought Sophie always looked great.


"Okay, so we've got a few back-up places in case you don't like this one," Hardison explained as they arrived at the club.

"I'm sure it'll be fine," Sophie tried to re-assure him.

Tara strolled up to the bouncer, subtly handed over a lot of cash and they were waved in despite the long queue which had formed at the door. They followed her to the bar, managing to order their drinks over the loud music, and took a look around. Out of the corner of her eye Sophie saw Tara dragging Elliot to the dancefloor and smiled. She nudged Parker and pointed to their friends.

"Ten bucks says Elliot escapes before the end of the song," Hardison bet them.

"His manners won't let him," Sophie disagreed.

"If he doesn't get into a fight, he'll stay," Parker told them. "I just hope no one tries to cut in on him, or bumps into him on purpose."

"Loser gets the next round," Hardison suggested.

"Deal," they agreed.

Elliot managed to stay with Tara through the song, though he was cutting it close as he headed off the dancefloor as the music changed. Tara had already spotted someone else to ask to dance with her though, and the four watched her as they finished their drinks. She returned to them a little while later, ordering another round, her skin flushed and eyes sparkling.

"Parker, your turn to dance with me," she said, taking the blonde's hand and pulling her towards the crowd.

"Oh, but I... no..." Parker's attempts to free her hand were in vain.

Once they were surrounded by the other patrons, Tara started to dance and Parker tried to copy her moves. Tara gently offered a few suggestions with whispered instructions and then a more hands-on approach. They remained dancing through two songs, getting more that a little attention from those around them. Parker kept glancing over at Sophie, but Tara drew her attention back each time.

"Should I go and rescue her?" Sophie asked as the second song drew to a close.

"Parker can handle herself," Elliot reminded her.

"I know, but..."

"Look, they're heading back," he nodded towards them.

"Hardison, you're up next," Tara told him.

"Fine, but just one song."

"We'll see," Tara laughed.

Parker sat down next to Sophie.

"Are you alright?" the grifter asked her.

"Yeah. You haven't danced yet."

"I'm happy just watching."

When Tara waved Sophie over as Hardison headed back to them, Parker stood up, "I'll come with you."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," Parker slipped her arm through Sophie's and walked her over to Tara.


They stayed out late, moving from the club to a coffee shop after a while and then headed back to the hotel.

"Do you mind if I crash with you tonight?" Tara asked, yawning. "It's too far back to my place."

"Of course," Sophie told her.

"You can have my bed, I'll share with Sophie," Parker offered.

"Thanks, but we've shared a bed before. Do you remember that time we crashed at that abandoned house..."

"The one without any furniture, and we had to sleep on the floor?" Sophie finished off for her, laughing as they walked up to the hotel.

Parker fell back, walking with Elliot and Hardison while Sophie and Tara walked on ahead.

"You can stay with us, if you want?" Elliot offered.

"Thanks, but it's fine."

"Remember what we said, about that thing we're not going to do while we're here?" he whispered as they made their way across the lobby.

"What makes you think..."

Elliot just gave her a look. He knew she was upset, that stealing made her feel better, and he didn't want her making any stupid mistakes because she was distracted. Parker put on a fake smile as they entered the elevator, but Sophie and Tara were too busy reminiscing to notice.

Hardison and Elliot wished them a good night as they separated into their own suites. Parker watched Sophie head to her bedroom, feeling a little jealous, though Tara hung back to talk to her.

"You don't need to worry," Tara told her, with a smile.

"You're both adults, it's none of my business."

"We're just friends."

"Sure," Parker went to her room and slammed the door.

She lay awake, scared to listen in case she could hear any noises from Sophie's room even though they were so far apart. Her hands itched to steal something, even though she'd made promises, and she wondered whether she should head up to the roof.

Parker wasn't sure how much time had passed before she headed out to the living area, her hand was on the suite door when the other bedroom door opened and Sophie stepped out. They'd left a lamp on in the living room before going to bed so there was enough light for Parker to see her, though Sophie didn't notice Parker until after she had closed her bedroom door.

"Going somewhere?" Sophie whispered, walking over to Parker.

Parker shrugged, "not tired. You?"

"Couldn't sleep, Tara's hogging the covers and all the space. She never used to, not that I can remember, but maybe I'm just not used to her anymore. I thought I'd try and sleep out here."

"You can take my bed, I'll sleep on the sofa," Parker offered.

"No, that's not fair to you, Tara's my friend. I'll be fine. I even managed to grab one of the pillows," Sophie was holding it to her, both arms wrapped around it.

"At least come and share my bed, you know I'll let you have half of the duvet."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course."

"If you can't sleep, we can talk for a bit?" Sophie offered when she'd reached Parker's room and noticed Parker had stayed by the suite door.

Parker nodded and smiled, before walking over.