Hey guys, sorry it's been awhile. I've been kind of busy with work and whatnot but that's always the excuse and ya'll are probably pretty tired of it. So THANK YOU so much for hanging in there! And a HUGE thank you to all of you who are following this story. I mean, DAMN. There's more of you than I ever expected. So, thanks again, okay, shutting up now.

She glanced around the room as the others filed out, Merritt holding the door open for her. Thank you. She told the shadows as she slipped out the door. Thank you so much. And she could have sworn that the shadows whispered back, You're welcome.

It had taken several months after that initial meeting for Harper to become comfortable around the rest of the members of their little group. She was so used to being alone and not having to answer to anyone but herself, that for quite awhile she would get into arguments, mostly with Daniel, that would result in her disappearance for a few hours. Funnily enough, the one to find her was usually Merritt. He never tried to force her to return, he'd just let her steam off on whatever high ledge she managed to climb up, while he smoked a cigarette until she climbed back down and started walking back. He never tried to talk and neither did she. There was something comforting in the silence.

However, there was nothing silent about New Orleans.

The city was full of the hustle and bustle of it's citizens getting prepped for one of it's biggest celebrations, Mardi Gras. Despite her, Harper found herself becoming increasingly excited as they got closer to the center of the city, her face pressed against the car window. People watching was her favorite sport, and there were ample participants in the city of lights. She startled when Jack, sitting next to her in the van, spoke over her shoulder. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you've never celebrated Mardi Gras." She turned to see him smirk. Not liking to be made fun of, she frowned. "I know what Mardi Gras is."

He shook his head, still smirking. "But that's not what I said. I said, it looks like you've never celebrated Mardi Gras." His smirk dropped when she didn't respond. "Well, have you?"

Harper fixed him with a glare, perfected over three months of dealing with his and Merritt's antics. "No, I haven't. But is it really that big of a deal? I'm sure I'll survive if I don't celebrate every holiday in existence thank you very much." Jack frowned and despite his annoying older brotherly tendencies, he looked kind of adorable when he was confused. Like a clueless puppy. "But that's not the point" He persisted. "We're in New Orleans, the birthplace of Mardi Gras! You'll be able to have the full Mardi Gras experience, first hand!" His eyes lit up with excitement and watched me expectantly, waiting for a positive reaction. Before I could comment, Daniel piped up from the front seat. "We don't have time to educate Harper, Jack. We have a show to put on and if you can't be focused then I guess you won't be able to handle a larger part in the act." Merritt snorted derisively, ignoring the scathing glance directed at him. "If the kids want to go on a date Danny-boy, you're the last person who's gonna stop 'em."

Jack blushed scarlet while Harper shifted uncomfortably in her seat. The fact that two people of the opposite gender could have a completely platonic friendship, devoid of any…"monkey business" as Merritt so eloquently puts it, appears to have been lost on the older Horsemen. Really, Harper fumed, we can't even play video games without Henley commenting on how cute we look together. As his face flushed a deeper shade of red, Jack mumbled, "It's not like that…." Merritt cut him off. "Oh, that's always the line. We're just friends, I think of her like a sister…" The mocking tone that he had adopted was starting to grate on Harper's ears. "Oh, shut it!" She snapped, hoping to end the awkward conversation once and for all. Merritt's eyes widened a bit as Harper proceeded to berate him. "We can't say hello without ya'll thinking it's some kind of innuendo, or you, Mr. Merritt, "politely enquiring" as to whether or not Jack has made it to second base yet! And it's getting old. So for the record, Jack and I are partners in a business sense. For example, Henley, I kid around with you, that doesn't mean I want to bang you…" Daniel took that opportunity to mumble, "Damn, that would be hot." before Henley took her hand off the steering wheel to smack him upside the head. Harper took a deep breathe to restrain herself from doing the same and continued, "He's my brother. Nothing more and nothing less." She paused to give Jack a reassuring smile which he returned halfheartedly.

Merritt, still eyeing her warily, ventured, "Y'know we were just teasing you darlin'. Geez, no need to PMS abou-" His complaint was promptly silenced by both women whacking him in the face.

The stage was all set for that night's show. There was still an hour and a half till curtain call and Harper was using that time to make sure all of her machines were prepped and primed. Grabbing a wrench, she struggled to tighten a screw that was coming loose on her light projector. She and Henley had joined forces in convincing Daniel that her hologram bubble projections belonged in the show. He finally relented after Jack had intervened on Harper's behalf and flashed Daniel the 'ole puppy eyes. "Works every time!" He had joked, smirking at her before going to practice his knife throwing. She grinned remembering how the doofus forgot to look where he was walking, and how fast the smirk had fled his face as he tripped over a giant spotlight fixture that she had taken down for repairs.

"Harper!"

Startled, she tried to sit up and immediately hit her head on the underside of the metal "teleportation" device that they had last used in Vegas. "Fuck!" She swore, rubbing vigorously at the throbbing spot on her forehead. "The fuck do you want Henley?" The older woman just smirked down at the tiny technician, still slumped on the backstage floor. "If you think your language is gonna scare me off missy, then you're very wrong. Two years performing in New York, remember?" Harper scowled up at the redhead through her bangs. "Yeah yeah, help me up, would ya?" Henley obliged, dusting off Harpers paint stained overalls after getting her vertical. She held Harper out by her shoulders, scrutinizing her appearance with a practiced eye. "What?" Harper demanded, feeling nervous from the way Henley was appraising her. Henley opened her mouth to reply, then paused. "WHAT?!"

"Ok, calm down." Henley released Harper. "You are going to change out of the overalls for the show, right?" Harper scuffed at the backstage floor, not meeting Henley's piercing eyes. "Dammit Harper." Henley growled. "C'mon." She snagged the straps of the offending garment, dragging the girl behind her as she weaved her way through the hazardous maze of stage equipment and props to the dressing room hidden in the backstage corner. "I think we can do better than that…"

An hour and two minor tantrums later, Henley emerged in her typical leather and lace ensemble to face the three men who had been standing there for a good portion of that hour, already dressed and waiting for the two ladies to come out. "Henley, what the hell is this, we've got thirty minutes till curtains go up and-"

"You're damn right we have thirty minutes and you will spare ten of them, Mr. J. Daniel Atlas, for this girl who has given a lot for this group. You will stand there, and you will thank her, and hell, you're gonna COMPLIMENT her. Do I make myself clear?" Daniel frowned at Henley's patronizing tone of voice. "Fine, whatever, just bring her out already." Her grin widened and like a true show woman, Henley swept back the red clothe covering the dressing room doorway. "Gentlemen I present to you, Ms. Harper Lee!"

Jack had been messing around with Merritt, impressed at how the mentalist was able to guess at where certain cards where hidden on his person. He snickered as Merritt dramatically put his hand to his head, feigning a headache. "Oooh, the spirits," He began in a bad imitation of a soothsayer. "…the spirits, they tell me that the Queen of Hearts is in your sleeve." Jack grinned and shook the card out. "Yep! Guess another!" Merritt repeated the gesture, moaning. "Ohhhh, the Ace of Spades…..it is…in…your pants?" Merritt cracked an eye open, cocking an eyebrow at the teen. "I don't even want to know." Jack shrugged and started to unzip his slacks when Henley cleared the dressing room entry with a flourish. And Harper stepped out.

And that's when he stopped breathing.

A sheer shimmery gray fabric covered the upper half of the black dress. A simple black ribbon cut off the gray material at the waist and tapered off into a black flared skirt that swayed with every step she took. Simple, yet elegant. And very feminine.

He couldn't take his eyes away when she lifted her face, blushing furiously, and he saw that the hazel eyes that were normally hidden under choppy bangs or knit beanies, were accentuated with makeup, making them practically glow. Her short hair was pinned back with a clip, decorated with silver leaves and her feet were bare. In his awestruck brain, he thought she looked like some ethereal forest spirit, or a dryad from the books he had read as a child. She turned her gaze onto him and his throat suddenly went dry. He wet his lips nervously, and opened his mouth to say something, anything….

She pointed. "Your fly's unzipped."

Merritt and Daniel both broke down in laughter at Jack's embarrassment as he flushed crimson and hurriedly pulled up the zipper on his pants. Henley shook her head, face in her palm as she muttered, "Oh, very ladylike Harper. Spot on." Harper couldn't stifle her own giggles before taking pity on poor Jack. "Oh, shut up guys, like you've never done that." She rolled her eyes at the older men, who curbed their mirth when Henley dragged them off by their ears, before walking up to Jack who was trying to cool his burning face. "And your tie's crooked. You're a disgrace to magicians everywhere, I swear to god Jack…" She fixed the off center tie and brushed her hands over his broad shoulders, picking off the lint she found there. "There we go." Her smile faltered under the intensity of his stare. "Jack? What's wrong?" She frowned. "Is there something in my teeth?" Jack shook himself out of the mild trance he'd been in and shot her a crooked smile. "Nah, you're good. It's just…I think this is the first time I've seen you out of plumber's clothing." She punched his shoulder none too gently. "I can clean up when I want to!" She spun around, ruining the ladylike image when she plopped down and tugged on a pair of stained black converse.

He smiled ruefully, rubbing the spot where her blow had landed. "Yeah…..you clean up pretty good." She looked up at him, surprised by the unexpected compliment. "…..Thank you?" She questioned, unsure as to whether he meant it, or was just making fun of her again. She ducked her head down again, focusing on tying her laces. If he was just making fun of her again, She would rather be oblivious this time. Now, why can't I get these damn shoes tied?! It's not like it's that hard, HE'S staring at me, that's why I can't focus…..since when did I start referring to Jack in all caps? And why does my face feel hot…..She was startled out of her inner thoughts when a pair of long fingered, calloused hands took hold of the laces and knotted them with quick efficiency. She popped her head up, to meet Jack's dark gaze. He was close enough for her to count the eyelashes that framed his eyes. As if he could hear her musings, those eyes crinkled as he smiled and leaned forward to kiss the bump on her forehead.

"I'm not even going to ask what caused that. Knowing you, you dozed off under the machinery again…"

This time, the punch was not aimed at his shoulder.

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Next chapter coming up!