Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Thank you to all reviewers and followers of this fic-R/L is rubbish right now but you guys really motivate me to write! Plus losing myself in these two is good therapy...:D

**Updated from earlier as tweaks got eaten by bad mojo on my lappy**

Naughty lappy!:P

Parker almost passed out doing up the buttons on her dress. But sweat at her brow, and nausea rolling up and spilling into her trachea threatening to cut off her lungs were still not enough to make her call for help. Not with Scarlet freakin' Woodeaves downstairs. She did throw the hair dryer she found in her room in disgust when her arms refused to co-operate any longer, having reached their limit with the demanding task, but managed to land the offending object on the bed not the wall. So that was completely unsatisfying. She managed to plait her hair in two strands but it was exhausting. Her arms were fine, it was the stretching her back to lift them that hurt like a bitch. Speaking of which.

Scarlet Woodeaves. Parker wanted to throw her off the overhang into the river far below and pick up in Eliot's bedroom where they had left off like the doorbell had never rang.

That kiss was...something else. Eliot's hands on her face were rough but gentle and his mouth so commanding, she had almost saluted rather than grab his neck to hold on. Hot. She finally knew what hot meant. It had singed her veins and boiled her blood and had her body throbbing and that stupid red head had crossed a line by showing up here. Parker wasn't clear what line, or who had drawn it, but she knew on a basic level, that Scarlet Woodeaves had committed an unforgivable act just by breathi - being here. Offering a friendly lift my ass.

Eliot passed by the door way, adding cuffs to his white shirt and caught her just as she was pretend throttling the red head, and she stopped immediately, banding up her plaits instead. His pale blue eyes narrowed.

"Did you need a hand with your dress Parker?" His voice was low, and the question should not have been inflammatory but it was. Ever since her bath had been destroyed with images of him taking his own shower down the hall, everything seemed to be sex related. Her mind twisted all thoughts toward naked Eliot. Kissing a naked Eliot. Killing Eliot for letting another woman in his house. She shook her head.

"I managed, thanks." He tipped his head, watching her sharply. He had tied his hair back, and in black trousers, white shirt and the same indigo waistcoat as Cory, he looked like a spy from a movie. A hot spy whom the plot demanded must be naked and/or seduced at some point. Yeah. The best kind of spy.

"Parker will you stop doin' that?" He hissed and she widened her eyes not sure what she was doing.

"What?"

"Lookin' at me like I'm freakin' dinner. It's disturbing." She blushed and threw a boot at him.

"Fine. You're off the menu. Happy?" She plonked herself on the bed, yanking her boots on then realised one was in Eliot's hands. Crap. So much for that little victory.

"Look Parker I-" She hopped over and snatched her boot back, in no way mollified by his regretful expression. Eliot could kiss her ass the arrogant dick. The idea actually made her tingle and she hated him for being so god damn worldly and contained. Well she could be that too. She lived her whole life being cool and aloof right?

"Food should not speak." Yanking on her boot she stood and patted down the skirt of the turquoise dress. It felt good. Swishy. Sweeping passed Eliot on the landing she ignored him haughtily. She had a visitor to deal with.

Scarlet was sitting on one of the leather sofa's in the lounge, and Parker wished she had gotten the tour before being hustled into the bath. The red head looked very much at home here.

"Why hello again Parker. What a pretty dress. How much longer will you need to get ready?"

Me-freakin'-ow. Parker assessed the woman, who despite the red hair had tawny skin. It was an irritating fact to go along with a growing list she decided. Parker hadn't packed a toiletry bag, she had borrowed items from Eliot's bathroom to bathe with. Now she felt uncouth and childish, having packed nothing but a toothbrush and pants. At least she had acquired a new pair of those from the Plaza and the ever lovin' Jenny had sent up a black bra and pants set to match her burglar outfit. She really should send that girl a gift. But now she was plain faced and feeling it. Make up wasn't a major concern usually but she was a woman, despite the team's confusion at times. She knew mascara looked better than none, and that pale peach was best as a blush for her skin tone. She wasn't a freakin' idiot. She just hadn't planned ahead.

"I'll just be a minute girls," Eliot jogged down the stairs and out of the front door and Parker stared after him feeling murderous. Girls? Like his gaggle of? Huh.

"So Scarlet, what exactly do you do?" Parker found Eliot's open plan kitchen and asked as she pulled a box of cereal from a cupboard. Her kind. Sweet. She was going to need it.

"Do? Honey do you mean as a job?" Scarlet said the word job as if it were an illegal activity one could do twenty to life for. Which in Parker's case it was, but she ignored that observation and stared at the woman, chomping on a handful of crunch.

"Well yeah." Parker raised an eyebrow. D'uh.

"I am involved in various charity organisations around the counties, and manage my late fathers estate."

"Oh. Sorry about your dad." Even strong dislike couldn't keep the automatic condolence at bay.

"Why thank you Parker. He passed a few years ago now, but I still miss him." Parker wondered if she was going to manage not to stab Scarlet with a fork. She really wasn't sure. Even when being polite, the woman said her name as if talking to a three year old and having to remind them of it every minute. Parker, your name is Parker. Can you say Parker? It had her hand go reaching for the kitchen drawer.

Fortunately for one of them, Eliot returned holding a bag and smiling politely at Scarlet, paused.

"The lift to the wedding is appreciated Scarlet, saves me having to leave the truck later on. Would you forgive us a minute before we head over?" The red head smiled serenely and trailed a polished nail down her throat as she answered. Parker decided a knife would be far more effective than a fork.

"Why of-course. Can't have the poor girl showing up half finished now can we?"

Eliot slipped the knife from Parker's death grip and bodily removed her from the living area and up the stairs with a tight smile in Scarlet's direction. She knew better than to struggle and gave in. His arms were pretty muscular after all.

Upstairs, Parker pushed him off as soon as they reached her room.

"Is manhandling really necessary?"

"Is manslaughter?"

"So you admit I was provoked." She put her hands on her hips, oddly satisfied with that.

Eliot ran a hand over the back of his neck. He looked...flustered. He looked like Nate did on occasion after Sophie stropped out of a room. It was intriguing to Parker, and she watched him closely, arms folded, waiting.

"Moving on from whatever that was," he cleared his throat, "I picked you up some stuff in Morgantown." He handed her the bag.

"What is it?" Instantly suspicious Parker received the small bag as if handling live ammunition. With Eliot who knew what constituted as a gift? Nate and Sophie got him a samurai sword for Christmas for cripe sake.

"Just some things I figured you'd need. You packed ridiculously light remember?" He seemed nervous which was most unlike him. Curious she opened the bag. Oh.

"El-Eric, I could kiss you." She grinned at him, and he stepped back as is she were about to launch herself bodily at him. Well that was a little offensive she decided, pursing her lips.

"About that Parker, I should have known better. Look, maybe it's best if we just forget that happened and try and get through the weekend without any added complications."

"Riiiight. Complications." Parker wanted the knife back to use on him. You don't kiss a girl like that and open her eyes to just how awesome it could be, then nix it. Nu-uh. "So is she your lover?"

"What? Parker c'mon, Scarlet? I barely know her." Then he looked up. "Not that it's any of your business."

"Er hello? You kissed me. Twice. I won't be made an accessory to your philandering." She was pretty pleased with that one. Sophie would be proud. She grabbed the bag and sat at the dresser. "Besides," she continued, feeling on a roll and getting a sadistic buzz off the panic in Eliot's eyes,"doesn't barely knowing her make her an ideal candidate for you?"

Eliot blinked, and his expression was eminently satisfying. He looked like she'd just round housed him with her pretty suede boot. She ripped open the blusher in the stash he had thoughtfully supplied and applied it furiously. Huh. Peach.

"How did you know what colour to get?" She was too curious not to ask despite the frosty atmosphere. She watched him respond automatically in the mirror, his hands at his hips as he paced behind her, his eyes on the floor.

"What? Not hard, Parker, whenever you get dressed up for jobs you always have a kind of apricot glow, all sunny and-" He stopped abruptly and cleared his throat loudly. "Anyway, can we just agree to get through this without any more kissing?"

Man he was actually pleading, she thought, as she slicked on the mascara he had also purchased. Her eyes grew larger in the mirror. Hmm. A dab of the deep green eye-shadow on her lids and a smudge of nude lip-gloss and she was done. Pouting in at her reflection, she figured she would do, and undid the bands of her damp plaits, now dried into tousled waves.

Standing from the dresser leather stool she turned around and he looked at her, still waiting for an answer, brow creased and mouth just a little too kissable. Parker stepped up close and whispered in his ear like she had witnessed Sophie do so many times on a con.

"If we aren't going to kiss then how exactly can I thank you for the very thoughtful gift you bought me Eliot?" His cheeks were hot under her breathe and she felt all jangly again. His head turned a fraction and his breathing hitched and she smiled, confidant she had him snared. Their cheeks were touching and lips parting and oh yeah he was going to give in again all right-

"We really need to leave now if we want to hear the vows!" That damn woman's voice split the air.

"In a minute!"

Parker and Eliot both bellowed in frustrated unison and their heads turned to the door as one to do it. Parker was getting seriously pissed off with that woman. Eliot wasn't all that pleased with the interruption either, since his slate blue eyes had darkened and his mouth parted ready to snatch hers up and school her in kissing again. Once his frown at the stairs eased his expression cleared and he stepped back.

"How about you say thank you by not stabbing anyone at the wedding? That'd be great."

"I honestly am not sure I could keep that promise." Parker seriously was not at this particular moment and Eliot grinned at her bluntness, his eyes sparking. It made her chest flip. He shook his head and sighed.

"Oh and here," he fished something sparkly from his pocket. She stepped close to study it. A butterfly pendant in sterling silver and a set of earrings to match. From Tiffany's. She had seen them during the non robbery. Inexplicably she couldn't speak as he slid the pendant on for her. It hung beautifully, and shone against the turquoise and tiny white embroidered flowers of her dress. Her hand found it and held the warm weight in her hand. Eliot's warmth, in more ways than one.

"What happened to Rule Four?" It was all she could think of saying, as a weird soft feeling rushed through her lungs.

"Still intact. I left 'em the cash with a note. C'mon we gotta go." Eliot refused to meet her eyes and grabbed his suit jacket from over the bannister where he had left it. Fastening the earrings, Parker looked at herself in the mirror and felt complete. It was a new feeling. She liked it.

She walked down the stairs and met Scarlet's gaze easily. The pretty adversary noted the added polish but made no comment.

"Excellent, let's be gone then shall we? Poor Louise will be having kittens if anyone is late to this wedding." Scarlet then tucked her hand into Eliot's arm and he froze, before glancing back at Parker. He looked about as hunted as he did when he was dealing with thugs, a calculating gleam in his eye weighing up exactly what his best options were in this situation. Parker grinned, and decided not to care. Scarlet could do what she liked. Parker had butterflies in her ears and swinging at her neck. Skipping in front of them and out of the door, she waited at the door of the silver Ferrari the woman in red had driven up to ferry them in. And smiled.

/ /

The ceremony was beautiful. Sat on pews in the sunshine set at a stunning overlook, Parker perched beside Eliot wide eyed. Cory and his wife, a blooming very pregnant Maria, said their vows beneath a white trellis archway threaded with violets and lilacs and kissed to rapturous applause once pronounced man and wife. It was an odd idea to Parker, to be somebodies something like that, promise forever and in the eyes of God. It was not an idea that had ever crossed her mind, being a wife. Having a husband. Man she had just sorted out what a best friend was and had yet to get a plant past it's three month anniversary. How these two could be so sure so young was impossible to understand, but she could see the sincerity of their vows and it touched her. That they believed it.

Eliot was quiet during the vows, his eyes clear and his expression closed, but his smile was wide and split open in delight for Cory as the young man whooped after the kiss. He obviously cared for the young man a great deal. It tugged at her. She sat up straighter. Eliot was not a romantic. He was like her. Tough and straight forward and didn't trust easy. He was loyal too. She ignored the running commentary on all of Eliot's qualities in her head and clapped as Mara swept into the open lawn beyond the pews to throw her small bouquet of violets and irises. Eliot elbowed her gently. She glared at him. He nodded, indicating she should join the other women who had all gathered good naturedly to catch the traditional good luck omen. Parker gripped her pew. She was not getting up there.

"Go on, what's the matter?" Eliot bent to ask her, his mouth brushing her ear as she moved. she swallowed as he halted at the touch, and closed her eyes.

"I really don't want to." She said it through a false smile as the women laughed amongst each other. She felt her stomach roll and chased away the memories that clouded above her. Not today. It was stupid to let such a dumb thing ruin the day.

"Parker it's just a silly tradition sweetheart. They won't hog tie you and make you marry a stranger if you catch it darlin'."

"They did once." The whisper was out and she swore under her breath and stood, brushing her dress off. Screw it, that was a long time ago and she wasn't that victim any more. She ignored the call of her name from Eliot. Concentrating on reaching the throng of glamorously dressed women. She had stolen the Hope Diamond and put it back just because she could. She could do this. She breathed through the stress. It was fine. Totally fine. Just stand and smile and walk away after. Not hard. Not scary.

She caught the damn bouquet on reflex as she scanned the faces of the laughing ladies and threw it to one of them immediately as if stung. Then wiped her hands on her dress, beyond disturbed. Still not learnt to let it fall. Still stupid Parker eager to please. Man she felt like a child again. And wanted to scrub the feeling away. Sometimes her instinctive reflexes were no freakin' help at all. She was staring at her skirts and hands and paying no attention to the gurgle of queries from the women about her. Just intent on getting the traces of bouquet off her hands.

Then Eliot was there, holding her hand and pulling her away from the curious looks and putting his arm around her shoulder and kissing her forehead.

"Parker you okay?" He gritted the question at her skin, as if they were on a job in enemy territory and she knew he was protecting her, and she nodded woodenly. Of-course she was okay.

"It was just flowers," she said, and glanced back at the crowd about the new bride, and saw how happy they were in the sunshine, laughing about the girl who had caught it after Parker threw it like a live grenade at them. "I don't know what made me so...it's just flowers isn't it?"

The revelation was a wondrous one for Parker, and she felt pathetic for reacting so strongly to a memory not worth keeping. In any way. A memory best forgotten and buried. With so many others.

Eliot looked down at her, and seemed to breathe out a lungful of air as she stared back, free suddenly of the tethers her history often held her back with out of the blue. She smiled at him, and hugged his waist, grateful he was there.

"One day Parker," he said into her hair behind her ear, "you are gonna write me a list of names, and when you give me that list, you won't ever remember them again. Not a single one. You understand me Parker? They won't exist any more. Not anywhere, past or present."

Parker felt the vibration in his chest, and the vice like grip of his arms and knew exactly what Eliot meant. And when she looked up, and met his eyes, in a weird way, Parker felt like another vow had been made, and it was theirs and theirs alone. It resonated inside her as she accepted it.

"I have to go get set up a minute, you wanna come with?" He was serious and his concern two parts touching and one part maddening. She was fine on her own. She didn't need treating like glass. She had fought long and hard so she wouldn't be. But her anger wouldn't really take hold, so she just shook her head and let him out of her hug.

"I'm cool. Over it. Go on, I'm fine." She had to push him away when he stubbornly refused to budge and she made a dude-I'm-totally-fine face at him. "Go."

Finally his arm left her shoulder and he nodded, eyes darting to a group of men making their way to a barn a short distance away in the shaded clearing.

"OK. See you in a minute." Then he was off, jogging over to the group traipsing into the barn. Parker realised she hadn't asked where he was going. Or what he was setting up for.

Louise appeared at her side, joy etched all over her face.

"It was a beautiful ceremony." Parker was sure that was safe. Louise nodded, eyes bright in the sunshine.

"Wasn't it? Oh what a day." They stood together quietly for a few moments, listening to the congratulations and general chatter of the guests as they milled about the open air pews. The scent of forest and perfume and life seemed to fill Parker up from head to toe as the sun kissed her all over. Louise nestled in, and Parker let herself accept the comfort lightly offered. She felt peaceful.

"When my Paul died, I would never have imagined a day like this in our future you know." Louise was looking up, and Parker wondered if she was the one being spoken to for a heart aching moment, then realised it didn't matter. "You lose somebody and...well, the world stops spinning for a while. My Cory kept us from falling apart. He never even thought twice. Just took on a job, and the weight of the world like he was born to do it. And I know my Paul isn't gone. He's in that boy's eyes every time I look at him. And I don't give a damn if they got life in the wrong order. Because life is too short to be ordered like that. It's a road you walk, not a test you take."

Parker wondered if her sudden flash of tears would be noticed as she blinked into the azure sky above. God damn people and their hearts all breaking hers on this trip. She didn't want to care enough to fall out a moving truck again. But she knew why she was hearing this too. Like found like. Sad saw sad. It was a magnetic thing. A universal rule of recognition, she had yet to con in the real world.

"You'll make a wonderful grandmother Louise." Her voice cracked as she said it, and Louise put her arm about her and it was soft and wise and Parker wanted to put her head on the woman's lap and bawl. But she wouldn't.

"Yes I will. Come on child, help an old lady to the barn would you?" So Parker did.

/ /

Eliot was up on a stage at the back of the barn with a band. Parker felt an odd relief at the sight of him, and he caught her eye as she entered, helping Louise to the top table nearest the stage, but angled off to the left so the bass wouldn't deafen them. He looked anxious. Tight under the skin anxious, and she felt like an intruder suddenly. This had been his event. And she had gate crashed it, forcing him to share what he didn't want to, wasn't comfortable to. Guilt made her dizzy. She didn't like to share either. She didn't want him to feel anxious in front of his friends because of her.

He nodded to the side of the stage and she walked over, her head below his knees as he crouched down.

"Parker, this might be awkward."

"What?"

"I'm going to ask you to do something no grown man should ever freakin' have to ask but I'm kinda under the hammer here." His voice was low and his eyes wary.

Parker held out her little finger without thinking. He looked at it, and at her, then made the link.

She winked at him, not bothering with words since she knew exactly what he was asking. He nodded, brusque, but his eyes were warm and intense. Then leant down again, closer to her face, looking bothered again.

"Just don't..." He sighed and kissed her cheek, and she turned and caught his mouth. He groaned her name into the brief but scintillating kiss. His knee fell to the stage as he leant in and their mouths parted glossy and bee stung. It just wasn't enough Parker thought, greedy for more. He seemed to agree as their mouths smashed again, wilder this time as their eyes stayed locked as their lips met and he kissed her deep and hot and hard. Like he was branding her, which was fine by Parker. Brand away. She closed her eyes and stopped thinking about anything but the pleasure coursing through her hips and veins and she placed her hands on the stage as she strained closer. She wanted his tongue and hands and skin and hair all over hers, wrapped in hers, and she tip toed as he switched pace. Using his teeth he teased the tender skin just behind her top lip before licking it better intoxicatingly slowly and then slipped his tongue past her teeth to-

A band member coughed pointedly. Parker thought people should really be more careful about what they interrupted when silver ware was present. Eliot looked like he just he remembered where they were and ran a hand over his face, then looked at her like it was her fault. Again.

"Parker-" Not interested in his can'ts and verbal hand wringing she ignored him completely.

"Don't what?" Parker watched the room filling as people found their name cards set on the benches set either side of the barn, a space left clear in between for dancing? She figured so.

"Damned if I remember darlin'." He grimaced, eyeing her with a hunger that she recognised because she shared it. Then he shook it off and stood, hefting a guitar over his shoulder and across his chest, his suit jacket gone she realised. "Just stay out of trouble while I get this done all right?"

She nodded, and wandered up and down the benches as they filled with guests, searching for a place setting for Eric Randel, Eliot's name here. She found hers first, and glanced over at Louise on the head table in surprise, who smiled at her secretly. Nice lady. The gold printed name placement was for her. She glanced to the right and saw Erik. Erik. Incensed, Parker searched around for the culprit responsible but got distracted when she found Scarlet's card and spent a few minutes destroying months of careful planning by switching it for a card on the opposite bench. They had squeezed her in she thought, noticing that her and Eliot were on the end of the bench but not really caring. Having her own name card was worryingly heart warming. She slipped it into her dress when no one was looking. Then the guests went quiet and a guy at the top table picked up a mic and spoke.

"May we introduce Mr and Mrs Wentworth, for their first dance."

First dance? They had done more then dance by the size of her bump Parker figured, a little confused by the ceremony of it all. Usually she was cracking a safe at this point.

The couple walked onto the wooden dance-floor just in front of the stage and both were beaming. It was adorable, Parker had to admit, as the sunshine caused beans to light up the dust in the barn through the roof and the entire setting looked golden and dream like. Pretty.

Then a guitar began to play, and Eliot was singing low and gravelly and it frazzled her brain and swallowed her heart.