Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Just a quick note to anyone reading in the UK- be safe, stay in and I hope the rioting has not affected you. Gutted at what the gangs have done...:( Police were out in force in my city last night, so sad at the damage caused. Could have been worse though. Where's Eliot when you need some ass kicking eh?

Thank you for your concern, you lovely awesome people, I am cool though. Unfortunately my R/L troubles are economy related, business wise, but what can ya do?

Oh and reviews are my cereal. So yum and thanks a million. It really means a lot that you all read this and take the time to comment. :)

I wasn't going to post this and I don't know why. *shrugs* But like I would ever leave you hanging? ;)

She stared at the stage transfixed, as everybody else watched the newly weds take hold, and begin to dance slowly, forehead to forehead, like they were the only people in the room. Parker watched Eliot, his eyes closed and fingers on the strings and thought she understood the feeling. The room had shrunk to accommodate two people for her too. He had a way of turning words into something haunting when he sang them, that country twang and honesty ripping her up and she was unable to tear her eyes away as his voice wrapped about the couple on the floor and curled up her spine.

Its amazing how you can speak right to my heart

Without sayin' a word, you can light up the dark

Try as I may I can never explain

What I hear when you don't say a thing

He opened his eyes and for a shatteringly piercing moment, he was singing right at her. Parker stared right back. He was stubborn and insulting and absolutely charming when he wanted and she had always known that, but it had taken time for them to trust each other, and that had mattered more once than the buzzy feelings he gave her some times on a job when they were so in sync. Now the current he plugged into her just with a look was addictive and she was no way ignoring it or denying it again. The fair hair on her arms prickled as he sang.

The smile on your face let's me know that you need me

There's a truth in your eyes sayin' you'll never leave me...

The touch of your hand says you'll catch me whenever I fall

You say it best, when you say nothin' at all

The guitar was like a delicate echo as his voice held the newly weds locked in a bubble, and her stomach rolled and her skin got tight. His voice was smoky and deep and licked all over her skin like electric kisses. Man he was good.

All day long I can hear people talkin' out loud

But when you hold me near

You drown out the crowd

Try as they may they can never defy

What's been said between your heart and mine

He was singing and playing and every word hurt as she wished fervently someone would be that sincere, that full of emotion for her. Which was ridiculous, since she had never been the slightest fanciful about things like that. Not at all. In a split instant, she knew without doubt that she had made the right choice about Hardison. Because she knew exactly who she wanted to think those things about her. And he was singing it raw on stage, and melting her mind with it. She also knew that she was straying into uncharted emotional territory and that was far more worrying than the physical yearning he inspired so she put it in the box rapidly filling with Eliot in her head.

Oh the smile on your face let's me know that you need me

There's a truth in your eyes sayin' you'll never leave me

The touch of your hand says you'll catch me wherever I fall

You say it best, when you say nothin' at all...

He bent his head and tapped his guitar, and Maria and Cory went over and hugged him for the song. The guests cheered and someone on a mic thanked Eric for his performance and Maria was beaming and Cory looked like a man just woken up, like he had lost time somehow. That's love she thought. Those two kids know more about it than I do. It was a weird thought to have and one she had never dwelt on before. Even with Hardison, love hadn't crossed her mind, just, the dating and hanging out and trying to please and avoiding overt intimacy wherever possible. She knew quite clearly that it was a platonic emotion that welled inside for her best friend. Because platonic in no way summed up her feelings for Eliot. This churning in her stomach and rush in her blood was not tame or comforting. It was jagged and bouncy and all consuming. She didn't know what to do about most of it, but she had a good idea how she could cure the very keen need he created in her body, and wondered if soothing that ache would diminish the other, vaguer wants. Then figured it hardly mattered. She wasn't looking to wade deeper. She felt she was deep into something alien as it was.

Staring at Eliot as he tried to make himself invisible and leave the stage so the dance band could set up, she saw his name card, and snatched it up. Not happening. Not after that.

At the main table, Maria and Cory were seated and Parker crept below the bench, and off to the back toward the entrance where waiting staff were loading up carts with drinks and napkins and sundries. Behind her she was aware of laughter and a speech of some sort going on, but was far more interested in resolving the issue of the name card to listen intently.

She tracked the villain with the name cards and gold pen easy enough, the waiter still had them in his back pocket. He turned when she tapped his shoulder and looked puzzled.

"We aren't serving food yet ma'am, just wine and beer. Would you-"

Making sure no one was listening, she closed in, eyes cold and put her finger to her lips.

"Sh. Did you write this name card?" She flashed up the Erik. The boy nodded.

"Did you just hear that man singing? Hmm? Did you?" The waiter nodded a little more forcefully, fear in his eyes as she tapped the name card on his chest. "Does he sound evil?"

"No! Why no, why would you-"

"That, is Eric. You, have branded him evil with a k, and not good with a c. Do you see?

Do you see what you did?" The boy plainly didn't and Parker pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Seriously? Am I the only one who freakin' knows this? Erik with a k, bad, Eric with a c, good. My Eric, is good. Got it?" Her hiss got a little louder than she hoped and she glanced back, but all eyes of the guests were on the main table on Maria's father by the looks of him delivering a toast. Now the boy just nodded, hoping to escape when a guest turned around and waved him over.

"Got it ma'am and I am sorry if I could just-" Parker hauled him back by the collar as he made to leave.

"Oh no hotshot. Re write the card, now." He did so, scrawling it out on a new card from his back pocket. Parker was not impressed with his penmanship and frowned at him with narrowed eyes. Whipping the card from his hand she span away, then over her shoulder, "Remember the rule kid. It's rude to misspell people's names."

It pissed her the hell off on Eliot's, well Eric's behalf. He'd just brought grown men near to tears for gods sake, get his name right, it's just four little letters I mean-

"Parker?" Eliot came up behind her as she reached their spot at the end of a bench, and she whizzed the card onto the table quick. He didn't have to know about evil Erik's appearance.

"Eric." Oh he looked a little awkward, shy almost. Then put on his game face. Tough as nails Eliot Spencer. It made her chest tight.

She pulled his head down to hers and kissed him as thoroughly as humanly possible without crawling inside him and camping there. Damn it was good. This was definitely the way to go to soothe one ache anyhow. Definitely. He held back, then muttered screw it and caved, wrapping one of his arms about her waist, avoiding her bruises and using the other to thread a hand through her hair and cradle her head. She was on fire the instant his tongue touched hers, and wanted to rub up on him like a cat on a scratching post. His hands lifted her waist and sat her on the table top as he stepped closer. Her mouth widened and allowed him deeper as he swept his tongue over hers and she met him stroke for stroke, which only had him kiss harder and she wondered if they may end up as one single biological unit and found that she didn't care if they did. Not at all. He bit her bottom lip and then drew it into his mouth and she met his eyes and knew hers had darkened, had felt every cell scream it's utter red alert status. His hand left her waist to find her knee under the skirts and his rough palm smoothing up her bare thigh toward her hip had her dizzy. His thumb drew patterns on her skin and his grip tightened when she hitched forward. The kiss became beyond erotic as he sucked her bottom lip deliciously and she sighed, wondering what else he could do with that mouth and how soon she could find out. He hands gripped his head and his jaw, the rough shadow electrifying against her palms. He was coconuty and fresh and edible.

They both grew conscious of the eyes of everyone at the table they were now actually sitting on staring at them in the same instant. Right. Eliot withdrew from her mouth like he was diffusing a nuclear war head. His eyes were just a bit wild as their breathing filled the silence.

"Awkward" she singsonged under her breath. Eliot growled. Glancing over her shoulder Parker realised it was in fact the entire wedding hall watching. And she couldn't take them all out, hell Louise was nice and Maria was radiant and she could only really justify Scarlet's prompt demise.

Privacy. That's what was required. Like now.

"Well it appears we may be attending another wedding in the not too distant future!" The best man admirably saved the moment and the room chuckled and Eliot looked green at the idea, which gave her some satisfaction. He had busted written all over him. So much for his not kissing plan she thought, extremely proud of herself as she smiled at the audience and winked at Scarlet and gave a little wave at those now laughing, taking it well, high spirits and all that.

Eliot sat down and dragged her off the tabletop and onto the seat with him, before bending to speak in her ear, tickling her hair and teasing her newly sensitive skin.

"Seriously Parker? What the hell was that for?" He didn't sound really mad about it. More bewildered and growly. His hand lay on her thigh and she wiggled closer on the bench.

"Eliot said it was a bad idea," she told him in a low tone. "Eric on the other hand-" she bent in and kissed his neck lightly, because it was close and he smelt nice, before continuing, -" well he seems to like it so we can do whatever we want. Oh and I really liked his song."

Eliot thought about that as she watched, and stared at her a little too long, eyes bright and mouth parting then closing tight, before looking into the guests all chatting and laughing as the best man made the rarest of things, a joke that worked. There were a few curious looks aimed at them but nothing too obvious. Not like they were laying full stretch on the table for Gods sake, Parker thought idly, then gripped the table top and patted it, testing it's strength. Could they do that? She wondered if the thing would hold. He looked back and his eyes took in her concentrated tests on the table top. He put a hand to his mouth and ran it down his jaw.

"I don't do relationships Parker." He sounded hoarse.

"Not new information Eric." Still stung after her self examination earlier though but whatever. Spiteful resentment washed through her as he sat there handsome and detached. Detached was her thing and she wanted it back. "You know, I didn't think you'd be such a prude about this, but if you aren't interested in exploring my options in this area I totally get it. I'll just find someone else willing to explore them with me. It's all good." She patted his thigh and felt him tauten to almost snapping point beneath her hand. She whispered confidingly. "It's a wedding right? How hard could it be to-"

"Parker, you aren't exploring anything with anyone." He grabbed a beer off the table and glared at the guy whose it was, who wisely decided to just let the issue go, and downed it in one. Since Parker knew without question that no one else was going to be able to satisfy the need he wrought in her, and also that after their display no man in the place would dare lay a hand on her in that fashion, she wondered why he bit so hard. He was difficult to bluff usually, always just staring at you, like, really? You think I'm buying that? Interesting and mildly annoying.

"Pretty sure that was a Rule Four break there you know." She smiled apologetically at the poor man whose beer was swiped.

"Nope. I'm picking up the freakin' tab. Technically it's mine." Oh. He was footing the bill? Somehow she knew he hadn't meant to say that when he frowned and clutched the now empty bottle tighter.

"That's a really-" He interrupted her attempt at a compliment impatiently.

"You will not, under any circumstances be exploring anything with some strange guy. Do you understand me Parker?"

God his obey me voice was getting her hands clammy and made her womb clench. He could be a real stubborn a hole when he wanted she thought A hot one, but still. Did he not get what a huge deal it was for her to be so open about this? That for her desire to have cracked the surface of her usual cool façade was thrilling and terrifying? That she was scared of what she wanted but felt secure enough to express it because he was Eliot? Whatever happened he would not hurt her. Physically he was built to protect. It gave her the sense of throwing herself off a building with a safety net, and this time she needed that net. The net was Eliot. It hurt that he didn't want to be it.

"Why?" It was suddenly very important that he explain because she'd had no intention of doing so anyway and it made her furious that he really thought she might. Had she not just kissed him with intent? He closed his eyes and his head tipped back.

"Not playing this game with you darlin'."

"That's the trouble Eric." Parker wanted to scream in frustration at his hard headedness, but spoke low as they all raised a glass to toast the happy couple. "I'm not playing a game. I couldn't be more obvious unless I sky wrote it. Whatever. I really do suck at this sed-"

Eliot caught her hand off his thigh and swept it across his pants with a feral glare. Parker was shocked at the explicit act and extremely interested in the erection straining at his fly that she felt intimately as a result. Hmmm.

"Happy now? I won't be standing for a freakin' week at this rate. You need to feel like an attractive woman capable of owning a man by his balls? Well done Parker, mission accomplished." Eliot was seriously sexy when being quiet and honest Parker realised, and she shouldn't be pushing him so hard about it, but they were more alike then he knew. She was endlessly patient with her work, and utterly impatient when it was non-work related. She wasn't going to hang around now she knew what she wanted. Louise's words were still ringing in her head.

"Erik with a k after all. " Parker sighed, and put her head on his shoulder. He waved over a waiter, not the idiot one, and ordered a beer. Then made it two.

"What's that now?" He glanced at her puzzled, his cheeks still flushed and blue-grey eyes bright. His hands holding the empty bottle were fidgeting, something he rarely did and she studied his fingers as they began to peel the bottles label off.

"Nothing." The speeches were over finally, and the band took to the stage, and the lead singer announced that food was being served and for folks to have a good time.

Waiters were pushing carts along and unloading dishes of hot potatoes and salad and steaming vegetables and placing them all in the centre of each table, an endless chain of food. Parker was hungry and food would have to do so she craned her neck to see when it would reach them.

"Hey is it just side dishes for dinner? I'm starving."

"Steak or salmon. I ordered you steak." Eliot took another slug of his freshly delivered beer and Parker grabbed the other, ignoring his warning frown as she took a swig.

"Thanks E-ric." The urge to say Eliot was instinctive. Parker scanned the hall and spotted Scarlet on the other side on her cell. The red head looked sexy and sophisticated in that dress. Sure, only assassins or mistresses wore red to a wedding, but it looked amazing and Parker grabbed a bread roll and started chewing as she wondered how she could make Eliot lose his principles in the next hour. Scarlet was eyeing him from a distance, and though Eliot was clear nothing had gone on, Louise had seemed to insinuate that at the very least scarlet wanted there to be. Did she make a play for him when he visited? Would she try despite the floor show? God she hated all these questions in her head. Suddenly she was the woman who snarled at strangers because of a man. When the hell had that happened?

"Parker we need to get this situation under control before we go back to Boston. You know that right?" Was that a promise? Parker frowned and chomped on her bread roll.

"What do you mean under control?"

"Resolved. No-not resolved, damn it, we need to..." Parker raised an eyebrow at him as he struggled with the realisation that she had already made earlier. It made a change to catch on first. This situation only had one logical method of controlling it. Ignoring it wasn't going to work. She stroked his thigh toward his crotch and his knee hit the table. He glared at her.

"All in favour of controlling the situation as many times as possible before morning? Aye." She put her hand up and grinned at him. For a moment she thought he was going to yell, he looked so very frustrated, but then he nodded and looked tormented and relieved all at once. And then he grinned as if letting the worry go taking a swig of his beer. He cocked his head at her. His expression guarded and thoughtful.

"You know this will ruin us don't you?" Oh. He really was deadliest with words sometimes. She blinked and faced him, elbows on the table and hair tickling her arms where it fell.

"No. Why would it?"

"Well look what happened with H." His eyes searched for hers and he studied her as he destroyed the bottles remaining labels.

"We didn't have sex and me and Hardison are fine."

"Whoa, TMI Parker." Then. "Not even close?" Huh, what did he care?

"Nah." she shrugged, uncomfortable speaking about it. "But I don't see what that has to do with us."

"There isn't an us Parker."

"Then there's nothing to ruin then is there?" She obliterated a bread roll and ate it piece by pierce. Dude was talking in crazy circles. "Problem solved let's get to-"

"Not what I meant Parker, I mean, yeah there's an us, but not like with you and... " he cursed and gave up, with her or himself she wasn't sure. "Forget it. I gotta go talk to Lou about the guests who are staying over, make sure no one goes mountain climbing in the dark. Enjoy your steak."

"Wait what-" The waiter placed her steak on the table and she watched Eliot stride across the hall to Louise, and take her elbow politely. He really was a gentleman. The waiter passed her a napkin with her cutlery and she accepted it distractedly.

She made up a plate and ate, smiling at her fellow guests and thinking hard. She wondered if Eliot still was, then sighed. Dude was a nightmare. She just wanted to have sex for Gods sakes, pretty sure that would stop the other fuzzy feelings in his direction. People lost interest after sex right? Sophie said so. Well men apparently did because they were dick-led soulless bastards. Her words.

Maybe Parker was built that way too. She mulled on it.

"What happens after dinner?" she asked the guy opposite and down a few seats and he paused, before taking another mouthful of food.

"Music, drinking, dancing, the usual wedding revelry."

"And how long does that last again?"

"Could go on all night, there's a lot of us staying at the rentals and leaving tomorrow." He smiled easily, dull but nice. "You got somewhere you gotta be lady?"

"Thanks." She dismissed him and looked back over at Eliot, frowning. Hell yeah, she did and she wasn't waiting till the last drunk passed out to get there either.

**** Lyrics not mine lol. Song in case you don't know it (though I think you might!) is:

When You Say Nothing At All, written by Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz****