Sophie and Jack recited their experience to Jim and Sebastian very least 3 times, Jim's reaction remaining happy with glee the entire time, and he actually applauded their technique of getting the driver out, the only moment his glee faltered was when their injuries were brought to light. Even though Sebastian had cleaned and bandaged them twice. Sebastian's reactions varied. Furious with the Government for kidnapping teenagers was the start. Then a lecture about being irresponsible and not thinking their actions through (come on- their plan worked!) and finally holding Sophie close, whispering into her curls how he never wanted to lose his favourite girl.

Now, Sophie was outside. Outside and alone. The villa mansion was stunning beyond comparison, and Sophie had been shown her bedroom just as she had with back home. The luscious green grass slid between Sophie's bare feet, tickling her heels as she sat in a far, almost completely hidden area of the lavish garden. She was thinking.

The aftermath of killing a fellow human being was dawning on her. He was just an escort. Just doing his job. OK, so he was probably fully armed and didn't even hesitant to kill her, but that was it. Sophie didn't hesitate to kill him. He could've had a family. A wife. A home. Children. But that wasn't really what was prying through Sophie's thoughts. It bothered her, of course. She'd just killed someone, anyone who didn't feel even the slightest form of remorse after taking the life from someone, well; they had to be Jim Moriarty. But that wasn't it. Not really.

Sophie never really cried about the death of her parents. After all, she was never close to them. Not really. She didn't see them. Jeremy Moran, the successfully sought after university English professor. Young, tall, strong, handsome, clever. Everything Sebastian was. And her mum, Alison Moran. A brain surgeon. Beautiful, caring, defensive, efficient. Everything Sophie was. They had very demanding jobs. A very demanding life. Sophie always supposed it was good she naturally knew exactly how to defend herself, (OK, maybe with help from the kill-course), because spending time alone at night when her parents worked late was something of a consistent occurrence for Sophie when her mum and dad were alive. They'd come home at ungodly hours when Sophie was 13, as she laid in bed and listened to the sound of the car revving through their driveway and slipping inside in the dead of night. Never made a sound.

But it didn't matter that Sophie rarely saw them, they were her parents. They loved her, and they were part of her. She was reflecting now, when the gun that the driver had pointed at her to make the death shot, everything she'd ever thought of, locked away, forgotten, came rushing back to her in the space of 3 seconds. Had the same happened to her parents? When they were driving their car, did they have that moment? In those precious few seconds before it swerved off the road and made the final crash that killed them, did the same happen? Did they have time, just a second before they left to think? Did they think of Sophie? Did it all happen so fast that nothing happened, one second they were there, the next… gone?

Sophie didn't even realize Jack was sat next to her until he picked up the family picture Sophie had beside her. It was Sophie, Sebastian, mum and dad. The day before Sebastian left. Sophie had never lost the picture; it was safe 24/7. It was the first and only picture they'd ever taken as a family. It was never said, but everyone knew it was utterly for Sophie. Jack wasn't saying a word, and Sophie appreciated it more than anything. He was just sat staring at the rose vines. He'd rested the picture back and the ground and remained silent.

"We played cricket." Sophie spoke softly and still hadn't moved, the hot Venice sun beat down on her and the light wind slightly tousled her orange curls. Jack looked up and let his gaze align over Sophie. There were so many things he hadn't seen. How her eyes went from a crystal blue to a light grey. How her lips were a perfect shade of pink, with a tiny cupids bow that made her face so… something. Something in Jack ached when he remembered that Paul had his mouth to hers. "…In the summer. Just once. Mum and dad got the day off work and that never happened. Ever. So they asked me what I wanted to do. Sebastian taught me to play when we were tiny, so we played cricket all afternoon till… I don't even know what time." Sophie laughed and licked her lips and a small smile cracked onto her face. "I was 11. Seb was 26. He let me win."

Jack blinked and stared at Sophie. There was a long silence before Jack licked his lips and stood from his spot and left Sophie sat in her spot. He returned 15 minutes later carrying a cricket bat in his hand and tapped Sophie on her shoulder; Sophie's eye met his face embezzled with a boyish smile.

"Hope you're not a bad loser." Jack raised his eyebrows as he leaned against the wall with one leg crossed over the other, arms crossed and his already slightly tanning skin glowing.

Sophie stood slowly and a smile broke onto her face, her heart did something she always read about. When she read about someone's heart melting, she never imagined it would actually feel just that way.

"You're on, Moriarty." The pair of them walked the mansion, and when Sophie saw two wickets, one bat, and best of all, Sebastian and Jim waiting, she could've sworn her eyes welled.

Sebastian stood with a warm smile and Jim the same. "I'm thinking Moran's VS Moriarty's to start."

And so they played.

Jim and Jack versus Sebastian and Sophie, Sophie and Jim versus Seb and Jack, Jack and Sophie versus Jim and Seb. Sophie knew that watching Jim Moriarty run into a wall trying to catch Sophie's hit was and would remain one of the most hilarious moments on her time on this planet.

They played until nightfall, each having proven not only being remarkably fit but all having a vicious competitive streak. The final game finished, Sophie and Jack won Sebastian and Jim twice now.

"What can we say? You're getting old." Jack's voice was warm as Sophie and him walked up the villa stairs to their rooms so his voice just reached Jim and Sebastian who were sat downstairs in their bar, relaxing (and obviously finding some dignity after being beaten in cricket by two 16 year olds. Twice.)

"Shut it, go to bed." The equally Irish voice replied from the bar, causing Sophie and Jack to erupt into a fit of laughter.

Sophie turned to Jack as they stood outside their adjacent bedrooms and smiled. "Thank you. That was…" Sophie paused and looked to the floor, chewing her bottom lip and fiddling with her hands. "I needed it. That was one of my most fun times, ever. Thank you." She looked up and Jack's black eyes and let herself stare.

Jack nodded with a smile and paused. "Thank you. I've never done anything like that. And I told you, Moran." Jack edged closer to Sophie and lightly tapped her shoulder. "We make quite the team."

Sophie smiled and let herself laugh, but soon stopped and looked up to Jack with a smile. "You're very welcome, Moriarty."

Jack smiled and licked his lips. He was- Wow. He realized then that for the first time, in his life, he didn't know what to do. He should go. Go to bed and get a good night's sleep. But there was something else he wanted to do. Slowly, Jack brushed his hand up Sophie's arm and lightly cupped her face in his palm, and leaned in.

It was something new. Sophie was as much of a statue now as when the gun was pointed at her. But she didn't hesitate for one second to lean into Jack's face and let her eyelashes brush his as their lips touched gently. A new kind of thrill ran through her. It was the same electric that ran through her during the car heist, only this time; it wasn't because she was in danger. Or was she? She didn't care. All that she cared about was keeping their lips together, breathing Jack's air and keeping her heart rate going, which was proving to be quite a difficulty.

Jack pulled away and rested his forehead to hers, letting his minty breath mingle with Sophie's. "Night, Moran." Jack pulled his forehead off Sophie's and brushed her cheek with his palm as he stepped away into his bedroom with a smile on his face, and Sophie's taste lingering on his lips.

Sophie watched Jack leave, and decided in that moment she had exactly two favourite thrills in this world. Danger, and Jack Moriarty. But one thought lingered in the back of her mind, no matter the smile. Was there really a difference?

Sebastian sat with Jim at the bar and laughed, downing the last of his gin with a smile. He looked up at his boss and rested the drink down, and licked his lips. His smile faltered slightly. When Jack came rushing (running, and almost knocking a £100,000 vase over in the process) inside telling him and Jim that they 'needed to play cricket right that second or he'd skin them' he knew exactly the memory Sophie had in mind. Seb explained to Jim what Sophie was thinking of, and Jim complied.

"Jim, I'm going to tell her." Sebastian lightly ran his finger over the top of the glass so it made a light whispery voice.

"Are you sure?" Jim Moriarty's voice rarely, if ever, had concern. But it did, right that moment.

"She's ready to know, and she deserves to. I know they're gone, but…" Sebastian licked his lips once more and furrowed his brow. "Everyone deserves to know just who their parents actually were."

Jim nodded and took a sip of his martini. "Wait. Just a bit, after today, yes. She's ready. But we don't want to rush her. All families have their secrets." Jim stood from the other end of the bar and sat in the swivelling chair next to Seb.

Seb grinned and looked up to his boss and gave a light laugh. "Looking out for my sister. I like it." Sebastian took another drink of his gin and laughed once more. "And Mini-Moriarty seems to be doing so too."

Jim simply laughed and stood from his chair and punched Sebastian on the shoulder lightly. "What can I say, Moran? Maybe I really am a family man at heart! Night, Tiger." Jim winked at Sebastian as he turned, leaving Sebastian at the bar and left.

After all, he had business to attend to.

FLUFFFFF.

So, cricket. I was playing it today in PE and this cheesy storyline made an appearance, and this chapter basically wrote itself. I already have the next chapter essentially done, because I wasn't even planning on this. I needed hints of Mormor, so I had to squeeze that in there! Jack and Sophie. I will go down with this ship, even if I created it. Next chapter soon, from fluff to… Who knows? Wait and see! ;)

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the reviews.