A/N: So sorry for the late updates. I hope to update more often. Thanks for the reviews! I do not own Leverage.
Sophie was awoken by someone talking. She listened closely, it was her daughter's voice from the down the hall. Sophie looked at the clock on the nightstand it said 4:00 AM.
''Who could she possibly be talking to at four in the morning?'' Sophie said aloud.
Nate stirred besides her.
''Wha… what?''
''Nothing Nate. Go back to sleep.''
''Okay.''
Nate puckered his lips and Sophie couldn't help but to smile. She gave him a kiss and then he turned back over and he was asleep within seconds. Sophie got up to check on her daughter. When Sophie got to her daughter's door she stopped for a moment to listen.
''You should have been there, it was magically! It was like watching a fairy tale! The roses and the candles, gah! And the look on my mum face! She looked so happy.''
''Wow Rey Rey. I have never seen you like this before.''
''What do you mean?''
''You look so happy. There is this light in your eyes. You have finally gotten what you always deserved, a family.''
Sophie took that moment to make her presence known by knocking on the door. Audrey got up to answer it.
''Mum. Oh am I being too loud? I am sorry, I didn't mean to wake you.''
''It's okay. But it's late. Why aren't you sleeping?''
''I couldn't. I have been too excited and Bella and I couldn't sleep either so we have been chatting on Skpye. Do you want to say hi?''
''Sure, I'd love to.''
Sophie shut the door and then sat beside her daughter on the bed.
''Hi Bella.''
''Hi Ms. Devereaux! Rey Rey told me all about Mr. Ford asking you to marry him. It sounded amazing! Congrats!''
''Thank you Bella. It was amazing. It was one of the best nights of my life. I was so happy to have all the people I love around me to celebrate my happiness. When we have the wedding you must come.''
''Yes, of course.''
Sophie sat there watching her daughter while she finished her conversation with her best friend. Bella was right, her daughter was happy and there was a light in her eyes. Sophie hoped and wish her daughter would always be that way. But for some reason she had a feeling that it was about to change. Sophie tried to shake that feeling away.
''Okay Bella we must part and go get our beauty sleep.''
''Yes we must.''
Both of them laughed.
''Okay, goodnight. Talk to you later.''
''Goodnight Rey Rey. Sleep well. Bye Ms. Devereaux.''
''Goodnight Bella.''
Audrey closed her lap top and put it on her desk. Then she laid down in her bed while Sophie sat on the side. She tucked in her daughter and kissed her on the forehead. Sophie stayed with her daughter until she fell asleep.
The next day the team was having a meeting about their next job. Hardison was giving one of his presentations when he was interrupted by someone's phone ringing.
''Seriously? Do you have any idea all the things I put into these presentations. No respect. Who's phone is that?''
They all looked around to find the ringing phone. Sophie found the phone and recognized it instantly. Sophie held up the phone looking at her daughter.
''Audrey.''
Audrey took her phone from her mother.
''Sorry. Sorry Hardison. I didn't realize the ringer was still on.''
Audrey looked at her phone to see who was calling.
''Mrs. Abbot?... Sorry but I have to take this.''
Audrey went to the other room and then answered the phone.
''Hello, Mrs. Abbot?''
''No, sweetheart it's me.''
''Mom? What's going on? Why are you calling from the Abbot's house?''
For a while there was no answer.
''Something terrible happened…. I wish I could tell you this in person. I am so sorry Audrey.''
''Sorry for what? What happened… Wait, where is Bella?''
''I am so sorry sweetheart…''
''Stop saying you are sorry! Mom, where is Bella?''
''She is gone. Bella died early this morning… She committed suicide herself.''
''No! That's not true!''
When Audrey turned around she saw her mother and the team there. Sophie decided to approach her daughter.
''Audrey, who are you talking to? What's….''
Sophie was cut off when Audrey handed her the phone. Sophie put her ear to the phone while Audrey walked back and forth clearly upset.
''Hello?''
''Sophie? It's Laura. Where is Audrey? How is she?''
''Oh hi, she is right here. She is very upset. What is going on?''
''Bella is dead, she took her own life.''
''Oh my god.''
Sophie went up to her daughter and tried to keep her still.
''I am so sorry.''
''I wish everyone would stop saying that! There is nothing to be sorry for because it's not true!''
''Audrey…''
Sophie then tried to reach for her daughter's hand but she just pulled it away.
''No!''
Audrey would have stormed out of the room but the others were standing in front of the door so she got as far away from her mother as she could. Sophie finished talking with Laura on the phone then tried once again to approach her daughter. Nate couldn't take it anymore, he had to know what was going on.
''Sophie, what's going on?''
Sophie kept her eyes on her daughter but answered Nate's question.
''It's Bella… she died.''
Audrey got even more upset.
''No, that is not true! She is still alive! And she would never kill herself. I just talked to her! You saw her! She was fine. I would have known if something was wrong.''
Sophie didn't know what to say. Her daughter was having a hard time believing that her best friend is gone and the fact that she took her own life. She didn't know help her daughter comes to term with the truth. She didn't know how to make this better for her daughter.
''Would you all excuse us.''
Eliot, Parker and Hardison looked at Nate who was looking Sophie. Nate then nodded and then they left Sophie and Audrey alone. Sophie waited a few moments, she was trying to figure out what to do and what to say. She wanted to take her daughter into her arms but that wasn't the right time. Her daughter was angry and in denial.
''Audrey… why do you believe it… why don't you believe that Bella is gone?..Why would your mother say that if it wasn't true? Has she ever lied to you before?''
Audrey didn't say anything and she refused to look at her mother. Sophie gave her daughter a few minutes then she forced her daughter to look at her. Then she saw it, she saw the reorganization in her daughter's eyes.
''No… No my mother never lied to be before. I know she wouldn't lie about this…. But I don't care what anyone says, Bella did not kill herself… she would have told me if something was wrong.''
Sophie looked into her daughter's eyes and she could see that her daughter truly believed what she was saying and she could see her pain. But she could see sadness in Bella's eyes. She wasn't sure or not if she was sad enough to take her own life. Audrey could tell that her mother wasn't sure; she was going to prove it to her.
''I want to go to New York.''
''Okay.''
''Can you… can you come with me?''
''Oh Audrey, of course I can. You don't have to ask. I will be there for you every step of the way. Let's go tell Hardison we need to plane tickets to New York tonight.''
''Okay.''
Sophie and Audrey went to join the others in the other room.
''Hardison, can you book two tickets on a flight to New York for tonight?''
Hardison looked at Nate. Nate stepped towards Sophie but she refused to look at him in the eyes. Nate then gave Hardison a signal to do what Sophie asked. Sophie moved away from Nate and closer to her daughter.
''Audrey, we better go pack.''
''Okay.''
Audrey and Sophie both went to their rooms to pack. Nate followed Sophie.
''Sophie.''
''What is it Nate?''
Sophie still refused to look at Nate.
''Sophie look at me please?''
''I can't.''
''What do you mean you can't?''
''If I look into the blue eyes of yours I won't be able to stay strong. I will lean on you, I will break… I need to stay strong for Audrey. Audrey is so distraught right now. I have to help her get through this.''
Nate put his hand under Sophie's chin and finally got her to look him in the eyes.
''Soph, you can be strong for Audrey and you can also lean on me. It is okay to break because I will always be here to put the pieces together just like you will always be there for Audrey. You will be strong for Audrey and help her through this but it is okay to let me be there for you, I can be there for the both of you. I love you Sophie.''
Sophie gave Nate a small smile. She tried to stop herself from crying. She was touched by Nate's words and she knew he was right.
''I love you too Nate.''
''Would you like me to come with you and Audrey to New York?''
Sophie just nodded and some tears started to fall from her eyes. Nate wiped her tears away and then took Sophie in her arms. After a few moments he went to tell Hardison. When he came back they both packed. After they were all packed they went to check up on Audrey.
''Audrey?''
''Yes. I am all packed, are you ready to go mum?''
''Okay. Nate is coming with us. That's okay, right?''
''Yes that's fine.''
They all went to the airport together. Parker hugged Sophie and made her promise they would all come back and she was about to hug Audrey as well thought it was best not to because she looked angry. Then they said their goodbyes and Nate, Sophie and Audrey all went onto the plane. Audrey didn't say a word the entire flight and she would hardly looked at Sophie or Nate. Nate could tell Sophie was worried and he was as well. When they got to New York they went straight to their hotel because it was too late to go to the Abbot's. They would go in the morning. Hardison booked them suite. Audrey told them goodnight and went in her room and shut the door. Sophie wanted to go in there but she decided her daughter needed some time. Nate put his arm around Sophie and kissed her on the top of the head and then they both went in their room and tried to get some sleep. The next day after a sleepless night they had breakfast in silence where no one really ate anything then they all headed to the Abbot house. When they knocked on the door it was Laura who answered.
''Hi sweetheart.''
Laura held her arms open and Audrey went into them. Sophie couldn't help to feel a little jealous of the woman. Laura, Sophie and Nate all said hello to one another and then went inside the house. Inside a woman who looked like an older version of Bella sat on the couch and a man with big arms stood next to the window. Audrey grabbed Sophie's hand which she did whenever she was afraid, Sophie could sense it was because of the man. Laura gave Audrey a look then she let go of Sophie's hand and approached Bella's mother. As soon as the woman realized Audrey's presents she embraced Audrey.
''Oh Audrey… my baby girl is gone. What are we going to do without Isabella?''
''I don't know.''
''Mrs. Abbot, this is my mother Sophie and her fiancé Nate.''
''Nice to meet you both. You may call me Trisha.''
''Thank you, it's nice to meet you two. I am sorry for your loss. Bella was a special girl.''
''Thank you Sophie. Audrey I was wondering if you could do a something for me. I know what I am about to ask of you will be hard but I believe you are the best person to do it.''
''Sure, what is it?''
''I need you to be the one to give Bella's eulogy. You were her best friend and you knew her the best.''
''Yes I will do it.''
''Thank you. The wake is tomorrow night and the funeral is the day after that where you give the eulogy.''
They all sat there for a few hours talking about Bella while the man with the big arms didn't say a word. Then Sophie, Nate and Audrey decided it was time for them to go. Laura walked them out. Once they were some distance from the house Audrey comforted Laura about the man.
''What is he doing here? Why would she allow him back in that house after what he did?''
''I don't know Audrey. He arrived a few days ago.''
''A few days ago? Why didn't Bella tell me?''
''I don't know sweetheart, I don't like him being here anymore then you do. Perhaps she didn't want to upset you.''
''She should have told me.''
''I know.''
Laura than hugged Audrey.
''Well I better go back. I have been staying here… Unless you need me.''
''No no it's okay. Mrs. Abbot needs you more. Besides…''
Audrey gestured towards Sophie who stepped forward.
''Don't worry Laura, I will take good care of Audrey.''
''I know you will. Well goodnight, I will see all of you tomorrow.''
Audrey and Sophie both hugged Laura and then she went into the house. Nate held the doors to the car open for Sophie and Audrey and then got into the driver's seat. On the car ride back to the hotel everyone was quiet until Sophie couldn't take it anymore and she had to ask about the man with the big arms. Sophie turned around to look at her daughter.
''Audrey who was that man?''
''He is Bella's stepfather. He is not a man.''
''What did he do?''
Sophie could see that her daughter was uncomfortable.
''He… he would hurt Bella and her mom… he would hit them and….''
''Whatever it is you can tell me.''
''One time… he hit me. Bella and I were in her room looking at the things we just bought he just came bursting in the room and starting waling on Bella and said that she stole money from him…I tried to stop him from hitting her so I tried to pull him back but he turned around and started hitting me… Bella somehow knocked him out and when he woke up he couldn't remember what had happened…. We never told anyone… I never told mom and I never want her to know… She would blame herself. So please don't tell her.''
Sophie tried to contain her anger. This man would pay for hurting her little girl and for hurting Bella and her mother.
''I won't but that man will pay. What is his name?''
''David James.''
Sophie looked at Nate.
''I will have Hardison run his name when we get back to the hotel.''
Sophie gave Nate a small smile and they were all quiet again for the rest of the car ride. When they got back to the hotel there was someone waiting for them. If things weren't bad enough already, it was Jack Walker. Audrey's father.
''Daddy?''
''Hello Audrey. Sophie, Mr. Ford.''
''Jack, what are you doing here?''
''I am here to see my daughter.''
'' She is my daughter too! Why? You didn't want anything to do with her for the last eighteen years. What changed?''
Sophie then stepped forward towards Jack but Audrey stopped her.
''It's okay mum. I actually have some questions for my father.''
Sophie looked at her daughter and decided to let it go for now. She didn't want to upset her daughter even more. Nate then opened the door and they all went inside.
''Sophie, Mr. Ford would you mine leaving me alone with my daughter.''
Sophie and Nate were about to say something but Audrey interrupted them.
''No, I want them to stay.''
Jack looked at her daughter for a moment and thought best not to fight it any further.
''Very well.''
Audrey sat in between Nate and Sophie on the couch and Jack sat opposite of them.
''I am sorry about Isabella. I know she was your best friend.''
Audrey ignored her father.
''What do you want daddy?''
''I want to talk to you.''
Sophie could see that her daughter had become even angrier. This wasn't the time for this.
''You want to talk? Okay let's talk! Let's talk about the fact that my best friend is now dead! And you are not sorry! Or shall we talk about the fact that you kept me from my mother for seventeen years letting her believe that I was dead and letting me believe that someone else was my mother. Or how you treated me like crap all my life! Which one would you like to talk about?''
''Don't you us that tone with me young lady! I told you I was sorry and I meant it. I am not the one who lies, that would be your mother here. You see I found out what and who your mother truly is, a professional liar! I took you away from her and gave you a mother who really loved you. I did what was best for you! But you look and acted so much like her I felt like you would turn out like her and I couldn't allow that.''
''You had no right. Yes I did have a mother who loved me and still loves me. But this mother right here loves me as well. She truly loves me and you should have never done you did.''
''I had every right! That woman came into my life, tricked me into loving her and marrying her and got herself pregnant. She made me into a fool! I put a stop to it and took you away from her before she took you away from me!''
Sophie was sick of this man talking about her like she wasn't there. She has had enough. Audrey has clearly had enough as well because she looked like she was about to hit someone. Nate seemed to sense what they were feeling because he advance towards Jack punched him in the face and pushed him towards the door.
''Get out! You are to never come near Audrey or Sophie ever again because I will do worst than just punch you in the face.''
''Don't threaten me Mr. Ford, this isn't over. I will have Audrey again and away from Sophie.''
''No you won't. She is eighteen you no longer have any right and you never had the right in the first place.''
Nate pushed Jack out the door and slammed it shut. Then turned back to Sophie and Audrey. They both looked like they were about to break. Nate hated seeing them like this. Sophie embraced Audrey who returned her mother's hug.
''Are you okay?''
''Not really but I won't be for awhile. I am tired, I am going to go to bed.''
''Okay, do you want me to lay with you for awhile?''
''No, that's okay. I want to be alone.''
''Okay sleep well.''
Sophie watched her daughter go into her room and shut the door then Sophie went into her and Nate's room. Nate knew she was going to break and followed her into the room and shut the door and as soon as he did that Sophie's shoulders began to shake. Nate went up to Sophie and took her into his arms. Nate held Sophie while she cried and he ran his hands up and down her back. Once Sophie calmed down a bit she lifted her head from Nate's chest and looked him in the eyes. Nate tried to wipe her tears away.
''Nate…I really hate this.''
''I know.''
''Things just seem to be getting worst for Audrey. She doesn't deserve any of this. I wish I could take all of this away and make things better for her. And she hasn't cried Nate… she is keeping it all inside. She is so angry and she is keeping hold of that anger.''
''I know, things will get better in time. Audrey just needs time. She will let it all go eventually and she will need you when she does and I know you will be there for her.''
''Thank you so much for being here. I don't know how I will be able to do this without you.''
''You're welcome. I wouldn't be any other place. I love you Sophie Devereaux and I am not going anywhere.''
''I love you too Nathan Ford. Let's say you and I get some sleep.''
''Yes but first I must call Hardison so he can run David James name.''
''Okay, I am going to get ready for bed.''
While Sophie was getting ready for bed Nate called Hardison.
''Yo.''
''Hello Hardison. I need you to run a name for me. A David James. I want everything and anything you can find.''
''Will do boss.''
Nate hung up the phone with Hardison then went to join Sophie. He stripped down to his boxers and undershirt and got under the covers and pulled Sophie close. They were both almost asleep until Audrey came through the door. Starling both Nate and Sophie. Sophie turned on the light.
''Audrey, are you okay?''
''Bella didn't take her own life, David James did.''