"Reg, listen to me!" Hardison is growing frustrated. He almost smacks the webcam so the kid will get the message.
"Why would they make a version 9 that isn't better than version 8?" the boy reasons.
"Reggie, you are 17. I am your elder, now shut up for a second." Hardison ignores the eye roll and continues. "They rushed the release of 9. There's still a ton of kinks to work out so version 8 is still the best value." As the nerd debate rages, he doesn't hear the front door opening or the shopping bags being dropped just inside it.
"Fine, A. I'll wait on it."
"Good. You can wait on that attitude too," The kid on the computer screen makes another face but doesn't argue anymore. "So, what else has been going on?"
"Tina's got a boyfriend."
"What? She's fourteen! What's she need a boyfriend for?"
"Alec, she's sixteen now. Catch up!"
"I don't care how old she is, she's still too young." Parker followed the sound of his voice to his computer room. "What's this punk's name?" Hardison asks and swivels to a different screen, pulling up a background checking program.
"Marcus Ha- Hey, who's that?"
"Who's- Parker!" He jumps when he turns to find her standing right next to him. A smile spreads across his face once he catches his breath.
"Who's this?" Parker asks, leaning over his shoulder toward the computer.
"Parker, meet Reggie. He's one of my foster brothers." She waves. "Reggie, this is my-uh…Parker."
"Oh, is that your girl-"
"Ok, Reg, I gotta get going," He rushes in to cut him off. "Just text me that name and I'll check him out."
"Yeah, alright."
"You look out for Tina, you hear me?" The boy nods in a very teenage way. "And, don't give Nana any trouble. I mean it, I'll whoop your ass."
"She'll whoop my ass!"
"Better believe it. Ok, bye Reg."
"Later, A." With that the window closes and they are left in silence.
"How'd you get in this time?"
"I just picked the lock," Parker says cavalierly. "I had too many bags to use the ducts."
"I gave you a key!" Although the fact that she used the front door is at least a step in the right direction.
"It's more fun to break in," she rationalizes. "It's nice that you stay in touch," she adds, glancing at the darkened computer screen.
"So, you survived shopping with Sophie?" He asks, standing up.
"It wasn't so bad. She wouldn't let me steal anything though."
He laughs and starts to walk toward the kitchen, but she puts a hand out to stop him. He looks first at the hand resting on his forearm and then to her face. Hardison can't read her mind but he can tell that there is a lot happening behind those eyes. Parker moves to stand right in front of him and rising to her tip toes she gently brushes her lips against his.
'This is odd,' Hardison muses. Not the kissing. That has been happening quite frequently in the last two weeks. Usually when Parker kissed him it was an ambush, hard and fast. Just when he would get his bearings, she would be pulling away. Then she would resume whatever she was doing as if nothing had happened. This time is odd because it is slow and deliberate, no sneak attack here. And, when she pulls away she doesn't go far.
Parker relaxes back onto her heels, allowing Hardison's arms to stay securely around her. Her hands come to rest against his chest as she watches his reaction.
"What was that for?" It had become his catch phrase. After every kiss he would ask that as soon as he regained his senses. The first explanation was to thank him for saving her life, but lately her reasons had become more trivial. The most recent was to apologize for using the last of the milk.
"Because I wanted to kiss you," she says timidly. Her eyes drop to her hands that are absently fingering the material of his shirt.
'This is the turning point,' Hardison realizes. Until now, this relationship has moved at Parker's pace. He knew it had to be that way. No matter how badly he wanted more, he couldn't push her. It wasn't always easy to hold back, but it was better than the alternative. He couldn't risk scaring her away. He knew that the wall surrounding her heart had to be taken down brick by brick.
So, he never made demands and always let her initiate physical contact. That may have been the hardest part. In the meantime, he enjoyed her presence to the fullest and was grateful for the time they spent together. He was certain it would lead to something.
This is it. This is the moment, the click. This is the last brick being pushed aside to let him in.
"That's a good reason." Hardison reaches up to take her face in his hands. He is finally able to do the thing he's been thinking about for weeks. He kisses her. A good, long, slow kiss. No distractions, no interruptions.
Parker responds in turn and the kiss soon intensifies. She pulls him toward her and together they stumble back, bumping into his desk. When he lifts her onto it, her legs instinctively wind around him. In another moment she is tugging his t-shirt over his head.
"Are you sure?" Hardison asks breathlessly at the point of no return. Parker nods fervently and they never look back.