When they went down the stairs, they noticed the room was empty.

"Where is everyone?" Nate asked looking around.

In that moment the front door opened and Eliot was the first to walk in. "Is it save now?" he asked followed by Hardison, Parker and the little girl that turned their lives upside down.

Sophie gasped when she saw her, bringing her hand to her mouth. She had only held her for less than a minute after she had given birth to her, knowing that if she had stayed more in her arms, she wouldn't have had the courage to give her up. She couldn't believe it that that little girl was now standing in front of her.

"From the tears and the shock I guess you're my real mom" Amy sat down on a chair. She was trying to act brave, putting up a strong appearance.

Sophie quietly nodded.

"So you two know each other and you" she pointed at Nate "never knew about me"

The mastermind sighed "It's a long story." He scratched the back of his head. "I think we all have long stories to tell" He turned towards the three younger members of the team. "Guys, could you…"

"… leave the three of you work things out?" Hardison finished off for him. "Sure"

"But I want to stay and see how it finishes!" Parker complained. "We could make pop-corn!"

"Parker!" Eliot grunted. "It's not a film or a play. Let's leave them alone" he gave a firm nod to the mastermind and a more encouraging look to Sophie. He knew she was going to be considered the bad guy of all this situation, by both of them, and he wanted to let her know that she had friend in him if she needed one. "See you tomorrow morning"

And the three of them walked out leaving the apartment in an awkward silence.

"So…" Nate really needed a drink. Why did he quit drinking?

"Why did you give me up?" was Amy's first question to her birth mother. She was angry now, but tears started filling her eyes too. She had thought of this moment for a long time and she had trained herself not to lose control when she was going to find herself in the situation. But she was just seven years old and there was so much a child could take. "Why didn't you want me?" she was sobbing now.

"Oh baby" Sophie rushed to her and kneeled in front of her chair taking her hands in hers. She was crying too seeing the hurt she has caused her little girl. "It was… it was complicated. I knew I couldn't give you the life you deserved, a secure family, stability… my life was… still is a mess. You deserved better"

"Well, your plan certainly went wrong" she pushed her away and got up angrily. If only they knew. If they knew what she had been through.

Nate saw how Sophie was hurting. It wasn't easy to be rejected by your own child, but he couldn't give her comfort now, not while he was still angry with her.

"Sophie told me you had been adopted by a great family" Nate tried to intervene. "Two lovingly parents. What happened?"

"My parents died in a car accident when I was three years old." Amy looked down "I never knew they weren't my real parents, not until I saw my birth certificate a month ago and saw your name." She looked up locking her eyes with Nate. "So then I tried to find you. I did some research and found out you lived in Boston. So I left L.A. and came looking for you."

"All by yourself?" Sophie exclaimed.

"Not a big deal" She just shrugged. "I had some money and I bought a train ticket. It's funny how nobody asks why you're alone if you pretend you're with other adults."

Nate smirked. Yes, she was definitely Sophie's daughter.

"That was really smart. Hardison always makes sure nobody can find us. It mustn't have been easy to find where I was"

"Why? Are you wanted by the police or something?" she frowned.

Nate laughed. "Or something."

Sophie felt a bit like an intruder. She was happy that Amy was opening up with one of them, but she couldn't help to feel a bit jealous that it was with Nate.

"So," Amy turned to her. "What's your name? You left it blank in the birth certificate."

Of course she had because she didn't know what name to use. Her real name? An alias? A false name? "You can call me Sophie" she simply answered with a small smile.

"But that's not your real name" the little girl commented.

"Don't feel bad about it" Nate laid a hand on her shoulder. "Even I don't know her real name and I've known her for more than ten years now."

"I've noticed how you've kept it vague there" Sophie smirked at him hands on her hips "still can't remember when we met?" she arched her eyebrow.

"I thought we've agreed to disagree"

"Hmm…"

Amy observed their interaction. She could see that they were friends with each other, but she didn't think they were a couple. She wondered what had happened between them and if they were ever going to tell her.

"No one adopted you after the accident?" Nate asked curiously.

The seven years old shook her head. "No one came for me after the accident. No one wants…" she stopped knowing she was saying too much. "Nothing" she hid her face behind her long dark hair.

Sophie and Nate exchanged a concern look. The girl was hiding something from them. Something big.

"So, you've been in the system since then?" Sophie tried to get more information.

"Yeah, I've been in a couple of nice families. I was staying in a foster home, before…"

"… before running away."

She nodded scared. Were they going to take her back to L.A.?

"Don't worry" Sophie smiled like she could read her thoughts. "We're not taking you back." She patted her hand in reassurance and she was glad the girl didn't take her hand away.

"We can talk about what to do in long terms tomorrow." Nate told them. "It's getting late and I'm sure you're tired from all the travelling" he smiled. "I don't have a spare bedroom, but you can sleep in my bed tonight and I'll take the couch."

The girl gave him a small smile and nodded. She picked up her bag and started walking up the stairs.

"There's a bathroom on the right. Shout if you need anything"

"Thanks" she muttered.

Sophie and Nate watched her disappear after she took the top step.

"Shouldn't we help her or something?" Sophie turned towards the mastermind.

"She will tell us if she needs anything, but I'm pretty sure she is very mature for her age" he sighed and went to the fridge to get something to drink.

Sophie kept her eyes on him, she was sure that if he could, he wouldn't have minded a glass of whiskey at the moment. She sat next to him and poured herself a glass of orange juice. "What are we going to do?"

"I'm not going to abandon my child," he told her without hesitation. "not after she went through God knows what to find me. We can work something out. She can start going to school and she could stay with you, couldn't she? You have two bedrooms"

Sophie sighed. "I don't think she's going to agree with that. If you haven't noticed, I'm not her favourite person."

"She will come around"

She popped her head on her hand and turned towards him. "I'm always going to be the one that abandoned her at birth. Her mother that didn't want her"

"Sophie, she will forgive you, give her time"

"And you?" she whispered averting her eyes. "Will you forgive me?" She was afraid of his answer.

He sighed and took his time answering her "I understand why you made that decision, Sophie. I…" he paused. "I wish things would have gone differently."

She tried to keep her tears at bay. "I know" she whispered back. "Me too."

"She's keeping something from us"

"Yeah," she nodded. "And I'm scared to find out what"

The two adult didn't notice the girl curled up on the top of the stairs eavesdropping. What was she going to do if they were to find out the real reason she had run away?

A/N. Sorry, it took me so long to update. I had written a first draft of the chapter, but I didn't like it, so here's what come up. I hope you've enjoyed it. What is Amy hiding? Thanks for reading and reviewing :D