The other woman.

Maggie Collins slowly opened the door of McRory's pub. She didn't know why she decide to visit on that rainy day. Maybe because, even if the idea made her laugh, she considered the band of thieves friends. Or maybe because at one point she was married with their leader and they once shared a life. But it seemed natural that since she was in Boston for an art exhibition, to take some time off and visit them. They did save her life and got her out of prison not too long ago. She scanned the room, which was nearly empty, and saw them sitting at a far table. They were laughing and drinking like a real family. Nate eyes lit up at something Parker said and gave a small smile to the brunette sitting next to him. She noticed that their chair were closer than it would have been appropriate for just friends and with every movement their shoulders slightly touched. Suddenly she had a feeling that she was intruding and she considered turning around and leaving without being noticed. But that idea was soon gone when she felt the grifter's eyes on her and saw her tense a little. Sophie leaned over and whispered something in Nate's ear. The mastermind looked up and saw his ex-wife standing at the door.

"Maggie!" he shouted at her and signed her to come over.

It was too late, Maggie slowly approached their table and sat on a chair that Eliot got for her. She smiled at him in thanks.

"Hello Nate. Guys"

"What brings you into town?" Nate asked taking a sip from his drink.

"You're not in trouble again, are you?" wondered Parker "Because I still have my kit, if…"

"No, Parker. I'm not a fugitive this time. I'm here for an art exhibition and I thought to pass by and say hello. It's been long since I've last seen all of you"

"Oh, a lot has happened since Kiev" Parker was excited to tell everything. "Sophie came back, so Tara left. Then Nate got arrested, well turned himself in more precisely. Then he broke out of prison, an Italian black mailed us, we stole a country, stole a mountain, a funeral, a chocolate fair, a … well a lot of things. Oh, we saved Sterling's daughter and Nate and Sophie are… ouch"

Hardison had just kicked her under the table.

She looked at him angrily "Why did you kick me?"

"No, I… I didn't… it just slipped. But, we don't need to bore Maggie with all the details."

Eliot just put a hand on his face shaking his head. Sophie looked down embarrassed suddenly finding her drink very interesting.

There was a long pause.

"Sterling's has a daughter?" Maggie tried to approach the easiest subject first.

Nate nodded. "Yeah!"

"Even Sterling can procreate. The thought is scary!" Eliot added shivering.

"And through all those exciting things I've heard that you're an ex-con now"

"Well, technically all my charges got cleared, but yeah!" He smiled sheepishly

She finally out knowledge the other woman. "Glad to see you back, Sophie"

The grifter lifted her eyes from her drink. "Thanks. Apparently when I'm away things just get out of control. Can't live with them, can't live without them"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Nate frowned.

"That if it weren't for me, you'll…"

"I had everything under control!"

"That's why you begged me to come back!"

"I didn't beg, I just…"

"Oh no, you definitely begged, and…"

"That was nearly two years ago. Can you we just leave it alone!"

Sophie nodded "Yes, sure. For now. We'll continue later, don't think that the discussion is over"

The others just rolled their eyes at their banter.

Nate leaned over Sophie and whispered something in her ear. Maggie thought it sound something like. "I'll show you who will be begging later!" And from Sophie's heated look she thought she heard right.

Okay, it was time to go. "I'll just…"

"What about you Maggie?" Eliot asked her stalling her escape "Anything new?"

"Not really, no. Everything is quite boring in L.A." She got up from her chair. "I really must be going now. It was nice seeing you all and please, try not steal one of my artwork."

"Hey, we're the good guys now!"

Nate got up too. "I'll walk you out."

She saw him put a reassuring hand on Sophie's shoulder and he followed her outside.

Even if it now stopped raining, the air was still chilly and damp.

"You're sure everything is okay?" Nate finally asked.

"Yes Nate, don't worry." She reassured him. "It's actually perfect. I've being seeing a guy for some months now and it might be serious. He's a widower and he has a small kid, Sarah who is adorable. I'm…. happy"

"Good, good. Do I need the name? Have Hardison checking him out?"

"Nate, please. You were always too suspicious." She paused " So, you and Sophie? May I say it's about time!" She knew it should have been awkward, but it wasn't. She knew that Nate never cheated on her. She might have been suspicious at the time. All those trips to Europe and she knew that a thief had caught his attention and was nearly becoming an obsession for him, but she trusted his Catholicism and their vows. But that didn't mean that she wasn't sometimes jealous of the other woman that could arise such strong emotions from him.

"Yes, Sophie and I…. I don't know where we actually going with it. Our relationship has always been complicated. Let's say that for now it's what we both need." He lower his head not knowing if she understood what he was trying to say.

"Nate" she called him. "If you want more you should try harder. You should be happy too. I want you to be happy. We've been through so much pain and anger and it's nice to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel"

He smiled. "You're really are okay" It wasn't a question anymore.

"Yes, I am. You should try it!"

"So, will I be receiving a wedding invitation soon?"

She chuckled and hit him on the arm. "Not so fast! But maybe in the future." She smiled. "When I saw you again at the pub, the first thing I noticed is that the sparkle in your eyes is back. You've got a good life now, Nate. Don't throw it away."

"I'll try not to"

She slowly nodded. "Good bye, Nate" and gave him a small kiss on the cheek before going up the steps and disappearing into the night.

Sophie tried to pay attention at the conversation that was taking place with the rest of the team, but she occasionally cast an eye at the two shadows she could see through the glass panel on the door. It's ironic how the tables have turned. For years she has been "the other woman" in this relationship. Well, back then Nate and she never crossed the line and they had only flirted. But now, here she was slightly jealous of her partner's ex-wife. She knew that they had kissed in the lift in Kiev. Parker couldn't keep that a secret too. But that was in the heat of the moment kind of thing, Maggie told her that she wasn't in love with Nate anymore, but still she couldn't get rid of this feeling. Her relationship with Nate was complicated, very complicated and they should probably have a long conversation about defining things, because for her it started to get a bit confusing. Could they really start to settle down?

She was distracted, the rest of the team could sense that, but finally the door opened and Nate came him shivering a bit because of the cold.

He sat back down next to her and finished is drink off.

"Is everything okay?" she whispered.

He smiled at her. "Everything is perfect." And he squeezed her hand under the table.

She smiled too. She has finally stopped being the other woman and she became THE woman.

THE END.