When Ale had finished with Evan she headed up to the viewing room, ready to take her lunch break. She was surprised to see the team sitting there, talking with Quinn.
"Hey everyone. How is it going?" Ale asked, slipping her sweater back on over her leotard and tights.
"Ale, you are amazing!" Sophie cooed, standing to give her a hug.
"Thanks. What is everyone doing here? Is everything okay?" she asked, sitting down on the ground as she started to stretch.
"Everything is much better now. Ale, you are an incredible dancer," Nate said, Ale smiling.
A compliment from Nate meant the world to Ale.
"When you jumped, and then flew fifty feet into the air, and rolled onto the ground…just wow," Hardison interrupted, Ale laughing.
"Yes. As I was saying, you are an incredible dancer. And we have a job, where an incredible dancer is needed," Nate said.
"I'm not sure I understand," Ale said, excitement rising in her chest.
"We want you on a job. You are the only chance we have to get at these people," Sophie said, smiling widely at Ale.
"Are you serious?" Ale asked, the whole team nodding. Ale flashed her eyes at Eliot, who nodded at her slightly. "I would love to."
Ale had been wanting to be a part of what the team did ever since they first helped her. They were amazing and they changed people's lives. Ale wanted to do that. Considering she never got to go to college, she didn't have any credentials to do a job where she could make a difference. She always felt like she would fit with the team, though. Sophie always told her what a good grifter she would be, and Nate told her what a help she was to coming up with the plan. Parker told her she was a good thief and Hardison said he wished that she was on more jobs because she actually, you know, appreciated him.
Quinn was happy for Ale, but he also was worried. He didn't want her getting hurt, and he also didn't want to be away from her for too long. They had been having such a good time together…he didn't want it to end.
"Great. Let's go get you packed. And we have to nail down your character. You will have to be younger, of course, but you are so small and with the right make-up and hair and clothes I can get you down to fifteen," Sophie began, talking a mile a minute.
"Slow down, Sophie," Ale laughed. "I still have two classes to teach today, if time will allow me to," she said, looking at Nate.
"I think that would be fine. Can we set up camp here?" Nate asked. The team needed to get their backgrounds and assignments pinned down.
"Sure. There will be a couple of parents coming up here, but other than that the space is yours. If they ask just tell them you are friends of my family. Everyone here knows what happened to my parents and Lio, so lying will be of absolutely no use," Ale laughed, standing. She walked over to Quinn, him wrapping his arms around her waist.
"You don't have to wait here if you don't want now that the team is here. I'm sure you're getting sick of watching me teach," she smiled.
Quinn smiled back. He could never get sick of her. There were a couple of errands he had to run, though, so he gave her a kiss and told her he would meet her at his apartment.
"Love you," Quinn whispered against her lips.
"Love you too," Ale sighed, giving him another kiss.
The team then watched as Ale went back into the dance room, ten little girls all running in shortly after. The team worked on planning the con, Sophie and Eliot standing by the window and watching Ale.
"I should have known, you know. Something as special as this and I never figured it out. If I had paid more attention, I could have figured it out. Quinn did," Eliot said, not looking at Sophie.
"She knew that you took your job seriously. She didn't want to mess with that, or your life. That's why she let you drag her everywhere you wanted to go. She felt guilty, Eliot. I'm surprised you didn't see it."
"I was too focused. What I said to her is true…I do feel responsible for Lio's death and I don't want to be responsible for Ale's, as well."
"And you were afraid to feel. I get it, Eliot. But I think we both know that there are some things you have yet to say to Ale that could make things a lot clearer."
"I think I'm too late," Eliot sighed, smiling as Ale caught a little girl before she fell out of a turn.
"It's never too late, Eliot. Never. Look at me and Nate. We are still dancing around things, no pun intended, but at least we both know where we stand. We are happy. And if it wasn't too late for us, it certainly isn't too late for you."
"I don't know, Soph. I screwed up. With all of you. I just haven't felt the way I have about her about anyone in a long time. And she is the single most amazing person I have ever met."
"Well then be patient and don't let her go again."
Eliot nodded, knowing that Sophie was right. She always was.
"I'm sorry," Ale said, walking into Quinn's room.
"For what?" he asked, putting on a shirt. Ale could still smell his aftershave.
"I didn't ask if I could go with the team," Ale sighed, sitting down on Quinn's bed. She watched as he secured his watch to his wrist, his head shaking slightly.
"Ale, you do not have to ask me permission to do anything. I am not your keeper. I'm your boyfriend. If what you are doing makes you happy, I am happy. I trust the team and I know you are going to have a good time," he said, sitting down next to her on the bed. Ale gave him a kiss, smiling against his lips.
"So you are okay with me going?"
"More than okay," Quinn smiled back, giving Ale another kiss.
They kissed for a while longer, a knock coming from the door.
"I'll get it," Quinn sighed, Ale nodding.
She laid on Quinn's bed, listening as Quinn's footsteps faded down the hallway.
She was happy with Quinn—truly happy. She was worried that they didn't have enough to talk about though, and the newness of the relationship was gone—that her suspicions that she only liked him because he was attached to her freedom were right.
Ale was hoping that this job with the team would give her some clarity.
"Ale?" Quinn called, his footsteps, and voice, coming closer. "Sophie is here. She wants to help you pack."
Quinn came in the room, picking Ale up from the bed. He put her on her feet, giving her a kiss.
"Have fun. I'm going to start on lunch. After that I think Sophie is taking her with you to the airport."
Quinn left the room, Sophie walking in.
"You two are just too adorable," Sophie smiled, draping herself on the bed.
"Thanks. Now, what is my cover and what am I supposed to pack?"
"Well, you are Jane Reilly, daughter of Ben and Katherine Reilly. Ben is a very, very wealthy investor and Katherine is a doting trophy wife and mother. Jane has been homeschooled so that she could devote her life to dance, and Katherine is the ultimate dance mom. Ben comes in every once and while, per Katherine's short leash, but he mostly just foots the bill. Katherine is the perfect candidate to be Tonnie's new BFF. She is powerful, wealthy, and, most importantly, a kiss ass. Jane is a very dedicated girl, who has a bit of an edge. She isn't afraid of anything. She is very intelligent and dropped out of school to pursue her dreams of becoming a dancer in a company. She wants more, and so does her mother. They get along, but Jane often gets sick of her mother's hovering. She would do anything for her mother to have something to do other than pay attention to her."
"Sounds very in depth. Are we from anywhere where an accent is needed?"
"No. But good question. So, show me your dance clothes. We need some cute outfits," Sophie smiled.
As Sophie created Ale's character she sat on the bed, watching. When her phone rang she answered immediately, Emilio's voice filling the other end of the line.
"What's up?" Ale asked, Emilio telling her to just wait a few seconds.
Suddenly, a little boy's voice was on the line, Ale smiling as Ben told her all about the new family he was going home with.
"That's awesome, buddy," Ale laughed. "I'm so happy for you."
"I wish you could meet them," Ben said. "You know all my favorite bedtime stories. Who else is going to tell my new family?"
"Emilio has the paper that I wrote it all down on," Ale said. "I will come meet them, though. Soon. I promise."
"Thanks Ale! I miss you," Ben said, his voice growing soft.
"I miss you too. I'll see you soon, okay?" Ale sighed.
"Okay!"
Ale hung up, Sophie smiling at her.
"Was that little Benvolio?" she asked, Ale nodding. "Are we going to Italy soon?"
"When Ben asks you something, you don't say no," Ale shrugged. "Maybe it could be a nice little family vacation."
"And by family you mean highly dysfunctional team of conmen?" Sophie laughed, throwing a nice dress and heels into Ale's bag.
"Exactly. Are we almost done?"
"Yes. Now, I am going on my merry way and I will pick you back up and take you to the airport in an hour. Enjoy your lunch with Quinn."
"Thanks, Sophie," Ale smiled, zipping up the suitcase as Sophie walked down the hallway, her heels clacking against the hardwood.
She was excited to work with the team—well, most of the them.