"You sure she's ready?" Nate asked, sitting down beside Sophie. Parker and Hardison sat beside Sophie on the other side, Eliot on the end.

"I'm sure. She looks beautiful, her costumes were already back there when Eliot dropped her off, she has her dance bag, and any makeup she might need for touch ups are in her dressing room. One of the guys, Steven, is going to help her change since they are sharing a dressing room. You can wipe that look off your face because Steven doesn't even like women so it's not a big deal. Everything is set, Nate. Stop worrying," Sophie explained, although she couldn't help but be a little nervous, as well.

"You guys, seriously, just chill out. She's right there," Parker sighed, waving at Ale, who was searching the crowd, half of her body adorned in a tutu, the other in a zip up.

When Ale had entered her dressing room after stretching back stage with the rest of the dancers there was a huge bouquet of flowers waiting for her.

'Knock 'em dead. Love, Dad,'.

Ale's breath hilted in her throat as she read the note. She knew they weren't really from her father, but her mind, for just a second, had tricked her, a smile stretching across her face. Upon closer inspection Ale recognized Nate's handwriting. In small writing on the inside of the envelope Nate left another note, telling Ale that he was proud of her and that she was going to do great tonight, and he was happy that she had been a part of the team, at least for this con.

Ale hadn't realized how much she was missing her family until that moment, the flowers catching her off guard. She was so grateful that her dressing room hadn't been empty—now when she changed in between numbers, she could at least pretend that they were from her dad.

Ale had to thank Nate.

After her fitting for her tutu Ale rushed into the house, searching for the team in the seats.

She saw Parker waving so she headed to that row, all of the team looking concerned. Nate made his way into the aisle, Ale immediately wrapping her arms around his neck.

Nate was surprised at how tightly Ale was gripping him, but he wasn't going to be the first one to let go. She obviously needed it.

"Thank you," Ale whispered.

Ale let go, tears running down her face. She hurried back to the back stage area, waving to some of the parents she knew from the studio. Nate sat back down, the team looking at him.

"What was that about?" Sophie asked, Nate shrugging.

"I sent her some flowers, but I had to sign it as her dad. I wrote a real note on the inside. Just wishing her luck."

"Her dad used to send her flowers," a voice said, sitting down next to Nate. The team, except for Hardison, was surprised to see Quinn sitting there.

"I didn't know. I wouldn't have sent them if—" Nate sad, his face dropping.

"I'm sure she loved them," Quinn smiled. "She would have hated having an empty dressing room. Hello, everyone," Quinn said, waving to the gawking row. "Eliot, if you don't want me here I understand and I will move to the very back of the theatre, but she has had a rough couple of weeks and I just want to be here in case she needs me," Quinn said, getting ready to stand.

"You should be here," Eliot nodded, Quinn breathing a sigh of relief.

The theatre darkened, the team quieting. In the darkness of the theatre Nate took Sophie's hand, giving it a quick squeeze. The curtains opened and Ale stood alone on the stage, slow music seeping in from the speakers. Ale danced a bit on her own, others slowly starting to join in. Soon, a bunch of people were on stage, the music faster and louder. When it finished the entire auditorium erupted in applause, the team some of the loudest cheerers.

As the show kept going the team was amazed with Ale. She was spectacular, and she was the best dancer on the floor. There was a Swan Lake piece where she was Odette and a bunch of young girls where her little swans, there were partner dances and group dances and fun dances and serious dances and Ale was amazing in every single one.

When it was time for the dance about the dead family, the team all held their breath. They could see a difference in Ale as she walked on stage, a little more hesitant than before.

As the music started Ale stood with her family, one of the members being ripped away slowly until Ale was alone on her side of the stage. The rest of the dance was absolutely heartbreaking, the audience feeding into it and Ale making it seem like it was so real.

To her, it was.

By the end of the piece Ale was sobbing. As the last swell of music came over the speakers Ale broke away from the barrier, running up a few of the dancer's backs only to leap away. Before the audience could see if Ale was caught by her family or not the stage went dark, the last note of the song vibrating through the room.

After a few seconds the audience erupted in cheers, the heavy curtains closing. Slowly, people began to stand up, continuing to clap.

The team sat in their seats, frozen. Nate looked to his right, Quinn's jaw clenched tightly. On his left, Sophie, Parker, and Hardison all had tears running down their cheeks. Even Eliot was moved, his chin resting in his hand, his eyes fighting against the tears that were in his eyes.

Nate found that his own cheeks were wet, as well. Eventually, he was able to pull himself from his seat, cheering just as loudly as the rest of the crowd. The curtain finally opened, the youngest kids from the studio bowing. That continued until the oldest group was bowing, Ale bowing last. She got thunderous applause, the audience standing up once again.

Tonnie then came out, the crowd cheering as well. When she started to make her thank you speech Ale went back stage, a CPS officer coming out onto the stage a second later, informing the entire room of what Tonnie had been doing. Ale then took the mic, promising that all of the family's money would be returned, and that the studio would be taken over by a wonderful, safe teacher by the name of James Kent. Tonnie was then hauled away in handcuffs, as was Jason, Ale thanking everyone for coming. The curtain closed, the audience all talking with one another about what had just happened.

"We should go get her, yes?" Sophie said, looking at Nate.

"Why don't we let Quinn go?" Eliot suggested, nodding at a very surprised Quinn.

"We'll meet you back at the hotel?" Hardison said, looking at Quinn. He nodded, standing to go back stage and find Ale.

The team, in turn, headed out to the car, going to the hotel. Nate, Sophie, Hardison, and Parker started packing while Eliot started making dessert, all of them thinking back to Ale and how amazing she was, while also hoping that she was okay. The sadness that she conveyed in the dance was pure and true, and they were hoping it wouldn't pull Ale away.

They would all miss her too much.