The con had gone off without a hitch. Yes, the students were confused and the parents were enraged, but they were also surprisingly happy with the promise of a new teacher.
Ale was cleaning up her dressing room, packing up all of the costumes while tears rolled down her cheeks. That dance had opened up a well inside of her, and while she was at peace with staying with the team, she could help but miss her family. Usually at this point in the night Lio was helping Ale clean up her stuff, telling her about the younger students that she taught and how they did on stage while also raving about her different pieces. He was always so amazed.
There was a knock on the door of the dressing room, Ale turning around as she wiped her eyes.
She was shocked to see Quinn leaning against the door frame, his arms crossed over his chest, a smile stretched across his face. Ale ran into Quinn's arms, his strong embrace lifting her off the ground.
Once she knew she was safe in Quinn's arms Ale allowed herself to truly cry, sobs escaping her lips.
"You were beautiful out there, Ale," Quinn whispered. When Ale had finally calmed down Quinn set her down, wiping some of the runny make up from under her eyes.
"What are you doing here?" Ale asked, sniffling a bit.
"I had to see my girl in the show," Quinn shrugged, Ale smiling.
"I can't believe you came."
"I wouldn't have missed it for the world."
Quinn and Ale continued to pick up Ale's things, Quinn taking her back to the hotel once she had changed into some sweatpants and a sweatshirt.
Quinn couldn't help but notice how beautiful Ale looked, her hair still done up, a sweatshirt enveloping her small frame, remnants of her stage makeup still highlighting her already beautiful green eyes.
Once they got back to the hotel Quinn and Ale headed up to the team's suite, everyone cheering when they walked in the door.
Parker was the first one to hug Ale, her compliments coming a mile a minute. As Sophie and Nate congratulated Ale Hardison paced around the room, raving about all of the different pieces Ale was in, barely able to get out complete sentences. Eventually he grabbed Ale in a hug, spinning her around.
"Truly amazing, Squirt. Really," he smiled, ruffling her hair.
Eliot, who had been working on serving up the dessert he made, couldn't help but smile from the kitchen. Ale deserved all of the praise in the world. She was amazing.
Ale walked into the kitchen as Quinn and the team started talking about the con, Ale putting the flowers Nate had gotten her on the counter.
"Well, what did ya think, cowboy?" Ale asked, crossing her arms as she leaned against the counter.
"Honestly?" Eliot asked, looking over his shoulder at Ale.
She looked beautiful. He was glad that her stage makeup was gone, although the small bit of dark charcoal lining her eyes made them irresistible.
"Yes," Ale nodded, seeming to be worried.
"It was incredible. I'm sorry I kept you from it for so long," Eliot said, putting down the spoon he was using to dish out the ice cream, turning to look at Ale.
"And I'm sorry that I kept it from you. I should have been honest with you from the start. About dancing and feeling caged and Quinn."
"I didn't make it very easy," Eliot laughed, handing Ale a bowl filled with a warm brownie sundae. "Now, go eat and tell everyone else dessert is ready. It is well deserved."
"Thanks Eliot," Ale smiled, taking the bowl and going into the living room, sitting down beside Quinn.
As much as Eliot wanted to be mad at Quinn and upset with Ale, he couldn't. It was his own fault he wasn't with Ale, and he had to accept that. He wasn't going to let his emotions ruin the friendship he was rebuilding with Ale, and he wouldn't let jealousy ruin the working relationship he had with Quinn. They had already ruined enough.
Once everyone was sitting and eating dessert laughs were being shared and everyone was talking about the different dances Ale was in and the ones that she wasn't. It was nice, and the team was happy to see Ale happy as well.
"Well, I am exhausted. I should get some sleep," Ale said, standing. "Good night everyone," Ale smiled, planting a kiss on Quinn's lips, waving to everyone else as she closed herself into her room.
"She is a lovely girl," Sophie sighed.
"Is she going to join the team?" Parker asked, looking between Nate and Sophie.
"We don't know Parker," Nate said, Parker pouting a little bit.
"I'm sure she's not going anywhere, Mama," Hardison assured her, Parker smiling and curling up under his arm.
"You guys have no idea how much you mean to her. You are what got her through this week. And a lot more. She will always belong with you," Quinn said quietly.
Sophie could see the small bit of sadness in Quinn's eyes, as if he knew that he wouldn't have Ale forever. The fact that she had chosen to stay in the suite with the team instead of stay with Quinn was just one indicator, but Sophie knew that it didn't go unnoticed by Quinn, nor did it go unnoticed by the other hitter in the room.
Either way, Ale was choosing where she wanted to belong, and she had three families pulling her in very different directions.