"You okay, darlin?" Eliot's voice drawled, coming into the little alcove upstairs. The rest of the team was staying in the guest barn, but there weren't enough rooms with all of the other guests for the wedding so Ale offered to sleep on the window seat.

"Yeah. It's plenty of space for me," Ale shrugged, hoping Eliot wouldn't notice her puffy eyes. She had been a little stricken with how wonderful Eliot's family had been and it made her miss her own fiercely.

"That's not what I'm talking about, Ale, and you know it," Eliot said sternly, Ale sighing and sitting down on the window seat. Eliot sat down next to her, their thighs touching as they shared the small space.

"Chris was so right, you know. There is a greater reason that they are gone. I am not so sure it was God, but the universe definitely needed them for some reason. Everything happens for a reason. I refuse to believe they were taken from me for nothing. But even thinking like that…it's a little selfish. They weren't just taken from me…they were taken from each other and others and life. But still…I don't know. They were a lot like your family. They were friendly and welcoming and they just…my mom would have welcomed all of you just like your mom did. And my brother would have embarrassed and complimented me just like Jeff and his brother did. Your dad…he was so proud and happy to have everyone there, just like Papa would have. I don't know…they just made me remember how much I miss them."

"I'm sorry, Ale," Eliot started, Ale laughing a bit, taking his hand to stop him from speaking. She was stunned that she had done that, but then again, she couldn't deny the magnetism she felt any time he was in the room.

"Don't apologize. It was great, in a way. Really, it was. Like I told you, you have to remember them or you start to forget your love for them."

"You are something else, Ale," Eliot sighed, smiling a bit. "Well, I'll let you get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow for the wedding day," Eliot said, standing.

"Yes. Your sister invited me to the salon with the bridal party to help take care of the kids and get to know them. Sophie and Parker declined politely but I thought it might be fun. Plus Chris said that if I was his date to the wedding I have to go with him everywhere tomorrow," Ale laughed, Eliot smiling again, not being able to ignore how beautiful Ale looked, her face washed free of makeup, her hair pulled to the top of her head. It was mostly dark in the little alcove but the little light there was was illuminating Ale in the most beautiful way.

"Oh, so you're Chris' date tomorrow?"

"Guess so, cowboy," she shrugged. "Goodnight, Eliot."

"Night, Ale," Eliot smiled, ducking out of the corner to go to his room downstairs. Once he left Ale turned off the lamp beside her, closing the eyes. Instead of letting the bad thoughts of her family leaving her filling her mind, she instead thought of Eliot, his smile helping her to have sweet dreams.

LEVERAGE

"It's wedding day!" Chris sang, running around the kitchen. Sophie and Nate were still asleep, Hardison was fiddling with his computer, Parker was on a hike, and Ale was helping Emily with the baby while she helped Jeff's fiancé, Lauren, get some finishing touches done.

"Where is Ale?" Chris asked. "Cause I am her date."

"She is right here," Ale said, the baby on her hip. Eliot couldn't believe how beautiful she was. She was wearing yoga pants, a tank top, and a big zip up, her hair in a braid…but she was still so beautiful.

"You aren't in your dress," Chris said, putting his hands on his hips. Elaine, who was making French toast by the stove, laughed and Ale put her free hand on her hip.

"You aren't in your tux," she sighed.

Chris laughed, running over to Eliot.

"Are you coming to the salon with us? Mom says it's to help me practice my patience."

Eliot smiled, Ale smiling at him, as well. For a moment, his heart stopped.

"Yeah, Eliot. Do you need to practice your patience?" Hardison chuckled, pulling out a chair for Ale to sit down at the table. She sat the baby on the table, holding her hands as she played with Ale's face.

"Please, Uncle Eliot?" Chris begged, Eliot glancing at Ale once more. She was kissing the baby on the neck, making little Zoe giggle the sweetest laugh. Something about this house was making it impossible for Eliot to ignore how much he liked Ale.

"I can come for a little bit," Eliot promised, Chris cheering. Emily, Darcy, and Lauren came into the room. They both pulled up a chair, Ale handing Zoe to Emily.

"Come where?" Emily asked, looking at Eliot.

"To the salon. Chris asked me to. Then I can take Chris to be with the groomsmen," Eliot shrugged.

"That sounds good. You can take Ale, too. She said she would get there early with the guys to help with Chris and finishing touches. She is great. Sophie and Parker said they would help too," Emily smiled, looking so relieved that they had offered to help.

"Oh. Okay," Eliot nodded, Ale sighing as she stood from the table.

"Well I am going to go take a shower and get ready for the salon. See you in a bit," Ale smiled, Elaine turning from the counter.

"You haven't eaten yet."

"I'm not that hungry," Ale shrugged, smiling at Zoe as she reached for her. Ale blew her a kiss and avoided eye contact with Eliot, something that he didn't ignore.

LEVERAGE

Sophie woke up to a pounding on her bedroom door. She wrapped herself in her robe, opening the door to see panicked Ale, her hair wet and dripping down her shoulders, sweats adorning her body.

"Can I talk to you?" Ale asked, rushing into the room.

"Well I guess so," Sophie laughed, pulling up the sheets on her bed so Ale could sit down. "What could possibly be the matter early in the morning?"

"I like Eliot," Ale blurted, looking a bit ashamed.

"I like Eliot too," Sophie shrugged, although she knew where it was going.

"No. I like Eliot. As in I have romantic feelings for him."

"I'm shocked," Sophie said, deadpanned.

"Don't be like that, Sophie. It's not my fault it took me this long to admit it," Ale sighed, laying backwards on the bed. "What am I going to do?" Ale sighed, still sounding panicked.

"What do you want to do?"

"Well according to the dream I had last night I want him to be my boyfriend, to put it in a PG manner."

Sophie laughed, smiling at Ale.

"Maybe you just need to talk to Eliot," she suggested, Ale rolling her eyes.

"That's a great idea. Thanks Sophie."

"Sorry, kid. That's all I've got," Sophie sighed, Ale standing up.

"I'll see you at the church," Ale smiled, leaving the room. Sophie smiled to herself, happy that Ale had finally jumped on the same wagon Eliot was moving on.

LEVERAGE

After Ale was done blow drying her hair she started rifling through her bags, looking for her baggie of envelopes. The two different bags were at the bottom of her suitcase, one holding a few of her mother's letters, the other holding a few of her father's. She had big boxes of each at her house, but took a few with her at all times. They each wrote one to read when she missed them, and wrote one for when she struggled to understand why they were gone. She instead searched for a new envelope, her mom's envelopes providing her with what she needed.

"For when you think you are in love-

My beautiful Ale. My guess is, you have found many men who you have been in love with. I am positive many men have found themselves to be in love with you, as well, whether or not you knew it. But the fact that you came to find this letter this particular time, means you are, for whatever reason, afraid. My guess is it's someone you are friends with, or someone you feel you can't be with. Or you are afraid of being happy altogether. Either way, you came here for a reason, and that is reason enough to prove that you don't just think you are in love. You are. And that is okay. As far as the fear or apprehension goes, that is okay. But it is not okay enough to keep you from happiness.

So, no matter what is stopping you (unless it be a wedding ring on that man's finger) please let yourself be happy. Take it slow if you need to, or jump right in. Either way, give your heart a chance to truly be in love. I did…and I got two beautiful children and a wonderful husband out of it. If you are afraid enough to question whether the love is true, it is.

I love you with all of my heart, and I promise I am watching over you every day, and I am so proud of you. I am sorry I had to leave you so soon, but I promise that you are doing alright.

Love always , Mama."