They arrived at Martha's Vineyard a few days later and without hesitation Abby had leapt to find the nearest jeweller. Partly because she was excited to help Nate out with his master plan, but also because, as much as she enjoyed spending time with Nate, the open sea wasn't really for her. There was too much salt, too much rocking and way too much wind. Dry land was definitely more her speed.

"So what type of ring were you thinking of?" Abby peered over the counter, examining the glistening jewels.

"Something vintage," Nate said after taking a considered moment.

"Not something…pillé?" [stolen], she whispered in French to avoid the questioning eye of the already suspicious shop owner. Their sea salted, wind-swept bodies wasn't quite in tune with the up market crowd that seemed to swarm to the Vineyard.

"No, I figure it's not too wise to start off a marriage with something dishonest."

"Ah, gotcha," Abby noted, running her fingers along the glass, causing the shop owner to glare at her with disapproving eyes. She glanced up at him in annoyance before lifting her hand off the bench and walking over to Nate. He was on the other side of the room, leaning over one of the displays with one hand resting behind his back. His other hand hovered, pointing at ring shoved away in a corner as though it had been forgotten.

"What about this one?" he asked, glancing up at the owner.

"Ah yes," he said with a slight accent. He pulled the keys from his belt, unlatched the case and grabbed the ring. He brushed it off on a cloth before placing it on a velvet pad in front of Nate. Abby looked at it from the sidelines as Nate picked it up and carefully examined it. "18 carat white gold, 1.6 carat diamond, 1940s I think. Is this for your mother?" He looked up from the ring towards Abby as he asked the question, adjusting his round spectacles.

"Sure, why not." An explanation would be much too difficult.

"What do you think?" Nate looked at Abby for advice.

"Eh," she screwed up her face. It was a beautiful ring, it just wasn't perfect. "I just," she let out a sigh "It's not Sophie."

"Okay then." Nate placed the ring back on the mat and began to scour the other rings in the case. Abby scanned the adjacent case, looking for something that would suit the glamor and taste of the grifter.

"That one," Nate exclaimed with absolute certainty as he pointed at the ring in the middle of the cabinet. It had been placed on its own separate stand, making its already huge diamond shine out even more. The owner looked pleased at Nate's suggestion. Abby took a step so she was sidled up to Nate and could get a better look at the jewellery. Leaning forward, she placed her palm on the glass.

The owner cleared his throat in disapproval at the smudges she was forming on his perfectly clear glass as he pulled out the ring. A large square cut diamond was set in a silver band which had been inlayed with smaller, though not at all small, diamonds; it was perfectly glamorous, just like Sophie. "This is also a gorgeous piece. This is a very nice piece hand crafted in Europe, circa 1920s. It has excellent clarity and excellent carat." The owner pushed the glasses down his nose a little as he brought the ring up to his face.

"It's perfect Nate," Abby said softly as the man passed the ring over to the mastermind. He took it carefully.

"I think it is," he agreed, spinning it around and seeing how it shined in the light. "I'll take it."

"Very good," the man replied, bouncing on his toes a little. He spun on his feet and pulled out a dark blue, velvet box as well as a finely made paper bag. "That'll be 55,000 dollars." He let out a pleased smile.

Abby cleared her throat a little, in shock at the price but Nate did not hesitate. He just pulled out his wallet and handed the man his silver credit card. "Thankyou Mr," the owner tilted his glasses back up to read the name on the card. "Gilmore. I'll just put this through." He turned away to go and make the payment.

"Sophie doesn't know about this identity does she?" Abby whispered as Nate passed the ring over to her. "Because if she does she will find out you bought this. That woman can smell diamonds from a mile away."

"No, she doesn't," Nate assured. "And that's why," he continued as Abby slid the ring onto her right ring finger, examining how it looked on her hand. "You have to take the ring."

"What?" Her eyes widened in surprise and, not wanting to take the responsibility of an immensely expensive ring, she pulled it off quickly and placed it back on the velvet mat.

"You said it yourself, Sophie will sniff it out, but if you have it-"

"Nate, it's like a billion dollar ring!"

"You'll be fine. Just shove it into a closet or something, just don't lose it."

"And while I'm travelling?"

"I'll keep it 'til then," he concluded after a moment of contemplation.

"Fine," she agreed begrudgingly. "But I'm not paying for it if something happens."

"Agreed," Nate nodded in affirmation, then tilted his head towards the owner. "Now, what mistake did he make?"

Abby let out another heavy sigh. "Really? Criminal training? Eliot's gonna love this," she muttered to herself.

"Go on," Nate pushed softly.

"He left us with the ring," she stated, without having to think; it was, after all, an obvious mistake. "We could have slipped him a fake credit card and then made out with the ring."

"And?" he asked hopefully as the man made his way back over to them.

"He left the ring cabinet unlocked."

"Good."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXx

"So now that you and Sophie are together together," Abby commented once they had exited the store. Nate was clutching the bag containing the ring tightly in his hand while Abby peered into the windows of every shop they passed. Both ignored the grey clouds and slight drizzle that covered them in a light mist. They had been at sea for nearly a week and, honestly, the fresh water was a nice change; it wouldn't cover them with the same salty crust that sea water did. "I think Parker and Hardison are finally going to get together."

"You think so?"

"Mhm," she confirmed, cupping her hands around her eyes as she peered into a dark shop window. Unimpressed with what she saw, she moved on. "I bet by the time we get back, they're going to be an actual couple."

"What are we wagering here?" Nate asked seriously.

"You think they're not?" Came her response. To her, it seemed like the pair's sexual tension was finally going to snap.

"I give them six months, and I wager $50," he added surely.

"Six months?" Abby paused from walking, looked at Nate and bit her lip as she pondered. The fact that he had them at half a year worried her; he was a much better judge of character than she was and had much more experience with them, and with gambling. She was unsure but then remembered how Eliot had mentioned she'd be going to spend time with Parker and Hardison at the same time. That didn't mean it was a sure thing but it gave her the boost of confidence she needed to stick out her right hand. "I'll take that bet."

Nate looked both surprised and impressed as he shook her hand in agreement. "You know I'll hold you to that."

"I know," she replied as she turned back and began to look shops again. A newsagent caught her eye and she spun quickly on her feet to make towards the door. Nate followed her without question, the small bell chiming above their heads as they entered.

"Hey Nate," she began as she browsed the shelves. "Those questions you ask me sometimes, quizzing me about whatever, giving me books to read, why do you do that?"

"You enjoy reading those books," he replied, ignoring the heart of the question.

"Yes, but that's not the point," she smiled back as a she walked towards a stand various puzzle books, the bright, clashing colours catching her eyes.

"Because I see something in you," he began seriously. "You see the world differently, so does everybody on our team. You're smart, compassionate and definitely unique."

"That doesn't answer the question," she pushed again. She picked up a Sudoku book and began absent mindedly flipping through its pages.

"Yeah, yeah," Nate agreed softly, indicating that he had not finished. "When this started out you know," he began and Abby paused her flipping as Nate looked her directly, but softly, in the eyes. "I didn't push the team because I wanted them to be better as individuals. I wanted them to work better as a team so we could, you know, be more efficient. I still saw potential in them, but it was potential for my own gain. With you, I see the same potential; a person who is capable of doing fantastic things but with you, I don't want to help you gain skills or knowledge or anything to make the team more efficient, or so I can gain something, I want you to have all the opportunities in the world. As your family, as your uncle… not uncle," Abby smiled at the unusual term, "I think it's the right thing to do."

"Uncle not uncle," Abby let out a huff of a laugh. She turned back to the stack of books and continued to rifle through them. "I like that. Oh and, uh, I think I owe you a thank you." She picked up a pile of the small books and brought them over to the counter. "Without you, pushing them to be a team, pushing Eliot, I would have never gotten him back. So thankyou."

"You're welcome." He nodded a few times at her before clearing his throat and turning to face the cashier. "You getting all of these?"

"Gotta entertain myself on the plane somehow," she defended, pulling out her purse to pay. Nate quickly stopped her however, placing one hand in front of her as he pulled out his wallet with his other hand.

"I got it," he offered.

"Thanks Uncle-Not-Uncle Nate."

XXXXXXXX

Next up, Sophie and Abby have some fun in good ol' London!

xx