Leverage Bingo: The Cross my Heart Job (part 1)

[acquariusgb]

Title:  This time Around
Author: acquariusgb
Characters: The team; Maggie, Tara, OFC
Pairings: Nate/Sophie
Spoilers: From Cross my heart Job until the season finale
Rating: T
Word Count: 22,064
Summary: After the episode The Cross My Heart Job, Sophie goes to Nate's apartment with interesting news.
Written for my leverage_bingo card for leverage_bingo. The prompt is: The Cross My Heart Job Entry #18



This time around.

Nate was still working on his ship model when he heard the front door open. He looked up to see his grifter come in.

“Hey, what are you doing here? I wasn’t really expecting you tonight.”

She just walked towards the table and sat on the nearest chair. “A girl can change her mind”

“Sure, but you seemed pretty pissed earlier when I proposed to you to stay over” Her reaction bothered him a bit too. He was sure she was going to spend the evening with him, especially since the case hit him so bad making him think about Sam.

“Yeah,  sorry about that. I was just tired and needed a good few hours of sleep.”

“So you felt guilty and thought about coming here to check on me” He read through the lines and he didn’t know if he had to be angry or pleased about it.

“Like I said Nate, you’re a thief now, you can take care of yourself. But I am relieved to see that you are not passed out on the bed with a bottle of scotch.”

He lifted a piece of wood he was gluing. “New hobby.”

“So I see” she inspected his work. “What’s with you and puzzles?”

He shrugged “I just need to keep my mind occupied. How is your sunburn?” He changed the subject.

“Better” She sighed finally ready to reveal the real reason she had dropped by. She thought long about it, she even carefully planned her words but in none of the scenarios she imagined in her mind did their conversation end well. “Nate, we need to talk.”

He soon recognized her serious tone and stopped working on the model.

“Sounds important. I know we haven’t really defined our relationship, but usually when a woman starts a conversation with the words “we need to talk”, it means she is breaking up with you.” He looked uncertain. He got that he definitely wasn’t the easiest person to have a relationship with. Something that  Maggie  pointed out to him thousands of times. Actually so many times that maybe the divorce shouldn’t have been such a surprise. But he hoped that with Sophie things would have been different. She did convince him to start a friends with benefits relationship, which was great. Amazing sex with no real commitment, who could say no to that? But of course things couldn’t stay simple between them. One dinner there, another movie night here and suddenly it felt like he was in a relationship. She was still telling him that they were not dating- he really needed to check out her definition of dating, because her dictionary was totally different from his- and the way she handled things with the rest of the team was still unclear to him. But he kept his mouth shut and just started going with the flow. As long as they were both happy, everything was great. But now, she was breaking up with him? What did he do?

She shook her head. “I’m not breaking up with you. I…” she stopped not really sure how to continue. “Recently, I haven’t been feeling so good. I’m always tired, sometimes dizzy..”

“Sophie, are you sick?” Okay so no breakup but something else was scaring him now. “Did you see a doctor?” Please don’t let it be Sam all over again, he mentally pleaded.

“In Montserrat it finally hit me what could be wrong with me.” She took a deep breath. “So when we arrived back in Boston I went to a pharmacy and bought a pregnancy test.” She finally said the words.

Nate stood still, mouth open. “And?” he whispered. Even if he knew it was a stupid question. She certainly wouldn’t have been there if it had been negative.

“And it was positive. Nate, I’m pregnant.” The words still felt strange to her. After she finally decided to take the test, she stood there hours looking at the results, a part of her whishing it could magically change. She wasn’t really expecting to be a mother, certainly not in this phase of her life. But apparently fate had different ideas and was really messing with her.

Nate was still shocked. “Pregnant? As in expecting a baby?”

“Yes, Nate.” She snorted. “How many different definition of the word pregnant do you know?” Really, men. Say the word pregnant and even the most intelligent one suddenly loses all his IQ.

“How did it happen?” he was still shaken about the all idea.

“I’m pretty sure it happened the usual way” Sophie tried to stay calm. Obviously he was still trying to process the all thing. She went through that a couple of hours before. “By the way, it’s all your fault.”

“Wait? What?” he replied back annoyed. “I know it definitely takes two to tango.”

“And I did my part by taking birth control pills religiously, of course your guys had to be overachievers” She pointed out to him.

He smiled a bit proud until he remembered that a baby wasn’t really planned. “How far along are you?”

“Well, according to the pregnancy test, five weeks.” She could see him mentally working out the date. “Don’t even try to figure out when it was conceived. It’s not like we haven’t been very…. active…”

“It could have been that night with the chocolate.” He smirked.

She blushed remembering that night. They certainly had fun after the chocolate festival. Who knew that chocolate could be used in so many different and interesting ways? She cleared her voice embarrassed. “Well, tomorrow I’ll call my ob-gyn and set an appointment to check everything.”

He nodded “So…”

“So”

Now they really had to talk about how they felt with the all situation and most importantly how to deal with it.

“Look,” she went first. “I know this is not exactly planned and we certainly don’t live the kind of lives suitable to raise a child…”

“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” he stopped her hesitantly.

“What?” she looked at him in question, then she understood what he was implying. “No, no, I’m not thinking about having an abortion. Of course not” She quickly shook her head.

He let out a sigh of relief.

“Did you really think I was going to say that?” she wondered. Did he really think that she didn’t want their baby?

“I wasn’t sure where you were going with your speech. Obviously at the end you’ll have my support with anything you decide. It’s your body I can’t really impose my decision, but…” he looked down. It wasn’t easy for him to open up.

Sophie covered his hand supportively, silently giving him the courage to go on.

He finally looked up with teary eyes. “But I’ve already lost a child and I don’t want to lose another one.”

“Oh, Nate” Sophie leaned over her chair to embrace him. She held him tight. She knew it had to be difficult for him to talk about this. It had been strange when he opened up about Sam at the airport. “That’s why I was hesitant about telling you this. I know it’s not easy for you, with everything that happened with Sam. And this case did bring some memories back.”

She pulled back from their embrace and gently cupped his cheek in her hand. “It’s going to be fine, Nate”

He slowly nodded and looked away not too comfortable on being this vulnerable. “It’s late. How about we call it a night?”

Sophie nodded knowing to give him space for now. “Do you want me to leave?”

“Of course not. I’m not throwing you out at this hour!” He started putting the model ship things away.

“You know,” she helped him. “It would have been a lot  more charming if you told me “of course not, I can’t stay away from you. I need you here””

He smirked. “I thought that went without saying.”

“Hmmm… sure. You know, you should be more kind to the woman carrying your child” she patted his cheek playfully while they made their way up the stairs.

“Wow, it really didn’t take you long to use the pregnancy card. I think you’ve just broken some kind of record.”

“Get used to it, mister. This pregnancy is not going to be easy for you, I still need to punish you.”

They entered Nate’s bedroom and started their night routine.

“Again with this being my fault. You know, I didn’t really hear you complain whenever this baby was conceived.”

“Details” and she stopped suddenly. “Nate, we’re having a baby” the circumstance they were in had hit her unexpectedly.

“So it seems.” He walked closer to her understanding that she was the one panicking now. He put his hands on her shoulder and made her look into his eyes. “Sophie, it’s going to be okay. We can do this”

She smiled and nodded. Then she brought her arms around his body and hugged him nestling her face in his chest. Nate held her tight to him protectively.

“How are we going to tell the others?” she whispered in his body.

He rubbed his hands up and down her back giving her warmth and comfort. “We’ll think about it after we have the confirmation that there’s a baby”

She slowly nodded and gave him a small peck on the lips. “Let’s get into bed, it’s freezing”

Once they settled under the covers they snuggled in each other arms. Nate had been actually surprised to discovered that Sophie liked to snuggle in bed. It happened one evening when Sophie stayed the night. He couldn’t sleep so he sneaked downstairs to read a bit not wanting to wake her up by turning on the lights. After just a couple of minutes she came down and called him.

“What are you doing down here?” she asked sleepy.

“I didn’t want to wake you up with the lights.”

“I can sleep with the light on, but not with a cold bed.” She replied. “Get back up here”

Nate closed the book and went upstairs. She took his hand and dragged him under the covers. So he continued reading with one arm wrapped around Sophie who was peacefully sleeping against his chest. From that day on he never tried to sneak downstairs. There were definitely worst ways to spend the night.

“Good night” He put his arm around her.

“’night” she whispered back.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Nate looked around a bit self-conscious. All around him there were young pregnant women. Some were very pregnant, like I’m just about to give birth pregnant. He didn’t really went with Maggie to her ob-gyn appointments when she had been expecting Sam. Most of the time he had been in Europe. He did had to go to pre-birth lessons thought, Maggie didn’t really give him any choice. But he did promise Sophie that he was going to be there with her, so there he was.

Sophie took the seat next to him. “So , we have to fill this form

“What alias are you going to use?” Nate asked taking a peak at the form.

“Nate, this is my regular ob-gyn. She knows me as Sophie” she remarked giving him a Seriously? look.

“Ah, what do you need to know?”

“Well, I know you name, place and date of birth…. “ she wrote down.

“Wait, how do you know my social security number?”

“Please!” she shrugged. “Nope, I think I already know everything”

“Geez, and I don’t even know you’re real name” he whispered hoping that she couldn’t hear him

“I know that you can’t remember that night, Nate” she remarked without looking up. “and it’s going to be a long time before I think you’ve earned the right for me to tell you again”

“Can I use the pregnancy card?”

Sophie just lifted her eyes from the form and glared at him.

“Sophie Devereaux?” a nurse called. “The doctor is ready for you”

Nate and Sophie both got up and followed her down a corridor and then entered through second door on the right.

“Sophie!” A middle age red haired woman greeted them. “How are you doing?”

“Hi, Elizabeth” Sophie smiled at her and shook her hand. She has always liked the friendly doctor. “I didn’t think I was going to see you so soon” she joked.

“Yeah, from your form I read you suspect your pregnant?” she read the chart putting her glasses on. “You took a home pregnancy test?”

“Yeah, it came back positive and I’m more than a week late, so here I am”

“And I gathered that you’re the maybe future father” doctor Elizabeth Stone eyed Nate.

“Nathan Ford, pleased to meet you.” Nate smiled nervously and shook her hand.

“Well Sophie, you’ve got yourself a very nice man here” she winked at the grifter. “Let’s see if there’s a baby then and how it’s doing. First of all Sophie, I need you to get changed and put that gown. You know where the changing room and bathroom are. Then a nurse will come and take a blood sample, after that we can finally have a look with an ultrasound.”

Sophie nodded and started gathering her things. “Are you sure you want to stay here?” she asked Nate who was still nervously jumping on his feet.

“Yeah, no problem. I’ll just wait here.” He sat down on a chair but hi leg kept moving nervously up and down.

“Nate” Sophie put a hand on his back “Relax” and she kissed his cheek.

Fifteen minutes later Sophie was laying on the exam table while Nate was sitting on a chair next to her.

“Okay, let’s have a look” doctor Stone squirted some gel on Sophie’s naked abdominal.

Sophie gasped at the cold feeling and Nate promptly took her hand in his. “You’re okay?”

She just nodded as the doctor ran the probe over her.

After a couple of minutes she confirmed their suspicions “Yep, here is the fetus” she pointed at the screen. “I’ll say it’s between 5 and 6 weeks along.”

Sophie smiled at the image in front of her. She couldn’t real see anything but just the knowledge that there was a little person growing inside of her made her happy and she started crying.

“Soph?” Nate asked worriedly.

“I’m just happy Nate, it’s…” she couldn’t contain her emotions. “… it’s a fantastic feeling”

Nate smiled and bought her hand to his lips. “I think you’re already going hormonal on me” he grinned.

She chuckled. “Oh stop it!” she lightly hit him with her other hand.

“Well, congratulations you two! I will prescribe pre-natal vitamin pills for you and schedule your next appointment. I would like to do an amnio test too, just to be on the safe side. The desk will call you this evening with the blood results.”

Sophie got herself cleaned and went to get back dressed in the changing room.

Nate remained in the room dump fooled. He was going to be a father again. He didn’t know how he could feel happy and scared at the same time.

“First child?” Elizabeth Stone interrupted his thoughts.

“Hmm? Oh no, I…” why did she have to ask him that? “ I had a child in my previous marriage, but…” he looked down uncomfortably.

The woman soon understood and realized her mistake. “Oh, sorry… how did it happen, if I may ask? I’m just wondering for any genetic…”

“Cancer” he retorted back.  “He got ill when he was eight”

Stone just slowly nodded and Sophie returned in the room. She soon noticed the gloomy atmosphere and Nate sad and lost look.

“Everything okay?” She asked uncertain putting a hand on his arm.

Nate just put a fake smile on. “Sure”

“Okay Sophie, the desk will tell you everything. If there aren’t any problems I will see you back in a month.”

They said their goodbyes and Nate and Sophie took the lift going back towards the hospital hall.

Nate’s silence and absent gaze were scaring Sophie. “Nate, is everything okay? Did you change your mind about…?”

“No, no. It’s just…” he sighed not knowing what to say. “ She asked me if this was my first child so then I had to talk about…”

“…Sam.” She understood. “You want to talk about it?”

“Not really. I’m just not ready yet” He wondered if he’s ever going to ready to talk about his son without falling apart. “I’m happy about the baby, Sophie. I really am” He reassured her.

Sophie nodded and smiled at him. She gave him a quick kiss before the lift’s door opened.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

As soon as they entered Nate’s apartment they were ambushed by Parker who jumped in front of them. “Where were you?” she asked with a small tone of accusation.

Sophie gasped. “Parker! Do you really have to scare me to death?”

“So, where were you guys?” Hardison repeated the question from where he was standing beside the monitors.

“Can’t we have a bit of privacy?” Nate complained. “It’s not really any of your business”

“I told them that” Eliot pointed out from his post behind the kitchen counter.

“Since you’re two got together, you have like this secret life” Parker frowned.

“It’s called doing things as a couple, Parker. We’re not trying to shut you out. If you really want to know we went out for brunch” Sophie lied to her.

“Yeah,” Hardison exclaimed. “Because the hospital is very famous for their cafeteria’s brunches” he joked.

“Hardison,” Nate shouted “Did you track our phones down? I thought we established that you can do it only in case of emergency.”

“It was an emergency!” Parker intervened. “We didn’t know where you were.”

“I’d like to point out that I told them it was a bad idea. That you guys needed privacy. It was all them” Eliot try to get out of trouble.

“So, who’s sick?” Hardison asked not really feeling guilty about invading their privacy.

“I’m surprised that you didn’t hack into the hospital files” Sophie sighed frustrated. She sat down on the kitchen chair trying to figure out how to get out of this mess.

“Well, even I wouldn’t go that far!”

“So…” Parker insisted.

Nate and Sophie exchanged a look. “Might as well tell them already. It’s not like we can hide it”

“The hospital appointment was for me” Sophie began. “I’m pregnant” she finally told them.

Parker squeaked with happiness. “Cool, we’re going to have a baby thief!” She jumped.

Hardison was still shocked with his mouth opened. “Wow, that’s…” he stammered. “You’re guys are nasty! But hey, if you’re happy, I’m happy!” He went to give Sophie a big hug.

“Thank you Hardison. We are happy.” Sophie returned his hug.

“Congrats, bro!” He tried to give Nate a hug, but the mastermind stepped back.

“Let’s just have a friendly hand shake.” They shook hands but Hardison managed to sneak a semi hug.

Eliot stood behind the counter watching the scene. He hadn’t said anything yet.

“Eliot?” Sophie wondered.

He put on a false smile and went to give Sophie a  hug. “Congratulations, Sophie!” he whispered in her ear. But Sophie wasn’t fooled. Has soon as they separated she gave him a look to say: I’ll talk to you later.

Eliot then gave a firm hand shake to Nate. “Congratulation.” His voice tense.

“Thank you” Nate replied wondering what was wrong with his hitter.

“So, tell us, when did you guys found out? When will the baby be here? And when can I teach it how to pick a lock?” Parker asked without breathing.

“Wow, slow down Parker” Sophie giggled. “We got the confirmation this morning, but we have had our suspicions for a couple days. I’m nearly six pregnant, so there’s still a long way to go. And we’ll see about the pick locking.”

“Oh, come on” Hardison whined. “Like our team mascot won’t know how to pick lock or hack!”

“Team mascot? That’s my kid you’re talking about” Nate replied firmly.

“Oh, how cute!” Parker commented “Nate is already going all papa bear on us!”

Sophie smiled. “It is adorable, isn’t it?”

“Hey,” Nate frowned. “I don’t do cute nor adorable”

Sophie gave him a quick kiss. “Sure you don’t, love”

“Hey, you two stop it. Didn’t we agree not to PDA in front of innocent eyes?”

“Hardison, shut up!” Nate gave Sophie another kiss both to annoy the hacker and because her lips were so inviting.

“Why don’t we all go out for lunch?” Sophie suggested. “I’m a bit famish.”

“Well, you are eating for two now.” Hardison noted.

“I’m in” Parker skipped to the door. “Nate’s paying!” Hardison right behind her.

“Wait? What?” Nate took Sophie’s hand and together they went to the door.

“Eliot?” the grifter turned around since she noticed he wasn’t following them.

“Hmmm… sure”

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

“So, which one of us is going to talk to Eliot?” Nate asked entering his apartment soon followed by Sophie. The lunch out has certainly been awkward. Hardison and Parker were already making all sorts of weird plans for the baby. Hardison even promised Sophie to download for her books about pregnancy and what to expect with an infant. Parker couldn’t wait for the baby to be there already. They tried to explain her that it wasn’t going to be like a puppy, but the baby was going to be an actual human being. “Of course, I know that!” she had snorted. Eliot, on the other hand, had been different. It had stayed quiet for all the lunch occasionally nodding or grumping something.

“I guess I’ll go first” Sophie sighed. “If it doesn’t work you can try the more brutal approach.”

“Hmm…” Nate agreed and stood there looking at her, hands in his trousers’ pockets.

“Now?” she asked grudgingly. She had already taken her shoes and coat off and was ready for a quiet afternoon in bed.

“I saw him enter the bar. Better get this thing out of the way before it becomes too serious.” He put his hands on her waist and began nuzzling her neck with small kisses. “I’ll make it up to you”

She moaned at his touch even though she perfectly knew that he was manipulating her. “Promise?”

“I’ll be upstairs waiting for you and I’ll be at your beck and call for the rest of the day” he won her over.

“Well, with an offer like that, how can I refuse.” She went to kiss his lips but then at the last second she pulled away teasingly. “You know I’m the master of this game, Nathan Ford” she put her shoes on again and exit the room.

Nate just stood there wondering if the all thing wasn’t just her playing all along and who really won that round. “That woman is going to be the death of me!” he whispered.

Sophie found Eliot sitting at a corner in the bar. His usual bottle of beer tight in his hand. She went to counter to order a lemon soda and went to sit next to him. Thankfully the pub was busy so there others wouldn’t be paying much attention to them.

“Have you started brooding  down here too? I have always thought it was Nate’s thing” she tried a simple approach.

“Sophie” He acknowledge her. He slightly change posture in his chair putting at least a physical defence between them.

The waitress bought Sophie her drink and she immediately took a sip of it. “You want to tell me what’s wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong” he replied too quickly.

“Yeah, want to try again? This time without the lying.

“It’s just…. I could you two have been so stupid!” he finally let out.

“Okay?” Sophie was a little taken back.

“A baby? Seriously? With the kind of lives we lead?” he pointed out angrily. “Can’t you two have been a bit more careful with protection?”

“Okay, first of all calm down. Second, I’m not going in to details about my and Nate’s sex life…”

“Please don’t” Eliot interrupter with a disgust frown.

Sophie just glared at him “… but we were careful about birth control, it just happened. But even though it wasn’t planned, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t a beautiful unexpected surprise.”

“How can you say that? What if something happen to you or the baby? If Nate loses either of you, he won’t be able to pull it back together this time.”

“What makes you think anything would happen to us?”

“Any con could go wrong. Then there’s Latimer and whatever plan he has for us. I’m the protector of this team, what if I can save you? Nate will blame me”

“Oh, Eliot…” she whispered finally understanding the problem. “We will always be a team, a family. I’ve got all four of you to protect me and I’m not letting anything happen to this baby. You don’t think that Nate has already thought of everything? He will practically micro manage every step of my pregnancy and after it’s born, I don’t think he will let this baby leave his sight any time soon.”

“Yeah,” he agreed softly. He can already imagine the extremes Nate will go to make sure that Sophie and the baby will be okay, and that was what he was worry about. But his two friends seemed happy and if keeping them happy meant that he had to work double or use extreme measures so be it. He smiled gently, thinking about it, having a baby around might not be so bad. He missed his nephew. He could still remember how good it felt holding the little thing in his arms. He hated leaving his sister and her son behind, but it was for their own good.

“So,” Sophie put a hand on top of his. “All better now?” she asked.

“Yeah,” he nodded “Everything is okay. I’m really happy for you Sophie. And I will apologize to Nate tomorrow.”

“It’s okay. We were just worried. We’re a family now and every member counts.”

“I will make sure that nothing is going to happen to you, you know that right?” he looked at her seriously in to her eyes.

“I know you will just don’t get hurt or killed in the process” she warned.

He smirked. “You know I can’t promise that”

She glared knowing that she couldn’t say nothing else in the matter. She got up. “Well, I better go and see what Nate is up to. I will see you in the morning.”

“See you”

“Nate?” she called out when she entered the apartment.

“Upstairs!” he shouted back.

Sophie went upstairs and went into the bedroom. “Hey?”

Nate was lying on his bed quietly reading a book. It was rare for them to have a day off and although he was a control freak workaholic, he liked relaxing now and then.

“So,” he closed the book. “Please don’t tell me that Eliot is secretly in love with you.”

She chuckled crawling her away up the bed. “No, you idiot. He was just being the overprotective Eliot, but everything is okay now” she settled in his arms.

“Sure? Because I could go down and punch him, but I don’t think I will come back alive.” He muttered in her hair.

“Well, I wish you wouldn’t. You promised to be at my service this evening so I kind of need you” she smiled lifting her head from his chest.

“And what exactly do I need to do for you?” he asked a bit uncertain.

“Oh, you know. Cook me a nice dinner, prepare me a nice relaxing bath, maybe a massage...”

“That’s all” he replied sarcastically.

She nibbled his bottom lip. “I’m sure I can think of something else”

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

“I can’t believe it that you can’t remember when I stole that necklace. It was in Venice? The gondola chase? I was wearing that beautiful Carnival mask…” Sophie had a dreaming look thinking about that night. She really loved Venice during its Carnival.

“I can certainly remember that beautiful green dress you wore” Nate smirked from across the bar counter.

“Men, you’re all the same!” She sigh in frustration. “Anything else besides my cleavage?”

“Why concentrate on other details? I have to start keeping a notebook where I can write all these special dates, haven’t I?” he wondered.

“If you don’t want to get accustomed to sleeping on the couch!” she finished drinking her orange juice. “Let’s get out of here.” She gave him a flirtatious smile.

“Really?” Nate asked surprised. “I’m starting to like your mood swings!” he finished off his drink in one go. Suddenly the bar door opened. “We’re closed” Nate saw the armed man and he immediately put himself in front of Sophie. A second guy appeared at the back . He soon realized who was behind this. “Hello Sterling!”

The old friend/enemy came into view. “Hello, Nate.” he looked at the woman behind the mastermind. “Sophie.”

“Sterling” she said firmly “What are you doing here?” she still resented him for arresting Nate.

The second man opened a briefcase and took a chess board out. “ How about a game, Nate?”

Nate observed him intensely and then turned towards Sophie. “Wait for me upstairs, okay?” he told her softly.

She started to object. “Nate, I don’t trust him.”

“I’ll be fine.” He smiled reassuringly. “Call the others” he mouthed.

She gave him a small nod and looked him deeply in his eyes. She knew that she had to go. She had another life to looked after, but that didn’t make it better.

She started walking away , but she first stopped in front of Sterling “If he’s not upstairs in an hour, I’ll send Eliot to kick your ass” she threaten.

Sterling gulped felling scared of the grifter in that moment, Nate just smirked, proud of his woman.

The chess board was set up and the two players took their seats.

“You two finally hooked up. About time” Sterling said first.

“I don’t think you’re here to talk about my private life.” Nate retorted back. Nate took one of Sterling’s pawn.

“And I see congratulations are in order too.” Sterling moved another piece capturing one of Nate’s pawn .

“How do you know?” Nate looked up a bit angry that Sterling discovered their secret and now he had a leverage over him.

“I saw how you stood in front of her and Sophie put a hand on her womb. How far along is she?”

Nate looked unsure, but since for now they were having a peaceful conversation he answered back. “Two months.”

“That’s good, Nate. After everything that happened to you, you deserve to be happy again.” He responded truthfully.

“If you use Sophie or my child in any way…” Nate added menacingly.

“Relax Nate. I’m not here for you and I won’t put them in danger. I actually need a favour.”

“Why should I help you?”

“Because you will see it’s the right thing to do” he smirked “Plus I’ll own you one. How often does that happen?”

Nate nodded. “Start talking”

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

“I was seconds away from coming down and punch the guy!” Eliot exclaimed the moment Nate stepped in his apartment. “Please, tell he’s still here!” he punched the palm of his left hand with his other hand.

“He’s gone, but we’ll be meeting him tomorrow. At the airport” He threw Hardison a file. “Please, verify its contents. I don’t trust Sterling”

“Nate,” Sophie said alarmed. “Please, don’t tell me we’re doing a job for Sterling!”

“We’re doing a job for Sterling” he replied back.

“Seriously?” Eliot shouted back. “Why? Every time the guy is in town there’s trouble”

Hardison read through the finally. “Seriously? This is big, man.”

“What?” Parker picked over his shoulder.

“We have to steal a tiny little weight that calibrates a nuclear centrifuge”

“Nuclear? Cool!” Parker exclaimed happily.

“Why?” Eliot retorted back.

“Before the bad man sells it to terrorists.” Nate responded. “Look guys, I know it’s Sterling and we can’t trust him. I will try to stay a step ahead of him, but it’s something we have to do.”

The others silently agreed. “Okay, we will meet again tomorrow morning when I’ll have a plan. The flight for Dubai leaves in the early evening.”

The other three left the apartment while Sophie was sitting at the conference table still looking perplexed .

“What?” Nate stepped closer to her.

“There’s something else, isn’t there?” she asked  having by now learned how to read him and knowing when his hiding something.

Nate smirked. “I can’t keep anything from you, can I?” he sighed. “Sterling has an informant inside close to Livingston. While we distract him with the theft, Sterling will liberate the informant.”

“Who is it?”

“Sterling’s daughter.”

Sophie looked at with wide eyes. “Sterling has a daughter?”

“Yeah, I was shocked too. I never knew about her. But his ex-wife married Livingston and since she died Sterling’s daughter is practically living as a hostage.”

“Poor girl”

“I don’t want the others to know yet. Sterling only told me because I knew he was hiding something from me and I wouldn’t have taken the job until he came clean.”

Nate gather the files, papers and I-Pad and started working on plan, or several.

Sophie sighed. “If it weren’t for Sterling, we could be having sex right now”

Nate chuckled. “Yeah…”

“I guess this is going to be a work night” she looked through the files.

“You can upstairs to sleep.  You need to rest.”

“I’ll help you until I can” she wrote something down.

Nate shook his head knowing how she could be stubborn most times. “Okay”

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

“Eliot, would you please stop growling?” Hardison snapped from his seat.

“I just can’t help it, man. Just the site of him makes my skin crawl….” He kept staring at the Sterling who was smirking at him.

“I would have preferred for you to stay in Boston” Nate whispered to Sophie.

“Nate,” she puffed. “We’ve talked about it. Until I can I’m going to work on cons like normal. If you’re going to be so overprotective now that I’m only two months pregnant what are you going to do in last trimester? Lock me in a vault?”

Nate raised his eyebrow. “Can it be an option?”

Sophie just glared at him and Nate sign in resignation. “Okay, I’ll try to tone it down a bit. But you can’t blame a man for trying.”

Sophie smiled. “I like it that you took this role of being my personal bodyguard, but I can take care of myself. I have been doing it long before we’ve met”

“So you keep reminding me. I just want to keep both of you safe.”

She wanted to kiss him but she knew he wasn’t very comfortable in being so open and vulnerable in front of Sterling, so she just took his hand in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I know.”

“We here.” Sterling announced when the taxi stopped in front of their hotel.

Everyone got out and entered the luxurious hotel. Hardison whistle “We should let INTERPOLE pay for our jobs more often.”

“Don’t get used to it!” Sterling snarled going passed him. He went to the reception desk and took the key cards. “So we’ve got all the suit floor for  us.” He passed each of them a key card.

He gave one to Nate. “I thought that you and Miss Devereaux will be sharing.” He commented smirking.

Nate snatched the key from his hand and followed the other to the lift. Hardison had been right, it was really a magnificent hotel. If the circumstances had been different, if would have been perfect for a romantic getaway.

“I’ve still got a house here in Dubai” Sophie commented as she had read his mind. “We could always come back another time”

Nate nodded even if he knew that would never happen. After this con it would probably be a while before they could return to the city. He might have to tell Sophie that she has to sell her house. “We have to get ready for the open ceremony” he opened his suitcase.

“After that long flight I need a shower” Sophie had already taked hold of the room. Her clothes were neatly placed in the wardrobe and she was carrying her beauty case into the bathroom.

Nate looked around wondering when it all happen and where he was going to put his things now. He sighed and stayed silent  knowing not to start an argument.

“Want to join me?” Sophie peaked from the bathroom doorframe.

Nate smirked. “That doesn’t usually go fast. I’ll go and find Hardison and ask him about our aliases.”

“Spoil sport” she smirked back.

Nate discussed the details with his hacker and the told him that they were going to meet down the hall in an hour. He went back to his room, only to find Sophie going around the bedroom naked.

“Wow, I should leave more often.” He whispered back eyeing her with lust.

“I’m just about to get dressed.” She picked up a dress laying on the bed. “What do you think of this?” she asked.

“You know everything looks good on you” he stepped closer to her and kissed her bare shoulder from behind before sitting on the edge of the bed.

“I don’t think your opinion is really fair.” She smiled.

Nate then put a hand on her womb. “You can start noticing a slightly baby bump” he commented stroking the area.

“Hmm… so I’ve noticed in the shower.” His touch felt good.

“You’re going to have that test when we get back, aren’t you?”

“Yes, a bit nervous about it. Not a big fan a big needles.” She replied a bit scared.

“You know I’m going to be there for you, don’t you?” he reassured her.

“I know.” she smiled back and bend over to kiss me lightly.

“Better go and have my shower and to leave you to get dressed.” He got up and went to the bathroom. After his quick shower he came out of the bathroom with only his boxer and saw Sophie trying a big hat in front of the mirror. “I thought hats were my thing” he exclaimed.

“It’s hot outside, I don’t really want to burn my head” she turned around already wearing the purple dress “Too much?”

Nate put his white trousers on and started buttoning his black shirt. “I don’t know why you keep asking me fashion advice. I’m not that good at it.”

“Hmm… but you do dress nicely.” She ran a hand up and down his chest.

With the finally touch, Nate was ready. “Let’s go!” he offered her his arm which she gratefully took it.

They used the party at Livingston building as an opportunity to do a recon. The vault seemed impenetrable, but Nate left the solution in Hardison’s capable hands and he and Sophie retired in his room for a deserved rest. He needed to be at his best tomorrow.

“So,” Sophie said. “You want to practice some chess with me?”

Nate smiled. “The last time you didn’t exactly play fair.”

“I don’t know what you mean” she faked obliviousness.

“Half thorough the game you turned it to strip-chess!” he exclaimed.

“It’s not my fault you’re so easily distracted!”

“I’ll show you easily distracted” and started planting soft kisses along her cheek and jaw.

Sophie moaned. “I don’t think we should be having sex tonight”

Nate looked up. “What makes you say that?”

“Well, aren’t you supposed to be like a big athlete before his big game? There is a reason why footballers’ wives and girlfriends must stay away before a football match”

“You really believe that?” he questioned.

“It must be true somehow. So the only thing you’ll be having from tonight, Nathan Ford, it’s a game of chess. If not, we can go to sleep.”

Nate sighed in frustration. “You really enjoy teasing me, don’t you?”

“It has become one of my favourite pastimes, yes!” she smirked.

“I’ll remember this and then I won’t be so gentle.” He warned not really implying he was going to hurt her. Never that. But doing a bit of teasing himself, maybe

“Bring it on!”

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

“Nate, calm down please” Sophie tried to stop her partner.

“He got you arrested!” Nate retorted back angrily.

“and he drugged me!” Eliot shouted too.

The rented van stopped in the hangar next to a private jet. Nate soon got out of it.

“Sterling!” he shouted watching the man boarding the plane.

The agent turned around and saw Nate running towards him. “I know you’re pissed!” he put his hands up in surrender.

Nate was ready to punch him. “Not in front of my daughter, please” Nate stopped when he saw the young girl watching frightened from the airplane window.

Nate sighed and put his arm down. “You got my girlfriend arrested. I told you not to mess with them”

“I just did what had to be done. Tell you what, I’ll make it up to you”

“How?”

“I can offer you a ride to Boston” he nodded towards the jet.

Nate considered the offer and then nodded making a sign to the others to gather their things and board the plane. Soon they were flying to the U.S.. Half way through the flight Olivia approached Nate. The mastermind looked up from the book he was reading.

“Can I help you?” he inquired.

“I wanted to ask you if you would like to play another game of chess. This time a fair game.”

Nate considered the suggestion. She seems like a nice girl, it was not her fault that her flaw was to have Sterling as her father.

“Sure” he finally agreed. He turned towards Sophie who was leaning against his shoulder her too reading a book. “Will you be okay by yourself?”

“Jeez, I wonder if I can manage to stay here alone in my seat in a plane with you and other 6 other people?”

“You know, I could do without the sarcasm!”

“You go” she pushed him out of his seat. “Have fun!” she waved.

The first game finished with a draw. They were both excellent players. The second game was won by Olivia, to her father’s joy that smirked at Nate. The mastermind won the last game. Soon they were landing in Boston.

The team got off the plane. Eliot wasn’t very happy that Sterling drugged him but he promised not to punch him.

“I will send the information you need as soon as I can” Sterling promised.

Nate just nodded and helped Sophie on the steps.

“Mr. Ford” Olivia called him. “I hope you’ll be able to play again.” She smiled.

“Hmm… sure” Nate responded a bit surprised.

Sophie just giggled behind her hand and Sterling groaned recognizing the smitten look on his daughter face.

“How cute!” Sophie exclaimed once they were far away.

“What?”

“Olivia has got a crush on you. I think that’s enough of a punishment for Sterling!”
continue to part 2