Work Text:
The knock coming from the garden gate in the courtyard was unexpected and, seeing as they were all in the middle of planning a particularly politically charged con, it was by unspoken agreement that Eliot was the one to check it out. The teenager on the other side of the door was certainly a surprise, but not a threat, and Eliot’s shoulders relaxed immediately.
“Hi, I’m Becky, Harry's daughter. Are you…Eliot?”
Becky looked nervous but determined. A combination Eliot had often seen on her father. Eliot wasn’t sure what to make of her sudden appearance on their doorway, but he held the door open and gestured for her to come inside.
“Yeah, come on in.”
The others had made their way into the courtyard, curious to see what was keeping Eliot, but they all stopped short as they took in the young woman next to him.
“Becky’s here,” Eliot said, looking at Sophie and widening his eyes slightly.
"Becky Wilson?" Breanna said sharply, and Becky jumped.
"What are you doing here?" Parker demanded. "Is Harry okay?"
Becky flushed under the sudden onslaught of attention.
Sophie waved her hand to shush the others and stepped forward.
“Hi Becky, I’m Sophie.”
“Oh, but I thought you were… never mind.” Becky smiled and reached out to shake Sophie’s hand. “Hi.”
"Why don't you sit down and tell us why you're here."
Sophie ushered Becky to one of the courtyard tables where they all sat. Becky straightened her shoulders and tried not to crumple under the weight of the others’ expectant stares.
"So it's, uh, really cool to meet you all. My dad has been kinda vague about things, but you all seem really amazing."
Parker preened a little and Sophie just smiled and shook her head.
"Becky," she prompted, "why are you here?"
"Uh well...my dad is okay," she said, glancing at Parker, "Mostly. He's really busy with the new office, but he's still home a lot more than he ever was and it's been really great to have him back."
Her voice caught a little but she continued.
"I think he's really excited to be practicing law again, but in a good way, if that makes sense? But I think he's... lonely? I don't know. He seems happy enough with work and with me but I think this past year with you guys really meant a lot to him and I think he misses you."
Becky finished her speech and looked around the table, cheeks pink.
After a brief moment of silence, the table erupted.
"Aww, evil lawyer man misses us!"
"I knew it, I knew it, let's go get him!"
"I told him to reach out, I did. Man's gotta open up a bit."
Hardison said nothing, but smirked over his soda. Sophie hid a smile and waited for the others to settle.
"And that's why you're here, then? To let us know that he misses us?"
"I was actually hoping you all would do something about it. I said he should reach out but he said something about getting established with work, which seems like a pretty weak excuse to me. And he is established at work now, mostly."
"Becky, if your father wants space to figure out his new life, we should honor that."
"And what if my dad's just being stubborn?"
Sophie had to admit that was a strong possibility and said nothing.
"And before you say anything about waiting for an invitation from my dad, I found a loophole."
Becky smiled as the others perked up.
"Dad said I could have my friends over for dinner this week, but he didn't specify which friends, so as long as we're friends, you can come."
"Oh c'mon Soph, you have to admit that's good," Hardison said.
Becky watched as the others looked for Sophie for approval and turned to face her directly.
"So, are we friends?"
“Who’s coming over tonight? You didn’t say how many pizzas I should order.”
Becky shrugged at her dad’s question and tried not to give anything away.
“I don’t know exactly who’s gonna be able to come. They should be here soon, though.”
When the doorbell chimed a few minutes later Becky darted through the house ahead of her dad. She opened the door and grinned when she saw that everyone had come, as promised.
“Dad, my friends are here,” she said. Breanna stifled a laugh and Parker bounced on her toes. A moment later, Harry popped his head around the door and froze as he took in the group assembled on his porch.
When it was clear Harry was too surprised to form words, Becky gently pushed him out of the way and waved the others inside.
"Come on in, the kitchen's that way."
Hardison clapped a still surprised Harry on the shoulder as he passed and Eliot just nodded, his hands full with the pot of chili he'd prepared.
"Hey man."
Harry just held up a hand in stunned greeting; Breanna gave him a high five as she passed. She and Parker were already looking around his home curiously and Harry was making a mental note not to let them roam unsupervised when Sophie stepped through the door, carrying a bottle of wine.
"For the host," she said, smiling at Harry. She wisely held onto the bottle; Harry seemed incapable of holding onto anything just then.
"Sophie, I thought you were …but you, you’re here.”
"I never left,” Sophie told him. "I think my next adventure might be right here after all.”
Becky cut her eyes from Sophie's soft smile to her dad, then back again. Interesting.
"So, you guys wanna come eat, or?"
Harry topped off Sophie’s wine glass and watched as Breanna and the others guided Becky through a round of Spirit’s Ruse. He shook his head.
“I can’t believe Becky arranged all this.”
Sophie laughed and nudged his shoulder with hers.
"I think your daughter is going to be a very effective lawyer one day. Or an impressive conwoman.” Sophie studied Harry’s face for a moment. “Or both.”
“Or both,” he agreed. He kept his eyes trained on his drink as he spoke. “Are you really going to stay?”
Sophie glanced at him briefly, eyes dancing.
“I am. After all,” she said, looking over at the table where Becky was high fiving with Parker, “I do have friends here.”