Title: For Now

Author: finkpishnets

Fandom: Hustle

Rating: PG

Pairing: Ash/Stacie

Spoilers: Series 1 & 2

Word Count: 501

Mickey and Danny watch her, and they watch each other watching her, but neither sees her watching another. She supposes she must be subtle, after all it is her job, though she cannot fathom how nobody has become aware of her constant glances and laughing conversation, slipping her arm through his whenever they walk down the street and sharing amused, knowing looks when they realise they are partaking in the same line of thought. It gives her a sharp thrill to know that this is truly a secret just for her; even Ash, she believes, is unaware of her feelings for him. Honestly, she is only just beginning to realise the full extent of them herself and that initial state of butterflies and girlish flirtations is something she hasn't felt since Jake.

Ash swiftly became her closest friend and confidant when their family was reunited and from that, perhaps, her feelings developed. He was always there with a shoulder to cry on when she felt down and a bottle of champagne and a laugh whenever she was in high spirits. Maybe he became her best friend. It seems silly to think of him in such terms; he is older than her and has been living this life a lot longer. Although they have both had failed marriages, hers resulted in bitterness and revenge whilst he would still give the whole world to June if he thought she needed it. That was the sort of man he was.

Mickey may have principles and intelligence; a calm, smooth exterior that could fool everyone and anyone, and Danny may have the boyish charm and arrogance of one with a big heart and disillusioned outlook, but it was Ashley Morgan who stood out, perhaps in his invisibility. It was so easy for people to forget that Ash was even there; long years of practise had ensured that he stay in the shadows and under the radar, but to Stacie, that modesty and loyalty may as well have been a spotlight.

She'd fallen in love with him so suddenly that she'd made herself sit and think about it in case it was just a misunderstanding; a miscalculation of chemicals to the brain. But there was no denying it; she had fallen hard.

And so she watched him because, despite her confident demeanour, she was afraid that she'd mess it up. One day...one day she'd work up the courage to do something about it; to flirt or to drop hints or even to just grab him and kiss him because she wanted to so badly!

But she would allow Mickey and Danny to watch her and hold some unspoken masculine competition that distracted them enough that they wouldn't see her watching Ash, her real choice. She'd let them try and seduce her whilst glaring at each other, and she'd let them believe that she was available.

For now.