A/N: So the previous chapter ought to have been the end, but any fic that made you hang around that long for the real E/P has to have an Epilogue of E/P cuteness, right? To all the wonderful 'fans' of this fic - this one's for you! ;)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Epilogue

It wasn't exactly a surprise party, since Parker knew she was having one. Eliot couldn't have kept a secret from one as sneaky as her even if he wanted to, so he decided not to try. It was six months now since she had woken from the coma that led her into a High School fantasy, and just a couple of weeks since they got done bringing down Damien Moreau. The world was calm and as it should be for now, and for the Leverage crew that was something worth celebrating.

Parker was almost back to her old self. She wobbled here and there, sometimes literally, sometimes emotionally. The crash and subsequent comatose state certainly took its toll, but had ultimately led to a relationship with Eliot that she wouldn't trade for every diamond in the world. He made her so happy, she felt like a giddy teen a lot of the time, and if it were possible, he could feel the same when he was with her.

The party was a celebration for the whole team, but still Eliot insisted on making it a special event mostly geared towards Parker. He encouraged her in the shopping trip Sophie wanted to make and wasn't sorry he had when he went to pick her up and bring her to McRorys. She wore a stunning red dress that shimmered in the light and showed off her form to perfection. Eliot never saw Parker grin so much about clothes in his life, but then he couldn't ever understand how special this was to her. It was the closest thing she could find to the literal dress of her dreams, the one she had worn when attending Homecoming with a fake teenaged Eliot a few months ago.

"You look beautiful, darlin'," he promised her as he walked her out to the truck and opened the door for her.

"I knew you were gonna say that," she replied, kissing him as she slid past into the passenger seat. "I'm guessing most people don't know what this party is really for," she said when Eliot joined her, and they both fastened their seat-belts. "I mean, Moreau and everything."

"We told most people it was to celebrate you, Parker," he confessed. "I know you don't like attention all that much but the fact is... well, we couldn't've pulled those cons without you. We... I couldn't've dealt with Moreau without you," he explained, leaving the car in park as he reached out a hand to her cheek.

She knew what he meant, and it wasn't all about her help with the job of taking down the bad guy, not this time. Eliot hated himself for his past, for the things he had done when working for Damien Moreau. It had proved right the theory Parker had been holding onto from the start, that the hitter knew more about their enemy than anyone. Now she knew why, but she had assured him that she didn't care about any of it. They all had pasts, and there were both good and bad parts to that. What mattered was that they loved each other now, and Parker was sure she never loved anyone the way she loved Eliot Spencer.

"We should go to this party already," she said with a smile then, putting her hand over his at her cheek. "Faster we go, faster we get back. I mean, as much as I'm sure it'll be great, I kinda like being alone with just you," she admitted, feeling a little silly just as soon as she realised how dumb that might sound to him.

Eliot leaned over to kiss her lips, proving that he didn't find that sentiment silly in the least.

"Alone is good," he agreed in whisper, before turning his attention back to the wheel and the road. "But trust me, babe, you're gonna like your party too."

Parker smiled because she knew she should. She would like the party, because Eliot and her team would be there, plus Peggy who she had known since jury duty, and Cora McRory. She would be as comfortable as possible amongst people she knew and could be varying degrees of honest with, plus Eliot had promised cake. In that respect there was no bad.

A few minutes later, Eliot parked the truck across the street from the bar. He rushed around to open the passenger door and took Parker's hand to help her out. This was her first time in heels since learning to walk again, and whilst he was pleased for her that she could cope on them so far, he still worried about her. He led her across the street and then pulled her own hands up over her eyes.

"It's not a surprise, Eliot," she reminded him. "I know about the party."

"You don't everything, smarty pants," he scolded her gently. "Now keep your eyes covered and come on," he urged her, guiding her with a hand in the small of her back. "Now, take a look," he said, when he had her positioned in the middle of the floor.

Parker gasped in shock and awe when she uncovered her eyes and surveyed the scene. This was no ordinary party, not at all. The tables and chairs were all gone, opening up a large space for a dance floor. The bar was piled high with snacks, the cake she had been promised, and bowls of fruit punch. Every guy wore a tux, every girl a fancy gown, and a glittering disco ball hung above their heads, bouncing coloured lights all over. Parker turned a full circle, taking in the whole display of wonder, and then her eyes settled on a banner above the bar that stated in large painted and glittering letters - 'Welcome to Parker's Prom'.

"Oh my God!" she gasped, putting her hands over her mouth a second later. "This is... Eliot, it's amazing! Thank you so much!"

She ran right at him, throwing herself up into his arms and grabbing on like a koala. He caught her easily and held on tight, thrilled that he had made her so happy with this plan.

It was always touch and go with Parker. Just when Eliot thought he knew what he was doing, he would up and say something she didn't like, and there would be a whole debacle of figuring out why and how to fix it. All her talk of High School, the way this whole situation had played out, he was pretty damn sure she would love to have the Prom she never got at eighteen. Seemed on this occasion, Eliot had gotten it just exactly right.

"Oh, look how happy she is," said Sophie from across the room, her arm linked through Nate's own.

"Good to see," he agreed with a smile, patting his girlfriends hand. "I don't think we have to worry about Hardison quite as much as we thought either," he noted, drawing the grifter's attention to a spot behind the bar.

One of the young women from the hire shop that had helped kit out all the guests in formalware was in deep flirtatious conversation with one Alec Hardison. If memory served, her name was Lindy, and she certainly looked enamoured by the team's hacker. That was no bad thing as far as Nate and Sophie could tell; they really didn't want him to feel like the fifth wheel.

There was no turning back in their own relationship anymore since sealing the deal in more ways than one over in San Lorenzo. As for Eliot and Parker, as unlikely a pairing as they may have seemed in the beginning, the love between them was so very obvious now, everyone in the room could see that.

The music started up, thanks to Hardison who was not so very distracted by Lindy as he'd seemed, and Eliot pulled Parker into his arms for a slow dance. The thief couldn't help but smile at vague memories of the Homecoming Dance she and her boyfriend had attended in her dreams. This was better, of course, because this was actually real.

"So, I know it's a decade late," said the hitter as he pulled her in closer, "but how'd you like Prom, Parker?"

"I think I can honestly say... I love it," she said with a look in her eyes that seemed to mean she was talking about a whole lot more than just this party. "I guess some things are worth waiting for."

"Can't argue with that," Eliot agreed easily, moving in to kiss her lips.

She kissed him back with everything she had to give, knowing she would never get this chance again. Parker had waited a long time to feel this way, believing for the most part that she never would. It was true, she had missed out on a lot in her formative years, but she was making up for it now. She doubted anyone could feel as happy as she did right now, even if they were at a real Prom with a genuine Prince Charming. High School had to end sometime, after four years or whatever. She couldn't say for sure she and Eliot would last any longer, but Parker knew better than to waste a moment of this time, it was far too special for that.

The End