Hardison had no idea exactly when it had happened. But he knew when he found out- by his ill-timing of walking into the bathroom at Nate's apartment.

"Oh, oh, hell no..." he was muttering, stomping back into the den.

Nate raised an eyebrow at him, but said nothing. Sophie, on the other hand, dropped immediately next to him on the couch. "What's the matter, Hardison?" she asked gently, her delicate hands on his left arm.

"I... uh... um..." Hardison fumbled, unable to get the words exactly out.

Eliot came out, his longish hair still wet, wearing nothing but a pair of jeans. "Knock, dude."

Nate and Sophie started chuckling, figuring he had merely walked in on their hitter in the shower, possibly... well, having private male time... But, then, ten seconds later, Parker came out, fully dressed with damp hair.

"Nate, are there any cheerios left?" she asked, walking herself to the cupboard.

Nate's eyebrows went up to his hairline, and Sophie audibly gasped, both of them looking between Eliot and Parker, gobsmacked. Eliot fidgeted under the scrutiny.

"See? This is why we didn't tell you people..." he grumbled.

Sophie pounced the moment Parker sat down with her bowl of cereal. "Are you serious?" she demanded. "Or just taking care of an itch? Because, if that's the case, it could make things complicated..."

Parker's face scrunched. Not in that adorable way it did when she was pleased, but in the way when she was pissed off and about to do something... Parker-ish... in other words, a little nutty. Eliot hopped up.

"Oh, that's rich!" he blurted. "Considerin' you an' Nate acting like you're in some sixth grade romance half the time!"

Nate narrowed his eyes. "Sophie and I have history, for one. For two, we never consummated anything, because it's complicated. For three: Leave us out of this!"

Eliot glared right back. Sophie pouted, and, if he was reading right, so was Hardison. Parker, on the other hand... looked extremely fretful, and it tugged at him a little- okay, a lot.

"It's... been a while..." he hedged, reaching out a hand to yank Parker into a standing position. "And, not that it's anybody's damn business, but, yes, it's more than just knockin' boots." he said, putting an arm around her waist. "But, that's it: You know, now it don't need to be analyzed half to death and a constant of discussion." he said, pointing to the three of them. "That's that."

Parker looked pleased, kissed his cheek and nodded. Eliot gave a half grin, and walked her towards the kitchen.

Hardison leaned towards Nate and Sophie, whispering, "Did we just fall into The Twilight Zone?"

"Well..." Sophie whispered back, starting to look slightly smug, "there's a way to find out how serious he is..."

Nate frowned at her. "You're poking at a mighty grumpy bear with a cattle prod." he warned.

"Oh, not me, Nate..." she grinned, the smug tone in full force now...

"I'll show him who's in a 'sixth grade romance'..." she thought to herself...