Paternal Discoveries
It was just meant to be as a joke.
The FBI asked for two random sets of DNA to test a new system of theirs in genetic comparisons… the White Collar team volunteered their favorite duo of Peter and Neal. Their given reasoning was that they wanted to know why the two men were able to work together so well, and since they couldn't explain it, maybe their DNA could.
Peter had laughed along with them and allowed the request, but Neal had been less amused. He tried to talk his way out of it, but the team backed him into a corner. Either he had to allow it, or he had to explain why he didn't want his DNA compared to Peter's.
When the FBI got the results and called a private conference with the two men, Peter learned why Neal had been so reluctant. Neal was his biological son.
Walking out of the room for a few minutes, Peter called Elizabeth and asked her to meet him and Neal for lunch. He had news for her.
Since Elizabeth was aware of the joke to compare Peter and Neal's DNA, she had the suspicion that something had been found.
Sitting at the restaurant, Peter had made sure to get a private table for this conversation as it was going to be a surprise for Elizabeth. Looking over at Neal while he waited for her, he couldn't believe that he had a son, yet alone one that was a fully grown man that he really didn't know.
Neal had known that Peter was his father for years so it wasn't a surprise, it was more of a day of reckoning. What would Peter think of him? Would he be able to tell him the truth about himself? Would Bryce be brought back into the picture for the first time since they were both in college?
Things were feeling awkward between them as neither one knew what to say, so they sat quietly and waited for Elizabeth to arrive.
When she walked up, Elizabeth could tell that whatever the news was, it was serious, and it had the two men virtually unable to speak to each other. In an effort to bring a sense of normalcy, she greeted the men like she usually did and talked about her morning until the waiter had taken their orders.
With privacy assured until the food came, Elizabeth broached the subject. "So, what is this news that you have to share?"
Unsure of how to break the news, Peter decided to start from the beginning. "Do you remember when I told you that I was briefly married to Paige right out of high school?"
Nodding her head, Elizabeth summarized the details. "She was your high school sweetheart, but you caught her cheating on you a few weeks into the marriage. As she persisted, the marriage fell apart in the first year and you got a divorce. Except for a note some years later that she was being sent into Wit-sec, you never heard from her again." Elizabeth didn't know where this was leading, or why Neal needed to be present for this conversation as it seemed to be rather private, something that should remain between her and Peter.
"She had a surprise that she didn't share and the joke test that the office volunteered us for turned out to be rather revealing." He ran a hand through his hair and then looked Elizabeth in the eyes. "Elizabeth, she didn't tell me, but Neal is my son."
Surprised, Elizabeth gasped lightly. So, that was why Neal was along for lunch. "I guess that makes me the evil step-mother?" She tried to joke and take some of the awkwardness out of the moment.
Playing along, Neal smirked at her. "You are technically my step-mother, but evil? Sure, maybe, but not wicked witch evil for sure!" He laughed as his parents both glared at him. "Seriously, I couldn't be luckier in Peter's choice of a second wife."
Trying to figure what else to say, Elizabeth decided to ask some questions. "You don't seem surprised Neal, did you know?"
Put on the spot with both of them looking at him curiously, Neal fidgeted with his silverware. "Since I was twenty-one… the second time I learned my real name."
With so many questions on their minds, Peter and Elizabeth didn't know which one to ask. Taking the first one off of the top of his head, Peter asked. "What is your real name?"
"Neal George Caffrey-Burke. Except for your name tagged on the end, it's exactly the same as when I was born. I've wondered if you were ever going to catch on to that." He teased and questioned at the same time.
"I noticed that you had the last name Caffrey, but what were the odds that you were related to Paige? For all I knew, you might have picked it as your base name due to having heard or seen it somewhere and liking it." He still couldn't believe that he had a son and his first wife had left without telling him. She could drop him a note that she was going into Wit-sec, but she couldn't tell him that?
"Why did you end up in Wit-sec?" That was another question that had bothered Peter for years.
Shrugging, Neal didn't have as much of a concern as he might have. The man wasn't really his father after all. "It's easily summed up in that she continued to make bad choices." Pausing to really look at Peter, he added. "Why she left you has been a question that I've had ever since I knew about you." For a few moments he looked at the man he could happily think of as his father. Then he picked his story back up. "Basically, she ended up in DC with a police officer. On my third birthday it came out that he was a dirty cop guilty of pretty much everything from theft of evidence to murder of a fellow officer. With his fellow dirty cops and their mob contacts after us, because he turned state's evidence, we were moved into Wit-sec."
Feeling bad, Peter wished that he had been given a chance to protect his son. If he had taken him in, then he wouldn't have had to experience the instability of his life falling apart at such a young age.
Seeing that Peter was feeling bad about the implications of what he had gone through, Neal decided to give him a distraction to research for the afternoon. It also gave him a means of announcing Bryce indirectly too. "My real files aren't under Neal Caffrey though." When Peter's head whipped around at that, he knew that he was taking the bait. "You should try checking out Danny Larkin if you want to see those details."
Taking a break as the waiter delivered their food, the group stepped back to absorb the information that had been shared.
As they settled into their food, Peter had a serious expression on his face. Was the Neal he knew a reaction to something Paige did, or was that due to his personal choices? The only way he was going to know was to ask. "What was your childhood like?"
Eating a few more bites of food, Neal tried to think of a good way to describe it. "Mom… she checked out after everything happened with James. Fortunately, I learn quickly and the arresting officer, James' former partner, went into the system with us. She did what she could and things were alright enough. When I turned eighteen she told me my real name via adoption and I went to college."
Choking on his food, Peter took a moment to collect himself before asking. "You went to college? Under which identity?"
Watching him until he was calm again, Neal just shrugged. "I told you, my real files are under Danny Larkin."
Elizabeth took up the next question. "Are there any other surprised hidden under that name?"
Grinning evilly, Neal looked at both of them over his food. "Two secrets. One I can't tell you so that is a way for you to find it on your own, and the other… I have no idea how to break the news to you so that is a way to give you a sporting chance."
"A sporting chance?" Peter questioned.
"Just look it up Peter. I can't tell you everything so that will give you the most answers." It also meant that he could tell his father the truth, without telling him anything, thereby keeping to his goal of being as honest as possible with the man.
Letting the subject drop, Elizabeth asked a question. "Have you told the office yet?"
Paling, the men both shook their heads. "The bosses are arranging the paper work as we speak, so we aren't to say anything until we get back." Peter said. He was worried about what the bosses would do now that Neal was his son while Neal was nervous about how the team would react.
Changing the subject again, Elizabeth took the conversation down another path. "Do you have any pictures of you growing up?" She wanted to get to know her step-son better now that she knew he existed.
"A few. I can bring them over as soon as I get a hold of them." At her questioning glance, he added. "Even Mozzie doesn't know about this so I have kept them in a storage unit with the rest of my belongings."
"What other stuff do you have?" Elizabeth randomly asked.
Laughing, Neal shrugged. "I don't know. The stuff is mostly college paraphernalia, some things from growing up, and a few things from the career choice that I actually do."
This time Elizabeth about choked on her drink while Peter did choke on his. Spluttering they simultaneously asked. "What do you mean by the 'career choice that you actually do?'"
"It's one of those things that I can't talk about, but is listed under my name for you to learn this afternoon." He finished his food after he said that while he waited for them to respond.
Elizabeth questioned that while Peter didn't have a clue what to say. "So… you're not actually a criminal? But, then… how? What?" She didn't know how to respond to that.
"Check the files. I'm not allowed to talk about it." Neal refused to answer any more inquiries on the subject.
As the others finished their meals, Peter insisted on paying the bill as his treat. "Hey, it's not every day that I get to take my wife and son out to eat." Peter argued.
Neal just rolled his eyes. "You're being such a dad Peter."
Unbeknownst to him, both people froze in their tracks behind him. That was the first time that someone had referred to Peter as a dad since he had discovered the truth.
Turning around, he realized the affect his off handed words had had. "Do I not say that word?" He questioned.
Shaking his head, Peter responded. "No, no, it's not that. It's just…" He paused looking for the right words.
"The first time to even jokingly be referenced that way since knowing about me." Neal finished for him.
"Yeah, and it's going to take some getting used to." Peter added slowly. He was a dad. That was still sinking in.
Suddenly, Elizabeth gave him a funny look, but refused to say anything.
Understanding it's meaning, Neal approached the topic anyway. "I can still call you Elizabeth and Peter just fine you know. It's what we're all used to." It didn't hurt him… much.
Catching him by the shoulder, Peter wouldn't let him continue walking. "Neal…"
Looking him square in the eyes, Neal told him not to worry. "Seriously, I don't need words. You are my father either way and Elizabeth isn't actually my mom." He gently removed Peter's hand from his shoulder and led the way out of the restaurant.
Feeling like they had hurt Neal needlessly, Peter and Elizabeth walked along behind quietly holding hands to support each other.
Peter and Neal were met by representative from upstairs when they returned to the office. The man led them back into a conference room where he filled them in on the paperwork that had been processed, told that they would remain partners, and released them to inform the team of their new status.
Walking back towards the office, Peter grabbed Neal's shoulder again. Forcing him to stop and face him, Peter said some of the hardest words in his life. "I'm sorry that I hurt you Neal. Honestly, I don't mind you calling me dad and hope that you are still willing to. It's just… I didn't even know that you existed before today." Holding up his other hand and bobbing his head he added. "As my son Neal, I didn't know that you existed as my son." Pursing his lips and looking towards the wall for inspiration, Peter continued. "In the office we still need to be Burke and Caffrey, but outside of the office, I want to get to know you Neal." There were tears forming in the edge of his eyes. "Your nearly thirty years old, we've known each other for several years, you're my son, and I don't even know you."
Not wanting to see his father hurting for something that he couldn't control, Neal loosened up and shifted his position. Grabbing Peter into a hug, he held him closely. "I'm a lot more like you than you think."
For a few moments that was all that they did. Peter stood there while his son tried to comfort him through the shock setting in.
When Peter started to feel better again, they headed back to the office to tell the team.
After the two got back to White Collar, they hurried up to Hughes office and secluded themselves for a few minutes to break the news. To their surprise, Hughes had already heard the news and congratulated them in amusement.
"Who would have thought that the joke of comparing your DNA would reveal this?" Chuckling he shook his head. "You two do tend to beat all of the odds, so I guess if it was going to happen to anyone, it would happen to you."
Peter and Neal couldn't argue with that, but they did find themselves smiling along with him.
Having discussed the basics of the situation, Hughes led them out onto the landing to announce the happy news to the rest of the team.
Getting the team's attention, he called everyone into the room and waited until they were present. With his audience waiting, Hughes preceded to make the announcement. "Okay everybody. We have the results back from the DNA comparison."
There were laughs and whistles as the agents waited to hear the results of their joke.
Waiving his hand to settle them down, Hughes continued with a smile as he couldn't share the news without seeing the humor. "It had some extremely unexpected discoveries that Peter and Neal will have to explain for themselves, but the main point, is that Peter turned out to be Neal's biological father."
That caused silence followed by an eruption of noise. Everyone was talking at once as they couldn't believe what they were hearing.
As the room quieted down, Neal couldn't help but shrug. "I've known since I was twenty-one." When the noise erupted anew, he whistled loudly to get their attention. "You can keep talking amongst yourselves, or you can patiently let us finish explaining the situation."
Seeing his point, the room quieted down and he had an expectant audience.
"Care to take the beginning pops?" Neal teased.
Enjoying the changing relationship with Neal, Peter smiled at him before summarizing the previously unknown information of his first marriage. When he finished, he turned the tale over to Neal who finished he story.
"Let's just say that mom continued to make bad choices and there were effects that dominoed until things… got pretty messed up. Eventually, I left everything behind and went my own way. Then, when I turned twenty-one an employer did a deep background check and pointed out my previously unknown heritage."
"Why did you go into a life of crime?" One of the team asked.
Smirking at their inquiry, Neal teased. "Don't think that I am suddenly going to get all talkative about my past just because I opened up a little bit."
Glaring at him, some of the office didn't like his treatment of the situation.
Intervening, Peter stepped in before anyone could say anything. "He has given me some information, but neither of us is going to talk about all of the details."
Hughes also chose to step in and take over on the official front. "They will be left to continue working as partners and, generally speaking, nothing is going to change. You've got the basic details for the moment so back to work everyone." He ordered.
"Speaking of work, you've got some research to go do." Neal teasingly dismissed Peter.
Retaliating, Peter reminded him of the pile of dull cases stacked on his desk. To his dismay, Neal had to admit that he had a point.
Grinning at each other, the two men went their separate ways to get to work.
Over the course of the afternoon, the team worked their way through their workloads, but the rumor mill was especially busy.
Eventually, Neal left the room for a short, and when he returned, he kicked his feet up on his desk as he played with his rubber band ball while watching the team working around the room.
Shortly after, Peter came out of his office and down the stairs bellowing "Neal!" He had obviously found something in his research. Stopping in front of Neal's desk, he smacked the papers in his hand down while he continued to exclaim what he had found. "Why didn't you tell me that there were two of you?"
Looking particularly innocent, Neal didn't say anything to him.
Before Peter could give Neal a telling off, Neal walked into the office and stared at the Neal occupying his chair. Although he didn't voice them, there were questions in his glance.
The Neal seated seemed to ignore those questions as he nodded in greeting.
Looking back and forth between the two of them, Peter suddenly realized what Neal had meant. "So that I would have a 'sporting chance' huh…" Continuing to look back and forth, he realized that the suit jacket was on the back of Neal's chair so he was facing identical twins that were both wearing a white dress shirt and black dress pants. "Right now it doesn't feel like it… which one of you is Neal?"
Laughing, both boys enjoyed his predicament for a moment and gave him a hard time by simply smiling at his question.
Then Neal took pity on him. "Be nice." He knocked his brother's feet off of his desk, much like Peter often did to him.
The observing office had the random thought that those must be family traits, but refrained from commenting.
Turning to Peter, Neal continued. "He likes to be even more annoying than I do. Meet Noah, my younger twin."
"Hey dad." Noah waved lightly from his brother's chair.
Blinking in response. Peter said, "Hi son. My office. Now. Both of you." Then he turned and led the way.
Neal drug Noah along with him as they bickered in some code language that no one in the office understood.
Behind them stood an office full of amused, but mostly terrified, agents. They were amused by the banter portrayed between the brothers as it was similar to what they were accustomed to seeing between Peter and Neal. But, they were also terrified at the prospect of having to deal with two Neal's… with the second being even more annoying than the first! Then another thought occurred, did the second twin have a criminal record to worry about?
Upstairs, Peter settled into his chair as he looked acrossed the desk at his twin sons. In one day he went from a husband wishing to be a father, to a father of not only one, but two boys. He was pleased to learn about them, but he still had a lot of questions to be answered.
Addressing Noah first, he asked. "Noah, did you know about me?"
Showing an uncharacteristic amount of nerves, he fidgeted with his hands. "Yes, since I was twenty-one."
Frowning, Peter had another question. "Why didn't either of you say anything, or come looking for me?" It hurt to think that maybe they avoided him… did they want to get to know him? Or did they blame him, were they angry with him for not being there?
"That question goes two ways. Why didn't you come looking for us?" Noah asked before Neal could stop him.
Wincing, Peter looked very upset by the accusation behind the question. "Because, Paige never told me that you existed. After we divorced… the only thing that I heard from her was that she was being moved into Wit-sec. I only found out about Neal this morning, and he gave me the clues to find you just before I came down the stairs a few minutes ago."
Shrugging, Neal tried to distract Peter from the pain by explaining himself a little bit. "I got to know in a… rather unconventional way."
Looking at him sternly, Peter started with "About that…" only to be cut off by Neal.
"My employment history. You obviously didn't look that far yet." He directed him to look at their papers in order to gather more information.
While Peter looked through the information on his computer or printed out on his desk, Neal turned to have a silent conversation with his brother. The two of them seemed to accusing each other and defending themselves with nothing more than facial expressions or the emotions in their eyes. It would have been interesting for Peter to see if he wasn't so absorbed by the details depicting his sons as heroic and legendary agents.
"You're both agents, Danny of the NSA and Bryce of the CIA?! " He said in surprise and concern.
Neal didn't seem to be phased by that exclamation, but Noah whipped his head around to look at him. "Since when have you been an agent?"
Looking back at him calmly, Neal answered. "Since about the same time that you were recruited. I noticed that you started pulling away and not responding to me as much, so I started poking around. A few inquiries later and I knew that you were also an agent. Then when I got the results of my background check I learned that dad is an agent too so I was determined to do a good job and meet him someday. After a few years I was given the task force assignment of playing Caffrey so I asked for my file to be given to him." Turning to Peter he continued. "It wasn't the ideal circumstances to meet you under, but it gave me a chance to get to know you without the pressure as well as giving me someone that I could trust with my back in the field."
Peter was feeling better about his relationship with Neal, but he still didn't know much of anything about his youngest.
Sensing that his father was feeling guilty needlessly, Noah decided to be nicer this time. "When we were growing up, Neal always aspired to be like the heroic cop of a father that we were raised to idealize, but I just wanted a father around regardless of what he was like. Then when I learned that our step-dad was… well, a dirty cop that had abandoned us, I didn't want anything to do with fathers. Later, during college, I met my best friend Chuck whose father had abandoned him to protect him, and I decided that fathers might not be so bad, but I still wasn't impressed with mine. Finally, I learned that you were out there, and since you had never been around, I wondered if you were like our other dad… that you just didn't care. From what you said, I know that it wasn't your fault, that you didn't know about us either, but it still hurt to think that the two father figures in my life might not care about me."
Unable to resist, Peter got up and moved around the desk to be right in front of Noah. He wanted his words to be heard and even a simple desk was too much to have in between. "Now you listen to me Noah. I may not know you yet, but that doesn't mean that I don't care. You are my son, and I am here for you no matter what." Grabbing his arm, he gently pulled him up out of the chair and into a hug.
At first Noah didn't know how to react. He had never had a loving father figure in his remembered life. Then, it was like instinct took over, and he wrapped his arms back around Peter.
After a few moments, Peter shifted Noah to his side so that his arm was still around him, but so that he could look at Neal too. With a look, he directed Neal to stand up there with him. They were hidden from the office by the blinds so that there was just the three of them, and Peter wanted to have both of his sons with him, even if only for a moment.
With a smile, Neal got up and threw his arm around Peter from the other side before pulling Noah over into a family group hug. Reaching up from behind, he also ruffled Noah's hair knowing that his brother hated it, but also as a means of easing up his tension to such a family moment.
Enjoying the feeling of having a son in each arm as well as their brotherly connection, Peter took a deep breath, pulled them even tighter for a moment, and released them. Feeling better than he had all day, he decided to leave the office early for a family day. Suddenly realizing that Elizabeth didn't know about Noah, he directed them to stand together while he took a picture of them and sent it to his wife. Calling her, he gave her a quick warning. "Do you remember the second reason why Neal wanted me to look up his Wit-sec identity?" After giving her a moment to respond he clarified. "Well, he didn't know how to break it to us that he has a twin. Just to forewarn you, they are both here and identical so I sent you a picture of them." He paused to listen to her surprise for a few moments before wrapping up the call with the promise to leave early and see her soon.
Sending Neal back to his desk for his things, he began picking up his desk while he talked to Noah for a few minutes. It was pleasant to get to know him, but it was still feeling surreal to Peter as he worked to adjust to his new situation. When he was finished, he took Noah next door to introduce him to Hughes and give notice of his plans. With that taken care of, he and Neal took Noah on a general tour of the office and introduced him to the team before heading home.
Arriving home, he led the boys up to the door and let them in. Hanging up his jacket, he was greeted by Satchmo, but surprised to hear Elizabeth crying in the kitchen. Giving Neal a look, he directed that he and Noah should take the dog for a walk to give him a few private moments to talk to Elizabeth.
Seeing around the room from his position, Noah saw the reflection of a dark haired woman sitting at the table in tears. Was she angry to learn about them? He was concerned with the reception that he would receive.
Ushering his brother for the door, Neal asked Peter to text him when they were ready for them to come back.
Nodding, Peter looked apologetically at them and gave Neal a look to talk to his brother.
Dividing, they each went to work on a family member.
In the entire time that he tried to talk to her, Elizabeth seemed to be having a tough time expressing what was upsetting her beyond the overwhelming discoveries of the twins. That was the majority of her problem, but there seemed to be something more, something that even she hadn't managed to put a finger on.
Talking her through it, Peter let her cry out her emotions and gave her a shoulder to lean on just like Neal had done for him, and he had done for Noah.
After a while she calmed down and freshened up before she was ready for the boys to come back.
Sending the text, Peter called them home.
While they walked around the neighborhood, Neal talked to Noah. They hadn't really seen each other since their college days and, even then, it was sporadic communication. Their conversation was full of government operations, their remembered college stories that they had shared, favorite childhood memories, and several other topics to help them bond after so many years apart.
Feeling more comfortable, Neal reached a point where he was ready to tackle the conversation of their parents. "You're going to love Peter. Dad… he is the heroic cop, solid father figure, great husband, smart… really everything that we ever talked about having in the father of our dreams. I think Elizabeth is rather overwhelmed at the moment, but once she adjusts to there being two of us, she'll probably pick a variation of her big sister role back up again. She may not be our biological mother, but she supports dad, she is smart, caring, kind, and she has a motherly instinct that is comforting."
Seeing that Noah was hurt by his relationship with their parents, he tried to be less optimistic and more honest. "That is all true Noah, but our relationship has never been what it is going to be. To them, I have been an annoying con artist who has wormed his way into their hearts anyway. In the time that I have been in the picture, Peter has arrested me three times, given me more lectures than I care to count, and given me that disappointed look far too many times when I had to do something criminal for my role. Then Elizabeth, has been blunt with me about my stupidity, lectured me herself, and shown some jealousy of the amount of attention that Peter paid to my case file. And that isn't even mentioning the fact that we have only had a lunch full of awkward moments with them both present and knowing who I really am. Sure, we have some history and something of a relationship, but that is all based on a lie of a handler and his consultant. We are all starting fresh with this so don't feel left out, you're not."
It helped Noah feel a little better, but this was all going to take some adjusting too. Neal, Chuck, and Ellen were the only people to really show personal interest in him so having attentive parents was going to be a new experience.
By the time they got the text from Peter, they had worked through some of their issues as well as gotten Noah and Satchmo familiar with each other.
With everyone home for the evening, Neal went into the kitchen to help Elizabeth prepare part of their dinner while ordering Peter to take Noah out to grill the meats. This way Noah could begin forming a relationship with their dad, while he could change his relationship with Elizabeth by helping her to adjust.
As he was working, Neal started a conversation with her. "You know Elizabeth…" When she didn't answer he continued. "There have been three motherly figures in my life. James' partner went into Wit-sec with us and is probably the reason why Noah and I made it through as well as we did. She taught us virtually everything after mom checked out. Then fast forwarding to the present part of my life, and there is June the elegant land lady who sometimes acts like I am the son she and Byron never had. Finally, there is probably the most special of them all…" Making sure that he had her attention, he looked her in the eyes as he finished. "You. Elizabeth, when dad and I have been at odds due to our work, you are often the voice of reason. When I need someone who understands my passion for art, foods, and the beauties of the art in life, you are one of my favorite people to turn to as dad doesn't exactly get it. More importantly, you do for him what my mom never could, you give him the stability and support that he needs. And someday, should you and Peter ever have children of your own, they will be even luckier to actually be able to call you mom."
Bursting into tears again, Elizabeth realized that Neal had hit her problems right on the head. She wanted to be a mother so bad, but she and Peter had never been able to have children. Then, she discovers that he not only has one, but two sons through a prior marriage. Her emotions left her adrift in fears and worries. Was she ever going to have children of her own? What was she supposed to do with two grown step-sons, would they even welcome her as a mother figure? Even if she and Peter did have children someday, how would the twins react?
Wrapping her in his arms, Neal comforted her. "Noah and I don't know much of what it is like to have a caring mother in our lives. If you don't mind, we would be honored to be your sons. I even promise not to play too many pranks on you… although we will probably have to play up the twins aspect as it isn't fun to be identical if you can't switch places once in a while."
Laughing through her tears, Elizabeth tried to regain her composure. "Peter and I have wanted children for years, but it just hasn't happened yet. Even though I am just your step-mother, I would be honored to call you my sons." The she laughed a little more amusedly. "As for switching places, as long as you don't go overboard, I promise not to be too much like the wicked witch of a step-mother."
Giving her another hug of reassurance, Neal smiled at her. "You couldn't even come close if you tried mom, you're far too much like the fairy god mother."
Feeling more content, Elizabeth pulled back and cleared her eyes. They still had dinner to finish before Peter and Noah beat them at grilling the meats.
When the food was all prepared, the family sat down to dinner and enjoyed their first cohesive meal as one unit. Elizabeth learned that she was the only civilian in the family, Peter learned that he wasn't the only accountant, the twins learned stories of their parents growing up, and the family generally learned more about each other while forming the foundation of the bond that would last a lifetime.
This chapter is being reposted due to a typo where I accidentally placed a sentence for the end message randomly in the beginning of the story (a negative to having a touch screen and the inability to sit still is that the mouse travels easily). I apologize to any who might have been annoyed at this and bow to any who found this mistake amusing ;)
Thank you for reading, reviewing, following/bookmarking, leaving kudos, and choosing to favorite :D
Like Quinis said in her post, we talk and share ideas for our stories and joint projects. This was a random brain storm that I came up with inspired to combine her stories of Peter being Neal's father with the twins series of Neal and Bryce being two agents. Since it was too fun for either of us to pass up, she wrote 'It Runs in the Family" and I wrote this.
Next week I will be leaving town so my next installment for this will be posted early (most likely Thursday or Friday).