Disclaimer: White Collar and its marvelous characters do not belong to me.

Once the gentle pitter-patter of droplets swiftly became icy needles, rain came so sudden that people began to rush to look for shelter in its abrupt downpour; some fortunate ones began to open their umbrellas and walked not hindered by the rain. The rainy season has begun; the warm summer sun gave way to the cold rain and freezing wind. In the midst of the chaos bellow a girl no a woman oblivious from it all looked at the rain not in irritation but of fondness from her window in a modest apartment just above the commotion, He's probably… most likely to be late again. Absent mindedly turned up her stereo as a familiar ballad to starts to play.

She can almost see him flashing his trademark smile, giving an excuse to why he was late. Knowing that whatever he says will be forgiven no matter what.

Those baby blues will be the death of me. She smiles to herself as she starts sway with the song.

You're in my arms
And all the world is calm

The music playing on for only two

"Oh, shoot! I am so sorry!" She blurted as she spun around in the hectic street to face the person that she collided with.

"Let me repla…" She stared, stunned, as the cup of coffee he was holding fell in slow motion to the pavement. It clattered, rolled, and stopped.

Just like her breath.

But it wasn't because of his drink, nor was it from the stain forming on his shirt. It was because of beautiful baby blue eyes, staring at her with a flicker of mischief behind them.

Breathe Sparks! You know how to do that right? On second thought how does that work again?

"I'm really sorry about that shirt and also about that drink" her eyes widened as she took in full account on what she had done.

"Can I buy you a drink to replace the one I just cost you?" she asked meekly breaking the contact she had with the strange blue eyes.

"That would be a great idea" the stranger answered giving her a smile.

"Oh thank you for accepting" she smiled at least he's not cranky.

"No problem …" he trailed of not knowing her name.

"Alana" she introduced as they enter the coffee shop

"No problem Alana, I'm Neal by the way"

So close together
And when I'm with you
So close to feeling alive

The lyrics began to fill the space and she began to close her eyes, raising and positioning her hands resembling her dancing with someone. Thinking how silly this is but just for that moment it felt right, dancing around the dimly lit room oblivious to the pair of eyes watching her dance in the shadows. He was looking at her as she dances to an invincible partner smiling lightly as the thunder and rain seemingly forgotten.

Without warning she was steered by a familiar pair of arms, smiling knowing to whom it belongs to even without opening her eyes. He led her around the living room and pulling her close, she could almost see him grinning down at her as he began to lead her with her eyes closed and a smile dancing across her mouth.

He smelled fresh, like grass after heavy rains, she loves that scent because it reminded me of him, being only him. She laughed, leaning her head against the crook of his neck, and he felt like his heart were about to burst in his chest with just that simple gesture.

A life goes by
Romantic dreams must die
So I bid mine goodbye and never knew
So close was waiting, waiting here with you

The sun had begun its descent, casting shadows that skittered away from the awakening streetlights. However, the park remained dusky, set apart from the guiding illumination.

Wandering, letting her feet carry her away, and somehow she was met in between. She didn't know he'd be there, but he was. They wouldn't call it coincidence or a sixth sense. It wasn't a right time, right place or a gut feeling. Maybe, in being neither it was both.

"Neal," she mumbled, her words as soft as a hidden smile.

He jerked his head up, clearly shocked to see me here when he was there. "Al," he uttered back.

"You know we need to stop doing this" she was smiling at him.

"Doing what exactly" he asked matching her smile as well as walking besides her.

"You know meeting up somewhere unexpectedly"

"I don't know I kinda like it, it makes my life more interesting" he shrugged still keeping the smile as they walked to an unknown place.

"Yeah it does doesn't it?" she laughed.

Feeling contented in each other's arms knowing fully well that when the song ended so is this fantasy of them, in that moment no one matters more than the other, no promises that needs to be kept, no heart was ever broken, no more lies, no secrets, just the two of them living at that moment. His eyes closed and a smile dancing across his mouth.

Now looking at him as they dance the interlude never breaking the contact fearing of what may happen if they did. Something flashed through her eyes as he dipped her and freezing as her hand slowly reaching to the side of his face as if she was making sure it was him there not some kind of illusion and as quick as that moment came it ended as he pulls her up.

And now forever I know
All that I want is to hold you
So close

"Penny for your thoughts?"

She looked up and saw Mozzie smiling at her handing a glass of wine as he sat down beside her. Sipping the wine still looking at the stars, she shook her head "I'm just thinking about the stars" she said.

"While smiling?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Mhmh."

He "I'm guessing it's about a guy, specifically a certain blue eyed boy wonder over there" his thumb pointing bluntly at the said person.

"What?"

"You're distracted, my friend," he said, smiling a knowing smile. "You have this distracted look on your face."

"Why does it always revolve around him?" she asked clearly annoyed.

"When was it not?" He patted her back gently, while sipping his wine.

"Fine, I'm thinking about him a lot lately but not for the reasons you believe. I'm thinking of studying architecture overseas, my professor said that he submitted my name for the exchange student program in Madrid. I think I'm gonna take it."

Mozzie made sounds of understanding. He stood up, gave her a smile "Well whatever you decide I will back you up, oh and if you need some papers you know where to find me". she watched as her friend leave, giving off a huge sigh of relief and slumped into her seat.

"So. Madrid, huh?"

She froze in shock when she heard those words. Quickly setting aside the glass she took a deep breath before turning around to face him.

"Eavesdropping is a crime you know," She said willing her heart beat to return.

"When…" he hesitated before dropping his gaze to the glass he was holding. "When did this happen?"

She shrugged. "Few days ago."A few weeks ago.

Seeing his hand tightening around the glass "When will you plan to tell me?"

Staring at the stars once again, then looked at the crowd below, the streets illuminated by Christmas decorations and lights. "When I get the scholarship, it's no use if I told you before it was confirmed".

"Butwhy?"

Silently thinking of an acceptable answer to that she idly played with her hair not once looking at him directly. "I don't know," she finally said. "Maybe it's just that it's an opportunity I have waited for a long time"

"Friends don't do this to friends," he finally muttered.

Friends. She sucked in a breath and stood up. "I need some fresh air," She excused herself and abruptly walked away from him.

So close to reaching that famous happy ending
Almost believing this one's not pretend
And now you're beside me and look how far we've come
So far, we are, so close

She has no idea how long they stood there, swaying in tantalizingly slow circles or stopping the dance altogether, her hands slowly as if hesitantly wounding up around his neck, him lowering his head making his forehead touch her and his arms pulling her closer to him. His hands came to her hips and moved around her backside until they rested on the curve of her back. A star shape pendant rested on her chest just like the day he gave it to her.

How could I face the faceless days
If I should lose you now?

"Did I do something? Did I make you upset? Just what?" he asked clearly frustrated, running his hands to his hair.

"Nothing!" She cried "You didn't do anything. Just, please, stop asking."

He grew silent while she closed her eyes. Feeling a sudden pressure at the back of her eyes desperately forcing the feeling away. Why did she even feel the need to cry? she thought bitterly, reaching up to wipe her cheeks. This was stupid.

"I have something for you," he suddenly said. She checked her emotions and turned around, blank-faced. He had an indifferent face as well, she watched him check the insides of his jacket for a while before producing a rolled up sheet of paper.

"What is it?" she asked calmly. Thankful that her voice didn't hint the hurt she was currently feeling.

Biting her lips as she warily opened the parchment;

International Star Registry.

Flabbergasted, she looked up at him not believing what she just read. He shrugged, but he was watching her face carefully. "I got a star named after you. Happy Birthday," he said quietly.

"I thought you forgot my present," she said breathlessly.

He shrugged, fingering something in his pocket as well. "I lied," he said shortly. She felt her eyes going wet and knew a sob was rising, swallowing thickly while rolling the sheet of paper up.

"Thanks," she said unable to think of anything else to say to stunned to say anything else. Looking down quickly to the piece of paper; the location of her star was written down, and an official certificate packaged it all. She clenched her free hand. Just like a walk to remember. She couldn't help but wonder if this was a sign.

She wanted to hug him. She had to… But she know she couldn't.

"That's not it," he said, his voice slightly hesitant pulling something out of his other pocket. He opened a silver box and my breath caught again. It was a star shaped pendant on a necklace with her name engraved in the middle. He caught her looking and smirked slightly. "You think that your present's only a sheet of paper?"

"You…" She didn't know what to say.

His smirk grew a little and took the pendant out of its place carefully. "Turn around."

She did and he gently placed it around her neck and locked it from the back. Feeling the coolness of the necklace she breathed out slowly, feeling slightly hazy. She turned back around and saw him staring right at her. They were inches apart.

"Thank you," she said quietly

Her face softened a little but settled easily when his eyes flickered to her face. He had an unreadable expression on his face.

""Thank you." she whispered again, not meeting his eyes.

We're so close
To reaching that famous happy ending
Almost believing this one's not pretend
Let's go on dreaming for we know we are

So close
So close
And still so far

There was it again that look that he can't figure out. When he looks at me it feels like he can see everything like those baby blue knows. As the song ended they just stood in silence she hesitated before smiling up at him removing her hands from his neck and patting his chest lightly

"Well blue eyes I think it's time for us to go" she said before leaving him standing in the room with his thoughts on what just happened.

On the way to the airport, she hummed along with the radio, pretending for a moment that she wasn't leaving them for a long time, and that more importantly, she wasn't leaving him behind.

"You know I never did tell you how much I appreciate you coming" she said wanting to break the tension.

"It's alright, it's the least I can do" he replied not once looking at her.

"I'm sorry" she blurted out "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier that I was … am leaving, it's just that I…"

"No it's fine, it has been your dream to go and it's finally coming true" he cuts her off. "It's just that you're leaving me and Mozzie behind and… and I just can't think of you being gone." He trailed of not knowing how or what to say next.

He kept his gaze straight forward, refusing to look at her. She smiles I'll never forget this side of him. She then stood next to him placing her bag on the floor tip toeing to reach his face cupping his cheeks pulling him down and suddenly kissed him. Slowly closing her eyes as she tried to deepen the kiss willing him to response and after a few seconds he did. It was an innocent one but one in which she put everything she felt and as soon as it began she finished it.

She had no idea why she did what she just did but she knew it was worth it.

'Flight 156' the intercom announced that was her flight she needs to go.

"Thank you for everything" she said still smiling, she walked over to her friend, the pendant heavy on her neck, before she engulfed him into a hug. "I Love you" I whispered, squeezing him before letting go. Her eyes were hooded, sneaking in an origami piece in his pocket.

Her smile felt heavy and fake as she turned back to him to say goodbye.

Stopping in front of the door, already feeling the tears leaking out, "Well that's my flight. Bye Bye," she said decisively before stepping into the lobby.

She took three steps before pausing and chanced a glance over her shoulder, just in time to see him unraveling the piece of paper she gave him.

Lifting a hand into one last wave, she turned around without looking back, a hand still tightly holding onto her bag at the same time as she ignore her heart shattering into a million pieces all over again. Now willingly letting the tears fall.

It was a butterfly, the origami piece she gave to him. Smiling as he remembers him teaching it to her.

He turned it around and saw something written at the back. I love you.

A/n: And so it begins. Review and please tell me what you think!

If there are grammatical error forgive me I'm new to this stuff.

Song: So Close by Jon McLaughlin from Enchanted.

3Lyx

Underline = flashbacks

Italics - thoughts

Bold - Lyrics

Bold and Italics - a note.