The Night Before Christmas and Grandma Isn't Happy
By Peppe1951
Summary: Neal discovers that there really is a Santa. Warning: The story contains non-consent punishing of an adult; if you don't like, don't read. Disclaimer: White Collar belongs to USA; I only write about it.
It was December 23rd when Neal walked into the chaos at the Burke's
house; otherwise called getting ready for company. He brought a poinsettia for El but beside from a warm smile of thanks and a point to the front room as a place where he could put the plant he received no verbal response. He hastily found a perfect place for the Christmas plant and sat down to wait.
El was in the process of arranging hotel reservations for Peter's brother Tom and their sister Sally and their families. Neal was confused; in the past they all went to celebrate Christmas with Peter's folks and although he knew that they had only just recently lost his father Neal assumed that the family tradition of celebrating with Peter's mom at her house would still happen.
"Neal," it was Peter who walked through and spotted his friend.
"Peter…what's going on?" he asked as he motioned to El on the phone.
"Oh, this year we are going to meet here from Christmas," he explained as picked up the just delivered food items El had ordered earlier. "Grab that other box Neal," he added as he picked one up and hurried to the
kitchen.
Neal followed a moment later with the other box. "I thought you always celebrated at the family home?" Neal said as he put the box down.
"We usually do, but since Mom has decided to move close by she has already sold the house and has it packed up; so there is no room for us to celebrate there and since her new house won't be available until after Christmas she has requested that we meet here to celebrate
Christmas."
"So this house is going to be full of family," remarked Neal as he looked thoughtfully around. "Peter's family won't want an ex-con like me to celebrate with; they will want only family here for Christmas," Neal thought falsely. He didn't realize that he was considered part of that family.
"I'm going to leave now; you've got stuff to get done and I'll only be in the way," Neal said as he started for the door.
"Wait a minute; Mom told me to tell you that she is expecting to see you Christmas Eve and for you to stay the night so we can all open presents together early on Christmas morning," Peter said as he looked Neal in the face.
"He's just relaying Cookie's wishes; he doesn't really mean for me to do it," Neal thought since Peter hadn't told him that he wanted it, too.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you June has already invited me to celebrate Christmas with her this year. I can come by Christmas morning to open presents but I already promised June that I would be there for her Christmas Eve party and eat Dinner with her on Christmas Day….please give my regrets to your Mom," Neal lied before leaving. June had already left to spend Christmas with her son as she has done for the last few years. He just didn't want to be a bother or an embarrassment for Peter with his family.
Christmas Eve arrived with Carolyn and a multitude of presents. Peter happily gave the cabbie a large tip for getting his mother here safely and for helping her with all of her luggage and presents. The first thing Cookie did was to give her son and daughter-in-law hug and kiss and then to ask, "Where is my grandson? Didn't you give him my message Peter?"
"Yes ma'am, but he had already promised his landlady and surrogate mother, June that he would attend her Christmas Eve party and Christmas dinner. He did say that he would stop by Christmas Day to open presents," Peter told his mother regretfully.
Peter could see that his mother was upset not to see Neal and added,
"Tom and Sally should be arriving soon. You will have grandchildren talking up your time very soon. Why don't you and El have a cup of tea while I get your luggage to your room; rest now before you are over-run with kids."
Carolyn smiled and followed El into the kitchen for that promised cup of tea and left Peter to get her stuff to the guest room and the presents under the tree.
The day had gone as Peter had hinted to earlier for when her children and their families had arrived about thirty minutes later Carolyn was soon laughing and enjoying her time with her grandchildren even though she had hoped that Neal could have been there as well, but it wasn't until much later that the real truth of why he wasn't there came to light.
The family had just returned from Christmas Eve service at the Catholic Church and just settled down to party until it was time for the young ones to go to bed when the phone rang and El hurried to answer it.
Peter could tell from his wife's facial expression that something was wrong and hurried to her side. "What's wrong?" he whispered into her ear.
"It's June and she wants to talk to Neal," El whispered back.
Peter motioned for her to hand him the phone and asked June, "By any
chance did Neal tell you that he would be spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with us?"
"Yes, he did…why?"
"He told us that he had promised you to attend your Christmas Eve party and to have dinner with you Christmas Day," Peter informed her.
"Peter I have been gone all week and only called now to tell him that I wouldn't be coming back until closer to New Year's. Peter I can't bear the thought of him spending any more time by himself in that big house. I even let my servants leave for the holidays."
"Don't worry as soon as I get off the phone with you I'm going to go and get him and bring him back him with me so he can spend the holidays with his family…of course once I get finished with him he won't have to worry about staying warm tonight," Peter assured the worried lady before wishing her a Merry Christmas and hanging up.
"El," Peter whispered loudly, "I'm going to bring Neal home for the holidays…could you get his room ready for him?"
El just smiled at him as she headed downstairs to the basement room Neal considered to be his. It was when Peter pulled his coat from the upstairs closet that Carolyn spoke up,
"Where are you going son?"
"I'm just going after a wayward grandson and bringing him home," Peter replied grimly.
"Wait a minute and I'll go with you; you can tell me what he has done this time," she said as she grabbed her coat and accompanied her son to the door.
Peter didn't even try to talk her out of it realizing that she might be needed to get Neal to obey and soon they were driving off to get Neal.