Chapter 1
Neal walked in a circle bouncing his daughter on his hip as he looked over at Peter asleep on the couch with the twins asleep on his chest. Keeping his voice down; he looked over at Elizabeth with his other son. "All four of them teething at the same time, not to mention the twins with an ear infection," he said stopping when he felt his infant daughter calm down and fall asleep. "We're getting through it Neal, although I caught Christian chewing on the table again while you were transformed last night," Elizabeth said shifting the baby in her arms. "Yeah they're all chewing on what they can; I'll replace what I can… it's amazing we've survived eight months with them," Neal joked as he looked up toward the door.
Walking over to the door Neal juggled the sleeping infant in his arms and opened the door before the unexpected guests rang the doorbell. Elizabeth got up from the chair she was sitting on and smiled. "Robert… Karen… this is unexpected… what are you doing here?" Elizabeth asked with a smile as she maneuvered the baby in her arms better as she looked over her shoulder at Peter who was getting up with ease holding the twins against his chest. "Mom… Dad it's good to see you, but what are you doing in Brooklyn; it's a four hour drive for you guys from the farm?" Peter asked curiously as his mother bustled into the house with an overnight bag and her husband close behind.
"We're here visiting John and Maria; ever since they moved to the city to be with their daughter and her family in Manhattan we wanted to come see how they were doing, but we couldn't stay long. Those children we're just little hell raisers, and it turns out Janet stopped taking her family to church; she's just asking for Satan to take them over. So I said to your father we should come see you and see if the good Lord has given you children yet, and from the looks of it He has…" Karen said looking at the four infants. Neal visibly bristled behind the guest's backs when they started to coddle his children. Peter gave Neal a look when his parents weren't looking silently telling his mate to keep his mouth shut for now. "You guys were just here last year for Christmas," Peter said looking at his parents.
Elizabeth plastered a smile on and slid over to Neal side and stood beside him to keep him calm since she knew how Neal was protective of his children when strangers were around. "So names… I need names for these little God given angels," Karen said smiling at the fact she was a grandmother. "Well these are the twins Gabriel and Christian, Elizabeth is holding Michael and Neal has our daughter Willow," Peter said giving a small smirk at his little in joke seeing Neal clam down at the acknowledgement even if it was secret. "What good strong names for them, and who is that young man by the way?" Karen asked looking over at Neal putting him in the spotlight.
Smirking Neal decided to put on his best charm. "Neal Caffrey ma'am I work with Peter. Elizabeth and Peter took me in when I needed help and to pay him back I help with the housework on the weekends and take care of the children," Neal said giving his best smile hiding the fact he already disliked the woman even though she really was his children's grandmother. "Caffrey…that's a good Irish Catholic name, well I'm just glad Peter did the Lord's good work and took in someone who needed help," she said with a smile.
Feeling some tension in the air Peter cleared his throat and closed the front door with his foot and led his parents to the couch. "Ignore the mess we've been dealing with four teething babies and it's been pretty hectic," he said sitting on the chair and keeping an eye on Neal. Elizabeth smiled as she passed Michael to Neal. "Let me get some tea going," she said heading into the kitchen. "Peter I've been meaning to ask, where do the children sleep? I've seen that guest room it's not that big…." Robert said. "Actually the nursery is in the finished basement with Neal's room," Peter said as the twins slowly woke up and began to fuss.
When the tea was ready Peter and Neal put the children down so they could crawl around and play with the toys scattered around the living room while they sat at the table and talked. "So Neal, do you have a special lady friend, with your looks you must get all the girls throwing themselves at you," Karen said with a smile as she watched Peter and Neal take their seats at the table next to one another. "Actually work keeps me really busy as do the kids," Neal said nursing his tea. "Well I could set you up with this wonderful girl her name is Cathy, sweet girl she goes to our church, very devout girl you would like her," Karen said smiling. Peter looked at Neal giving him a silent warning not to make trouble. "I'm not a big church goer really so we probably wouldn't get along very well," Neal said as he smiled and slipped his hand that was on his lap onto Peter's thigh and gave it a squeeze as he kept his poker face.
Peter bit his tongue to keep silent as he sipped his tea. "Mom, you don't have to set Neal up on a date, he's a real lady killer at work he's just acting like he's not," Peter said as he felt the fingers dance up his thigh. Neal smirked and moved his hand away and stood up from the table after a minute of teasing. "I'm going to bring the children downstairs to change them and give the twins their medicine," Neal remarked as he wrangled the twins. Getting up Peter helped grabbed the other two children and brought them to the nursery as well and put them in the playpen with their brothers before walking over to Neal. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack up there?" Peter asked.
"Not a heart attack…but something else maybe…" Neal said grabbing onto Peter and pulling himself closer. "I wonder what your parents would say to their son being a werewolf… and such a sexy one at that," Neal said playing with the collar of Peter's shirt. Grabbing Neal's hand Peter held it. "Behave Neal just this once, I promise to make it worth your while once they leave," Peter promised as he pulled Neal's hand up and kissed the inside of his wrist knowing it was one of his many weak points. "Mmm…Peter you said we need to hold off till they leave," Neal said trying to restrain himself. "We'll hear them as they come downstairs," Peter said as he moved from Neal's wrist to the side of his neck. Trying to keep sanity Neal knew that it was a test to see he would crack first. "You're not playing fair Peter… Neal whispered huskily as he tried to keep his senses sharp as Peter bit down harder. Feeling like a lamb being stolen by a wolf Neal went limp at the pressure point being bitten on.
Smirking into the bite Peter pulled away and saw Neal's blown pupils and chuckled. "Later we'll continue… but right now get the kids changed," Peter said smacking Neal's ass playfully as he went back upstairs. Neal groaned softly as he started to change one diaper after another. Giving Gabriel and Christian their ear medicine Neal sighed softly as four sets of eyes watched him from the playpen. "Your dad can be such a tease…" Neal remarked as he crouched down so he was at eye level with his children as they watched him with rapt attention. Neal smiled softly and got up and leaned over the edge of the playpen and managed to get a hold on all four infants and bring them upstairs. Putting them down on the floor by their toys Neal returned to the living room.
"Sorry about that they can be fussy after a diaper change and when one starts they all start," Neal said as he sat down on the open chair as he watched the children playing. "Peter you and Elizabeth need to move into a bigger house one for you and the kids with a yard," Karen said. "Also I've been dying to ask, how come you didn't tell us about your bundles of joy?" she asked Elizabeth bit her lip as she looked at Peter for an answer. "We actually didn't know until they were born; they were a pretty big surprise," Peter said as he patted Elizabeth's hand.
Watching the children play Karen smiled at them. "They are so cute… oh come here sweetie," Karen said as she picked up Michael and held him," You are just such a cutie you look just like father," she said looking at her son with a smile as Michael started to whine about his teething. "I have their teething toys in the kitchen," Elizabeth said as she went into the kitchen and grabbed a teething ring and brought it out and gave it to Michael for him to chew on. Karen smiled as Michael as he looked up at her and continued to chew on the ring to help with his teething pain. "Did mommy get you that? Can you point to your mama?" Karen asked seeing the wide eyed infant look around the small group and pointing a tiny digit across the coffee table at Neal.
Karen looked across the coffee table at Neal then over to her son. "Peter…what's going on?" Karen asked in shock as she tried to understand what was going on. Neal thought quickly and smiled. "He's a little joker…I think he's just a little confused is all," Neal lied with a million watt smile hoping to keep his children's grandparents in the dark still. "Well he is just precious anyway; of course you're just being over stimulated in your tiny brain. Oh I could just eat you up you're so adorable…I think since we weren't here for you when they were born we should stay for a few days to help out with the little ones," Karen said not seeing the shared look between the three younger adults.
"Mom you guys don't have to do that, we've got a good handle on the kids, and besides what about the farm?" Peter remarked hoping to keep his parents at arm's length about his secret. "Your brother is at the farm for the week so we can stay and I won't take no for an answer," she said smiling. Elizabeth stood up and clapped her hands together. "Well if you two are staying for a week then I need to go to the store and pick up some more food, do we need anything else?" she asked looking over at Neal. "Yeah, we're low on wipes again," Neal remarked as he moved from the chair and pulled the twins apart from roughly playing with one another.
When he was finished Neal made his way into the kitchen for a glass of wine and poured himself a full glass and started to take a long sip from it before he refilled the open space before corking the bottle and heading back to the living room. Sitting on the couch Neal worked on his wine and fought his urge to climb onto Peter's lap and relieve stress with him. "So how did you meet Peter anyway I'm curious?" Robert asked looking at Neal who jumped slightly at the question. "Uh Peter actually hit me with his car one night and out of guilt he took care of me," Neal said telling the truth. Peter chuckled at the memory of the night he hit Neal with his car. "Biggest baby in the world when we patched him up," Peter remarked with a chuckle. Neal mock laughed as he finished his wine and got up from the couch to bring his glass to the kitchen.
Turning around at a familiar scent he yanked Peter from the open doorway so they were out of sight. "Peter we're transforming tonight do you really think we should have your parents here?" Neal asked in a hushed tone as he started leaning against the counter. "I don't want them here but it's too suspicious to just throw them out now, we'll just have to be careful maybe keep the kids in the basement for the whole night and both go to bed early tonight and in separate beds…" Peter said seeing the dejected look on Neal's face. "Hey it's only until they leave…then we can make out on the couch whenever you want, except of course when the game is on," Peter said seeing Neal's lips turn up in a sly smile.
Catching the look Peter leaned in and put his hand over Neal's on the counter, their noses just lightly touching. "I recognize that look, and no… I'd rather shoot myself in the foot than do that right now and get caught…" Peter remarked seeing that Neal wasn't going to make it easy on him. "Where's your sense of adventure Peter?" Neal asked with a smirk. Sighing he pulled back and rolled his eyes. "Fine…but keep your hands to yourself," he added as he leaned in closer and kept Neal's right hand pinned to the counter still curling his fingers around Neal's. "Really think you two should be doing that?" Elizabeth asked making the two men jump. Neal turned red and scooted from the kitchen and placed himself back on the couch fidgeting under their guest's gazes.
"So Neal what do you do for a living, you said you work with Peter but you didn't elaborate…" Robert said watching the younger man. "Oh I consult for the FBI when they need me to authenticate artwork, signatures, the basic stuff," Neal said feeling a little at ease. "A consultant… impressive you must make quite a bit of money, probably enough for your own place, better than living in a basement…" Karen added to the conversation. Neal could easily read the conversation between the lines; they wanted him to get out of the house and away from their grandchildren. At that moment Neal decided to have his own little fun. Pulling his left leg up to his chest yanked his left pant leg up. "Well I can't move out for a few more years, being the FBI's lap dog and all; but that's what I get for being an ex con," Neal said with a true broad smile as he leaned back against the couch.
Robert and Karen stared at the younger man sitting before them on the couch. "Peter! Peter, are you serious in letting an ex-convict around your children…"Karen yelled as she rushed to the kitchen. Robert stayed seated on his chair and looked at Neal. Peter walked into view and looked at Neal with a glare only to get a careless shrug from Neal. "Neal's not dangerous he was arrested for nonviolent white collar crimes," Peter said defending Neal as he walked back to the living room with a beer in his hand.
Karen followed Peter and stood by her husband's chair and put her hands on his shoulders. "Peter…he's still a criminal and should not be allowed near your children! I'm sure Elizabeth has some worries of her on about this situation as well, especially if he starts to teach them his sinning ways of being a con-man," Karen said looking at Neal who had sat as still as a statue. "If your implying that I slept with Elizabeth you're way far off," Neal chimed in getting four sets of eyes looking at him and making him feel uncomfortable forcing him to be quiet. "Okay, everyone let's take a nice long break and eat dinner while it's still hot," Elizabeth said heading for the kitchen.
Jumping up Neal followed right behind her to help set the table and get the highchairs out for the little ones. Peter followed behind Neal and started to grab the kids off the floor and place them in their chairs. Keeping an eye on the clock Neal ignored his own food as he started to cut up the precooked chicken Elizabeth had bought for dinner and filled four small bowls and put them on the trays of the high chairs. After a brief blessing they began to eat in silence.
After a very tense dinner Neal offered to do the dishes with the time they had left before they transformed for the night. Rinsing the dishes Neal sighed as he looked out the back window at the small yard. "What are you thinking about?" Peter asked as he helped carry the last of the dishes into the kitchen. "Just some stuff, we've got less than an two minutes before we have to turn in for the night," Neal said. "I know you Neal... when you think about stuff it's never good, now what's wrong?" Peter asked as he took the plate from Neal's hands and put it down in the sink and shut the water off. Sighing Neal knew he wasn't going to get away from the conversation now. Leaning against the counter he looked down at the floor. "Your parents don't like me already how do you think they will take it when they find out I'm their mother and we're werewolves…" Neal replied feeling rejected.
"I promise everything will go fine…because you and the children are important to me," Peter said as he pulled Neal close and looked at him. "I'm not going to abandon you no matter what they say about us," Peter said as he rubbed Neal's back and used his free hand to tilt Neal's chin up as he leaned in and kissed Neal. Letting out a squeak of surprise Neal grabbed onto Peter like he was going to disappear. Tilting his head back Neal groaned and closed his eyes with a small moan. Breaking apart for air Neal blinked a couple times as he tried to keep his knees from buckling. "We've got three minutes Peter we have to get the kids downstairs," Neal said as he kept close to Peter.
Jumping at the sound of a scream Peter and Neal rushed out of the kitchen and found Karen sitting on the couch beside Elizabeth hyperventilating, looking where she was pointing Peter and Neal knew what she had seen the kids transform into their werewolf forms. Still wearing their outfits the puppies began to play with one another tugging on their clothes and ripping them. Peter looked at his parents as he crouched down and changed forms and slipped out of his clothes with some help from Neal. Crouching down just as he began to change Neal panted as he wiggled out of his clothes once he fully transformed. Trotting around the room Neal shook off as he sat down on his haunches and used his paw to pin one of the pups down and used his mouth to pick them up and bring them to Elizabeth to save what remained of their clothes. Peter kept the puppies corralled as his parents just gaped at them.
"Looks like I've got to do all the explaining for now," Elizabeth remarked as she folded the last of the baby clothes on the table. "Karen… Robert, I don't know how to say this other than, Peter, Neal and the children are werewolves…Neal was a werewolf first, then he bit Peter to save his life… Neal became his werewolf mate and then they had the kids…" Elizabeth said seeing the shock and horror on their guest's faces. Karen looked at Neal and Peter as they sat there looking at her. Neal bumped heads with Peter and nuzzled against him. "There is no such thing as werewolves; He would never allow such a thing…"Karen said seeing the two adult wolves looking at her.
Moving slowly Peter moved to his mother's side and sat up placing a paw on her leg and looked at her. Looking over at Neal Karen stood up and walked over to Neal. "This is your fault you ruined my son's life you miserable beast of burden. Take your demon spawn and get out of here…" Karen yelled standing between Peter and Neal. Whining Neal lowered his ears and head as he turned and nudged the pups toward the door. "Karen…enough of this… I'm tired of this judgmental bullshit, but if you're going to let your shortsightedness go after our son and what makes him happy then I want a divorce," Robert said standing there letting Peter go around them to his family. Stopping Neal from going any farther Peter licked Neal across the muzzle. Looking up Neal lowered himself so he was lying down to show everyone he was staying.