I own nothing, this is all for fun, Please review.

This is an alternate back story.

I'm not great with writing or English grammar, so this is a way to get practice… please be patient on the mistakes I've over looked. This is not part of the Starting out/Burke Series- if you're a beta and you at least like the idea of this or any of my stories. Please I need you…. enjoy

When Jones joined Peter's team in White Collar, he made arrangements so that he could complete his reserve weekends the same time Peter was away completing his.

While Peter was getting ready for college, he found the need for extra financial support, so he joined the military. After careful consideration Peter decided he would join the army. Once his original 8 year term was completed, he reenlisted in the reserves. Since his reenlistment , he's been spending one weekend a month and two weeks a year away from home, and once he was married he spent that time away from his wife. Thankfully he was only called to active duty once, after 911 which turned out to be the longest 12 months of Elizabeth's life. 6 months after his return home, Peter and Elizabeth tried to settle things down, together they found their dream home, and things at work were going extremely well, Elizabeth's business was growing every day; Peter was quickly one his way up the chain.

The Afternoon he received a new file on his desk about a bond forgery, he never imagined the directions he life would now be heading.

Neal has been in the Burkes Life for 3 years now, their partnership has had its up and downs to say the least, but for the most part Peter has taken the young man under his wing, treating him more like a son or little brother than a ex con / partner, or perhaps more like the little brother that always seemed to get his self into trouble. The afternoon Peter received his notice from the Army; his head swam with a million thoughts. He wasn't sure how he was going to tell his beautiful, perfect wife that he was going to leave her just as things were finally getting back to normal after Keller turned their life upside down.

All afternoon, Neal noticed that Peter was someone distant, he wasn't focused. He tried to get Peter to talk about what was going on, and after he refused to talk about it, he even considered calling Elizabeth to see if they might have had another fight about dry cleaning. He was off his game, and that wasn't like Peter. Neal's concern only even thickened when Peter announced he was taking off, and at 1 o'clock on top of that.

Elizabeth was surprised when Peter came in that afternoon. He tried to act normal, but it wasn't hard for El to see that he was trying to hide something for her. She was setting at the kitchen table plugging away at her computer, she stopped, after Peter came in and gave her a quick kiss on the check. She watched him for a few minutes, he was up, down, all over the kitchen, he appeared to be very uncomfortable, which she normally found extremely cute and adorable.

"Honey, what did Neal do this time?"

"Nothing, he's…I am going to worry about him…that's all."

"Going to worry?...Honey's what's going on?"

Peter took a seat next to her, he was being quite, trying not to even look at her, he tried to avoid eye contact the best he could.

"Ok, honey, you're starting to scare me, what is going on with Neal?"

"It's not Neal; he has nothing to do with this actually, Honey this came today"

Peter reached in his pocket and pulled out his orders, he watched her for a moment, his mind was racing, he was trying to think of something to say, but his mind blank. All he really wanted was to do was curl up next to her and have the world go away. he wasn't sure how long they sat there in silence, Elizabeth just kept looking at the letter, he wasn't sure how many times she read and reread it., when he finally reached over, gently putting his hand under her chin.

"Honey?"

Clearing her throat, and fighting back tears. "Ok, it will be ok, honey, well get through this."

"I know, but what about…"

She cut him off. "honey, we'll be fine, I'll be fine…what's important is that you go…..do your job and come home safe and sound….. (He tried to cut in and say something) I know you were determined to not miss a thing, and I'll do my best to make sure you don't…. (With a small chuckle and noticing his sideways glace that was asking how)…..I can email you photos, videos.

Peter leaned in, wondering what he would ever do without her. The rest of the night, they didn't seem to venture far from one another. Culdded upon the couch, neither of them really was watching TV. They discussed their Friday and their long weekend. Peter laughed when he told her he forgot to tell Neal he wouldn't be working Friday, because all afternoon Neal looked like scorn child trying to figure out what was going on with him. Peter confessed that he was extremely worried about Neal, about how much trouble he would get into while he was gone.

He decided that Monday he would have some begging and groveling to do with Hughes, and even Diana and Jones because after all he would have to beg them to be Neal's keeper for the time being.

Peter finally finished his herb tea that Elizabeth had talked him into drinking. She couldn't but help laugh at him at his quick response when he denied after she asked him if he wanted another.

"Honey…. (smiling) that stuff can't be good for you."

Still laughing at him "actually honey, they say it's very good for you, full of vitamins."

"Or you could just take vitamins"

She gave a him a quick kiss on the cheek, as she got up from the couch to head into the kitchen. "I take them every day."

Smiling, he quickly followed her to the kitchen, where they continued their conversation about Neal, and how and when Peter was going to tell him. They made their way upstairs, as they were getting ready for bed, Peter finally broke as tears filled his eyes and emotion took hold in his voice as he sat down next to on her side of the bed.

"Honey, what If I don't….."

She quickly sat up next to him, putting her hands on his lips to cutting him off "shhh, honey, you will. And when you do, I'll be here; (pulling his hand to her stomach) we'll be here. "

With the lights out, she softly pulled him to bed with her.

0o0o0o0o0o

Friday, Neal felt a tingle in the pit of his stomach when Peter didn't show up for work.

"hey jones, Where's Peter."

"He's off today, him and Elizabeth had something to do. He didn't tell you?"