Peter kissed and nuzzled El's neck. He loved the smell of her, and especially when she was cooking. He wasn't ashamed to admit after all these years of marriage he was still as attracted to his wife as the day they met, more so. Each day he found himself finding something new to love. He really hoped one day Neal could have this. Neal deserved so much better then Kate, but then again, he could get obsessed with work and neglect El and many people might make the argument that she deserved better. You loved who you loved and that was that.

He felt bad about the argument he'd had with Neal yesterday. It hadn't even been Neal's fault. He'd been frustrated about the lack of progress on a case. Neal had tried to lighten his mood and he had blown up at him. It had helped HIS mood though he conceded it probably did nothing for Neal's. El wouldn't put up with him blowing up at her. She would get up and leave the room, locking the door to the bedroom until Peter came to his senses and apologized. It helped to that Neal seemed to know the appropriate apology gift for any situation, a male Miss Manners. Neal didn't judge him though he would provide the occasional 'tsk'. He'd pick Peter's wallet, go to the computer and soon had the appropriate present well on its way.

He wondered what he should get Neal. He'd really drained two fully loaded carbines. Clinton and Diana had overheard and couldn't even look at Peter. He'd thrown back in Neal's face every indiscretion and misstep. He'd called him unrepentant, petulant, selfish, and immature. He accused Neal of never having cared for anyone else but himself. He claimed Neal didn't know the meaning of sacrifice. His crime had been to ask Peter if he wanted to take an early lunch. Peter shook his head now at how no crime had been committed and he really hadn't warranted all the theatrics. Peter also had to concede if he had overheard anyone else say that to Neal, as soon as Neal was out of viewing or hearing range, Peter's fist would have a discussion with the commentators face.

"What did you do?" El smiled and asked, playfully pushing Peter away so she could check the temperature on the turkey.

"What? Who said I did anything?"

"Peter, I love you but when you suddenly get frisky in the kitchen and overly demonstrative, it means you have a guilty conscience." El was pleased with the reading and adjusted the oven temp up. "I'm not complaining." She gave Peter a kiss.

"I was an ass at work and I did something I'm not proud of." Peter sat down and huffed. "Neal and I had a fight, or should I say it was a one-sided fight."

"PETER BURKE, you HIT him? You know he's a lover not a fighter. Violence scares him."

"I know, and no I didn't hit him. He's had too many people physically do that to him. No, I used a deeper weapon, my tongue."

"What did Neal do this time? I know he can act without thinking, but really Peter he doesn't do any of it to deliberately hurt you or make you mad. He's impetuous and tends to jump from Chapter 1 to the last chapter, like someone we both know does with a mystery book."

"I do it to find out if a character I like lives, and they aren't the killer. I don't like wasting my time reading and finding out the person isn't going to make it."

"You both get boredom and you both don't like surprises. Now what did he do?" El sat next to Peter.

"He said I looked stressed and he asked if I wanted to take an early lunch."

"That really isn't the type of thing I would see starting a fight. I think it is actually kind of sweet to do. You know he gets agitated since your blood pressure came back high."

"I'm an FBI agent, it comes with the territory. I'm also Neal's handler, though I admit I rather like the rewards it gives me. A few gray hairs might actually make me distinguished."

"You also don't mind having another Satchmo at work that hero-worships you and eats up everything you say."

"True, though I wish that applied to 'think things through' and 'forget about Kate'"

"He's a romantic and in love with love. The world needs those gentle souls."

"It does, however gentle souls suffer deep heartbreaks."

"You want to protect him from everything that would hurt him or cause him pain but that's not always possible."

"I called him selfish, immature, irresponsible, oh and other things but I think you get the drift. I also uninvited him for thanksgiving supper."

"YOU WHAT? I can't BELIEVE you. This is a holiday for you to leave the badge and the holster at work. It's a day for you to just be Peter and to enjoy family. You just kicked out our closest family from the table. Moz is at the hospital and well you know Neal has a phobia about them. One of us has to go with him to reassure him. He can't spend it with Moz. June has all her family around and you know he hates to impose. Do you really see Alex inviting him over for a home-cooked meal?"

"I didn't say I was proud of it. I was going to give him another hour to wake up and then call and apologize. I was going to see if I can get him to come over."

El smiled. "You both can be jerks sometimes but you are golden hearted jerks and you're my jerks." She held out her hand. "Billfold please."

"Why?"

"He deserves an apology present, especially after picking out such nice ones for me." El took the offered billfold and pulled out a credit card.

"How do you know I don't make the choices?"

"Because I see you mouthing to Neal over my head 'what did I get her' when I greet you with a big hug that I loved your present. You give Neal your card so it counts as helping get it." El fired up her laptop. "Now, which do you want to get. There is a set of four Rat Pack plates on sale at Amazon, or a lovely easel and paint set from Artists Unlimited."

Peter thought hard about that. "Go with the plates. I just took Neal to the art store a couple days ago and he got another easel and come canvas. Also, he has a credit there so he can look and pick out what he wants. They sent the wrong colored canvases."

"Again? They really are slipping with their quality control."

"That or Neal needs to get his eyes checked. I think the contacts are lower and he refuses to wear his glasses. I think he is copying the numbers wrong. I think I'm going to have him check the canvas colors he wants and check the codes next time."

"Just be careful how you suggest it. He is proud and he is also a little bit vain. You don't want to offend him. Can you go up and put the clean sheets on the guest bed? It wouldn't hurt to get him to spend the night. I worry sometimes he spends too much time brooding about things at Junes."

"I know. I've wanted to ask you, but I would love to talk Neal into moving in here. No offense to June and I know he loves it there, but she's beginning to be gone more and more with her family. He's not made to be alone. He thrives on social contact. Too much time alone and he gets dark and depressed."

"We could suggest Moz move in with him."

"OH NO, no no no. Moz is a good person. I like Moz but he's a lousy influence on Neal. He knows Neal is a sponge and he fills Neal's head with his far out conspiracy theories. Also, I know Moz isn't reformed and he has no plans of reforming. I'm seeing definite signs from Neal that he wants to leave conning further and further in the past."

"I know with the conspiracy theories. Moz recently had him terrified of red food. I had to convince him his BLT was safe because the red came naturally and wasn't a dye."

"I know. Clinton got everyone cherry Danish and it took an hour before I could get him to take a nibble of it. "

Peter kissed El again. "Thank you!"

"For what? You'd already worked it all out in your head. You just needed me to help you clarify things. There, I got the plates. I also got him a smoking jacket. They had it in blue like his eyes."

"A smoking jacket? Neal doesn't smoke."

"It's the image. It's a fancy name for a bathrobe for him to wear over his pajamas and it's got the names of the Rat Pack stitched on it and a pair of dice."

"Sounds good, just remember Christmas is coming up. El is going to see if she can track down Byron's old tailor to make Neal a couple more suits. I told her even though they make him look like a duck we would go Dutch with her on it. She's also going to see about securing a new Fedora for him." Peter left the kitchen to prepare the guest room.

The kitchen phone rang and El picked it up. "Hi. We were just talking about you. Thank you for planting the idea with Peter but making it seem it was yours. They make him look adorable not like a duck. June, you sound funny. What's wrong? …..Oh my…Shit! Oops I'm sorry June. I shouldn't swear. ….Let me sit down. What happened again?...Ok, Manchester General? No, put its okay. I'm sure Peter does. We'll be there as soon as we can. No June, of course not. We don't blame you or Sammy. You take care." El sat shaking for a few minutes with her head in her hands. She angrily swiped at a few tears that were leaking out. She had to be strong for her men. "PETER! Come here, NOW! It's an emergency."