A/N: The sex scene in this chapter was taken out, but was put into the chapter I uploaded onto AO3.

Peter glanced up from his paperwork when he heard his office door shut. Diana came in and looked frustrated. "I found evidence," she said quietly. "Keller made phone calls to the woman we arrested and we have video footage to prove that he was in contact with Adler prior to the escape. I'm beginning to think Keller arranged the whole thing."

"I wouldn't put it past him," Peter muttered. "I don't understand why they planned for Adler to escape. Wouldn't Keller be more interested in getting himself out of prison?" She gave him a look and he understood. "Keller knows Neal's afraid of Adler more than he's afraid of Keller. You think they're playing with Neal?" She nodded. "Why Adler though? Everybody knows that Laird did things that were ten times if not more horrible than anything Adler ever did to Neal."

She stepped closer to his desk and set a file down on Peter's desk. "Adler and Laird were also in contact. I have him being heavily guarded now. I'm afraid Adler might try to break him out."

"Holy shit," Peter whispered, horrified. "I-I need to…" He looked down into the bullpen, watching his husband work diligently. "I need to get him out of the city for a little while. I can't let them hurt him again. He's angry with Keller's involvement in Ellen's death and I've had a hard time keeping him in control of that situation. If they try… If they succeed in raping him, I can't help him. He will kill himself, Diana. They'd go after him together rather than separately and…" His stomach twisted painfully and his heart ached as he thought about the things Craig and Vincent would do to Neal if they both had him. Craig nearly killed Neal when he'd taken him and Vincent wouldn't be so merciful this time around. "I can't lose him. I can't let them hurt him. I need to get him and Nicky out of New York until this all blows over. They need to be stopped."

Diana nodded slowly. "I can make aliases for all three of you to get you out of the city. I don't want to see him hurt either, boss." She glanced at the picture Peter had on his desk of himself and Neal. Neal's arms were draped over Peter's shoulders, his hands clasped in front of Peter's chest. They both looked so happy together and Diana wanted to sob as she thought about all of the implications of Adler's escape. If she were right, Craig would be broken out and they'd hunt Neal down. She knew that they wouldn't hesitate to rape him again and they might end up killing him before Neal could find a way to end his own life or before Peter could come to save him. "You need to talk to him. If you aren't honest with him about this, he won't be expecting any of this."

"I don't want him expecting this," Peter said tightly. "I want him to go to bed dreaming about our future and our family. I can't listen to him scream in terror or sob until he can't breathe. Diana, you don't understand… No one understands how much pain he goes through. I don't even know how much pain he goes through. I just watch him and die inside." He held his forehead in his palm, breathing shakily. He couldn't help imagining the things Neal would go through as well as what he'd already been through. "I can't live without him and I can't let them rape him again. His body and mind won't be able to take it. I know he's strong, but they would break him in an instant if they hurt him together."

"Ask him to leave with you," she whispered. "Reese would completely understand. He'd do the same if he were you. Peter, you have him and children to think about. If you didn't try to protect him in any way you could, you wouldn't be you."

He wanted to sob. He remembered the way Neal broke down in front of him when he'd pushed Neal too far and essentially forced Neal to reveal that he'd been raped by Adler as a teenager. He'd suffered with Neal through all of that and then Craig came along and decided to play with Neal as well. Neal was damaged heavily in the aftermath and Peter wasn't sure if Neal would pull through. His body was abused far worse by Craig than it had been by Vincent. Neal's nightmares about Craig used to have him screaming while he was still asleep. Those memories haunted Peter. He didn't want Neal to go through this a third time. "I'm going to force him to leave with me if he doesn't agree to it. I refuse to let him go about his normal life while they prowl around the city and prey on him."

Diana nodded and left Peter to his work and his thoughts. He couldn't focus on his work, instead finding himself watching his husband's every move. Neal has been on the phone for several minutes and he looked happy, so Peter assumed he might be talking to Elizabeth or Mozzie. He wished Neal could always look that happy.

Rising from his seat, Peter left his office and made his way down the stairs into the bullpen and towards Neal's desk. "Yes. Eight o'clock tonight—reservation for two under Burke, please." Neal glanced up at Peter and grinned at him. "Thank you very much." He hung up and set the phone down before looking up at his husband again. "Hey, lover." Peter was at a loss for words. His husband was in such a good mood and he couldn't find it in him to ruin that by demanding that Neal agree to leave the city for a week or so to hide with him and their son. "You all right, babe?"

Peter shook his head to clear his thoughts, focusing on his husband. "Yeah. What was the call about?"

Neal's smile was affectionate. "It's date night, remember?"

"Oh. Fuck. You're right, hon." He mentally slapped himself for forgetting that he'd promised Neal a date night. They hadn't had one in a while and Michael said he'd come over to play with Nicky while they were out. Neal just chuckled and kept smiling at Peter. "You look so beautiful," he whispered to Neal.

The younger man's face flushed as he ducked his head a bit. He looked up at Peter, seemingly shy. Peter found it absolutely adorable. "You're pretty damn handsome yourself." Peter sat on the edge of Neal's desk and resisted the urge to stroke his husband's hair. "Based on the look you came over to me with, I take it you have one of two things. Bad news or new case?"

"What look?"

"That look," Neal said, nodding at him as Peter made the face again. He looked like he was in physical pain and he was. Staring at Neal made him remember how he'd found Neal after what Craig did to him. He remembered how broken, bloody, and bruised Neal was and he felt it all like an echo now. Neal's pain felt like his own and he was imagining how Neal must have felt to have himself invaded entirely. They tormented Neal's body to the point where he was crying in pain afterwards. When Neal woke up after the ordeal with Craig, he'd sobbed for a little while and Peter tried to help him calm down with promises that he was safe, but Neal kept telling him that he was in so much pain. "So bad news or new case?"

Peter shrugged, wishing things were different. He wanted Neal regardless of their life situations. If Neal hadn't been raped, he'd want to be with Neal. He still wanted Neal even though Neal was raped and he'd always want him. Neal's a good man in his eyes and he's a man who deserves true and pure love after all of the torture he underwent. "Why does it have to be any kind of new at all? Can't I just come over to spend some time with you?"

Neal glanced at his computer clock. "It's not our lunch time yet. You're usually sorting through some cases or documents you need to sign and pass on." Peter was really giving himself away and Neal was concerned because Peter wasn't telling him what was wrong directly. "Peter?"

"Diana and I have found new…information…" Neal nodded, silently encouraging his husband to elaborate. Peter sighed and shook his head. "I think it'd be best if you came up into my office with me. I don't want to explain it to you down here." Neal got up when Peter did and followed his husband up into his office. Peter let Neal enter first and then followed him, shutting the door behind them. "I need to ask you something and I need you to understand the severity of the situation."

Neal stared at the floor fearfully until Peter came around to stand in front of him. "Stop scaring me and just tell me," he whispered.

"We believe Matthew broke Vincent out. We know he was in contact with the woman who confessed that he was involved in Ellen's murder. What I'm terrified by is the fact that we just learned that Vincent and Craig were in contact for a short while prior to Vincent's escape." Neal's eyes widened and his lips parted. His throat felt constricted and his entire body felt as though flames were shooting through him, burning him painfully. His body ached and he tensed. Peter noticed and wished he could do something to help. Neal cringed and shuddered, exhaling shakily. "I need to get you and Nicky as far away from this as I can. Will you let me take you both somewhere safe?"

The younger man rubbed his eyes before tears even began to form. "Nowhere is safe with them around, Peter."

Peter stepped closer to Neal and, bullpen be damned, he caressed Neal's cheeks, staring at his husband. "I can't let them get to you," he whispered fiercely. "I need to protect you, Neal. You need to let me take you out of the city."

"No," Neal said, shaking his head. "I told you I won't run anymore. I want to end all of this. If I keep running, I'll never be able to stop."

"Neal, I am terrified by the thought of what they'd do to you if they—"

"Please don't," Neal begged him. "For my sake, please don't try to imagine it."

Peter moved towards Neal, pressing his forehead against the younger man's. "I can't help it," he said sadly. "I need to keep you safe. I can't let them hurt you again. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if they took you again. Baby, please…"

Neal gripped Peter's hips, breathing heavily. "We're gonna make it through this. They won't take me or Nicky. We can't run away, Peter. That's not who we are." Peter closed his eyes, silently damning Neal for trying to be strong when he was allowed to fall to pieces. "I ran away from him for almost twenty years and the toll that took on me was…was horrible. I was always looking over my shoulder, expecting him to be right there behind me. I don't want to live that way again. Please, Peter. Please, don't make me live my life in fear."

The older man kissed his husband fiercely, trying to convey how afraid he was. He didn't care if anyone were watching them. He needed to help Neal. "I will do anything to get you to leave New York with me," Peter whispered. "I don't want to lose you. I don't want them to rape you. Neal, I want to save you and you need to let me."

"I have you already," Neal said hoarsely. "You can protect me here. If we run, our family will fall apart. I struggled to balance my fears with raising Nicky before you came into my life and that was hell on me. If you make me go through that again…"

Peter slid his arms around Neal's torso, holding him tightly. "I love you," he whispered. "I can't bear the thought of them raping you, causing you so much pain… Baby, I don't want them to torture you again. I love you too much to let them get to you. Please, let me help you…"

Neal stepped back and rubbed his face, staring at Peter. "The more you believe they'll rape me again, the more likely it'll be because you'll just wait for them to grab me. If you're so afraid of them raping me, then—"

"Don't even finish that ultimatum," Peter growled. "I will do everything in my power for you, Neal. If you won't run with me, what are we going to do?"

"We wait," Neal whispered.

Peter stared at his husband in disbelief. "I'm not going to sit here and wait for those monsters to rape you, Neal!"

Neal flinched and stepped further away from Peter. "Then don't. You can run. I'm not running anymore."

"You think I'd run away from you?"

"I don't know what to think!" Neal cried exasperatedly. He didn't know what to do or say. This wasn't how he wanted their morning to go. He was excited for their date and he wanted to keep the excitement flowing. Fighting with Peter was counterproductive. "Do your work. I'll figure it out." He turned and left without giving Peter the chance to say another word.

•◊•

Neal sat quietly at their table as they ate. He and Peter hadn't gone to lunch together earlier in the day nor had they spoken very much in general since their argument. "I'm sorry," Peter said, setting his fork down abruptly. He waited for Neal to look at him before continuing. "I'm sorry for scaring you and for saying things I shouldn't have said. All I want to do is take care of you and I know I'm doing the opposite of that right now."

Peter tentatively reached across the table and Neal didn't hesitate to intertwine their fingers. "I know," he whispered. "I know how hard this is on you, Peter. You're as terrified as I am by the possibilities, but I don't want to think about them. I'd rather pretend they're nonexistent than consider the fact that I could be murdered as I'm being raped." Peter cringed and Neal bit his lip.

He hadn't meant to be so graphic, but the thought had crossed his mind since Peter told him what was going on. "I don't want to think about you in that situation. I want to hold you tonight and every night after that for the rest of our lives. Neal, I can't do this without you. I can barely sleep let alone live without you. Losing you is the most frightening thought of all."

Neal gave his husband a sad smile. "Believe me when I say I'm petrified just by the thought of never seeing you again," he whispered. "I don't care how broken and beaten my body or mind could ever be. Never seeing you again would destroy me."

"We're going to make it through this," Peter whispered, squeezing Neal's fingers. "I'm going to protect you and Nicky. I'm going to sound possessive, but…"

"I don't want you to leave me alone," Neal murmured. "If I'm with you or if I know Nicky is with you, then everything is okay. It's… It's when we aren't with you that scares me."

Peter nodded slowly. "I promised you I'd stay at your side," he said softly. "I won't leave either of you. You two are the loves of my life. I need my husband and our son… I'm acting emotional right now, but I mean everything I'm saying. Without one or both of you, I'm nothing but an empty husk."

Neal shuddered, bowing his head for a moment. Peter gripped Neal's hand a little tighter to keep Neal in the present in case he was falling backwards. "I…can't talk about this anymore for right now, okay? I love you and I know this conversation is important, but I'm just physically unable to keep going." Peter gave him a concerned look and Neal sighed heavily. "I feel cold, empty, and dead," he admitted. "If we keep talking about this while I'm feeling this way, I don't know what's going to happen."

"Okay. Okay, honey," Peter said softly. He understood what Neal was saying and he was glad Neal was able to tell him that he was feeling this way. "How are the pierogies?"

"Pretty good." He glanced at the wedding band on Peter's hand and smiled a little before meeting Peter's eyes. "And the steak for you, my love?"

Peter returned his smile. "Almost as good as the sight of my beautiful husband." Neal blushed a bit, chuckling quietly. "You picked a good restaurant. I like this place a lot. The music is nice, the food is delicious, and the lighting is perfect—so perfect that my heart flutters when I look at you and soak in just how God damn beautiful you are."

"Flattery isn't exactly a preferable change in topic," Neal teased.

"I mean every word of it," Peter said, lifting Neal's hand to kiss knuckles. "I get so lost in your eyes and just imagining the feeling of your soft, warm skin against mine…"

Neal gave him a crooked smile now. "Sexy thoughts already? We haven't even finished eating," he admonished.

Peter shrugged and chuckled. "All I want right now is to get undressed with you and just lie beside you. I want to hold you close and rub your skin against mine."

"In other words: you want to fuck."

Peter rolled his eyes and shook his head. "You're impossible, brat. No. I mean I want to cuddle with you."

Neal smiled, laughing. "Whatever you say, babe. Innocent cuddling always becomes really hot lovemaking within a very short period of time."

The older man rubbed his husband's hand with his thumb. "It does," he admitted, "but not always. I'm perfectly content with lying beside you in bed. Sex or no sex, I'm still with the love of my life."

They finished up their dinner and started to head out to the car, hand in hand. "Couple more months and we'll be celebrating our third year of marriage," Neal whispered, looking up at him.

"And our fifth year together," Peter added. "What're we gonna do to celebrate this year?"

Neal swung their hands gently as they crossed the parking lot. "We've had really hot sex in a hotel room, on the beach—which was romantically stupid since we decided to go at night—and in our bed. We did all of that in one night for the last two years and that was fun. You're really sexy when we're celebrating."

Peter chuckled, letting go of Neal's hand long enough for them to get into the car. He took Neal's hand once they were buckled in and smiled. "Well, August twenty-eighth is very, very special. First of all, it's the day we first got together four years ago. Second, you married me on the same day two years ago. I have so many reasons to celebrate with you. You let me into your life, your heart, your mind, and eventually your body."

"Oh, that's good," Neal teased. "You had to throw in the fact that I let you into my body."

"You did!" Peter said defensively. "We didn't make love until a few months later, but you're so important to me. I have treasured every moment I spent with you. Looking into your beautiful eyes at any moment, staring at your luscious lips, touching your warm skin, making love to you as passionately as I can... I love kissing you and holding you among many other things. I love stroking your hair and giving you massages when you're tired and tense."

Neal smiled. He really hated himself at times despite all that he's done in the last four years to rearrange his life. When Peter talked like this, he wanted to cry. Peter knew every single way to make him feel better about himself and he always used them all. Peter knew everything, Neal realized. The one thing he was always grateful for was that Peter knew when to cut himself off. He knew when he was complimenting Neal to the point where Neal felt he was being unrealistic and he also knew when to think during an argument so he wouldn't slip up and hurt Neal by using his past as a dagger to stab him in the back.

Peter respected him even when they were hostile with each other. Even if they had one of those rare nights where all they had was angry sex, Peter respected him and made sure Neal was okay. He wasn't intentionally brutal nor was he cruel. "You're amazing," Neal whispered, leaning closer to kiss his husband. Peter gave him a brief kiss before they mutually parted and Peter started to drive them home. "Thank you for everything, Peter. You always make me so happy."

"That's what your hubby is supposed to do when you make said hubby just as happy, angel, and that's what he'll always do for you."

"I wasn't worried about that one bit," Neal said quietly, resting his head against the headrest while smiling at his husband. "I know I've got it good."

•◊•

Peter sat with Karen as they waited in the waiting room. She was getting a sonogram done and asked if Peter wouldn't mind being there. He felt a little out of place, but Neal wasn't feeling very well and Nicky was home sick with him. Peter wasn't sure what to do for Karen or how to support her. He'd done very little research into this after everything with Elizabeth didn't work out. Neal didn't go to any of the appointments Kate made when she was pregnant due to his not knowing, but he did lots of research once they were told they'd been chosen by Karen. He wanted to know everything that occurred during the pregnancy, internally and externally, and he looked into several illnesses the baby could be born with because he wanted to be prepared. Peter had no idea how Neal could process and retain all of that information, but he was glad one of them could.

"You okay, Peter?"

He glanced up from his phone and looked a bit startled. He'd been waiting for a reply from Neal since he'd texted him about twenty minutes ago to ask how he was doing. "Yeah. Just…worrying about Neal as usual."

She gave him a small smile. "I'm sure he's all right. You guys are so good together." She patted the hand he had resting on the armrest and grinned. "I'm really glad I picked you two. You'll both be perfect parents for the baby."

That warmed his heart. "Neal's fantastic and I'm learning from him. I have an excellent example for a father at home." She leaned against him and he smiled a bit. "I was kind of intimidated by Nick when I first met him because I was in the early stages of falling in love with Neal at the time. Neal, being the great dad he is, wouldn't have stayed with me if Nicky didn't trust me—or if Neal didn't trust me with Nicky. He puts Nick first and I love that about him. I've barely been around children, so I'm…out of practice, I guess. He's promised to attune my fatherly abilities that are somewhere deep down inside me."

Karen giggled and he smiled wider. "My dad wouldn't come with me when I asked him if he'd come to this appointment because I was scared. He's not very supportive and I can tell you and Neal would be supportive. I'm sure Nicky's done some things you guys weren't happy about, but you two seem like you're down to earth."

"He's our baby," Peter said quietly. "Neal and I will always support him and we've tried to let him know that whenever he seems to question that." He considered draping an arm around her shoulders, but he felt that that might be very inappropriate considering where they were. The last thing he needed was for someone to figure out that he isn't Karen's father and immediately assume he's the one who got Karen pregnant. She's a minor, so he was making sure he was very careful. That was the major FBI agent paranoia speaking to him.

Peter's phone buzzed and he immediately looked at it. "Feeling shitty. Got sick a little bit ago. Kill me?"

Peter smiled affectionately, responding, "Kind of need you, hon. Survive another day for me, please?"

"Did Neal write you back?" He nodded. "I figured. You perked up all of a sudden."

He chuckled. "You'd think we'd be kind of sick of each other by now. We've lived together since we got together and he hasn't kicked me out yet."

She looked surprised and he was confused, rethinking what he'd just said. He couldn't see anything wrong with what he'd said. "You lived together from the start?" He nodded warily. "Wow. You guys really do have a strong relationship if you can put up with each other that long." He chuckled and stared at the picture of Neal he had on his lockscreen.

Peter traced Neal's lips on his screen, whispering, "I've loved him since day one. The moment I met him, I was compelled by him. He acted so awkward at first and then he trusted me with—" He cut himself off, his eyes widening slightly. He was so used to talking about Neal in their exclusive group of friends that he sometimes nearly let everything slip. Neal would probably kill him if he told Karen about Neal's past. There was no way in hell he was going there. He could've lost Neal for simply reading his journal. Telling someone who Neal didn't feel comfortable sharing his sensitive past with would certainly end them. "He trusted me with a lot of things," he said quietly.

His phone buzzed a few minutes after his near blunder and his heart fluttered when he read the text. "I'd go on forever if you asked it of me. I'll suffer with this flu for you. Love you so much, Peter." The smiley face at the end made him smile.

"I appreciate that as much as I appreciate you, baby. I love you so much—I don't know how it feels not to love you anymore," he replied to Neal.

In less than two minutes, Neal replied with, "I hope you always love me. I know I'll always love you. Even if you're an asshole sometimes, you're my asshole."

Peter laughed out loud. He shook his head when Karen looked up at him, confused. He wrote back, "You know I'm always going to love you. What did I do to warrant being called an asshole? Laundry problem?"

"How's he doing?" Karen asked softly.

"Well enough to playfully insult me," he said, chuckling. His phone went off just as they were called in for the appointment. "Fuck," he muttered. Karen looked up at him fearfully and he added, "I'll be right in, Karen. I need to call Neal really quick." She nodded and hesitantly followed the woman who came to get them.

Peter stepped out of the waiting area and into a hallway so as not to disturb anyone. He dialed Neal and waited the few moments it took for Neal to answer. "Don't think you needed to call me, lover," Neal said hoarsely. He started coughing violently on the other end and it made Peter cringe. He was just imagining how Neal's body contorted with each cough.

"Hey. When you're telling me you're vomiting blood and I'm an asshole because I misplaced the doctor's phone number on your notepad, I'm kinda concerned, honey."

"It's not as bad as I think I made it sound. I googled the issue and it's probably just because I'm coughing like fucking crazy. I'm sure I'm fine, love."

Peter groaned disapprovingly. "Your health is important to me. If it's something serious, we need to figure out what it is so we can take care of it before it gets to an extreme we can't help."

Neal's laugh sounded ragged and painful. "Babe, I'm fine. All I did was vomit blood. Nothing else wrong with me. I promise." Peter was skeptical only because he knew Neal could downplay an illness or problem if he didn't want Peter to worry about him.

"Is there anything I can bring you from the store? After Karen's done, I'm dropping her off at home and then I can make an extra stop if you need something."

His husband's coughing fits were worrying him. "Get me some ginger ale and I'll…do whatever you want me to do for a month at the very least."

Peter rolled his eyes. "I will get some for you, baby. You go curl up with Nicky and stay warm. You were cold when I was getting out of bed this morning."

"I'm hotter than hell now," Neal muttered.

The older man smirked. "You have always been hotter than hell."

"Ha-ha. Very funny. No. I'm serious. Like, I'm sweating a God damn swimming pool in bed. You'd think we just had sex."

"Where the hell is Nicky if you're talking to me like this?" Peter asked, laughing.

Neal sighed. "Supposedly the kitchen to get me some crackers or soup or whatever he promised me he was getting. I honestly don't remember."

"You are so out of it. Geez."

"Oh, thanks. Do I win the award for dumbass husband of the flu season?" Peter couldn't tell if he'd pissed Neal off because Neal sounded so hoarse. It could honestly be one extreme or the other on Neal's mood scale. "Judging by your silence, I'm gonna guess you need me tell you I was kidding." Peter exhaled a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. "Wow. You worry way too much."

Peter closed his eyes, imagining Neal right now. "Because I have the best reason," he murmured. "My husband is the center of my world. Without him, I don't know what I'd do. He keeps me warm and happy and—"

"Nice ass kissing." Peter chuckled, telling Neal that he meant what he was saying. "Oh, I know, love. You excessively compliment me. I don't doubt anything you just said. My husband is the center of my world, too—he just shares it with my son as well."

The older man smiled. "I bet he's happy to share that space with the little boy he loves like his own."

He could imagine Neal smiling. "He is. He's the best husband ever. He has a heart of gold, a thick and long dick of steel, and a body gorgeous beyond compare."

Peter covered his mouth to stifle his laughter. "My husband is perfect," he said once he had himself under control. "Beautiful heart, eyes, and hair, a thick cock I love to suck, and a body I'll worship until my dying breath." Neal moaned quietly on the other end and Peter kind of wished he'd stayed home with Neal if only to make sweet love to him. "As much as I love this conversation, I kind of left Karen so I could—"

"Oh, shit. Right. Get in there. If you fuck this up, we might not get the baby in the end and I'll hate you forever." Peter rolled his eyes, especially when Neal added, "But I can learn to love you again if you bring ginger ale home. In all seriousness, you should get back in there. She's probably scared half to death."

"You're probably right. I'll call you from the car when we're leaving, okay?"

Neal laughed lightly. "I'm not gonna die between now and then, but okay. Looking forward to hearing your voice in a little bit. I love you."

"I love you, too, hon."

He hung up and went back into the waiting area. He crossed through it and made it into the back where Karen was with not much of an issue. He took a seat a little ways away from where Karen was having her sonogram done. He watched with curiosity as the woman rubbed gel over Karen's stomach.

The two were making idle chitchat while everything was going on and then Peter looked at the screen. At first, he wondered what the hell they were looking at, but then he realized it was the baby. He was awed by it. The woman was going over how the baby was developing and Peter was just taken by the sight. He loved how the baby looked and it wasn't even here yet. "Can we tell what it is yet?" Karen asked. Peter and Neal discussed early on if they wanted to know the sex of the baby and they were both okay with knowing, so they'd asked Karen how she felt and she was eager to know herself.

It was the beginning of February now and she was about seven months along. She'd been coming here with her mother for a portion of the appointments until her father decided it was time that she learns to do things on her own since she was old enough to have a child. She'd immediately turned to Neal and Peter and they offered to join her if she wanted them to. Neal went to the appointments earlier in the pregnancy and he'd always come home to Peter a little disappointed because the baby was being stubborn and didn't want to reveal what it was.

Peter and Karen raptly watched the screen as the practitioner roamed over Karen's belly to see if she could figure it out. When she did, she smiled. "It looks like you're having a baby boy."

Karen looked over at Peter and grinned at him. "Congratulations to the Burkes," she said, giggling. Karen made a surprised sound when the baby started moving around a bit and Peter couldn't help watching the baby on the screen. He and Neal were going to have another son and he was really excited.

He couldn't identify things on the screen very well, but the practitioner looked a bit surprised. "What's wrong?"

She looked at Karen and then at Peter. "You're having twins," she said quietly. Peter and Karen were both floored. She hadn't realized she had two babies inside of her. She didn't look like she did either. The practitioner was carefully touching Karen in an attempt to figure out what the sex of the other baby was. She showed them both what she found and explained the image on the screen since Peter was absolutely lost. He realized that the one was definitely a boy and the other was a girl. "You're having a boy and a girl."

"Peter, I swear I didn't know. I… Peter—"

He got up from his seat and walked to her, hushing her. "Don't panic. It's all okay. You're not in trouble or anything."

"You and Neal—you're only taking one. What am I supposed to do with the second one?"

She sounded like she was near hysterics. "We'll take them both," he said quietly. She looked surprised. "Neal would kill me if I told him you're having twins and then followed that up with 'baby, we're only keeping one.' I highly doubt Neal would ever separate twins like that." He took her hand in his and gave her a small smile. "Neal will be excited, Karen. Don't worry."

He watched her face, seeing signs of distress he'd seen in Neal when Neal was going to have a panic attack. He didn't think Karen was going to have one though. Neal's entire body reacted to an oncoming panic attack. "You guys will really take both of them?"

"We're both big on family," he said softly. "Neal, especially. He loves children." She started to calm down and he was relieved. "Neal is an angel and a fantastic father. He can teach me how to be almost as good as he is." She giggled at that and he chuckled quietly. "He's going to be so excited," he whispered. "I honestly can't wait to tell him."

They were finished up shortly thereafter and Peter was driving Karen home. She'd been quiet after he'd calmed her down and he wondered if something were wrong. It dawned on him then that she was afraid of one birth and now she had two to go through. He glanced at her and she whispered, "I didn't even think it was possible for me to have twins at my age."

"Anything's possible," he said gently. "I understand how scary this must be. I couldn't imagine doing this if I were you." She looked like that only made her feel worse and he wished Neal would magically appear in the backseat to cheer her up. He was good with the whole parenting situation and he'd managed to get Karen through a few of her fears. "You know you're not alone. Neal and I are at your beck and call, Karen. You're giving us two beautiful children. The very least we can do is support you. You have both of our cell numbers. We will always be there if you need us—during and, if need be, afterwards as well."

She smiled sadly. "I really appreciate that, Peter. You and Neal are great and I'm so lucky to have found dads like you two. I know the babies are going to a home they'll be loved unconditionally in." Peter wasn't sure what to say, so he just nodded silently and drove. He couldn't wait to tell Neal the news the moment he got home.