I literally cried all throughout the season finale. And then the ending! Neal's cries of torment... I am positive Peter's heart broke just as surely as mine did.
"I swear, Peter – if you bring deviled ham with you again…" Neal leaned back in his chair, running a hand over his face tiredly, his face adopting a look of weariness.
Peter gave a soft snort of laughter. "What'll you do? Wave your hat at me?" His lips twitched in a smile as he snatched said hat out of Neal's lap. "Besides, deviled ham on stakeouts is tradition."
Neal made no move to retrieve his hat, seeming to enjoy the sight of Peter attempting to mimic his own hat trick much more amusing. "Traditions are meant to be broken." He said with a grin – a hopeful look upon his face. "And I know this great Italian place only a block away –"
"No." Peter gave up with the hat and tossed it back to Neal, who caught it deftly. "The last time I went to eat with you, I got food poisoning. I'm not letting you choose what we eat anymore. Besides it's a stake out – we can't be sitting half a block away knawing on overpriced fish sticks."
Neal scowled. "Cher's does not sell fishsticks! And you did not get food poisoning. You had a stomach virus."
Peter pointed a finger at Neal, shaking it firmly at the conman with every word. "Doesn't matter. I choose what we eat and we are eating deviled ham. Do you have a problem with that?"
Neal opened his mouth to protest, but Peter didn't give him a chance to speak – instead plowing on as though Neal had already answered..
"Good. Now come on. El called and she wants us over for lunch." He stood up and began to shrug his jacket on. As an afterthought, he added, "A real lunch this time. Not like last time."
Neal stood up and stretched. "Fine." He said with a small sigh, accepting defeat. Peter clapped his hand on the consultant's shoulder approvingly as they walked out of the office and Neal couldn't help but smile.
The last three minutes of the finale was so sweet and sad. Did you see Peter's face when he figured out why Neal hadn't said goodbye to him? He looked so happy - but at the same time sad - but hopeful - and - and... *sobs* There wasn't a single solitary hug, head tap, or shoulder clap through the entire thing!
But I am choosing to view Peter holding Neal back at the end as an abstract sort of hug. That moment would've ended in a hug anyways. *hypnotic eyes* I have forseen it.
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