Hello! Here's a short chapter, please be patient I promise I'll write more during the week. Thanks so much for your feedback, always really appreciated!

Chapter 21

"… So I grabbed him by the collar and shoved him to the wall, you know? Making sure he knew I meant business. Man you should've seen his face! He was peeing himself! Everybody was cheering for me and justice prevailed!" – while driving home to have dinner with Elizabeth, Peter was animatedly telling a high school story of how Burk the Smurf disappeared and finally the bullies stopped harassing him; that and a lot of inches later of course, he took his time to grow all the way into college. But Neal was not paying attention at all, he was lost in thought, too many things clouding his mind.

"Neal? Neal? NEAL!"

"What! Hey Peter, no need for yelling, I'm right here!" said Neal annoyed

Keeping his hands on the wheel, Peter briefly turned with a questioning eyebrow "Trouble in con-land?"

Neal frowned and then sighed "I know I'm gonna regret telling you this but here it goes… I'm worried about Sara… and Emily"

"About them getting along or about them sharing best practices on Caffrey's bed skills?" teased Peter

"Ugh, Peter! This is why I hide things from you" pouted Neal "but if you really wanna know, the first option is what worries me"

Peter chuckled "Sure…"

"It is, Peter! It's a very touchy subject for Sara and… fine, it's killing me to know that I almost committed some sort of incest!" admitted Neal looking out the car window

Peter smiled, proud that Neal finally was getting used to being honest with him "Don't be ridiculous Neal, that's not incest and you didn't know she was Sara's sister so in all due time, I'm sure she will understand"

It was Neal's turn to look at him with a raised eyebrow "Peter, it's painful to see you being such a lousy liar. Do you REALLY believe what you just said?"

"Not really, I'm just trying to be comforting. But what I do believe is that Sara is a smart woman and she'll understand. She lives in London anyway, so why do you care so much? Both of you will eventually find a partner" said Peter focused on the road but when he didn't get a response from Neal, he turned to look at him. Neal was just looking down playing nervously with his hat. It downed on Peter… "Ooohh you were hoping to go back to Sara and that's why you're so fussed about this! Is that it?"

Neal sighed "Brownie points for your deductive skills…"

"But Neal, long distance? Seriously?" asked Peter grimacing

"For now… and before you start getting ideas, no, I'm not escaping illegally but one day the anklet will come off and well…" stopped Neal not being able to even talk about that beautiful possibility which still seemed so far away.

Peter smiled, it was good hearing Neal planning a white-picked-fence existence post-anklet "Well, all I can say is that you need to be honest and then from there, fight like hell to show her how much you care about her, what she means to you and make every moment count"

Neal was looking in awe at Peter. That was good advice and he felt a lump in his throat thinking how great it would have been to hear these words from his father… "Thanks Peter" he said shyly looking down

Peter nodded. They remained quiet, enjoying each other's company in a comfortable silence.

When they arrived at the Burke's, the minute they opened the door, they almost fainted at the delicious smell coming from the kitchen "Oh God! It smells great! Honey we're here!" said Peter patting Neal in the back with a smile. It was good coming home. Neal secretly wanted to come home to this, although it would probably be with a little role-reversal, him cooking and Sara yelling 'honey I'm home' – Neal chuckled at his daydreaming and shook his head. Oh boy, he had changed.

Meanwhile in London…

Sara lay still in bed, not being able to sleep, too restless with everything that had happened in just one day. It almost felt like she had dreamed it but no, her sister was actually sleeping next door. She smiled at the thought because even when she still had too many feelings boiling inside her, she felt happy. She grabbed her phone and texted Neal "Thanks for bringing Emily back. You never fail to amaze me, Caffrey"

Neal received the text message while he sipped some wine waiting for the lasagna to be ready. It was an odd time in London, he figured Sara had insomnia so he went to the backyard and decided to start a little Whatsapp chat:

N: At your service, Repo! So everything's good now?

S: mmm…

N: that's a maybe?

S: maybe

N: well that's better than 'it sucks', right?

S: yeah…

N: give it some time. Miss you!

S: *smiley face* me too

N: are you lying in bed? Too restless?

S: yes but don't get any ideas Caffrey

N: *sad face*

S: What about you, ANGEL?

N: why thank you! You're an angel too! I'm having dinner at Peter's

S: Say hi to them. Emily called you angel, not me

N: Emily's a very sweet girl

S: I know you're hiding something from me. What happened between you two?

N: she hasn't told you?

S: I haven't asked

N: I see. Well you should focus on the more important things now

S: right, can we skype in 4 hours? I have an idea to fix her problem

N: sure thing, go back to sleep, it's 3 am over there!

S: Oh I thought you wanted to know what I was doing restless in bed?

N: *sad face* can't, lassagna with the Burke's awaits for me

S: Nighty night

N: Nighty

"What's with the frown, Neal? Everything alright?" asked a very perceptive Elle

Peter was quick to answer for him in a sin-sang voice "Neal's got a little sister problem"

"Peter, I'm glad you find in me a source for fun but I appreciate it if you could stop?" said Neal annoyed

Elle smiled at their playful banter "Hon, play nice with Neal. So you're helping Sara's sister I hear"

While eating delicious lasagna, Neal proceeded to tell her all about his plan, purposefully ignoring Peter's grunts every time he mentioned something illegal. "You know, I shouldn't even be hearing this. How am I supposed to keep my mouth shut?" said the very upset Agent Burke

"Didn't you grant Neal full immunity once, hon? Well, this time you have spousal immunity, Neal" said Elle winking

Neal smiled "Thanks, Elle. I didn't have a choice really. Emily is not a consummated thief, she just has been through a lot and made wrong choices and I know, Peter, you always say that law fits all but still, I'm not a law-man so this falls into a gray area to me and that's why I didn't want to get you involved… sorry" he finished sheepishly

Peter sighed "I know you mean right, Neal, it's just… ah hell, you're too frustrating!"

Elle caressed Peter's forearm gently to calm him down while Neal just nodded "I should better go. Thanks for dinner" said Neal standing up and heading for the door

Elle gave Peter one of those looks which made him puff air through his nostrils and without a word stood up "Neal, wait"

Neal turned around from the door. Peter put a hand on his shoulder almost afraid of touching him and for a couple of seconds didn't say anything "Just, be careful ok?"

Neal relaxed and smiled a typical Caffrey smile "Of course Peter"

"No, I mean it. The reason why I'm always giving you the be-careful-speech is because I would hate for you to go back behind bars, Neal. You're much too valuable for me… and not only as a CI" said Peter looking right into Neal's eyes meaning every unspoken word.

Neal frowned looking back and understanding the unspoken meaning but this time, it wasn't enough, he needed to hear Peter say it out loud. "What do you mean, Peter?"

It was Peter's turn to frown, knowing exactly what Neal was doing. He sucked at being emotional but he knew he owed it to Neal, who at least on his feelings had been more forward always letting him know how valuable his trust was or how family doesn't turn up on your step after 30 years but sticks with you through thick and thin. Peter looked down for a minute and then looked up smiling "What I mean is that I would hate to bring you good coffee to jail. You are very important to me, Neal. You're my friend. Hell you're like the little brother I never had or God help me, the son I wish to have someday"

Neal was pushing for a little more but not so much! He was in shock and his eyes got all watery as he usually got them when being emotional. He cleared his throat feeling awkward not knowing what to say "Um, thanks"

Peter laughed "Oh no, not fair. You wanted me to say it, now you cowboy up and handle it, young man"

Neal smiled awkwardly "I'll be careful, I promise. Thanks for everything" he said not being able to go for much more

Peter patted his back "Alright, I get it buddy. Go home. See you tomorrow"

Neal started walking for a little while before catching a cab, reflecting on everything that had happened. He truly had a family here, he was happy and he just had to admit to himself that even when James had been a piece of crap, if it hadn't been for his abandonment, he would've never found Peter. It was a twisted way of seeing things but those are the types of findings you have in life. Same thing with Sara and Emily… which reminded him, he had a skype conversation to follow through in an hour. He hailed a cab and went home with a big smile on his face.