Three months later, Neal is happy to finally have the leg cast off, even if it means he won't be able to run on it for awhile. "At least I have been cleared for all the walking I want to do." said Neal, finishing up carrying stuff upstairs to the newly finished apartment. "And it only took you an extra couple months to finish this area."

"Yeah yeah nag the agent who has had every weekend busy." said Peter, struggling with a heavy box. "Did June send bricks?"

"I believe it's books." said El, carrying a box. "I never knew you owned so many, Neal."

"About half the ones she sent are mine and half are ones I liked she gave me." said Neal, sitting down a box. "And we're finally done. It's really nice." He looks around the apartment. The front half facing the streets was a combination of a sitting area with a TV, a small kitchenette with a small bar table and stools, and an art area by the windows. The back half of the space was the bedroom, closet space, and bathroom. "It's nice all put together."

El takes a seat on couch. "I can't believe June let you have essentially whatever you wanted." she said, pulling Peter down to sit next to her.

"I tried not to take advantage - just the couch, two chairs, and the easel." said Neal sitting down in one of the chairs. "I told her I would give them back if or when I found something better."

"Just keep in mind you are welcome to the kitchen downstairs whenever. The kitchenette we squeezed in is tiny." said El, giving Neal a warm smile. "I know you are a grown man who likes his space, but it would be nice to still do some meals together after all the time you've been living downstairs."

"I will definitely take you up on that." said Neal, getting up and grabbing a few bottles of water and passing them around. "I realize I'm lucky, I couldn't have found a place half this size for the $700."

"Very true." said Peter with a smile. "Speaking of price and money, I've been getting a lot of reports of art museums and galleries and even personal investors getting pieces delivered back anonymously. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that?"

"Nope, not really. I can guess it's someone feeling bad." said Neal, quietly, but with a smile. "I mean I couldn't possible be doing that in my radius." He was happy he had been able to talk Mozzie into returning most of what was in his stashes, though he figured Mozzie likely kept a few things for himself. His friend had gotten over him going straight, but Moz wasn't an idiot and wouldn't do all this work for free. "It's good news isn't it?"

"Yeah it is." said Peter, smiling at his partner. He suspected Mozzie, but wasn't going to be looking into it. "It definitely shows a change in character. By the way, I talked to Hughes about what you were inquiring awhile back - if you could work as a consultant after. He wanted me to show you this." Peter hands Neal an envelope he takes out of his back pocket.

Neal opens it and reads. "Hm, a full time consultant job just as I was asking. He's making the decision this early?" he said, glancing up at Peter.

"I think he figures he can get you at a steal compared to what agents make." said Peter sipping at his water. "It's $40k a year for consultants vs $60k for starting agents."

"Well, how would he possibly know what it would be in..." Neal continues to read the letter and almost drops it when he notices the date. "Why is this dated for a job opening here in a little over a month?"

"Because of this." said El, pulling out a folder she had hidden under a cushion earlier. Neal gives her an inquisitive look as she hands it to Peter.

"Oh look a commutation letter." said Peter toying a little with Neal. "I wonder who it's possibly for." He hands the folder to Neal and smiles as he sees the news hit Neal's face. "I think every single person in White Collar petitioned for you."

"Does this mean what I think it means?" said Neal, looking up and at the Burke's.

"Only if it means you won't be moving out immediately after all my work." said Peter smiling. "And that you will stay for awhile...at least a year or two."

"I may never leave." said Neal. "Well besides maybe to travel as this suspiciously doesn't start for awhile."

Peter pulls out the key to Neal's anklet. "Put it up for the last time, partner."

Neal stands and props his foot on the coffee table as Peter unlocks it. "I can't say that doesn't feel good." he said. "Though it would almost be sad to go to Paris alone."

El smiles. "Well there's tickets for three downstairs for two weeks in Paris. Want a couple guests?" she said. "If not we could go on our own..."

"I'll take that offer." said Neal, hugging Peter and then El. "Though I may have a couple more locations I want to see before I return for work next month."

Fin!