Author's Note: I'm finally back and despite everything I've been going through I managed to get this chapter together. I hope you'll like it :)

CHAPTER 5

It was hard, living without Elizabeth.
Peter went back to living the way he had been before he met her, but it didn't feel the same, not even close.
He felt empty and his days felt dull and boring. Not even his job managed to get his thoughts of Elizabeth.
This was new to him, he had never experienced a break up like this before.
Not even the break up with his college girlfriend, that he dated for three years, gave him this empty feeling.
It was crazy how they managed to build such a strong connection in such a short span of time.
He wondered if she felt the same emptiness that he did, if she had a hard time sleeping and a hard time living her life without thinking of him.
He wondered if her heart was broken too.

At first Peter had decided to give her some space, hoping that she would start to miss him and come knocking on his door telling him that she made a huge mistake.
But the week went by without a single peep from Elizabeth.
The lack of messages from her caused Peter to really worry.
He had fully expected her to come back but he slowly started to realize that maybe she wasn't going to.
That's when he grew desperate.
He wasn't going to let her go without a fight, he wasn't ready to lose her.
So he had tried to call her several times but she never answered him.
He had even stopped by the museum but she wasn't there and her coworker kindly, but firmly, told him to not come here again and to give Elizabeth some space.

Peter sat down on his couch, a pizza slice in one hand and a beer in the other.
Satchmo walked over to him, ready to lay down by his master's feet like he always did.
It was probably Peter's loneliness that caused him to break his own rule of no dogs allowed on the couch.
Satchmo gave him a confused,uncertain look as he patted the space next to him.

"Come here boy"

The dog didn't hesitate before jumping up on the couch, laying down next to Peter, placing his head in the man's lap and wagging his tail.
Peter turned on the TV and zapped through the channels until he found some game to watch.
Normally he loved watching a game while eating pizza and drinking a nice, cold beer but now he couldn't even find any enjoyment in that.
The game was boring and unconsciously he found his gaze drifting to the wall where a certain six year old boy had decided to show off his art skills.
Neal's artwork was still there, Peter hadn't removed it yet since it was one of the few memories he had left of Elizabeth and her young son.
Even if he didn't like that the kid had been drawing on the wall in the first place, it felt wrong removing it now.
Neal had acted like a wild animal that night, doing whatever he wanted without stopping for anyone or anything and he had almost made Peter go insane and in the end the kid had broken the couple up.
Despite all this, Peter felt no resentment towards the child. He would go through that night babysitting the little troublemaker fifty times over if it meant that he got Elizabeth back.

The rain was pouring down outside and Peter couldn't help to think that it was the ideal weather.
The world outside his window was gray and dull and it matched his mood perfectly.
Peter felt bad for the other agents that were still working hard while he was just sitting in his office, staring out the window.
He was unable to focus on his work and he honestly didn't see the point in even trying.
There had been no new breakthroughs in the case, no new robberies or even sightings of the criminal.
There had been no new robberies or even sightings of the criminal.
There was a knock on the door and when Peter turned around he was met by a very confused looking Jones.

"Uhm...there's a kid here asking for you"

For a second Peter was as confused as Jones. A kid?
Why would a kid show up at the bureau looking for him?
He didn't know any kids, well except for Neal.
As soon as he realized that, he flew up from his chair and hurried out of his office and there in the middle of the bullpen was Neal.
The boy was completely soaked, there wasn't a single dry patch on his clothes and water was still dripping from his hair.
The child was shivering as the jacket he was wearing was way too thin and not at all waterproof.
He wasn't even wearing boots, just thin sneakers.
Peter hurried down to the boy, ignoring all the looks the other agents were throwing at them.
He took off his suit jacket and wrapped it tightly around the boy's tiny frame.
Neal looked like he had been in the rain for a while which suggested that he had walked here, but from where?
Why was he even here all alone, how had an unattended, drenched kid made it to the office without a single person stopping him and most importantly where was Elizabeth?

"What are you doing here, buddy?"

He asked with a soft voice while he brushed the hair away from Neal's forehead, feeling the damp, cold skin against his hand.

"Where's your mom?"

He asked and as he asked the question, Neal's eyes teared up which caused Peter to feel a sinking feeling in his stomach.
The boy looked both sad and scared at the same time which wasn't good. Something happened to Elizabeth, he just knew it.

"Where's your mom?"

Peter repeated, this time in a more demanding tone.

"Mommy is gone"

Neal answered, his lip starting to wobble as he was on the verge to tears.

"They took mommy"

Author's Note 2: I would just like to thank you for all the kind words and support regarding my father.
Unfortunately just 12 hours after I posted the last chapter my dad passed away due to complications in the hospital. He was only 41 and everything has been very sudden.
It's been a very hard time for me and my two older brothers but we have had an amazing support from family, friends and even amazing strangers on the internet.
Thank you, it really warmed my heart that you took the time out of your day to think of me and write kind words :)