Day 16! Today's word of the day is: irresponsible. Example sentence: it was irresponsible of me to try to write an entire paper in one night. With self-deprecating humor out of the way, today's chapter summary: Peter helping Neal fix his hair and suit for a date.

Neal came bounding down the stairs. He had come home with Peter the night before, ostensibly to work on a few more cases. However, they hadn't ended up working on cases. What had ended up happening was more along the lines of a family dinner with a recalcitrant 15-year-old. Neal had, much to his chagrin, been sent straight to bed after dinner. So, he ended up sleeping in the spare bedroom.

Except it wasn't exactly a spare bedroom anymore. It was more Neal's bedroom now, for whenever he stayed the night at the Burkes'. And that was becoming more and more common as time went on. It was referred to as Neal's room, Neal had some of his things in there, and no one had anything to complain about. Peter and El had decided that it was almost adorable how happy Neal had seemed at being invited into their family. They didn't know he hadn't had a proper family when he was young. They didn't know that this was the first time he felt fully welcomed somewhere since he was 15. But what they did know was that Neal was happy and willing to spend time with them. And that made all of them happy.

Elizabeth looked up from the kitchen table, where she was busy emailing clients. She looked Neal up and down. He was well-dressed, jacket and vest, but no hat or tie. "Special occasion?"

Neal nodded. He was beaming, a smile that could light up the whole room. "Date," he answered simply.

"That sounds wonderful," El smiled back. "I hope you enjoy yourself."

"Thank you, Elizabeth." Neal came the entire way down to the first floor. Neal really was a teenager, telling his mom about his cute date and how excited the butterflies in his stomach were.

"Should we expect you back tonight?" It was a good question to ask. Not only because they didn't want Neal arrested because he accidentally tripped the alarm in the middle of the night, but also because they didn't want to worry if he came home late. God, we really are his parents.

Neal shrugged in reply. "Don't know. Depends how tonight goes."

"Well, when you figure it out, let us know."

"And if I can't reach you?" Neal asked.

Elizabeth knew this situation was unlikely, but it was worth indulging Neal's paranoia. "If you really can't reach us, be quiet. Don't make Peter think someone's breaking in."

Neal awkwardly rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah. I don't want to do that again." That was not a fun experience. Neal had been held at gunpoint a good number of times. It was never a fun experience, but somehow, it was less fun when it was Peter holding a gun in his face. In Peter's defense, Neal did sneak in in the middle of the night. And he did trip the alarm. But...Neal didn't have a good counterargument. He was committing about three different felonies that night. He was lucky he didn't end up in prison.

El smiled awkwardly. "You know he felt so sorry when he realized who it was."

"And I was so terrified," Neal said, deadpan.

"You knew it was coming," Peter reprimanded, coming in with Satchmo to stand behind Neal.

"Peter," Neal said, turning around.

"Neal. You look nice. Any occasion?"

"I told your wife," Neal said, as if that was an answer. It was, technically, an answer. But it wasn't a useful one. So, he clarified. "I'm going on a date."

"With who?" Peter asked. God, I really am his father.

Neal had to bite back his instinctive response. His instinctive response was, unfortunately, a very teenager 'why does it matter?' or 'none of your business' or 'God, can't you just let me live my life?' He managed to hide all of these responses and give a polite "This girl, Morgan. It's actually our first date."

"Nice," Peter replied with a nod. That was everything he'd wanted to know.

"Where are you going?" El asked. She wasn't sure where people went for first dates anymore. Neal didn't seem like a movie person, and it was bit late for a museum or anything longer than about four hours, if they were willing to be in the dark for an hour or two.

"Dancing," Neal explained, actually looking trepidatious. So there is something the great Neal Caffrey can't do. "There's a free swing night in a park near hers'. And, luckily, I know how to swing." Never mind.

"Can you go there?" Peter asked. It was a good question, and definitely an important one.

"Already checked," Neal affirmed with a nod. "She lives just up the road from June's. Like a block away."

"Well, have fun." El kissed Neal on the cheek, like a mother about to gush about 'her baby being all grown up.' "Don't stay out too late."

"But, Mom!" Neal whined. For not having a good teenage life, he was a pro at teenage whining.

Peter crossed his arms. "No buts, young man." Peter's voice was stern, exactly like a strict father lecturing his child before a date. Which, to be fair, he kind of was. "You listen to your mother. Now, don't do anything I wouldn't do-"

"And don't do anything you would, I know," Neal snapped. He had a perfect imitation of a teenager fed up with their parents' rules and advice and responsibility. He laughed. There was only so long he could keep up a facade. "Honestly, I'm an adult. I don't need you to make sure I get home safe."

"That's not why we do it, Neal," Elizabeth said. Her tone was compassionate and caring and Neal nearly teared up. "We do care about you."

"I'm being honest." Neal smiled, almost shyly. Peter didn't know Neal could be shy. El thought it was sweet. "Thank you."

She shook her head. "It's nothing. Have fun." She left the room, apparently switching to doing her work in the master bedroom instead.

Peter looked over Neal. He looked nice. Good clothes for dancing, Peter thought. He didn't have a lot of knowledge on dancing, but...Neal seemed to know things. Easy to move in, but good enough to leave an impression on the lucky lady. However, a standard Neal piece of apparel was missing.

"No hat?"

"No hat," Neal confirmed. "You can't really wear a hat and swing dance at the same time."

"Well, I can't dance, so I'll trust you on that."

Peter suddenly reached up and started fussing with Neal's hair. Neal, like a grown man, yelped in protest and ducked. He flung his hands up to stop Peter's ministrations. Whatever Peter was doing, it was annoying. Neal knew what he was doing when it came to hair and clothing. And Peter did not.

"Stop it!"

"I'm helping you!" Peter had a distinct tone of frustration and scolding. Neal immediately lowered his hands and stopped fighting against it. "I know you don't have a mirror, but trust me. It's falling in your face. Let me help you."

"Fine."

Neal accepted the help, but that didn't mean he had to like it. He felt like a child, a young child, having their dad fix their clothes before going off to school. Peter was messing with his hair. Neal had made sure that his hair was perfect before he came downstairs. There was no way it was anything less than perfect. But, he let Peter mess with it anyway. It made him feel loved, feel wanted. Feel like he had people who cared about him. It was nice.

"Thanks," Neal said once Peter had finished.

"No problem," Peter absently replied, fiddling with Neal's vest and jacket. "There you go."

Neal smiled. "Thank you."

"No problem," Peter said with a shake of his head. "Do you need a ride?"

"No, I'm good."

"Good. Have fun."

"I will."

"And don't stay out too late, young man."

"Fine, Dad," Neal snarked with an eye roll.

Neal hadn't meant to call Peter his father. And Peter hadn't meant to accept it. But...it didn't cause any harm every once in a while.

I hope you enjoyed; feel free to leave a review if you particularly enjoyed it! Thank you to everyone who's kept reading this long. To those in NaNoWriMo: I hope your novels are only getting better and I can't wait to read every one of them.