May
Neal exited the freight elevator, holding a cup of coffee in one hand, and a dark wood cane June had given him after she went looking for some that had belonged to Byron.
"Caffrey."
Neal stopped, and backed up, looking into Hughes's office. Hughes was standing at his desk, looking down at an open file.
"Yes?"
"Take this file to Diana?"
"Sure," Neal came into the office, juggled the coffee, cane, and file until he had it all positioned securely.
"How has she been doing?"
"Am I really the person you want to ask?" laughed Neal.
"Unlike the junior agents you have no reason to jockey for favor, so ironically you have the least reason to lie to me."
"I mean, I had more fun with Peter but I think Diana might be the better actual boss. She finally got Agent Perry to stop trying to start an office fantasy football league, everyone is very relieved. I don't think Peter was ever going to put his foot down on that."
"Because he secretly wanted it, too." chuckled Hughes.
"That would be my guess," said Neal, wryly.
"And Peter is doing alright?"
"Peter's great. He's going to Italy for a meeting next month. Elizabeth is taking the chance to repaint the living room while he's not using the TV. She's trying to get him to look at paint chips, he's just looking at the weather in Rome. So apparently I'm going to the paint store with her instead."
One corner of Hughes's mouth came up, "I'm glad Peter is excited. I'm sure Peter agrees that Elizabeth will probably be better off with your painting advice."
Neal chuckled, "yeah, he found that an entirely acceptable solution."
"I'm glad to hear things are working out for the three of you, Caffrey."
Neal paused at that phrasing, eyebrows coming together slightly.
"Go ahead and get that file to Diana," said Hughes as a dismissal, and sat down at his computer.
Neal walked out, anxious. But…even if Hughes had figured out they were all dating…all he'd had to say about it was that he was glad it was working out. Hughes liked Peter and Elizabeth, Neal decided it made sense that he cared more that they were happy than about the precise details of how they got that way.
