Authors note: Sorry, I forgot to say that the characters are unfortunately not mine. The story is my idea, but there are references to scenes of the original series.

macy: Thank you very much for your nice words! I agree with the end of the series, Neal doing what he does best, but I really would have liked to see the two meeting again. It will never happen, so I wrote my version. I hope you enjoy the next two chapters as well.

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Part 02: Paris

Only now Peter loosened his grip. On Neals gesture he sat down in a comfortable armchair, while Neal stayed standing at the huge window.

"You're here for two days now. Why?"

Peter was surprised. "You noticed me?"

In his typical way, Neal shrugged, put on his charming smile and simply said. "It's my job. You forgot that?"

"I don't chase you anymore, Neal. I was in Italy. A joined task force with Interpol, but the arrest was in Marseille. After that I took some days off and came to Paris. To be honest, I didn't know what I expected."

Again Neal smiled. "You wanted to see, if I'm really here. Yes, I am and I'm fine."

"Do you like it? Paris?"

Neal bowed his head a bit. "I miss New York. It would be a lie, if I deny that, but Paris was always my second choice. It's a beautiful city and I can go where I want to. I can move without being restricted to two miles. That would never have been possible in New York. You told me, I was too good and your superior authorities wouldn't let me off my leash. I had to do it, I had no choice."

"I know, Neal. I'm so sorry." Peter looked around. Different pictures of great artists leaned stapled at the wall, a few sat on easels. "What exactly are you doing here?"

"I give my advice on the pictures for the exhibitions."

Peter raised an eyebrow. "Neal Caffrey as a consultant at an art museum? They're screaming for trouble."

"Thank you very much, Peter, but it's not Neal Caffrey they rely on." Neal shook his head with a grin. "He's dead, don't you remember? Noel Carnes is consultant and chief of their security."

"Noel Carnes? French?"

"Belgian."

"Scandalous!"

They looked at each other. Neal with a glistening shimmer of childish joy in his eyes, Peter still overwhelmed with his emotions. He had so many questions, wanted to know so much, but still couldn't formulate a real sentence. Neal stepped away from the window. Casually he moved through the room, poured coffee into two cups and put one in front of Peter.

"The Italian roast."

Peter shook his head, sipped at the coffee and nodded appreciative. "You're incredible, Neal."

Again there was the charming Caffrey-smile.

"You really work here?"

"Yup."

"And nobody noticed the similarity to a certain art thief, forger and conman?"

"Alleged art thief."

Peter rolled his eyes.

"Neal Caffrey got shot and you were a convincing witness. Besides most of the employees here are too young, to know me from my active time in Europe. And of course, people only see, what they want to see. You should know that by now. So the ones, that thought me to be familiar in some ways, get answers they could believe. I can be persuasive."

Neal stood very self-confident before his former handler.

"I can tell you a thing or two about that", Peter hummed. "You really work here legally? But you never did your stunts only because of the money. It was the adrenalin kick, you needed. Where is that now?"

"Oh, Peter", Neal answered with half faked disappointment. "I finally do, what you always expected me to do and you still don't trust me?"

Both men looked deep in each others eyes. Peter was in fact a little bit embarrassed, but it was Neal.

"My pay grade is much higher than yours. I have a nice flat near the Arc de Triomphe, with a roof-deck and a lot of glass. Ideal for painting. Is that not enough to stay on the right side of the law?"

Peter shook his head. "Not with you."

Neal lowered his gaze and went back to the window. He laughed. "You're right. As always. I'm lucky that I can test the security of the other museums, as the chief of security of the most important one. Sometimes even banks or secured public buildings."

Neal folded his arms and laughed again. "Similar to the case when we tested the bank security in New York."

Peter nodded and smiled in memory of that case. How easy-going and ballsy Neal compromised the directors of these banks. "Legal break-in. I don't know what I should say right now. Did they catch you?"

Neal waged his head. „Nope. This honor is to you. They're not as good as you were. Enough of me, how are you in New York?"