CHAPTER 39

Neal excitedly ran through the room, ignoring Peter telling him to slow down, and came to a stop in front of a huge skeleton.
He looked up at it in awe, finding it unbelievable that a creature like that had once existed and had roamed the earth, maybe even walking exactly where he was standing now.
He walked closer to the sign, trying to read what it's name was.
It had been over a month since Curtis had left his school and with that major distraction gone, Neal had been able to fully focus in school and had been making a huge progress with his reading and writing, impressing both his teachers and the Burkes.

"What does it say?"

Neal asked Peter, who had finally caught up with him, after not being fully able to read the long name.

"It says that it's a tyrannosaurus rex."

The agent answered as Neal looked up at it again, still amazed by it's enourmous size and especially it's big, sharp teeth.

"It's a little scary isn't it?"

Peter asked and Neal immediately grabbed his hand.

"Don't worry Peter, it's just a skeleton it can't hurt you."

Neal answered which cause Peter to chuckle.

"Thank god for that."

Neal giggled before he saw another big skeleton on the other side of the room.

"Look at that!"
He exclaimed and took of running, ignoring Peter's futile attempt to stop him.

Neal had been very excited that morning when they informed him that Elizabeth was going to have some clients over at the house and that he and Peter would get out of the house to spend some time together.
Neal had been less excited when Peter said that they were going to a museum without art, he pouted the whole way there, failing to see what could be interesting with a museum that didn't have art.
When they arrived however, Neal was blown away by of all the dinosaurs, the dead stuffed animals and the displays showing them how cavemen used to live.
Neal ended up running around the museum, much to Peter's dismay, wanting to look at everything and by the time Peter told him that it was time to go, Neal didn't want to leave.
The only thing that stopped him from throwing a fullblown tantrum was the promise that he could get something from the giftshop.
When he entered the giftshop, he immediately saw what he wanted, a tyrannosaurus rex plushie.

"I want this one."
"You sure?"

Neal nodded as he grabbed the plushie and hugged it tightly to his chest.
Peter payed for the plushie and as they walked out of the museum, Neal looked up at Peter.

"Don't worry, this one can't hurt you either."

The agent laughed.
"Well, that's good. What are you going to name it?"
"Raphael, like the painter."

After the museum they went to a diner, the same one where Mozzie and Neal went to eat, to have some lunch.
"Hello again, cutie."
The waitress greeted as she gave them their menus and as soon as she as gone, Peter turned to him with a confused look on his face.

"You've been here before?"
"I used to go here with Mozzie. He likes the waitress."
"Likes or likelikes?"

Peter asked, sounding like a middleschooler.

"He wants to kiss her."

Neal gave as an answer while looking isgusted by the thought of kissing.

"Interesting. Well, I can see why. She's cute."
"Cuter than 'Lizbeth?"
"No. Elizabeth is the cutest woman in this universe and you are free to tell her that."

Neal smiled and nodded.

"I will."

The waitress soon returned and they ordered, Neal had waffles with lots of cream on it and Peter had a burger with fries.
Once they left the diner, with both of their stomachs full, they went to a playground, since Elizabeth wasn't done yet.
Peter sat down on a bench next to another parent while Neal ran around on the playground, getting rid of the extra energy he had gotten from his sugary lunch.
By the time Peter got a text from Elizabeth saying that they coul go home, Neal was exhausted from over an hour of playing on the playground with the other kids.

Peter let him walk in first and Neal took of his jacket before he grabbed Raphael.
He walked into the livingroom, not at all prepared for the sudden, loud SURPRISE that was yelled.
Neal jumped and instinctively felt fear spread through his body before he saw the people that had apparently been waiting for him.
Aside from Elizabeth, there was Jones, Diana, June and even Sara.
He looked back at Peter who was behind him, wearing a big grin and he realized that this was the real reason they had been out of the house.

"It's not my birthday."

Neal told him, confused about why they had planned a surprise party.

"We know, buddy. The party is for a whole other reason."

Peter answered and Neal felt even more confused, as far as he knew nothing special had happened.

"What's the reason?"
"I'm going to tell you in a moment but first we have a gift for you, close your eyes."

Elizabeth answered and Neal gave her a skeptical look but closed his eyes.
He heard the sound of the back door opening and then closing before Elizabeth told him that he could open his eyes.
Neal did and the second he saw his gift, he ran across the room and threw himself at the man, who let out a soft groan as the kid crashed into him.

"Hello, kid."
"I missed you, Mozzie."

This was the first time he had seen Mozzie outside the hospital since he had been shot.

"I need to sit down."

Mozzie said, even if he looked much better than when he was in that hospital bed, he still looked weaker than his usual self.
Elizabeth pulled out a chair for Mozzie and helped the man sit down.

"Is the party for Mozzie?"
"No, the party is for this."

Elizabeth answered and held up a plain, white envelope.
This was just getting more and more confusing for Neal, how could something in an envelope be worth a party?
Elizabeth pulled out a second chair and gestured for Neal to sit down and once he did she handed him the envelope.
Neal opened the envelope while he felt everyone looking at him, something that just caused him to feel anxious.
He pulled out the paper and silently did his best to read the words, sounding out every letter in his head.
Just to be completely sure, he read the first word several times not believeing that he had read it right.
Eventually he looked up at the Burkes who was standing in front of him, Peter having his arm around Elizabeth's shoulders.

"Adoption?"

He asked, his voice sounding unusually weak and insecure.

"It's adoption papers, if we sign these we become your adoptive parents."

Elizabeth said, her voice shaking slightly as if she was scared of something.
She took a deep breath before she left Peter's side and instead crouched down in front of Neal, taking his hand in hers.

"What do you say Neal? Do you want to be our son?"