Hello dears!

That took a bit longer that I had hoped, but I now give you all the newest one shot~ This is still the Main storyline, but do expect two Alternate one shots next, as I want to explore a different idea for how Peter meets (or comes to know) about Joshua and Jack.

In this one shot, settings one or two days after Good Morning, we are introduces to two new characters. The subject of necessity for Neal's family to stay separated is still floating around, but in this we have a clearer insight of how Neal feels about Peter steadily meeting the rest of his family. And by now you might notice, but those meetings also mean Neal is opening up to Peter more and more. Or to be precise, his walls are lowering because of how Peter and Neal's family interact well, and how his family is actually wishing that Neal opens up more to Peter. Hence why they've been saying things that hints about how Neal views Peter~

On a final note, the title for this one shot is a wink to Peter being allowed to know more and more, thus opening doors in Neal's walls!

EDIT: Any chapter 4 you might have seen before was a note I removed because FFnet doesn't really allow chapters that are only author notes. The note can still be found on the AO3 version of the story (chrisemrys is my username). And in case of doubts: this story is still ongoing.

Open Doors

Peter blinked, stopping at the foot of the stairs while June smiled softly at his expression. It had been two days since Neal's brothers had showed, where the older man had find amusement in how Neal's cheerfulness skyrocketed and worried the team in their fear he was preparing something. The agent had soon realized June was aware Neal had guests, though also realized she did not know the full truth.

He had realized this yesterday, when Peter himself had not recognized Joshua, his wig and change of clothes enough to hide his looks. He was a master at disguises, which Peter noted in the back of his mind of course, while Jack remained elusive despite June knowing the presence of a third person. But she did not mind the secrecy, and Peter knew better than to tell her.

It left Peter bemused though, as June had always been someone Neal knew he could trust. This meant Neal wanted the existence of brothers to be a well kept secret; something Peter had come to know by mistake. It almost hurt, but it also meant Peter had in his hands a secret Neal worked hard to keep safe.

A secret they had extended to El so Peter wouldn't have to lie.

In a sense, Peter knew he had the safety of Neal's brothers in his hands. And he had every intents to not betray the trust the three brothers ended up putting in Peter and El.

"There are new ones up there." June commented as she finished checking her bags, as she would leave for a lucky won vacation over the next few days. Her words brought Peter's attention on her, snapping him out of his thoughts. "They have been playing music for half an hour now."

The agent nodded to June, kissing her goodbye as she assured Neal had already done so. He watched her go, then finally went up the stairs slowly. Peter wanted to be undetected, as he had a feeling he might be able to get a new glimpse of the Neal he had not known. He finally pushed open the door, and only Joshua noticed from his place leaning against the fridge. The oldest brother subtly smiled, winking before he gazed back to the ones at the table.

Peter did a double take at the sweetness of the scene. Neal and Jack were sitting side by side, their chairs very close, while a young blonde woman that look just a bit younger than Jack sat on Neal's laps. Yet, the whole gesture and scene was so innocent it warmed the agent's heart. Neal had his arms around her waist while she sat sideways, her head resting against Neal's head, almost as if she would nuzzle her cheek to his hairs anytime. And her legs laid on Jack's own laps as the young man would pat said legs quite absent-mindedly.

All three wore expression of contentment, and their full focus was on a blond male at the end of the table, the likeness to the blonde woman so striking that they couldn't be anything else than twins; and what fascinated all of them-including Peter-was the dexterity in which he played his guitar. It gave off a pleasant, merry tune and Peter realized the young woman was humming along.

June hadn't warned him about anything more than the music, so when she opened her mouth and sang , soon followed by her brother, the agent could not help a small gasp. Their voices were perfectly in synch, melodious and yet the difference in pitch gave an otherworldly feeling behind the lyrics. He barely had time to realize said lyrics had not been in English before the song and music ended abruptly in squeaks, both from the young woman and the false note on the guitar. Four very startled pair of eyes snapped to Peter, cheeks soon reddening while Joshua started laughing, mirth dancing in his eyes.

"You could have warned us!" The blond called in a mutter, his hands twitching as if he had been about to throw his guitar at the older male. With the heat of the surprise, Peter could not miss the accent behind the man's words, the way he rolled the r.

The blonde, for her part, peaked shyly at Peter as most of her face was hidden in Neal's hairs. "Would you… Are you Peter?" She asked, and it momentarily silenced Peter to notice her accent sounded French.

Jack leaned forward, poking into her side and earning another squeak mixed with strangled laughter. "Come on, that hyena over here would have gone crazy if it had not been Peter Burke coming in."

Joshua let out an "Oi!" in the middle of his laughters, looking offended even if the amusement had not left his eyes.

Neal's lips twitched. "If you want my opinion, he did go crazy."

Peter bit his lips, focusing his attention on his CI so his effort to hide the amusement from the brothers' antics would stay unnoticed by the target of the teasing. His eyes locked with Neal's, and the younger man turned sheepish.

Neal cleared his throat. "So, you two, you finally meet Peter." There was a story in there, Peter knew, but he also noticed how the ex conman was basically stalling. "Peter, meet Rose and Francis." He said nothing more, though Peter detected he had paused and let it end in silence.

His instincts were confirmed when Rose tutted and added, "We're their younger siblings. And twins, though that is quite obvious." She smiled, sweet and eyes bright. "You're a good man."

Peter passed his hand behind his neck with an awkward smile, giving a small, "Thanks," at the unexpected comment. He pretended he didn't notice Neal's smirk too, and thought that Rose might often deliver those sorts of comments, if he went by the fond shake of head from Francis. However, his expression shifted to pensive without his realization, eyes drifting between the blond haired and the dark haired.

"Adoptive siblings." Joshua's voice supplied, closer.

Peter made a small jump, glancing to the side and feeling startled to notice the other had stepped closer without Peter noticing. Instinctively, his hand checked his pockets as he nodded to the statement. He glared a little bit as Joshua smirked with pride at the agent's automatic gesture then directed it at Neal, who had chuckled with the knowledge he had been the one to make Peter develop that habit.

Before the older man had time to spot the movements, he found Rose and Francis standing in front of him, two set of azure eyes observing him with curiosity and slight pride. Peter kind of ended up freezing, unsure. But deep down, he agreed they were Neal's family, to be able to overwhelm someone with their antics.

"You know it isn't easy keeping Neal in one place, right?" Francis told the older man, which earned a chuckle from the agent at how true the statement was. The next froze him again. "So I hope you know how lucky you are. Without you-"

A hand clasped on Francis' mouth, and for good measure the second one shut Rose before she could continue for her brother. The culprit, which happened to be Neal, pushed the two of them to his sides while hissing into their ear, "Don't team up on me!"

Peter marveled on the realization that this was the very first time he witnessed Neal in his flustered glory. Then again, his own face reddened a bit, very aware of what he had heard. Indeed, while he had troubles getting his head around it, he had always known in his heart that Neal wouldn't have stayed in New York so willingly if anyone else had been his handler.

"Aww, have we embarrassed you?" Rose cooed when she managed to free her mouth, wrapping her arm around Neal's waist in a side hug. However, it seemed she saw something in the flustered scowl he sent, because her smile turned kinder and she kissed his cheek. "You've got work right? You should go, we will be there when you come back."

In a matter of minutes, Peter found himself driving Neal to work, the rest of the family having ushered them to go with kisses and smiles. It did not go unnoticed that Neal had relaxed once they were in the car, and yet he avoided Peter's gaze. It took the agent a minute or two before he connected the dots, how Neal's blood brothers had taken extra time to ruffle his hairs and how his adoptive siblings had hugged him.

Neal had been overwhelmed back there, something in the twins' words echoing Joshua's ones a few days ago that seemed to agitate his CI. Peter felt curious, if a bit worried, but didn't know how to ask. Amazingly enough, it was the ex conman that touched the subject.

"It feels surreal, to see you and them in the same room…" Neal whispered, more to himself than Peter, yet it had been said aloud. Finally he gazed at Peter, little smile on his face that bordered on shy. "They've been telling me it would be fine, the day you would know about them." Peter noted in his mind the certainty of the statement, no if in there, and felt his heart grow warmer as Neal had paused. "It's not that I don' t trust you," he continued, head turning back to the road, "but I worked so hard to keep them safe that…"

Peter shifted his gaze to the side, but he had to watch the road. Finally, he had the conclusion to what had overwhelmed Neal. "You can't help wishing to keep them hidden?" He offered, and the huff of laughter told Peter the younger male felt amusement at how well Peter had seen through him. Then, Peter added with a little smirk, "And they do like to gang up on you and tease you."

For all reply, Neal glared at Peter and muttered, "Just wait until they decide to tease you."

And Peter swallowed a bit harder, quite glad to have a full day at work far from the little imps that were Neal's family.

End of Open Doors

Stay tuned...