Chapter 6

AN: I don't know about you guys, but the whole Diana being pregnant just came out of left field for me. I had no idea. Diana never mentioned kids, now she's pregnant! Whiskey Tango Foxtrot! (Don't worry, if you're not military, or an NCIS fan, you may not get this. Just look at the first letter of all three words.) I invite you to express your thoughts here if you would like, via review or PM. Hope you enjoy!

Six months later:

Peter crossed the busy street to the coffee shop, as he had many mornings. He got his coffee and stepped out onto the street. He occupied himself reading the flyers pasted on the window. He did a double take when his eyes passed over a certain flyer. He knew the address it spoke of. He smiled and pulled out his phone and called El.

"Okay, the flyers are up." Mozzie replied as he walked down a busy NYC street. "The caterers…thanks god we own a bakery. June and I are going wine shopping this evening. We have most of the student's paintings up…displayed. We still have a few paintings to display. I'll make sure everybody sticks to the 5 p.m. deadline to make their choices."

"Good, good." Neal replied. "I have all my selections hung already. I'll have the students set up the tables and put on the tablecloths for the food." Neal took a deep breath. "This is actually going to happen."

Mozzie smiled and nodded. "…your first art show."

"My first art show. I like that." Neal stated.

WC WC WC WC WC

Neal wondered the rooms, the show was set up in the gallery of his building and all the rooms were being used. The show included over 200 pieces, twenty contributed by him. Neal heard the door open. He took a deep breath and turned to greet his first guests.

"So, this is what a Neal Caffrey art show looks like?" Special Agent Clinton Jones asked as he entered. He was accompanied by his partner, Special Agent Diana Berrigan.

"It is." Neal said. "Good to see you, Clinton, Diana." He hugged them both.

"…very nice." Clinton stated looking around the gallery.

"Very classy, Neal." Diana said, echoing Jones' sentiment.

Neal nodded. "I'm sorry I didn't say anything before now. But thank you both for everything,…for your help with the show. Diana, the pictures you sent me in prison, Theo is such a handsome little man. And thanks for the phone calls, Clinton. I just…it was so nice to hear from the two of you."

"Some things happened that shouldn't have, Neal." Jones replied. "We know things we're not supposed to."

"Enough people have been hurt." Diana stated.

Jones and Diana knew about James voice recording being faked. They had their suspicions anyway. There was no way for Neal to find his dad in that short amount of time. The man was good at hiding. He had hid himself, very well, for 30 years. And they couldn't see Neal getting James to just confess to anything. But there was no proof, so all they had was intuition. Plus, Peter was getting promoted and then Jones got promoted to fill Peter's spot. It was a lot of change at one time. But neither of them expected Peter to just let Neal go to jail like that. Neither expected Peter not to fight as hard as he could for Neal. But Peter didn't fight. He allowed Neal to go back to jail. Then they understood, Neal needed to go down for this. That would end the investigations, into everything. The truth of the voice recording would never be known. Peter would get to keep his new position, his career. His knowledge of the recording being faked would never be brought to light. After all, the only person other person who knew was Neal. And he would have no reason to bring it up, conviction on that charge would just add more time to his sentence. They both had liked Neal. They had appreciated his help on cases and his willingness to do whatever was needed to bring down the criminal. Diana also had a special bond with Neal, thanks to Theodore. Mozzie and Neal had delivered her child. She was not going to do anything to hurt the person who brought her baby into the world.

Neal nodded and then excused himself as more people began arriving. Diana and Jones helped themselves to glasses of wine and then started to look at the exhibits.

Neal went to greet his other guests and fellow artists entered the building. Several of the art school students had their paintings on exhibit and they were almost as excited as Neal to be a part of an art gallery showing. Plus, several of the female students had developed a bit of a crush on their landlord and/or the gallery owner.

Neal came up to Diana and slipped his arm around her waist.

Diana whispered. "I realize you no long work for the FBI, but I will still break your arm."

"I need some arm candy." Neal replied. "All these college girls…. He shook his head.

Diana slipped her arm around Neal's waist, signifying she agreed to assume the role. "Which one of these girls is messing with my man?" Diana grinned as she looked around the room. "I'll kick her ass."

Neal laughed.

"You use the phrase 'baby daddy,' even once, and I'm out of here." Diana warned.

Neal nodded, and they played up the 'couple' angle for a few minutes.

June and Mozzie had arrived soon after Neal, bringing the wine. They then took their places at the purchasing booth.

Neal heard his phone ring. He checked the text message. They are here. It said.

Neal looked around the room. Then he spotted the object of the text. He stood staring for just a second.

U OK? Mozzie texted back.

As long as their check doesnt bounce. Neal texted quickly before greeting the newcomers.

"We wanted to make sure it…it was okay that we're here." Elizabeth Burke stated.

"It's a public event, Mrs. Burke. You and Agent Burke have every right to be here." Neal stated, cooly.

"Neal, we…." Peter started.

Neal shook his head. "I'm past the awkwardness, Agent Burke. I'm past the hurt. I had been waiting years to say the stuff I said to you. I just wanted to be a free man when I said it, that's all. I'm done!" Neal paused. "We can't go back. There's nothing to go back to." Neal turned and walked away.

TBC