Neal beamed as he sprinted out of the car while it was still parking, shutting the door in his wake. Elizabeth chuckled.
"You'd think he's never been to a pumpkin patch." She muttered, looking to her husband. Peter shrugged.
"Probably hasn't in a while." He paused, looking as Neal waited impatiently at the gate. "We should go." The words were pointed as he eyed his partner, on eyebrow quirked slightly.
El laughed again, getting out of the car a bit more quickly that really necessary. "Before he ends up using that nervous energy for evil." She agreed jokingly. Peter was already gone, sprinting off after the consultant/conman as he walked in, shouting something that sounded almost like "wait up!". Elizabeth laughed again, walking to the gate.
"Boys will be boys," she muttered, following two of the most important people in her life as they raced (though that might have just been her mind playing tricks on her) to the pumpkin patch.
Neal sprinted backwards, smirking at Peter. "You're slower than my mother!" He called teasingly. Peter scoffed, increasing his speed and nearly catching up. Nearly being the key word in that sentence.
"Caffrey for the win!" El shouted, finally catching up. Much to Peter's disbelief, Neal won their unofficial race. Neal grinned smugly.
"Knew I'd win." Peter glared mildly, though was clearly trying to hide a smile.
"Shut up and find your pumpkin." He muttered, already walking off.
By the end of the day Peter and Elizabeth had gather five pumpkins, all loaded up in the car. There was still no Neal in sight. Peter sighed, sinking deeper into his seat as he watched the sun set. The various oranges and pinks were perfect, all things considered. The crisp fall air flitted in through the open door on El's side.
Just as Peter was about to ask where Neal was, the con came up, grinning as he lugged a wagon behind him. The pumpkin inside was almost as big at Statchmo when he was curled up on the floor, and probably heavier by the looks of it.
Peter immediately stepped out of the car, helping his friend get the car up to the car and into the car. "Where did you find that thing?" He grunted mid-lift. Neal shrugged, the massive pumpkin slipping from his grip slightly.
"Went way out to the back. It's this trick I learned when-" He paused, setting the orange monster into the trunk. "-I was a kid." He slammed the trunk shut, getting into the back seat before Peter could say anything. Peter nodded, one eyebrow raised, as he got in shotgun.
"So, the huge ones are always at the back?" El asked as she pulled out, having heard the whole conversation (all three sentences).
Neal shrugged again. "Yeah. No one goes back there because that's where most of the rotten ones are, but some are huge." He snickered. "There was this one, I think I was seven. My mom brought me here. I swear the pumpkin we found was taller than I was!" He laughed, and Peter tried not to betray his shock. Neal never talked about anything pre-Chase. Ever.
"Must have been pretty tall." El supplied, seeing that Peter wouldn't be speaking up any time soon.
"You have no idea." Neal snickered quietly. "And hey, now Peter can make more of that pumpkin pie!"
Peter just growled and turned on the radio.
