White Collar/USA network owns 'em all except Jamie -sigh-

"Just warning you, you're on speaker phone and whatever you say, my cat will hear."

Neal laughed, "Morning Jamie. And cat."

"Neal! I see you took one of my cards, when you gave me yours," Neal laughed.

"So," Jamie said, "what's up?"

"Well, I was just wondering if you like to have lunch with me today?"

"Well, Mr. Caffrey, I'd be honored. Where and when will this lunch take place?"

"Is one okay? How about we eat at that cafe across the street from the FBI building?"

Jamie smiled, "I will see you there."

Later...

Neal checked his phone, On my way to the cafe, be there soon. He smiled and walked to Peter's office. "Hey, Peter, I'm going out for lunch okay?"

"Really?"

"Yes, I decided not be cooped up at my desk today, alright? I'll be back soon enough."

Peter laughed, "Okay! I was just making sure I heard you correctly..." Neal shook his head and left.

At the restaurant...

"Hey!" Jamie said when Neal walked into the cafe.

Neal smiled, "Would you rather sit inside or out?"

"Oh, out definitely, its so nice out today!" Neal laughed and ask the hostess for a table outside, she silently complied.

"So I was thinking," Neal spoke up, after they had been seated, "if we have time after lunch maybe we can continue this date at the park?"

"Oh so it is a date."

"Of course its a date!"

"Well now that I know that, I would love to go to the park, as long as you let me take pictures."

Neal laughed, "Sure, sure."

Later...

"You do realize this isn't real clam chowder right?"

"Oh come on of course it is!"

"No, no, real clam chowder is white and thick, not red and soupy. I take it you've never had New England clam chowder."

"No I haven't, to be honest, I didn't think there was a difference."

"Oh there is, and someday, you will realize your mistake."

Neal laughed, "Okay..."

"Neal?"

"Yes?"

"If I asked you a personal question, would you tell me the truth?"

"Yeah..."

"How long has it been since..."

"Kate died?"

Jamie nodded, "About a year, I-I try not to dwell on the date."

"Look, I don't want this to move too fast, or if you can't even handle this being a this right now I'm okay with that."

"Thank you, slow might be a good idea, but I think after a year, I'm more than ready for this."

"Neal...does what happened, two nights ago, happen a lot?"

Neal took a deep breath, "Not really...it hasn't happened in public for months. But I still have the nightmares..." Neal stopped and laughed.

"What is it?"

"I just-I've never been this open with anyone before. There's something about you that makes me want to keep talking."

Jaime took Neal's hand, "You can always talk to me."

Neal smiled, "Thats good to know."

After lunch...

After watching Jamie take at least fifty pictures of him and the park, Neal spoke up, "Have you ever thought about letting the photographer become the subject?"

Jamie looked at Neal, "N-no. I think its better if I'm behind the camera."

"Why is that?"

Jamie sat down on the bench next to Neal, "I just-I got used to being behind the camera, the one documenting the memory, not making it. I used to love being in pictures, but slowly...I became more and more part of the background, behind the camera."

"You still haven't given me a solid reason..."

Jamie closed her eyes, "When I was a teenager, I was self-conscious. I know now how stupid it was, but then...sometimes it was bad other times, it didn't bother me at all. By high school though, it was pretty bad, and thats when I delved more and more into photography. By college I was much better, but then and now I feel better behind the camera than in front of it."

Neal looked at Jamie, eyes wide. Jamie laughed nervously, "I guess my life wasn't as easy as you thought."

"I'm sorry, its just...wow, was it hard?"

Jamie shrugged, "I guess, I had, have, a good circle of friends, and I never resorted to throwing up or anything, like I said, I was lucky."

Neal smiled, and they stared into each other's eyes for a few seconds. Neal broke away to look at his watch. "Shoot, I have to go, but I'll call you okay!"

Jamie stood up with Neal, "Okay! I'll talk to you soon," she pulled him into a hug again.

She picked up her camera and walked away, right before she exited the park, she turned around and took a picture of Neal.

Later...

"So who's the girl?" Peter asked Neal, and Neal turned around, halfway out the door.

"What?"

"Your lunch date, Neal."

"Did you make Jones follow me?"

"Not into the restaurant, just far enough to see who you were meeting. So...who is she?"

"She's...someone I met at the bar two nights ago. We started talking, and...we had fun. I wanted to see her again."

"What's her name?"

"Ja-no Peter I don't want you running her through the system, then having around the clock surveillance on my gir-her. She's just a normal girl, who I happen to like."

"Neal, you almost called her your girlfriend."

"No, I didn't. Peter we've been on one date. She doesn't know about this," he pointed at the anklet, "or anything really about me, all she knows is what she's read in the paper and what've I happened to let slip."

Peter leaned in, "Does she know about Kate?"

"Y-yes. I had a little breakdown the night we met. She knows I saw Kate die in a plane explosion a year ago. That's it."

"For now," Peter added, smiling.

AN: Thanks for the feedback guys! It was really helpful! :) So you might be wondering, "Where's Mozzie?" To tell you the truth, I asked myself the same question! I will try to fit him in the next chapter, but if not, I PROMISE he will be in this story, so will El! And Diana! I'll try to fit in all the important White Collar minor characters ;) Also, do you think I make Neal laugh too much? Or is he just that kind of guy? OR does Jamie make him that kind of guy? More to be added soon! Remember, please R&R! Thanks!