Chapter 9:

Disclaimer: I don't own White Collar.

I waited at the table while Elizabeth phoned Peter. There were three plates on the table, each with food on them. Peter should be home now, Elizabeth told me.

I listened in on their phone conversation. I knew that Peter had made the deal with Neal, I just knew it. He hadn't mentioned anything around me though, and I was very, very curious to what the oh so great convicted art thief was doing running around with the FBI.

Elizabeth began to pour a glass of wine as she talked to Peter. "You lost track of time, it happens." She walked into the dining room, gave me a quick nod and a smile and continued to say, "Did you forget who you married? I am smarter than that… So how's Neal doing?"

I immediately perked up and tried to listen to what Peter was saying.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth was calling Satchmo up to the table. I bit my lip, trying not to laugh while the big white lab jumped up on the table, and started to eat Peter's food.

Elizabeth said, "Oh, a woman who can resist his charms. Bet that's taking some getting use to. Is he helping?"

I managed to catch Peter saying "Onto something here…"

"So I won't wait up." She listened to Peter's response. "I know."

The phone call ended and she shot me a look. I squirmed in my seat. "So…" I said, "What did he say?"

Elizabeth was interrupted as Satchmo munched noisely on his food. She turned to him, "Chew your food. You sound like your father."

I grinned and we both laughed.

It was the weekend, but still I awoke early enough to leave me a little bit grumpy. As I got up from bed I shivered, there was a chill in the air. Quickly, I threw a sweater over my pajama top and then shuffled downstairs to get something to eat.

I yawned as I walked down the stairs, stretching my arms above my head.

"Good morning Elizabeth." I greeted. I gave a little tired wave to her in the living room, as I walked past and into the kitchen.

I froze.

Slowly, I backed up until I was in the doorway of the living room. Elizabeth wasn't alone, she was talking to a man. A very handsome, good looking man with dark hair and bright blue eyes.

"Um, hello." I said, eyes wide and a little stunned.

The man looked a little surprised too, but covered it up very cleanly. He said to me, "Good morning. I don't believe we know each other. I'm Neal."

Elizabeth cut in there, "Neal, this is Kat, she's"

I made a rather poor choice in introducing myself here. "I'm the foster kid."

Needless to say he was shocked.

I continued to speak, "Are you Neal Caffrey, as in, the, um art thief Neal Caffrey?"

He grinned, flashing me a charismatic smile. "Alleged, art thief."

"Also a convicted felon." I added. I looked at Elizabeth. "Why is he here," I turned to Neal, "Why are you here? Are you trying to escape or something? Are you meeting Peter here?"

Alas, before he could say anything,we were interrupted by Peter rushing down the stairs saying, "El, I've got to go Neal's outside his radius." He trailed off as he saw the three of us in the living room.

Neal looked a little like a hid who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. I, on the other hand, was still staring at him, wondering why the hell he was here.

"Caffrey's with me." Peter said, anger growing in his eyes. I knew that whatever was going to happen, it wouldn't be good. Peter got off the phone and stormed into the living room.

Elizabeth smiled at him, "Good morning honey." While Neal greeted him with, "Peter."

"You're on my couch." Peter said softly.

"I came to talk to you." Neal answered calmly. He turned to Elizabeth, "And, frankly, Peter, I have to say I am surprised you have such an amazing wife." He turned to me, "And a very nice foster kid. I didn't know you and Elizabeth wanted kids."

"Oh they don't, I'm just part job and part charity." I said nonchalantly.

"Kat." Peter started, voice sounding tense.

"Well it is true," I muttered.

Peter turned back to Neal. "Get off my couch."

"Honey, we're just chatting." Elizabeth told him.

"Chatting? How did you even get here?"

Neal answered simply. "Cab."

I snorted at his answer, bring his attention to me. I froze and looked anyway but at him. The Neal Caffrey. In this house. In front of me.

"You activated your tracker!" Peter accused Neal. "You're in my house, on my couch, with my wife."

At that moment, Satchmo decided it was time to make an appearance, and walked up to Neal. Neal immediately neeled down to pet the big lab and Peter rolled his eyes. "And now you're petting my dog."

"Did you really put Elizabeth under survellance before you asked her out?"

That got my attention. I perked up and looked at Peter. Did he actually do that. It was, well, kind of creepy. And a little bit sweet.

But Neal's conversation was not helping his case. Peter turned to look at him with a glint in his eye.

"Peter." Neal said, tone playful. "I underestimated you."

"You told him." Peter mumbled.

Elizabeth explained, "Oh, he said he wanted to make sure I wasn't seeing anyone. Honey I think it's cute!"

Neal followed up with, "I think it's adorable."

Peter said, "I'm putting you back into prison."

I then asked a question that was one my mind, "Why are you here?!"

Neal answered my question, "I know who the Dutchmen is."

"Enlighten me."

"Curtis Hagen." Neal answered. "He's an art restorer, one of the best in the world. But his own work never took off. He's particularly good at Goya restorations. That's what this is, Peter, the bond is him showing off."

"Interesting theory, how do you prove it?" Peter asked.

"He signed it."

"I think we might have noticed a signature tucked in the corner."

Elizabeth said, "Show him."

There was a fancy looking piece of paper on the coffee table. Obviously they had been looking at it before I arrived.

Peter stepped closer and sat down on the couch. I walked closer and sat down on the ground close by the coffee table. This was the first time something exciting had happened. I wanted to know more.

"Look at the peasant's pants. What do you see? It's the initials C and H."

Peter said disbelievingly while getting a closer look, "I don't know, that's a stretch."

"This bond is a masterpiece." said Neal. "I've done something this good, I would've signed it. The forgeries you caught me on, I signed them."

Well that was stupid.

"Where?" Peter inquired.

"Look at the bank's seal under polverized light sometime." Neal added.

I looked up at Neal and said, "Well that was stupid, why would you tell him that?"

All of the adults looked down at me, sitting on the floor in front of them. I went on, "Isn't that a rule or something? You know, never tell anyone anything? Especially the feds!" I stood up, running fingers through my messy bedhead. "Not a smart move, Caffrey. Although, I suppose since you already have a collar on, that there's not much they can do to you. Unless you count prison." I added. I left both of them and headed back upstairs. I immediately sat down on the top of the stairs where they couldn't see me and eavesdropped.

Neal left first, but not before casting me a glance at the top of the stairwell. I stared back at him.

He gave me another handsome smile and to my, well, mortification, I blushed. I stood up and scrambled back upstairs.

I dove back onto my bed and pulled the covers over my head.

…

"Open them."

…

…

"Cheesy?"

"It's a little cheesy. But it's sweet."

…

"We have a week and two planet tickets. And a seized villa in Sarteneja."

…

"Just tell me it's nice."

"It's nice."

…

"What about Kat?"

… "I knew I forgot something."

"Peter, could we leave her on her own there?"

"... I mean, what's wrong with sending her back to the foster home, just for a week?"

"We can't do that. What if we found a babysitter?"

"Really, a babysitter for her? I don't know El…"

"She could always stay with someone."

"Like who-and don't, don't say Neal."

"Ha, honey, please. What about someone at the office?"

"I might be able to have Jones or Diana check up on her while we're gone."

"That would work, right?"

"Yeah, El, that would work."

~!~

…

…

"Coffee?"

"Yeah, Italian Roast?"

…

…

"Going on vacation."

"Yeah, we'll only be gone a week."

"What about the kid, Kat?"

"I'm reluctant to leave her on her own, but I don't really see another way. I'll ask Diana and Jones to check up on her and eep an eye out."

"Why so reluctant?"

"You don't know the whole story Neal. She's a bit of a trouble maker."

"All the best ones are."

"She's involved with a case. There's still some people, well, one person in general, out there that might want her, and until we catch them, she needed more protection than what the foster home could give."

"How long has she been with you and El?"

"A month and a half, I think, why?"

"Nothing, that's just a long while. Did she give you anymore trouble?"

"A little outburst now and then. I really-..."

"Go on."

"Sometimes there are moments when she looks, I don't know, happy. And then she'll revert right back into her shell."

…

…

"What'd they say?"

"Figure if we didn't give you one of these you'd end up making one yourself."

…

…

…

"You'll be here when I get back?"

"Where else would I go?"

"See ya Neal."

"You know she could always stay here. I'm sure she'd get along with June."

"Ha! You and Kat under the same roof? No thank you, I don't want you corrupting her any further. She already thinks highly of you."

"Really?"

"Oh yeah, especially since you got caught."

…

…

THE END~!

So, I updated again so soon! I have Netflix on my laptop, and so I can watch WC and write at the same time! What do you think of this chapter? Neal finally came into play, woo woo! Also, Kat is so going to sneak out of the house.

Please review!

With that out of the way, it's time to say-

-GP2 OUT!