EPILOGUE

Seven years later

Neal stood at one of the tall windows of his bedroom, his hands in his pockets, gazing at the view. While the streets of Paris and the Eiffel Tower sitting in the distance provided a beautiful scene to stare at in the mornings, he knew it would never be as good as the one he'd had in New York. Sometimes when he was missing home he liked to stand there and envision the skyscrapers and bustling sidewalks that he loved.

On the bedside table next to him sat the newspaper he'd been reading earlier. The headline had caught his eye two days ago, and when he'd learned that the last of the Panthers had been caught and were now serving time in prison he'd felt as if someone had removed the crushing weight that had been perched on his shoulders the minute he'd landed in France.

He could go home.

Everyone Neal loved was safe now, there was no need for him to stay away. He could see June and Moz and Elizabeth and Peter. Peter, who he missed so dearly. Peter, who had made his heart swell every time he'd given him a wry smile or a squeeze of his shoulder.

Those six years spent working with Peter and the FBI had been the best of his life. Moz would probably have a stroke if he ever told him that, but Neal couldn't deny any longer. He was finally embracing how he felt, but now there was nothing he could do. Because while there was the possibility Peter shared the sentiment, he could never love Neal the way he loved Peter. Peter had Elizabeth. Elizabeth was expecting a baby. Well actually, Elizabeth must have had the baby by now. Which meant Peter had a son.

He couldn't go home.

There was no way Neal was going to get in the way of Peter and Elizabeth. While he knew Elizabeth was accepting of many things, he didn't think she'd accept Neal breaking up her family. And he didn't want to. He came from a broken home. He didn't want the Burke's child wishing his family would be happy and whole.

He couldn't be with Peter and yet he couldn't bear to go back to what they'd been. He wanted more. He was selfish for that, he knew it, but he couldn't stop it. He didn't want to.

There was a knock at the door and Neal ignored it. He knew his neighbour, Corinne, was going to ask him to watch her dog tonight, so he'd see her later. He didn't want to deal with anything right now.

Maybe he'd contact Moz again. He'd felt terrible for deceiving him, but keeping him in the dark had been the only way to keep him – everyone – safe. When he'd learned of the dismantlement of the Panthers he'd made contact immediately and endured the five minutes of swearing and cursing because it had felt so good to hear his friend. Moz had reluctantly agreed to drop the bottle of Bordeaux off at the Burke's, and Neal was sure he was eager to see him and find out how he'd faked his death. Neal was eager to tell him.

He turned from the window and removed his suit jacket, hanging it up on a hanger in his wardrobe. He faced his bed and contemplated taking a nap. Maybe once he'd slept he wouldn't feel so morose.

He heard Corinne knock again, louder and with more urgency this time, and he sighed. He'd have to postpone the nap.

He made his way into the open space of his apartment, down the short hallway and then opened the door, ready to get rid of Corinne with a charming smile.

Except it wasn't Corinne. It was Peter, standing there in a rumpled suit with an unbuttoned collar and a loosened tie, sporting a wild look in his eyes as if he didn't know what was going to be on the other side of the door.

"Peter," Neal choked, his voice abandoning him as his eyes widened. "How the hell did you find–"

He was cut off when Peter's expression hardened, the only warning Neal got before a right fist sent him stumbling into the wall. He landed on his knees and caught himself before he fell forwards but he was soon twisting to get his back to the wall so that Peter was in his sight, should the agent be advancing on him.

And he was. Peter took one step forward and gripped Neal's forearms, heaving him roughly to his feet.

"Peter–" he stuttered out, hating the fear in his tone, but he was cut off once again when he was suddenly pulled forwards and Peter was kissing him.

Neal froze and his mind went blank. Peter was kissing him. He could feel Peter's hands loosening their grip on his arms until they were holding him gently, almost letting go, and Neal's heart kicked himself into action before Peter grew uncertain.

He kissed back with renewed vigour, his hands coming to rest on Peter's neck, and he couldn't help but smile when he felt Peter's large hands sliding down his arms and linking around his waist, pulling him closer.

"Neal," Peter said raggedly when he broke the kiss, tugging Neal closer and hugging him tightly. Neal wanted to hear him say his name in only that voice for the rest of his life.

"I'm sorry." he whispered, wrapping his arms around Peter's neck.

"You damn well should be." he growled. "Do you have any idea what you–"

"Yes." Neal interrupted, pulling back and instantly missing having Peter's arms around him. "Yes, I know what I put you through, but I had to."

"Because of the Panthers."

"You weren't safe until they were all caught. I had to protect you."

"You should have told me." Peter snapped, jabbing a finger into Neal's chest. "We could have worked something out."

"Not this time."

"Dammit Neal, you–" He stopped before he said something Neal knew he'd regret, and instead he marched down the hallway into the apartment. "You can't always do things on your own, it's not–"

"Fair, Peter I know." he finished, following Peter into his own home. "I knew it wasn't fair on you guys but I had no choice."

Peter was scrubbing a hand across his face. "It's not fair on you either." he said in a low voice.

Neal blinked at the sudden consideration but it didn't stop him from defending himself. "It wasn't about what I wanted. I–"

"It's never about what you wanted!" Peter shouted, startling Neal into silence. "The first time we met, you were stealing that painting for Kate, when Mozzie stole the Nazi treasure you aided and abetted to try to keep him happy for as long as you could, when Elizabeth was kidnapped because of it you gave it away and were prepared to take full responsibility–"

"Of course–"

"And when I was in prison you committed another felony, to get me out! You're too damn noble for your own good, Neal, and it gets you and other people hurt!"

Neal watched him pace around in a tight spot, a frown forming on his face. "So I shouldn't be selfless? What exactly are you angry about?" he asked, his own voice rising.

"I don't know!" Peter shouted. He seemed to realise he was shouting and consciously lowered his arms. "I don't know. You do the wrong things for the right reasons and it frustrates the hell out of me."

Neal smiled a little, and Peter mirrored it, turning away and walking towards the large windows. "How do you always get better homes than me?" he asked, mostly to himself.

"This isn't my home." Neal said quietly.

Peter turned back to face him, his eyebrows raised. "I know." he said. "I'm sorry."

Neal scoffed. "What are you sorry for?"

Peter began to take a few steps towards him. "Well, knowing why you faked your death, I'm sorry we took so long in catching the Panthers, and I'm sorry you've been on your own for a year."

He came to a stop in front of Neal, and waited for him to look him in the eyes. "And I'm sorry it's taken me so long to do this."

He leaned in and kissed Neal again, gentler this time. Peter's hands rested on his hips and Neal felt himself holding Peter's shoulders. When they came up for air, Neal rested his forehead against Peter's.

"I mean it wasn't so long." Neal said, and when Peter made a questioning noise he elaborated. "You kissed me a minute ago."

Peter snorted. "Shut up, Neal."

"After punching me in the face, I might add."

Peter drew back to glance at Neal's cheek. "I'm sure you'll live." He twined his fingers with Neal's. "Want to put some ice on it?"

"Nah." Neal said with a soft smile, a smile that Peter returned.

"What about Elizabeth?" he asked, in a voice quiet enough that a part of him hoped Peter hadn't heard him.

To his surprise, Peter smiled. "She knows."

"She does?"

"Yeah. Knew before I did, I think. When I told her there was a possibility you were still alive, she kinda gave me her blessing to find you and… well, do that."

"And she was alright with it?"

"Yeah, she was." Peter sounded as surprised as he was. "She said she'd always thought you were attracted to me, and early on she found that she was ok with that. Would've been ok with me choosing you."

"And now?" Neal asked with a frown. "You're just going to leave her?"

Peter sighed and seemed to be watching Neal carefully. "No." he answered. "I love her. I'm not going to leave her."

Neal nodded and looked down at his shoes, trying to gather a convincing front.

"But she told me that if you were alive, I should give you this."

Peter was holding out a piece of paper, and Neal took and opened it with a frown.

I'm willing to share if you are. Now come home, please.

- El

"I love Elizabeth, Neal. But… I love you, too. And I realise I'm getting the better deal out of the three of us, but if you agree to this, I'll never put you second. All three of us are equals."

Neal felt a smile stretching across his face. "No longer my superior, huh?" he asked, a twinkle in his eye.

Peter rolled his eyes. "Not anymore, no. You're free." He said that last sentence with the widest smile Neal had ever seen on the man, and Neal was fairly sure his eyes were glinting too.

"Well, it's time I enjoyed my freedom. Kiss me again right now, Peter Burke."

Peter grinned and swept in, taking Neal's face in his hands and kissing him sweetly, the two of them smiling through it. It barely qualified as a kiss but neither of them cared.

"I love you so much, Neal." Peter mumbled as their kissing became more heated.

"I love you too, Peter." Neal muttered. "Now stop talking."

Peter huffed a laugh and before Neal knew what was happening he gripped Neal's waist and lifted him up. Neal's legs wrapped around Peter and he chuckled as the agent grunted.

"Regretting that?" he asked from his vantage point above Peter.

"Not one bit." he murmured. "Now where's your undoubtedly fancy bedroom?"

"Down the hall." Neal said, burrowing closer to Peter and closing his eyes, thankful that after so long he was able to hear Peter's heartbeat in such an intimate fashion.

He was even more thankful that he'd hear it for many years to come.

FIN

A/N: And that's it! Hope you enjoyed it, and thanks to everyone who left a comment or kudos, they mean a lot to me!