A/N Thanks for all the feedback and encouragement! Just a reminder Neal is 4, and Mozzie 7. If anyone wanted to be my beta, I would have no qualms about it You really wouldn't have that much to do. As I do not post that often! Also, sorry for not posting earlier. I have been really busy, but mostly too lazy…
^^^^^^^^^^^^^White Collar^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Peter was drained by the time he made it to his house. He had had to put up with constant protests from Neal that he was old enough to sit in the front seat, and that he could have stayed in his own apartment and that he could take care of himself. Thankfully though by the time he had reached his home Neal had fallen asleep, the time and the latest events taking a toll on the four year old. Mozzie on the other hand had become quiet and introspective, never a good sign in Peters mind.
As Peter parked the car he told Mozzie that he would have to be quiet entering the house so not as to wake Elizabeth. Unbuckling Neal he lifted him out of the car and before he realized it Peter was running a hand through the sleeping child's hair.
Upon entering the house, Peter ushered an unprotesting Mozzie up the stairs and into the guest room. For the moment the two would have to share the bed. Now it was time for Peter to get back to bed so he would be able to face the situation tomorrow.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^White Collar^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Peter, Hun, I think you just had a crazy dream" El said with slight humor in her eye.
Peter had thought the same thing this morning until he had checked the guest room only to confirm that it was not in fact a bad dream. He had seen Neal and Mozzie sleeping soundly with slight snores coming from both children. After quietly existing the room he made his way downstairs to start some coffee and wait for his wife.
Instead of trying to explain it to El, he grabbed her hand and walked her up the stairs. To her credit, despite her confusion, she followed suit. As soon as she entered the room and saw the sleeping forms she walked forward to Neal's side of the bed and brushed the hair out of his eyes. With a slight pause, she rubbed his back gently before heading to the opposite side to repeat the same process with Mozzie. She then walked towards Peter.
She let Peter wrap his arms around her as they stood in the doorway watching the two formerly adult men sleep. She did not know the story of how it happened yet, but her mind was already formulating lists of things they needed to buy for them and things they would need to get done. Then a thought struck her.
"Peter, I have an event today that I just can't miss." She turned in his arms to see a look of horror on his face. "I know, but you will do fine. It will only be for a few hours, and it isn't until later this afternoon, we will have time to figure something out. For now you need to call Hughes and tell him you and Neal won't be coming in today."
Hearing Peter let out a sigh, she left her husband to ponder that and headed downstairs to make breakfast. She fore went their usual breakfast of cereal and started whipping up pancakes and bacon, remembering it was her nephews favorite meal.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^White Collar^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Neal began to wake up slowly, but once he noticed that the sheets weren't silk like he was used to, he sat up instantly. He looked around the room he was in and recognized it as the Burkes guest room, having spent the night there many times before. His eyes settled on Peter, who was still standing by the door.
"P'ter?" Neal questioned. "Why am I hewe? Hewe. He-rwe" Neal was beginning to panic. He did not understand why he could not pronounce a simple word like 'here'. Then he looked down and saw his arms no longer fit in his once fitted shirt. He looked up in concern at Peter, who immediately walked over to Neal. He sat on Neal's side of the bed before addressing him.
"Hey Buddy, do you remember last night?" he asked quietly. With a nod from Neal, Peter continued "Well obviously this wasn't just a one night thing, so now we get to deal with this. Damn it Neal! What were you thinking? I told you not to go in there! We had a plan! But you, being Neal, didn't think things through! And look where that got you kid!" Peter was struggling to remain calm. This is not how he wanted the conversation to go, but he could not help himself.
Under normal circumstances Neal was able to take Peters scolding's in stride. On his best day he could ignore them, convincing himself the ends justified the means. Usually though he would not be able to meet Peters eyes and would feel the guilt, unable to convince himself he did the right thing. Today was one of those days. Try as he might he could not help the lump that formed in his throat and could not fight the tears welling in his eyes.
Peters raised voice had awoken Mozzie at this point, who was not as confused about what was going on as Neal was. Mozzie just watched the progressions of the discussion between the two, hoping to stay out it. He thought his best option would be to remain silent.
Despite Peters best effort to remain calm, he was on a roll and all of his frustrations from the case and the events of last night were coming out now. It was perhaps unfair to Neal, but Peter could not help it. He was tired of his CI constantly crossing the line and having to reel Neal back in. He wondered when the kid would finally learn.
"Congratulations Neal. You get to face the consequences now. And as usual you don't go half way, do you?" Peter was in full lecture mode by now. "No, you get turned into a damned four year old! And you! Mozzie, I told you once to tell me if Neal was going to do something stupid. I didn't just mean for the time being. You are his friend, and now look what happened! You are both children!"
Elizabeth could hear Peters lecture from downstairs and decided it was time to intervene. When she walked in the room she saw tears running down Neal's face, and a thoroughly chastened Mozzie. Running a soothing hand down Peters arm, who was now standing with hand on his hips, she spoke calmly,
"Peter, Hun, go downstairs and call Hughes. Then you need to get the box of my nephews old things from the basement. It will give you time to cool down. We will be down shortly." Peter went to give the two troublemakers one last glare, but stopped upon seeing the looks on their faces. He sighed before resting his hand on Neal's shoulder, letting him know he was more concerned than he was angry. That was something Peter would have to work on if the Neal and Mozzie were to remain the way they were currently.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^White Collar^^^^^^^^^^^^^
After Peter left, Elizabeth stood in front of the bed while the two boys laid side by side with their backs against the head board. She spoke to the both of them gently.
"Boys, I know Peter came across as angry, but you both know how he is with dealing with his emotions." The sad looks on their faces did not change, but this was something that El needed to get into their heads, so she went on. "Neal, Peter is your best friend and more. You know he would do anything for you, but you continue to exploit that fact. And Moz, neither of you will admit it, but you have grown on each other. Peter and I would be devastated if something happened to either of you." Noting the woebegone looks, she moved the conversation to a less lecturing mode.
"Once we know the facts, we can see how to reverse what has happened, but for now we will deal with it. From what Peter told me earlier I know you both have your memories and are able to communicate effectively. But you are both in younger bodies and things will have to change because of that. None of us are especially happy with the situation, but we will work on the problems that arise together."
Ignoring the questioning looks on Mozzie and Neals face, she continued on. "Right now we are going to go downstairs and have some breakfast. I have a box I keep around for my nephews with some clothes in it that I think will fit you both."
Having said what needed to be said for the moment she ushered the two boys out of the room and down to the dining room table. She kept a firm grip on Neal's hand to prevent him from tripping over the shirt that was more of a dress on him now.
Peter was already seated staring absently at his coffee, barely acknowledging their arrival. Noticing that neither child head was visible above the table, she got a phone book for Mozzie to sit on, and grabbed the booster seat from the things Peter had brought up from the basement for Neal to sit on.
"No."
"Neal sweetie, you can't even see over the table. How are you going to eat?" El responded patiently.
"Moz gets a phone book and so should I. I don't need a seat to sit on" Neal flashed her on of his famous grins.
"Neal. This is not starting. We are not going to fight about every little thing. You are going to cowboy up and sit on the booster seat and then we are going to eat the delicious pancakes El has made for us." Peter decided to intervene before Neal talked Elizabeth out of the seat. It was better to nip this kind of thing in the bud.
Neal kept quiet and allowed Elizabeth to place him of the seat. Whether this was from what Peter had said or acknowledgement that he was short enough to need the seat was not clear. Either way Peter was relieved. He had calmed down significantly after calling his boss and telling him that Neal was sick and was in no mood to rehash their earlier conversation.
"P'ter?" Neal asked after a few minutes of silence.
"Yes, Neal?" Peter responded warily. He knew the silence would not last long, he just hoped he would be able to handle the onslaught of questions to come.
"We're going to fix dis, right?"
Peter sighed. He was not sure how to answer the question indirectly.
"Yeah, Kiddo. We will get through this."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^White Collar^^^^^^^^^^^^^
A/N Well anyways, there it is. I hoped you enjoyed it. I started classes this week, so it might be even longer before my next post. I apologize. Just and FYI this chapter was really hard to type out, but the next ones will be easier because I have lots of ideas for mischief and naughtiness!