A/N New goal. A chapter a week? That's fair, right? Sad Day, I wasn't able to watch tonight's episode as I had my little sister (Big Brother, Big Sister) and then I work the overnight. Hopefully I can watch it tomorrow at the gym! Enjoy!
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The three of them stood in the dining room as Elizabeth left and remained there not saying anything for a few minutes. Peter had never felt as uncomfortable with the two of them as he did at that moment. Even when he was angry with one of them, he always had that anger to rely on to know what to say. Now he was at a complete loss. Surprisingly, it was Mozzie who was handling this situation the best and once again he broke the silence.
"As fun as this awkwardness is" Mozzie said, ever willing to point out the obvious "I am going to go read this book El gave me. If you need me I will be in the living room." And left to do just that, sitting down on the comfortable chair in the corner. Neal looked at Peter and without saying anything left the room to follow Mozzie but sat on the couch. He did not turn the TV on, but literally just sat there appearing to be staring at the coffee table.
Satchmo walked lazily into the dining room and looked up at Peter. Peter just shrugged at the dog and started a pot of coffee before sitting at the table to finish the newspaper. He knew he would need several pots before the night was over. Once the chime went off for the coffee, he got up, poured himself a large cup and turned off the maker, leaving the leftover coffee sitting in the carafe, before returning to his paper.
"I want some." Neal called from the couch.
"Neal," Peter said somewhat sadly. "You know you can't have any."
"Yeah I can. Why are making such a big deal out of this?" he replied angrily. Neal just wanted a cup of coffee for a little pick me up. It was not June's Italian roast by any means, but it still smelled good. He was not going to admit that Peter might have a point that his four year old body might not handle the caffeine well.
"I am not making a big deal out this, but my answer is still no. I am not going to give a child coffee." I am not that stupid Peter thought to himself.
Neal just sat there for a few minutes debating his options. What he really wanted to do was yell at Peter until he gave in and got his some coffee, but he knew that would not work. If anything it would anger Peter, and might earn himself another strike. And he also remained enough of his adult mind to realize how foolish that would be. Instead, he agreed with Peter on the outside, while scheming on the inside.
If Peter were not so out of sorts, he would have realized that Neal acquiesced much too soon. As it was, Peter was just glad to prevent another tantrum and was happy that the matter was dropped without tears or tantrums. So he returned to his paper, and Neal to his staring.
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A half an hour later, Peter had moved on to looking at old cold cases he kept at home when Mozzie came over to him.
"What else is there to do around here? I am bored."
"You finished you book already?" Peter asked with a raised eye brow, to which Mozzie returned with a nonchalant shrug and a "I'm a fast reader."
"Well we have the box from Elizabeth's nephews we can look through?" Peter suggested, which earned a smile and a nod. Peter got up and grabbed the box from the corner and placed it on the table. "There is another box in the basement I need to grab real quick, you can start looking though that one until I get back" he finished unnecessarily, as Mozzie had already started pulling things from the box.
Peter left the basement door open and started fishing around down there. He knew there was a second box, but was not sure quite just where it was. Upstairs, Neal had got off the couch still brooding about not being allowed coffee, and if anything angrier than he was before. Who was Peter to tell him he couldn't have any coffee? They would not know if the caffeine would affect him anyways, maybe his body was different than other four year olds since he was only shrunk.
With that in mind, he walked towards the kitchen with his eyes on the prize. On his tiptoes, he could reach the coffee pot handle, as Peter had not shoved the coffee maker back against the wall when he was done. Neal would have pulled a chair over, but thought that Peter might hear the noise and come investigate. So he pulled the carafe towards himself, and greatly misjudged his stability and strength. He ended up spilling the slightly hot coffee on his hands and lower arms. There was a brief moment of silence before Neal burst into sobs, and screamed in pain.
Mozzie was so absorbed in fishing around in the box, he did not notice what Neal was doing. When he heard the screams, he ran to the kitchen and stood frozen in the spot, seeing Neal's red arms and tear streaked face and the coffee on the floor. He put two and two together, but did not know what comfort to give. Twenty seconds after Mozzie arrived, Peter was there.
Peter had found the second box on the top shelf and was on his tiptoes to reach for it and had it half way off the shelf when he heard Neal scream. He dropped the box and immediately ran up the stairs, reaching for his gun that he had safely tucked away in his safe. All he had heard were screams with an unknown cause, so he wanted to be prepared for any situation. When he got to the kitchen, he took a moment to process the scene before walking towards Neal and picking him up.
"Neal, hush kiddo" He told the small boy. Once Peter had arrived, Neal's screams had stopped, now he rested in Peter's arm with sobs racking through his body. "Come on buddy, that's it" He continued as Neal tried to burrow deeper into Peter's arm's seeking comfort that just would not come. It took Peter a moment for him to realize what Neal wanted, and Peter started rubbing a hand against Neal's back. In the short time he had been with the child Neal, he was slowly realizing what the kid needed. Once Peter's ministrations started, Neal's body relaxed and the sobs became more and more intermittent.
Realizing this would take a while Peter headed to the couch and gave Mozzie a small smile as he passed him. Mozzie had a look of horror on his face that had been there since he heard Neal yell. Sitting down, he placed Neal on his lap and grabbed the pink arms carefully to look at the damage. Thankfully the coffee was not hot enough to leave a deep burn, but it was still warm enough to leave Neal's arm raw and pink. Tear filled eyes met Peter's and he whimpered and Neal told him that "it hurts."
If Peter was asked to pinpoint a moment where he realized how much he cared for the child or when he knew he could handle a small Neal, this would be the one he would choose. At the moment when Neal was so exposed and in pain, he asked for Peter. In his moment of raw physical pain Neal asked for him. For Peter. Not El, or Mozzie, or even Sarah. For Peter. And he was. He realized he wanted to be there now, and in the future when Neal needed him. He would always be there.
"I know it does. You really got yourself an owie there didn't you?" Peter said caringly. "How about I go and get you some cream for that?" Peter suggested. Neal crying too hard still to give a verbal response, so he just nodded his head. Peter stood up and went to set Neal on the couch but Neal flung his arms around Peter's neck like a monkey.
"Hey, I was just going to set you down while I run upstairs to get the first aid kit" Peter said, but Neal just clung tighter and shook his head in Peter's shoulder. "Okay, okay. Mozzie!" Peter called to the older boy. "Can you run upstairs to the bathroom at the end of the hall and grab the first aid kit? It is in the bottom drawer under the sink." Mozzie agreed and looked relieved at having something to do for his hurting friend. It took Mozzie a just a minute to get the kit before he ran down the stairs with it. Peter thanked him, before he started digging around for the burn cream with his one free hand. The other was holding Neal close to himself so he would not fall. He went to set Neal on the couch and once again he clung tighter.
"Neal buddy, I need to put you down so I can put the burn cream on. It will just take a minute, I promise." This time when he set Neal down he let go but let out a small whimper. "I know kiddo. Just one minute." Peter continued to repeat sweet nothings to Neal as he applied the cream, not even aware of what he was doing. He told Neal he was finished and the boy immediately lifted his arms up in the universal sign he wanted to be picked up. Peter did so before once again sitting down on the couch.
Peter reached for the remote and turned on the TV to some documentary on Renaissance art. He shifted Neal in his arms so he was cradling him, as one would a baby, with Neal's head resting in the crook of his arm. Peter knew this position was fit better for a much younger child, but this way Peter could hold Neal and keep him close to his body without disturbing the boy's arms. They were both content and soon both were asleep. Mozzie walked into the room and saw the two before sitting down on the chair and settling down to watching the television.
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Peter woke up 45 minutes later because Satchmo was whining and nudging his arm because by this time Peter usually would have brought him for his afternoon walk. Peter shuffled around and the movement woke Neal, who was confused at first. Peter moved him so that he was sitting up in his lap so he could see Neal's face. He was looking embarrassed having fallen asleep in Peter's lap, but Peter paid it no mind. Neal went to climb off his lap, forgetting about his still sore hands, and let out a small whimper of pain. Peter took the initiative and placed him gently on the floor.
Peter stretched out and realized that he was not as young as he once was. He looked around the room and noticed that Mozzie was nowhere to be seen. Peter shot up, nearly tipping Neal over before he pushed him carefully out the way and headed quickly towards the kitchen. When he got there he saw Mozzie standing precariously on the dining room chair reaching into the cupboard for a plate. Luckily Peter's FBI training kicked in and he did not shout for Moz to get down, which would likely have led to the boy falling. Instead he waited for him to stand back confidently on the chair before rushing to him and giving him his patented glare.
"What do you think you are doing?" Peter asked angrily. Mozzie's eyes opened wide, he was not expecting Peter to be here as the last time he checked he was sleeping on the couch.
"I was hungry and I didn't want to wake you. I needed a plate so I wouldn't make a mess" Mozzie replied calmly.
"So you thought your best option would be to grab a chair and try and break your neck?" Peter asked, not calming down any. After what happened when he left Neal alone earlier, Peter did not want to take any risks. It took Peter just a minute to realize what it was Mozzie was trying to make because when he looked around the kitchen it was in a state of disaster. There was peanut butter on the handle of the drawers and handles and jelly on the toaster oven and walls. Peter let out what felt like his thousandth calming sigh for the night.
"Next time Mozzie, just wake me up."
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After making PB&J sandwiches for them all and cleaning up the kitchen Peter suggested that they all bring Satchmo on a walk. Peter had let him out in the back yard earlier but he wanted to make sure to get Satchmo his walk in.
"You two go ahead, I will stay here." Neal said.
"Neal, we have been over this, I am not going to leave a four year old at home."
"And like I said earlier, I am not really a four year old." Neal said back.
Obviously Neal was not just crabby because he was tired. Peter was trying very hard to be understanding. He really was, but it was hard when Neal disagreed with everything Peter said. Peter could only imagine what it was like to lose all his freedoms and abilities that he had as a grown man, but it did not excuse the poor attitude Neal was having. Neal would have to meet him half way as Peter was doing everything he could do to make this an easy process. And Peter knew that Neal loved giving Satch a walk, as it allowed Neal to experience the open air, and even years after prison Neal still reminisced in the "fresh" air New York had to offer.
"I'll grab my jacket. I have never had a dog to bring on a walk before!" Mozzie yelled before running to the front door where they had hung up his coat. Peter was surprised at how much enthusiasm and openness Mozzie was showing, but it was a nice contrast to Neal.
"Come on Neal" Peter said "even Moz is excited!" He said, trying to get Neal in the mood for a walk.
"Yeah, 'cause Mozzie always has great ideas." Neal muttered, not moving from his spot at the kitchen table. "Let's do everything Mozzie does! Is that what you want Petew? You want me to fuc-"
"Enough!" Peter yelled, cutting Neal off before he could finish the swear word. Truth be told, he was surprised by Neal as he rarely said such crass words as an adult. There was no way Peter would let him say those things in the body of a four year old. "Strike two. You do not get to yell at me like that and you do not get to swear. So here is what is going to happen. You are going to go put on your, you are going go on a walk with us and then you are going to enjoy yourself or do your best to at least try." Peter said.
Neal stood there listening to Peter and breathed heavily. He was angry at Peter for always taking Mozzie's side. He was angry that when he woke up he still small. He was even more angry at the fact that he did not know how to fix this and it was out of his control. And he was angry that Peter was handling this so well. Neal had seen him fumble with children before and even used Neal as a buffer of sorts. But now Peter seemed to know exactly what to say and do to get through to him as a four year old. Things were out of balance and Neal was having troubles excepting it. And the cherry on top was that Mozzie seemed to be enjoying being an eight year old.
All of these thoughts and emotions were running through Neal's mind, but he did not know how to express it all. Instead, he stomped off and did as Peter told him to do. Peter could make him go on a walk, but despite what Peter said, he did not have to have fun.
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True to Neal's thoughts, they did not have a very good time. Neal began by walking at a snail's pace and Peter had to prompt him several times to hurry up. Despite his better judgment he had allowed Mozzie to hold the leash and the golden retriever was as energetic as ever and pulled the eight year down the sidewalk. All the while Neal was walking as slowly as he thought he could get away. Peter was not fooled and knew that even for a four year old Neal was being slow. Four blocks from home Peter had lost his patience and grabbed the young boys hand and had to practically pull him down the street. Peter thought the boys might like to go to the park, but was now realizing that was not going to happen. After another block Peter decided to head back home much to Mozzie's displeasure. Peter reassured him that they could go again tomorrow.
Once home Mozzie pulled out the play-dough from the box and sat with Peter at the table and started to build things. Even at eight and with play-dough Mozzie was able to make amazing pieces. Peter tried to get Neal engaged and even suggested he use his nice new pencils Elizabeth got for him, but Neal decided to just sit on the couch.
Ten minutes later, Peter resumed looking at old cold cases and let Mozzie continue with the play-dough, both sitting at the dining room table. Peter looked up as Neal walked towards him slowly. Once by Peter's side, Neal's attention was on Peter's knee.
"Petew, what happens at strike three?" Neal asked quietly. The question drew Mozzie from his play-dough and he was listening intently to how Peter would respond.
"Strike three? What do you mean?" Peter was truly confused.
Neal studied Peter's face, and he maintained eye contact when he said, "the socially acceptable thing is that at three strikes, something bad happens. Like a punishment." By now Neal was tracing a finger on Peter's jean clad knee. "What happens if I get a third strike?"
Peter had no idea how to respond. He had no idea what a proper punishment for a four year old was. He would have to have this discussion with Elizabeth if the boys remained the ages they were at now. Peter knew he could not leave Neal hanging though, so he had to respond with something.
"Well Neal, I suppose that depends on what you do, huh?" Neal was still looking down, so Peter gently placed a finger under the boys chin and raised it so they were looking at each other eye to eye. "Don't do anything to earn another strike and you won't have to worry about it okay?"
"Okay," Neal agreed. He did not want another strike. Unfortunately for Neal, he always had a way of finding trouble.
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Slight cliffhanger! Thanks for reading! I loved writing this chapter!