A/N: Tempus fugit -latin for "time flies." If this was a show episode, you'd see something like "Two months later" flash across the bottom of the screen (like in "Withdrawal"). You get a touch more detail here :-)

October passed quickly and, for the most part, uneventfully – at least as far as bad events went. Peter and Neal kept occupied with cases, keeping the prosecutors busy with their closure rate.

Gayle and Neal settled into something of a routine. She would drive down to the city after her Friday class let out and they would spend the weekend together. Sometimes that meant driving back to Ithaca Sunday night, but other weeks she had no Monday morning commitments. On those occasions they shared Sunday night as well, and she dropped Neal off at the federal building before heading out of town.

Peter did his best to keep case work from carrying over into Saturday. Sometimes, he 'forgot' to tell the marshals to start the tracking on Neal's anklet again after they finished work on Friday. That gave Neal and Gayle a little more freedom in what they chose to do with their limited time together. And Neal never failed to show up at the office on Monday mornings.

Neal completed his GED testing, acing everything except the American History topic, where he missed one question. And for weeks afterward he would argue to anyone who would listen that he was right, and the test wrong. He moved on to a community college that ran a program aligned with several government agencies. The program allowed him to test out of some advanced topics, and to work on other courses at a very accelerated rate.

Elizabeth organized a Halloween party on the Saturday before All Hallows Eve. In keeping with her area of expertise, Gayle went dressed as Nefertiti, while Neal did his best impression of Indiana Jones, complete with bull whip. Peter had put together a doctor's outfit for a costume, while Elizabeth was a stork…

Which went well with her announcement that, come April, there would be a baby Burke in the world.

Neal was the first to offer his heartfelt congratulations – which made it easier for him to slip outside for a bit directly afterward. He was so happy for Peter and Elizabeth. But the reality hit that he might very well not be around for the blessed event – that he might never see Peter's son or daughter.

Because they had made no progress on finding Larrsen, or the man behind him pulling the strings. No one had yet found any verifiable information on who had blocked the budget fund. Mozzie was still stymied about who was being notified if Neal's name came up in the Bureau's systems.

November rolled in with chill breezes in the air, confirming that autumn was truly ending and winter was on its way.

Julie Cole finally exhausted her options and admitted to Peter that there was no way to legally break the release agreement and separate Neal's work arrangements from the money. She had also been blocked at every attempt to set up a new agreement for January. She did, however, bring up another possibility – a long shot, totally outside of the Bureau, something that would have been better to have had in motion much earlier. But it was something, a chance, and Peter grabbed onto it for all he was worth. He spent late nights filling out forms, assembling case files, and wheedling statements of support out of some of the other senior agents. Hughes was the only other one who knew what was going on; they both agreed that there was no sense in getting Neal's hopes up for something that had no predictable outcome.

Time marched resolutely on, bringing the end of the year ever closer.

Thanksgiving approached, and Peter made a decision…

"Gayle, that was excellent," Peter said, handing over the last of the dried dishes to be put away.

"Well, thank you. And Elizabeth, I know I said it before, but that pie was wonderful. Thank you for bringing it."

"Oh, it was nothing! I wish you would have let me bring more."

"No need for you to haul food for four hours. Ithaca may not be New York City, but we do have grocery stores," Gayle replied, laughing.

The back door opened just then and Neal walked in, his arms full of wood. "Laughing at me?" he asked.

"Paranoid much?" Peter teased. "I think Mozzie is rubbing off on you."

"Well, as Mozzie would point out," Neal started, dropping his load in the bin by the fireplace, "just because you're paranoid doesn't mean…"

"That someone isn't really after you," Peter finished. "Yeah, I know."

"Honey, I think we should get going," Elizabeth said. "I can't wait to see that hotel!"

"I'm really glad you could be here," Gayle said.

Elizabeth hugged the other woman. "Oh, me too!"

Neal opened the hall closet and pulled out the two coats. He handed one to Peter, and held the other for Elizabeth as she slipped her arms into the sleeves.

"Did you want some of the turkey to take along?" Gayle asked.

"It's only about an hour to the hotel," Elizabeth started. "But I am so hungry all the time these days," she added, a hand on her abdomen. "I might take a little."

"I'll get some for you."

The two women headed for the kitchen, leaving the men standing by the door.

"Peter, thank you so much for this," Neal said softly. Both men knew that the agent had bent some rules to give Neal the long weekend in Ithaca.

"I wanted you to have something to be thankful for," Peter replied.

"I am, believe me."

"Remember that when we go back to the office on Monday and the work is piled up."

"I'll remember," Neal assured him. "And I can go around town here, right?"

Peter nodded. "The tracker isn't being monitored. We'll be back to pick you up about 2:00 on Sunday. And Neal…"

"I'll be here, Peter." Neal looked around the corner, smiling as he watched Gayle wrapping leftovers in plastic. Her ginger cat, Ramses, was rubbing at her ankles, looking for tidbits. "Believe me, there is nowhere else I want to be right now."