A/N: I am so sorry, guys! I went out of town unexpectedly, but I'm back! Here's your new chapter, sorry it's a few days late. Little!Neal and Mozzie time!

Mozzie picked up a box of pasta and cursed under his breath. He felt a gaze on the back of his neck and turned to see Neal looking at him curiously.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"Mice. Again." Mozzie held up the box as evidence, showing Neal the pasta spilling out of a chewed corner.

"Really?" Neal stood up and walked over, looking into the cabinet. "Hm."

"I gotta go to the store," Mozzie said, shoving on a hat and coat. "You stay here, okay?"

"Alright," Neal said with a shrug, returning to his former position. Mozzie left the youth reading some novel or other. He closed the door and started down the street in the crisp autumn air.

He returned less than twenty minutes later. As he opened the door to find blue eyes and a grin greeting him, he wondered once again why the youth had suddenly needed a "place to stay for a few days." Mozzie had his suspicions, but had not yet asked.

"That was quick," Neal observed. Mozzie nodded noncommittally and set the grocery sacks on the counter. Neal placed a bookmark in his novel (he would never leave it lying spine-up) and stood. "What did you get?"

"Stuff," Mozzie said with his usual vagueness, beginning to remove a container of juice and some bread. Neal helped him put it away but froze when the last few items were removed.

"What are those for?" He asked, eyeing them dubiously.

"What do you think they're for?" Mozzie asked with a raised eyebrow. "The mice."

"You're going to kill them? With those?" Neal looked incredulous and disgusted.

"They're mice, Neal," Mozzie said flatly. "Pests. Not good for anything." Neal flinched as if Mozzie had struck him. There was a momentary flash of anger and pain in his eyes, but it was quickly brushed off as he gave Mozzie a bright, persuasive smile.

"I'll take care of it," Neal promised, lifting the traps from Mozzie's grasp and depositing them in the trash.

"Neal, I-"

"Just trust me." Something in his expression made Mozzie simply nod.

"Fine."

Neal beamed at him. "Thanks."

"I'm going to bed," Mozzie informed him with a slightly amused tint to his voice. "If your way hasn't worked by tomorrow, we're going back to plan A."

"Alright," Neal said, nodding his understanding. The way he agreed suggested he was certain that his way would work. Mozzie went into the back room and laid down. He could hear Neal moving around in his usual, fairly quiet fashion. It was quite some time before the noises stopped, and Mozzie barely resisted the urge to go out and see what contraption the kid had come up with.

The next morning he got ready and went out to find Neal silently setting out two plates of toast and some juice. Mozzie looked at him with a raised eyebrow and Neal nodded with a bright smile.

"Over here there's three," he said, leading Mozzie to a deep pot. "There's another one over there with two." Neal had made a staircase of books going up to it, and had put a folded towel and what looked like some crackers inside. Curled on top of the towel were three sleeping mice. Mozzie looked up at Neal to see a slightly questioning look in his eyes. Mozzie ruffled Neal's hair in a way he'd figured out Neal disliked.

"Nice job," Mozzie said. Neal made a face as he moved his hair back into its normal position, but Mozzie could see the happiness shining in Neal's eyes from the praise. "Now what are you going to do with them?"

"I'll probably take them to that one corner of Central Park, with the thick bushes. It'll be more sheltered there when it snows."

Mozzie smiled slightly. "Good idea." Neal nodded happily. "Why don't we eat and then we can both go?"

"Sounds like fun," Neal said, sitting down at the counter.

"That was an interesting idea you came up with," Mozzie commented as he took a bite of toast, nodding to the pots.

"Wasn't originally mine," the young man said, his eyes softening. "My mom... she was just that kind of person."

Mozzie nodded his understanding, slightly surprised that Neal had mentioned his mother in casual conversation. "Still an interesting idea."

"Yep."

"Make sure you bring a coat to the park, it's cold."

"I will."