CHAPTER EIGHT

With Alex being out of town, Neal kept mostly to himself over the next few days. Apart from his early morning run and a few occasional swims, he just stayed at the beach house most of the time. He spent most of his time at his art studio. With his new-found inspiration, he had a renewed strength to work on another art project. He spent most of his restless days and sleepless nights working almost maniacally on a new piece...only stopping for a meal, a short rest and a quick shower.

It had been a few days since he's heard from his friend, Mozzie decided it was time he paid Neal a visit. Together with Lima, he went to Neal's place and found him in his art studio. There he was half-naked and barefoot, with small pieces of clay stuck to his disheveled hair, dried plaster staining his arms, torso and face, which was sporting days worth of scruffy beard.

Neal barely noticed them when they came in. He was too busy putting the finishing touches to his new masterpiece. It was a sculpture of a young man with the wings of an angel and armed with a bow and a quiver filled with arrows, caught in tender moment with a beautiful young woman with butterfly wings. It was a clay plaster replica of Antonio Canova's marble statue of Psyche Revived By Cupid's Kiss, in which Cupid, the god of desire, affection and erotic love, lifts his beloved Psyche, a mortal who later became the goddess of the soul, in a loving embrace, his face close to hers. Psyche lets herself sink slowly backwards, languorously taking her lover's head between her hands.

Mozzie cleared his throat. "I see you have your talent back." he observed, regarding the statue with a critical eye.

"Pretty, Blue." Lima commented, although Mozzie wasn't so sure whether the remark was about the sculpture, or Neal's half-naked body.

"Thanks. You don't think it's too presumptuous?" Neal asked.

"You mean about the statue representing you as the god of desire and Alex as the woman you revived with a kiss? Nah! Not presumptuous at all." Mozzie replied sarcastically.

"Didn't think so." Neal said with a suppressed laugh.

"So...the two of you are back together." Lima said questioningly

"Was there ever any doubt that we'd find a way back to each other?" Neal asked her.

"Hmmm...I don't know, Blue. You've been apart for so long. Too much history to start over...a lot of pain between the two of you to just pick up where you left off. She just broke up with Colin, then she jumps into bed with you? I'm just saying...are you two both on the same page? You maybe thinking of the grand romantic scenario here, but what if she was just scratching an itch?" Lima tried to point out.

"Lima..." Neal shook his head. "Don't be a dream-killer, baby." he told her. "I understand what you're saying, but believe me, I am not Alex's rebound guy. What she and I have is for real this time." he added.

"Then, I'm happy for you both." Lima said.

"Now that that's all settled, why don't you come with us to Lolana's?" Mozzie invited him. "It will do you some good to get out of here for a while. When was the last time you've had a hot meal? You've been cooped up in here for days." he told his friend.

"Days?" Neal asked. He went over to check his cellphone.

"You seriously have no idea what day it is, do you?" Mozzie asked him, shaking his head.

"In case you failed to notice, Moz, I've been busy. Let me refer you back to that masterpiece of a statue." Neal replied, pointing to his sculpture. He went back to checking his phone. "No messages from Alex." he said worriedly.

"No messages at all? No text, no voice mail? You don't find that weird?" Lima asked.

"Lima..." Mozzie said, his index finger touching his lip.

"What?" she asked him. She turned have to Neal. "Have you seen YOU? You're pretty hot. All I'm saying is that if you were mine, I won't be off God knows where digging up some treasure! Instead, I'd have you chained to my bed in my room and have my way with you all the time. Priorities...you know?" she pointed out as she gave Neal a flirtatious wink.

"Stop that." Mozzie warned.

"I'm just undressing him with my eyes, darling dearest. At least I haven't seen him in all his naked glory." Lima said playfully.

"She has a point there, Moz." Neal chuckled.

"That was an accident! I didn't plan on seeing Alex naked!" Mozzie defended himself.

"Whatever." Lima faced Neal. "If you ever want some 'payback', you know where to find me." she told him, before turning away. She stopped next to Mozzie and kissed him on the cheek, then headed towards the door.

"She's quite a handful, isn't she?" Neal asked his friend.

"You have no idea." Mozzie replied. He looked at Neal, who had his phone to his ear.

"She's not answering." Neal said after a brief pause.

"I'm sure she's fine." Mozzie reassured him after seeing the worried look on his face.

"Yeah..." Neal replied softly.

"You know what you need? You need a drink. Let's go to the Tiki Bar...my treat." Mozzie invited him.

"You go ahead...I'm not really in the mood to socialize, Moz." Neal told him.

"Oh, come on! You're not seriously thinking of what Lima said, are you?" Mozzie inquired.

"No! I don't want to see your girlfriend naked, no matter how hot she is!" Neal replied.

"I meant what she said about you and Alex." Mozzie clarified.

Neal paused briefly be fore he spoke again. "Where is she, Moz?" he asked.

"Didn't you say that she's in the French Atlantic Coast-" Mozzie replied before he was interrupted.

"She should be here...with ME." Neal said, Lima's earlier remarks echoing inside his head.

Mozzie raised an eyebrow. "Seems like Cupid pierced himself with his own arrow." he told his friend. "Alex really crept her way into your heart this time, huh?" he teased.

Neal stared a Mozzie in stunned silence. "I...I-" he stammered.

"Don't worry. I won't tell her how you feel about her. That's your job." Mozzie said. "I will, however, must insist on that drink." he continued. He looked at his friend, who just stood there quietly. "Well? Go on... chop chop! Get yourself all gussied up, and put a shirt on will you? You're making me feel a little insecure here." he joked. "Hurry up now. I am parched. Papa needs some vino!" he demanded, as he watched Neal head to his room to get cleaned up.

Neal finally got himself tidied up, and reluctantly, he joined Mozzie and went on their way to Lolana's.

"Let's go! Quit dragging your feet." Mozzie hurried him.

"We're almost there, Moz. What's the big rush?" he asked. "I didn't even want to go." Neal pointed out.

"Well, you needed to go out." Mozzie said. "Quite frankly, Neal, I'm worried about you." he told him.

"Worried? Why?" Neal asked him.

"Because...you really have no idea what today is!" Mozzie answered.

"What is so important about today? It's the day after yesterday. Just another ordinary day." Neal said, as they finally reached the Tiki Bar.

Mozzie shook his head as he opened the door for him. Neal went ahead and entered before him. What he witnessed caught him off guard.

"SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Neal was greeted by the people inside the bar.

"Well, as you can see, this is NO ordinary day. Happy Birthday, mon frère." Mozzie said, patting him on the back before joining the rest of the group.

Neal couldn't believe that he forgot his own birthday. After everything that's been gong on recently, no one can really blame him. He quickly scanned the crowd. He saw Lima, who was grinning at him sheepishly; Charlie, who raised a bottle in toast; Lastri with the kids from the Children's Village led by Kersen and Merpati, who gave him big hugs; and a few acquaintances he made since he got there on the island, led by Tango. Finally, he saw that one person he wanted to see the most. His blue eyes locked on to Alex's brown ones, and they both smiled at the same time. Neal was about to walk towards her, when he was Lima's voice broke into his thoughts.

"Time for the birthday cake!" Lima announced, followed by the screams of delight from the children, as she pushed the cart that carried a huge white chocolate cake.

While everyone sang "Happy Birthday", Neal didn't take his eyes off of Alex. He then closed his eyes and made a wish, before blowing out the candles.

Afterward, his multiple attempts to talk to Alex was thwarted time and time again by friends and guests who wished him birthday greetings and gave him gifts. Neal sighed in frustration. It was as if the world was conspiring to keep him from being happy. He then felt a tap on his back.

"Got a minute?" Mozzie asked excitedly, as he handed him a gift wrapped in golden paper. "Go ahead, open my present first." he urged Neal.

Neal did as told and unwrapped the gift. "A Tale of Two Cities." Neal said with a smile.

"Yes. First edition, second issue. Gilded, and half-leather. Took me a while to find it, but I did!" Mozzie beamed with pride.

Neal chuckled at his friends excitement. It was a rare find indeed. Must have cost Mozzie at least $4,000. "Thank you, Moz!" he said with sincerity.

Moments later, Alex joined them. "Opening presents already, Caffrey?" she asked. "Here you go...you can open this one too." she handed him a red box.

"Pretty hard to top mine...just saying." Mozzie commented.

"We'll see." Alex replied nonchalantly, as they both watched Neal open her present.

Neal found a object inside wrapped in black velvet cloth. He unwrapped it and found a bottle of wine. He heard Mozzie's loud gasp. It wasn't just any ordinary bottle of wine. It was a vintage 1891 Chateau Lafite Rothschild, one of the rarest, most expensive wines in the world, valued at almost $8,000 per bottle.

"Wh-Where did you get THAT?" Mozzie inquired. He was almost drooling.

"Oh...it was part of the cargo from the French steamship we salvaged a few days ago, the SS Bordeaux." Alex answered. She turned to face Neal again. "I figured you might like it since you have great taste when it comes to fine wine." she told him.

"Like it? I love it!" Neal replied. "Thank you, Alex!" he said.

"Happy Birthday, Neal." she greeted him.

She leaned closer and gave him a quick peck in the cheek. Neal caught her before she pulled away and gave her a long, lingering, open-mouthed kiss. He didn't stop till he heard Mozzie clearing his throat.

"I'll see you later?" Neal asked her, looking into her eyes, as he finally pulled away from their kiss.

"Sure." Alex answered, before slowly walking away to join Lima in distributing the cake.

Neal paused and looked around him. He was surrounded by old friends and new-found ones. He was free. He was happy. But somehow, it all felt incomplete. He sighed softly.

"Uh oh...I know that look." Mozzie said. "You're thinking of him, aren't you?" he asked.

"I'm thinking of New York...of everything and everyone I've left behind. June, Elizabeth-" Neal said before Mozzie interrupted him.

"But mostly, you're thinking of him...the Suit." Mozzie said flatly.

"Yes...I was thinking of Peter." Neal admitted.

"And?" Mozzie pressed.

"And...nothing." Neal replied. He looked at Mozzie straight in the eye. "He's an FBI agent...I'm a con man. There were only a few ways this could have ended." he continued. Mozzie nodded. He held out the bottle of wine. "Listen, I'm going to take this back to my place before you're unable to resist the urge to open it and drink it for yourself. I'll be right back." he promised, before taking his leave.

Neal took Alex and Mozzie's gifts as well as the other presents, back to his place. In reality, it was just an excuse to get away from the crowd and to walk on the beach to clear his head. Neal thought of making a phone call to Peter, just to let him know that he was alright, but decided against it. It would endanger both his and Mozzie's safety, as well as Peter's career.

He sighed as he continued his walk back to Lolana's. He knew what he wanted. He wanted the good life...he always dreamed of the good life. He had a beachfront villa on an exotic island, a blooming romance with a beautiful woman, a loyal best friend, and all the money he could probably spent in one lifetime. This was as good as it gets. This was the best of times.

He's living the dream...and now what? What does he do now? This island paradise, as great as it was, was too serene for him. He missed the action. He missed New York's culture and diversity. He missed the cases he worked on with the FBI. He missed Peter Burke. But that's a life he could never go back to. That's when he realized that this was also the worst of times for him.

He shook his head and went back inside the Tiki Bar. Inside, he looked around to take stock on what he has in his life right now. He saw the smiling faces of the happy kids from the Children's Village. He saw Mozzie, his best friend, happily dancing with Lima. His eyes roamed further, in search of Alex, but couldn't find her. He saw Charlie mingling with the other guests, and waved to catch his attention.

"Have you seen Alex?" Neal asked the older man.

Charlie looked around in search of her. "That's funny. I was just talking to her a while ago." he said. "I don't know where she went. It's like she just disappeared." he told Neal, before walking away.

Disappeared. Charlie's voice echoed inside his head. He couldn't afford to have Alex disappear from his life again. He already lost too many people that he cared about. He wasn't about to lose her as well.

He sighed and shook his head. Where did you run off to now, Alex? Neal asked himself.

~END OF CHAPTER EIGHT~

FOOTNOTES :

*This chapter is a birthday present to one of my faithful readers, Meenakshi Singla. Happy Birthday! I appreciate all the support and the words of encouragement.

*Antonio Canova's statue "Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss" seems like something Neal would want to sculpt.

*Many thanks to those who read and reviewed the previous chapter. Hope you like this one as well.