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Chapter Forty-four

"If we don't get out of bed soon we're going to be late."

"Not going to work today." Elizabeth muttered sleepily. "I'm sick."

"You don't sound sick." Peter teased.

Elizabeth made a half hearted attempted at a cough to prove her supposed illness before working her way under Peter's arm so that she could rest her head against his chest and pretending to fall back asleep. Wrapping one arm around her Peter used his free hand to smooth out Elizabeth's dark hair. Making a noise of contentment Elizabeth reached up and gently ran her nails up and down the side of his ribs. Closing his eyes Peter took a deep breath and spent a moment enjoying the relaxing effect of Elizabeth's touch. If Elizabeth genuinely had a cold or even if she just wanted to randomly play hookie Peter would gladly laze around in bed all day with her. However her motivation for staying away from work today started to bother him.

"Elizabeth, I know you have your big meeting with Yates today…"

"Is that today?" Elizabeth asked innocently.

"You know it is, and it's important that you go."

"I can't…Renner's going to go after you the second I head upstairs."

"I'm not afraid of him."

Elizabeth propped herself up on her elbow and studied Peter for a moment. Looking up at her Peter smiled and reached up to card his hand into her hair. Elizabeth's concerned expression melted into a warm smile.

"You really mean that, don't you?"

"I do."

Elizabeth took a breath to say something more but Peter stopped her by pulling her down into a kiss. He didn't want to spend any of their time together at home talking about Renner. Renner was his problem to deal with, not hers. Although he had to admit to himself that he had thought that Renner would have tired of their game by now. However he was still acting like a coyote following a buck and nipping at his heels any chance he got in hopes of slowly wearing down his prey. Peter knew exactly what he was doing, and was determined not to be worn down by it. Renner was pushing at him in hopes that Peter would eventually physically lash out at him in return. As satisfying as striking Renner would be, attacking a human would mean immediate return to the Market and Elizabeth may not be able to get him back again.

Although keeping his temper around Renner was becoming increasingly difficult Peter managed by reminding himself that at the end of the day he got to go home with Elizabeth where as Renner was currently at the top of the office gossip for being in the middle of his fourth messy divorce. Pushing aside all thoughts of Renner Peter focused on the life and happiness he'd managed to find despite the odds. Rolling over Peter pinned Elizabeth to the sheets and bit playfully at her shoulder.

"Hey now,Tiger," Elizabeth chastised mockingly "I thought you were trying to talk me into going to work."

"Your meeting isn't until this afternoon…"

Peter woke from the memory turned dream and automatically reached out across the far side of bed in search of Elizabeth. Finding the sheets cold Peter was brought back into the present, however he didn't find his heart as heavy as it had been over the past two years. Beyond just being away from Cheng and finally waking up without pain he was genuinely starting to believe that he had chance at a future. He wasn't exactly sure what had suddenly given him more faith in Neal, but having their first outing into public together over with was certainly a big part of it even if it hadn't gone perfectly.

"I would probably be more worried if it had gone perfectly." Peter noted to himself.

Having spent a day visiting high rise offices with Neal before they had come to a better understanding of one another Peter knew Neal had once been perfectly capable of being like every other ignorant entitled Master. However, that had changed to the point where Neal had difficulty even pretending to play the part. The way Neal had announced that 'humans suck' when they had gotten home reminded Peter sharply of the way Elizabeth used to lament the same fact. They both used the term 'human' as if some how no longer applied to them as well now that they had sided with an Animula.

Sitting up on the edge of the bed Peter looked around trying to get his bearings on a time of day. He knew it had been early afternoon when he'd laid down, but it was impossible for him to tell if he'd been asleep for two hours or ten. His stomach growled at him to let him know that no matter what time it was some sort of meal was needed. Ignoring his hunger for the moment Peter stepped over to the laptop and flipped it open. Peter learned that it was almost midnight and that Elizabeth had emailed him a few hours back. Peter furrowed his brow at the odd subject title that just said 'Remember' as he opened. It was the shortest note she'd sent him but it still made him smile.

'Never say never.'

Peter wasn't sure what had prompted Elizabeth to send him the contradictory phrase today, but it used to be what she would say to him whenever he expressed disbelief in his luck at having her fall in love with him. Even after their unconventional marriage Peter often had difficultly with the reality of what they had found together. Whenever he thought out loud that he never thought something like this could happen to him Elizabeth always responded with the simple saying. Eventually she came to tease him with the phrase when she caught him staring at her, knowing what he was thinking. She was his exception to the rule and a very good reason to remove the word 'never' from his lexicon.

Peter found himself more tempted than ever to reply to her. More than just being a reminder that nothing was impossible the short note made Peter feel like she was searching for a miracle right now. Fearing he'd lose his resolve to stabilize his own life before disrupting hers Peter closed the laptop instead of reading through any of the past messages that he was still systematically reading through.

Once again Peter's stomach angrily insisted that he seek out something to eat. Practically grateful for the distraction Peter went to check to see if Neal's door was open, forgetting the late hour. If Neal was seeking some privacy there was snack type food on Peter's side of the apartment, but he felt he should check to make sure that Neal hadn't gone to the trouble of cooking dinner first. Opening his door Peter found that Neal's door was ajar so he stepped across and knocked.

"Come in." Neal called cheerfully from inside.

Stepping inside Peter found that Neal had set up an easel next to a low table and was painting something. The back of the canvas was facing him so he couldn't tell what it was of or if Neal was any good at it. Peter glanced over at the stove and saw a covered copper pot sitting on one of the burners that was turned to low. Deciding to be polite Peter stepped over to Neal first to look at the painting.

Sitting on a small rolling stool in a white tank top that was smeared in oil paint Neal pushed himself back slightly so that Peter could view his work. Peter stared at the nearly complete painting in stunned silence. He hadn't really known what to expect when he'd walked over, but it certainly hadn't been this. The choppy style painting with heavy brush strokes was of a brilliant sunset over the water. A silhouette of a church on an island rose up the left side of the canvas and was reflected in the surrounding water that had been made blaze orange by the setting sun.

"What do you think?" Neal asked.

"It's breathtaking." Peter replied truthfully.

"Thank you."

"But…um…" Peter wasn't quite sure how to finish his thought.

"You recognize it?" Neal smiled knowingly.

"It's a Monet, isn't it?"

"'Saint-Georges majeur au crépuscule'."

"It's a forgery." Peter suddenly understood. "The Degas you brought to Cheng's…"

"Also one of 'mine'."

"That's amazing, Neal."

"I was proud of that Degas. It was one of my best."

"It was also an amazingly risky move. Cheng had an art expert on hand to authenticate the player's contributions. If he had discovered that you'd brought a forgery he would have killed you."

"I know." Neal shrugged. "Although I was in far more danger from someone other than Cheng's art expert exposing me that night. You knew I was a con the second I said 'hello' to you."

"I suspected you were a con when you said 'hello', I didn't know it for a fact until you said 'thank you'." Peter corrected with a smile. "I still never imagined you were good enough or bold enough to submit a forgery done by your own hand and get away with it."

"Now you know." Neal chuckled.

Peter shook his head in disbelief as he studied the painting. He hadn't noticed before that Neal had a book open on his the small end table that was using at workstation that had a full page picture of the painting he was copying. Looking back and forth between the two Peter was even more impressed by the forgery. A good deal of Peter's doubt on Neal's plan going through was suddenly lifted. Peter had come across plenty of people who weren't half as good at what they did as they thought they were, Neal on the other hand seemed to know exactly how good he was. It was another good sign that Neal's con might actually work.

"This really is beautiful, Neal."

"Thank you."

"I would love to see some of your own works."

"Maybe some other time." Neal said dismissively.

"Do you sign them 'Caffrey' or 'Halden'?"

"Are you hungry?" Neal deflected. "You must be, you were too nervous to eat much breakfast, you had half a beer when we got home, and you've been sleeping ever since. I made chicken curry, hopefully you don't mind spicy."

Not waiting for an answer Neal put down the paintbrush in his hand and jumped up to head into the kitchen. Peter didn't understand why, but he felt he'd hit some sort of nerve with Neal asking about his art. Turning his attention back to the immaculate Monet forgery Peter was still amazed by the amount of raw talent it demonstrated. Turning his attention to the walls of the apartment Peter suddenly noticed something. Despite having lived there for a month it was the first time he'd ever really gave the decor more than just a superficial inspection.

There were no photos of friends or family anywhere, only a few artistically done framed photographs of the city. Nothing about any of the decor actually had a personal feel to it. The apartment looked amazing, but now that Peter really looked at it the place felt more like it had been carefully decorated for a magazine spread rather than containing anything that held personal value to Neal. Realizing that his side of the upstairs of the house that Neal clearly never used was decorated the same way Peter wondered if the place had looked like this when Neal had moved in. Neal had already mentioned that someone else owned the mansion, it was reasonable to assume that person owned all the furniture and decor up here as well. Peter suddenly got the impression that much like the rooms that he had been given by Masters that Neal lived in the space, but it still wasn't 'home' to him.

The more Peter thought about it the more he realized that Neal never spoke about family, the only friend who had visited in the past month was Mozzie who was an outcast in his own right. He didn't seem to ever worry that someone else he knew might arrive unannounced and discover an Animula in his apartment. He had briefly mentioned a woman, but the way he had fallen quiet afterwards had lead Peter to believe that it had ended poorly between them. Even at Cheng's party Neal had always separated himself out between games to stand alone by the window. Peter couldn't ever even recall Neal's phone ringing.

Lost in thought Peter stepped away from the nearly completed forgery and looked over to the kitchen table where Neal was just setting up two bowls for dinner. The fact that he had waited for company after making dinner despite probably being hungry when he made it hours ago told Peter that Neal held their meal time together in special regard. Sitting down at the table Neal looked up at Peter and smiled brightly to encourage him to join him. Stepping over towards Neal Peter was grateful for everything the young con man had done for him, but he couldn't help but worry that there might be another complication that might keep him from being with Elizabeth.

Neal might not want to let him go.