Epilogue

Standing next to floor to ceiling window Neal stared out at the city, specifically at the golden spires of the Market that were lit up with their distinctive pattern of decorative lights. It hadn't taken long for the other members of the mock party to take the hint that Neal was not in the mood for small talk as they formed little groups amongst themselves leaving Neal separated from the others. Motion caught the corner of his eye and he was able to snatch a martini off a silver tray as the waiter stepped past him on his way towards a clump of other guests.

Neal turned back to the window as he became lost in thought again. As confident as he had been when he first left the money on the penthouse floor he started to have doubts as to what the outcome would be. Peter had made his life infinitely more complicated, and he would only continue to do so if he stayed. Still in the face of never seeing him again Neal found himself with a heavy heart. He wanted to think that he knew what Peter would do, but it was hard to predict how anyone would react when faced with that amount of raw cash and a chance at a painless life, let alone judge what someone in Peter's position and past would do.

He wouldn't blame Peter if he left, he would even be happy for him. Neal just wasn't sure what kind of life he'd go back to himself if he didn't have the Animula there to remind him that there was more out there than just the thrill of the con. He hated to admit it but he wasn't sure if he was willing to fight a system for someone who wasn't willing to fight it himself even though Peter was just one of the many souls who needed saving.

Unable to do anything about his next steps until he learned what Peter decided Neal just stood alone and waited. Neal was not really used to worrying about his future, but the fact that someone else was making a decision right now that was going to severely effect it while he just stood by was more than enough to make him feel like he needed the drink in his hand. In an attempt to calm his nerves Neal knocked back the top shelf gin and vermouth mixture like it was a shot of whiskey.

"Have you learn nothing from all this about drinking at parties?"

"Mozzie," Neal smiled as he turned to face his friend "I didn't think you'd come."

"Where is Peter?" Mozzie asked looking around nervously.

"He's upstairs with Elizabeth."

"Along with a million in liquidated art?"

"I only got 450 for it." Neal admitted. "Short notice sales are harder."

"Neal, what are you doing?"

"You know exactly what I'm doing."

"I suppose I do." Mozzie shook his head sadly. "What if he actually takes it?"

"He has ever right to that's why it's called a gift. Besides, I would think you'd want him to. He wouldn't be your problem anymore."

"Yeah, but you'd still be my problem and I hate having to pick up the pieces when you get your heart broken."

"Peter's not going to break my heart." Neal assured, finding that now that he'd said it out loud he truly believed it.

"Neal, I know you two have become friends, he's the first person you've let anywhere near you since…well, since Kate. You're going to be hurt if he takes off tonight."

"You're right, I would be."

"So why did you do it?"

"Firstly because Peter deserves the chance to decide his own future for a change. I don't want him staying just because he depends on me. He's my friend, not my pet."

"I told you that you'd make a terrible Master."

"I still take that as a compliment." Neal gave Mozzie a shallow bow.

"And I still say you're crazy." Mozzie rolled his eyes. "You had a firstly, I assume you at least have a secondly?"

"Peter's not going to run and hide." Neal replied confidently. "If his instinct was to run he would have done so a long time ago. Peter's a fighter, he wouldn't have gotten this far if he wasn't. I have faith in him."

"Still…that's a four hundred fifty thousand dollar gamble."

"It's not a gamble, Mozzie." Neal said seriously. "The money is gone either way."

"Earmarked for a 'special project'?"

"Either to help one or try and help them all." Neal confirmed.

"Neal Caffrey is going to change the world?" Mozzie asked doubtfully.

"Certainly not on my own." Neal looked to Mozzie hopefully.

Not taking the bait on declaring if he'd help or not Mozzie just glanced around the risky high profile party that had cost a substantial amount of money to put together and had no monetary profits to show for it. Sighing heavily he muttered something about knowing from the start that Peter was going to be trouble. Neal knew that Mozzie did not like change and adding Peter to his life was tantamount to turning his entire world upside down. However he also knew Mozzie would be there to help them both in the days to come even if he complained about it the entire time. He was gentle at heart and now that he'd seen what the Animula truly were he might not be willing to lead a charge to change things, but he certainly wouldn't walk away either. Despite that Neal was still surprised to see him here tonight, he'd already warned him how angry Peter was with him over the breech in privacy despite how it worked out in the end.

"Why did you really come here tonight?" Neal asked. "I know it wasn't to talk to me about a sale that it was too late to change my mind on."

Mozzie flashed Neal a look that he usually reserved for when he was begrudgingly doing something for Neal against his own special brand of better judgement. After looking around to make sure no one was paying attention to them Mozzie wordlessly pulled a two by three inch white envelope out of his pocket and offered it to Neal.

"What's this?"

"It wasn't easy to get, I could have gotten into CIA database easier than this." Mozzie complained rather than answered. "I burned a good alias, cashed in absolutely ever favor I had left, and owe some on top of that now, but I found it and it's real."

Feeling more than a touch nervous Neal took the tiny envelope from Mozzie, his friend only talked this fast when he was uncomfortable with something. As good as Mozzie's intentions tended to be the last time he went off and did something without being asked he almost ruined Neal and Peter's hard won friendship. Neal turned the unmarked envelope over in his hands and went to unseal it.

"No, don't open it." Mozzie requested. "Give it to Peter."

"What is it?"

"It's his last name."