Okay so this chapter is a quick follow up and just settles everything in. Another chapter focussing on Christmas at the Burke's will be following so stay tuned! Hopefully I will have it up before Christmas day, but if I don't then I will get it up afterwards.

Peter met his wife at the nice restaurant he had scoped out; it served lobster but yet it wasn't too expensive. Neal was in tow behind the strong man when he wrapped his arms around Elizabeth and gave her a kiss on the lips. The little boy mumbled yucky and stuck his tongue out at the couple without their noticing. After greeting her husband El dropped down to address the boy, "You're a little trouble maker now aren't ya?" she joked as she ruffled his hair. Peter had told her all about his discoveries that day before they met up. "We aren't getting our Cracker Jacks are we?"

Neal pursed his lips slightly flustered that she had brought that up. He thought he had gotten away with his little Boy Scout con. "Well not from meee buuuuut you could go to da store and buy some? By da way… they're non-refundable," The blue-eyed boy elongated his answer and gave his cutest puppy dog look while even throwing in a little lisp. Elizabeth gave a kind-hearted chuckle and Peter just rolled his eyes. He still couldn't cox out the method of how the small boy had stolen the uniform in the first place. Whenever the curious agent brought anything up the little tyke would just stick out his bottom lip and put on an adorable pair of puppy dog eyes. Then Neal would say 'A kid's gotta eat' and Peter's heart would clench. How could anyone abandon such an adorable little boy? Maybe his parents were dead, if so, how come he wasn't put in a foster home or adopted by relatives?

The three sat around a circular table in the elegantly decorated restaurant. All three were dressed exceptionally; of course Peter was in a suit, El had worn a beautiful knee length scarlet dress, and little Neal even looked dashing. Neal always had fine taste in clothing and wanted to look upper class rather than the street rat he really was. He wore a baby blue button down shirt made of the richest fabric along with cute child size khaki dress pants and tiny dress shoes. The blue of his shirt made his eyes stand out even more. But the most adorable thing was how Neal's little head barely came up over the table and all the couple could see was the boy from his neck up; the stubborn little child had refused a booster seat.

When the waiter came with the menus and handed Neal a kids menu he shook his head when he saw there was no lobster for the children and looked pleadingly at Peter. Peter sighed and told the boy he could order off of his and El's menu. For a thanks Peter received a large toothy grin.

Elizabeth had so many questions she wanted to ask her husband but she couldn't do it in front of the curious witness. So when Neal announced he needed to go to the restroom she saw her chance. Peter offered to take him but Neal boldly refused saying he didn't need a babysitter and El agreed due to her ulterior motive. When Neal was out of earshot the worried woman began, "Peter where is Neal going to stay? You said he told the FBI his parents were gone and he didn't have a home? Does he have a relative he can stay with?" She shot question after question and her patient husband did the best he could to pacify her worries.

"I don't know El, Neal won't even give us his last name, how are we supposed to find relatives for him?" he sighed heavily before saying what he knew his wife would hate. "The only option we have is putting him in a boy's home. I will have to drop him off after our dinner."

The gorgeous woman's mouth dropped, "Peter Burke you cannot put that little angel in a boy's home! It's only two days before Christmas; imagine how miserable it must be to spend Christmas in an orphanage!" Convicted passion shone in her voice.

"I know Hon, but we don't have any other choice," Peter said regretfully.

"Yes we do, he can stay with us!" She replied adamantly.

Her husband's mouth gaped a little before he could respond, "But El… I don't know how to take care of a five year old. Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. Think about it, it's actually a good solution. It's not permanent, but just until we find some relatives he can stay with. You need him as he is the only witness on the heist you're investigating, what better way to keep him close in case you get a suspect?"

Peter thought the idea over in his head for a while. It wasn't actually a bad idea; besides for the fact that they would have a manipulative tiny criminal in their house. At last the man agreed, "Okay Honey, if you insist."

"I do," El smiled right before the boy in question climbed onto his seat across from the couple. When he saw Elizabeth smiling lovingly at him and turned to see a concerned look on Peter's face, he knew something was up.

"What'd I miss," he piped up hesitantly. He rested his adorable chin on the table cloth and fought back a yawn. All of today's excitement was taking a toll on his tiny body.

"Neal sweetie, how would you like to stay with Peter and me for Christmas?" El said gently. The couple could see his blue eyes widen in shock.

"But, but I have—" The youngster stopped after releasing his illegal methods in weaseling his way into the four-star hotel he was staying in. The boy furrowed his brow as he mulled over the pros and cons of staying with the Burke family. He couldn't be free on the street like he wanted and it would be harder to run away from their home than the orphanage they were probably going to bring him to. But he imagined the warm home-cooked meals and the beautiful Christmas tree. Plus he could always sneak his way out eventually. After a while of his mischievous ways, no one ever wanted him. The little boy finished his response with a nod, "Okay, it's a deal."

Even the nervous Peter smiled an expression of relief; despite his awkwardness with children, he still wanted to help the tiny tyke and could see he had been through a lot. Maybe a nice family was just what the boy needed. El radiated warm kindness as she reached over and took Neal's tiny hand, "Sounds good sweetie, now is there any stuff of yours we can pick up after dinner on the way home?" Neal's face twisted as he thought of his silk pajamas in the Four Season's illegally obtained hotel room. Instead he just shook his head with mops of brown curls bouncing around. Luckily he was saved by the food.

Their waiter brought over three enormous plates filled with delicious food, and of course, Neal's lobster. The little boy's plate was almost as big as he was and Peter groaned knowing there was no way he could eat all of that food. But the tiny squirt did good as he finished all of his lobster and only had to box the side dishes. Peter tried to stay calm while paying the bill and fought off an agonizing expression.

Elizabeth drove home in her own car while Peter took the boy in his. For half of the ride home the federal agent listened to the kid's ramblings about fine art and how many of today's artists were a sorry excuse. They had passed a museum billboard on their way home that announced the display of a modernist artist that Neal apparently thought was rubbish. But after a lull in the conversation, Peter looked over to see the child sleeping peacefully will his mouth slightly parted. The agent couldn't resist but smiling with adoration at the cute little boy. And when Peter entered his home cradling the five year old in his arms Elizabeth almost melted at the adorable sight. The strong man carried Neal in his arms and gently laid him in the guest bed. Elizabeth used her dormant mothering skills to tuck the child in and even brushed his hair away from his forehead as she planted a soft kiss on his smooth baby skin. Peter gave her a questioning look and she responded with a shrug expressing that she couldn't help herself. The two left the door cracked as they returned downstairs to discuss their new charge and the plans that needed to be made.

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