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sheenianniTitle: Into the Sunset – Epilogue
Author’s Name:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
sheenianni
Artwork:kanarek13
Fandom: White Collar
Notes: See Prologue
EPILOGUE
Eleven months later
He might have been back to New York for only a few hours, but Neal was already feeling affected by the familiar surrounding. Looking around his old apartment, he thought about how much had changed – and all that had stayed the same.
June had been more than willing to let him stay here; had sounded offended by the very idea that he would stay somewhere else after coming back. Eventually he might go apartment hunting for his own place, but right now he appreciated his old landlady’s hospitality. If he had a friend who had never shoved him away and always accepted him for who he was, it was definitely June.
Mozzie was going to stop by the day after tomorrow; right now, he wasstalking courting a quantum-physics teacher from New Jersey. Two days later, he was going to catch up with Jones and Diana. However, the one man he both yearned and dreaded seeing again was about to come in just an hour and Neal hadn’t even finished unpacking yet.
Arranging the suits back in his wardrobe, Neal was glad for the distraction. His meeting with Peter could go either way – with all the history between them, he knew they might end up hugging and crying, or they might result to a yelling match and cutting accusations. Honestly, it was even possible that they would do both. With a bitter smile, Neal realized that this time, Peter didn’t have the power over him anymore – he could chuck him out and slam the door and Peter would have to leave, because Neal wasn’t his CI anymore – he was a free man. Yet the mere idea of doing that felt like a stab in the heart.
Mozzie might have been unyieldingly loyal to him, Sara was starting to understand him in a way that frankly frightened him a bit and June had never judged him, but Peter had been the first person who had believed in him and wanted him to become a better man.
Things had seemed okay in their emails and the few rare phone-calls that they had exchanged. Neal tried to take comfort in that even as he nervously checked the time on his smart-phone.
And then there was a knock on the door and Neal’s heart flipped. “Come in.”
The door opened to reveal one Peter Burke. “Hey Neal.”
“Hi Peter.”
Peter closed the door and stepped inside. “It’s good to see you again.”
“You too.”
For a moment, they just stared at each other, not sure what to do.
“Neal –“
“Look –”
They paused, smiling nervously at each other.
Neal was the first one to find words. “I’m sorry I ran away when my sentence was over. I was afraid, but – it was an impulsive decision. And I should have called you once I was in Canada, or even London.”
“Apology accepted.” Peter ran a hand through his hair. “Neal, I understand why you thought you needed to leave. What those agents tried to do to you – it was both wrong and completely baseless. They didn’t have anything to support their claims, and I would have fought them all the way if they came after you again.”
“Peter, I trusted you,” said Neal. “But I didn’t trust the system, and I thought I couldn’t afford to take the risk.”
“Neal –”
“How’s Elizabeth?” interrupted him Neal.
Peter smiled. “She’s happy… still loves the job at the gallery. What about you and Sara?”
“She’s coming here next week for an interview with Mr. Bosch,” said Neal. “There’s an opening at the New York office. If she decides to take it, we’ll be moving back here.”
Peter frowned. “And if she decides to stay in London…?”
“Then I’ll be there with her.”
Peter paused. “So you two…?”
“I haven’t asked the question yet, but we’re pretty serious, yeah.”
“Huh.”
And then there was the silence again. This time, it was Peter who broke it first. “Look Neal – I think we need to talk.”
Neal nodded. “Yeah, we do. About a lot of things.”
Hagen. His kidnapping. The months after. The thousand little and big things that they’d stumbled over since they started working together five years ago.
He took a deep breath. “Why don’t you take a seat? I have imported beer in the fridge.”
Peter chuckled. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”
Wordlessly, Neal handed Peter the beer and a glass, then went to get some wine for himself.
He had a feeling that they were going to be there for a long time.
* * *
“So how did it go?” asked Sara over the phone the next day.
Neal smiled. “There was a bit of yelling… not too much though. A couple tears, lots of hugs….”
“So you’re good?”
“Not completely, but we will be.” And he was certain that it was the truth.
“I’m glad to hear that,” replied Sara sincerely.
There was a moment of silence.
“So…” started Neal conversationally. “Tell me what you’re wearing.”
Sara laughed. “This again, seriously?”
“You’re an ocean away and you won’t be here for another six days.”
“Point taken,” conceded Sara. “Okay, let me just make myself comfortable…”
* * *
Half an hour later, Neal was staring at the ceiling, feeling a mixture of happiness and peace.
He and Peter had reconciled. He had his life back. And he loved Sara Ellis from the bottom of his heart.
He needed to start looking for an engagement ring.
THE END
Author’s Name:
sheenianniArtwork:
kanarek13Fandom: White Collar
Notes: See Prologue
___________________________________
EPILOGUE
Eleven months later
He might have been back to New York for only a few hours, but Neal was already feeling affected by the familiar surrounding. Looking around his old apartment, he thought about how much had changed – and all that had stayed the same.
June had been more than willing to let him stay here; had sounded offended by the very idea that he would stay somewhere else after coming back. Eventually he might go apartment hunting for his own place, but right now he appreciated his old landlady’s hospitality. If he had a friend who had never shoved him away and always accepted him for who he was, it was definitely June.
Mozzie was going to stop by the day after tomorrow; right now, he was
Arranging the suits back in his wardrobe, Neal was glad for the distraction. His meeting with Peter could go either way – with all the history between them, he knew they might end up hugging and crying, or they might result to a yelling match and cutting accusations. Honestly, it was even possible that they would do both. With a bitter smile, Neal realized that this time, Peter didn’t have the power over him anymore – he could chuck him out and slam the door and Peter would have to leave, because Neal wasn’t his CI anymore – he was a free man. Yet the mere idea of doing that felt like a stab in the heart.
Mozzie might have been unyieldingly loyal to him, Sara was starting to understand him in a way that frankly frightened him a bit and June had never judged him, but Peter had been the first person who had believed in him and wanted him to become a better man.
Things had seemed okay in their emails and the few rare phone-calls that they had exchanged. Neal tried to take comfort in that even as he nervously checked the time on his smart-phone.
And then there was a knock on the door and Neal’s heart flipped. “Come in.”
The door opened to reveal one Peter Burke. “Hey Neal.”
“Hi Peter.”
Peter closed the door and stepped inside. “It’s good to see you again.”
“You too.”
For a moment, they just stared at each other, not sure what to do.
“Neal –“
“Look –”
They paused, smiling nervously at each other.
Neal was the first one to find words. “I’m sorry I ran away when my sentence was over. I was afraid, but – it was an impulsive decision. And I should have called you once I was in Canada, or even London.”
“Apology accepted.” Peter ran a hand through his hair. “Neal, I understand why you thought you needed to leave. What those agents tried to do to you – it was both wrong and completely baseless. They didn’t have anything to support their claims, and I would have fought them all the way if they came after you again.”
“Peter, I trusted you,” said Neal. “But I didn’t trust the system, and I thought I couldn’t afford to take the risk.”
“Neal –”
“How’s Elizabeth?” interrupted him Neal.
Peter smiled. “She’s happy… still loves the job at the gallery. What about you and Sara?”
“She’s coming here next week for an interview with Mr. Bosch,” said Neal. “There’s an opening at the New York office. If she decides to take it, we’ll be moving back here.”
Peter frowned. “And if she decides to stay in London…?”
“Then I’ll be there with her.”
Peter paused. “So you two…?”
“I haven’t asked the question yet, but we’re pretty serious, yeah.”
“Huh.”
And then there was the silence again. This time, it was Peter who broke it first. “Look Neal – I think we need to talk.”
Neal nodded. “Yeah, we do. About a lot of things.”
Hagen. His kidnapping. The months after. The thousand little and big things that they’d stumbled over since they started working together five years ago.
He took a deep breath. “Why don’t you take a seat? I have imported beer in the fridge.”
Peter chuckled. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”
Wordlessly, Neal handed Peter the beer and a glass, then went to get some wine for himself.
He had a feeling that they were going to be there for a long time.
“So how did it go?” asked Sara over the phone the next day.
Neal smiled. “There was a bit of yelling… not too much though. A couple tears, lots of hugs….”
“So you’re good?”
“Not completely, but we will be.” And he was certain that it was the truth.
“I’m glad to hear that,” replied Sara sincerely.
There was a moment of silence.
“So…” started Neal conversationally. “Tell me what you’re wearing.”
Sara laughed. “This again, seriously?”
“You’re an ocean away and you won’t be here for another six days.”
“Point taken,” conceded Sara. “Okay, let me just make myself comfortable…”
Half an hour later, Neal was staring at the ceiling, feeling a mixture of happiness and peace.
He and Peter had reconciled. He had his life back. And he loved Sara Ellis from the bottom of his heart.
He needed to start looking for an engagement ring.
