White Collar fic "By your side"
Title: By your side
Author: melles76
Pairings: Neal/ OC, Peter/Elizabeth
Spoilers: S1-S5
Warnings: Death of a main character (more or less - you'll get the explanation at the very last chapter...)
Summary: AU set in the near future…the anklet is off. Neal has started his own business and has settled down to family life. Then, one fateful night, something happens. How will they deal with the consequences?
A/N: A special thank you to my wonderful beta-reader, Rainey13. You are amazing and I'm glad for your tremendous work you do every time. Also, I want to thank my partner in crime and dear friend kerrylang, who had helped me figuring out the storyline and several ideas. She even wrote a section. Kudos to you!
Despite my initial thoughts, I couldn't kill off one of the main characters, so I promise all readers that there will be a happy ending! But you still will need some handkerchiefs, though.
New York, 2034
"Happy Birthday, Neal!" Peter grinned and couldn't resist ruffling through Neal's hair, which caused a heavy sigh from the younger man. It was Sunday morning and the Burkes had just started to prepare breakfast when the dark haired man showed up.
"Oh Peter, please…," Neal groaned but smiled as well while he tried to rescue his hairstyle by ducking away.
El stood up and embraced him. "Hey, sweetie. Happy Birthday."
"Now it's official, kiddo. You're of full age," Peter said.
"Yeah, right. Speaking of, can I have the car keys please?"
"No." Peter's answer was prompt and left no place for interpretation.
"Oh c'mon!"
"Not a chance. And stop pouting." Peter held up his index finger, shaking it. "And don't even try that smile on me. It's not working." He chuckled but when he saw the disappointed look on Neal's face, he tilted his head on one side and raised an eyebrow. "Where do you want to go?"
Neal's look went down and he seemed to be shy. His answer was a quiet, "I…wanted to visit my parents."
Peter swallowed. Even after all those years it was hard being reminded what had happened to his best friend. Before he could answer, he had to clear his throat and suddenly felt bad. He had done it again. He had dismissed Neal's wish before he actually had listened to the younger man. "I'm sorry Neal. Of course you can have the car keys," he said ruefully and fished for it in his pockets. "There. Drive carefully, okay? The streets are still wet from the rain. And make sure that-"
"I have plenty of experience, thank you very much for your confidence," Neal rolled his eyes and crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"I know, I know," Peter raised his hands in surrender. "I'm sorry."
Grinning broadly because Neal once again had succeeded and got what he wanted, he grabbed the keys and said, "You of all people should know that I'm a good driver." But then his facial expression changed and he looked at Peter. "Do you want to come with me?"
Hesitating Peter debated with himself and exchanged a glance with El who looked rather clueless. "Only if you want me to join you."
"But I'm still driving!" Neal said and quickly ran out of the house.
"Hey! Slow down, I'm an old man," Peter laughed as he tried to catch up, but failed miserably.
~*~*~
"It's…still creepy being here," Neal said and looked around.
"I know," Peter nodded sadly. "It's not getting easier." His heart was heavy with grief as he read the grave inscription.
Neal George Caffrey *March 21, 1977 +July 11, 2019
Linda Caffrey *January 20, 1976 +July 10, 2019
Forever in our hearts
Closing the distance between them, Peter laid a hand on Neal's shoulder. "I can't believe it's been 15 years already," he said quietly. The light summer breeze played with Peter's gray hairs and he looked at the spitting image of his late best friend. "Do you want some private time?"
"No," was the simple reply. Then Neal knelt down and placed the flower bouquet down.
Peter watched his son closely. Never in his life had he imagined that he would be the one who would raise Neal Caffrey's son. But fate hit them all hard by taking Neal Sr. and his wife Linda away from them because of a car accident caused by a drunken driver. Neal Jr. had been six at that time and the Burkes had been his Godparents. It had been Neal's wish that Peter and El should take care of his son in case anything should happen to him. Unfortunately the unthinkable had happened. The kid had been terrified and traumatized even if he hadn't been involved with the accident. He had already been with the Burkes for a stay overnight because his parents had wanted to celebrate their wedding anniversary that fateful night. Telling the always cheerful child that his parents wouldn't come back to pick him up the next day was one of the hardest tasks Peter ever had to overcome. The first years Peter and Elizabeth had acted as Neal's legal guardians. But Neal Jr. had surprised them by asking them one day if they wanted to adopt him. And so he had officially become Neal Peter Caffrey-Burke. Thinking of this, a smile appeared on his face. If someone had told him that he, Special Agent Peter Burke, would raise the son of Neal Caffrey, one of the world's greatest con-men, he would have laughed about that.
"Dad?"
Sometimes Peter felt irritated to be called that. Especially right now, standing in front of the grave. But then again he reminded himself that it had been Neal Jr. once again who had asked about permission to call El and Peter "Mom" and "Dad." The young child had desperately longed for surrogate parents so that neither Peter nor El had been able to refuse that wish. With time all three of them had grown together like a real family. It wasn't that he and El had been strangers to the kid, since they were his Godparents and Neal Jr. had spend lots of time with the Burkes while growing up the first six years of his life. "Yes, buddy?"
"When we're back home…," he hesitated, "…will you tell me about my parents?"
Since they didn't want to put the kid under pressure, they had agreed to talk about Neal Sr. and Linda whenever the young man felt the desire to. After all, Neal Jr. had spent the last 15 years without his birth parents and had known them for only 6 years and since he had been very young, most of his memories about those 6 years had vanished. "Of course."
"Is it okay if I call uncle Mozzie to join us?"
Peter chuckled. "I don't mind at all. It'll be fun." Since he no longer worked for the FBI, Peter had become a little bit relaxed when it came to Mozzie. And of course, Mozzie knew parts of Neal Sr.’s life better then Peter so chances were good that he discovered new sides of Neal's father, too.
Neal beamed. "Okay. Thanks. Sorry for dragging you here, though. It's just…I had this…feeling-"
"Don't worry about that," Peter shook his head. "No need to explain." He completely understood. There had been times when he just drove here and talked to his friend. "So," he grinned, "how about a short stop at The Greatest Cake? We can get some muffins."
"Sounds great. Let's go."
With one last look Peter nodded towards the tombstone. "You'd be proud of him, Neal. He's a great kid." Speeding up his pace, he finally walked next to his son. "About your birthday party tonight…"
To be continued
Sooo...that was the first chapter. There are more to come! I'm looking forward to read your thoughts and comments.