Family Bonding

Waking up in the morning with the knowledge that his parents, brother, and sister in law were all sleeping upstairs was a new experience for Neal. Rolling over on the couch, he decided to enjoy the privacy a little longer before the others came downstairs.

He had a lot to reflect on. The entire afternoon and evening the day before had been spent getting to know his family, gaining some lost ground with his friend and ex-girlfriend, and showing more of himself than he usually did.

Hearing a sound on the stairs, he looked over to see Peter sneaking down.

"Did you sleep well?" Peter asked.

Smiling, Neal wondered what it would have been like if he had grown up with the man. "Have you wondered over the last few days what it would have been like if we had grown up together?" He asked before really thinking about it.

Tilting his head to the side, Peter settled into the chair acrossed from his brother. "Some. I imagine that there are elements of our relationship that would have been the same, only in a kid's version. Meaning that I would have bossed you around, you would have annoyed me, but if anyone tried to hurt you, they would have had to go through me to do it."

Grinning, Neal elaborated on his statement. "You would have kicked me out of your room for snooping, I would have retaliated by telling mom on you, but if the neighborhood bully tried to hurt me you would have beat him up… yeah, our current relationship does have its similarities. As my boss, you tell me what to do, but I find little ways to rebel, and when old enemies try to cause trouble you do your best to get me through it."

"Why would you have been snooping in my room?" Peter questioned curiously.

Shrugging, Neal didn't exactly have an answer. "I don't know. They say that the big brother always has the more interesting stuff."

Snorting, Peter wasn't sure what to think of that. "And where did you hear that?"

"TV and random conversations over the years… whenever some guy would talk about having an older brother, they always had a story about snooping into their brother's room for the 'cool' stuff."

"Huh… I don't know if my stuff is overly 'cool.' Mostly, it was just baseball memorabilia, crossword competitions, math, and other basic stuff. Since we don't have common interests, I don't see why you would have been snooping around for that stuff."

With an impish expression, Neal knew that his comment would arouse Peter's curiosity. "You don't entirely know me for who I am yet Peter. Maybe I would find some of that stuff interesting. Besides, I have always gotten the impression that it wasn't so much the stuff that made it interesting, but the fact that it belonged to the older brother that made it important."

Touched, Peter sat in his chair looking at his brother for a few moments. "So, you would be snooping in my room to see my stuff, simply because it was mine?"

"Based on the stories that I have heard, that is the impression that I get." Neal confirmed.

"I've never thought of that really… I guess, because I am the older one, I always looked at things from the older brother's perspective."

"And, how does that look?" Neal asked.

With a smile, Peter fondly remembered some of his childhood thoughts. "Like having someone to play with for one. There were several times growing up that mom and dad were busy, or didn't want to play the same games, so I wished that I had a little brother who would play them with me."

"Like what games?" Neal was interested to know. What had his brother played growing up?

"Oh… things like pirates. I would build a fort and call it my ship. Then I would rule the high seas as a Viking while I went about pillaging and plundering." He laughed. "Mom and dad got annoyed with me one time because I forced them to play with me by stealing some of their things… that was another time that I got into trouble."

Amused to hear of his brother's childhood, Neal hoped to be able to share more of his soon.

Nodding, Neal commented on the story. "I can imagine myself building a fort and trying to fend you off, or playing the first mate as we pillaged together."

Falling into a quiet contemplation, both brothers imagined a lost time where they would alternate from foes to partners searching for adventure.

After a while, the quiet was broken as others began to wake up. Moving to take his turn in the bathroom, Peter started a pot of coffee and went upstairs.

When Elizabeth came downstairs, she noticed that Neal was relaxing on the couch with a peaceful expression on his face. "Did you and Peter have a good talk?"

"Yeah, we talked a little more about what it might have been like if we had grown up together." Laughing softly, Neal teased. "I knew he had an adventurous side to him."

"He told you something about Vikings, huh? Those are the most adventurous that he gets besides the FBI." El mentioned while she started to get things ready for breakfast.

"I thought that taking me on as his CI was the most adventurous that he got?" Neal asked with a humorous glint to his eyes.

Hugging him, Elizabeth expressed some of how glad she was to have him as her brother. "And we are all lucky for that."

Relaxing further, Neal knew more of how Elizabeth felt. They hadn't had a chance to really talk alone with everything that had been going on. "You're not mad to have me as your brother in law?" He wanted to clarify exactly where he stood with her.

Turning to look him in the eyes, Elizabeth gave him her honest opinion. "I admit that I wasn't certain at first. What if you committed a crime again or something? Peter would have been devastated if that had happened with you as his friend, how bad would it be with you as his brother? Then I learned that you are government undercover, talked to Sarah, and have had some time to adjust to the news. Really, I am glad that you are my brother in law and look forward to getting to know who you actually are."

Pulling her into a hug, Neal held her for a moment. "Thank you El. You have no idea how much it means for me to hear that."

"You're welcome Neal."

As he pulled away from the hug, Neal kissed her on the side of her head. "You are a great big sister."

With tears in her eyes, Elizabeth returned the compliment. "You are a great little brother." She was saddened to see how much that made him smile and promised to remind him of his position as often as possible.

It didn't take too long for the family to assemble and sit down to eat. As they worked their way through the meal, they started a discussion about ways to get together in the future.

"I don't know how much of my true position will be revealed or what is going to come with my role, but I can definitely do things here in the city." Then he cautiously broached a subject that he hadn't voiced before. "Eventually, I would like to visit you up North…"

Delighted, Iris and Isaac loved the idea. "Is that something that you can help with Peter?" They directed their question to him to see if there was anything that he could do with Neal's character.

Contemplating the idea, he didn't have a sure answer. "I can check it out and see what can be done."

Turning to Neal, they asked him. "Is there anything that your bosses can do?"

"I don't know entirely either. My bosses could, but will they is the question." Neal didn't have an answer.

"Well, that is something to hope for and look forward to." Isaac said as that part of the conversation ended.

Moving on to other similar topics, the group moved on to exchanging contact information. Mostly that was Neal switching with his parents, but the others moved to get more of his information since he was sharing it anyway.

Once they were ensured continued contact, they started looking for the next topic of conversation.

"Where is your friend Chuck and his wife?" Iris asked. She had enjoyed getting to know her son's friends the day before, so she noted their absence.

"Pulling off the stalking from the car thing again. They want us to have some time together alone, but they are assigned to be close, so this is their compromise." Neal explained.

"You should tell them to at least come inside, it would be more comfortable than sitting in a car." Iris ordered.

"It's okay mom. I already offered and they insisted. Besides, stalking people from a vehicle is a lot of what being an agent is about… it's called a stakeout." He got slight hint of smart alec to his tone as he teased.

Oblivious to a tone that she otherwise wouldn't have allowed, Iris was too thrilled to hear Neal refer to her as mom for the first time.

"What?" Neal hadn't even noticed. She was more of a mom to him than his adopted mom had been, and she was actually his biological mom, so the term fit.

"You called me mom." Iris explained through her tears.

Feeling a little awkward to have it pointed out, Neal waffled a little bit as he tried to explain.

Interpreting what he was trying to say, Peter translated. "His adopted mom had a lot of depression when he was growing up and you are his biological mom, so it just slipped out there without him noticing."

Smiling as the tears got thicker, Iris was even happier. "That is all the better." It meant that Neal wasn't forcing it, that he had meant it when he called her mom.

Moving to clear the table, the family repeated their actions of the night before to have the leftovers put away and the dishes washed. Then they moved back to the living room for their last little while of conversation.

Eventually, the clock dictated the time so the group split up. The elder Burkes went upstairs to finish packing and the younger Burkes moved to begin preparations for lunch.

Once the luggage was lined up by the door, Peter insisted on helping them haul it out to their car like he usually did. When he came back, he had been given the box of cards and letters for Neal to go through.

"Here is that box that I told you about Neal. You don't have to go through it all today, but these are for you to read as you're ready." Peter sat it down in the living room where it was handy, but not in the way. He figured that Neal could go through it at his place, or it could be transferred to Neal's if he preferred.

Eying it with mixed emotions, Neal knew that he wasn't ready for it yet, but he was glad to know that it existed. "I'll figure out where I feel more comfortable to read them later."

Patting him on the shoulder, Peter reassured him. "There isn't a rush Neal. Read them when you're ready, wherever you feel the most comfortable."

Walking in slightly behind, the elder Burkes had timed it out as Neal felt more comfortable with Peter. Still, they had two more things that they wanted to give Neal in person.

"This is your baby book that we made for you. When you were adopted, we stored it away to remember you by, but we tried to keep it from Peter as we weren't sure if he would ever get to meet you." Iris handed him the book that detailed how excited she was to learn that he was expected, Isaac's excitement to have another child on the way, her illness that nearly killed them both, and their grief at having to give him up. It was going to be another emotional ride that Neal wasn't entire ready for yet.

Then Isaac proffered his gift. "This is the letter that explains why we had to give you up for adoption and how sorry we were that we weren't going to get to raise you ourselves. We know that this is a lot for you to take in, so read them whenever you are ready. These have been gathering dust in our attic for years in the hope that maybe one day, if we were very blessed, we just might get the chance to give them to you. Now that we have, we are more interested in going into the future where we can have a relationship with you. You probably have a lot of questions, so feel free to call us at any hour, we will be happy to answer anything." He had tears in his eyes again as he gave his speech. It was something that had played through his mind for years, so it was emotional to finally say it to his son.

"Thanks." Neal was trying not to have tears in his eyes as well, but there was a shine that betrayed him. "After growing up with family that betrayed me, was lost in depression, or couldn't always be there for me, this is a huge difference… but a very good difference."

Settling their emotions aside again, they tried to regain some composure by distracting themselves with lunch. As they ate, they picked up lighter conversation of their everyday lives and passed a pleasant time before it was time to go.

Slowly walking to the door, the five of them moved as a group reluctant to let go of their time together. Still, the distance was covered, so they continued out towards the car. Once they had reached the vehicle, there wasn't any more delay to be had, so they said their goodbyes and promised to get together again soon.

Waving their parents off into the city traffic, the three younger Burkes stood there for a few moments as they watched the car disappear.

Slinging an arm acrossed Neal's shoulders, Peter pulled him into a sideways hug. "That was a nice weekend, wasn't it?"

Smiling softly, Neal had enjoyed it immensely, despite the awkward moments. "It was. I have never experienced having a family like this before."

Tearing up a little again, Peter and Elizabeth sandwiched him in between them.

"Well, you aren't getting rid of us so easily, so you had better get used to it." Peter stated.

"I can deal with that." Neal smiled.

"What do you say we watch a movie for a while?" Elizabeth suggested.

"Sure, what do you have in mind?" Neal asked. He was game for extending the weekend for a few more hours before he would have to go home.

"Your pick. Let's see what movies you like to watch." Elizabeth suggested.

Grinning, Neal hinted. "You might not like my actual taste so well once you get to know me." He was back to being playful.

"As long as it isn't something Sci-Fi." Elizabeth threw out there.

"I guess that reveal will have to be for another day then." Neal teased.

"What does that mean?" Elizabeth asked.

"You'll just have to wait and see." Neal refused to answer.

Curling up on the couch with some popcorn, the group settled in to enjoy a light comedy to ease up some of the deeper emotions that they had been dealing with all weekend (ever since the attacks really). For the first time in weeks, it was a pleasant time for them to relax and let tomorrow worry about its self. In the meanwhile, they still had a few precious hours of the weekend left to while away.

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Okay everybody, this is the last chapter to part one. Next week we will begin "Family Bonding" where the family continues to deepen those bonds as well as wrap up the case through some scary situations...