A/N: I was going to leave this story as a one-shot, but a kind reviewer requested something about how Peter gives Neal an Oscar. So, here goes. Thanks to everyone who reviewed – I hope this second part is just as fun for you to read as it was for me to write!

Also, I forgot to say it earlier, but anything you recognize belongs to USA, not me.

Long after the last award had been presented to The King's Speech and Neal had gone home, Peter was thinking about how best to surprise his friend with a fake Oscar. He had found a cheap souvenir shop on the other side of town that sold fake Oscars but he wasn't going to have enough time to pick one up before work. That's fine, Peter thought. I'll wait a couple of days and then spring it on him. The surprise will be better that way.

So Peter bided his time. He shared his plans with Elizabeth on Monday night, who got a devious gleam in her eye and casually suggested a rather unique way to misappropriate FBI resources. God, I married a genius! Peter thought at hearing her suggestion. That's even better than a fake Oscar on his desk!

On Tuesday Peter called Jones and Diana into his office while Neal was flirting with a few of the secretaries and clerks in the break room.

"What I'm about to tell you is personal and not related to any case we have worked or any case we may work in the future," Peter said. "Understand this. Even if you find anything, short of murder, there will not be an official inquiry made. Got it?"

Jones and Diana didn't hesitate. "Yes, Boss," they chorused in unison.

Peter smiled. "Good. I need all the Oscar footage you can find, videos and pictures, for the years 2002, 2003, 2004."

Jones paused for a moment before asking, "What exactly are we looking for?"

"Neal Caffrey." Peter said to two shocked agents before relating both the conversation he had heard the previous night and the plan he had for Neal. By the time he was through, both agents were grinning broadly and Neal was back at his desk, shooting puzzled looks at the trio. "Not a word to anyone. This is mostly going to have to be done in our off hours, especially if we don't want Neal getting wind of it. Let me know what you find." Jones and Diana nodded and left Peter's office.

Peter picked up a file on his desk and stepped outside his office. "Neal," he said across the bullpen, giving the CI the double-fingered Quantico salute. "My office." It's a good thing we've got a lot of cold cases. I just hope they're enough to keep him distracted.

Sifting though three years worth of Oscar media took three people a lot longer than what it should have. The sheer number of photographs taken each day was mind-boggling. Somehow, however, they'd done it. They'd found undeniable proof that Neal and Kate had crashed the 2003 Academy Awards.

There weren't very many photographs of the couple on the Red Carpet, but the ones they had were stunning. Neal was sleek and elegant in an all black suit, black shirt, and black tie. Probably an Armani or something, Peter thought. It was a strikingly severe look coupled with Neal's dark hair and pale skin, but it just worked for Neal, especially when the camera captured the frightening intensity of Neal's eyes. Then Peter understood the whole black on black thing. Kate was stunning in a midnight blue dress that sparkled in an oddly elegant way. Peter definitely was no fashion guru and so he didn't understand the simplistic complexity of the dress. No doubt El would, he thought. Peter did know enough to know that the young con artists were stunning and clearly very in love. There were also a few pictures of Neal and Kate at the Governor's Ball after the ceremony. Kate was photographed with Adrian Brody (Peter remembered his name because he kissed Halle Berry and damn if that wasn't something Peter had thought about a time or two), some of the cast of The Two Towers, and Steve Martin. Neal had been caught posing with Michael Caine and Daniel Day-Lewis. He'd also been photographed with Catherine Zeta-Jones (Chicago, Entrapment), Christopher Walken (Catch Me if You Can), and Paul Newman (The Sting, The Hustler). Probably talking cons all night long, Peter thought.

There was one special photograph of Neal and Kate together. Peter spent a long time looking at it before putting it at the bottom of the pile, unsure what to do with it.

If Peter was honest with himself, he had to laugh at the sheer audacity of the stunt. Neal was definitely on the FBI's radar by then and that little stunt could have been bad news for the crime committing couple. Luckily there had been no reported thefts or anything else that had Neal's name written on it during the time Neal and Kate were likely in Hollywood (and yes, damnit, Peter had had to check). Peter had taken the video clip of Neal and Kate on stage as presenters home to El and they'd watched some sound tech person give the same excruciating acceptance speech four times, attention riveted on the figures behind the speaker.

Two weeks went by before Peter had all the components of his plan set out and ready to go.

"Hey Neal, you have plans for tonight?" Peter asked casually as they were walking out of the building for the weekend.

"Not really, no. I was thinking about maybe going to a movie or something. Maybe see one of the Best Picture nominees that I haven't seen yet."

Peter did a little happy dance inside his head. A perfect PERFECT opening! "Do you want to come over for dinner tonight? El was thinking about ordering from that new Thai place that just opened. Bring the wine and stay for a movie?"

Neal smiled. "That sounds great, Peter. Let me go home, change, and I'll meet you at your place at 7:30?"

"See you then."

At 7:28 Neal let himself into the Burke's residence. Peter was at the table, working on the crossword puzzle from that day's newspaper. "Caffrey," Peter said without looking up, voice tinged with annoyance. "Doorbells are there for a reason."

"Peter, don't be so mundane. Besides, I need to keep up my skills. You might need them someday and where would we be if I let myself get rusty?" Neal said cheekily. He held up a bottle of wine. "Want some?" he asked before Peter could reply.

"He doesn't, but I do!" said El, coming out of the kitchen with a beer in hand for Peter. She kissed Neal on the cheek in greeting and then set the bottle on the table in front of her husband. "I didn't know what you liked, so I ordered a few things that we can share," she said. Neal nodded and smiled.

"Speak of the devil!" El said as the doorbell rang. "You know where the glasses are, Neal. Why don't you pour us some vino. Get some plates while you're at it!"

Neal disappeared into the kitchen.

"Everything set, hon?" El asked her husband.

"The video is all cued up and ready to go. Let's eat first." Peter winked at his wife as he went to open the door for the food.

An hour later Neal, El, and Peter were arranging themselves before the TV.

"What's tonight's movie?" Neal asked.

"A surprise," said Peter. El suppressed a smile. "One I think you'll like." Peter pushed play on the DVD remote and turned toward the TV.

Neal's brows hunched together in confusion before he too turned toward the TV. His jaw dropped when he saw the video playing. He stared at the TV, momentarily speechless at the sight of himself on TV at the Oscars.

"You told him!" Neal said accusingly in El's direction.

"She did no such thing. I heard every word you said!" Peter defended his wife. "I was barely able to contain my surprise! And do you know how many photos those photographers take at events like these? THOUSANDS! It took Jones, Diana, and I a week to find any of you at all."

Neal was surprised, "You told Jones and Diana? And the three of you misappropriated FBI resources for me?" Neal looked oddly touched.

"Easy there, Sundance," Peter had the grace to look a little uncomfortable. "We didn't misappropriate the resources much. Besides, it was her idea!" he said, pointing to El.

"Oh, rat me out, why don't you!" El said with a sigh. "Peter, show him the pictures."

Neal looked at Peter, "You found pictures?"

"Yes, I did. And I'm dying to know what it was that you, Christopher Walken, and Paul Newman talked about." Peter tossed a file folder over to Neal.

Neal chuckled fondly at the memory as he started to page through the photos. "Well, naturally I asked Christopher about Frank Abegnale, and Paul and I talked about the hypothetical pros and cons of running one of the old cons, like the wire, in today's world." Neal paused. "This is all you found?" he asked, an odd tone in his voice.

"No, it isn't. But you should know that I told Jones and Diana to overlook anything short of murder that may or may not have been connected to you when you may or may not have been in Hollywood."

"Peter, I'm touched. Misappropriation of federal resources, telling agents to ignore any possibly leads they may find, not that there was anything to find, of course. I think we're one step closer to business cards with 'Caffrey and Burke' emblazoned on them in gold lettering."

"One," Peter said holding up a finger. "Any leads Jones or Diana dug up connected to you would result in a huge amount of paperwork. If we haven't heard about it by now, I don't care. Two, no business cards. Three, it would be 'Burke and Caffrey.'"

Neal smiled. "You said there was more?" he probed.

Peter's smile fell a little and he hesitated. "Yes," he said and handed Neal a framed photograph. He was unsure how his friend would react.

Neal looked at the photo and momentarily forgot how to breathe.

It was a close up of he and Kate dancing at the Governor's Ball. Neal's right hand was on the small of Kate's back and his left hand was lightly brushing her cheek. Kate's eyes were closed and she was leaning into Neal's caress with a soft smile on her face. The love surrounding the couple had a physicality that Neal had never before seen in a photo. Everything about it was perfect and Neal found himself running his thumb lightly across the photo. Neal closed his eyes against the threatening tears and took a moment to compose his thoughts.

Neal looked at the couple, his eyes bright with happy memories and unshed tears. "This is the only photo I have of her. I can't tell you what this means to me." Neal took a deep breath and said, "Thank you both. Thank you so much. I…" Neal trailed off, uncharacteristically at a loss for how to express himself.

El rescued him with a hug and a smile. "Hey, sweetie, it's okay. We know." Peter nodded his agreement.

Neal smiled and looked back at the photo. He laughed and looked up, "So, Peter, what do you think about running the wire on some Wall Street Execs? Could be fun!"