Epilogue

One Week Later...

The media were still buzzing with information about finding the remains of Anthony Mayfield. They'd gone from the story about his disappearance into a grand discussion about leaving kids alone at home and current statistics about kidnappings, missing children and runaways. Neal started to avoid reading the morning paper and begged Peter not to listen to news in the car.

After the initial breakdown it seemed that seeing Neal in Tony's room with the painting triggered something in Brian's mind that led to a full picture of what really happened that day. It led to a rather complicated legal situation that Peter gratefully left to Lucero and Kendrick to handle.

Neal got a standing invitation for dinner at the Mayfields for every second Saturday of the month, which he still debated silently if it was appropriate for him to use; and how to get Peter to approve some additional exceptions, as their house was slightly out of his radius.

"Are you going to accept their invitation?" Peter asked, his tone wary.

"Why not?"

"Wouldn't that be a little bit ... I don't know ... uncomfortable for them and you? Joining their family dinner?"

Neal contemplated for a moment what to say to make Peter understand. He actually wanted to go at least once; yes, he had doubts, at least a few of them. Would they really look at him as himself and not as their dead son? Would they imagine, as he sometimes did, that the past never happened and they lived happily ever after?

"It could be ..." he admitted slowly, "... but I always wanted to see how it is to be part of a family, without playing some kind of con."

Peter regarded him slowly; Neal didn't have the con-man mask, and by his own free will he was again giving him some tidbits about his past.

"What about your family?" he gently prodded.

Neal's gaze wandered behind Peter's back, his thoughts somewhere in his memories.

"With Mom working mostly night shift we usually only had breakfast together, the two of us ... our small family." He broke off in silence; Peter sat still, listening, afraid that if anything moved Neal would clamp his mouth shut faster than he would be able to say "sorry". So he waited, silently.

"Then Conrad showed up ... and with his erratic schedule and Mom taking more and more work, and me ..." He looked at Peter. "... me trying for a career..." His mouth quirked in a sarcastic grin. "There was no time for family." His gaze moved again, this time clouded. "For a moment, when Lily was born, I was hoping..." He fell silent again, thinking. "Obviously it wasn't meant to be. I left and there was no family for me anymore..." He looked like he wanted to add something more, but shook his head. He then visibly composed himself, slipping the 'everything-is-great' mask on again, and looked at Peter with a smile.

"Would you and Elizabeth like to join me this Saturday for dinner at the Mayfields? They told me to invite anyone I like."

Peter was still silent, filing everything he just heard for later. Neal always told you only what you wanted to hear; even if he slipped, it was deliberate.

"I'll ask El if she's free." To ease the sudden tension he added playfully, "just remember, no conning!"

Neal smiled but his voice was serious. "They're willing to give me for free that one thing I could con them into."

"And that is?"

"Feeling like I really belong in the family. Like you and El do."

THE END

AN: Dear all!

Thank you for the adventure! Writing this fic was one for me, and I hope reading also one for you.

For all the reviewers - many, many thanks for the kind words! To all "favorites" and "alerts" and to those anonymous people that just read the story chapter after chapter - thank you, very, very much.

The most thanks goes to my beta - mam711 - as mentioned in one chapter - thanks to her the story is not competing with Swiss cheese in the holes department. Thank you mam for not only checking the million of grammar errors, but also for a fantastic eye for plot continuity.

IF there are any holes left, that's entirely my fault as I decided not to explain some things, letting your imagination take over :) I will not tell you there will be no sequel cos I really don't know what my muse will cook up, I don't plan it so please don't ask.