This is kind of like another story I wrote but hopefully much better.

I don't own White Collar, but I do own a heart that loves it.

Peter and Elizabeth Burke had just sat down at their lovely dinning room table to enjoy a nice breakfast together for the first time in months. It was forty-four minutes past eight on Saturday morning, both Elizabeth and Peter had the weekend off and had planned to sleep in before they got around to catching up on some things they needed to do around the house and such, but when both of them woke up around eight and failed to fall back asleep, they decided to get up and have a nice breakfast with no interruptions.

Peter lifted his fork with a bite of scrambled eggs on the tip of it to his mouth, but before the desired bite made it to his mouth a loud knock startled both Peter and his wife, causing Peter to stab himself in the cheek with his fork and Elizabeth to spill some of her coffee.

"Damn! Whoever that is, is going to have hell to pay!" Peter mumbled as he stood from the table. Elizabeth rolled her eyes as she walked over to the sink to rinse off the coffee that had spilled down her arm.

Peter was mumbling unpleasant words while threatening whoever was on the other side of the door. One glance at the clock told him it was exactly eight forty-five, one minute after they had sat down for breakfast.

"Whoever this is has impeccable timing." Peter mumbled sarcastically before he opened the door. The sight that greeted him made him even more annoyed.

"Hey Peter!"

Neal Caffrey greeted too loudly for eight forty-five am. He stood there with a cheeky grin spread across his face, one that Peter could tell got bigger just as soon as Neal realized that he had already annoyed him. He rocked back on his heels then leaned forward to bounce on the balls of his feet. He blinked his wide, expressive eyes and stared at Peter while the agent shot daggers in his direction.

"Aren't you going to let me in?" Neal asked expectantly.

Peter clenched his jaw.

"Why on earth are you HERE on Saturday morning at ..." Peter stole a glance at the clock on the wall in the living room and turned back around to Neal who still stood on his doorstep." eight forty-seven when I specifically told you we had the day off and to stay out of trouble?" Peter fumed still blocking the younger man from entering his house.

Neal's cheeky grin turned into a sly one as he replied.

"But Peter how could I possibly get into trouble when you're around?"

"Oh, I can think of one way right now." Peter grumbled, narrowing his eyes. Neal's smile fell and he swallowed hard. Thankfully he was saved by Elizabeth who walked out of the kitchen with a new cup of coffee in hand.

"Boys..." She warned with a smile. "Play nice."

Neal's smile returned and Peter rolled his eyes.

"Come into the kitchen Neal, I'll get you something to eat. You're just in time for breakfast." Elizabeth motioned for him to follow as she proceeded to go back to the kitchen. Neal's grin widened as Peter's jaw dropped.

"I have impeccable timing, or so I'm told." Neal replied as he followed Elizabeth, but taking a moment to wink at Peter. The agent mumbled a few choice words before joining his wife and consultant in the kitchen.

"I can fix some eggs and bacon for you, or pancakes, or waffles, or.."

"El! Just give him a bowl of cereal!" Peter grumbled. " Or nothing. This is my day off, which means no Neal!"

"Peter!" Elizabeth scolded. "Neal what would you like?"

"Cereal is fine, Elizabeth. Thank you." Neal replied.

"Alright. You two go have a seat at the table. I'll get the cereal. Peter, grab Neal a bowl and spoon." Elizabeth said as she walked over to the cabinet.

Peter was stabbing his food harshly on his plate, while Neal just sat across the table from him remaining silent waiting for Elizabeth to join them. Luckily Elizabeth came shortly after Peter decided to stare at Neal and sat the box of cereal between them. Neal's eyes lightened up like a five year old kid and Peter's widen in annoying surprise.

Elizabeth smiled in amusement.

"El, I told you not to buy that kind." Peter stated, but his wife shot him a look that said otherwise.

As he watched his partner, who suddenly looked no older than six, eagerly open the cartoon designed cereal box his annoyance and anger began to dissipate. Once the box was open, Neal sat up straight and squeezed the sides of the box and peered inside with nothing but a lighthearted, boyish grin spread across his face. Elizabeth and Peter shared an amused look as they watched Neal reach into the box and pull out the small prize inside. Elizabeth, nor Peter, could keep from laughing as they eyed Neal's prize.

Neal fingered the small toy for a few seconds with a blank expression but quickly joined in on the laughter.

"Well, I think it's perfect." Elizabeth said, as she reached for the toy. " This little cop car will go perfect with that sheriff's badge you have Neal."

"Which I will remind you is not real." Peter pointed out. Neal just smiled.

"So Neal what are your plans for the day?" Elizabeth asked, taking a sip of her coffee.

"Nothing really, I-" Neal began but Peter cut him off.

"Oh, well that's good. Since you oh so kindly invited yourself over today you can help me repair the guest bathroom." Peter happily volunteered Neal.

"Are you serious?" Neal questioned in a low, dreadful voice.

"Oh, absolutely!" Peter was now the one grinning from ear to ear. "Hurry up and eat your cereal 'Sheriff'. We start in ten minutes."

Peter slapped Neal on the back as he got up from the table to take his dishes to the sink and then headed up stairs.

Neal watched him go until he reached the second story of the Burke's home, then turned pleading eyes towards Elizabeth. She returned his look with a sympathetic one and smiled slightly.

"Sorry, but I've been begging him to work on that bathroom for weeks. With you helping him, it can be done twice as fast. I'm not getting you out of this one."

"But-" Neal tried to protest.

"Nope. Now eat up. A sheriff needs his Super Sugar O's for his day of work." Elizabeth teased standing up from the table.

Neal poured some cereal into his bowl followed by some milk. He took one bite and began to dread the rest of the day.

"I should've stayed at home." Neal said through a mouthful of cereal, not loud enough for Elizabeth to hear, or so he thought.

"What did you say, Neal?"

Neal swallowed, before flashing what he hoped to be a convincing grin.

"I said, this always feels like home."

"I thought so." Elizabeth gave him a knowing look, before heading upstairs herself.

'I could sneak out right now.' Neal thought to himself as he eyed the door. He listened to the noises coming from the the floor above him. Thinking that Peter and Elizabeth were busy enough, he gently dropped his spoon and quietly scooted his chair back from the table. He waited a few more seconds before standing up and heading for the door. He had taken about four steps when Peter appeared on the stairs.

"Going somewhere, Neal?"

Neal froze for a split second, hating himself for being caught, then quickly recovered.

"Just heading up to meet you. Unless you need me to go somewhere else before we get started?"

Neal silently hoped Peter sent him out to get supplies or even a damn deviled ham sandwich, anything to keep him from helping Peter repair a bathroom.

"Nope. We're all set. Come on, let's get started." Peter ruined Neal's hopes and jogged up the steps. Neal closed his eyes and leaned his head back, praying he would make it through what was sure to be a dreadful Saturday.

Letting out a quiet groan of annoyance, he trudged up the stairs.

AN: Feedback is greatly appreciated! I'm hoping to have the next chapter up by Sunday, but if it doesn't happen it will definitely be posted sometime next week. Thanks for reading!

P.S. Super Sugar O's is the brand of cereal Neal gets his sheriff's badge out of in the episode Vital Signs. I also do not own that. ha