Well, I'm back with another story! I was not planning on continuing Elise's story, but kind of felt the prompt to after imagining how much fun it would be to write some later scenes with Peter and Elise. So the result was Precious Moments like These. Actually I think that's a song from a Christian CD we had…but I'm not sure. Anyways, if it is then I give credit to the artist for the title, whoever it is. :D

To new readers-this series of drabbles and one-shots are off of my other story, Journey. You do not have to read Journey to make sense of this story, but I do recommend it because it gives this one a nice touch. :)

Thanks for reading and please review and follow, as I'll be sporadic about posting and may take my time in posting another chapter. But follows and reviews always inspire me, like every other writer!

Thanks again!

-Shire from CollieandShire

Peter lay awake in his bed, staring up at the ceiling. In the last week he'd gotten to know that ceiling really well, down to which grooves looked like bears, balloons or bottles of bubbles. He had never hoped to become so familiar with the roof that was over his head, but such was life when you were a father of a two-week old baby.

Elizabeth was walking up and down the hall with their daughter in her arms, and Peter could hear her shushing her and humming her. The baby continued to cry, and Peter glanced at the bed clock on the chest next to him. Two-thirty in the morning. Oh, tomorrow is going to be a very long day at the office. He groaned. Oh wait, it is tomorrow. He was really tired.

Peter sat up and yawned, rubbing his eyes. He bit his lower lip thoughtfully as he stared at the open door that led to the hallway, and sighed. Moving the flower decorated covers he got out of the bed and walked towards the hall.

His beautiful dark haired wife was just turning around to make another round in the hall and caught sight of her husband. "Hon? You're still up? Why don't you go back to sleep, you have a long day ahead of you." Elizabeth said gently, coming towards him and laying her free hand on his shoulder. Elise continued to cry, and Peter glanced down at his red-haired daughter.

"That's alright El, I'm not going to be able to sleep." He assured her. "Actually I was coming out here to ask if you'd like me to take a turn."

El let a moment of hope cross her face, but she quickly shook her head. "No, it's fine. I don't have work in the morning and you do. I'm fine dear."

But Peter was firm. "Honestly El, you've been up almost every night for the last two weeks. I can take a turn, that's what partners do for each other."

Elizabeth smiled and kissed him, then whispered in his ear, "Thank you Peter." She handed Elise over and put her in his arms, then tiptoed to her room.

Peter watched her go, a faint smile on his face. Then he turned his attention to the baby in his arms. The poor thing was still crying, deprived from sleep and too full to nurse.

"Hey, Elise, it's okay." Peter cooed, gently bouncing the baby in his arms. "It's okay Elise. You're gonna be okay."

Elise became aware that her mother was no longer holding her, and opened her eyes to chance a peak at Peter. Her crystal blue eyes had a dazzling affect on Peter, and all his previous grumblings faded. He may be tired in the morning, but it was worth it if he could sooth Elise to sleep.

So Peter began to hum a tune, the tune to a song he'd heard many a time on the radio yet had never fully appreciated until now. The words sounded in his ears as he smoothed Elise's red hair and gently rocked the baby back and forth as he walked up and down the hall. There's two things I know for sure, she was sent from heaven, and she's daddy's little girl…

El listened as the cries of Elise faded and the steady humming of Peter could be heard. A tear dropped from her face as she smiled, listening to Peter hum the tune to Butterfly Kisses. She prayed that even though this was a rough time in the process of raising a child, it would not pass too soon. She wanted it to last as long as it could, to hear her husband hum to their daughter and forget that he had a long day ahead of him at work. How unselfish and loving he was, and she knew she'd cherish this time for years to come.

"Whoa, you look tired, Peter." Neal commented, his black hair slicked back and his blue tailored suit neatly pressed. Peter glanced up at the conman and gave him a look.

"Elise didn't sleep last night." He stated simply, going through a stack of papers and filing away a couple of them.

"Still hasn't set into the groove of things, huh?" Neal inquired, sitting in the chair opposite of Peter and dropping a fresh and new stack of papers onto the desk. Peter moaned inwardly at the sight, knowing there would be many more such stacks to work through before the day was out.

"No, she hasn't. I certainly know where the grooves are though." Peter mumbled, picking up the first paper and glancing it over.

Neal raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"The ceiling, Neal. The ceiling." Peter muttered, glancing at the young man. "The ceiling has grooves."

Neal thought about this for a minute, and then grinned. "Someone has way too much time on his hands at night."

"Very funny."

Neal leaned back in the chair and let his grin grow wider, much to the annoyance of Peter. "So, when do Moz and I get to babysit?"

Peter looked up from his paperwork and laughed. "Dream on Neal." He sneered.

"I'm serious! You and El are going to need a break sometime. Mozzie and I would be happy to babysit!" Neal insisted, no longer leaning on the chair as he rested his elbows on Peter's desk. "We'd be the best babysitters ever!"

Peter shook his head. "Okay, first off, she's not old enough to be babysat. Second off, when she is old enough I am not too keen on the idea of her learning the trades you and Mozzie would be sure to show her."

Neal pretended to look offended. "Aww, Peter." He complained, "Don't you trust me yet?"

"Is that a joke?"

Neal narrowed his eyes. "I've proven myself loyal." He growled.

"Loyal, yes." Peter agreed. "Trustworthy, no."

"Thanks a lot, pal." Neal huffed.

At that second Peter's desk phone rang. Before he even had a chance to answer it Neal snatched it up and hit the answer button. "Neal Caffrey, Burke's personal aid how can I help you?" he said, grinning at Peter's death glare.

"Since when did I give you permission to answer my phone?" Peter hissed under his breath.

"Oh, El, how are you?" Neal asked sweetly, and Peter rose out of his chair.

"Let me talk to my wife." He barked. Neal of course ignored him.

"Aww, that's good. How's little Elise doing? Good? Can I come over and see her tonight?"

Peter was seriously considering lunging at Neal's throat, but decided against it as he would no doubt appeal to El if he tried it and he would be reprimanded.

"Thanks! I'll have Peter give me a ride over." Neal glanced at Peter, a smug grin tugging at his mouth.

"Something really bad is going to happen to you." Peter growled between gritted teeth.

"You want to talk to Peter? Sure, he's right here. Talk to you later El, bye."

Neal handed Peter the phone, his hint of a grin now no longer a hint. "El wants to talk to you Peter, if you have time." He said innocently. Peter snatched up his new 'World's Greatest Dad' mug and shoved it into Neal's empty hand.

"Coffee. Now." Peter ordered.

"Shesh, what's your problem?"

Peter only had to take a step towards Neal and he was out the door and down the stairs. Putting the receiver to his ear, he exhaled sharply. "Hi El." He mumbled.

El laughed on the other end. "Neal being a jerk?" she asked.

"You can say that again." Peter sat back down in his chair and leaned back, turning it around so he could face his window and look out at the wide expanse of New York City. Below him he could see the water fountain where a couple of children were trying to retrieve pennies, and several adults rushing to and fro. That's what New York City was, a place full of rushing around.

"As you probably heard, I invited Neal to come over tonight. Which probably means he will be staying for dinner." El was saying, snapping Peter out of his thoughts.

"More like he invited himself over tonight." Peter muttered.

"I have no problem with that." El giggled. "You have to admit hon, he's quite the character." I know. He had to put up with that character all the time. "And admit it, despite putting on the front that he drives you crazy you adore his smart remarks and quick wit."

Peter smiled. His wife knew him better than anyone else, that was for sure. "Yeah, he kind of grew on me." He said, a bit sheepishly.

"That's nothing to be embarrassed about. Anyways, the real reason I called is because Mozzie came by and wanted to see Elise, and I invited him for dinner tonight. So of course Neal will have to be invited too, and that means I need you to pick up some potato salad tonight to go with my Cornish chickens, okay?"

"Wait, Mozzie and Neal are joining us for dinner tonight?" Peter repeated, dropping a paper he'd been fiddling with.

"That's right. Don't worry dear, they don't scare the baby. See you tonight. Love you, hon."

"Love you too, hon." Peter automatically replied, then listened as she hung up. He put his hand over his eyes and groaned. Mozzie and Neal over for dinner tonight. Greattt.

So I'm just kind of making this up as I go along, happily writing away! :D I guess I'll just build off of this for the next chapter and then write something new. That's the fun thing about drabbling, you never know where your drips of creativity are going to take you!

Thanks for reading and please review and follow, that way you'll get notices when I update!

-Shire from CollieandShire