RECAP FROM LAST CHAPTER:

"Your teacher asked if anything was going on between you and your father and you told her your father hit you?"

"Not exactly."

"What exactly was going on between you and your father, Neal?" Peter could feel in the pit of his stomach that something terrible had happened. He knew he was going to regret asking these questions, but he also knew he needed to know the answers.

"That would be a very long conversation, Peter," Neal replied dryly. "If we ever had it."

CHAPTER 5:

"I have all night." Neal simply continued to gaze out the windows, staring fixedly at the stunning New York skyline. "Neal, what happened with your father?" Neal, once again, refrained from responding. "I thought we were playing twenty questions." No response. "You know, Neal, this game only works if you actually answer the questions."

There was a long pause, but Neal finally spoke. "Yeah, well, the game wasn't working anyway because you keep skipping my turn."

Peter had to hold himself back from laughing at the childishness Neal was portraying at the moment. Even though Peter felt slightly guilty for upsetting Neal with the probing inquiries about his father, he could not keep the small smile from his face at the way Neal was pouting like a petulant four year old. Neal turned to look at Pete, his gaze finally ripped away from the city lights, just in time to see Peter attempting to wipe the smirk off his face.

"Oh so now you're mocking me? Really, Peter?"

A small chuckle escaped past the agent's lips. "I am not mocking you, Neal."

"Oh, are you just in the habit of smirking for no reason, then?" Neal may have seemed angry to anyone who did not know him well, but Peter had spent years hunting this man down. He knew Neal's words held no venom. He could detect the faint amusement in the question. "Honestly, Peter, I expected more maturity from you."

"As if you're one to talk about maturity, Caffrey."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Oh nothing. You're the essence of mature."

"You're sarcasm hurts, Peter.

"No, I'm being serious."

"You're not."

"I am. You practically ooze responsibility. You're a quintessential adult."

"Hey, I can be responsible."

"Sure you can."

"And I am an adult."

"Uh-huh."

"Just because you insist on treating me like I'm a child, doesn't mean-"

"I treat you like a child because you act like one!"

"I do not."

"Do too."

"Really? Who's the child now, Peter?"

"Still you."

"You're the one trying to get into a 'do not/do too' argument. I think it is quite clear who's the man lacking the maturity."

"It is crystal clear. You're the one whining like a little kid playing a board game because you missed your turn."

"First, I did not miss my turn, you skipped it. Second, a childish game deserves a childish reaction."

"Yeah, that makes sense," Peter scoffed.

"You are the one who decided we should play twenty questions, so don't lecture me about my immaturity."

Laughing, Peter shook his head. The smile on his face faded though, as he recalled what their conversation had been about earlier. "Neal, what did you tell your teacher?"

"No." Peter was a little taken aback by Neal's flat out refusal.

"Neal, I -"

"No, it's my turn."

Peter's smile returned, albeit briefly. "Okay. Shoot."

"Did you ever want kids?"

Neal's question was, once again, not exactly what Peter had been anticipating. "I thought about it."

"Yeah? Why didn't you and Elizabeth, then?"

"I thought you only got one question. Isn't that what you were whining about?"

"You were allowed to ask multiple questions."

"No, I got scolded for asking multiple questions."

"Fine, let's make it even, then. Answer my question."

"The timing was just never right."

"The timing? You never had kids because the timing wasn't 'right'?"

"Neal, kids are a big responsibility. You have to be ready. You have to be in a position to fully care for that child. It's not like having a pet."

"I never had a pet."

"No? Not even a fish?"

"Not even a fish. But this isn't about me right now."

"El and I talked about. We wanted kids. Well, just one, actually. But with my hours at the bureau and her event planning just taking off - yeah, the timing wasn't right. We couldn't make it work."

"I'm sorry."

"Well, it hasn't been a completely unfulfilled dream."

"Right, you have Satchmo," Neal grinned.

"Yeah, Satchmo," Peter returned the smile knowingly. Some things didn't have to be said.