White Collar // Forging a Bond - Jade/Sayuri
 

Neal knew he was in hot water today. He walked briskly through the Bureau and taking a deep breath - he walked up the stairs and in to Peter Burke's office. "Peter, before you start giving me the prison rant....." his voice trailed off, remembering the cold and lonely cell and he had to swallow deeply. "....You have no actual proof that I stole that music box." he finished, and took a seat opposite the stern man. He didn't know that they had CCTV footage. "Peter....you're not my Dad, and I don't need a lecture....so just save it." he sighed, baby blue eyes meeting soft brown ones.

Peter Burke was sitting in the Bureau, waiting for Neal to arrive. He was sure that Neal knew what he was in for, because it was obvious that he had stolen the musicbox. As he looked at him like all the times before, with his blue eyes, Peter had a hard time resisting. Neal looked always like a little boy that wanted to say "it wasn't me daddy, I swear it!" and Peter had to admit that he felt like a second father for Neal. He sighed deeply. "I won't safe it Neal, you know that I know that we both know that you stole it, and I will prove it", he told him firmly. "I told you what would happen if you wouldn't stop this kind of business", he said. He took out a file and handed it to him. "There are worse things than prison Neal", he told him. It were adoption papers which he just signed today, and they said that Neal was his son now. Curiously, Peter eyed the guy across from him.

Neal swallowed a little, Peter was so much like a Dad. He feared him when in trouble but he respected him and admired him. "Peter...." he sighed when the man accused him of stealing it and seemed to have proof. "Okay....Okay, I wont lie to you Peter, I did steal it....but....it doesn't matter now....Alex ran off with it." he sighed but was then caught swiftly off guard when Peter placed adoption files in his hand. "Adoption?" he was almost speechless, his name at the top was Neal George Burke. "Wait.....you adopted me? B-But why?" he asked, both touched and confused about this.

"So why did you lie to me in first place?", Peter wanted to know sternly and crossed his arms. At the second question he smiled. "Well, it shouldn't surprise you, should it? I thought it was the right thing to do. After all what we've been through, you are a member of my family and you need a firm hand every now and then, we both know that. So, that's the reason. I expect you to behave young man", he told him meaningfully.

Neal opened his mouth to answer but listened to his words firstly. He didn't know about Peter being his Dad officially now....he knew it would never happen but he couldn't help the little thought that Peter would take him over his knee and spank his bare butt, like Dad's were supposed to. But he shook his head. "I...I thought it was easier to lie...." he answered and then swallowed. "Does this make you my...Dad now?"

"Well it's always easier to run away from responsibilty Neal, but it isn't the right way.", Peter lectured sternly. "Yes, but you can continue calling me Peter, I guess it would be odd if our colleagues would hear you calling me Dad, wouldn't it?", he asked a bit calmer. "So, you have to contact Alex and tell her to bring the musicbox back, understand?"

Neal nodded his head, sighing but understanding what the man was saying, he didn't think this whole adoption thing would be any different than things were now, other than the fact his name was legally changed. "Ok." he answered and stood up from the chair. "I'll just go ring her." he said, going over to the door.

"You can do this here as well", Peter said calmly and stood up. "And that doesn't mean that you aren't in troubel anymore", he added sternly.

Neal bit his lip and went to sit back down, he didn't like the tone Peter was using. "So....what? You're going to ground me, Daddy?" he asked, trying to keep up his cheeky ways with Peter, to break the ice. "Or take my toys away?" he grinned.

"No, but I will maybe take the proof that I have and bring you back into prison", Peter answered dead serious and without a smile for his new son. He would show him that he couldn't have his way all the time, just like a kid had to learn.