Neal had just finished the painting for BB that morning, and now she was coming over. He couldn't help but be nervous; it was the first time he'd painted a non-forgery for anyone but the Burkes in years. But he also had what might even be a bigger draw: he'd followed her clues and wound up with an old fashioned key, stamped in gold and reading Portugal. Was that where the key's lock was?

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	folleconnasse 2011-10-23 01:43 am UTC (link)
	She figured there was only one reason he could've called her; he'd found his gift. So she'd taken her bags over to where his gift was, thanking god for portkeys as she whipped back to Neal's. She was dressed for travel in jeans and one of his buttondowns and a pair of heels. Picking the lock quickly, she let herself into his house. "Neal?" (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-10-23 01:50 am UTC (link)
	Neal chuckled. "Hey! Up here." He was still in the studio, having finished the framing of her painting. When he heard her head up the stairs, he turned around, standing in front of the easel. "How're you?" (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2011-10-23 01:53 am UTC (link)
	"I'm excited is what I am, how're you?" She smiled at him, leaning against the door of his studio. "Can I come in? I know artists are a persnickity sort." (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-10-23 01:57 am UTC (link)
	Neal pretended to debate, but he just smiled, not moving. Hopefully she'd get the hint and come over to where he was. "Come in here. How are you?" (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2011-10-23 01:58 am UTC (link)
	She did, grinning and jogging over to him before wrapping her arms around his neck and snogging him. "I'm fantastic now. What've you been up to in here?" (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-10-23 01:59 am UTC (link)
	He smiled, looking down. "I actually was finishing something. Put the finishing touches on a piece. For you." He looked up, not sure how she'd react. (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2011-10-23 02:00 am UTC (link)
	"Oh? What sor - for me?" Her green eyes went wide, and she bit her lip. "Neal, you didn't have to - really? For me?" It was hard not to go a little teary. (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-10-23 02:06 am UTC (link)
	"Your mom actually gave me the idea." He was faintly embarrassed, but he was still excited. He didn't think she'd be embarrassed or awkward. Neal stepped aside, letting her get a look at the painting in its frame. He'd painted a little girl, maybe six years old, with a sun hat on. The foliage was as close to Louisiana as he'd been able to make it from his memory. (Reply to this)

folleconnasse 2011-10-23 02:09 am UTC (link)

"Mom does that, she just comes up with - " She'd been having problems finishing her sentences ever since she'd realized he'd done something this intimate, this personal, for her. It was more than an 'I love you', it was an intimate bearing of himself. Her eyes filled with tears, and she wiped at her cheeks when they fell. "It's - it's gorgeous. That kudzu looks like it's going to jump off of the canvas." (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-10-23 02:11 am UTC (link)
	He blushed outright when he saw her cry. Neal smiled, looking down. "When I went to meet your mom, I met little you, too. And just sat and talked with her in the back yard, and yeah." He almost didn't want to touch her, not when she looked so fragile. (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2011-10-23 02:13 am UTC (link)
	It was she who halved the difference between them to wrap her arms around his neck. She kissed him gently, resting her forehead against his. "I love you, Neal Caffrey. You're so ... " She laughed a little raggedly, sniffling. "Thank you. It's perfect." (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-10-23 02:19 am UTC (link)
	He'd heard it before and it was scaring him less every time she said it. Neal just kissed her back, brushing her hair away from her face. "I'm glad. It's been a long time since I painted anything for anyone that wasn't a forgery." (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2011-10-23 02:21 am UTC (link)
	"I don't know why not. You're the most talented person I know." She ran her fingers through his hair, enjoying the gentle way they were kissing each other. "Speaking of talented," she murmured against his lips, "have you found your present yet?" (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-10-23 02:30 am UTC (link)
	"Yes, actually." Neal chuckled. He stepped away from her, reaching over to pick up the gold key from where he'd left it. "I am presuming we're going to Portugal? Or my real gift is in a vault at a bank in Portugal?" (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2011-10-23 02:32 am UTC (link)
	She grinned and leaned against the wall. "Not even close, Caffrey. Pack a bag for the weekend." She folded her arms. "If you don't already have one, you wily thing, you." (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-10-23 02:39 am UTC (link)
	"I keep one ready." It was true, given BB's penchant for haring off on weekends. He'd grown to like it. Neal chuckled, taking the painting carefully off the easel. "Before we go, though, there's one more thing I have to tell you about this painting. There's a caveat." He looked over at her. "It has to stay here." (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2011-10-23 02:42 am UTC (link)
	"Mine are already where we're headed." She stood up, watching him pick up the painting. "I - okay, that's fair, you painted it." She didn't understand, but she'd work with it. She'd been spending more time at his place recently anyway. (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-10-23 02:43 am UTC (link)
	She hadn't understood. "Well, I don't want to go to Sweden to see it or you." Neal swallowed. "I'd prefer just to go upstairs." (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2011-10-23 02:44 am UTC (link)
	Her eyes watered over anew, and she laughed. "Goddamnit, Caffrey - I'm going to have to redeo my makeup, and - I really hope you're asking what I think you're asking otherwise I'm going to punch you." (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-10-23 02:46 am UTC (link)
	"Yeah, I am." There it was. He couldn't take it back. He didn't really want to, but yeah. The last woman he'd ever lived with, well, he'd told BB about Sara. Neal just fished a key out of his jacket pocket and held it up. (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2011-10-23 02:51 am UTC (link)
	Kissing him again, she bounced excitedly. "Can we put it up when we get back? I want to see you with your present." Taking the key from him, she pulled out her own key ring, putting it on. "But there's one caveat with mine. I'm blindfolding you when we get to the portkey." (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-10-23 02:54 am UTC (link)
	"Hot." Neal kissed her, wrapping an arm around her waist. "And yeah, that's okay." It was fine on the easel. "Let me get the bag and we'll get going?" He just had enough for a few days; hopefully that would work. (Reply to this)

	folleconnasse 2011-10-23 02:56 am UTC (link)
	"I just want you to have a good surprise," she beamed. Bouncing downstairs to wait for him, she couldn't help but bite her lip ad bounce around giddily. The idea of sleeping next to Neal every night made her heart beat faster. (Reply to this)

	classicratpack 2011-10-23 03:02 am UTC (link)
	Neal went and took his bag from his room, flipping his hat onto his head. He came down, smiling when he saw how excited she was. "You look more excited than me." And he was excited. He wanted to see what this was. (Reply to this)

folleconnasse 2011-10-23 03:05 am UTC (link)

"I get to see the look on your face, and when it's all over, I get to come home here and sleep with you. I'll still have to practice in Sweden, but ... I don't know, I'm just really happy now." She tugged on his hand, all but yanking him out the door and toward the portkey. When they arrived, she pulled one of his ties out of her pocket and wrapped it over his eyes. "Nicked it while you were getting your bag." And with his eyes blinded, she took his hand and tapped the portkey. (Reply to this)

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