In which there are seven times Peter laid his badge aside for Neal Caffrey. Not sure what about this fic makes me love it so much. There were certainly a few sports that I thought were imperfectly characterized. But the overwhelming feeling of trust and warmth that radiates from it deserves heartfelt recommendation.

In which Neal knows all the rules for being a con, and to finally have the life he's made with the FBI and Peter, he's systematically breaking them, one by one. This was really, really lovely.

In which Neal can steal souls, Peter has two shadows, and prison can channel powers that are great and unexplainable. This was fucking awesome, I can't even explain. It's a little creepy, a lot atmospheric, utterly fascinating, and just overall quite, quite extraordinary.

In which Neal feels like he's on the periphery of a lot of families, but what he doesn't realize is the only thing holding him back from them is himself. Oh, I just loved this. I loved the way that we see Neal's projected ability to mesh into any group dynamic completely exploded from the inside by his own feelings of otherness and self-doubt. Neal is a person, too, and when it really matters he gets nervous like the rest of us. That was just lovely, and a little heart-breaking, to see.

In which Peter actually went the cushy corporate route, but fate has a way of making sure you meet the people you're supposed to meet. OH. MY. GOD. SO MUCH LOVE FOR THIS FUCKING FIC. PETER STILL CATCHES NEAL. THE SUITS. PETER'S APARTMENT. AND THEN THE END, HAHA, OMG YAY.

In which Peter and Neal come back to Peter's house to find El waiting for them, lying in wait. UNFUNFUNF, JESUS, EPIC PWP FOR THE WIN. Also, which contains the line: "...Neal just grunts and then shivers like he's been waiting for this but wasn't ready for it, wasn't ready for any of it and now has no words, no disguises, nothing prepared." Guuuuh.

In which Neal paints Elizabeth. Domestic, but cheeky. "But you love that!" Yes, he does. :)))))

In which Peter helps Neal find a place where he doesn't have to be three steps ahead anymore. Oh my Gooooood, epic S1 OT3 AU full of greatness and perfection. Everyone's headspace here is fully and beautifully drawn and I love it to tiny, tiny, artistically rendered pieces.

In which Neal picture texts Elizabeth with a photo of Peter. Hahaha, texting banter is my fave.

In which Peter feels bad that he works so much, feels like he's missing out on important things, but luckily he's got two very loving and very understanding partners. Ahhh, lovely.

In which June is a smart woman. Like, this fic actually made me think, "wow, now there is a woman who knows where her towel is," and I haven't had that thought since high school. But she totally does!

In which Elizabeth has been playing a long game in the seduction of Neal Caffrey. Ahhhhhhhhh, love.

In which Peter wanders downstairs after waking up in an empty bed and finds Neal on the couch watching Antiques Roadshow. Adorably sweet look into their current domestic situation and into Neal's not-so-awesome childhood. Helloooooo, personal canon.

Which contains five times Neal was happy to have Peter and Elizabeth as his keepers.

In which Neal, Peter, and Elizabeth confirm and debunk some common conceptions about their characters and relationships. Ahhh, the snippet about Peter having caught Neal more than twice, having let him go some times, ahhh--so fitting, so poignant, so my new personal canon.

Hahaha, in which there is a zombie outbreak (they happen regularly in this verse), and Peter, Neal, and Elizabeth all fucking rule. Awwwweeesssooommmmeeee.

In which we see little snatches of the woman who is Elizabeth Burke. Ahhhhh, my God, I love her so much, and this fic renders her so, so beautifully.

In which Peter gets kidnapped to get to Neal and, with Elizabeth's hearty approval, Neal puts himself in charge of rescue and subsequent care. Haaaaa, really liked this.

In which Peter gets dosed with an aphrodisiac, and El gives Neal the green light to give Peter a helping hand, but maybe there is more to this act of mercy than he's letting himself think.

Oh my God, in which there is an entire fic based around the understanding that Elizabeth wearing Neal's hat will never not be the hottest sign of an impending threesome on this Earth. That on its own made this fic 100% awesome. It got points deducted during the sex for Elizabeth just trying to stay out of the way at one point, but it was a fleeting thing, and the ending, mwah! 95% awesome.

In which Neal is shifty and dear, Peter is a source of strength, El brings an important element of practicality mixed with feminine instinct, and everything works out for the best. There were too many things I liked about this fic--lines and ideas and feelings--to put into these notes, but this worked on every single one of those levels, spectacularly.

In which Elizabeth springs it on him, and Peter and Neal are only too eager to comply.

In which we see the hidden messages contained in Neal's cards for Peter. Oooh, angsty. I really liked this glimpse into Neal's head space in prison. I also really liked how this showed the stages of his growing emotional connection to Peter and Peter's life in a way that wasn't totally sugar coated and thus was believable.

In which Neal gets let out of his anklet and wanders off soul searching for a bit while Peter goes quietly insane waiting to see if he'll come back. While this was primarily about the amazingly literal bonds of trust and love that connect Peter and Neal, the supporting characters are in no way sidelined--El and Moz and even Diana are all strongly and lovingly rendered. I appreciate that so much. It adds another level of loveliness to an already wonderful fic.

In which we see five ways that they get together. I liked that these were not really about the sex, but about other things entirely. Having said that, Neal/Elizabeth is something I like a little too much, for all the wrong reasons, lolol.

In which they have psychic powers. Fascinating and well-realized concept! Awesome!

In which Peter knows its going to be good when he finally gets Neal into their bed.

Teeheeheehee.

In which Neal starts freaking out about their relationship and Elizabeth takes his mind off of it. Awesome.

In which we see the contents of five birthday cards Neal sent Peter. HAHAHAHA, awesome!

In which Elizabeth is a devious little instigator. Awesome! Also, Neal changing Peter's ringtone little by little = hilariously endearing rebellion!

In which Peter likes Neal and everybody knows it, and Neal is flamboyant and everybody knows it. This was a little bit confused and sloppy, but parts of it were quite funny, so whatever I forgive it.

In which the other agents can see what's going on, and speculate like the little office gossips they are. Jealous agents are jealous!!! XD Adorable and hilarious..

In which Neal isn't their child, but he does own their hearts completely. I loved this. I especially loved that it was El's POV because she is frank and sensible and awesome. And I loved Neal being wary and desperate for approval because El and Peter are right, he is adorable.

In which they establish a quid pro quo kind of deal. Ahhhh, I liked this. Neal fixating on Elizabeth because she reminds him of Kate is interesting. Elizabeth being something more than Kate, and bringing Peter along into the package--that's even more interesting.

In which they do Thanksgiving at June's, and things come out. Lovely, adorable family kind of fic.

In which Neal keeps stealing Peter's wallet. Awesome.

In which we find out that Peter's long game was Neal all along, and that makes all the difference. BRILLIANT. BRILLIANT BRILLIANT BRILLIANT for about 95% of the fic. So much Astolat-related awesome. God, I can only pray this is how the long game really pans out because I don't think anything can top this level of touching, wonderful cleverness. As a note about the other 5%: El is great in this when she's talking, but something about the sex, about her just letting Neal and Peter work each other out while she lies back thinking "whatever, at least I'm getting off in this deal" was so not the actively awesome El that I've come to expect and love. I know she has a long game of her own, but in the process it didn't read that way. Characterization issues aside, -5% is still an A, and this fic deserves to get kudos.

In which Peter has doubts about this thing that's gone and developed between the three of them, but Neal and Elizabeth are full of pleasant revelations. This was absolutely lovely, tender and hurty and full of love and finally, trust.

In which we see five orders that Peter gives Neal in public. Haha, these were surprisingly adorable and lovely and more hot because of that than because of anything else going on. Sequel to Boundary Conditions.

In which Peter likes to be in control, Neal is not averse to that, and neither is Elizabeth. Ffffffffffffuck, hot. I just loved the end describing Neal's eyes, and what Peter says and how that affects Neal. That entire exchange is just mind-blowingly amazing, in-your-face-beautiful descriptions with such a delicate subtlety of emotion underpinning it. Ahhhhh.

In which we see how Neal worms his way into Peter and Elizabeth's lives, and the yawning, vulnerable need and love inside him that makes him do it. Which contains the lines: "'You have no idea how long I have been waiting for you to invite me into your bedroom,' Neal teased, getting up. El slapped his ass for saying that as they went up the stairs. That wasn't bad either. 'I thought Peter would be the spanky one. Interesting.' 'Neal, you are in a really fascinating mood,' El said. 'Too bad I am in the mood to clean house.'" This was awesome. Neal with the mumps was both hilarious and really heart-breaking. Loved it.

In which they settle into something domestic. Lovely.