WC: Better Men - Part 4

[bella_harvest]

White Collar -- Fanfiction

Disclaimer: 
All recognizable characters are property of Jeff Eastin and USA Network. 
No copyright infringement intended.

Title:  Better Men - Part 4

• Rating: PG-13
• Category: Hurt/Comfort, Drama, Friendship, Missing scene/alternate canon
• Spoilers: Countdown, Various other references

Author's notes:

Thank you for all the comments

Comments

[ivorysilk]

Nooooooo! You cant end it there! (Well, you can, but but but!) I really enjoyed this--the characterizations and tension between the two is spot on and the end is frustrating and fascinating. Well done, although I still want more! Than you for this.

[bella_harvest]

LOL. I never said I wasn't a tease! Thank you for reading.

As I keep saying, one of the best writers in the fandom.

[ursula4x]

Or maybe just enough to say a fantastic writer. You take the subject matter with which most of us are obsessed and write in such a way that we are left raw and bleeding yet yearning for more.

Re: As I keep saying, one of the best writers in the fandom.

[bella_harvest]

I don't know what to say other than thank you for the compliment. It's a joy to share my passion with all you readers and talented writers on here. I hope the show will continue to inspire us all for a long time to come. B

[elrhiarhodan]

Oh holy...well - the word I want to use is the good Anglo-Saxon one that they don't allow on network television, ever.

This is damn near perfect.

Thank you!

[bella_harvest]

Thank you and you're welcome. I enjoyed writing this part. Neal and Peter as the bickering "married couple" is one of my favorite elements of the show. And there's, of course, the never ending dance around truth and consequence that I never want to see end even though it always leaves me dissatisfied.

Better Men

[anonymous]

Don't like posting this as anonymous but don't know how to put in an id. You are one of the best writers I've read in WC fan fiction I only read WC. I really envy your talent I love to read and would love to be able to write as well..Would love to have seen a more definitive ending to the story but loved the talk between Neal and Peter and loved the idea of Peter having to let go of something he would really want..

Re: Better Men

[bella_harvest]

Thank you for reading and for your kind words. I don't mind anonymous comments at all. I knew the open ending was going to leave a few readers frustrated. I personally like stories that don't give me all the answers and leave me wondering what happens next. I leave those stories/movies/books with a feeling of dissatisfaction, but I find they stick with me the longest. I like it when people have the chance to fill in the blanks with what they think or wish occurred. And when is anything about Peter and Neal ever definite anyway? ;)

[kriadydragon]

I'll be honest - I really liked that ending. I think it reflects both men perfectly: two sides of the same coin, unable to truly let go. And I like Neal's subtle rebuttal to Peter telling him to just let go, because it really isn't that easy.

But.. but.. but! The thing is Neal did let something go - the treasure and the life it could have offered him - in order to keep what he has. I do wish that had been explored since I often feel like it's either ignored in fic or used as a plot device for manly hugs or to make Peter feel guilty. Plus there's so much to explore since it's such a big deal in terms of Neal: all those riches, and he says no to it.

On the other hand - and unlike those stories that seem to completely forget about Neal's decision - it works. Though I would have liked to have seen it touched on, I can also totally see it being something Neal wouldn't think important enough to ever bring up, not with everything that happened.

[bella_harvest]

It's true that the treasure is not really a major factor in this story. Maybe I can explain some of my thoughts in regards to the treasure if you're interested

[kriadydragon]

I'm a little confused by this because Neal did let the treasure go. In Countermeasures (or whatever the ep was called, I can't remember) he decided to stay and keep the life he had rather than go with Mozzie and live the life they'd always wanted. He pretty much gave all the treasure over to Mozzie to do with as he pleased. Neal had made his choice before Elizabeth was kidnapped.

That's what I was talking about.

[bella_harvest]

I'm sorry, my reply was given in the context of the story. If we're talking canon and everything that happened in the first half of season 3, I would argue that whether Neal let the treasure go depends on your definition of "letting go