I loved this! The premise was interesting and rather heart-wrenching -- I liked the detail about both Neal and Peter having to get drunk to deal with the decision they'd all made -- and I really enjoyed reading Neal and Diana as friends. Nice resolution for everyone's careers too. *applauds*

Thank you!

I really enjoyed writing Neal and Diana as friends. That was one of the best bits of the whole process for me.

I am loving it and I want to kill AO3! I can't get to the third chapter, the damn server is down. It's killing me.

Your story is brilliant, original and simply beautiful. It's making me ache.

*shakes fist at Ao3*

Okay - finished it (and still mopping up the tears).

Truly one of the most original stories I've read in the fandom.

I'd like to do a front/full page rec for it on White Collar Fixation - may I include the artwork with the rec? Is there anything you'd like me to say about the story? The rec will either go up tonight or on Friday.

Oh wow! Thank you! *blushes*

A rec would be awesome. The artwork is a fanmix, rather than visual art; if you'd like to include it, I'm sure the artist would be very happy. Otherwise, I provide a link to it in my A/N.

As for anything interesting to say about it . . .

Well, for me, one of the most interesting aspects of writing the story was doing it as S2.2 and S3.1 were airing. The characterizations (especially Neal's) changed so dramatically on the show that it was quite strange to be working with them as I saw them at the end of S2.1. But it was really nice, too. It was going back to happier, simpler times on the show, when I think viewers were able to take Neal and Peter's friendship for granted in a way we can't now.

I was also very intrigued by Neal's relationship with Diana. I love Diana, because she's so tough; it was a lot of fun to write her as Neal's handler. In some ways, I think she'd be better even than Peter as Neal's handler; Peter lets him pull things that Diana never would. But they're friends as well, and she's clearly amused by (some of) his antics. I enjoy writing friendship more than anything else, I think, and any 'ships that I write are going to have deep friendship at their core. I was very glad to get to explore Diana and Neal's friendship in more depth.

Thank you so much! I will post this on WCF this evening.

Again - it was terrific and confirms your status in my personal pantheon of WC fic writers.

The recommendation has been posted on White Collar Fixation.

We like to lead each article with a picture - and the only reason why I choose the shot from Company Man was because it was the icon you used in this post (and it's a lovely domestic moment).

Thank you again for agreeing to the rec and letting me add your words to it.

Oh thank you! That's such a lovely review. I'm just grinning and grinning.

This was marvelous! I loved the Peter/Diana bonding and partnership, loved that he was actually better behaved with her because it highlights how much of his behavior is about attracting/keeping/proving Peter's attention/devotion. Terrific characterizations, with a particularly lovely El...especially in the scene where she goes to see Neal after he and Peter get drunk and in the hospital scenes. Poignant and achy even expecting a happy ending, which did not disappoint.