13 September 2011 @ 03:55 pm
Title: If You're Gone
Author: [livejournal.com profile] sahiya
Rating/Pairing: PG-13, Peter Burke/Elizabeth Burke/Neal Caffrey
Word Count: 31,381
Spoilers: None
Warnings: None
Summary: What do you do when the people who've become your Pole Star move three thousand miles away? Neal Caffrey is about to find out.
Author's Note:

This was written for the 2011 White Collar Big Bang, but it has been in progress since November 2010. As such, it does not take into account the second half of season 2 or any of season 3.

Many thanks to everyone who has given me advice about this fic over the last ten months. [livejournal.com profile] jaebi_lit helped me develop the original idea and looked at multiple drafts to help me figure out issues in plot and tone. [livejournal.com profile] canaana looked at an early draft and gave me the courage to kill some significant darlings. [livejournal.com profile] yamx came in at the end to look at it with fresh eyes, which helped immensely. And, last but not least, so much thanks to [livejournal.com profile] fuzzyboo03, who has seen so many versions of this story that she's probably even more tired of looking at it than I am.

Thanks also to my artist [livejournal.com profile] queenofthebobs, who made a wonderful fanmix to go with this fic. Please check it out - it has some great music on it.

If You're Gone on AO3
 
 
( Post a new comment )
[identity profile] sahiya.livejournal.com on September 14th, 2011 08:49 pm (UTC)
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.
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)
elrhiarhodan[personal profile] elrhiarhodan on September 14th, 2011 09:06 pm (UTC)
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.
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)
elrhiarhodan[personal profile] elrhiarhodan on September 16th, 2011 02:08 pm (UTC)
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.
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] sahiya.livejournal.com on September 16th, 2011 02:44 pm (UTC)
Oh thank you! That's such a lovely review. I'm just grinning and grinning.
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)