hurinhouse: (Default)
[personal profile] hurinhouse
Title: The Best Homecoming Floats are Blue
A/N: for RuntheCon 2 for elrhiarhodan's prompt "Fresh as a Daisy"
Author: hurinhouse
Fandom: White Collar
Rating: G
Summary: Neal gets a surprise.
Disclaimer: Entirely fiction


Daisies. Of all things, he'd always brought her daisies when they were together. When she was sick; for every holiday; if he wanted something from her. Daisies. Always blue, as if to sway her mind in his favor. She carries some now, following the maid as she walks up four stories.

He has plenty of people in his life now. People who love him. People who stuck by him when she did not. But she's hoping, now that she finally knows what she really wants, is finally out of the funk she's been in for so long, that he'll welcome her back into his life. She's tired of running from what matters, of hiding from herself in plain sight. Even if showing up on his doorstep opens Pandora's box, she has to try.

"Mr. Neal? You have a visitor."

When he opens the door, she loses her breath at the sight of him. He's changed so much and yet he's exactly the same. His hair is longer and he looks stronger somehow, but the light in his eyes is forever the same. The confidence, cockiness, still there. Till he catches sight of her. And then... And then those eyes widen, blink a few times, refusing to show any emotion. He swallows, as if to speak or to yell or to coldly turn her away and he can't seem to find any words. When had that ever happened?

But it's her burden to bridge the gap, not his. So she steps forward, hoping for a new start.

"Neal." It's been so long since she's said that name out loud. It feels foreign and it feels like home.

He takes the bouquet in his shaky hand as his voice croaks around the word. "Mom." She can see forgiveness in that field of blue.

It will be okay.


Date: 2016-02-08 10:25 pm (UTC)
china_shop: Close-up of Zhao Yunlan grinning (heart warm)
From: [personal profile] china_shop
Aww, this is really lovely and heartachey. *smishes them*

Date: 2016-02-09 12:02 pm (UTC)

Date: 2016-02-08 10:46 pm (UTC)
kanarek13: (Default)
From: [personal profile] kanarek13
Oh, sooooo lovely, awwww. Another moment in Neal's life that has the potential to make his life even better :D Love it :D

Date: 2016-02-09 12:02 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hurinhouse.livejournal.com
yes! I hope it works out. :)

Date: 2016-02-08 11:48 pm (UTC)
sherylyn: (Default)
From: [personal profile] sherylyn
I love this! Sooo perfect!!

Date: 2016-02-09 12:02 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hurinhouse.livejournal.com
thank you!

Date: 2016-02-09 12:33 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] caseyf123.livejournal.com
Awwwwww..........I wasn't expecting that. Nice job!

Date: 2016-02-09 12:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hurinhouse.livejournal.com
wasn't expecting that... yeah it worked! thanks!

Date: 2016-02-09 12:52 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] riverotter1951.livejournal.com
Poignant and hopeful as well.

Date: 2016-02-09 12:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hurinhouse.livejournal.com
yes, hopeful was my goal. thanks!

Date: 2016-02-09 02:31 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] eldorah.livejournal.com
Aww, love this!! I wasn't expecting that ending! This was lovely!

Date: 2016-02-09 12:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hurinhouse.livejournal.com
thank you so much!

Date: 2016-02-09 06:05 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pipilj.livejournal.com
Aww this is lovely, love the idea that Neal's mother reconnects with him :)

Date: 2016-02-09 12:05 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hurinhouse.livejournal.com
thanks! I think ellen filled the role very well, but with her and james gone...

Date: 2016-02-10 01:31 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tjs-whatnot.livejournal.com
w0w. Great! I am always looking for fic about Neal's mom and have found very little. This is spectacular. ♥♥

Date: 2016-02-10 02:02 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hurinhouse.livejournal.com
Thanks! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

May I ask where else you've seen fics of neal's mom? There was one on aoo that I loved by apparentleigh and.I have a short one I posted a long time ago. Other than those, I've never seen any.

Date: 2016-02-13 09:00 am (UTC)
sapphire2309: (heart)
From: [personal profile] sapphire2309
Oooh, ouch. This must have been so difficult for her. Lovely sweet fic <3

Date: 2016-02-15 01:54 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hurinhouse.livejournal.com
Thanks! I would hope that if she ever got her act together, she'd come looking for him.

Date: 2016-02-15 02:57 am (UTC)
sapphire2309: (Neal 2)
From: [personal profile] sapphire2309
Yeah, Neal deserves a happy reunion after S4.

Date: 2016-02-15 03:20 pm (UTC)
vexed_wench: (Default)
From: [personal profile] vexed_wench
This is perfect.

Date: 2016-02-16 12:58 am (UTC)

Date: 2016-02-16 06:49 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] treonb.livejournal.com
Great fic! I didn't see the ending coming, and I do love fics where Neal's mom shows she loves him.

Date: 2016-02-17 09:11 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hurinhouse.livejournal.com
thank you! yeah he deserves a little love from her after all this time. :)

Date: 2016-02-17 06:36 pm (UTC)
ultra_fic: (WC Ifs Buts & Maybes)
From: [personal profile] ultra_fic
I just didn't have time to read all the fics as they were being posted this round, but I'm here now...

Aaaaw! Tearing up right here. I so didn't see that coming, but it was lovely :)

Date: 2016-02-17 09:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hurinhouse.livejournal.com
there's never a time limit for all of us to read fics, yes? thank you! I'm so pleased you enjoyed it.
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