#3 (Doubling up this morning because I can't post from work.)

Title: Contractual Obligations by shaenie
Fandom: White Collar
Pairing: Elizabeth/Peter/Neal
Categories: drama, smut, h/c
Length: Epic (~40,000 words)
Warnings: n/a

Author on LJ: n/a?
Website: n/a

Review:
Peter, Elizabeth, and Neal hook up, but there is a looong conversation first.

I dithered over this one for a long time, because the story does have major issues. The biggest one is that there is really three stories here: a 3,000 word sentence outline of the ten weeks leading up to the hook-up, followed by 30,000 words of talking before the hook-up, followed by 7,000 words of smut. The three parts really don't blend together very well, and I will admit that the 30,000 word conversation goes on about 5,000 words too long.

That said, each of the three stories has merit: the pre-conversation bit is sparse, but it does have some very lovely moments between Peter and Neal and does a great job of showing how comfortable the two have gotten with each other; the conversation (written before the 'Peter is not evil' reveal) presents an intriguing backstory for Peter and Neal and (to a lesser extent) Elizabeth, and also gives a fascinating look at an unconventional but exceedingly strong marriage that is completely permanent and yet flexible enough to encompass a third person; and the smut is, well, hot. Really, really hot. Frankly, I never thought a threesome could be this scorching.

In the end, the spot-on characterizations, the unique take on marriage, and the solid writing make up for the disjointedness of the story. Plus, the ending is guaranteed to make you smile.

Contractual Obligations