I just got into this show, mostly because I saw a preview for the Wonderland spin off, and decided to watch the original first, just to make sure I would understand everything. And this idea sort of came to mind as I was watching the Neal/Emma reunion in the season two episode Manhattan. It became AU as soon as I watched the next episode, but I couldn't get it out of my head. So I'm writing it, as I wait impatiently for the new season, and procrastinate on writing my other stories. I totally have my own theories about what's going to happen, mostly the whole prophecy thing. If there's one thing movies and television have taught me about prophecies, it's that they always have more than one interpretation, and most of the time, they're self-fulfilling. Anyone think that the whole 'the kid's gonna be my undoing' thing might have to do with the Dark One, not Rumple the man?

And another thing. I've been perusing this genre's archive, and I see so many Emma/Regina pairings. While I have nothing against it (though it's really not my cup of tea) does anyone realize that Regina is Emma's step-grandmother? That's really a creepy pairing when you think about it.

Summary: AU alternative for Manhattan. No Hook assassination attempt, no Tamara. Neal doesn't come back with Emma and Henry, unwilling to listen to his father. until he realizes there's no good reason not to be with the love of his life. Back in Storybrooke, Emma's feeling guilty over lying to Henry about his dad, especially when confronted by Snow and David. SwanThief. Rated T for mentions of abuse.

Disclaimer: I don't own Once Upon a Time, or any of the characters. I'm just playing with them.

Considering who her parents were, she supposed she shouldn't be surprised that it was the kiss to end all kisses. The kiss that, had she been in one of those cheesy Disney fairy tale movies that she always hated growing up, would have been accompanied by the camera spinning all around them, romantic music playing in the background, right before they rode (flew, swam, whatever) off into the sunset and the credits rolled.

And then she slapped him.

What was he doing here? He had told his father, in quite explicit terms, to shove it, and leave him the hell alone. So Emma, Henry, and Gold had returned to Storybrooke without him. He hadn't wanted to move, to leave his life. Never mind being with his son. His son who hadn't spoken to Emma since they had left Neal's apartment, after finding out that his mother had lied to him about his father.

These people sure liked to throw parties, Emma mused, as she sat off to the side of the gathering at Granny's, a welcome home party for her and Henry. Fortunately, Snow and Charming were the only ones who knew exactly who Rumpelstiltskin's son was to her family.

She knew she was worrying her… parents… wow, that really would take some getting used to, especially since they looked like they were the same age. But she couldn't muster up the energy to fake it.

She looked up, startled, as a weight settled down on either side of her, and fought back a sigh at the sight of the people she had just been thinking about.

"How are you doing?" Snow asked compassionately. She knew that things were strained between Emma and Henry, and she knew that her daughter was hurting over Neal.

Emma shrugged, looking down at her beer. She took a swig, swallowing harshly before answering. "I'm fine," she replied, hoping that they wouldn't call her lie.

Snow sighed, resting her hand on her daughter's shoulders. On Emma's other side, David looked on, feeling his own worry for his daughter creeping in. She looked so different from the fiery take no bullshit Sheriff he knew so well.

"Emma, I know this is hard for you, but you can understand why Henry is upset, can't you?"

And there was the blazing passion and temper they had seen so much since meeting her. "So I'm to blame, right? It's all my fault?"

Snow tried to reassure her, but Emma wasn't listening, not really comprehending the fact that she was drawing attention from the rest of the crowd, most of all from Henry, the one person she didn't want to know the whole story.

She jerked out of Snow's light grip, and pulled back. "What was I supposed to tell him? How would the truth have helped anything? Henry doesn't need to know the whole story. He deserves to idolize his father. How is the truth doing anyone any good?"

"He deserved to know –" Snow tried to be the voice of reason.

Emma shook her head, cutting her mother off. "Know what? That his father made me believe that just maybe, life didn't have to suck, right before he set me up to take the fall for a crime he committed? That he was the final nail in the coffin for me? There's a reason I don't do trust, and Neal had a big part in making that happen." Emma shook her head, sliding out of her seat. "Henry deserves better than what he got. His parents are both screw-ups, and I gave him up for a reason. It wasn't because I wanted to; Henry deserves so much more than an eighteen year old with a criminal record, and a father who promised her the world, and then took it away."

With that, Emma stormed out, the door closing sharply behind her, the only sound in the silent diner.

"Is that true?" Henry asked in a small voice.

Snow and David looked over at their grandson, seeing his pain and guilt. They opened up their arms, and the boy moved over immediately, seeking solace in the hug.

Pulling back, he looked up at his grandparents. "She really wanted to protect me. I told her she was just like Regina, lying to me, but she did it for me."

Snow and David smiled, though it was too tight to be reassuring.

"She loves you, kid," David said, resting a hand on his shoulder and bending down slightly.

Henry looked over his shoulder at the door. "I should find her. I need to apologize."

Snow drew his attention back to her. "Maybe you should give her some time. When she comes home tonight, you two can talk. All right?"

Henry didn't look convinced, but he agreed, and let Leroy hand him another piece of cake.

XXX

A haze of tears clouded Emma's vision as she made her way down the street, searching for somewhere she could just curl up and let it out. She hadn't meant to give up so much, but she just heard Snow questioning her motives in lying to her son, and snapped. How dare anyone accuse her of doing it to protect herself? Well, she had to admit, maybe there was a little bit of that in her decision, but mostly, she hadn't wanted Henry to be disappointed. He already had to deal with a mother who had given birth to him in prison, and then abandoned him to the system; though thankfully he hadn't grown up in the same way she had. Emma just wanted him to have something good to hold on to.

Her feet carried her to a bench nearby, and she collapsed onto it, heaving deep breaths as she tried to force herself to get under control. The tears started to fall, and she gave up trying, and just began to hope that no one would come by and try to talk to her.

She had meant what she said, that Neal was the final nail in the coffin for her. Foster care had really screwed her up, but Neal had healed some of the scars. She had started to think that things might get better, and then Neal had left.

She closed her eyes, willing the memories to go back behind her walls.

She was three, and her mom and dad were sending her back because they were getting their own kid now, and didn't want her anymore.

She was five, and getting pushed down a flight of stairs because she had gotten in the way of her foster father.

She was eight, and getting pushed around the school yard, called names like 'roadside trash', and 'roadkill', because they had found out about her being left on the side of the road as a baby.

She was nine, sitting at the window of her room in foster home number five, staring up at the stars shining above her, wondering where her parents were, who they were, why they had left her. Wondering if everyone was right, and she was worthless, and useless, a waste of space.

Her twelfth birthday, when she finally knew for certain that there were no happy endings. When foster father number eight had come into her room late at night, and given her a 'special birthday present'. Crying herself to sleep after he had left, feeling the aches and pains up and down her body, trying not to shiver at the feel of blood and… other bodily fluids… on her skin.

Running away a few months later, unable to take it any more. Being found a month after that, and sent to home number nine.

Being hit, punched, thrown around, treated like garbage for another four years, until she ran again. Knowing that what everyone had told her was true. Honestly, how could she not be screwed up, if even her parents hadn't wanted her? She was worthless.

Breaking into a hideous yellow car, meeting someone who changed her whole outlook on life. Learning how to let someone in, thinking that, just maybe, she wasn't insignificant. Just maybe, she mattered.

And then he left, too. Framing her for his crime, getting her sent to prison. Proving to her, for the last time, how useless it was to trust. Because it just ended up getting her hurt in the end.

"No," Emma growled, forcing herself out of those thoughts. She wouldn't disappear into the memories again. She was done letting it control her. Her life had sucked, but she had made the choice to rise above. She refused to let it show; subconsciously, she knew that it probably wasn't healthy to lock it all up without dealing with it, but she didn't want anyone to know. Especially her parents. Snow and David, they felt guilty enough. She hadn't told them anything, really, not even Mary Margaret, before the curse had been broken. And now, knowing who they were, she just couldn't burden them. She knew, now, that they had given her up to give her a chance to survive, but it didn't make it any easier. She had been abandoned, no matter the intentions her parents had had all those years ago.

She looked around the quiet town, taking in the sight, forcing herself to focus on the present. The streetlights were on, casting a yellowish glow on the area. It was cool, but not cold, though she could see her breath when she exhaled. She let out a short breath, resting her hands on the bench next to her, leaning forward slightly. She had to figure out what to say to Henry, the next time she saw him. She knew he had heard what she had said, and winced at the way the evening had gone. She hadn't wanted him to find out like that.

She sighed, and stood up, making her way back towards the diner. She probably owed some people an apology. Namely, her parents, for losing her cool, Henry, for not telling him the truth when he had asked the first time, and then informing him of the whole story in front of a crowd of people. Probably to Granny as well, for walking out on her welcome back party.

"Emma!"

She turned around, confused at the shout, looking for its source.

And then she stared. Running up to her, looking slightly out of breath, was Neal.

He stopped right in front of her, and paused for a few moments, catching his breath. "Emma, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for everything. I never wanted to leave, I just… I let myself get talked into it. If I had known about Henry, I wouldn't have…" He trailed off, and then he kissed her.

Emma was too shocked to do anything but let him. It was raw, and passionate, and reminded her of why she had fallen in love with him in the first place.

And then he pulled back, and smiled that crooked smile, her favorite smile, a few tears in his eyes as he gazed down at her.

And she slapped him. What gave him the right to show up here, after telling them all to get lost back in Manhattan, after getting her sent to prison, after ruining her faith in humanity.

"Mom?"

Emma turned around quickly, startled, to see the crowd exiting from the diner. It appeared that she had returned just in time for the party to end. The dwarves, Granny, and Ruby were all standing behind Snow, David, and Henry. The entire crowd was watching the pair with varying degrees of amusement or worry. Mostly worry though; they had, after all, heard much more than they had bargained for just a short while ago.

Emma attempted a smile. "Henry, go with Mary Margaret and David. I'll see you at home, all right?"

Henry looked worried, but nodded, and allowed Mary Margaret to lead him away from his mother.

David was less willing to leave. "Are you sure you're all right?" he asked worriedly, glancing between Emma and Neal.

Emma nodded, hoping he wouldn't see how shaky she was.

David pursed his lips, and glared at Neal. "You do anything…" he trailed off, but the threat was clear.

With that, he followed his wife and grandson; the rest of the crowd dispersed as well, leaving Emma and Neal alone.

Emma sighed and led him over to a bench, where they sat down awkwardly. Emma felt full of nervous energy, her leg bouncing up and down as she tried to figure out what to say.

"Emma…" Neal tried to start, but Emma shook her head.

"No. You don't get to come here and kiss me, and make me think that we can just… pick up where we left off. I'm not that girl anymore, Neal. She's gone."

Neal tried to cut in, but Emma was on a roll now. She stood up quickly, turning around to look at the man she had once thought she could have a life with. Neal looked a little confused, but mostly concerned. "You killed her." She ruthlessly ignored his flinch. She had been waiting roughly twelve years to get this off her chest. "You made me think that life could be good. I loved you. I wanted to spend my life with you. You took that helpless, worthless girl, and made her believe in happily ever after again. And then you just ripped it all away. You… you ripped my heart out, Neal. I don't care what the circumstances were, I thought I meant more to you than that."

"You did. You do," Neal said helplessly, standing up so that he could look her in the eyes. "Emma, I loved you so much. I wanted to settle down with you. I was going to fence the watches and meet you, I swear. August told me I had to let you go though, so that you could save everyone."

"Why couldn't I have done that with you by my side?" Emma asked desperately.

Neal shrugged helplessly. "I don't know, and I've regretted the choice I made every day since I made it. I convinced myself you were better off without me. I wish I could go back to that moment, and make a different choice. I know I'm probably too late, but I'm here now. We had something back then. I have no right to ask you this, but would you consider seeing if that spark is still there?"

Emma took a deep breath, steadying herself. She could hear the pleading sincerity in his voice, and knew that he was being honest.

She looked up into his eyes, feeling herself melt just a little at the love she saw shining there. "I know you regret your decisions Neal, I know what that's like. But I don't know if I can just… pick up where we left off."

"I'm not asking you to," Neal cut in, resting his hands on her shoulders, catching her gaze with his own. "We're both older, hopefully wiser. We've had many more experiences that have changed us since the last time we saw each other. But what if that connection is still there? I love you Emma, that has never changed."

"Then why didn't you come back with us when we offered?" Emma asked, a few tears leaking from her eyes, as she continued to stare up at him, unable to break her gaze. "Why did you tell us to leave?"

"It wasn't you or Henry," Neal replied, feeling his voice choke up a bit. "I've spent more time than you can imagine trying to forget my father, and everything he's done. I didn't want to go back with him, and have to deal with him trying to make up for things he really can't make up for. A couple hours after you left, I realized that him being here was no reason for me to stay away. You're worth everything, Emma. My father or not, I want to be with you and Henry. I've already missed out on too much of your lives."

Emma didn't seem to know what to say, finally breaking eye contact and looking down. Neal smiled slightly, moving one hand up to brush a lock of hair out of her face, his hand tucking the strand behind her ear, before moving down until it was resting under her chin. He pressed her chin up so that she couldn't avoid his gaze any more. "I love you," he whispered.

And then he kissed her again. Unlike the last time, this one was sweet, and gentle. Emma only hesitated for a moment, before she was kissing him back, molding her lips to his. Her arms found their way around his neck, and his free arm wrapped around her waist.

They pulled apart a few minutes later, both panting as if they had run a marathon.

Neal let out a breathless laugh, which Emma copied, feeling something in her chest lighten.

Neal rested his forehead against hers for a moment, before pulling back a few inches and pressing his lips against the top of her head in a loving kiss.

She felt him smile into her hair, before he pulled away, though he didn't go far. There was a question in his eyes, and she knew the answer he hoped to hear. She wasn't sure if she could say yes. Her life had been hard, right from the beginning, and Neal had been one small ray of light in a perpetual blackness. Right up until he had abandoned her, just like everyone else.

But he was here now, and he wanted to stick around. The problem was, she didn't know if she could believe him.

She took a step back, her hands falling down until she was grasping his. She pulled him with her as she started walking backwards. "Come on," she said with a small smile. "Henry's probably pacing the room right now, waiting for us to come home."

Neal raised an eyebrow. Home?

Emma's smile diminished just a little, as she heard what she had said. She shook her head slightly. "I don't know, Neal. I know that I still care about you, a lot, and you're Henry's father. He deserves to know where he comes from, and you should get to know him. As for the rest… can we just take it slow?"

Neal nodded immediately, smiling down at her. He stepped forward and gave her a short kiss. "As slow as you want, Em. As long as it takes, I will prove to you that I'm not going anywhere. Never again."

Emma smiled again, and began to lead him back to the apartment. It would take some time, she knew. She had never stopped caring about him, but he had shattered her trust, and it wouldn't be so easy to heal. She knew when someone was lying, and everything Neal had said was truth. He wanted to be with her. And she wanted to be happy again. As happy as she had been the first time they had been together. It wouldn't be easy, but she would give him a chance. Because once upon a time, he had made her believe in happily ever after.

Please review and let me know what you think!