Chapter 1.

The next morning came and as Neal had told Henry, they went out for a bite to eat before Henry had to get to school.

"I found out who you are," Henry said as the three of them sat at a far end booth at a hole it the wall that he and his mom visited regularly.

The outside looked like a dump but they made some of the best waffles in the city. Emma and Henry liked the back booth for privacy though for some reason Emma never understood why, it's not like they had any secrets to hide.

On this cloudy morning Emma and Henry both had their hot cocoas with cinnamon and a plate of waffles and oatmeal while Neal was content with a cup of coffee, oatmeal and fruit.

"And who am I," Neal asked.

"You're Baelfire, you're Rumpelstiltskin's son."

Neal swallowed the lump in his throat. It had been over a year since he lost his father and though he had lived centuries without Rumple it was still hard now knowing that he was gone for good this time.

"You're right Henry, that's exactly who I am."

"You kept saying yesterday that we don't remember, remember what?"

"The past year that we had together," Neal replied.

"But I just met you."

"Yeah technically you did but something bad happened and the two of you were forced to forget all about Storybrooke and all about us."

"So Emma's parents really are Snow White and Prince Charming, they're not just stories?"

"Nope, it's all real," Neal said with a huge smile.

Emma couldn't believe that Neal was indulging in Henry's fantasies. She wished he hadn't come back into her life, that things could go back to the way they before, back when it was just her and Henry, back when everything was normal but the odds of that happening seemed to be dwindling by the hour.

"All right kid," said Emma, "Time for you to get to school."

"Do I have to?" Henry complained.

"Henry, listen to your mom," said Neal, "I'll still be here when you get back."

"Promise?"

"Hey have I ever let you down before?"

Emma looked at Neal seriously questioning if he had just asked that ridiculous question. He knew what she was thinking.

"After that," Neal said to her, "And never mind what I just asked." He then looked at Henry, "The point is I haven't and now that I'm back I won't. I'm here for the rest of your life buddy."

Henry smiled at Neal and hugged him and then looked up at him like he was going to ask a question.

"So if it's all true that means our memory loss is too right?"

"I'm afraid so buddy," said Neal, "but don't worry I'm going to help change that."

"Why were our memories erased," Henry asked.

Neal looked at Emma not liking the look he was getting from her but he answered Henry's question anyway.

"It's a long story. Simple version is that the memory loss is a side effect of Pan's curse."

"Pan as in Peter Pan!" Henry said excitedly though not excited over losing his memory.

"The very one," Neal said.

"Awesome."

"We need to work on your definition of awesome," Neal said.

"Well not awesome that we lost our memories but awesome that it's all real. So what should we name it?"

"Name it?" Neal asked.

Emma just shook her head and smiled. "Henry likes give names to his secret missions but kid this isn't a mission."

"Yes it is. I've been right about everything. You just need to find a way to believe that. Maybe that's why Neal is here to help us. Everyone at school thinks I'm crazy but now I know I'm not."

Emma looked sadly at her son. He was right. People at school did think he was crazy. Emma heard the whispers from other parents so she could only imagine what other kids were saying. A couple of times teachers and the school counselors recommended that she place Henry in therapy but Emma never did.

There was only one time over a couple of years ago when Emma considered the possibility for a moment that Henry was crazy but if he was that meant she was too since she had those constant dreams of belonging in the Snow White fairytale too. After that she never questioned Henry again. She let him believe regardless of what others thought as long as those beliefs made him happy then that's all that mattered.

Emma sighed in defeat, "What should we name this one?" she asked him, "Operation Alzheimer's?"

Henry shook his head indicating no. That name was too easy, anyone could figure it out.

"Okay you got a better one, and make it quick because if we don't hurry you're going to be late for school."

"We need something that's obvious to us but not obvious to everyone else. How about Operation Swan?"

"Our last name, isn't that a little too obvious?"

"Sure but that's what makes it so cool because now there's a deeper meaning since I'm the True Believer and you're the Savior."

"Our boys' got a point. Those titles tie you directly to where you're really from so no one will ever know."

"Is this how it's gonna be from now on," Emma said amusingly, "You two ganging up on me all the time."

Henry and Neal both smiled. As Emma watched the two of them Henry had so many distinctive features from his father from the ears to the smile and puppy dog eyes, which even before Henry was born she could never say 'no' to.

Emma just shook her head and laughed, "Okay fine. Now can we go? Your teachers are going to scold me if you're late again."

Emma hated that, she had enough scolding in her life from her time in the foster system and then in jail.