Chapter 1: Night's End


Coming up for air Emma had to look away from Neal.

"Well that was…," she said not sure what words to use to describe exactly what that had been.

"Yeah," said Neal. "That was…," also not being able to find the right words.

He then reached down for the hand he had been holding onto earlier. Emma let her fingers interlock with his and they continued with their walk in silence both lost in thought over the kiss they shared.

"So," Emma said breaking the silence once they reached the beach. "Snow is having this small get together tomorrow evening at the apartment. She really gets into the holidays and she's really aiming to make this one special considering the hell we went through and the fact that this will be our first Christmas as a family."

"Didn't the two of you spend the holidays last year together?"

"Yeah we did but we didn't know we were mother and daughter then. It was slightly different. It's one thing to spend Christmas with someone who is your friend but you consider being family, a whole different thing when that friend actually turns out to be your mom."

"Guess you have a point."

"Anyways, Henry will be there and I'm sure he'd really like to see you."

"Is this your way of inviting me over to spend Christmas Eve with you and your family?" Neal asked.

Emma looked at him and smiled. "Yes, this is me inviting you over."

Neal smiled with a nod. "Then I'd be happy to come if it means I get the chance to spend time with you and our son."

Emma smiled and Neal unclasped their hands to place his left arm around Emma's right shoulder. Emma wrapped her left arm around Neal's waist cuddling into him.

This date night had been perfect.