Chapter 1 - Starting Over

"Are you and my dad getting back together?" Henry asked, curious. Emma looked at her son and sighed. His eyes twinkled in hope and Emma wished they didn't. That hope broke her heart as it sent the nail driving into her coffin. She put on a smile and reached for her son's hand.

"I'll give it my best shot" Henry smiled at her answer and knew she wasn't lying. She would never risk hurting him again. At that moment, Neal walked into the diner and Emma tried not to acknowledge him. Her eyes trying to stay connected with Henry's.

She managed a few more sentences out of her son before Henry noticed his father and was calling him over.

"Dad! You should eat with us." Henry proposed and Emma sighed before scooting over for the man.

"I worked up a feisty appetite in Neverland, how about you?" Neal joked and Henry laughed with his father. Emma sat there looking uncomfortable before remembering her words to Henry. Her best shot was not this. She needed to try harder.

"Neal, could we talk later tonight? Meet here?" Emma asked and Henry looked at her.

"With Henry?" Neal questioned, confused. Emma shook her head.

"Just the two of us." Henry smiled and couldn't contain his excitement.

"Mom! Dad! This is great." Henry exclaimed and Emma laughed.

"Slow down there, kid." Emma said amused and then looked at Neal, her heart feeling lighter than had all day. She didn't notice the pirate sitting just a few feet away at the counter. His eyes watching the small family.

Emma thinking she needed to first consult her mother on the topic of trying to start over, decided to excuse herself. She found herself going home in search of Snow.

"Mom?" Emma called out, that endearment new to her but it was awfully comforting right now.

"Yes Emma" Snow replied and walked into eyesight. Emma went to sit down on the couch and Snow followed after and smiled at her daughter.

"I have a date with Neal tonight." Emma announced and Snow gave her a confused look.

"So soon? I mean we just got back. You don't even understand your feelings for Hook." Snow reasoned and Emma looked at her.

"Exactly! I don't know my feelings for Hook, so I can't act on those. But Henry asked for me to try with Neal. It was a simple request. I agreed. I mean I loved him once, why can't I again." Snow gave her a pointed look and frowned.

"Henry went through a frightening experience. He might not be in the right mind to be asking requests. Emma, if this date is what you truly want then I don't object. I just don't want to see you get hurt again. And it's a surprise considering how you wished that Neal was dead."

"I only wished that so I could be able to move on. Maybe I'm not supposed to move on. Maybe my true love is Neal" Emma mumbled, her heart felt like she was lying to herself.

"Then I'm happy Emma. I just want to see you happy." Snow assured and leaned to kiss her daughter on the forehead. "Have fun on your date."

With that Snow was standing to go back to sit with Charming. Emma decided it would be best to kill time by taking a much needed shower and then walking around town.

Her walking provided much useful in helping her solidify the reasons she was doing this.

She still loves Neal although he was a coward and left. She could always forgive him for those past inflictions. Emma also knew that Henry has parents who loved each other would be the perfect happy ending. But she knew that Henry wouldn't just settle for them loving each other. They would have to be in love. That is Emma's problem. She doesn't even know if she could be in love anymore. Is the Savior given that luxury? Emma sighed before deciding that she would be content on trying her best, and not overthinking it.

"You are thinking awfully hard, love" Hook's voice broke her out of her thoughts and Emma looked up to see him. A smirk written over his features. Of course he would be a smug bastard at a time like this.

"My thoughts are none of your concern." Emma defended and Hook looked at her.

"I already know. I have ears. When will you tell Bae that you are just doing this for the boy?" Hook asked gently and Emma rolled her eyes.

"I don't need advice from a drunken pirate." Emma hissed and tried to walk around him. Hook stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.

"Maybe not but you seem awfully confused about starting a relationship with Bae." Hook mumbled and then he frowned. "I won't stop you, even after that kiss. I'll let you decide who you want. Fighting over you will result in nothing but your hate. And I owe it to Bae, I couldn't take his love away from him."

Emma looked at him and tried to will her feelings away.

"Now the only thing I ask for, is our friendship. I want to be friends, love" That smirk was back and Emma sighed. "And a job. I heard you were low on staff at the station."

"We are also low on money. I can't afford to pay deputies." Emma stated and Hook smirked.

"I'm willing to work for free until you get money coming in."

"Really?"

"Yeah I'm serious. I've been talking about renting with Whale. He says I don't have to pay rent. I just need to stay busy." Hook shrugged and Emma couldn't help her smile. He had decided to stay.

"Sure, why not. I'll record the times you work so I can compensate." Emma stated and Hook smiled.

"I start tomorrow then. Morning, afternoon, or evening shift?" Hook wondered and Emma thought about it for a moment.

"We can start you out at morning and see which one works for you."

"Now about that friendship." Hook mumbled and smiled.

"I guess we could, if your intentions are good." Emma stated and Hook smiled, this smile met his eyes and it warmed Emma's heart to see his genuine smile. "Well I have to meet Neal." Emma bit her lip and Hook nodded, moving out of her way to let her continue to Granny's.

Emma walked into the building and immediately she craved coffee. She looked and saw Neal sitting in a booth. She swallowed her nerves and went to sit down across from him.

"Hey Emma" Neal welcomed and Emma smiled at him. "So what do you want to eat?"

"Dinner. I guess." Emma shrugged and she looked at the menu. She could feel Neal's eyes on her and she bit her lip again.

"You are nervous. I understand though. It's been a while. Heck not even a week ago I thought I was in love with someone else." Neal rambled and Emma looked at him.

Emma placed the menu down and closed her eyes before opening them to look at him. "I just don't know how to go about rekindling what we had. Truthfully I'm doing this for Henry. He wants to have a family and I agree with him. I was going to give it my best shot." Emma explained and sighed. "I love you, like I said. I just don't know how to restart a relationship that ended almost the worst way possible."

"Almost the worst way?" Neal questioned and Emma looked away.

"You sent me to prison, Neal." Emma mumbled and Neal went quiet.

"I'm just going to get the burger." Neal mumbled back and Emma sighed. "I don't blame you for you being mad. What I did was selfish. If I knew you were pregnant, I would never have done it. I would have stayed." Neal placed his hand on hers and her eyes met his. "You still hold a spot in my heart and I know we can rekindle that."

Emma smiled softly before moving to grip his hand back. "I'll have the burger too."

Neal chuckled softly. They waited to order their food, just filling their time with random conversation and talking about the time that passed.

Emma had to admit that she thought the date was going pretty well. It was comfortable at least after they got the uncomfortable introductions out of the way and she was able to look past his abandonment for that hour they stayed eating and chatting. She smiled genuinely at him and They laughed together. The only time she began to get uncomfortable again was on the way back home. He stopped them several times and she noticed the lean in. Except every time she would start walking again. It was difficult to let those walls down.

The walls that somehow Hook managed to weaken.

Now they stood outside and Emma fiddled her keys trying to find the one to enter the building.

"Emma?" Neal mumbled and Emma looked at him.

"Yes Neal" She stated before she was too late to notice his quick lean. However she turned her head causing his lips to land on her cheek. He chuckled nervously before pulling away.

"I'm sorry Emma. I should have taken the hints" Neal apologized and Emma shook her head.

"No it's okay. I'm just not ready for that yet" Emma emphasized and Neal nodded.

"See you tomorrow?" Neal wondered and Emma nodded, she took a step and decided to oblige in a hug before going inside.

Inside she was happy that she was able to head to her bedroom without a plethora of questions. She felt strange. Like the date went good, too good. She tried not to think about it but sadly her insides felt tied up. Emma wished things wouldn't be complicated for her but that was her price for being the savior. She still felt like she had to be loyal to everyone but she didn't want to have that responsibility.

Her head was full of so much pressure before she fell asleep, still dressed in her clothes.

Hook was already in the station. Charming was gathering Hook's deputy clothing that looked a lot similar to his own when Henry came inside.

"Maybe you should invest in jeans" Charming stated looking at Hook's leather pants.

"Nah. I rather stick with my leather. And I only need one gun. One hand and all." Hook smiled.

"Captain Hook, you are going to be a deputy!" Henry stated excitedly and Charming turned to see his grandson.

"Henry, what are you doing here so early?" Charming wondered and Henry ran over to hug him.

"I wanted to talk to my mom. But she isn't here." Henry stated. "She went out on a date with Neal and I wanted to hear how it went."

"Here, I'll walk you over to the apartment." Hook suggested and Henry beamed up at him.

"Really?" Henry questioned excitedly and Charming chuckled but then watched Hook finish putting on the deputy shirt and gun holders. A jacket was added to finish the look. His leather actually went well with the outfit. Charming frowned, knowing Hook's feelings for Emma.

He pulled him aside to talk before letting the pirate leave with Henry.

"You aren't going to be jealous are you?" Charming asked and Hook looked at him.

"I already knew about the date, mate" Hook stated and Charming looked shocked. "I can control my emotions. I'm just taking the boy to see his mom. We have an agreement."

"Okay Hook, but I need you back here in a few hours." Charming stated and Hook nodded.

"I'll be back sooner than you think." Hook winked and Charming rolled his eyes.

"Just go"

With that Hook and Henry left the building.

"So you are a deputy?" Henry asked and Hook looked at him.

"Yeah, your mother and I made an agreement." Hook informed and Henry smiled.

"This is awesome! I bet you will do a good job. You invoke a lot of fear." Henry admitted and Hook shrugged. "But you helped in Neverland and I know that my mom is grateful you were there."

"Yeah she was." Hook mumbled before looking down at the boy. "Enough questions though. We are almost there."

Instead of questions, Henry passed the time with conversation and before they knew it. They were heading into the building and knocking on the door.

"Mom!" Henry exclaimed and Hook turned to look at the woman standing in the doorway.

"Hello kid." Emma smiled and Hook saw something off about her. She was smiling but her voice seemed strained. She was under a lot of stress and Henry didn't see it. Hook frowned wondering if the date went wrong. "I'm not feeling too good today."

"That's okay. We could just sit and watch some movies." Henry proposed and Emma nodded. Henry went inside and Emma lingered at the door.

"Thanks for walking here with him." Emma said gently and Hook smiled at her.

"No problem. Are you feeling alright?"

"Just a little under the weather. You look good in your uniform." Emma smiled and Hook laughed.

"Charming tried to convince me to wear these things called Jeans." Hook chuckled and shook his head. "I said that the leather suits me, what do you think?"

"Jeans would seem more modern, but you are correct. The leather suits you." Emma had looked down to admire it before realizing that her gaze lingered too long. "Well you should be at the station. So good day Killian."

"Good day, Emma" Hook bowed a bit before retreating.

I hope you enjoyed. This will be a multi-chapter story and I will try to update quickly but can't assure it as I'll be entering a tough next semester in a few weeks. Please review!