Authors's Note: Tale Set AU After Episode 3x11
Summary: Emma and Henry weren't the only ones exempt from the curse. What happens if Neal get to leave with them? And a certain pirate sneaks over the town line…
Disclaimer: I own non of these characters. Once upon a time characters are licensed and I can only hope that they give me artistic license to tel my story. *crossing fingers*
Chapter 1
"But everyone's lives sucked," Emma told Regina as they discussed the previous curse.
"They didn't have to. My gift to you is good memories. For you and for Henry. To have a good life." Regina reached out and included her son.
"But it won't be real."
"Your past may not, but your future certainly will be."
"Wait." Neal scurried over to the trio. "I…"
"Yes, Neal," Regina asked.
"I left the enchanted forest years before the curse ever took place. Even though I should technically go back to the Enchanted Forest, couldn't I go with Emma and Henry?" Neal stood there with his hands shoved into his pockets.
Emma could see that the prospect of going back to the Enchanted Forest scared the hell out of him, especially now with his father gone. "Regina?"
"Of course. Why didn't I think of that?" Regina reached out for Neal as well. "You, too, shall have good memories. You might not have all been together this whole time, but you will be a part of each other's lives. Now go. There isn't much time left." Regina squeezed Henry one last time. It couldn't be easy for her to know that she would never see her son again.
The three of them got into Emma's yellow VW. When Emma looked in the rear view she searched out for the faces she would miss the most if she could still have a lingering memory of them: her parents and Hook. Except Hook wasn't there. Now where in the hell did that infuriating pirate go? Damn him. She couldn't even get one last glance.
Finally, the green haze turned purple at Regina's hands and overtook the people she wanted to find her whole life. Before a tear could even slip from her eye, the whole reason she wanted to cry was taken from her.
"What's wrong, Emma," Neal asked. "Your eyes are all watery."
"Just thinking. I'm so glad you came with us on this trip. We all needed this one last road trip before we move to NY."
"Dad, I can't wait for us to get to your place."
"Well, you and your mom are welcome to stay as long as it takes until you find your new apartment." Neal reached back and ruffled his son's hair.
"Thanks, Neal. But I still feel bad taking advantage of you like this."
"Hey, it is the least I could do. Now that we found each other again, we need to stick together. Right, Buddy?"
"Sure thing, Dad."
Hook was flabbergasted. It was bad enough to lose Emma to some stupid curse, but to find out he could never find his way back to her ever. Then Neal had to chime in. Baelfire. Of course he could go with them. Bloody hellfire.
He couldn't watch. He couldn't stand there and see Emma, Henry and Neal all leave happily together. He had to leave now before he did something bloody stupid like hold onto Emma while Neal and Henry left.
Hook stormed off. His flask of rum clenched tightly within his palm. Maybe if he just stormed into the cloud before Regina got her bloody fingers on it he could lose his memories of Emma. It was his only chance of ever finding some semblance of happiness now that Rumplestiltskin was gone. Without love or vengeance what was the point to his continued existence?
Once that point snapped into his head, he switched directions. Hell with marching into the bloody cloud, he needed a cliff. A bloody high one, preferably with an extremely rocky ground below. That should put an end to his torment.
Taking a long swig of rum, he set out for his demise. Finding a really good spot to cut his long life somewhat shorter, Hook gazed back at the town through the trees. In doing so, he sees the purple haze trickling towards him. He closes his eyes. It was too late. He wasn't sure how it would feel to suddenly be transported back to the Enchanted Forest, but he felt nothing. After waiting what felt like an eternity, he opened his eyes. The purple cloud was fading away. Into the trees next to him. It never reached him.
It never reached him!
He had escaped the curse. He stood outside the purview of the bloody town line. He and Emma were still in the same realm. She could be found. There were not many time in all his years of life that he wanted to cry for joy, but this, this was one of them. He had escaped being separated from the one thing that would allow him to keep living. His true love.
God! Bloody Emma Swan was his true love. It was with thoughts of her upon his mind that kept him from being swept away along with the whole of Storybrooke. Now he just had to find her and make her remember him.
Author's Note: Chapter 2 is already written. I will probably type it up and load it in the next couple of days.
