This story is based on the movie Sweet Home Alabama, to a certain extent. I have removed Andrew's character, for a few reasons. One, in the movie he was meant to be a good guy who just wasn't "the one" and I couldn't really find anyone to fit that. Two, cheating storylines are not really something I like to write about. So anyway, not sure how long this will actually be. Swanfire is endgame though, don't worry. =)

1998

Emma giggled as she ran through the sand on the beach, Neal following closely behind her. It was pouring rain and they were trying to get back to her parents' house for shelter.

"Answer the question!" He called out after her.

"No!"

"No, you won't marry me or no you won't answer the question?"

Emma came to a stop once they reached a safe spot under a tree. "Neal, I'm 10 years old! I have too much to live for."

Neal laughed, moving closer to her so he could try to shield both of their heads with his sweatshirt hood. Emma moved closer to him and wrapped an arm around her best friend. She couldn't remember a time that Neal Cassidy hadn't been in her life. Their parents had been best friends and after Neal's mother took off, Mary Margaret had babysat for Neal while Vincent worked. They explored all over together, which had lead them to the beach that day.

"Why do you want to marry me, anyway?" She asked.

That clever smile spread across his face. "So I can kiss you anytime I want."

Emma's eyes widened a bit as he leaned in, kissing her.

Present Day

"Swan!" Emma was pulled out of her thoughts, causing her to look up at her boss, Ursula. "You finish up that paperwork?"

"Yes," Emma handed them over and watched her review them. "You working the late shift tonight?"

"Oh you know me," Ursula replied, looking up with a small smile. "What about you? Any big plans once you get off?"

"Getting drinks with friends, then I have a date with Netflix."

"Isn't it about time you have a date with I don't know, a man?" She asked. "Or a woman, I don't care."

Emma rolled her eyes. "I'm gonna go make sure Santiago is prepared for his shift before I go." She got up and headed to the door.

"Hit a sore spot?" Ursula called after her, but Emma didn't bother to respond.

Later that night, she headed back to her apartment to quickly change into her red dress. She shook her curls out of its ponytail and reapplied her makeup before looking longingly at her sweats. How she wished she could just curl up in those right then and there. However, Regina and Elsa had been bugging her for weeks to go out. They weren't going to let up until she actually showed.

The restaurant was a quick walk from Emma's apartment for once. She would never get over how big the tiny island actually was. Everywhere seemed to be a subway or taxi ride away. It was quite the contrast to the small town that she grew up in. That reminded her of a call she had to make to her lawyer, again. She just hoped it wouldn't be yet another waste of money.

When she walked inside, she spotted her friends sitting in a booth in the back. She gave them each a hug before sliding in next to Elsa.

"I thought that Merida was going to be coming?" Emma asked her.

Elsa rolled her eyes. "I've realized she is not worth my time."

"So, we're all single again," Emma smiled. "I'll drink to that. Do we have drinks?"

"I put in your order, the usual," Regina replied, wrinkling her nose. "How you like beer, I don't know."

Emma smirked. "Better than those margaritas you down. The sugar alone gives me a headache."

"Enough drink talk, let's talk men." She looked Emma up and down. "I think I found someone for you."

Emma let out a long sigh. "I told you that I'm not interested in being set up."

"Emma, how long have I known you?"

"Too long." Regina fixed her with a look. "6 years."

"Exactly. During that time, I have watched you go from a lowly rookie, to somehow detective at only 28. But also during that time, I have never seen you date."

"I'm just…focusing on my career right now," Emma lied.

"A career won't keep you warm at night," Elsa piped up.

"Coming from the woman who just lost another potential girlfriend."

Elsa rolled her eyes. "I hate to say it, but Regina's right. You refuse to let us set you up and never want to say why. Do you not trust our abilities?"

"Of course not."

Emma hated lying to her two best friends. It seemed so strange doing so. Over the years, they had confided in each other about everything, but she had one secret that they could never know. It wasn't like she had any control over it. She had spent the past 9 years doing all she could to be able to say the words. The story was too complicated without them.

She wanted to move on, she wanted to be over all of it. She was done talking back and forth with her lawyer on the phone. It was time to face everything head on. She had some vacation time saved up and she was going to use it.

10 Years Ago

Emma sat on Neal's floor, the two of them staring at the pregnancy test that was in her hand. She felt as though she was going to be sick.

"What do I need a condom for, Emma?" She mimicked Neal. "No one gets pregnant on their frist try!"

"That's what I thought," Neal mumbled in response, his eyes as wide as a fish bowl's.

"What are we going to do?" Emma suddenly paled. "Oh God, our parents are going to kill us."

"Maybe we could get Belle to calm them down," he offered.

"That is if she doesn't kill me."

"She wouldn't kill you." He slipped his hand into hers. "We can do this."

Emma met his eyes. "How can you say that? We're only 18! What about all our plans? Tallahassee?"

"We can still go," Neal insisted. "The baby will just be part of the adventure."

Emma stared into his eyes, trying to figure out how he was so freakishly calm. Their lives were over, all because of one late night in the back of her bug. She wasn't sure if she could do this so young, how could she be a good mother? Yet, Neal seemed to think they could do it.

"We could get married," he added. "We could be a real family. You, me and the kid."

Tears came to Emma's eyes at the thought of it. Their families had always considered themselves one, this could make it official. Maybe he was right, maybe this could be an adventure. She watched as Neal fidgeted with his key ring, pulling off the swan keychain that hung off the ring. He clipped it onto the necklace around her neck.

"One day, I'll get you a real ring, I promise. What do you say?"

Emma leaned in, kissing him, feeling as though she were walking on air.

In The Present

Emma pulled her bug off the highway and drove into town. Everything looked exactly the same, almost as if it had been frozen once she left. Granny's Diner still had those broken shutters and Gold's Pawnshop was as pristine as ever. The library, the very one she had spent so many hours not studying, was open to the public. She could've stopped in and said hi to all she knew, but just kept driving straight to Mal's office.

Storybrooke was a small town. It was why she and Neal had spoken so much about escaping it in the first place. As a result, there was only one doctor's and two lawyer's office. Neal's father, Vincent Gold (he insisted the name was more professional than Cassidy) was one and Emma didn't feel she could use him for obvious reasons. The only other choice was her other childhood best friend's mother, Mallory Page.

She parked her car out front and headed inside, signing in with the secretary. A few minutes later, the door opened and Mal walked out, a smile on her face.

"Emma Cassidy, it's been far too long," she said, leading her into the office.

Emma gave her a quick hug. "It's actually Emma Swan, now."

"Right, right, of course." Together, the two settled down at her desk. "So, the papers are pretty standard, what we agreed upon." She settled them onto the table.

"I don't want anything from him. Just a signature," Emma repeated for what she felt was the millionth time over the past few years.

"I'm aware. I contacted Mr. Cassidy, but he never showed."

Emma let out an exasperated sigh. "Of course he didn't. Does he still live at the old house?" Mal nodded, so she snatched the papers and stuffed it into her purse. "Thank you, Mal."

"Where are you headed?"

"Home, I guess."

It was another 10 minutes before she was in front of the house she had lived in for almost a year. It was one of Gold's many properties and he had been kind enough to rent it to them for cheap. It was a simple white farmhouse, with just no acreage. Clearly, he had kept it up over the years, the porch railing that she nearly broke had been fixed. She got out of her bug and put her hands on her hips. It was only there she noticed a basset hound was sitting on the porch, which confused her. When she moved out, their golden retriever, Eeyore, had been there. Upon seeing her, the dog began barking like crazy. That got the door to open and out stepped Neal.

He had changed a lot over the years, yet seemed the same. His hair was a lot shorter and not as curly, though he had more facial hair. He was wearing a grey hoodie and beat up jeans.

He turned to the dog, ruffling his fur. "Shut up, Brian," he said before turning to the woman standing in front of the bug, not recognizing her at first. "Can I help you out, ma'am?"

"You can start by getting your stubborn ass down here and giving me a divorce," she replied, her hands going on her hips.

The cunning smile that had been on his face dropped and his eyes widened. Emma sighed, walking closer to the house.

"Come on Neal, I mean it. No more playing around. Let's just finish this, I have a life to get back to." She started digging through her bag to get the papers.

Neal continued to stare at her for a moment, before snapping out of it and that smile coming back. "You're kidding me, right?"

"No," Emma replied with an eye roll and finally found the papers. She pulled them out and held them towards him. "Look, they even have these idiot proof tabs that show you where to sign. There's one copy for each of us and then each of our lawyers. You can call your dad to come over here to look it over for you if you want, but they're easy. Neither of us get anything from the other, this'll just be over."

Neal just continued to stare at her like she was crazy, so she threw her hands up in the air.

"What? Speak!" That caused the dog to start barking again.

"You come here, after 9 years, with not even a hello." He walked down the steps towards her. Not a Hi honey, looking good. How's the family?"

Emma scoffed at that. "I'm supposed to tell you that you look good?"

Though the honest truth was, she did think that he looked good. He always did, no matter what he was wearing. That smile was the whole reason she fell in love with him in the first place. She had to remind herself why she was there, why she had come to this choice in the first place.

"Is that the kind of manners that teach you down wherever the hell you've been?"

"You know where I've been and don't even pretend like you miss me. I'm just sick and tired of these games! I have a lawyer, who charges me a bunch of money every time you send these things back."

"Well, maybe your dad should've been a lawyer," he replied with a smirk.

It took all Emma had not to scream. Neal turned around and headed back up the porch towards the door.

"Where are you going?" She asked, following him up the steps. "Can we just do this? Sign the papers, please, so I can go home!"

Neal spun back around, clearly getting a little pissed. "What do you know about home? I bet your parents don't even know you're in town."

Emma's eyes narrowed. "That is my business."

"I'll tell you one thing, they're the only family you've got. Go and see them, then we'll talk."

Emma shut her eyes and punched the railing in frustration. "Neal! The only reason why you won't sign them is because I want you to!"

"That's not true!"

Before Emma could respond, a squad car pulled up onto the property. The door opened and Graham stepped out, dressed head to toe in sheriff wear. Emma's mouth dropped open.

"Graham?"

A smile spread across his face. "Hey Em," he said, walking up the property and giving her a hug.

"What are you doing in the sheriff's car?"

"Being the sheriff."

"No way."

"Can we wrap up this little reunion?" Neal asked. "Graham, maybe do your job for once and get Emma out of here."

"Breaking and entering?" Graham asked with a smirk. "Seems like old times."

"More like trespassing. She won't leave."

Graham grew a little serious, looking over at Emma. "Emma, this isn't your house anymore, if he doesn't want you on his property, you have to go."

"If you get him to sign the papers, I will let you run me out of town," Emma told him.

Graham looked at her confused until she reached into her bag, pulling out the divorce papers again. He studied them and then looked over at Neal.

"You two are still married?" He asked. Neal let out a sigh and nodded. "I thought you said you took care of it."

"I did."

"No, he didn't," Emma butted in.

Graham shrugged. "Well, if you two are still married, then this is still her house. As I recall, it was a wedding present." Neal folded his arms over his chest as Emma smiled triumphantly. "You know, I don't have a childhood memory that doesn't include you two in it. Remember that time we were partying by the lake and I almost ended up with second degree burns from the fireworks?"

"Graham, memory lane is closed," Neal told him, firmly.

Graham sighed, shaking his head. "You two are idiots. I never understood why it was you broke up."

That caused the smile to leave Emma's face and for her to look away, Neal doing the same.

"You two have a lot of catching up to do, so I'll leave you two it. I only stopped by because I could hear your yelling all the way down the block, wanted to make sure Neal was okay." He turned to Emma and gave her a grin. "Good to see you, Emma. Hope you stick around for awhile."

The two watched Graham head back to his car and drive away. Emma looked back at Neal, who just headed further towards the door with his dog following him.

"Neal, come on," Emma felt herself nearly whining at that point. "Just sign the papers."

"You can be a fly in my ear all you want," he told her, not turning back to face her. "I told you my conditions before we talk." The door shut behind him and she let out a long, exasperated sigh before checking her watch. 3 o'clock on a Saturday. Both of her parents were sure to be home.

The story will flash back and forth between what happened to Neal and Emma and the present. I know this first chapter was short, but I wanted to give an introduction to them. Let me know what you want to see and I hope to have the next chapter up soon, which will include Neal's P.O.V. As always, tell me what you think. Until next time, friends. =)