Title: Heartlines
Author: Poly
Beta: Lais
Summary: Neal needs to make one choice, one choice that is going to affect the people that are close to his heart. What will he choose and how is that going to affect their lives? AU
A/n: English is not my first language, so forgive me for any mistakes and misspellings you may find. Also, this is my first time writing for OUaT, so I hope it is good enough. That said, I hope you enjoy the story. :)
Just keep following!
The heartlines on your hand!
Just keep following!
The heartlines on your hand!
Keep it up!
I know you can!
Just keep following!
The heartlines on your hand!
Cause I am
Heartlines - Florence + The Machine
Neal Cassidy strode down the street whistling a song that had been playing on the radio and got stuck on his head. He was in a good mood, looking forward to the Chinese food he was about to get, and also going back home with it. Maybe he could have some quality time with his girlfriend, perhaps later on the night, when their...
"Hey!"
His line of thinking was interrupted by someone – someone that didn't just yelled, but headbutted him! He looked around widely, his breath catching and memories of times where he depended on his fists to stay alive coming back.
He couldn't see who did that, not until the person in question grabbed him by the jacket and took him to the closest dark, creepy alley.
"What the hell?" He yelled, finally taking a good look at the guy – tall, blue eyed, cocky "Are you trying to steal from me?"
The man smiled.
"Nah. That would be ironic, wouldn't it?"
"Who are you?" Neal barked, staring at the stranger.
"August W. Booth, at your services."
"What do you want with me, man?"
"To give you some advice."
"I don't need this shit!" said Neal, starting to leave. But a hand on his arm stopped him.
"Yes, you need. For Emma's sake."
"What do you know about Emma?"
"Apparently, more than you do."
"Sick bastard! Have you been watching us or what?" Neal yelled, getting rid of August's grasp.
"Now, listen carefully, Mr. Cassidy. I need you to cut it off. You need to leave Emma."
"What? Are you crazy? I am not leaving her, not now, not ever!"
"See, I've known her for longer than you. And I happen to know that she has some important stuff to do. And I think your presence on her life will impede her to do so."
"What are you talking about? She has never mentioned you! How do you know her?"
"Oh, she would not remember, she was just a baby. But I do. She has a mission, Neal. The time for her to act is coming closer and she needs to be focused solemnly on that."
"What is this stuff she needs to do?"
"You don't need to know. You just need to get away from her."
"No, thank you. That was a good talk!" Neal said, turning his back and walking away.
"I know!" August said, making the other man freeze. "I know that you are Baelfire!" he added in a hushed tone, a smile playing on his lips.
Neal turned around, fear but also some anger showing on his face.
"Who are you, really? Did someone order you to come here? Does it have anything to do with my father?"
"I am here for Emma, not you. If you really love her, you need to leave. You, better than anyone else, should understand it"
August began to walk away as Neal stayed on the same spot, looking down.
He finally raised his eyes, looking at August's back and saying in almost a whisper.
"I have a son, you know? A beautiful little boy. What will happen to him? I don't want him to grow up fatherless like I did."
August turned his face and he seemed almost apologetically.
"Believe me, it is going to be better for both your boy and Emma if she does accomplish her mission."
And with that, he went away.
Neal didn't move. He was trying to understand what had just happened. He tried for so long to leave behind his past, but it just had caught up with him anyway. Who was this August guy? And what was all that talk about Emma having a mission?
He walked back to the sidewalk. August was gone, leaving behind just a bitter taste and bad memories. Neal knew, somehow, that the guy was serious. He was from the Enchanted Forest too, there was no other way he could have know about his real name. The question was: what was he going to do with August's plead?
First things first, Neal thought as he heard his stomach growling. Let me get the food. I will think about all of this over a full stomach.
~X~
"I love when they mix peanuts with the vegetables. It gives it a different taste."
Neal looked up from his plate. His beautiful girlfriend smiled to him, her eyes shining behind the dark rimmed glasses. He would love to join her and have a discussion about peanuts with vegetables. But he was too worried for that.
"Are you ok?" she asked, catching something out of his quiet demeanor.
"Emma, what do you remember about your childhood?"
"What do you mean?" she asked with a shaky smile. He knew that was a touchy subject for her.
"Do you know exactly where you came from? Did you have any good friend as a kid or teenager?"
"I already told you, Neal." she said, her voice icy "I was found at the side of a road. I have no hints about my parents. And all the time that I had been to orphanages or foster homes, I never had someone to trust on or confide."
She was not looking at him and Neal regretted bringing the subject up. Maybe that August guy was just a crazy stalker that throw his shit on Neal, and he foolishly believed him.
"Why did you ask me that?"
"It was stupid, and I was curious. I am sorry, Emma. It breaks my heart that you never had a friend growing up."
She looked at him, her cold expression melting.
"I have one now." she said, smiling "I have a great friend, that is also my boyfriend, and guess what? He gave me an awesome present."
She inched closer to him, smiling and looking at his lips. He got the cue, and was about to kiss her when a cry startled them.
Neal chuckled softly.
"Sounds like your present is awake." he said, pointing to the hallway where the kid's cries came from.
"I will check on him." Emma said, beginning to stand up.
"It's ok, I got it." he said, holding her on place and standing up instead. "Finish your peanuts."
Emma smiled.
"Hey, hey buddy! What's the matter?"
A crying boy looked up with frightened eyes and as soon as Neal crossed the threshold, his little arms shot up. He had just outgrown his crib, and he looked so small and fragile on his big boy bed.
"Papa!"
Neal smiled. That was a little piece of his past that he actually enjoyed – Emma never understood why he insisted that their son called him 'papa' instead of 'daddy'. The true is, every time the boy called him 'papa', a little piece of him warmed up and memories – good memories – peeked at him around the corner.
"Hey, it is ok, I am here." Neal said, seating at the bed and hugging the boy tightly.
After some seconds the boy let go, and Neal smoothed his dark hair.
"What was it, a nightmare?"
His head bounced up and down as the scared face came back.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"You were hurt, papa. And mommy too. And I was alone, and scared, and I called you but you didn't move."
"Henry, I am alright, your mother is alright and nothing is going to hurt us. Do you hear me?"
The boy nodded, holding his father's hand in a tight grip.
"Promise you will stay here until I go back to sleep?"
"I promise." he said, leaving a kiss on his son's forehead. "I love you, kid. I will see you in the morning."
Henry closed his eyes under Neal's watchful stare, and soon he was breathing deeply. Neal once more smoothed his son's hair, sighing. He remembered something that he had heard so many times before – magic always comes with a price. That world had no magic on it but he somehow felt like that sentence fit on the situation at his hands. If August was right and Emma did have a mission, she needed to accomplish the mission. If Neal somehow was impeding her to do so, there was going to be a price to be paid. And what would this price be? He would prefer to die before something bad happened to Emma or Henry. They were his only family, and he would always protect them from everything and everyone.
He watched his son sleeping peacefully. He had a choice to make, hadn't he? He could just ignore what August said and carry on with his life. Or he could talk with Emma about it and try to figure out more about her past and the said mission. Or he could leave Emma, as August had asked, and let her fulfill her destiny.
The question was, what was his decision going to be?
A/n: Ok folks, this was going to be an oneshot, but then I had an idea. What if I write three different endings to the story, one for each of the choices Neal can make, and you can choose which one you would like to read? Just like those interactive books for kids. :) What do you guys think? Let me know!