I do not own any characters, plots, or anything else pertaining to "Once Upon a Time". I'm happy to see that there are a few people following this story. I wasn't sure if there were any Swanfire fans left, but I'm glad there are. Thanks for reading.
Chapter 2
Quality Time
Emma can't stop stealing looks at the man that was once her everything. She can hardly believe that he's walking on the other side of Lucy, their granddaughter. Emma decides that that's the craziest thing of all. "Em, are you okay over there?" Her heart speeds up at his words and she locks eyes with him. "As okay, as anyone would be, seeing their granddaughter and ex back from the dead." Neal gives her that smirk she's always loved and she quickly turns away. It's not that she's not happy to see him, she's ecstatic, but the thought of him disappearing again on her makes her on edge. Emma's already lost him three times and she knows that she can't go through that again, she won't. "So, you're my grandpa?" She looks over at Lucy, who's staring at Neal in awe. He gives her a smile. "Yeah, kid, I guess I am." They share a look and Emma can't help but smile at the scene. She wishes Henry could be here to see Neal and Lucy together. All four, spending time together, despite the strange way it all came together. "My dad said that you met when grandma stole the bug from you." Neal exchanges a look with her. "Your grandpa had stolen the bug first and then lied about it being his car." Lucy gives her a smile and then looks back at Neal. "Is that true grandpa?" Neal shakes his head and smirks. "That's true, but she was the one that got caught by the cops." Emma glares at Neal and then looks down at Lucy. "Wow, dad didn't tell me that part of the story." He suddenly stops in front of Gold's shop and turns to her. "Can you open this with magic, I know my father has a protection spell over it?" Emma nods her head. "I'll open it, but I need to know why we're here, Neal?" He takes a step towards her. "After you open it, everything will become clear. I need you to trust me." She takes a moment to really look at him for the first time. He hasn't aged a day since she last saw him in the in-between, but his chocolate eyes are still as soft and gentle as they always were.
There was a time when she hadn't trusted him, when they ran into each other in New York, but she had soon realized that he was the same man that she had fallen in love with. He had made a mistake by leaving her, but he had thought what he did was in her best interest. Emma had forgiven him because she had understood how a mistake could shape your life. Giving up Henry had always felt like a mistake, but she had thought she was doing what was best for him. "Okay, stand back." Neal nods and Lucy walks over to stand by him. Emma puts her hands up and the door bursts open moments later. She opens the door and all three walk into the shop. It's practically empty, but Neal makes his way around the counter. Emma and Lucy follow and she sees him kneeling on the ground opening one of the floorboards. She stares at him in confusion, but he quickly pulls out a folded map. Neal looks up at her and Lucy with a smile. "This map will lead us to where my father hid all his posions and other enchanted objects. He gave up magic after Gideon was born and left this map for anyone who needed to find it." Emma locks eyes with him. "Who else knows about this?" He places the floorboard back in place and stands-up. "Your dad knows where to find it, but that's it." She stares at him in confusion. "Should I even ask how you know that?" Neal gives her a small smile and shakes his head. "Probably not, just know, that I found out from a very reliable source." Emma nods her head, accepting his answer for now, but definitely planning to get it out of him later. "Are you two, ready?" Her and Lucy nod in unison and the three make their way out of the shop together.
Emma follows Neal and Lucy back down the street to her old bug. She watches Lucy hop into the backseat and Neal into the driver's seat. Emma makes her way to the driver's side door and shakes her head. "Did you forget, that I'm the one that drives this bug?" He shakes his head. "Just like old times." She scoffs and he slides over to the passenger's seat. Emma gets behind the wheel and turns the key in the ignition. She finds it surreal to be in this car again with Neal, but it's not any more surreal, than her parents being Snow White and Prince Charming. Emma looks in the rearview mirror and sees Lucy smiling wide, just like Henry. It grips her heart, as Neal starts giving her directions out of town.
A few hours into the trip, Neal tells her to pull over. She does so and turns to him. "This is where my father hid everything." Emma nods her head at his words. "Right outside of New York, what aren't you telling me, Neal?" He shakes his head. "Not yet, Emma." She stares at him for a moment, trying to figure out what he's hiding from her. Neal gets out of the bug and Emma gets out to follow. Lucy comes up beside her, as they make their way off the beaten path. After a few minutes, she feels a little hand in hers and turns to see Lucy looking a little scared. She can't blame her, with every step they take, she's feeling just as uneasy. Neal finally comes to a stop on a clear patch of land and waves Lucy over. Emma stares at the two for a moment in confusion. "I need to prick your finger with this dagger." Emma's breath catches, when she sees the Dark One's blade come out of Neal's pocket. She rushes towards them. "Neal, what are you doing and how did you get his blade?" He looks over at her with a frown. "That's a long story, but I can tell you, that my father gave it to me." Emma tries to wrack her brain of how that could be, but doesn't have to think too hard to put the pieces together in her mind.
Her eyes lock with his. "Gold's dead?" Neal shakes his head solemnly. "No, his memory was taken too." Emma nods her head. "What does Lucy have to do with this?" He gives her a frown. "Her blood is the only way to unearth his magical objects and posions." Emma's brain begins working to put everything together and she realizes the answer, that's been staring her in the face, since he came back from the dead. "Your father knew what was going to happen." Neal nods again, looking guilty. "Yeah, he said he had seen a prophecy about it, when he met me in the in-between." Emma nods her head. "He casted a spell, didn't he?" Neal looks over at Lucy and smiles. "He did and now it's up to me to get Lucy here to prick her finger and chant this incantation." Neal turns the map over and kneels down in front of Lucy. "All you have to do is prick your finger and say these words. 'My Blood Will Unlock the Door' three times. Can you do that?" Lucy nods her head. "If it's going to help my dad, I'll do whatever it takes." He smirks, despite the tense situation. "It looks like the apple didn't fall far from the tree." He looks over at her and she gives him a small smile. Lucy turns to her. "I've never done a spell before, grandma. Can you help me?" She nods at her words. "Yeah, all you need to do is close your eyes and feel good magic flow through you. Think of your happy place." Lucy raises her eyebrow. "What's your happy place?" Emma suddenly feels uncomfortable, but if it'll help her granddaughter find her happy place, then she has to tell her. "Tallahassee." Emma doesn't dare look over at Neal, knowing that he probably looks, as stunned as she feels saying it out loud.
It's quiet for a few moments. "What's Tallahassee, grandma?" She locks eyes with Lucy and gives her a sad smile. "It was supposed to be a happy place, a home, but someone broke their promise." Her granddaughter stares at her in confusion. "Then, why is it your happy place?" Emma feels her heart twist and she finally manages to look over at Neal, who's staring at her so sadly, that she has to tear her eyes away from him and look back at Lucy. "Even though that promise was broken, doesn't mean, I don't still envision a happy life there." Lucy gives her a nod and sticks her right hand out to Neal. "Alright grandpa, let's do this." Neal, still taken aback by her talk about Tallahassee, finally snaps out of it after a few moments and pricks Lucy's finger with the blade. Emma sees the blood trickle out of her little finger and she's proud when her granddaughter takes it all in stride. She's a strong little girl. "It's all you, kid." He stands up and backs away from Lucy at a safe distance. Their eyes lock and she knows that they're going to have to talk about her Tallahassee confession later, even though she knows how awkward it's going to be. In Neal fashion, he gives her a small smirk, before focusing on their granddaughter, starting to chant the incantation for the first time. Emma prays that this will work and magic will steer them in the right direction, just as it always has.
