Emma stretched, feeling that she wasn't on a bed. She peeked her eyes open to see she was cuddled up in the chair on the balcolny. Neal's sweater was covering her, and the smell of him was stuck on her skin.

She grabbed the sweater and headed into the room to see Neal and Henry at the table, greeting her with identical smiles.

"Hey boys," Emma called, setting Neal's sweater on the back of his chair.

Before Emma sat down, Henry had zipped to the counter and back.

"We got donuts," Henry smiled proudly, holding up the bag for Emma to see, "We got jelly."

It's almost like they rehearsed it before she even entered the room.

"Great kid, but we're going to have to save those for after breakfast. What'd you guys manage to stir up?" She asked, taking in a deep breath.

"Mom, we made pancakes, because we know you love them with chocolate chips-"

"And hot chocolate with cinnamon," Neal added, sending her a look that confirmed he had no idea where Henry got the donut line from.

"Come here kid, give me a hug," Emma offered, "Thanks for the wonderful breakfast. You and Dad sure make a great team."

Neal sent her a look of shock, astonishment even. It's like he had just realized that he was more than Neal to Henry. He was Dad, and Emma approved of it.

They all sat down for a breakfast filled with stories from Henry's adventures around the castle.

"And the pool was HUGE!" Henry exclaimed, using his arms to emphasize it, "And the other kids were playing catch and they let me join in."

"Man, that's great," Neal smiled, ruffling Henry's hair.

"There's one other place I'd love to see though," Henry suggsted, "the beach."

"Finish your breakfast and we'll go," Emma offered, smiling at the two of them.

"Yes!" Henry exclaimed, starting to eat just a little bit quicker.

Emma sent a wink Neal's way, and he knew it was a thank you for last night.

xxx

"Let's build a sand castle, guys!" Henry yelled.

The beach was just outside of their hotel, and Emma was relieved that the location saved her the hastle of packing.

"Just a minute, buddy!" Neal called, holding up a finger to Henry.

"Hey Neal-"

"You don't have to think me again," Neal said, resting his hand on her knee.

"I do," she started, "But where did Henry get that donut line from?"

She tilted her head in complete confusion.

"Dude, I seriously have no clue," Neal laughed.

"You told him to say it, didn't you?"

"No, I'm just as shocked as you are. But he is your son, you know," Neal laughed, playfully shoving Emma.

"Our son," she blurted out without thinking.

Our son. He could get used to the sound of that.

He smiled in awe, looking over to see Henry halfway through his sand castle. He stood up, brushing the sand off of his pants.

She reached for his hand and he pulled her up.

"Well, whatcha say we go play with our son?" Neal asked, giving her that sly smile of his.

She nodded in approval, and they both ran over to Henry.

"Emma, I need you to go get water for the moat. Neal, you have to stay here and help me make the left wing," Henry instructed.

The kid actually knew what he was talking about.

Emma didn't argue and took Henry's bucket to fill it with water.

"Psssttt, kid," Neal whispered, nudging Henry.

"What?"

"I'm gonna get your mom good," Neal chuckled.

"How?" He asked, almost sounding like he didn't believe Neal.

"Watch," He suggested, picking up the nearest bucket.

Henry watched, hoping Neal could get away with whatever he was going to do. Henry believed that there was no defeating Emma Swan. Even if it was just a simple prank, Emma was one step ahead 99.9 percent of the time.

Neal tip toed to the water, carefully filling the bucket. He inched his way over to Emma without making a single noise.

Emma froze, feeling that something wasn't right.

Henry.

She whipped around, seeing that Henry was staring at her. Why was he-

She whipped back around to look at the water but there was nothing.

"Hey kid, why the hel-"

She was stopped in her tracks when she felt ice cold water drench her.

Neal's hearty laugh rang through her ears, and she opened her eyes to see Henry and Neal high fiving each other on the shore.

"Got her!" Neal yelled before picking up Henry and swinging him around.

Nobody was able to pull a fast one on Emma Swan. Except for Neal Cassidy, Henry decided.

"Neal.. Are you serious?" Emma asked, wringing out her hair.

"Damn straight, I am!" Neal laughed.

"You want to fight dirty? Bring it on!" Emma yelled from the water.

"Me and you against Mom?" Neal asked.

Henry nodded, and they sprinted off towards the waves.

Buckets in hand, they began to scoop up water and throw it at Emma.

"Come on, Swan Girl, you're supposed to be great in water," Neal teased with a childish grin.

Emma was losing horribly at this water fight, and there was only one thing she could think to do.

"Human sheild!" She yelled, holding Henry out in front of her.

"Dang it.." Henry whined, "Sorry, Dad, I'm a hostage."

He laughed, realizing the kid had a bigger vocabulary than he did.

Neal grabbed Henry, throwing him into the waves.

"You can't just do that! What if he-"

"Mom, I'm good. That was fun, can I do it again?!" Henry exclaimed as he emerged from the water.

"Oh you wanna do it again?" Emma asked, "Grab him, Neal."

Emma had a hold of his wrists, and Neal his ankles.

"One.. Two... Three..." they counted, throwing him in on three.

Henry thought it was hysterical, and Emma and Neal couldn't help but get a kick out of it, too.

xxx

Henry was occupying a beach towel on the sand, practically falling asleep. He had played rough, he was about due for a nap.

Emma and Neal were still going at it in the waves, splashing each other, shoving each other down, and he wasn't afraid to throw her in every once in awhile.

Henry watched carefully, every move they made. One minute they were fighting, the next they were best friends. He knew that his gramps and grams were true love, but the book didn't tell him everything. He wished the book would confirm his parent's relationship, but he almost didn't need it when he saw the way they looked at each other.

While Henry was lost in his thoughts, his parents had made their way over to him.

"I call a rematch," Emma declared, drying her hair with a towel.

"You know I won fair and square," Neal argued, glancing over at her.

"You call a sneak attack fair and square, Dad?" Henry intruded.

"Kid's got a point."

Emma smiled that smile that shut Neal down completely. The one that made him not want to argue anymore.

Henry admired the playful banter between his parents.

"Come on, kid, let's head back to the room," Emma motion towards the hotel.

Henry's parents walked in front of him, and they walked so close that they were almost touching.

His initial reason for coming here had nothing to do with them, but now his mind was switching gears.

xxx

They entered the third castle on their list, and it was astonishing, something Emma couldn't deny.

Henry was marveling at it, and he studied the detailed structure.

Neal had seen enough of these in his lifetime and decided that this was purely for the kid's amusement.

"Wouldn't it be awesome to live in something like this?" Henry asked, staring up into the vast ceiling.

"Is that- Would you want that?" Emma asked, surprised at his question.

"If we could go back, that is," Neal added.

"Yeah, of course!"

Neal shot a glance at Emma and shrugged. He already predicted this conversation.

"What about you, Mom? Would you like to see the Enchanted Forrest?" Henry asked, eyeing the antique looking furniture.

Emma was hoping Neal would take one for the team on this one.

The team. Did she just think of them as a team?

"Hey Henry, did you see the kitchen yet?" Neal asked, wrapping his arm around Henry and heading towards the back of the house.

Neal turned back with a wink, and Emma stopped holding her breath. He knew just when to swoop in and save the day.

She took her own tour around the house, looking but not really seeing.

Henry wanted this, and she knew that. She wanted to give him everything, just not the Enchanted Forest. Everything they knew was in Storybrooke. How was she supposed to pick up and leave the world she grew up in? Sure, it was cruel. But the Enchanted Forest couldn't be much better.

Emma felt a hand slide onto her shoulder.

"I sent him to the kid's bedroom on the third floor. He 'ought to be distracted for awhile," Neal laughed.

He waited, but Emma didn't say anything for nearly five minutes.

"He wants to go back, Neal."

"I know, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. And just because the kid wants it, it doesn't set anything in stone. We're the parents, we make the real decisions."

Oh yeah, she forgot about that part.

"Anyways, if we're even planning to move, there's plenty of places outside of Storybrooke."

"If we're even planning to? That apartment was designed for one person, maybe two. Five is cutting it close."

"Well... Here's a suggestion," Neal started, "How about we move here?"

"Here to Scotland?! Are you insane?!" Emma yelled.

"It was just an idea. It's easier than traveling to a completely different realm."

She gave him her "you've got to be kidding me" face.

"We can move the whole family out here. It would be the only way I can think for us to meet in the middle with them. And if we move here, in this house, there will be enough room for everyone to have their own room."

Her facial expression didn't change but she added an eye roll.

"Just promise me you'll think about it."

"Promise," she finally said.

Since when did she start promising Neal Cassidy anything? Things were changing right before her eyes, and sooner than she expected.

xxx

"Pass me the graham crackers," Henry said, reaching out across the fire.

"One more smore, and if you don't hurry they're going to start the movie with you," Neal said.

Henry stole Emma's "you've got to be kidding me" face and used it on Neal.

"Someone's being the big bad parent," Emma teased, nudging him playfully.

"Fine.. Two," Neal budged.

Henry had gotten away with something only having to use the stare down once. He was getting pretty good.

"How are we doing in the parenting department?" Emma asked, taking a bite of the smore she posessed.

Henry's face wandered in thought, and he smiled before speaking.

"Emma, you're doing pretty good. You're getting better at talking to me about things. I like that," he said as he snuggled himself underneath her arm.

"What about me, buddy?"

"Neal, you're a lot of fun, but you're really bad at standing your ground," he laughed, pointed down to his smore.

"Fair enough," Neal laughed.

Emma kept sneaking glances at Neal through the fire. It was lighting up his face, showcasing every feature it held.

"Alright, head up to the room," Neal instructed Henry.

"Just go straight up, and when you get to the room, wave down at us from the window. Just as a signal that you're okay."

Henry gave a big hug to his mom and dad, and then headed inside.

"He's great, isn't he?" Emma asked, not taking her eyes off of Henry until he disappeared.

"Yeah, and yet you told us nothing good came from us being together," Neal pointed out, taking a sip of his beer.

They saw Henry do a quick wave from the window with his pajamas on and stuffed dragon in hand. They both laughed at the exact same as Henry checked his watch and sprinted away from the door.

Neal patted the empty space on the blanket right next to him.

Emma scooted over close to him and snuggled into him for warmth.

"Have a sip," Neal suggested, handing her his bottle.

She took a sip, and it took her back in time. Her mind went to her seventeen year old self sharing drinks with a Neal Cassidy that she knew nothing about, except that he definitely thought she was older than she was.

"Emma, if there's anything you want out of me, tonight would be the night to ask."

"What do you mean-"

"If there's anything you need me to do, anything you want to ask, now would be the time. You want anything at all, I'll get it for you. I'll take the moon right out of the sky if you ask me to," he said in a promising voice.

"Neal you don't-"

"Come on, let's head back to the room and warm up," He suggsted, standing up and collecting the things they'd brought.

"I can help you carry those," she suggested, reach out with hands ready to be filled.

When he gave her everything to carry she was confused.

"Hop on my back." He said, leaning down.

"What are we, kids again?" She asked, jokingly

"You wanted to carry everything, and now I'll carry you," He smiled back at her.

"You sure are something else, Mr. Cassidy," She said, jumping on his back.

"What about the second star to the right?" Emma suggested, giggling in his ear.

This was the Neal she remembered. The one that wasn't afraid to be silly and goofy, one that wasn't afraid to be complete dork around her.

He couldn't believe he was piggy backing her all the way to the third floor of the hotel.

This was going to be one hell of a night.