Chapter 4
"How about ice cream," Neal said smiling down at his son. Henry had been depressed for months, first Regina left, and then Emma called off the wedding. It had broken Neal's heart to see his son so sad and to be helpless to do anything about it.
"I am too old for ice cream Dad."
"No one is ever too old for Ice Cream; trust me I am a lost boy. I know when people are too old." Neal said smiling up at the boy.
"Fine." Henry growled and followed.
On the way to the diner, a drunken Killen stumbled out of whatever hole he had been hiding in. Neal stood in front of Henry shielding the boy with his body.
"Go away man, I have nothing to say to you. Go back to whatever rock you have been living under."
"Oh but, I have plenty to say to you mate." Killen said getting close to Neal and poking him in the chest with his hook. Neal shoved the Hook away.
"Look codfish, my son is here and I am not going fight you in front of him."
"Codfish huh," Killen said pulling out his sword, and holding it up to Neal's throat. "This isn't about the childish games we use to pay boy. This is about my woman."
"What are you even taking about?" Neal said changing his footing and shifting his weight so he could move Henry and himself out of the way when Hook started to fail his sword like a mad man.
"Emma." Killen hissed then swung his sword, and lost his balance as Neal moved to the side and kicked hook in the knee. Then Neal punched Hook in the face, cutting his lip.
"It's over old man. You lose again." Neal yelled out of breath. "Leave me and my son alone."
"Oh I haven't really lost," Killed sad laughing at Neal, blood leaking from his mouth. "I have not even begun to fight." Killen then stabbed Neal in the foot with his Hook. He then punched him in the stomach, Neal collapsed to the floor. Henry ran to the sword the two men had forgotten, ready to end everything once and for all. Before he could, Killen stabbed his Hook into Neal's chest. Henry dropped the sword and grabbed his father as Killian stepped away.
"Just as easy as when I did it to your father" Killen laughed, "You know what else is easy, Emma Swan. You wouldn't believe the things that pretty mouth is capable of. It works so much better when she uses for more important things then taking." Neal was dead within seconds of the hook hitting his heart. The only person who heard Hooks words were Henry.
Henry shot up from bed; his nightmares were getting worse. Emma was making them worse; she always made everything worse. He had not had the dream about his father's death since starting his new life, but tonight every terrible thing that ever happened was haunting him."Henry hurry up, you are going to be late." Regina yelled from the kitchen, waking Emma up who had just fallen asleep. She had watched the little boy sneak out of his room several times throughout the night. Mack was on the chair next to the sofa putting her shoes on.
"Hey kid."
"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up."
"It's cool," Emma said as she sat up.
"Henry, I am not going to ask you again." Regina said knocking on the boy's door then walking in. "You have to be ready in 10 minutes and you're not even out of bed."
"I am coming." Came a sleepy reply. A few minutes later, the boy came strolling out of his room still in his PJs. Yawning and with dark circle under his eyes. It was clear the boy had not slept.
"Can I ask you a question kid?"
"Sure," Mack replied shrugging her shoulders.
"Dose your brother always get up every night and check on your Mom while she sleeps?"
"Yeah, he is paranoid," Mack whispered.
"Of what?"
"That she won't be there when he wakes up. I don't know why but he is terrified of something happing to her. Usually he just sleeps with her though, but I think he was trying to be cool in front of you." Mack looked into Emma's eyes, "So how many times."
"I really don't know I lost count." Emma said with a shrug.
"He tries so hard to be brave. He thinks it's his mission to keep Mom and me safe. You know since he is the man of the house, since dad left." Mack replied. Emma became very quiet. She had given her child up for adoption. It was the hardest thing she had ever done and hurt her every day, but she was giving him his best chance. Therefore, who was she to judge the man who ran away and left his family? Yet Emma felt sick every time she heard Mack talk about her dad abandoning them.
"Are you ok?" Mack asked, "You got really quite and looked really sad."
"I am ok kid, just thinking." Emma said leaning over and patting the girl on the shoulder trying to reassure her everything was fine."
"Your sill not dressed, we're going to be late." Emma and Mack looked up to see a very disgruntled Regina rushing around and Henry still barley making an effort to get ready.
"I am trying."
"Your sister was ready 20 minutes ago. Go brush your teeth and wash your face." Regina said directing him to the bathroom. "Your lunch is made and since you took so long getting up you're going to have to take a granola bar for breakfast." The boy did not protest just continued to move at a snail's pace.
After 15 more minutes, Henry was finally dressed and somewhat presentable. Regina inspected him and after smoothing his hair and fixing his shirt, she was finally satisfied with his appearance.
Emma could not help but feel bad for the boy. She knew exactly what it felt like to be abandoned. There was something about the strange little boy she found endearing even though the night before he tried to cripple her. Emma found the whole family charming in an awkward sort of way. From the angry little introvert whose only goal in life appeared to be protecting his family. To the charismatic little girl who was much wiser than any 7-year-old Emma had ever met. Then there was Regina. Emma hated to admit it but she could stare at the woman all day and never get tired of her smile. Regina had the kind of smile that could light up the darkest of rooms. The kind of smile that made you happy, just being near her. Yet she had the saddest eyes Emma had ever seen, pain and sadness hidden just under the surface. Emma had no idea how that was possible but she wanted to find out and that scared her.
