Thanks as usual to the awesome RainMirror for betaing this story for me. Thanks for the reviews, favs, and follows.

The decision was taken out of his hands when his phone rang again. It was Elaine.

"Hi, sorry, I was about to return your call."

"Neal, what's wrong? Your voice sounds rougher than usual."

"I had a son with Emma. I abandoned her. Henry is my son. Mr. Gold is my father."

"Wow, that's a lot to take in in one go. Are you OK?"

"Yes," he lied. He didn't want her to worry.

"Don't lie to your therapist. Your voice is rougher, as if you've been crying. Besides, nobody normal is OK after hearing such news. Where is Emma? I need to have words with her."

Neal closed his eyes and drew a deep breath. "She is not here. She tried to explain to me but I was too busy emptying my guts. Literally. Sorry, I shouldn't mention it. I fell asleep in the bathroom and she was gone when I woke up."

"It's OK to feel upset and to cry. That means you're only human. Are you OK now? I should go down there and bring some ginger ale and crackers."

"I'm fine, really. I've slept it off. I should go to Storybrooke right now to be there for Henry."

"At nearly 10 pm? Why don't you rest and wait for tomorrow morning?"

"I'm afraid I won't have the guts to do that if I wait. I need to go pack now."

"Why don't you call them first before you go? Anyway, I'm coming over to your place right now. Don't go before I get there."

"Thanks." He hung up.

He stood to try to pack and called Henry. As soon as he stood he saw dark spots on his vision. He tried to take a step forward but his apartment seemed to sway when he moved. He felt sick and sat down again.

Henry was about to call Neal again when his phone rang. He saw that it was from Neal.

"Neal, how are you?"

There was some slight hesitation before he heard Neal said, "I'm fine. I'm so sorry, Henry. I should have remembered and been there for you."

"It's not your fault. You had quite an accident. We don't blame you for not remembering."

"We?"

"Mr. Gold and I."

"Am I a bad father? Is that why you don't want me in Storybrooke? You can be honest with me."

Henry could hear his father's silent desperation and his heart ached again. If only he knew how great a father he was in the short time he knew him. If only he remembered Neal then... He must have been heartbroken when he was dying and his son didn't remember him.

"No, not at all. You're the best father I can ask for." As long as you stop dying he silently added.

"Why didn't you tell me then?"

"Because Mr. Gold and my grandparents have a lot of enemies. It's dangerous for you to be here if you don't remember. You couldn't protect yourself."

"Why is it OK for you but not me? I could protect you and myself."

"Good question. Because I have a family who knows magic doesn't sound natural." He answered internally. Externally, he said, "Your accident has shaken us. We think it's best if you stay away from Storybrooke until you remember to be safer."

"I don't want to be safe. I want to be a father for you. I'm coming to Storybrooke right now!"

Henry started to panic because he remembered how stubborn Neal could be. "It's late. Why don't you go tomorrow morning?"

"There are some late night buses to go to Maine. I could get on one of those."

"Why don't you call Mr. Gold first to ask what he thinks? You trust his judgment after all. Besides, I'm sure you want to talk to your father."

"Fine, I will. But it won't stop me from going there tonight."

"You're the best father I could ask for and I'm being sincere. We shouldn't have lied to you about it. I'm sorry. But I'm honest this time. Good night."

He quickly dialed Mr. Gold's number before Neal.

Mr. Gold picked up as soon as it rang.

"Grandpa Gold, Neal really wants to come to Storybrooke right now. I don't think it's safe for him. Could you try to stop it?"

"Thanks, Henry. I'll find a way."

"Thanks, grandpa."

Henry hung up. He was still worried because both Neal and Mr. Gold were stubborn but he was more assured now. Mr. Gold always has a way.

As soon as Henry hung up, Rumpelstiltskin made a phone call to keep his promise to Henry. The other party was surprised to receive his call but assured him that it would be done.

He was about to call Bae when his boy called him. He was tense as he didn't know what his son's feelings were at the moment.

"Gold speaking."

"Mr. Gold, it's me, Neal, your… son unless you don't want me to be? Then I'm just Neal."

He recognized his son's desperation and silent plea for acceptance. He also recognized that his voice was rougher as if he had been crying before calling him. Knowing his son, he must have been sick too after hearing the bombs from Emma. Tact certainly was not the Charmings' strong suit.

"I want it to be. I'm so sorry, Ba..Neal for not admitting it sooner. We thought it would be safer."

"Dad?" he tested out.

He missed him calling him Papa but he would take what he could get. "Yes, son."

There was a sound of relief from the other side. "So you are not really mad at me so you didn't acknowledge me."

"Not at all, quite the contrary. I'm so proud that you're my son. Always was and always will be. If we were mad, why would we visit you in New York? We could have just ignored you after you left."

Bae laughed nervously. It was music to his ears. He missed his son's laughter. When did his boy get so depressed? Perhaps sharing a body with him didn't help.

"If that's the case, why did everyone worry about my safety? I'm not that fragile."

"I have some powerful enemies that might get to me by hurting you. In fact, they had succeeded when you were in that accident. I don't want a repeat of that."

Bae laughed again, this time it was genuine. "And you think New York is safer than a small town like Storybrooke."

"You really have no idea about Storybrooke. And yes, I think it's safer for you to be in New York for now."

"Tough luck! I'm going there tonight. I need to spend time with Henry and you like a family, not just friends. Nothing you say will stop me."

Well, Bae was always stubborn and impulsive. It was almost endearing if it was not against his wish. "Will it help if I say I'm going to visit you tomorrow? I also have some business to take care of in New York." Like reprimanding Ms. Swan for what she had done.

"I don't believe you have a real business here. You just want to stop me from going there. Not working. Besides I need to see Henry."

"I can bring Henry tomorrow."

"It's a school day tomorrow. He is not skipping school for me. No, I'm the one going there."

"Would a father's plea work?"

"Would a son's wish be granted?"

Well, his boy was also smart and quick witted. That was the problem.

"Neal, please think about this. It's near midnight, go to sleep. I know you've been sick as I raised you after all. It won't do anyone good if you get sick or into an accident. If you want to go, please wait until tomorrow morning."

"I'm sorry but I'm still going now. I've missed too much in Henry's life. I will pack now. See you soon!" Bae hung up.

Rumpelstiltskin let out a frustrated growl at his son's determination. Then he remembered he had a plan B which he hoped worked.

He tried to call Emma but her line was engaged. He heard a buzz for his apartment. He stood up and the dark spots were immediately back. He picked up the receiver and heard Elaine's voice.

"Neal, let me in."

"OK."

He pressed the button to open the gate. He was still dizzy so he was holding the wall to stay upright. As soon as he heard the knock on the door, he walked slowly toward it by using the wall as his support.

He opened the door to see Elaine waving some take-out bags.

"I have ginger ale, some crackers and chicken noodle soup. You need to eat something first before you go."

He wanted to reply there was no time as he needed to pack but suddenly everything went dark.

"Neal, please wake up."

He felt a cool cloth on his forehead. He opened his eyes to see Elaine looking down worriedly at him. It seemed his head on her lap. He blushed at their close proximity and tried to get up. It was a bad idea as he got dizzy again and ended up on the floor.

"Are you OK?"

"I'm fine." He rubbed at the side his head that had made contact to the floor. "What happened?"

"You fainted. I think you have a very low blood sugar and all that vomiting and stress didn't help."

"How long have I been out?"

"Around 10 minutes. Why?"

"I can still catch the 1:30 bus."

"You're unbelievable. What if you faint on the way there? Who will help you then?"

"I'm sure there is a limit of how many times a person can faint per day."

"No, there is not. I'm a doctor. As your doctor, I order you to eat these foods first to make sure you have the energy."

"What if I don't listen to you?"

"Good luck reaching your bedroom and packing in your state. I'll just let you sleep on the floor in that case. Save me from arguing."

He tried to stand up and the dark spots were back. Luckily she was there to catch him and guide him to the couch.

He tried to lighten the situation. "Your bedside manners leave something to be desired."

"It's tough love for difficult patients. Now drink this first."

He drank the ginger ale and felt much better afterward. His body started to feel warm. He didn't realize it was cold. She opened the pack of crackers. He offered her to take as well but she only took two pieces just to humor him. He finished the whole packet and realized that he was famished.

She warmed up the soup in the microwave and gave it to him.

He winked. "I could live being served like this every day."

"In your dreams. I only do this for fainting and stubborn patients."

"Perhaps I should faint more often."

She shook her head. "Shut up and eat. And no, I had my dinner so no need to offer me any."

He intended to eat only a few spoonfuls before packing but his body disagreed after being starved. He gulfed it down in three minutes. He felt much better now. He needed to pack and go.

He was glad that he didn't see any dark spots anymore when he stood up. However, he felt his head and body get extremely heavy, like he had been drugged. The food! He wanted to ask Elaine but his mind started to get fuzzy. He sat down and closed his eyes involuntarily. He forced them to open but everything got blurrier and heavier. Then everything was dark again.

Note:

-One thing that annoys me in the show besides Neal's death that shouldn't happen for a "family show" is the fact that Henry didn't even remember him when he died. It still bothers me now.

-Please tell me what you think.