Chapter 9: I Want the Truth, All of It!

"What the hell is this," Emma said when she parked the bug a couple hours out of Storybrooke in a parking lot.

"It looks like a diner," Neal said casually.

"We passed through here on our way to Storybrooke didn't we?"

"I thought you were asleep."

"I was but I opened my eyes for a second. I thought this was a dream."

"It's just a diner," Neal said trying to downplay it.

Emma angrily got out of the car and Neal followed. "You know it's not just a diner! I showed you my file once. Is this some kind of game, are you trying to mess with my head? Why are we here in Storybrooke? Why! I want the truth Neal."

"All right fine! Just not here okay?"

"Then where?"

Neal opened the car door and picked up the 'Once Upon a Time' book that had been on the floor near his feet. He then opened the hood of the car where the storage space was and grabbed a flashlight.

Wary of Emma's pregnancy, Neal cautiously helped Emma through the woods. Not far from the road they arrived in a mass grove of trees, one of which had a gigantic oval hole in it.

"I don't get it," said Emma, "It's just a tree."

Neal took a deep breath. He had planned on telling Emma everything but not like this. He had wanted more time to figure out just exactly how to tell her but given Emma's anger he was out of that time.

"It's not just any tree. It's your tree. It's the tree you came from."

"You're saying I was born from a tree or what my mom went into labor with me at this spot? Yeah, nice try. I want answers Neal."

"And I'm trying to give them to you." Neal shook his head. "I was afraid you wouldn't believe me."

"How can I you haven't told me anything yet."

Neal thought of a better idea. He handed the book to Emma. "I bookmarked your story. It's all in there."

Emma skeptically opened the book to where the bookmark was. The story was about the birth of a child. The text read that it was Snow White and Prince Charming but that couldn't be right. She had known the stories and no where did they ever mention that she had a kid. She then turned another page and on it was an image of a baby, the name Emma written on a blanket. Emma took a breath and continued scanning the pages where Prince Charming placed her in a tree-like wardrobe. She turned back to the page with her name on it.

"This… this has to be a coincidence."

"It's not Emma, just like it's not a coincidence that you and I are together."

Emma took a step back.

"What are you talking about?"

"Look at the earlier pages. I'm in there too as a little boy."

Emma hesitantly did so.

"What the hell is all of this?"

"I'm not from around here Emma and neither are you. Us coming to Storybrooke, it wasn't an accident."

"Seriously Neal, what's going on?"

"You came into this world from that tree. Your father put you in there to protect you."

"And you expect me to believe that I'm the baby I the picture and that what I'm the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming?"

"That's exactly who you are."

"This is insane."

"I know it is but its true Emma. You know me. You know I'm telling you the truth.

Emma wanted to forget this evening was happening. She wanted to not believe what Neal was telling her but she could find no fault in him as much as the words sounded crazy.

"Are you trying to push me away, is that what this is?"

"How can you even think that," Neal asked as he took a step toward Emma, "I love you."

"Do you? How do I know you're not making that up just like you're making up this entire thing," Emma asked, her voice cracking as tears started to flow. Damn hormones.

"I know it sounds crazy. Trust me I know but you know it's true."

"This is impossible," Emma said her voice coming down to a whisper.

Neal took a step toward her, "Impossible in this world but not in ours. In our world nothing is impossible." Neal reached out and took Emma's hands. "Emma, you have to trust me."

Emma let out a small smile amidst her tears. "I do and that's what scares me."

Neal released a hand and moved some of Emma's hair from her face. "I know it scares me too. I'm scared I'm going to lose you because of how rediculous this all sounds."

The two of them made their way back to the car. It was getting dark and cold and both had now gotten exhausted from the standing and from the arguing. They sat in silence for a moment until Emma was the first to open up.

"It's like I've always kind of known. Kind of like how Leia knew Luke was her brother in Return of the Jedi. I used to have those dreams about my parents being a prince and princess and whisking me away to their castle. I thought it was just typical foster kid stuff but it wasn't was it?"

"No."

Emma took a deep breath. "How long have you known who I was?"

"A few months. A friend of yours found me when I went to fence the watches."

"Who?"

"His name's August. It was his job to look after you but he failed. I don't know you might meet him later. I've spent my whole life running from my father and when August told me who you were and what you had to do I thought about running again."

"Whose your father?" Neal gave Emma a look and she suddenly knew. "Mr. Gold?"

"Actually his real name is Rumpelstiltskin."

Emma had heard the story: the dwarf who spun straw into gold.

"That was why you were arguing with him last night. If you didn't want to find him why did you not run? Why did you stay?"

"Because of you," he said with a soft smile. "My parents were cowards Emma. My mom left when I was a kid and my father chose magic over me. I wasn't going to do that to you. If seeing my father was the price I had to pay in getting you home then I was willing to pay it."

"What do you mean getting me home?" Neal remained silent. "What's the real reason why we came to Storybrooke?"

Neal took a deep breath. Now the hard part. "There's a curse and it needs to be broken," he said using the words August had months ago. "Storybrooke is that cures. The Evil Queen sent everyone from the Enchanted Forest here. No magic, no happy endings. You are the key to breaking it."

"Why me?"

"My father placed a little insurance policy on the curse: you. And since your parents sent you away to escape it you're the only one who can break it."

"This is a lot to take in."

"I know."

All of this talk about her parents, Snow White and Prince Charming, it was all starting to make sense in its own way.

"Mary Margaret: she's my mom isn't she? That's why we were so easy at connecting before. I don't have the physical memory but I could somehow sense it." Emma looked over at Neal. "And my dad, he's that coma patient isn't he? That was why I was drawn to him earlier?"

Neal nodded. "David. It's not a coincidence that his name was in the back of your head. Better we name our kid after your father than mine," he said with a slight laugh.

Emma smiled at that comment but she couldn't think about little David right now. "Why would I remember his name and not Mary Margaret's?"

"I don't know. The only possibility I can think of is that you had more time with him than you did with your mom since you father took you after you were born to the nursery where the wardrobe was. Your mom was still resting up after having had you."

The two sat in silence for a while, Neal allowing Emma the time for all of this to sink in.

"Hey, Neal said taking her hand after a few minutes, "You don't have to do this alone. I'm not going anywhere."

"Good."

"You still don't believe this do you?"

Emma shook her head. "I don't know what to believe. I want to believe it I do. To finally have found my parents- that's the dream for any foster kid but I grew up in this world. I wasn't taught to believe in the literal truth of fairytales." Emma looked at their entwined hands. She then looked up at Neal and smiled. "But I do believe in you so if you believe then I can live with that but I can't live without you."

"I'll take it," Neal said smiling.

The two leaned in, kissing deeply.

"You should get some sleep. I'll drive."