"Grandma…how do you get past someone lying to you?" Henry asked Snow as she sat next to him on the couch.

"It takes a strong person to do it, Henry." Snow gave him a slight smile. "I understand that you're angry with Emma…but, just like your grandfather and I, she did what she had to in order to protect you. You understand that, don't you?"

Henry nodded and stared into his cup of milk, suddenly blurting out, "My dad punched Captain Hook and they got into a fight."

From the kitchen they heard David snort, clearly amused that he wasn't the only one who couldn't stand Hook.

"David!" Snow snapped at him. "Why would Neal punch Hook, Henry?"

"I don't know." He shrugged. "Guess it had something to do with mom. She was pretty upset about it."

"Did she arrest them too?" David asked, making his way to the couch, catching his wife's glare in the process.

"Quit being such a baby about that."

"Well, she had no problem arresting me when I punched Hook!"

"You did it in plain view of everyone, David, she had to."

David huffed as he leaned back in his seat, grumbling to himself.

Snow shook her head and turned back to Henry. "So, what did she about it?"

"Well, she stopped it, but made my dad leave so she could bring me here. She didn't want to leave them alone."

"Why is it that I'm always cleaning blood off of you?" Emma wiped away the blood on Hook's lip.

"Because you love me?" He gave her a lazy grin, one that made her roll her eyes.

"This isn't funny. Henry's father, Gold's son, is in town and you two have some sort of…unresolved issues. If it's not one thing, it's another."

Hook sighed and pulled her close. "Emma, I understand that Neal is of importance to Henry. But having him around makes you uneasy and I don't like it."

"You know he thinks we're together, right?" She glared at him.

"Yes, I'm…well aware of that."

"I have to explain this whole situation to him."

"Why does he even need an explanation? He's been gone for 11 years, he deserves no knowledge of you or your life."

"I know. But if I'm gonna make things right with Henry, I have to make things right with Neal first. I'm meeting him in about ten minutes." She pulled away from him.

"I want to go."

Emma laughed. "Killian, you can't even move."

"I just got into a fight, I think I'll be fine." Hook groaned as he stood from the couch.

"Fine." She agreed; at least she'd feel less uncomfortable with him there. "You know I don't need you to fight my battles though, right?"

Hook stuffed his hand in his pocket, taking in a deep breath as they walked to Granny's diner. "I don't need to…but I want to."

Neal was sitting at a booth, staring into his hands, and looked up as he heard the bell ring. His smile faded as he realized Emma wasn't alone.

"Why is he here?" He asked her, nodding at Hook.

"Because I happen to dislike that you make my wife uncomfortable." Hook shot back without missing a beat.

"Wife?"

"Hook!" Emma hissed, taking a seat across from Neal. "We're not married."

"But you are together?" Neal glared at Hook, who smirked in response.

"No."

"Clearly I'm not welcome at this moment." Hook interjected. "So, I'll be off getting Henry then."

"Wait a minute." Neal began. "I don't find it appropriate that you're spending time with my son."

"Up until this morning, you didn't even know he existed." Hook retorted, making his way to the door.

Emma sighed heavily as she put a hand to her head. "Look, Neal, it's great that you're here and looking after your dad, but you have to leave."

"Why? Why can't I spend time with Henry, Emma? What's the harm in that? I'm his father and we didn't even know the other existed until today. I deserve to know him."

"I agree." She nodded, but sat straight as she began to tell the second biggest lie in her life. "But Hook's been Henry's father figure ever since he's been in town and I don't think it's right for you to intrude on their time. You saw how close they are and I won't let you break them apart."

"Are you serious?" He gaped at her. " 'Their time'? Hook doesn't even know what a father is, Emma. His idea of being a father is sailing the seas of Neverland and getting into ferocious battles with creatures you nor I could ever handle."

"I'm done with this conversation." She got up to leave.

"Emma, wait." Neal grabbed her hand gently. "I just…want to spend at least an hour with Henry. Just one…before I have to go."

Emma glanced at his grip on her wrist then back at his face. "I…I guess."

Neal smiled at her, getting out of the booth and giving her a kiss on the forehead before leaving the diner.

She closed her eyes and felt the tears begin to well up; she could lie to herself all she wanted…but she knew she still loved Neal, just as Hook still loved Milah. Sure, her and Hook were growing close, but there was no denying what she still felt for Neal, especially since they had a child together.

"Emma?" Ruby's concerned voice broke through to her. "Are you okay?"

"No." She gasped, clutching at her chest and sitting back down. "I'm not."

"I'm sorry, you're at my door because…?" David glared at Hook, who smiled in return.

"I'm here to pick up the lad, seeing as it seems he's in much need of some time away from you two."

David glared at him and yelled over his shoulder. "Henry! Visitor."

"Hi, Captain Hook." Henry came to the door. "What are you doing here? Did my mom send you?"

"No, she's busy. I was simply wondering if you'd like some fresh air."

"Sure!" Henry turned away from the door and ran to the couch to pick up his jacket.

Hook gave David a triumphant smile as he walked away with Henry.

"Henry, be careful!" David warned.

"Okay, grandpa!" Henry yelled back. "So, what's my mom busy with?"

"She's…talking to your father."

"Oh, about what?"

"I'm not sure."

"You didn't stay with them?"

"I wasn't welcome. Your father seems to believe I'm a destroyer of lives."

"Doesn't seem like it to me." Henry shrugged, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "I don't really know my dad or you, so I can't choose a side."

"Wise." Hook chuckled, leading Henry to the park. "Listen, Henry, I'm not going to tell you to forgive your mother."

Henry sat at a bench with Hook. "Then what are you going to tell me?"

"I'm going to tell what I see when I look at her. Do you want to know?"

Henry nodded his head.

"I see…someone who's been broken; a woman who grew up with a thousand questions. Every night she asked herself, 'Why am I not good enough?'. Then she finds something worth living for and it backfires on her completely. I see a woman who's been scorned her entire life and finally found the answers she's been looking for…only to have her past come up and pull her away from her happiness."

"I love my mom." Henry blurted out. "I know she's been hurt. I understand why she lied to me…but he's still my dad and I thought he was dead."

"Sometimes people are better off dead than alive, Henry. Can you imagine what life would have been like if Neal hadn't run away from your mother? Can you imagine where'd you be right now if Emma never knew her parents? Are you sure you'd even exist?"

Henry looked at the ground and searched for an answer, any answer that would prove Hook wrong. But he couldn't.

I so hope Once Upon A Time comes back for a third season! (x