Chapter 10

Emma stood frozen, rooted to the spot, rendered unable to speak at the sight of her ex, the man who'd she'd fallen in love with all those years ago. Who'd made her happy for the first time in her life, but then picked up her heart and smashed it to pieces. Who'd gotten her sent to jail and gotten her pregnant. Who was probably the cause of the awful mess she'd left behind in Storybrooke. The whole reason she was so unhappy right now.

"Here." Neal handed her the box of cereal, but she ignored it, choosing instead to stand there, arms crossed glaring at him.

"Why?" She asked. It was a question she'd been dying to ask him for ages. Why had he turned her in to the cops? Why had he said he loved her but then abandoned her? Why, why, why, why, why?

"Um, you looked like you were having a little trouble reaching it?" He cocked his head to the side adorably.

"You know damn well what I'm talking about." Emma said her voice dangerously low. She was about two seconds away from punching his face in. Her heart pounded so fast she was afraid she'd give herself a heart attack and she dimly registered that she was standing in attack mode, ready to fight or flight at any moment, something she'd developed after years of living with abusive foster families.

He didn't say anything, so Emma just snatched the box of cereal and turned around to leave. She had to get up early the next day and didn't really have time for this. Neal was just a no good dirty thief, just like she'd been. Except that she'd actually done the time for her crimes, whereas he was probably still living off petty crimes. She clucked her tongue at his expensive jacket and watch. He'd probably turned her in to save his own ass so he could keep the money from the watches.

"Em, wait." He placed a hand on her shoulder, but she shook it off, visibly shuddering at his use of her old nickname.

"Fuck off." She hissed, not unlike what'd she said to Graham that last day in Storybrooke. But unlike Graham, Neal was insistent.

"Just listen to me." He urged.

Emma spun around and in a matter of seconds, pinned him against one of the shelves, sending a row of cans flying everywhere.

"Why. Why should I listen to you after all you've done to me?" She said in his ear, her voice thick with fury. "You give me one reason, Neal."

Neal seemed to visibly collapse. Suddenly, he looked about ten years older, and guilt was written into his face.

"It's a long story." He answered, looking down at her strong grip on his coat. "Which I can tell you if you let me go."

Emma thought about her choices for a moment. If she let him go, he could just run away. As a thief, he would be in pretty good shape. If she kept him pinned against the shelf, he might attack her, which would not good. She decided to let him go. Besides, she was in pretty good shape. She better be anyway, after months of being sheriff and running after Henry.

Slowly, she released him. "All right. Go ahead. Explain." She said, her eyes cold as a snake's.

"Why don't we go somewhere a little less public?" He suggested, but Emma was not budging.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" She shoved him, hard. "You honestly think I'm going to go anywhere with you?" She said "you" the same one way would say tarantula.

"I meant like Starbucks." He said, perplexed at her defensiveness.

"Right." Emma ducked her head. "Let's go then. I have work tomorrow."

Author's note: If ya want me to update faster, then ya better review