Hey, thank you once again for all the reviews, follows and favorites So Regina was the unexpected friend, will Emma act on the advice given to her…. Hope you enjoy the next chapter.


Chapter 10

The house was eerily quiet. Eva was now sleeping peacefully; she had awoken a few times since Emma had left. Neal had done his best to calm his daughter, but he knew she wanted her mother.

Unable to sleep Neal sat staring into space on the sofa. He was in a complete trance, not concentrating at all on the TV in front him. He was still trying to work out what had happened tonight. They had argued before but nothing like that. He could still see the pain and hurt in Emma's eyes. He had never seen her look at him like that before.

For the last few hours he tried to distract himself but everywhere he looked it reminded him of how happy there were. Neal had tried to sleep but when he closed his eyes he could see Emma's beautiful green eyes filled with tears.

His own tears pricked the corners of his eyes and a lump formed in the back of his throat. But no matter what he wouldn't allow himself to cry, he needed to stay strong, for all of them.

Neal cradled his cell phone in his hands. He had tried calling her phone so many times that he had lost count. His heart dropped every time he got her voicemail. He now found himself redialing her number just to her voice on the answer machine.

He had thought about calling her parents but after her reaction to him talking to Snow he thought better of it. If Emma had gone there, one of them would have called him to let him know by now.

After all the promises he had made her, Neal couldn't help but feel he was letting her Emma down. On that cold stormy beach in Neverland he had sworn to her that he would love and protect her for the rest of his life. But now he felt ashamed to admit that he had failed her. He could see Emma was crying out for his help but instead of being there he had let her push him further away.

Neal always had to learn things the hard way. He had always known the Emma Swan was the only woman for him, even when he was Tamara. Their lives destined and intertwined. Their paths were so crisscrossed and meshed together that he didn't where his begun and hers ended.

Emma had always laughed when he talked about density. She didn't believe in all the ridiculous fate stuff but he knew she couldn't deny that they were always meant for each other.

For years they had managed to dodge and avoid each other but now they had finally come together and Neal couldn't help but feel he was losing her all over again.

He slumped back further on the sofa and stared blankly at the TV screen. He had no idea what he had watched. He couldn't stop thinking about Emma and how this all started. Emma couldn't wait to have Eva. Where did it all go wrong?

If he was honest he had noticed the first few signs the day after Eva was born. Emma was almost too scared to hold their baby and would let others take over. He had just thought it was nerves and when he found Emma crying in her hospital room he had put it down to her being emotional over the birth.

He had hoped that once Emma and his daughter were out of the hospital things would get better, but it hadn't, Emma always had excuses to avoid being with Eva and he had let her get away with it. Apart of him wanted to pretend they were happy but they were far from it.

Neal could feel the frustration building up inside, he hated that Emma wouldn't accept his support; they promised they would be in it together. She was being classic Emma Swan. She would shut down soon as things got too difficult. To be fair he hadn't expected her to behave any other way. However it didn't make things any easier to deal with. He put his face in his hands. He loved Emma with all his heart but he felt so alone when she shut him out. He didn't know what else to do anymore.

Emma had stood outside her front door for the past half hour as she tried to find the courage to go in. This was it, no more running and no more excuses. She was finally going to let Neal in. She slowly turned the key in the lock, her heart thumped loudly in her chest and the tears began to form again.

She took one last deep breath and cautiously inched the door open. Slowly she peeked her head around the door. She stopped when she saw her husband standing on the opposite side.

Neal had instantly jumped to his feet when he heard the lock turn. His heart raced, Emma had come home to him. He looked directly at her and caught her gaze. He could see her eyes were still full with tears. She looked so lost. They now both stood awkwardly in the hall.

"Hey," Neal whispered, a small smile appeared on his lips. His heart dropped a little when Emma didn't answer, but he wasn't going to let that stop him. He walked over to her and was about to begin again when Emma placed her finger on his lips.

"Neal please don't… I just want you to hold me." She whispered shyly. They would talk in time but now all she wanted was to feel him hold her close.

She instantly leant into Neal as his arms wrapped around her pulling her in close. She rested her head against his chest; she could feel his heart beating just as fast as hers. He was nervous too.

Emma couldn't help but feel safe and warm in Neal's embrace. The tears which had begged for release finally fell. She twisted her hands in his shirt and buried her face in his neck as she cried uncontrollably.

"It's okay, I'm here." He whispered into her ear as he placed a kiss in her hair. "It's okay, just let it all out." Neal held her as tightly as he could, his arms pulled her in close as the tears continued to fall down her cheeks.

Emma felt terrified as the sobs continued to come. She was now struggling for breath and her body shook. She hated feeling out of control like this but she couldn't stop herself. She never let her emotions out but now her guard was down. The tears rolled down her cheeks and soaked Neal's pyjama top. She clung to him as tightly as she could. He was the one holding her up, without him she would crumble to the floor.

She felt herself cling to him tighter. Scared to let go because if she did he would slip away again but this time he wouldn't able to find his way back to her.

Neal hugged her close. His own eyes began to fill with tears but he tried his best to hold them back. He knew he had to stay strong for her. Neal was now starting to understand the full extent of Emma's distress. His wife was finally letting him in, she was letting him comfort her and he wouldn't fail her again.

It tore him up inside to see her so upset. Neal was starting to get scared; he had never seen her like this. He felt her hands grip tighter at his shirt.

Every cry and every tear felt like he was being stab with a knife straight through his heart. What made it worst he knew Emma was blaming herself for feeling this way. He knew she had so desperately wanted her baby but something she had no control over was stopping her from being a good mom.

Neal realised that this was the first time he had ever really see Emma lose control and though a part of him was glad she had finally let him in behind those walls of hers, it frightened him.

This was Emma Swan completely stripped back with no walls up. She was finally letting go of all the guilt and hurt that had built up inside her. He had never seen her so completely vulnerable even after their tearful reunion.

He knew she was suffering from a depression but he never realised the full extent of it. He had seen glimpses of it in her eyes when she looked at Eva, the way she would pass their daughter to someone else and the way she flinched when he touched her.

But seeing her like this, well there were no words to describe it and it broke his heart that she felt she had to keep this all locked up inside. Emma had dealt with this all on her own, not letting anyone help her with all the guilt she felt.

"I'm so sorry." She sobbed out between breaths. Her voice was so quiet and muffled Neal was not sure he had heard her.

Neal felt his grip on his wife tightening as she let out another heart-breaking cry. He had no idea how she had managed to hide this pain for so long, keeping it all locked away.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered again as she moved her arms around his back so she could hold him even closer.

"Oh Em… Babe." He whispered into her hair. "It's not your fault; we will get you help I promise."

His words started to calm her down a bit, but they did not stop the tears from falling. After a while her cries started to become quieter and quieter until eventually they stopped all together. Only the last few silent tears rolled down her cheeks.

Neal didn't move, he stayed exactly where he stood holding her tight as possible. He gently stroked her hair back away from her face before slowly easing away from her so he could look into her eyes.

Emma panicked when she felt his hold on her loosen; so much that she hugged him even tighter than before. "Don't leave me… I can't lose you again." She whispered softly.

"Hey honey, listen to me, I'm not going anywhere." He said softly. "You'll stuck with me I'm afraid," He chuckled lightly.

Gently Neal eased her arms away and pulled back so he could finally look at her face. He could see the tear stains on her cheeks and the redness of her eyes. He watched as she looked away from him.

Emma took a deep breath, she felt as if a great weight had lifted off her shoulders. She no longer had to pretend she was coping anymore. Neal now knew she needed help.

Scared that Neal wouldn't look at her in the same way anymore, she was afraid to look at up and meet his gaze. She knew his warm brown eyes would be filled with love that she felt she didn't deserve.

She was normally so strong and together. She had never lost control like this with anyone before. Neal was one of the few people she fully opened her heart too and the thought of losing him was unbearable.

Her heart always belonged to him. If he wanted he could easily break it all over again and she would be powerless to stop him, after the way she had treated him since Eva was born she probably deserved it.

"Emma." Hearing Neal's voice made her heart race. Just hearing the sound of his voice made her fall more in love with him.

"Please look at me." He asked as his hand brushed her hair away from her face. He moved his hand gently under her chin and tilted her head so he could finally look into her beautiful green eyes.

Emma's eyes glisten with tears and for the first time in a long time they weren't guarded. Neal was finally seeing his wife without all the pretences and walls she had.

She did not have any make up on; her hair was wild and flowed down her back. Her eyes red and her cheeks were tear-stained.

Her eyes stared directly into his brown ones. There was a mixture of vulnerability and fear yet he also saw strength. Neal could have sworn he had never seen her look so beautiful in all his life, this was real Emma.

The thought made him smile. "I love you Emma… I love you so much."

"I love you too." She returned his smile. Neal let out a small relieved laugh and pulled Emma back into his arms.

There was still so much they needed to talk about but now all Emma wanted, needed; was him.

"Come on, let's get some sleep. We will talk in the morning." Neal whispered into her ear before letting go for their embrace. He held out his hand towards her.

Emma nodded gently and placed her hand in his and followed him to the bedroom. She put the warmest pyjamas she could find before climbing into bed next to Neal.

Neal settled them carefully down against the head of the bed; his arms wrapped firmly around his wife. Emma curled up again Neal, her head tucked under his chin and her arms locked around his waist.

Neal held one arm securely around Emma's shoulders. He stretched the other across her front and rested it on top of her legs. He wanted to hold her as close as he physically could. Neither of them wanted to break the new formed connection between them.

Neal whispered reassurances that everything would be okay and that he would never leave her. Emma in turn muttered assurances that she never wanted him too.

Even when unavoidable sleep finally took over them, their legs were still stayed intertwined and their hands stayed locked tightly together.

Emma couldn't promise him that she would get better over night but she would give all she could offer now.


Another flashback coming up and some mother and daughter time... I'll give you a clue it isn't Emma and Eva (not yet anyway)