Title: Son of a Woodworker
Chapter Title: May Your Past Be the Sound of Your Feet Upon the Ground

Setting: Post 2x18 AU

Author's Note: FYI, this chapter is not like, a ringing endorsement that you should love alt!Tamara or anything, you guys. But, I really hated how they handled Neal's treatment of his supposed fiancee, so I'd at least like you to feel that they were together because they were good for each other. Also, she's not working for the weird anti-Magic Office or whatever, she's just a normal chick here. This is a bit shorter than those massive last 2 chapters, too, but y'know, I'm giving you kids a breather or two. Also, after the only slight bits of Wooden Swan in last night's ep, I'm kind of like "Eh, whatevs, good time for this chapter." Music Recommendation: Carry On, by FUN. I could not have asked for a better song to describe helping others through a hard time. I wanted Neal to have an opportunity to grow from the experience of seeing August die as well, even if it's not too much.

She's not ready to grieve.

That's what he keeps telling himself. That's what he says like a silent prayer every single time he goes over to Snow White's - no, wait, what'd she call herself? Mary Margaret - house. She'll get there eventually, and when she does… he's not so sure he wants to be there for that. That's kinda cruddy of him, he knows. But, Neal's still trying to build a relationship with his son. Something tells him comforting his ex would not sit well with Tam. At all.

Ever since arriving in Storybrooke, Neal has spent every morning looking out at the cove, just to be sure that the Jolly Roger doesn't just set its broad ass down in the water as she pleases. That one close call with Hook was plenty, and he's not sorry that since arriving back in Storybrooke, the pirate has done little more than get drunk off his ass and leave people alone. He keeps catching him lurking around his dad's shop occasionally, but, they don't speak. Not really. And the Jolly Roger? The Evil Queen's mom (Christ, this place) killed the crew and sank that beauty.

Neal just wishes every problem fixed itself so easily.

But, that ship was a beauty.

Emma has been impossible to read in the days since August's… uh… well… de-aging? Not-death? Facelift?

Konami-code reset?

He's gonna go with the last one. It's like he's been restored to factory settings.

It's callous to think of it that way, too, and he's aware, but it's how he copes. If he just thinks of it as this lighthearted "Easy button", he doesn't have to think about the guy who chased him down and set his and Emma's on a better track, even if it was a hard one.

Considering the choices he's made in his life, one of them being a pirate, he can't be angry at August. He's sad he never got to know the guy that Emma did. At some point, August must have been a little genuine. He has a hard time believing that Emma, after everything she's had to endure alone, wouldn't be able to see through if August was completely full of it.

But, the guy's gone whether he wants to know him or not.

After over a week of this, though, he's just about fed up. Henry's birthday had gone off pretty well, aside from the bizarre navigation around Henry's parentage, and today he'd spent a good part of the day playing with August. Well, Pinocchio.

When he knocks on the door and Emma lets him in, they chat idly about Henry, and it isn't until he says something about August that he watches her expression change.

"Yeah, that's… gonna take some getting used to." Well, at least Emma's acknowledging that Pinocchio is August. This is a step in the right direction. And she seems sad, but the storm he's seen in her eyes doesn't seem to be there today.

"Y'know, August is actually way cooler as a kid." He grins, resting against the counter. "He steals a lot less of my money." He figures a quick joke will help break the ice.

He figures wrong.

Emma glances up at him as if he's just insulted her. And to her credit, she doesn't shout, but the ice in her tone is tangible. "The August we knew is dead and you're making fun of him? What the hell's the matter with you?"

Ow. His mouth works for a second, but he can't manage to make anything intelligent come out. "I… what's your problem?" Oh, that was bad. You know better, man.

"My problem? Oh, get the hell out of here. Screw you! You blamed him for your decisions and now you want me to just kick back and laugh all over his memory? Get out, Neal."

He's not entirely sure when his attempt to just be friendly with the mother of his child suddenly turned into him getting ushered out the door, but he's out and the door's latched before he can manage to squeak "I was just trying to lighten…" He huffs. "The mood."

Heaving a sigh, he gave up and made his way back onto the streets. Whatever. To be fair, he owed Emma nothing except the duty to be a good father to his kid. And he's moved on, truly. He loves Tam. And it isn't that whole hot-and-heavy, can't-get-enough-of-each-other, let's-burn-the-world kind of love. It's stable, I-want-to-build-a-life-and-I've-planned-for-it love. The kind you build families on and buy houses. He wants to raise his son, but he knows it's not the ideal way for the kid to grow up.

She must have been thinking about him, because his phone starts ringing no sooner than he's made his way toward the main street.

"Hey, babe." He picks up the pace as he picks up the call.

"Hey. How was it? Did you and Henry have a good time?" It's been tough on Tamara. She didn't exactly sign up for a full grown kid when they met. She's been a trooper, but… he's not sure they can really make it through this. But, he's hopeful. He's gonna try.

"Yeah, it was fine. Course, I put my foot in my mouth soon as I saw Emma, but, I kinda figured it would be par for the course."

"Oh, no, what did you do now?"

"Nothing! I just…" His feet come to a halt on the pavement as he debates where to turn next. "I made a stupid joke. About August. So, justifiably, she bit my head off."

"Smooth move."

"Not my finest moment. Look, can we not talk about how dumb I am?" He groans, wiping his hand down his face. "Clearly, she got a helluva lot closer to the guy than I did. I just didn't think it was gonna be this constant walking on eggshells. This whole place has me walking on eggshells."

"Neal, I'm not gonna pretend to understand exactly what Storybrooke is, or what you've told me about your life, but… if you have family, it's important to take advantage of that while you can. Everything you do to spend time with Henry is worth it. Don't… don't waste it." She doesn't have to say who is on her mind. The picture of her grandmother still sits on her mantle in her apartment. She had been lucky to have her for as long as she did, but the woman had had the most powerful senility the doctors could recall. She'd declined quickly and tried to fill Tamara's head with stories about a magic cure. Neal knows she's just trying to help.

"I will. I just… my dad's not exactly the best of guys. I can't avoid him the entire time I'm here."

"You know," He can hear Tamara moving around, and he has a feeling she's about to start - "I'm about to start dinner, so either way, you don't have to talk to anyone else once that happens." He chuckles, and can already feel himself giving in. "But, my mom always said that the best way to honor someone in their death was to do something they'd be proud of in life. So, think of something August would want you to do and then head back here. I'll pop open a bottle of wine and let tomorrow's problems be tomorrow's."

"Yeah…" he sighs. "You're probably right." He knows what he should do. He knows exactly what August would say, considering the last time they spoke about his dad. But, he's not so much angry at his dad anymore as much as he's completely weary of discussion after discussion being exactly the same. But, still... "Look, I'll see you soon. Looking forward to whatever you make."

"I can guarantee it won't be pizza. Again."

Neal laughs. "Right." He pauses for a moment, then finishes his thought. "Love you."

Hanging up, he's not sure why the words don't exactly sound right, but he's pretty sure he's just exhausted. He's tired of all of this. He doesn't want to be stuck in this little town. He wants to go back to the City, raise Henry and show him the sights. But that's sure as hell not gonna happen if you keep pissing off Emma. He reminds himself.

But… if he's stuck here for the time being, Tamara's right. He needs to settle some scores.

His footsteps take him to his father's shop for what feels like the millionth time. It's so strange, seeing him in this town. He looks like his father, he sounds like his father, and the guy won't shut up about wanting to reconcile. But he knows the Dark One is sitting there, just under the surface. He doesn't want to trust him, and he has no plans to.

August, though, he was a sucker for his dad. He mentioned him enough times. If he's gonna make up for talking crap about him before, maybe he needs to try to mend a fence August wanted to.

He doesn't really hesitate to walk through the door, but he doesn't march in there happy as can be, either.

"I don't care if it's flotsam, you sonuvabitch, you owe me for my ship. If it's magic, and I'm willin' to pay, then give it." Well, this is definitely a different sight than he expects. Hook is barely propping himself up on the counter, and beside him, Smee is attempting to pull him away. "I saw it when I walked in here. If you're willing to keep it so close to your chest, then I want it."

"You have nothing to trade, and you're hardly a captain anymore, Captain. So get out of my shop, or I'll have Bae throw you out." Smooth, Dad. He hasn't been in the room more than two seconds and he's already getting put in the middle of this mess.

"Oh, no, I don't think so." Neal throws his hands up with an easy smile, but he's already feeling his patience wear thin from Rumplestiltskin's antics. "I'm just a customer, don't put me in the middle of it. Whatever business you have with the good captain, I'll let you finish."

As his father turns to face him, he just barely see a hint of something in the lapel of his jacket before he buttons it and grabs his cane. "Our business is concluded. Now, please escort your beloved captain out. And don't make me ask again."

"Of course, sir. Beggin' your pardon, sir, we'll be going." Neal has to fight a smile as he watches Smee practically pour Hook back out the door. It's kind of nice to know that as far as threats go, if Hook's the worst one, Storybrooke is doing fine. He's still not sure he necessarily believes that the Queen - Mayor - whatever - is on the up and up, but she's blamed the mayhem on her mother. And Cora was nuts.

"Bae…" The warmth in his father's voice should be a comfort, but all it does is make the hair on the back of his neck stand up.

"What did the good captain want?"

Rumplestiltskin frowns, glancing back at the door. "Cora's parting gift for his loyalty to her was to stick his entire ship in a glass bottle. He thinks I have a bit of magic wood to… regrow the ship."

"And? Do you?"

A very guilty silence hangs between them before his father finally turns to face him. "It's good to see you. To what do I owe the honor?" Neal doesn't turn to face him until he's nearly hugged, but he manages to take another step back before that can happen.

He tries to ignore his father's crushed expression before remembering why he's here. "This is… actually…. an olive branch." The words are forced out of his mouth with way more effort than he would have liked, but at least he has said it now.

His father blinks, raising an eyebrow. "I don't understand."

"Look…" Clearing his throat, Neal stuffs his hands in his pockets and stares at the floor. "What happened to August… it's made me think. About what things would be like… if we'd had a relationship like he and his dad did. If we had that kind of time..." He wonders if they'd had a chance here, in this place without magic - the chance he'd wished for - if it would have changed anything.

Apparently, that is not what his father thinks. "We can do that. That can happen, my boy."

"Wait, what?" Neal's face scrunches up as he tries to reason out what he's saying. He's pretty sure he doesn't want to know, but he's hoping he's about to be proven wrong.

"I could turn you back into a boy, just like August is now. We could have the chance to be father and son again."

Suddenly, Neal finds himself sympathizing with Emma's pain a lot more. It takes him such a long moment to reply, but when he does, it's an explosion of just utter disbelief and disgust. "Are you freakin' nuts?! Why the hell would I want that? Being a kid sucked enough the first freaking time around! Why would I ever want to repeat it?"

"I wouldn't make the mistakes the Blue Fairy did. You could keep your memories, if you wanted, I suppose."

Neal reaches up, threatening to tug his own hair out. "Are you even hearing yourself? It's not about the memories! I'm not so freakishly obsessed with my mortality that I think I have to rewind the clock like that! It's sick what happened to August! Don't you think that guy would want to just… be himself instead of having to be a kid all over again?" He can't help but laugh. It's bitter and disappointing, but he just can't get over the absurdity of the situation. He had honestly thought that coming here to speak to his father was going to end well. And here they are with the only thing on his dad's mind being the idea that Neal should go back to being that kid he remembers. Unbelievable. "Oh my god, what am I doing here? You're not interested in me, you're interested in someone I haven't been for decades!"

"You misunderstand my intentions - "

"No, I get it. Believe me, I get it." Neal growls. He doesn't have the words he needs to truly express how sick he is of all this, and he can't help but wish that had stayed in the city instead of following Emma and Henry back here. This is not the kind of world he wants to be in. He hates magic, and it doesn't solve anything. "No wonder Emma's pissed off at everyone! Man, she had every right to snap at me. I've been sittin' here acting like August's better off, but thank you. Thank you, Dad, for putting me right in his shoes and helping me see how truly screwed up that is. But, he's got one thing I don't, and that's a father who actually gives a damn about him!" His dad knows how to play the sympathy card. Neal tells himself that his dad's devastated expression is him doing just that. "You scare the hell outta me. Forget it. The next time I walk back through this door, I can guarantee you it won't be to make nice. So, stay away."

Neal's out the door before he can take any of it back. It's not that he wants to; he's just so used to thinking that's the best way to stay out of his dad's path. But, he doesn't care. He doesn't want to have anything to do with the guy.

When he finally makes it to the small apartment he and Tamara are renting a few doors down from Archie Hopper, he doesn't want to talk.

Dinner is quiet, but Neal can't muster up the effort for conversation.

What's the point in talking if no one's really listening?