I do not own Once Upon a Time

Enjoy some family times

Amelia sat up, looking at Neal speechless. Home, Storybrooke had been her home for twenty-eight years, almost as long as the Enchanted Forest had been. And well, the Enchanted Forest wasn't the first realm she called home. Amelia shook her head. "As many good memories as I have of that place, there's a lot more bad ones. I think the temptation would be too strong to turn back into her if I went back there. I'm not really a fan of the bounty hunter as a constant person. Home is wherever my family is anyway. Would you go back?" She asked.

"No, for the same reasons you wouldn't, bad memories."

"What brought this up?"

"Emma, when I dropped Henry off."

"Oh." She dropped her head back to his shoulder. Then a thought dawned on her. "There's a giant in town… giants were known for harvesting magical beans that could open portals. You don't think there's a crop somewhere in town?"

Neal looked at her, putting the pieces together. "No, that's impossible, right?"

"It's Storybrooke… I don't know; I really don't know."

Amelia stood in the doorway of the living room, just watching the scene in front of her. Neal was having an animated conversation with Aiden and Nathan. Michael just watched, she could tell he was still considering kicking Neal out. He hadn't taken the news well that she was engaged to the Dark One's son. Only Helen and Jordan knew that Amelia and Neal had fought, resulting him in leaving town. Michael would have buried his body somewhere for causing her pain. But the current smile on her face seemed to reassure him that she was happy, finally.

Behind her, Helen and Jordan were busy putting the finishing touches on dinner. Amelia only helped so much, while she knew her way around the kitchen; she was still very heavy handed when it came to spices. Neal would have to hold her hand when she added anything to a dish.

Helen suddenly stood next to her, wrapping one arm around her waist. "I have never seen you this happy, this carefree. Even when you were with Benjamin."

Amelia smiled. "Neal is different, he understands my past and he's not afraid. I think he's done running."

"You gave that boy a home, a family. And he, he gave you hope and love." She fully looked at Amelia, the younger woman was glowing. And Helen only smiled to herself.

"Come on, the food is ready, let's eat." Jordan held a hot pot of noodles. "Nathan, set the table."

Nathan did a head count, seven people, that was their new enlarged family. Seven plates, seven forks, seven knives, seven napkins, seven glasses and finally the seven family members.

"It's so good to have everyone together, now that we know who everyone really is." Michael started off.

"Why do I feel that was directed at me?" Neal asked Amelia under his breath. She only squeezed his hand and fought back a smile.

"Love is what keeps this family together, the knowledge that no matter what, we will always fight to get back to each other, no matter what realm we are in, whether we are cursed or not. We always find a way back. Not even death can stop us," He paused, his voice broke for a moment. His thoughts were on Richard; his son was only at the table in spirit. "Because they live on in our hearts forever." Helen squeezed his hand and he got it together. "Now, thanks to my lovely wife and talented daughters, we can eat this wonderful meal. Dig in." He sat down and plates began to be passed around.

"I know Richard was another brother, but what happened?" Neal whispered to Amelia as she held a plate of chicken.

She blinked back a tear. "It's not dinner conversation. I'll tell you later."

"So Neal, I don't want to pry but why did your father become the Dark One?" Nathan asked. The table stopped and six pairs of eyes were on him. Neal swallowed hard, he hadn't thought that question would come up so soon.

Jordan noticed his nervousness and turned to Amelia, she expected her sister to know the answer to Nathan's question.

"I don't know, but I am curious." Amelia said, giving Neal almost puppy eyes.

He gave in, like he always did. Neal set the dish down and started his tale, the short version of his tale. "My father became the Dark One to protect me from being drafted into the Ogre Wars when I was fourteen."

"The Ogre Wars, the second Ogre Wars took place before my time." Helen did some quick counting in her head. "My grandparents were young."

"The first Ogre Wars." Neal stated, already seeing how this was going to turn awkward soon.

"That was three hundred years ago…"

Now Neal had confused faces staring at him. "Yes, it was." He answered.

"So it was you and your parents…." Helen asked, trying to change the topic, maybe to something not as outlandish.

"No, just me and my father, my mother ran off with a pirate when I was seven."

Not the best subject to bring up, Amelia shook her head. Jordan actually choked on her soda.

"That pirate?" Helen actually asked looking at Amelia almost shocked. "His mother ran off with your pirate?"

"He was her pirate first." Amelia carefully sipped her soda.

"What pirate? What don't I know?" Michael asked.

Helen, Jordan and Amelia glanced at each other, there would a few things Michael didn't know and it was going to stay like that.

Aiden leaned over to Jordan. "So your sister had a thing with her fiancé's mother's man, and her fiancé is over three hundred years old? Your family is weird."

"She's adopted." Jordan whispered back, none too loudly.

Amelia heard that and faked shock. "Really?"

Jordan smiled brightly. "I love you." This finally broke the tension.

"Well, that was interesting and eye opening." Neal leaned over the counter. Amelia had put herself in charge of dessert; the rest of the family was in the living room.

"I hope they didn't scare you, or that you didn't scare them."

"Pretty sure scaring people is your job." He smiled and she returned it. "See, I'm getting used to that side of you."

"Yes you are." She paused and took a deep breath. "I said that Richard's fate wasn't dinner conversation… I'll tell you now."

"You don't have to if you don't want to. If it hurts too much to relive it." He took her hands into his and squeezed.

"It's fine. Talking about him keeps him alive. Richard was captured while I was off with Killian and when Derek was possessed. Regina made Derek kill Richard right in front of me when I wouldn't offer assistance on finding Snow White."

Neal just gathered her into his arms. They were silent and Amelia didn't shed a tear, she was past those days.

"I am so sorry." He finally whispered into her hair. "I'm liking Regina less and less every day. This is the woman who raised my son." Neal shook his head.

"I think she is changing, and I think Henry is the reason. We should bring these out before they send in a search party." Amelia disentangled herself from Neal and picked up the tray of the plates of cake to bring into the living. Neal grabbed the forks and placed them on another tray with the mugs of coffee.

Dessert was short and sweet. Goodbyes were said at the door and everyone headed home.

Amelia Hunter knew she felt different when she woke up that morning. Different good or different bad, she couldn't tell. But it was odd to say the least.

Before she could further contemplate what her body was telling her, she bolted from the bed and ran to the bathroom to empty the contents of her stomach into the toilet.

What did she eat last night? Eventually she sat down and leaned against the wall. She had to figure out what exactly was wrong with her.

All of her healer training came back to her but this was the first time in the longest time she had to use the skills on herself. She knew the difference between a cold and the flu, between kidney pain and liver pain, she knew when she was dehydrated. She knew her body' response to everything, everything except whatever this was taking over her body. Suddenly she had to throw her face over the bowl again. Then there was a comforting hand on her back and another one holding her hair out of her face.

When Amelia finally stopped, she leaned back again and Neal's cold hand touched her forehead. "Honey, you need me to get you a glass of water?"

She nodded weakly. Terms of endearment, that was new. Neal nodded back and picked himself up off the floor to go to the kitchen. As soon as she heard the water being poured, her stomach rebelled again.

Again there he was again, hand gently going up and down her back now. Neal then leaned against the wall and pulled her against his chest. Amelia focused all of her strength on not throwing up again. At this point, did she have anything left?

"What did you eat last night? Did Helen put different spices in the food?" Neal asked.

"Doubtful. I helped her make it." Amelia finally said something.

"Well, that explains it." He jokingly said.

Amelia made a feeble attempt to leave his arms, but his hand rested gently on her stomach. "You love my cooking. I have gotten sick from food before, this feels different. I don't know how to explain it."

His hand went to her shoulder and began to massage out the tight muscles. She relaxed into his embrace, and felt the nausea begin to subside. Neal's hand left her stomach and handed her the glass of water, Amelia took a careful few sips.

Amelia felt better and her eyes closed. His hand went back to her stomach, her own hand resting on top. What had come over her?

Then her eyes flew open. She couldn't be, could she be? Maybe she was overreacting, she had to be.

Amelia Hunter pulled herself further into Neal's arms and tried not to dwell on something that could be nothing.

Mull that over in your mind! I love cliffhangers!

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