These next few chapters probably won't be as long as usual because I want to make it ten chapters and we're only on Chapter 5 lol. This will be mainly from Emma's POV.

Read~Enjoy~Review

Chapter 5

Emma sipped at her now cool coffee as she watched the building from the drivers seat of her rental car. The clock said four fifty five am and she felt like she'd been waiting forever. The city woke up early though, and Emma knew she had a limited amount of time. She wanted to break in the building, go to the apartment, grab the man and drag him back to Storybrooke, but she knew that wouldn't work. Instead, she planned on following him today, getting a feel for him. She tried so hard not to think of her Mama being held captive by Rumple. Cora had promised she'd take care of Millie and make sure they had a fun day and made Emma promise to check in every hour.

"There you are." She whispered, seeing the man leave the building. She got out, locked the car, and started following him, far enough behind where she wouldn't look suspicious. She got her phone out and texted Cora. "I'm following him now."

Cora looked at the text and sighed. "Emma, please be careful." She replied before going back to gazing at her great granddaughter as she slept.

Emma read the message and put her phone back in her pocket. Careful or not, she wanted her mother back.

Neal noticed right away that he was being followed. Years of being in Neverland and hunted by Pan and his boys had taught him to stay vigilant. What he didn't understand is why a young and obviously inexperienced blonde woman would be following him. He stopped at a bus stop and couldn't stop his chuckle when she awkwardly stopped as well, trying to look innocent. "Why are you following me?"

Emma's mouth opened and closed a few times before she let out a breath. "Are you Neal Cassidy?"

"Yes." He answered slowly, deciding to be honest. "Why?"

Emma bit her lip. "Were you once known as Bealfire?" Neal was not expecting that, and his heart skipped a beat. The look on his face was enough to confirm to Emma that he was exactly who she was looking for. "Please, let me explain. I…I need your help to get my mother back."

Neal looked into those pleading green eyes and then looked down. "You know my father, I assume?"

"Yes, and he…."

"He is a liar who does not keep his word." He spat. "If you're here for him, you've wasted your time."

"No please, I'm here because he has my mother." She reached out and grabbed his arm. "Please, just…have breakfast with me and let me talk to you. That's all I'm asking."

Neal scratched the back of his neck and looked around. "Fine. But I'm not promising anything."

"That's fine. Thank you."

The two spent the next two hours with Emma basically spilling her life story out. Neal sat in shock as he absorbed everything. He shook his head and sat back. "So Regina isn't really evil and Snow stole you from her womb?"

Emma nodded sadly. "Neal, my mothers mean everything to me. I'm not asking you to stay or to reconnect with him, but please, please think about coming back with us. I know you don't owe me anything and I will be in your debt, but…"

"No." He spat out and then held a hand up. "I mean, you won't be in my debt. I am not my father and I don't do things just to get something back in return."

Emma felt tears in her eyes simply because she was desperate. "I didn't mean to imply that you were like him at all. It's just…I…I want my mama back."

Neal sighed and had to look away from those damn eyes. Those tired and desperate eyes were haunting him. He let out a breath. "Fine. Fine, I'll go with you."

"Really?" Emma asked, her eyes now filling with hope.

"Yes really, but I won't stay. I will help you get your mother back and then I'm gone."

Emma gave a nod. "Deal. Thank you so much! I…I honestly thought I'd have to tie you up and kidnap you or something." She chuckled and looked at him. "I have to go pick up my grandma and daughter before we go. I want to trust that if I let you go pack, you'd be at your place later but…"

"We'll stop at my place first and then get the others." He said with a bit of a smirk. "I need to call someone anyway.

Emma paid for their meal and the two headed out. She called Cora as Neal made another call and since her call ended first, she couldn't help but hear what he was saying. "I promise, Tim, I'll be home by the weekend. I just have to help out a friend. No, she's not a guy and no, I'm not interested in her that way. I love you, Tim." He said, though a bit annoyed. "I don't know how my service will be, but I'll call you when I can. I love you." He then hung up and looked at Emma. "He's insecure. Every time I have to do something, he thinks I'm cheating."

"They say people who accuse their partners are usually the ones cheating." She said before thinking. "Shit sorry…ignore that."

He chuckled and shook his head. "It's fine. You're right, but this time it's different. He's been cheated on more than once, so I do get his insecurity."

They walked quietly for a bit and Emma waited in the car as Neal packed an overnight bag. As they were driving to the hotel, Emma looked over. "Why are you helping me? You've never met me and don't owe me anything."

He gave a shrug, looking out the window. "You're like me. You're a child in all this; an innocent. We're the next generation of that world and need to stick together." He smiled over at her and she smiled back.

"I really do appreciate it." She said quietly.

At the hotel, Emma and Neal came into the room just as Cora was finishing packing. "Mommy!" Amelia cried out and ran to her to hug her.

Emma smiled and picked her up. "Honey, I was only gone a couple hours." She chuckled. "This is Neal. He's going to help us get Gramma Mal back. Neal, this is Amelia, though we often call her Millie."

"Hi Mister Neal." Millie said, holding out her hand for him to shake. "Thanks for helping us!"

Neal smiled at the Mini-Emma and shook her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Miss Amelia. I'm going to do everything I can to help you all out." He nervously looked over at Cora. "You know him better than I do; how easy is this going to be?"

Cora sighed and picked her words carefully. "I think we have a good chance, but I'd like to talk more when little ears are asleep."

He gave a nod. "Noted."

Emma sighed and kissed Millie's cheek. "I'm sorry we have to cut the weekend short, baby girl. I promise, once we get all this taken care of, our whole family will do a vacation."

"It's not your fault, mommy. Family is more important than vacation."

They all packed up and headed out, Cora sitting in the back by Millie. Once the little one was asleep with her headphones still on, Emma turned the radio off so they could talk.

"I hate to say it, but I doubt it'll be as easy as 'Hey, here's your son, now give us Mal'." Neal said, rubbing his temples.

Emma chewed on her lip. "He'll want to know for sure you're him."

"Neal, this may be asking too much and I want you to be honest with how you feel. What if we 'used' you as bait?"

"I think that's the only way this will work and I'm fine with it."

Emma looked over at him. "Why? You literally met me today; why are you so on board with this?"

"My father has ruined enough lives, Emma. If I can help your family, then at least I've done something good with my life."

Cora reached forward and put her hand on Neal's shoulder. "Thank you."

"Take my heart." He said, turning to look at her. "When we get there, take my heart and take it to him. He will have his ways to know it's really mine. Don't let him have it until Mal is free."

"Then what?" Emma asked, feeling guilty about this. "Just let him, have you?"

"Yes." He answered bluntly. "Yes. Once Mal is free, you let him have me and I'll deal with him."

"Well…I think we'd first need some reassurance that this is it. Once this trade is made, he is done with us."

"A contract. We need to get him to sign a contract." Emma stated. "From what you've all told me, he is slimy, but he honors his deals."

"That's a good idea." Neal said and got his phone out. "I'll start one and let you guys see it before we go further. Did he know you were coming for me?"

"No. No one but my mom – Regina, knew we'd be looking today. She said she's not telling anyone, including Zelena." Emma said, pulling over as they passed the sign to Storybrooke. She turned to face Neal. "I hate to ask this, but do you mind getting in back, so no one sees you?"

"Good idea." Neal stated as he opened the door. He and Cora switch spots and once they got to the town, he slumped down in the seat.

"Regina, can Emma pull into the garage?" Cora asked on the phone. "We don't want anyone seeing him."

"Of course." Regina stated and when Emma pulled in, she opened the garage door for her.

Emma got out of the car and hugged her mother. "Have you heard from Mama?" Regina shook her head and Emma noticed her dark eyes and stress lines. "Oh mom. How are you holding up?"

Regina sighed. "Your sister and aunt have been trying to make me take a sleeping pill but I can't, Emma. I need my wife back."

She held her daughter before composing herself as Neal helped Amelia out of the car. "Hello. You must be Neal. Thank you so much for coming and helping us out. I know you're not your father, but please, if there's any way I can repay you, nothing is too much."

Neal smiled softly. "Let's save that conversation for once this is done and you've gotten your wife. I don't want to ask for anything, but I will need a way back to the city."

"Emma and I can take you back." Lilly said. "I'm Lilly and I can't thank you enough for this."

"Let's go inside. Neal has been working on a contract for Rumple." Cora stated.

The group went inside and after a bit of tweaking, Regina printed out the contract and looked at Neal. "The plan is for mother to take your heart and go to his shop. She will present the contract and your heart and so long as he does this, you'll know when he has your heart. He will probably use magic to take you to him. Are you sure you're okay with all this? You're doing this for people you don't know."

He looked at Regina and nodded. "Emma told me her story and I know she's innocent in all this. Hell, you and Mal are innocent in this and…well I've done some bad things in my life that I'm not proud of but maybe, just maybe, if I help you, I'll feel better about myself." He looked at Emma and Lilly and back to Regina. "Like I told Emma, we're the next generation and we need to stick together."

Regina nodded and hugged him. "Thank you so much."

Cora took a deep breath. "I'll make this as painless as possible."

Neal gave a nod and held his breath as Cora's hand went into his chest, taking his heart. He watched her leave with it and knew all he could do now was wait.

Emma held Neal's hand as Cora took his heart and then smiled wide when she saw Graham at the door. She answered it and frowned, seeing his face. "What's wrong? Is it my mom?"

"What? No Emma, no I just…I thought you were out of town." He said, looking over to Neal and back at Emma. "I came here to check on your mom and Lilly."

Emma stepped outside. "Graham, we just didn't want to tell anyone before we got back." She filled him in on who Neal was and what their plan was. "Graham…he's gay and I'm not into him in that way at all."

He blushed. "That obvious?"

She chuckled. "So obvious."

"Sorry. I am going to go innocently walk by Gold's shop and make sure everything is okay. Emma would…I mean if everything works out, which I really hope it does, would you maybe want to go to dinner with me on Tuesday? That's my next day off."

Emma smiled. "Sure. That sounds fun. Let me know if you see anything going wrong." Emma came back inside and decided to focus on what was happening and not about her potential date until she knew her Mama was safe.