Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and any unrecognizable characters and dialogue.

As she fiddled with the edges of her sleeves, Evie tried not to look too guilty. Mary Margaret held her phone in one hand, mouth dropping as Emma dropped the bombshell that, not only was Gold's long-lost son Henry's birth father, he was also Harry's half-brother. While David looked intently at the phone, Regina turned to stare at her daughter.

"Evie, did you know about this?"

Evie avoided her mother's gaze. "I knew about Harry being Baelfire's brother - Hook ran off with Gold's wife a long time ago." She swallowed, realizing Emma's voice had trailed off. "But I swear I didn't know about Henry... I wouldn't have kept that to myself, I promise."

Thankfully, no one tried to suggest otherwise. Instead, Regina wrapped an arm around her daughter as Mary Margaret turned her attention back to Emma. "Emma, please tell me you're not asking me to help you keep this from Henry."

"I told Henry his father was dead, Mary Margaret. And for good reason. I'm just trying to protect him."

"Emma," David moved closer to his wife, touching her arm gently as she spoke. "No matter what happened... Henry has a right to know who his father. And I know how hard this has to be for you but, the truth about your parents - Emma you of all people know how important that is."

"I just want to protect him."

Though her input might not be appreciated, Regina felt compelled to speak. Plenty of the sins committed by her mother had been in the name of protecting Regina or their family. Regina herself had been guilty of committing such sins, harming her children, while claiming it was to protect them.

"Far be it from me to judge you, Miss Swan but I sense that this has less to do with protecting Henry and more to do with protecting yourself. Just a thought." Evie watched her, smile pained. "I'm going to do a sweep for my mother and Hook. Evie, I'll see you later?"

"Of course." Kissing her mother's cheek, Evie watched her exit the loft. She tuned out Emma's stuttered protests, though understood that the blonde would likely never take advice from Regina if she could help it. "Does Harry know about you finding Baelfire?"

"No." Emma answered at once. "He stayed behind with Gold and Henry while I chased Neal down."

"Well," Evie's lips turned up in a bitter smile. "You might be having trouble telling the truth, but I have no such issues. Harry's missed his brother for a very long time, Emma. And I'm not going to let you keep them from one another."

David glared at her while Emma started protesting again. Mary Margaret stared, stern expression softening slightly. She didn't want Emma to lie to Henry and she certainly didn't think it was a good idea to lie to Harry, never mind what Gold would do if/when he found out.

"Regina and Evie are right, Emma." Mary Margaret cut her daughter off quietly. "You have to tell him."

The last time Harry saw his brother, they had been about the same age despite Baelfire being several years his senior. Age hadn't meant much on Neverland. But now, Baelfire - or Neal, as he called himself now - looked like he had nearly two decades on him. His dark hair was sprinkled with silver at his hairline, and his face was lined and a bit weathered.

"Harry?" Neal breathed at the sight of his baby brother. He hadn't been happy when he learned from Hook just what had happened to his mother. To learn that his beloved papa had lied to him. But he'd never been upset about Harry's existence. He'd always wanted a sibling. "Harry, is that you?"

"Bae."

Neal embraced his brother, chuckling despite himself. "Actually, I go by Neal now."

Gold and Emma watched the heartfelt reunion in silence, both feeling terribly out of place. Learning that his son had known about the bastard child Milah had had with Hook twisted something inside Gold's chest. He knew Hook had gone to Neverland after Milah's death, which meant Harry was a bit older than he had previously thought. It also meant, he thought humorlessly, that dear Evie shared a nephew with her precious pirate.

"H-how did you get here?" Neal's attention was drawn from his brother when a little voice asked, "What's going on?"

Henry peered out from the other room, watching his mother's face go slack with panic. Harry stood with another man that had dark eyes and hair. As the situation unfolded, the lives of all five individuals were thrown into complete chaos by what was unwillingly revealed by one Emma Swan.

"Is he my son?" Neal demanded in a hoarse whisper after Henry shouted his age. "Is he?"

"N-no. My dad was a fireman. He died." Alarmed by the pained expression on his mother's face, Henry begged, "That's what you told me, isn't it?"

"Is he my son?!"

Emma closed her eyes in defeat. "Yes."

Running a shaking hand over his face, Neal stared at the little boy in wonder. Harry, thrown by the reveal of his apparent nephew - he and Evie were going to have a long conversation when he got back - wasted no time following Henry when he darted toward the window. Henry sat on the fire escape, little shoulders shaking. Swallowing, Harry shut the window behind him and knelt before his nephew.

"I'm not gonna tell ye it'll be alright, but I'm here if ye wanna talk, lad."

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