Feeling completely deflated having not decided on an apartment then upsetting Killian, Emma was just picturing the comfy sheets on her bed, as they walked up the steps to the apartment together. The eviction notices still present on the front door Emma let out a sigh when they walked through the entranceway, Henry ran off to his room quickly. The place was eerily quiet, no sound coming from the TV or anywhere else, Emma felt uneasy, making her way down the hall, listening out for the snores of her roommate. It felt different, like something was missing from the scene, Emma couldn't quite figure it out, but shrugged it off anyway continuing down the hall to the kitchen, planning on grabbing a bag of chips from the cupboard. However, when she opened the overhead pantry, it was empty, odd as usually Neal has it stocked up full of his favourite flavour of chips. Emma's heart began to race, and she ran into the bedroom to find it barer than usual. Frantically she opened the dresser draws to find all Neal's clothes were missing, turning around her eyes caught the bedside table where he kept his watch, and it too was gone.
"Henry?" Emma called out, making her way back into the hall.
"His gone! Dads gone".
Henry expression was heartbroken, holding a crumbled piece of paper in his hand's tears streaming down his face. Emma walked over getting down to her knees, she was at eye level with Henry, and she gently put her arm around his shoulders.
"This isn't about you, ok" Emma said sternly. "Your father, his just scared"
"Scared of what?"
"That he's not the man, he imagined becoming".
"Well, good riddance"
Emma wasn't sure if her words were sinking in, she knew it was the truth, that Neal hadn't been present enough, to be bothered by his son's existence to the extent that it would send him running. This was about their fight yesterday, Emma finally told Neal the truth and he couldn't face it, then the eviction notice, must have finally scared him off for good. He never wanted the responsibility of fatherhood or being a spouse, only taking it on as a martyr. Emma just never imagined it would end like this, a true coward sneaking out, while they were at dinner, wiping her son's tears Emma then got up walking over to the lounge, putting on some music as it always made her feel better, and she was hoping Henry would find the same comfort in it. Then she went into her room grabbing every blanket and pillow off the bed and out of the linen cupboard. When Emma looked up at her son, a small smile creped onto Henry's face, then quickly he followed suit taking all the bedding from his room and bringing it into the lounge. The sat together listening to music and talking, surrounded by pillows and blankets, for a little while happy, in this little haven just the two of them.