Emma and Mariella had just bought some donuts, they walked outside when Neal was waiting for them leaning against a tree.

"We got donuts!" Mariella said excitedly as she approached Neal. Emma was behind her holding the bag of donuts.

"They are jelly donuts, Ella picked them out," Emma said as she looked at something in Neal's hand. "What is that?"

"Nothing."

"Hey, no, let me see it." Emma said grabbing the paper that had a wanted poster with his face on it. "When did this happen?"

"I was a janitor in Phoenix. This high-end jewelry place. The manager was a drunk and he would forget to lock the case. I resisted twice but I ended up taking the watches and hoping a train to Oregon. I stashed them in a locker at the train station. They are still there" Neal said as he picked Ella up before turning back to look at Emma. "I'm sorry Tallahassee is out. I got to go to Canada."

"That's fine, I like maple syrup." Emma said with a smile.

"I got to go to Canada alone."

"Why?"

"If I get caught and you're with us, you're in trouble."

"You are not gonna get caught." Emma said stepping closer to Neal and Ella. Ella was confused about the whole conversation.

"What if I go and get the watches out of the locker? No one's looking for me. We can... We can fence them, and then we have the money. We can do whatever we want. We can go wherever we want, right? We could change our identities and go to Tallahassee." Emma continued.

"So you... You want to steal the watches, to help me get away with stealing the watches?"

"Yes. That is exactly what I want to do."

"I can't let you risk everything-"

"I love you." Emma confessed interrupting Neal. She looked at Neal with a smile before quickly adding "I love Ella too."

"I love you, too. You think you can do it"

"I know I can, no one is gonna break up our family." Emma said as she grabbed Ella from Neal and set her on her hip Before handing him the donuts.

Neal had picked up Ella setting her in a car he had just stolen. He let out a sigh. He didn't want to leave Emma and let her take the fall for him, but August told her he had to fulfill her destiny. Neal left Emma with the yellow bug and some money, he made August promise to give it to her. He buckled Ella up who started to stir from her sleep but just went back to sleep, Neal covered her with the blanket she had since he met her.

Neal got in the driver's side before pulling off. He didn't know where he was going but he knew he had to leave town. Looking at Ella through the review mirror, he shook his head before his eyes went back to the road. Neal had a choice to make, either get his act together or drop Mariella off at an orphanage. This was no life for a kid. Maybe a fire station instead. he was already wanted, No need to add kidnapping to the list.

Neal decided to get his act together. He got all the paperwork he need to make both Ella and him legal. They had settled down in New York, he even got her into school. She hated school but she was excelling at school work, it was the social aspect Ella had trouble with.

When Ella found out about Emma leaving she was so sad, that she refused to eat go two days. Neal had told her that Emma abandon her. That is when Neal first learned that Ella was different. Her eyes had glowered a dark green before Ella threw the food across the room. Neal had tried to stop her but Ella started throwing things in a rage. He managed to calm her down as he sat on the kitchen floor holding her arms to her side to prevent her from moving. Ella's eyes went back to their natural shade of green as she started crying.

When Mariella was ten, she made the mistake of watching happily never after. She was terrified of Rumpelstiltskin. She would wake up screaming from nightmares. Neal would rush in and attempt to soothe her, but it didn't help much. When Neal found out what had her so upset, he laughed.

"You are scared of Rumpelstiltskin?" Neal laughed at her.

"It's not funny! Stop laughing." Mariella said glaring at him. She didn't find it funny, the lizard man was scary to her.

"Oh, sweetheart." Neal started to say as he quickly stopped laughing and moved to sit next to her. He pulled her into his chest and sighed out loud.

"I'm gonna tell you something, you might not believe it but it's true." Neal began to say and when he saw she was listening intently he continued. "Rumpelstiltskin is real. In fact, all fairy tales are real."

Mariella started crying as she buried her face into his chest. Neal tighten his hold on her.

"Shhhh, he's not a bad guy. Well, no one for you to worry about. He's in the enchanted forest, he can't get here." Neal said running his hands through his hair. This reminded him of the time when she was eight and was scared of Peter Pan. She would be convinced that Peter would come and take her to Neverland. She ended up sleeping in Neal's room with him for a month straight.

"How do you know? If he's real, He could come here" Mariella cried out.

"He's not gonna come here. Trust me, sweetheart."

"But he could!"

"He won't. Besides if he does, I wouldn't let him near you." Neal said as Ella gently pulled back wiping her face and looking up at him.

"You promise?" Ella said holding her pinky out to him.

"I promise," Neal said linking his pinky with hers. That managed to calm Ella down but now she had more questions.

"How do you know that he's real? Is Belle real too?"

Neal let out a sigh as he looked at the ten-year-old. He figured he could tell her the truth. "Because he's my dad."

Ella looked at him shocked. "Shouldn't you be with him?"

"No. He abandoned me." Neal told her as he pulled the blanket back and patted the empty bed. Ella crawled over to the empty spot and laid down. Neal pulled the blanket over her, tucking her in and pressing a kiss to her forehead.

He went to leave but Ella called out to him.

"Daddy?"

"Yes, Ella?"

"You won't leave me like he left you?"

"Never Sweetheart." Neal told her. He smiled at her before walking out. He made sure to leave the door open and the left the light on.

(A/N the story is set in OUAT S2

All credit for the original characters and the original plot goes to the once upon a time creators. I only own my OCs and select scenes not from the show.)