Another movie based AU! This one is based on the Australian film "Matching Jack." It's a really great film but it's a massive tearjerker. Proceed with caution. This one was a bit different from my other ones because there are no fantasy elements in it. Just stone cold reality.

A few things to get out of the way:

1) Although this a CS fic, there will be some Neal/Emma moments in the beginning. Sit tight, it'll be worth it when Killian shows up. I'm promise this won't turn into a Neal-bashing fic. I'm always about exploring characters and their flaws, even if they are ones that I don't particularly like.

2) Bit of a spoiler, but this story is going to deal with major character death and it's going to be a child. If you're not sure can handle that, don't read. I don't wanna cause anyone pain.

Also this fic is unbetaed because I'm an idiot

xxxXXXxxx

Chapter 1:

Emma didn't have enough napkins. She could've sworn she bought the right amount. She dug some more through the shopping bag, but no luck. The napkins weren't there.

Guess this meant some kids would have to use paper towels.

Now where the hell was Neal?

She glanced over at the children's entertainment. The actors were currently doing a skit involving knights and a wizard. Through the rows of assorted hats and crowns, she could see the red Devil horns Neal was wearing. The bastard must have sat down instead of helping her set up. Still, she couldn't help but smile.

Emma often joked with the other moms that she had two kids, instead of one.

"Look!" One of the knights proclaimed. "There lies the sword that shall save our kingdom!" He pointed at a large paper mache rock on the other side of the stage. Sticking out was a very fake sword. But the children in the audience still oohed and ahhed. The knight strode over, exaggeratedly, and attempted to "pull" the sword free but he had no luck. Another knight tried but struggled too. Two more knights tried to pull the sword together but instead ended up falling over each other in an exhausted heap. The children were laughing wildly and Emma found herself chuckling as well.

"You fools!" The wizard scolded. "Only the Truest Believer can pull the sword free!"

"Well then," said the first knight. "It's a good thing we brought our secret weapon." He then gestured extravagantly to the wings. "Behold, our bravest man and our truest believer: Henry Cassidy!"

The parents and children clapped as Henry came onto the stage. The red robes he had been dressed in were far too big and the blue wizard hat just barely sank over his eyes. But his smile was huge and he was clearly enjoying every second of the performance. Neal's hands emerged from the sea of heads, holding his phone up to take pictures.

Emma had had Henry at a very young age. She was barely twenty-five and working part-time as a waitress in a nearby diner. Neal was working an assortment of jobs, from fixing cars to mowing lawns, but nothing with a decent wage. They had only been married for a year and hadn't discussed the possibility of having kids. They briefly considered putting the baby up for adoption, but soon agreed not too. Both of them had bad memories of living in the system and growing up feeling unwanted.

The last thing Emma wanted was to put a child, especially her own, through something like that.

So she bought every parenting book off the shelf, stocked up on diapers and bottles, and took all the maternity classes. Neal got more jobs in order to pay the rent. They did everything they could to prepare. Then, on August 15th at 7:15 pm, her son was born.

And from the moment Emma first held him in her arms, Henry became her whole world.

As awful her childhood had been, she tried to use it as a guide. Things that she had always wanted to have; a bicycle, a trip to the zoo, a birthday party; she made sure that Henry got them. She never wanted Henry to think for one moment that he was unloved or unwanted, like she did when she was his age. She was careful not to spoil him though, as was Neal. Luckily, they didn't have to worry about that too much. Henry was a well behaved child, who did very well in school and got along well with others.

"Hurry, Henry! Remove the sword!" A knight exclaimed. Henry made his way over to the stone. He readily gripped the hilt and gave a slight tug. There was a sudden flash of smoke (one of those 'flashpot' thingys magicians used had been set under the fake rock) and the sword came free. The audience clapped and cheered while Henry triumphantly held the sword over his head.

Emma smiled broadly at the look on her son's face. "Okay kids, who wants cake?" She called out. Immediately, there was a stampede of tiny feet. Emma laughed good-naturedly as the parents tried to control their children from swarming her. She placed a few more candles onto the cake. It was in the shape of a giant open book with Happy Birthday Henry! written in gold icing.

Most boys Henry's age were interested in things like sports or biking or running. But Henry loved books. Ever since he learned how to read, he constantly had his nose in one. His favorite kinds were fantasy; anything that had to do with knights, dragons and magic. The local librarian often gave him some suggestions on what to read. This usually resulted in Henry coming home with a stack of books almost twice his size.

"All right, kids, all right. Everyone take it easy." Neal said playfully, as he waded through the small bodies to Emma. "We all know I'm getting the biggest piece." The kids shouted in unison "No!" which earned a chuckle from Emma.

"Can you help me hand out the plates?" She asked.

"Yeah, sure." He then added in a hushed voice. "I'm sorry again for being late."

Neal was awful at keeping track of time. He was often late for events, usually due to work. Neal was a refurbishment contractor so he often worked overtime. This usually meant that he was late or he missed important events like birthdays or soccer games. But it wasn't without lack of effort.

Emma smiled gently. "Don't worry about it. You're here now and that's all that matters." She gave him a kiss on the cheek. "You can make it up to me later." She whispered playfully, making Neal chuckle mischievously. "Alright, where's the birthday boy?"

A few kids helped push Henry to the front so that he could see his cake. He gasped, eyes wide with excitement, and grinned, showing off the gap in his front teeth.

"Make a wish, buddy." said Neal.

Henry closed his eyes and scrunched his nose. It was the face he usually made when he was concentrating on something.

"I wish that the Buccaneers would win tomorrow!" The kids, particularly those on Henry's soccer team (the Buccaneers), cheered the loudest as he blew out the candles.

Emma laughed and began to cut the cake. Yet there was something she couldn't shake.

Henry wasn't into sports. In truth, he only did it because Neal begged him to sign up. And while he did get along with his teammates, they weren't really his friends.

So would he really waste a birthday wish, a very sacred thing, on something so trivial.

She shook her head. She was being silly.

Emma didn't have enough napkins. She could've sworn she bought the right amount. She dug some more through the shopping bag, but no luck. The napkins weren't there.

Guess this meant some kids would have to use paper towels.

Now where the hell was Neal?

She glanced over at the children's entertainment. The actors were currently doing a skit involving knights and a wizard. Through the rows of assorted hats and crowns, she could see the red Devil horns Neal was wearing. The bastard must have sat down instead of helping her set up. Still, she couldn't help but smile.

Emma often joked with the other moms that she had two kids, instead of one.

"Look!" One of the knights proclaimed. "There lies the sword that shall save our kingdom!" He pointed at a large paper mache rock on the other side of the stage. Sticking out was a very fake sword. But the children in the audience still oohed and ahhed. The knight strode over, exaggeratedly, and attempted to "pull" the sword free but he had no luck. Another knight tried but struggled too. Two more knights tried to pull the sword together but instead ended up falling over each other in an exhausted heap. The children were laughing wildly and Emma found herself chuckling as well.

"You fools!" The wizard scolded. "Only the Truest Believer can pull the sword free!"

"Well then," said the first knight. "It's a good thing we brought our secret weapon." He then gestured extravagantly to the wings. "Behold, our bravest man and our truest believer: Henry Cassidy!"

The parents and children clapped as Henry came onto the stage. The red robes he had been dressed in were far too big and the blue wizard hat just barely sank over his eyes. But his smile was huge and he was clearly enjoying every second of the performance. Neal's hands emerged from the sea of heads, holding his phone up to take pictures.

Emma had had Henry at a very young age. She was barely twenty-five and working part-time as a waitress in a nearby diner. Neal was working an assortment of jobs, from fixing cars to mowing lawns, but nothing with a decent wage. They had only been married for a year and hadn't discussed the possibility of having kids. They briefly considered putting the baby up for adoption, but soon agreed not too. Both of them had bad memories of living in the system and growing up feeling unwanted.

The last thing Emma wanted was to put a child, especially her own, through something like that.

So she bought every parenting book off the shelf, stocked up on diapers and bottles, and took all the maternity classes. Neal got more jobs in order to pay the rent. They did everything they could to prepare. Then, on August 15th at 7:15 pm, her son was born.

And from the moment Emma first held him in her arms, Henry became her whole world.

As awful her childhood had been, she tried to use it as a guide. Things that she had always wanted to have; a bicycle, a trip to the zoo, a birthday party; she made sure that Henry got them. She never wanted Henry to think for one moment that he was unloved or unwanted, like she did when she was his age. She was careful not to spoil him though, as was Neal. Luckily, they didn't have to worry about that too much. Henry was a well behaved child, who did very well in school and got along well with others.

"Hurry, Henry! Remove the sword!" A knight exclaimed. Henry made his way over to the stone. He readily gripped the hilt and gave a slight tug. There was a sudden flash of smoke (one of those 'flashpot' thingys magicians used had been set under the fake rock) and the sword came free. The audience clapped and cheered while Henry triumphantly held the sword over his head.

Emma smiled broadly at the look on her son's face. "Okay kids, who wants cake?" She called out. Immediately, there was a stampede of tiny feet. Emma laughed good-naturedly as the parents tried to control their children from swarming her. She placed a few more candles onto the cake. It was in the shape of a giant open book with Happy Birthday Henry! written in gold icing.

Most boys Henry's age were interested in things like sports or biking or running. But Henry loved books. Ever since he learned how to read, he constantly had his nose in one. His favorite kinds were fantasy; anything that had to do with knights, dragons and magic. The local librarian often gave him some suggestions on what to read. This usually resulted in Henry coming home with a stack of books almost twice his size.

"All right, kids, all right. Everyone take it easy." Neal said playfully, as he waded through the small bodies to Emma. "We all know I'm getting the biggest piece." The kids shouted in unison "No!" which earned a chuckle from Emma.

"Can you help me hand out the plates?" She asked.

"Yeah, sure." He then added in a hushed voice. "I'm sorry again for being late."

Neal was awful at keeping track of time. He was often late for events, usually due to work. Neal was a refurbishment contractor so he often worked overtime. This usually meant that he was late or he missed important events like birthdays or soccer games. But it wasn't without lack of effort.

Emma smiled gently. "Don't worry about it. You're here now and that's all that matters." She gave him a kiss on the cheek. "You can make it up to me later." She whispered playfully, making Neal chuckle mischievously. "Alright, where's the birthday boy?"

A few kids helped push Henry to the front so that he could see his cake. He gasped, eyes wide with excitement, and grinned, showing off the gap in his front teeth.

"Make a wish, buddy." said Neal.

Henry closed his eyes and scrunched his nose. It was the face he usually made when he was concentrating on something.

"I wish that the Buccaneers would win tomorrow!" The kids, particularly those on Henry's soccer team (the Buccaneers), cheered the loudest as he blew out the candles.

Emma laughed and began to cut the cake. Yet there was something she couldn't shake.

Henry wasn't into sports. In truth, he only did it because Neal begged him to sign up. And while he did get along with his teammates, they weren't really his friends.

So would he really waste a birthday wish, a very sacred thing, on something so trivial.

She shook her head. She was being silly.

Emma didn't have enough napkins. She could've sworn she bought the right amount. She dug some more through the shopping bag, but no luck. The napkins weren't there.

Guess this meant some kids would have to use paper towels.

Now where the hell was Neal?

She glanced over at the children's entertainment. The actors were currently doing a skit involving knights and a wizard. Through the rows of assorted hats and crowns, she could see the red Devil horns Neal was wearing. The bastard must have sat down instead of helping her set up. Still, she couldn't help but smile.

Emma often joked with the other moms that she had two kids, instead of one.

"Look!" One of the knights proclaimed. "There lies the sword that shall save our kingdom!" He pointed at a large paper mache rock on the other side of the stage. Sticking out was a very fake sword. But the children in the audience still oohed and ahhed. The knight strode over, exaggeratedly, and attempted to "pull" the sword free but he had no luck. Another knight tried but struggled too. Two more knights tried to pull the sword together but instead ended up falling over each other in an exhausted heap. The children were laughing wildly and Emma found herself chuckling as well.

"You fools!" The wizard scolded. "Only the Truest Believer can pull the sword free!"

"Well then," said the first knight. "It's a good thing we brought our secret weapon." He then gestured extravagantly to the wings. "Behold, our bravest man and our truest believer: Henry Cassidy!"

The parents and children clapped as Henry came onto the stage. The red robes he had been dressed in were far too big and the blue wizard hat just barely sank over his eyes. But his smile was huge and he was clearly enjoying every second of the performance. Neal's hands emerged from the sea of heads, holding his phone up to take pictures.

Emma had had Henry at a very young age. She was barely twenty-five and working part-time as a waitress in a nearby diner. Neal was working an assortment of jobs, from fixing cars to mowing lawns, but nothing with a decent wage. They had only been married for a year and hadn't discussed the possibility of having kids. They briefly considered putting the baby up for adoption, but soon agreed not too. Both of them had bad memories of living in the system and growing up feeling unwanted.

The last thing Emma wanted was to put a child, especially her own, through something like that.

So she bought every parenting book off the shelf, stocked up on diapers and bottles, and took all the maternity classes. Neal got more jobs in order to pay the rent. They did everything they could to prepare. Then, on August 15th at 7:15 pm, her son was born.

And from the moment Emma first held him in her arms, Henry became her whole world.

As awful her childhood had been, she tried to use it as a guide. Things that she had always wanted to have; a bicycle, a trip to the zoo, a birthday party; she made sure that Henry got them. She never wanted Henry to think for one moment that he was unloved or unwanted, like she did when she was his age. She was careful not to spoil him though, as was Neal. Luckily, they didn't have to worry about that too much. Henry was a well behaved child, who did very well in school and got along well with others.

"Hurry, Henry! Remove the sword!" A knight exclaimed. Henry made his way over to the stone. He readily gripped the hilt and gave a slight tug. There was a sudden flash of smoke (one of those 'flashpot' thingys magicians used had been set under the fake rock) and the sword came free. The audience clapped and cheered while Henry triumphantly held the sword over his head.

Emma smiled broadly at the look on her son's face. "Okay kids, who wants cake?" She called out. Immediately, there was a stampede of tiny feet. Emma laughed good-naturedly as the parents tried to control their children from swarming her. She placed a few more candles onto the cake. It was in the shape of a giant open book with Happy Birthday Henry! written in gold icing.

Most boys Henry's age were interested in things like sports or biking or running. But Henry loved books. Ever since he learned how to read, he constantly had his nose in one. His favorite kinds were fantasy; anything that had to do with knights, dragons and magic. The local librarian often gave him some suggestions on what to read. This usually resulted in Henry coming home with a stack of books almost twice his size.

"All right, kids, all right. Everyone take it easy." Neal said playfully, as he waded through the small bodies to Emma. "We all know I'm getting the biggest piece." The kids shouted in unison "No!" which earned a chuckle from Emma.

"Can you help me hand out the plates?" She asked.

"Yeah, sure." He then added in a hushed voice. "I'm sorry again for being late."

Neal was awful at keeping track of time. He was often late for events, usually due to work. Neal was a refurbishment contractor so he often worked overtime. This usually meant that he was late or he missed important events like birthdays or soccer games. But it wasn't without lack of effort.

Emma smiled gently. "Don't worry about it. You're here now and that's all that matters." She gave him a kiss on the cheek. "You can make it up to me later." She whispered playfully, making Neal chuckle mischievously. "Alright, where's the birthday boy?"

A few kids helped push Henry to the front so that he could see his cake. He gasped, eyes wide with excitement, and grinned, showing off the gap in his front teeth.

"Make a wish, buddy." said Neal.

Henry closed his eyes and scrunched his nose. It was the face he usually made when he was concentrating on something.

"I wish that the Buccaneers would win tomorrow!" The kids, particularly those on Henry's soccer team (the Buccaneers), cheered the loudest as he blew out the candles.

Emma laughed and began to cut the cake. Yet there was something she couldn't shake.

Henry wasn't into sports. In truth, he only did it because Neal begged him to sign up. And while he did get along with his teammates, they weren't really his friends.

So would he really waste a birthday wish, a very sacred thing, on something so trivial.

She shook her head. She was being silly.