#39. I got inspired to write this by watching a scene from One Tree Hill. I changed the flowers, because to me, Swanfire will always equal sunflowers.

Emma thought that nothing could be worse than delivering a baby while she was shackled to a bed. Being unable to move as she experienced the worse pain of her life. She had realized she was in labor too late for an epidural. The watchful gaze of the guard had made her feel even more uncomfortable. She had brought Henry into the world feeling very much like a prisoner.

With her second pregnancy, she had wanted more than that. She kept her mind on a birth plan, so she didn't think about the reality of the situation. This time, she wouldn't be alone with just a doctor, nurse and guard. No, she'd have the doctor and a nurse, but her mom would be there too. She loved Snow. She was glad she could be there.

But it didn't make up for the fact that this was the second child she'd bring into the world without Neal.

Emma had discovered she was pregnant six weeks after Neal died. She thought of the last time they had been together, celebrating their reunion. Rumple had been split from him and everything seemed to be going well. They walked away from the situation, unscathed.

But all magic comes with a price and Neal paid his. He didn't die that day in the woods, but he did later that night, besides Emma. No amount of True Love's Kiss would bring him back to her.

Henry barely got to know his dad, but that fact wouldn't have changed even if Neal had always known he existed. The best thing they could've ever done for him was give him up for adoption. He was raised by a loving mother, who could give him more than the back of a yellow bug and a life on the run from the police. Emma knew that her choice to give him up had been the right one.

This time, however, her child was losing out on the father they were always meant to have. They both had good jobs. Emma lived with her parents, though she knows that they would have found a way to live together. Neal would have been there to help her and David set up the crib. He would've snuck her cake during the surprise baby shower that Snow threw for her.

Instead, Emma went through all of it alone. She had her friends and family, but she hated herself for being greedy. She wanted Neal back. More than anything in the world, she would trade anything jut to have him by her side.

Emma can't remember how she went into labor. One moment, she was at work and the next her head hit the linoleum floors. She drifts in and out of consciousness as she hears David calling 9-1-1. She's transferred into an ambulance and given oxygen. When she wakes up again, she's being rushed down a hallway, with Whale shouting something about there being a lot of blood.

"The baby," she mutters. But no one hears her. Weakly, her hand goes over her baby bump, before she slips out of consciousness again.

There's a field of sunflowers. Emma knows she's not supposed to like flowers, but those are her favorite. They keep growing, even when you don't expect them too. The seeds provide nourishment to anyone that might pass them. They're also yellow, her favorite color.

"Emma."

It's Neal's voice. She doesn't have to look up to know that. She turns around quickly and runs straight into his arms. They kiss for a long moment and it's like nothing's ever changed. She feels safe, at home in his embrace. She never wants to let go…

"Ew!"

Emma forces herself apart from his lips, still gripping onto his denim button up. She looks to the left and sees a little girl in the sunflowers. She has a tumble of blonde curls and hazel eyes. She's wearing a yellow dress with no shoes on her feet.

"Who's that?"

Neal smiles. "Don't you know?"

The little girl lets out a laugh, one that's all too familiar. It's Neal's.

"Our daughter," she whispers.

"Isn't she perfect?"

The little girl yells out to them again. "Mommy, Daddy, come play with me!"

Emma holds onto Neal's hand as they walk over to their little girl. Emma kneels down to her height and pushes some hair out of her face.

"Mommy," the little girl says. "What are these?" She points to the long stalks around them.

"These," Emma says gently. "Are sunflowers."

The little girl nods before running through them. Emma starts to go after her, but stops herself when Neal doesn't move. He gives her a quick nod.

"Go after her," he instructs. "I'll be here waiting."

I'll be watching over you guys from some place.

Emma gives him one final kiss before following their daughter through the sunflowers. She lifts the little girl into her arms and turns to see Neal standing there. The little girl waves and the dream slowly fades away.

Emma holds onto Tallie's hand as they walk through the cemetery together. Her 3-year-old clutches the bouquet of sunflowers in her hand.

"Which one is Daddy?"

"We're almost there, Tal."

Emma turns the corner and finds Neal's grave sitting under the tree. She leads Tallie over to it and allows her to trace the four letters with her finger.

"Neal," Emma says. "Neal Cassidy."

Tallie drops the flowers by the roses that were left there, probably by Rumple. "Hi Daddy," she says.

The tears spring to Emma's eyes and she kneels in front of the grave.

"Our daughter's 3 now," she says, hoping that Neal can hear her, wherever he is.

"3 ½," Tallie corrects her.

Emma laughs, in spite of her tears. "That's right, 3 ½." She rubs Tallie's back. "And I see you in her every day."

Tallie sits down and starts playing with the grass. Emma lets out a sigh, grasping her hands together.

"We miss you, babe," she whispers. "We really miss you."