Title: Entitlement (Part 1)
Summary: Some people feel entitled to what they think is theirs.
Note: Takes place after Not So Simple, semi-during Understanding Safety. Prompt from lessawildmoon wanting a Neal-Graham confrontation, and also another prompt that is only set up in this part and will continue in Part 2. Some anti Neal sentiment here. Keep in mind that I'm not trying to vilify him. This is in Graham's POV and his prejudices are going to be prominent. I also kind of enjoy that Neal doesn't get a life that's neatly tied in a bow by the end. There will be a lot left wanting.

Graham and Henry left the hospital, headed towards the center of town once again. Henry was being unusually quiet, kicking a stone in his path thoughtfully.

"Dad … do you think he's mad at me?"

Graham looked down at Henry, feeling his heart sink as he realized what he was asking. He sighed and pulled him close. "No, I don't think he's mad at you, Henry. I think he's having to deal with a lot and needs some time, but that you shouldn't feel like it's your fault, okay?"

Henry frowned, his face tilted downwards. He tucked his head into his side, leaning his weight against him. He shrugged one shoulder. "It's just … we've been gone a whole year. He told mom he wanted to see us again, but he left before—"

"Today's not the end, Henry," Graham reminded gently.

He felt a flicker in his gut, the fierce protectiveness that always triggered around Henry and Emma. He didn't understand Neal, even as he tried to reassure Henry. There was a lot unanswered for. Emma's pale face and shaking frame had only made it worse, making the rise of anger spark inside him. Seeing the kid so ill at ease made him want to track down Neal himself and force his head on straight. Preferably with his fist.

But, for Henry's sake, he managed to control the impulse. "You'll get to see him soon, I'm sure."

"Yeah," he replied solemnly. He waited a beat, and squinted into the distance. "I just want to see him, and then go home."

He didn't have to ask which home he meant. He let out a long exhale and nodded. "I know, kid. I want to go home, too."

Especially after the day before, after feeling the weight of his past wrongs and the threatening reminder of Regina. At the very least, they'd been able to keep Regina separated from Henry since their meeting at the diner when they first arrived. It was a blessing they all knew wouldn't last forever, but one they took for what it was.

"Soon, right?" Henry said, hope coloring his tone.

He pulled him close to his side as they continued down the street. "Hopefully," he replied. "In the meantime, ice cream."

Henry glanced up at him with a small smile. "Thanks, dad."

"Graham!"

His hand on Henry's shoulder tightened only a minute before he recognized the voice calling him. The tension released, but he felt a wash of unease at how quickly he reacted at simply the sound of his name.

It used to always be this way. Always, that lash of stiff muscles and guard up, waiting for the attack. He thought he'd lost that in the past year, but he finds the impulse comes just as quickly. It was somewhat disheartening to discover.

Henry was looking up at him with soft eyes, and he knocked into his side comfortingly. Graham's mouth edged upwards before he glanced up to meet Snow's gaze. "Hey," he greeted simply.

Snow looked up and past them, her face falling slightly. It was obvious she was seeking Emma. "Graham, Henry … it's good to see you again. I was wondering … is Emma around?"

He shook his head. "David called. Apparently someone saw Gold in the woods, so she went to help him."

Her features twisted, looking at him in bewilderment. "And you let her go?" she asked, cradling her stomach protectively.

"Let her?" Graham asked, his brow furrowing. "Do you remember who we're talking about?"

Snow managed to look contrite, a blush tingeing her pale cheeks. "No, I know Emma," she said softly. Her gaze was distant, fogging into unfocus in a way that said she was truly remembering. "I just thought … well, I thought she might be allowing herself to slow down a bit."

He shrugged one shoulder. "After the first couple months, having to stay home, she got pretty stir-crazy. If anything, she's taken on more."

"Definitely more," Henry agreed with a smirk. "She's making up for lost time."

"First couple months?" she echoed.

He nodded. "Yeah, she … the beginnings weren't easy on her. She was trying to control everything, and her body just wasn't up for that. She was on bedrest for a while," he explained.

"Oh," Snow said simply, and she began to wring her hands together.

"Did you want to speak to her about something?" Graham asked, and he found that he couldn't keep the wariness out of his tone. Yesterday, Emma had been devastated. After her encounter with Neal, he suspects that she wouldn't be up to another fight if that was what Snow was looking for.

Snow glanced at her watch, and there was something strange about her eyes. They were shaded, even as she offered a smile. "Actually, I was hoping to speak to Henry."

He looked down at the kid, and Henry's eyes narrowed in plain question. In unison, they turned back. "Why do you need—"

His phone rang in his pocket, cutting off his statement. He fumbled to pull it out and squinted at the caller ID. His frown deepened as he answered. "Belle?"

"Graham, thank God," came the rush of breath. "Emma asked me to help, and I'm trying to identify this rune that's on Neal's hand. But I feel like … there feels like someone's watching me. I don't feel … I don't feel safe."

He could hear the shake in her voice, the effort it was taking to admit even that. Belle didn't have many people left that she trusted to lean on. Graham barely qualified as that, being that they hadn't seen each other in decades, but their past allowed some trust again. He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'll be there, okay? Five minutes." He clicked off the line and glanced at Henry.

He knew that he could not let her be harmed. He had worked too hard in the other world to keep her safe in that tower. She had been the one person to see the bar-less prison he was in, to empathize, to want to reach out. She had been the closest thing to a friend he'd had in that other world. She had such a good soul … he needed to keep her safe.

But Emma and he had just spoken about how they didn't want Henry near Belle. She was a possible target with Gold alive, and thus could endanger Henry just by being near. And it certainly was sounding more and more like a target was exactly what she was. The fact that she was afraid pricked along his spine, making him nervous in a strangely familiar way.

Making a quick decision, he nodded once and squeezed Henry's shoulder. "Okay, kid, I'm going to take you back to the diner. You're going to stay with Red and Granny, okay?"

Henry's mouth parted, a protest on the edge of his tongue, when Snow spoke up. "I could take him. It sounds like she needs help."

Graham pressed his lips together as he thought, not even completely sure he knew why he was hesitating.

Snow let the corner of her mouth incline, eyes soft as she regarded Henry. "It'll give us a chance to talk … catch up … be with family." When she turned to meet his own eyes, hers were slightly misty.

He nodded, a tight smile across his face. "Yeah, that makes sense," he said. He wasn't sure if the pit of worry in his stomach was for Belle or for Henry. "Henry, you have my number if you need me. See you later, okay?"

"Keep her safe, dad," Henry replied. There was pride in the kid's eye, strong and beaming.

Graham chuckled. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the top of the lad's head. "I'll try."

When he turned back to Snow, she looked startled. There was a question on her face before she masked it with a smile.

A warning sat at the top of his throat, but he didn't voice it. He had to remind himself that this was Henry's grandmother, and he had to believe she had his best interests at hand.

He was sure his caution was painted over his face regardless.

His jaw clenched before he nodded. "I'll keep you updated if I'm longer than half an hour."

Snow's gaze was searching, but she offered a nod back. "We'll be fine."

He buried the hesitation as Snow took Henry's hand and guided him down the path. He watched for a few seconds, then turned to go his own way. He tried to push the worries to the back of his mind as he walked to Gold's shop. He knew he had to be aware of whatever was going on around him, and couldn't be too wrapped up in what might be happening with Henry.

Instinct clicked inside of him as her neared, and he heeded the feeling. He was innately aware of his surroundings, and became attuned to the subtleties of the area.

There was something heavy in the air, something like anticipation brewing. He surreptitiously looked around, finding signs of disturbance all around. Whoever it was wasn't adept at stalking. A part of him wanted to track those obvious clues, but he decided finding Belle was the priority. He swallowed back the impulse and entered the shop, his hand unconsciously hovering over his left ribs, the place he usually kept his holster.

"Graham, you're here."

There was relief in every note of her voice as she saw him. She had taken to using his new name easily, without any hesitation or stutter. He found it somewhat remarkable that she used it so freely, being that she wasn't cursed into knowing the sheriff.

He turned and flicked the blinds closed. "How long have you noticed someone watching you?" he asked, getting right to the point.

She placed a locket on the glass display case and took a look side to side. "The last twenty minutes or so," she replied.

"Whoever it is isn't used to hiding, or isn't very good at it; I suspect that's as long as they've been watching," he mused as he looked around for weapons. Gold's shop provided many magical items to that end, but Graham definitely preferred the traditional kind.

"Here," Belle said, pressing the handle of a blade into his hand. Her face was steely; he could see behind the fear to the annoyance that someone was threatening her. He may have found it amusing if the situation wasn't so immediate. "Found it earlier."

He gripped the leather, gauging the weight. He'd much prefer something that would put distance between the attacker and Belle and himself, but it would do. "If it's whoever's behind the curse …," he warned lowly.

Belle nodded, her bright blue eyes wide. "The shop is enchanted. It gives a little protection that way, as well."

He nodded. "Then we should stay inside," he concluded.

A snap from the far window caught their attention, and he saw a flash of dark eyes and hair before it disappeared. He felt a growl build in his throat, the anger that whoever it was would threaten someone who would never harm anyone.

Belle looked startled, and reached out to grab his arm. "Graham … I think it's Neal."

That surprised him. "Neal?" He set the dagger down. The anger took new shape within him, mixing with aggravation. He crossed to the back in long, quick steps, having anticipated which entrance he would go to. He opened the door to find the man trying to sneak around the back. "Need something?"

The man turned to him, and his dark gaze flashed with recognition. "You," was his gritted answer.

Graham took him in with narrowed eyes. He found some vague similarities to Henry, mostly in coloring. But in comparing, he saw that Henry definitely had more of Emma's family in him. He looked messy, a hospital gown strewn across his shoulders paired with faded jeans.

Snippets of conversations with Emma floated in his head as he stared, colliding the build up with the reality. He inventoried him, his fist clenching and unclenching unconsciously at his side.

It seemed Neal was mirroring the posture, scowling and eyes hard.

He felt movement behind him, and tried to let himself relax. A hand rested on his shoulder as she peeked around him. "You're supposed to be at the hospital," Belle admonished gently. The heat was gone from her face, and he tried to temper his own to at least impassiveness.

Neal looked up and huffed. "I'm fine," he said gruffly.

"I'm glad it's been you watching, really, but why were you hiding?" Belle asked. She had approached the threshold, but didn't cross it. It made Graham very aware of just how conditioned she was to assuming everything was a trap. Being Regina's prisoner for decades had instilled that in her, and it made something inside him deflate in sympathy.

"You should come inside. It's safer," Graham said, and despite his efforts it was still clipped and flat in tone.

Neal stared him down with dark, angry eyes, but Graham held firmly in place. Finally, Neal pushed past him and into the store. He strode to the back, attempting to exert authority with the purposeful movement.

Belle fussed over him for a minute, before huffing a soft reprimand. It took a moment to realize that the she was basically the stepmother of this man who was older than her. "Where have you been?" she asked.

"Doesn't matter," he spit out.

Graham closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. His rudeness to Belle only fueled the previous anger. He felt the argument even before it began. The desire to take physical action against him was bubbling just below the surface. "Henry was looking for you," he said bitingly.

Neal stopped in his tracks and pivoted to him. A snarl took over his face. "That's none of your business."

Something hot and sharp ran down his spine, and his shoulders squared. "It's exactly my business, when Henry is as upset that you are avoiding him as he is."

"He is not your kid," came Neal's glowering response.

His fist tightened, but he remained steady. "He is my son, too."

"Just because you knocked up his mother—"

Belle gasped. "Neal!"

"Don't," he warned lowly, taking a pace threateningly closer. "I watched Henry grow up in one timeline, and have done everything I can to keep him safe and happy for the past year in this one. I made sure to get his permission before I went through the adoption, made sure it was something he wanted. Don't you dare assume that biology makes you are more of a father to him than me."

"It's not my fault I didn't know him from the start," he said defensively.

He remembered the conversations with Emma, the explanation of her jail sentence and this man's involvement in it. He could easily argue that it was his fault that he didn't know, but he decided that bringing up the past would only garner further denials. "It's your fault that you're not seeing him now," he reminded instead.

His nostrils flared and he shook his head. "I can't pretend that I'm okay with my kid calling someone else dad," he replied.

"So you're punishing Henry for having the capacity to love more than one parent?" Graham asked incredulously.

"No, that's—" He huffed out a breath, taking a step back. "You don't understand."

Graham saw sweat beading at his hairline, a pallor taking over him. He could tell that Belle had noticed, too, when she gave him a questioning look.

"Explain it, then, Neal. We'll understand," Belle tried.

Graham shook his head. "I understand that you're hurting Henry. I understand that you hurt Emma. What I don't understand is why you're not trying to make up for it," he pressed, though his tone was less heated than the one he would have taken if he hadn't noticed the physical distress.

"I told Emma," he began shortly, "that if you want me to pretend like I'm okay with this, I need time."

"Pretend that you're okay that Henry is loved?" came Belle's coaxing response. "I understand needing time to come to terms with this situation, but you should truly be happy for him, Neal. He's your son. Don't you want him to be loved and protected by someone he loves back?"

Graham wasn't sure why he was surprised at Belle's defense. It made sense for who she was, what she had endured. Still, having someone else in this town back him up, to back Henry up, was a strange feeling.

Neal stiffened, tensely on edge as his eyes darted back and forth between the two. "I didn't come here for this. For you two to gang up on me."

Belle sighed. "Neal, that's not what I'm doing."

"It sure feels like it." Neal braced his hands on the edge of the counter.

Graham's jaw clenched. He would fully admit that he was trying to force the reaction, force reason, onto the man. He wouldn't have cared if the kid didn't; Henry didn't deserve this wavering.

But he took the chance to see beyond what Henry needed for a minute, to fully analyze what was happening. The weakness, the distress … there was more going on than he first realized. "What did you come here for?" Graham's brow furrowed as he recalled that none of Belle's first questions had been answered.

There was something strange, a change in his eyes and face that disappeared in a blink. Neal stumbled slightly as he backed up. "Never mind," he said, shaking his head more in confusion than denial. He brushed a hand to mop his brow, and the scar of an insignia on his palm was barely hinted at.

"Let me find the rune, so we know what's going on," Belle said quietly, steering the conversation. "You don't look well."

"I can't stick around here," he spat.

Graham was about to respond that when his phone rang once more. He felt an edge of panic as he saw Henry's face flash on the screen. "Henry?"

When he looked up to meet Neal's eye, he found only fire and another flick in his countenance. It almost felt like the power sparks Emma set when emotional, and it was perplexing.

"Dad." His heart nearly shattered at the broken, half-sobbed out word. All thoughts to Neal were immediately severed, his focus entirely on Henry. "I need you to come get me."

"Henry, of course, kid," He was trying not to panic at the tears so present in the lad's voice. "Where are you? What happened?" he asked.

"At the diner, in the bathroom. Please, please come."

A clash sounded, and he looked up again to find Neal storming out the door. Belle sighed and placed her hands on her hips, shaking her head sadly.

Graham swallowed, but didn't let his focus split. "I'm coming, okay? Stay put, but only if you think it's safe."

"Okay. … Dad?"

"Yeah?" he said, already in the midst of miming his leaving to Belle.

"It's my choice, right?"

The connotations of his words made him feel light-headed with rage. "Your choice, always, Henry. I'm coming now."