A/N: Thank God April is finally over. I don't think I've ever lived through such a crazy month. I'm sorry it's been so long you guys, there's been a lot going on in the life department. You guys are amazing and as always, I will see you in the next chapter.

Neal had that stupid goofy grin that she both adored and hated plastered across his face once again. He'd point blank refused to tell her where he was taking her, insisting that it would be better as a surprise. After only two weeks of dating he'd been adamant that today, their first weekend alone as an "official couple," be a day of celebration. Just the two of them. Emma found the whole thing rather endearing, and only slightly exasperating.

As they passed a cluster of old portraits depicting creatures similar to trolls – ogres perhaps? – having a raucous party, Neal slowed his pace. Dropping her hand, he turned her to face a large expanse of blank wall.

"Stand just there," he instructed before she could so much as ask what they were doing in an abandoned sixth floor corridor. "And close your eyes!"

Emma took little care to conceal the roll of her eyes. "This is silly Neal. I'm not closing my eyes!"

Anyone else might have had their spirits dampened at such a comment, but not Neal. Instead that goofy grin only stretched further across his face. "It is never silly to want to surprise one's girlfriend. Now do as your told or you won't be getting your present."

"Yes sir," she mocked, but reluctantly did as he'd asked.

"There's no need to call me sir," he called back to her from a distance that seemed further away than it had been two seconds prior.

She could hear him walking back and forth across the floor. Emma managed to resist the temptation to peak despite the curiosity begging her to do just that. Cheating at this game he'd so meticulously constructed would be the only thing that could hurt Neal's feelings today.

Suddenly he was right in front of her. "Keep your eyes closed okay," he whispered as he took her by the hand and led her forward.

The air around her shifted as they walked through a doorway. No longer did the frigid winter air bite at her skin, instead she was engulfed in a comfortable warmth. Neal's hand left hers and she heard the door behind her click shut.

"Okay, you can open your eyes now."

Emma felt her jaw drop as she opened her eyes and took in the view of the room. Floor to ceiling windows extended along the outer wall providing a perfect view of the snow covered grounds and the Black Lake. Hulking Scottish mountains sat against the horizon, creating the most breath taking view the young Gryffindor could ever remember seeing. The rest of the room was devoid of furniture or really anything. Only a large blanket laid out right in front of the window and a picnic basket that sat on top of the blanket adorned the room.

"Welcome to the Room of Requirement," Neal exclaimed throwing his arms wide as he led her further into the expansive room. Happiness shone from him at her obvious delight at his idea.

Emma found herself speechless for several moments as she took in the beauty of the scene before her. Finally, she managed to choke out the first question that popped into her head. "How did you find this place?"

Neal's smile, if possible, grew even bigger at her stunned silence. "Rumple showed it to me first year. Said it was a good place to hide from unsavory characters. Which I took to mean a great place to bring your girlfriend for a quiet, romantic getaway. Probably not what he intended, but hey."

"Probably not," Emma agreed smiling as he continuously referred to her as his girlfriend. Apparently, Neal could not bring himself to get past his excitement over that fact. Her musings paused as she took in the sheer beauty of the room. "Wait I thought this place was gone?"

Neal shot her a cheeky wink as he unpacked the picnic basket. "Look at someone knowing their Hogwarts history!"

"I do read on occasion."

"Sure, you do Emma," he scoffed. "I've seen you read Quidditch Through the Ages at least a dozen times. Hogwarts, A History though… that's more Belle's territory."

"Whatever," Emma conceded giving her boyfriend a playful shove as she said it. "Are you going to divulge the secrets of the Room of Requirement 2.0, oh great and knowledgeable sage of Hogwarts?"

"Well only because you're using my proper title," Neal quipped with a wink. Pulling her over to the picnic he'd prepared, Neal began his explanation. "The best we can guess – we being Rumple and myself of course – is that after the old room was destroyed in the battle, Hogwarts understood that it had lost something important. In an attempt to rectify that, it created a new room."

Emma's eyebrows rose as she listened to his explanation. "You don't think that perhaps there were just always two rooms?"

Neal's face fell as he digested her proposal. "That's just silly."

"More silly than a magic castle that is self-aware?"

"Emma, the staircases change on a daily basis and little elves fix our food and clean the castle. I think we're far past self-aware."

"I won't spoil your ideas any further," she promised before turning her attention to the food. "So, what did you manage to pilfer from the poor house elves this time then?" Neal shot her a sheepish smile as he pulled out a plate of sandwiches, two goblets, a pitcher of pumpkin juice, and more sweets than she could actually believe fit in the basket. "You sure know how to treat a girl."

"I've been told as much."

"No, you haven't."

"No, I haven't."

Emma sprawled herself out across the blanket and grabbed a handful of cauldron cakes to go with her grilled cheese. "At any rate I'm glad you found this place."

"Rumple did all the work, I just got lucky," Neal shrugged.

"Speaking of your wayward cousin, the rumor mill seems to think he's actually demonstrating human emotion and helping Ruby with her furry little problem," Emma remarked around a mouth full of sandwich.

Neal nodded as he chewed and swallowed like he had some decency before answering. "He's a better guy than most people give him credit for."

"So you keep telling me," she smirked. "David seems to think he's a pretty standup guy these days."

"Yeah, well David still has a lot of ground to make up before I give a toss about his thoughts."

"David's not so bad. He's one of those few good guys you hear about."

Neal's face darkened as he looked out across the grounds. "He may be now, but I've seen him stand aside too many times to forgive him just yet."

"He hasn't been around Jones and that crew since this time last year," Emma protested. "Give him a chance."

"Not likely. Sorry Emma, I can't. Not yet at least. There's too much bad blood there. Especially since his brother still hangs around Jones."

Emma accepted defeat for now. David had changed, and she couldn't help but be friends with the guy, but she couldn't force Neal to like the guy. Especially when she considered all of the bad blood that existed between David's friends and Neal's. "So what's the story between Gold and Jones anyway?"

Neal shrugged again. "Not much of a story at all really."

"That's usually what people say before they launch into a story," Emma pointed out with a smile.

Popping a chocolate frog into his mouth, Neal leaned back onto his elbows as he considered where to begin. "We go way back with Jones. His father and my father knew each other fairly well so we spent many a summer in play dates with Jones. Which meant that Rumple got tossed into the equation whenever things got too bad with Malcolm or when Malcolm dumped him at our place."

"Sounds fun," Emma quipped as she propped back against the picnic basket.

Laughing at her cheek, something close to nostalgia settled across Neal's features as he began his tale. "It was different then. Tilly, Jones, Rumple, and I spent a good deal of time together. It's why Jones actually listens to Tilly most of the time. The four of us used to get into all kinds of trouble, growing up. Knowing Jones's father and knowing our father, Tilly usually tried to take the blame when Rumple wasn't around. Save someone's neck enough times and you engender some respect. She saved Killian and I a world of trouble more times than I can count."

"Your father isn't as hard on her?"

"Just as hard, but less likely to respond physically. She and Rumple have saved my ass more times than I can ever repay them for."

"What was Jones's father like?"

"A real winner," Neal snorted darkly. "Granted, I've met worse, but he's a real bastard for the most part. Left Jones and his brother when Liam was eighteen."

"Liam?"

"The eldest Jones brother," Neal answered. "Real decent type. He's hell bent on stopping Malcolm's reign of terror. Liam's one of the good guys. Practically raised Killian and worked two or more jobs to do so. It's always surprising to me that he and Killian are related."

"Maybe Killian will grow into himself," Emma offered hopefully.

"Not likely."

"You still haven't explained Gold and Jones," Emma prodded, reminding him of the original story he'd been telling.

"Right! Anyway, Rumple and Killian used to be in charge of entertaining us when we were stuck inside all day. Those two could come turn almost anything into some kind of game or grand adventure. Definitely got us into trouble a lot of the time, but it was usually worth it. This one time Killian and Rumple were both over and the four of us had been stuck in the library all day. Somehow between the four of us we managed to turn the whole library pink. Pissed dad off to no end, but after Rumple took the blame there wasn't much he could do except ground us."

"So Jones and Gold were friends once?"

"I don't know if I call them friendly maybe less antagonistic. They never particularly liked one another, but they got on well enough, I guess. At least until..." Neal paused. His eyes darted to her and he sat straight pulling his knees to his chest. "…there was an incident. After that things changed."

"What happened?" When Neal remained quiet, Emma pushed for details. "Is this why Jones dislikes you too?"

Neal looked uncomfortable. "I guess so."

Noting her boyfriend's discomfort Emma reluctantly attempted to put a lid on her curiosity. "You don't have to talk about Neal. It's okay."

Shooting her a quick but grateful smile, Neal ran a hand through his hair. "Naw, it's okay. We've made it this far. One day during the summer before Tilly started to Hogwarts the four of us were together. Malcolm, my dad, and Killian's dad were talking business and we'd been locked up in the library all day. Which of course meant we'd been bickering all day long over stupid stuff.

"I got so mad at Jones over something I don't even remember and lobbed a ball at his head. Problem was I miss him and nailed one of my family's priceless antiques. This ugly old vase that I guess at one time must have belonged to Slytherin or had been part of Voldemort's collection, or something like that. I've never seen my dad that angry. Anyway Rumple being Rumple took the blame for it, but my father still told Killian's dad what happened and how very disappointed he was in the four of us. Pretty sure he was trying to guilt me into admitting that it had been me and I almost did, but Tilly stopped me. I don't think my dad believed Rumple's story for a second, but Rumple refused to budge until Malcolm showed up. When it came down to protecting us or protecting Killian, Rumple made his decision. Told Malcolm that he'd gotten mad at Killian because of something stupid and had thrown something at Killian. Malcolm being Malcom insisted that both boys were at fault and that he be allowed to discipline them. Killian's father was more than happy to oblige his employer."

"Employer?" Emma interrupted.

"Yeah, Jones's father is a founding member of the Lost Boys."

"I had no idea," the Gryffindor exclaimed, thoroughly shocked.

"Most people don't I guess," Neal said. "It's the kind of thing you try to forget."

"So what did Malcolm do to Gold and Jones?"

"We don't really know. They were both tight lipped about it, still are. But Killian hated Rumple after that. He blamed him for whatever happened, rightly so I guess. It took a while before Jones acted normally around us again too though."

Emma's brows furrowed as she considered his story. "I get why he hates Gold so much, but he torments you just as much. He would have gotten in just as much trouble if it had been you instead of Gold, right?"

"Well that incident led to Rumple's accident. And obviously Tilly and I were more concerned about our hurt cousin than our angry friend. Killian took it personally."

"What kind of accident."

"The kind that isn't an accident," Neal responded fiercely. His eyes flashing with an old anger. "Rumple claims he fell down the steps, but its complete bull shit. His ankle was shattered and supposedly St. Mugnos couldn't fix it. But any healer worth their salt can heal broken bones."

"So he's lying about it," Emma asked.

"If you'd seen him the next time he showed up at the house, you wouldn't have believed him either."

Emma's stomach churned at the possibility. She'd spent most of her life bouncing from one foster home to the next. Abuse and neglect where simply things that she'd become used to seeing with certain people. However, what Neal was describing seemed extreme. According to Neal and Tilly their father wasn't anyone's cup of tea, but Neal seemed certain that Malcolm Gold was worse. What kind of parent could hurt their child like that and then leave them to suffer?

Shaking his head, Neal turned back to her wearing his trademark goofy grin, that almost covered up his obvious anger. "But enough about such morbid topics. Let's talk about something riveting."

"Such as," she chuckled.

"How about the latest gossip of Hogwarts."

"Oh that's sure to be a cheerful topic."

"I hear they're talking about sacking Blue."

"That's just wistful thinking on your part."

Laughter and a far more companionable atmosphere soon surrounded them. Hours passed them by as the two sat eating sweets and enjoying their alone time. As the sun climbed across the sky, Emma felt herself falling further for the boy with the quirky smile sitting beside her. Neal got her in a way that no one else ever had. Despite everything, he was exciting and full of life. Rules meant little and living life to its absolute fullest meant everything when she found herself with Neal. Somewhere in the past few months the Hufflepuff boy had become her favorite person to be with.

"Same time next weekend?" Neal asked as he packed up their basket

Emma groaned with disappointment. "Can't we have quidditch practice."

Neal smiled anyway, completely undaunted by the prospect of having to vie for her time. "David's really pushing you guys, isn't he?"

"We're still training Ruby," she explained as she stretched and followed him to the door.

"Oh yeah how's she doing?"

The two moved down the corridors slowly as he walked her up to the seventh floor, neither wanting the evening to come to an end.

"She's coming along. If we could ever get the field for more than an hour or two, she'd be fantastic."

Neal's eyebrow cocked as that crooked smile which meant he was trying not to laugh quirked his mouth. "Who's hogging the pitch this time?"

"Your house mates," Emma said turning a withering glare but ultimately unsuccessful glare on her boyfriend. "Will Scarlett is determined to win the cup this year."

"That's the guy that has eyes for Belle, right?"

"Glad to see you pay so much attention to your own house," she scoffed. "Yes that's the guy."

"In my defense," Neal began, "I don't really like him sooo…"

Now that was surprising. With the exception of Jones and his crew, Neal liked pretty much everyone. And though he could be a complete idiot, Will Scarlet was a decent guy. "What's wrong with Will?"

"He's making eyes at Belle," Neal explained as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Bro code dictates I can't like him if he's interested in my mate or brother's girl."

"What?" Emma laughed, shocked by his statement. "You think there's something going on between Gold and Belle?"

"Of course there is."

Emma searched his face for the joke she knew he must be concealing but couldn't find any sign of humor. Surely, he couldn't believe that Belle and Gold were…whatever he thought they were.

"Doubtful," she said.

"And why is that oh match maker?"

"Look I'll admit that Gold's a nicer guy than most give him credit for, but Belle can do better."

"Nah she can't," Neal replied with an ease that spoke of serious confidence. At an incredulous look from Emma, he continued. "Sure, Belle can have any guy she wants, but she won't find someone better than Rumple. He can be a git but he's as good a guy as anyone could hope to find."

"You're his cousin you have to say that." Emma argued, slightly uncomfortable in the knowledge that she was insulting Neal's best friend.

"More like brother," he clarified, "and I don't have to say that. I'll tell you right now that Tilly is a bitch and whoever settles with her is in for a ride. But Rumple is different. Plus belle is totally into him. You'll get the chance to see what I'm talking about at Hogsmeade here in a few weekends."

He'd chosen the exact moment they reached the Fat Lady's portrait to lay that bomb at her feet. "So now we're going on a double date?"

"I wouldn't phrase it like that around them."

"Neal!"

"Oh come on Emma, it will be fun."

"He hates me."

"Nah, he really likes you. He just can't let you know that, or it will ruin his image," Neal quipped with an ease that made Emma jealous. How could he be so laid back about everything. "Tilly's the one you need to watch out for."

Noting the actual warning in his voice, Emma decided to ask the question she'd been dying to ask all day. "Speaking of your sister who hates me, is Tilly really dating Robin Margot?"

"Apparently," he laughed. "Poor Robin."

"Poor Robin indeed," she smiled. "I had a great time today Neal. Thank you."

"Of course. It's the least I could do for the best girl around."

Neal leaned in and kissed her cheek lightly, leaving a trail of warmth in his wake. "Good night Emma Swan."

"Good night Neal Cassidy."