A/N - I'm introducing Neal this chapter! I'm changing the way they meet though. Hope you like!

A/N #2 - Just so you know, writing the beginning of this chapter killed me. Henry may be an OC, but I love him! Does that make since? Ugh! Nevermind. Just ignore me.

Chapter 5

1 year later… (E; Almost 16-years old. A; 22-years old. MM; 43-years old.)

Tyler came home from school and accidentally overheard a conversation between his parent's.

"Henry." Sierra sighed, fighting back tears. "How are going to tell them?" She asked. "They're all going to be heartbroken."

He pulled her into a hug and she began sobbing into his shirt. "Shh. It's all going to be okay love." He promised.

"Okay?" She questioned. "How is it okay Hen? You're dying!" She yelled. Tyler stepped back, causing the floorboard to creak. Their heads both snapped to the doorway and saw their son. "Ty," She started.

"Son, listen." Tyler shook his head and took off.

He found himself running to the house of his best friend, He went inside and ran straight to Emma's room, ignoring whatever Mary Margaret and August were trying to say.

He barged into Emma's room. "Ty? What are you- what's wrong?" She asked after seeing his tear stricken face. She got up and went over to him, wiping a stray tear from his face. "Tell me what happened Ty." She whispered.

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop." He whispered. "I came home and mom was crying. Dad was telling her it's gonna be okay. But then… she said something." He wasn't sure if he could say it. "She said that… he-he's dying." He choked out.

Emma's face went pale. "What? No! That-that's impossible!" He tried to grab her hand but she pulled back. "No! I'll prove it." She grabbed his hand and ran down the stairs, but she stopped when she saw everyone crying, including her uncle. "No!" She insisted from the stairs. "There has to be some mistake You can't just… I don't… I don't…" She couldn't control her breathing, she just kept shaking her head.

"Come sit down peaches." She grabbed Emma's hand, then Tyler's and led them to the couch. "Henry's been getting sick a lot lately." She started. "So, I took him to see a doctor. They ran a few tests." She could already see the heartbreak on their faces. She pushed a blonde lock out of Emma's face and stroked a some of Tyler's dark brown hair behind his ear. "He has cancer babes." She said, allowing a few tears to fall.

"Emma's right." Tyler said. "The doctors can help him. They're doctors, they do it all the time. They can help him. Right mom?" Sierra looked down. "Dad?"

Henry stepped forward. "They can't help me son. There's too much cancer. I'll be around for a few more months, a year at the most." He told them.

"That's not enough." Emma whispered. She looked up at her uncle. "It's not enough time." She stood up and stepped away. "I… I need some air." Before anyone could stop her, she was out of the door.

Mary Margaret was about to go after her, when Henry stopped her. "She needs space Mare. You gotta give her space." She didn't even realize that she was back to crying until Henry pulled her into his arms and she was sobbing.

XXX

She'd been gone a few hours now and they were all starting to get worried. "That's it." Mary Margaret finally said. "I'm gonna go look for her." She could see that pretty much everyone was ready to volunteer to help. "Alone." She said. "If I'm not back in 2 hours, you guys can start looking too." She left before anyone could object.

The first place she went was the port. Emma loves the water- always has. Mary Margaret pulled up and there she was, asleep on a pier bench. Her baby cried herself to sleep. Mary Margaret sighed and went over to sit on the bench. She lifted Emma's head so it would rest on her lap. She stroked Emma's hair until she saw her eyes flutter open. "Mom?"

Mary Margaret smiled. "Hey baby."

Emma slowly sat up and moved her head to rest on her mom's shoulder. "How long have I been gone?"

"Just a few hours. But you know me, I worry too much." She grabbed Emma's hand. "Are you okay babe?"

Emma shrugged. "I'm fine mom."

Mary Margaret pulled her into a hug. "You know I don't believe that for a second."

Emma broke the hug and looked into her mother's eyes. "Mom, I know he's not my dad, but he's-"

"-the closest thing you've ever had to one." Mary Margaret finished. "I know." She sighed. "It's okay to be scared. To be upset about it. He's family."

"Mom." She said near tears. "What's the point?" She asked. "What's the point in being a savior, if I can't actually save anyone?" She cried. "It's not fair. It's really not fair."

"I know it's not." She answered. She stroked some of Emma's hair out of her face. "What's going on in that head of yours Em?"

Emma looked down. "I don't know mom. I don't know how to feel." A few more tears slipped from her eyes. "I don't want him to die mom. He's always been here. And Tyler. Oh God, Tyler. He's already lost 2 parents mom, he can't lose anymore. This isn't fair… to anyone."

"I know. Let's go home. Everyone's still there." Emma nodded.

XXX

Emma walked inside leaning on her mother. She went over and sat on the couch, on the left of Henry, Tyler and Sierra were sitting on the right. Emma leaned into his side and he put an arm around her. "I'm sorry." She murmured.

"Don't be, little one." He told her and kissed the top of her head. It wasn't long until she was fast asleep in her uncles side. He gently moved to lay her next to a sleeping Tyler.

He got up and all the adults made their way into the kitchen, so they could talk without waking the kids. "I don't think I've ever seen her this upset." Mary Margaret sighed.

August pulled his mother into a hug. Then he made his way over to his Aunt. "You okay?"

"I dunno bug. What about you?" She asked and he shrugged.

XXX

8 months later…

Henry passed away a month ago. They all took it pretty hard. They were all so close. Tyler and Sierra left town a few days ago, they'll be back come August for school and work.

They decided that summer camp might help take Emma's mind off things- she's always loved camp. It was sort of like summer camp for teens, grades 7-12, Tyler normally went with her, but she insisted that she'd be fine.

Emma stepped out of the camp bus and the first thing she noticed was one of the new counselor's gawking at her. He looked about 20. Normally she would make a snarky comment, but she really wasn't in the mood. She rolled her eyes and went with the three other girls that were in the same cabin as her- to the cabin.

They pretty much had free time while the camp newbies were in orientation. She had been just hanging out with the other girls, she's known them since the summer before 7th grade- except Angie, they've known each other since elementary- Emma's always had the same roomies.

They were all sitting in the room, just talking about what they've missed. "What about you Emma?" One of the other girls- Reign- asked.

Emma smiled. "Nothing much." She answered sending a sideways glance at Angie. "It's been a mighty fine school year." She sighed. "I'm going for a walk." She left the cabin.

"What was that about?" The last girl- Maria- asked. "She seems different."

Angie sighed. "She is." She answered. "You know her uncle- the one she used to talk about a lot?" They both nodded. "He died. About a month ago. She's taking it hard."

Emma left the room and went to the lake and just sat on the ground and watched the water. The new counselor came out of nowhere and sat next to her. "Hey." He said startling her, she nearly jumped out of her skin. "Sorry." He apologized, sheepishly.

Emma smiled weakly. "It's fine." She sighed. "You're new." She stated. "How old are you?"

"18." He answered. "How could you tell that I was new?"

She smiled at him. "It's my 5th year here, I notice new people." She told him. "What's your name?"

"Neal Cassidy. You?"

She smiled. "Emma Blanchard." She lied back and sighed. "You know those friends that you love to death, but they're as nosy as Pinocchio?" She asked, though August would kill her if he heard her say that.

He laughed. "Yeah. I've been associated with a few in my time." He lied next to her. "So, I'm assuming that's why you left your cabin."

She nodded. "No doubt when I get back, they'll all be treating me like some fragile piece of glass. Ang probably told them why I'm being so testy." She looked over at him and realized she didn't know this guy, at all. "Oh my God. We literally met 5 minutes ago and I'm pouring my heart out to you."

"Not really." He shrugged. "You've only told me that your testy."

She sighed. "It's a hell of a lot more than I've given my family."

"Maybe you just need to vent. Everyone needs a release."

Emma raised an eyebrow. "What are you?" She questioned. "A shrink?" He only shrugged.

"Just saying. Everyone has problems. It's better to talk about it, rather than pushing it down. If you keep it up- one day- you might just explode. You know, with emotions. It happened to me. That's why I'm here. This?" He gestured all around him to the camp. "A few months ago, I had a meltdown, destroyed public property. It earned me community service." He sighed. "Who's pouring whose heart out now?" He chuckled.

"What town are you living in? I know all sorts of neighboring towns come out to lincoln for camp."

He smiled. "Believe it or not, I just moved to Eastport."

She laughed. "No way. That's where I live! I've lived there my whole life."

"Really?" He asked. "Small world."

They laid there in a comfortable silence, after a while Emma decided to talk. "My uncle died." She whispered. "He's the closest thing I've ever had to a dad." She sighed. "I don't know how to do it without him." She sat up. "That's enough emotion for me. Goodbye Neal." She stood up and began to walk away, then she turned back around. "Oh, and Neal?"

"Hmm?"

She smirked. "No more gawking at your campers."

He laughed. "I'll do my best." He said. "But, you know, it can be really hard. There are some really beautiful campers here. You know, blonde hair, green eyes, glasses." He joked.

"Hmm..." She pretended to be deep in thought. "Couldn't imagine who'd you be thinking about." She walked away with a smirk on her face.

XXX

1 month later…

Emma and Neal have been secretly seeing each other for a few weeks. "Hey Neal." Emma said coming up behind her boyfriend.

He grinned. "I have something for you." He pulled a Swan keychain out of his pocket.

Emma smiled. "Neal. I told you not to buy me anything."

"I didn't buy you anything." He promised. "I said, I got you something. Two very different terms." Emma raised an eyebrow at him, somewhat disapprovingly. "Come on Ems. It's not like they'll miss it."

She sighed. "You can't go robbing convenience stores in Eastport."

"I won't. But until then..." He trailed off, leaning down to kiss her, she returned it gladly, while grabbing the keychain out of his hand, she wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. She smiled into the kiss. "What?" He asked.

She broke the kiss and shrugged her shoulders. "Nothing. I'm just… happy. That's all."

"So am I." He answered, mirroring her smile. Her stroked some hair out of her face. "You're amazing Em." She smiled and did nothing other than kiss him again.

XXX

1 month later…

"I'm gonna miss you." Neal told her.

She smiled, but couldn't help but chuckle. "Neal, you're going to see me tomorrow. We both live in Eastport, remember."

"Yes. Where your brother lives." He replied grimly. "Need I remind you, you're a minor. I'm 2 years older than you, and I'm sure your family won't be pleased to find that out."

She rolled her eyes. "Okay, first; a year and a half, not two years. And second; it's my life. I'll tell them tonight. Hopefully my mom wont overreact. She's a hopeless romantic."

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