Chapter 6
Emma got off the bus and walked over to her mother's car, she was pulled into a group hug by her mother and brother. "I missed you guys too." She whispered lying her head on her mom's shoulder.
August released his hold on Emma, then Mary Margaret did. "Did you have a good time?" Her brother asked.
"Anything exciting happen this year?" Her mother asked. "Come on, let's get home and you can tell us all about it."
The three drove home in a comfortable silence. They all walked inside and were greeted by Sierra and Tyler. "Aunt Si! Ty!" She ran into their arms. "I thought you weren't going to be back until after I got back from camp?" She asked breaking the hug.
"We got back a today peaches. Came straight here. We missed you guys so much." She kissed Emma's forehead and pulled her into another hug. "So tell us, how was camp?" She asked as they all sat down in the living room.
Emma scratched behind her ear. "Well, actually… there's something I want to tell you all."
"You're gonna tell them now?" Tyler questioned, he'd known about Neal because he and Emma had been texting each other all throughout summer.
Suddenly everyone but the teenagers were confused, Emma shot Tyler a glare. He smiled apologetically and mouthed to her. Sorry.
She groaned. "I uh… met someone… at camp." She started. "A… guy." He glanced at her brother's wide eyes. "He's really great."
"Wait for it." Tyler said.
Emma glared at him. "Ty. Shush." He laughed and Emma rolled her eyes. "And he's just so sweet. We uh… we've been seeing each other. It started a few weeks after camp started. So we've been dating for like uh… over 2 months."
"Why didn't you tell us when we called sweetie?" Her mother asked.
Tyler rolled his eyes. "You're leaving something out." He said. "Just tell them Ems."
"Shut up. I'm getting there!" She sighed and looked at the confused faces of all the adults. She also noticed the small smiles on both her mother and aunt. "He's uh… 18." She grimaced and their smiles disappeared. "But, I mean… he just turned 18… in March." She immediately defended. "He's not even that much older."
"Emma." Her mother sighed. "18? Come on hun." Mary Margaret started. She knew she had to say it, she also knew Emma was not gonna like hearing. She's just a kid though, he's too old for her. "I want you to… stop seeing him Emma."
She was in a bit of shock. "Excuse me?" Mary Margaret stood there firmly. "I told you because I wanted your support." She started. "I wasn't asking for your permission." She spun around and stormed up the stairs.
"Emma Ruth-" she was cut off by the slamming of a door.
She groaned. "You did the right thing mom." August told her. "If she'd've told me his name… needless to say, it wouldn't be pretty." He said with a smirk.
XXX
15 Months Later… (E; 18-years old. A; 25-years old. MM; 46-years old)
Emma had been seeing Neal behind her family's back for over a year now, but she's 18 now, so she's gonna tell them… at dinner… with Neal there. "Uh, guys?" Her mother and brother both looked over at her. "I… forgot to tell you, I invited someone over for dinner."
Mary Margaret smiled. "Okay. I'll set out an extra setting." After setting the extra place out, she looked over at Emma. "Who'd you invite?" She asked curiously.
"It's a surprise." She told them. It sure will be. Just then the doorbell rang. "I'll get it! That's my… guest."
She rushed over to the door and opened it. "Hey Em." He kissed her softly on the cheek. "Nervous?" He asked. She nodded. "It'll be okay. Don't worry." They just stood there for a minute. "Are you gonna… invite me in?"
"Oh! Yeah. Come in." She laced their hands together, then they walked into the dining room, where her mother and brother were waiting.
The first thing August noticed was this guy holding hands with his little sister. "Who are you?"
"Guys… meet Neal, my boyfriend." Emma introduced.
Mary Margaret smiled softly. "How long have you guys been seeing each other?"
Emma chuckled nervously. "That's the thing… about… a year and a half."
Her mother dropped her fork, doing the math in her head. "A year in a half?" Emma slowly nodded. "How old are you?" She asked Neal.
He scratched behind his ear nervously. "Uh… twenty."
Needless to say, it was an awkward and quiet dinner that was made up of many, death glares. August towards Neal and Mary Margaret towards Emma.
"I think it's time I take my leave."
Emma smiled at him. "I'll walk you outside." They walked outside and sighed. "Well… they're pissed."
He stroked her arm. "It'll be okay. I promise." He told her. She wrapped her arms around her neck and pulled him into a deep, passionate kiss. "I love you." He whispered into the kiss.
"I love you too." She said breaking the kiss.
XXX
2 months later…
Emma and Neal were sitting in his apartment after having a very romantic evening. They were laying in bed, Emma was simply wearing one of his shirts and a pair of his drawstring flannel pajama pants.
"Emma." He whispered. He had to tell her. It's been eating at him for at least a year. "I have to tell you something."
She turned to face him, worriedly. "What is it?"
He sighed. "I haven't been totally honest with you… about me… about who I am."
"I don't understand Neal? What do you mean?" She had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
He closed his eyes. "It's a long story. I'd better start with my father."
"I ran away from my father. He had changed… for the worse. He still loved me, but the things he would do…" He trailed off. "I begged him to come with me, so we could start over. We made a deal, but he broke it at the last minute, he broke our deal, our promise. He was a coward." She placed a comforting hand on his arm.
"When I got to a place where I knew he wouldn't track me, I had no one, nowhere to go. So I became a thief." He decided to skip the neverland piece of his life. "I mostly only stole what I needed to survive. It's when I met you that I got my act together."
Emma smiled sweetly at him. "You've been through so much." She pulled him into a hug.
He broke the hug. "One more thing. My name… it isn't Neal."
"What is it?"
He smiled weakly. "Baelfire."
Emma's smiled faltered, then faded. Baelfire. It couldn't be. From the storybook? It can't… he can't be the dark one's son, could he? She started piecing everything together. She got up and walked over to her bag to pull her storybook out. Even to this day, she took it everywhere with her.
"Em?"
She ignored him and flipped to the story of Baelfire leaving his father. "If you find a way, I'll do it." Baelfire smiled at his Papa. "Good." He held his hand out and they shook on it. They made a deal… he made a deal with his father.
She flipped to the portal. Baelfire through the magic bean to the ground and a portal opened up, Rumpelstiltskin looked terrified. "You have to go through." The dark one shook his head. "I don't think I can!" Baelfire grabbed his hand. "It's the only way! It'll be okay! I promise." He started to fall through, the the dark one stopped him. "Papa! We have to go through! What are you doing?! Papa! It won't stay open long! Let's go!" Rumpelstiltskin shook his head. "I can't!" "Papa please!" he begged. He begged him to come with. "It's the only way we can be together! Papa, please!" He continued to beg, but there was no use. "I can't! I can't!" Baelfire couldn't believe it. "You coward! You promised! Don't break our deal!" He broke their deal, their promise. He's a coward.
She picked up the book and threw it in front of Neal. "He's your father isn't he?" She asked, he looked at the page, he was confused, so confused. "Answer me!"
"Yes!" He shouted. "Yes, okay!" He sighed. "What the hell is going on Emma?"
She laughed darkly. "What's going on? I'm the bloody savior Neal! Your damn father casted a curse that I'm meant to break! In 10 bloody years! He's in this land Neal. Our land!" Neal paled. "I need to go." She shoved her book back in her bag.
"Emma, wait."
He grabbed her arm. "No! I… I need space." She whispered, her voice was so small, so fragile. A few tears slipped from her eyes. He let go. "You'll still be here, right? I… just need a little space. Tell me you won't leave."
"Never… do you need a ride?"
She shook her head. "I'll walk." She was walking home, just sobbing, she needed to get herself under control.
She walked inside, no one was downstairs. She slid down the door and began sobbing, she buried her face into her knees in attempt to muffle the sobs.
It didn't take long for her mom to come downstairs. She didn't ask questions, she just pulled Emma into a hug. "Shh. It's all gonna be okay love." Mary Margaret soothed.
Emma got home about an hour ago now, she was sitting on the couch next to her mother, drinking hot cocoa. "He's Baelfire." She looked over at her wide-eyed mother. "I'm in love with the son of the dark one."
XXX
After taking a few days to process everything, she went to go see Neal. He had given her a key a few months ago, she let herself into his apartment, she was shocked, she blinked a few times to see if she was imagining it. Nope. It's real. He's gone. His apartments empty, save for the coffee table- which contained a not and… his car keys?
Emma,
I'm sorry. I can't face him again, I can't face my father again. I'm so sorry Em. Take the bug. I know you love it. It's yours. I love you Emma, I always will. Goodbye.
~N.C
She left the note, then took the keys and the bug.
XXX
"Hey babe. How'd it go?" Mary Margaret asked when Emma came inside. Emma ignored her. She went upstairs and just locked herself in her room. Her mother- obviously- followed her up and knocked on the door. No answer. "Emma?" No answer. Fine. Mary Margaret got some bobby pins out of the bathroom and picked her daughter's lock. She saw her daughter lying on her bed, face down. "Emma."
She looked over, confused. "How did you get in here?" She asked, her voice was hoarse from crying.
"I used to be a bandit Em. I know how to pick a lock." She sighed. "What happened?"
Emma shrugged. "He left. He's gone. It appears cowardice runs in his family."
XXX
"She barely comes out of her room August. I'm getting seriously worried. It's been over a month." Surprisingly, enough Emma came down the stairs. "Emma! Do you want something to eat? Or some-"
She grabbed her the keys to the bug. "I'll be back."
"Em. Wait." August said. She stopped and looked at him. He pulled her into a hug. If it wasn't to heartbreaking, Mary Margaret would've taken a picture, but instead, she joined the hug.
She stood there for a few minutes, then backed out of the hug. "I might be a couple hours." She mumbled, just loud enough to be heard. "Bye. Love you guys." Just like that, she was gone.
"She's been like this since that asshole left?" He asked.
Mary Margaret sighed, tears in her eyes. "That's the first time she's told me she loves me since." She said, voice cracking. August pulled his mother into a hug, much like he did his little sister. "She's so hurt Aug. Tyler hasn't even managed to cheer her up."
XXX
Emma pulled up to her aunt's house and knocked on the door. Sierra opened the door and enveloped her in a hug. "Come in, come in." She ushered Emma inside. "Do you want some tea? Or cocoa?"
Emma shook her head. "Can I borrow Ty for a while?"
She sighed. "Of course Peaches. For how long."
"Not totally sure." She looked at her watch. "No later than 6." She promised. "Might be earlier."
Sierra nodded. "Ty! Emma's here!"
Seconds later, Tyler emerged from up the stairs. "Em!" He pulled her into a hug. "What's up?"
"Can you come with me?" He nodded immediately. She smiled weakly. "Bye aunt Si. Love you." She walked out.
"Bye mom. I love you."
Sierra hugged him. "I love you too baby." She broke the hug. "Look after her?"
Tyler smiled. "Always." He left and got in the bug. Emma started driving. "What's going on with you Em, and don't say it's because Neal." She ignored him and continued driving. "Please Emma."
She pulled over and looked at Tyler's concerned eyes. "I… I think I might…" She took a deep breath. "I think I might be pregnant." She said all in one breath.
"What?" His eyes were wide as saucers.
Emma just nodded. "I'm late and I've been puking everyday for the past 2 weeks. I'm just lucky I have my own bathroom. If not, mom would probably know by now." She sighed and looked at him, tears brimming in her eyes. "I just… I don't want to do this alone." She whispered.
He pulled her into a hug. "You don't have to."
"We have to go to a pharmacy a town over, I won't be seen buying a bunch of pregnancy tests in town."
He nodded understandingly. "I know. Let's do this." Emma nodded and went back to driving.
XXX
2 and a half hours later, they found themselves in Ellsworth Maine, they went into the first pharmacy they spotted. She ended up buying like 8 pregnancy tests- what? Don't judge!- she's heard they're not 100% accurate. Just to be safe.
She bought them, then went straight to the pharmacy bathroom, giving Tyler order to give her ten minutes.
She wanted to break down, right there in the bathroom. All 8 pregnancy test had two blue lines on them, each and every one.
She walked out of the pharmacy and collapsed into her best friends arms. "How am I gonna tell mom and Auggie?"
XXX
"I could come with you Em. You don't have to tell them alone."
Emma smiled at her best friend. "I'll be fine. I'll tell them today and your mom tonight. It'll be fine." He was about to protest, but she held her hand up. "I'll be back in a few hours. Get out of my car." He sighed, but obliged. "I'll be fine." She assured him, but didn't believe her own words. How is it gonna be fine? They're gonna be so disappointed in me!
XXX
She walked inside and took a deep breath. She didn't even see her mom and brother sitting on the couch staring at her.
"Emma? Are you okay?" Her mother asked. She nearly jumped out of her skin, her hand flew to her heart in a panic. "I'm sorry honey! I didn't mean to scare you!"
She sighed. "It's fine." She took another deep breath. "I have to tell you something." She was nervous really nervous. "It's really important." She said, biting her nails.
Sensing her worry and level on nervousness, Mary Margaret embraced her daughter, Emma couldn't control it anymore, she started sobbing into her mother's shirt. "Shh, it's gonna be okay."
"Please. Please don't be mad at me." She whimpered, breaking the hug. She glanced from her mother to her brother, then took another deep breath. "I'm… pregnant."
A/N: Don't worry, Neal will be back! I promise!