Chapter 7

Roughly 1 Year Later…

Neal was released 2 months early on a lenient paroling system. He needs to wear an ankle monitor and return in 2 months to return it.

The courts were lenient because August testified at his parole hearing and explained that his girlfriend was in a coma and that the doctors are unsure of how much longer she has left.

He has to come back to Phoenix and meet with him parole officer once a month. He agreed gladly. He just knew he had to get back to Emma and he wanted to meet his son.

XXX

David was at the station, he was still sheriff. Whenever he's not at work, he's at the hospital seeing Emma with Mary Margaret.

Mary Margaret had just left the hospital to take Henry to Daycare and head to work- she transferred to a high school teacher for easier hours, she goes into and leaves work earlier than she did as an elementary teacher. If gives her more time to be with Emma.

They take Henry to see her all the time. He turned 1 last month, it killed them that Emma couldn't celebrate with them.

XXX

Neal and August pulled up at the hospital. "It's almost 3, so her parents will be here soon." August told him and Neal nodded. "And Neal." He started. "This is my fault. I shouldn't have pushed her to believe." He sighed. "I'm just… I'm sorry."

"You did what you had to do man. I understand." Neal opened the car door. "I need to go." He said and ran inside the hospital and to the front desk. "Emma Swan. Where's her room."

"Upstairs." The nurse said. "Coma ward. It's in the west wing, fourth floor." She looked up to ask who he was, but he was already gone.

He ran through all the rooms in the ward until he found her and when he saw her, tears sprung to his eyes. "Emma." He breathed out. He walked over to her bedside ever so slowly. When he got there, he couldn't help it, he started sobbing. He'd never seen her so… quiet, so lifeless.

He sat next to her, he wanted to say something before he woke her up. "Emma. I love you. I love you so much. If I can't get you to wake up. I will break." Unbeknownst to him, Mary Margaret walked in and began listening. "I will literally break Emma. I broke your heart. I will be okay with it if you never talked to me again, as long as you're okay. I need you to wake up."

He started sobbing again, then he felt a hand on his back, he quickly wiped his tears away and saw Mary Margaret standing there with tears in her eyes. "She'll be okay. I don't know how. Bit I have hope. She'll get through this Neal."

He nodded. "I've never seen her so quiet. She's always had something to say. It used to drive me mad. Now all I want right now is for her to say something." He said and turned back to Emma- just as David was walking in with Henry- and he leaned down, there lips were inches apart. "I love you." He whispered and kissed her.

Aft first nothing happened, but after a second or two, a bright light beamed through all of town. Emma shot up and gasped for air. She looked at Neal and smiled. "I love you too." She whispered, then pulled Neal into a longer more passionate kiss. After it broke the thought came to her. "Henry?" She asked, oblivious to everyone staring at her. She looked over at Mary Margaret and David, they were staring at her with such adoration. "Uh…"

"I think you did it Ems. I think you broke the curse." He told her.

She smiled and looked at her parents, then her eyes drifted to her son in her father's arms. "He's so big. I, my baby. He's so… he's gotten so big."

"Emma." Her mother finally breathed out. "You did it. I knew you would." Her eyes went from her son, to her mother, to her father, then back to her son. "How'd you do it? What… I'm confused. Sweetie, how'd you break the curse." Her mother asked her and David handed Henry to Emma.

Emma was so fascinated by how big her son had gotten, that she didn't hear her mother's question. "I'm sorry, what?" Emma asked, looking back up to her parents.

"They want to know how you did it Ems." Neal said.

Emma grimaced. "Well, I sorta kinda, um, ate an apple turnover that Regina gave me."

"Intentionally." Neal added. "She sent me a letter telling me what she planned on doing."

Mary Margaret and David both blinked repeatedly, processing it. Then David spoke up. "Emma." He walked over to her and embraced her, Mary Margaret following suit.

XXX

It's been a 5 weeks since the curse was broken, it also happens to be Emma's 18th birthday today.

Emma was sleeping in Henry's room in the rocking chair- she refused to leave his side for too long, she missed out on almost a whole year of her son's life, she wasn't about to miss anymore of it- when David, Mary Margaret, and Neal- he'd been staying in the guest room of their house- came in and woke her up by singing to her.

"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Emma! Happy birthday to you!" The three of them sung to her. Emma stared at them, not sure if she should be annoyed or touched. "Happy birthday Em." Her mother said soothingly. "We love you."

Emma smiled. "I love you too. All of you." She stood up and walked over to her where her son was and picked him up. "Hey kid."

"Mama!" He yelled happily and hugged her, then rested his head on her shoulder. "Down." He insisted after a few minutes of being in his mother's arms. She obliged and watched as he toddled over to his father. "Dada! Up!" Neal picked him up and Henry repeated the actions that he did with his mother.

"He's so perfect." Emma whispered to her mother.

Mary Margaret hugged her daughter. "He is. So are you." She told Emma and kissed her cheek. "I'm gonna go made breakfast." She said and went downstairs to the kitchen.

David came over and kissed Emma's temple. "Your mother's right."

XXX

5 years later…

"Hey kid. How was school?" Emma asked her 6 year old son. "Did you have a good day?"

He nodded. "Yes mommy. Did you have fun at work with gramps?"

Emma smiled at her son as they walked hand-in-hand. "I did kid. You ready to spend the day with your grandparents?"

"Yeah! Grams and Gramps say that I'm staying with them for a few hours because you and Daddy are gonna be busy." He said. "What are you and Daddy gonna be doing?"

Emma smiled. "Adult things kid." She couldn't help but laugh at Henry's curious eyes. " Daddy and I have to meet with someone for our wedding this weekend."

"Oh… okay mommy. Where's Daddy?"

"He's with your grandparents. They're waiting for us."

Henry looked up at his mother like she was crazy. "Mommy! Daddy says gramps doesn't like him! One time I heard gramps say that he'd kill daddy! We have to hurry Mommy!" Emma was gonna kill them.

XXX

Emma walked inside the house and pointed to her father and fiance. "You two. Kitchen. Now."

They obliged and Emma followed them to the kitchen. She started off by hitting them both in the back of the head. "Ow..." They both said in unison whilst rubbing their heads.

"You." Emma pointed at Neal. "Don't tell our son that his grandfather hates his father." She turned to her father. "And you. Don't threaten Neal with Henry in the house!" She sighed. "I told Henry that you guys were here and Henry was convinced that you were gonna kill Neal." She groaned. "When exactly did this threat even take place?"

"When Neal asked for your hand in marriage." David answered honestly. "I simply told him what would happen if you were hurt again."

Emma couldn't stay mad at them. She actually loved it that her father wanted to protect her. "Could you guys at least try to get along?" She asked them, David just simply glared at Neal. "For me?" She asked with her infamous puppy dog eyes. "And Henry?"

She watched as Neal broke. "Fine." He relented. He turned to David and held his hand out.

David glared at Neal's hand. She had to go with her last resort with getting what she wants from her father. Her puppy dog eyes intensified and she hugged him and looked into his eyes. "Please Daddy?"

"Fine." David grumbled and shook Neal's hand.

Emma smiled brightly. "Great!" She said triumphantly and turned to her fiance. "Now let's go tell our son goodbye or we're gonna be late for the meeting with the wedding planner."

XXX

"We are gathered here today to unite Emma Nolan and Neal Cassidy in holy matrimony." Blah blah blah, we all know the drill. Let's skip to the good part. "Do you- Emma Nolan- take Neal Cassidy to be your lawfully wedded husband?" Archie asked.

Emma smiled brightly. "I do."

"Do you- Neal Cassidy- take Emma Nolan to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

Neal nodded. "I do."

Archie smiled brightly. "Well, then I pronounce you husband and wife! You may kiss the bride." He said cheerfully.

Neal happily obliged. "I love you Emma Nolan-Cassidy."

"And I, you Neal Cassidy."

The End...

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