Chapter 14: This Emotional Release

"This is low, even for you," Emma said knowing Neal was right behind her. "What were you thinking: that you could just give up your entire life in New York and expect to come back and we could all be one big happy family because I'll tell you one thing right now, it's not gonna happen."

Neal stood to Emma's right. "No it wasn't like that?"

"Really because that's how it seems."

"Yeah from your perspective but it's not the truth."

"Then what is it Neal because I am really having a hard time here."

"Look, Tamara was at my apartment when I got back from taking you to the airport. We talked and things didn't go exactly as planned. She was the one who called things off."

"Then if you love her fight for her."

"I can't do that, she won't believe me."

Emma stopped walking, "Why not?" Neal looked at Emma unable to find the right words. It wasn't hard for her to figure out, "Oh," Emma said in a whisper.

"What 'oh'?"

"She doesn't think that…she doesn't think that you and me… that we…"

Neal placed his hands in his pockets. "That's exactly what she thinks."

"Then fight for her Neal, convince her that there's nothing going on."

"I've tried, she won't hear it."

"Then try harder."

"There's no point."

"Why?"

"Because she's right."

Emma froze. Those were the last words she wanted to hear right now.

"Then convince her she's wrong," Emma said to him.

"I can't do that because then I'd be living a lie. I've all ready done enough of that all ready." Neal took a step forward. "Look I didn't come here with plans or notions that we could be an instant family. I know it doesn't work that way but Tamara was right, she always was second best."

"Don't say that. You love her. You were with her for four years and were going to marry her."

"And what kind of life would that have been when what I really wanted was you? Tamara found something and she was right, I do still love you. I always have."

"Neal, don't," Emma said looking up at him. "We can't do this. It's just not possible."

"Why not because you're still angry with me?"

"That's exactly why," she said raising her voice, "And I mean come on Neal you're on the rebound so you're looking for something to fill that void. I won't be that other girl you run to."

"You've never been the other girl. You've always been the girl. And I know you've always felt it too. Why did you become a bail bonds person, really?"

"This isn't about me."

"Just answer the question."

"I was good at finding people," said Emma.

"It's more than that. You know what I think, I think you became a bail bonds person not just to find people, to find your parents but to find me too."

"You are dead wrong."

"Really, then why can't you say that without looking at me? I know you spent two years in Tallahassee."

"What did my parents tell you that? Did you overhear our conversation?"

"No, I was there Emma."

Emma took a deep breath and began walking again. Neal followed, "You're unbelievable! You were close to me this whole time and you did nothing about it!"

"I was conflicted Emma, about a lot of things. I didn't care who you were, I wanted to be with you but I was too much of a coward like my father and August told me not to reach out so I didn't. I thought you could find your way without me."

"I didn't want to find my way without you don't you get that! I wanted to be with you more than anything. I hate you for what you did. I want to forgive you but I don't know if I can and what makes this even worse is that I…"

"That you what?"

"Nothing."

Neal stopped and took hold of Emma's arm gently to stop her and get her to face him.

"You still love me don't you?" he said with that smile that Emma could never really resist though she was trying so hard to right now. "You love me like I love you."

"I can't."

Neal smiled again. "But you do. And why else would we have kept our keepsakes if they didn't mean anything after all these years. You with the car and keychain, me with the dream catcher. They've always meant more than what we allowed ourselves."

"You may be right but I'm still angry at you."

"I know, hopefully some day you won't be," he said taking a step closer to her.

"Neal-," Emma said, getting only that far.

Neal had gently placed his lips on top of Emma's. It was soft at first but then Emma found herself going much harder than she had planned, forcing herself on him. It was a longing that for nearly a decade she had tried to ignore but with his lip on top of hers she no longer could. It felt just as it had so many years ago. She could feel a fire rush deep within her.

Emma could sense Neal feeling the same thing and he was. Neal had longed for this moment for eleven years. Though the only woman he had been with was Tamara, nothing felt as perfect as this moment now. It went beyond perfection, beyond feeling right. For the first time since meeting Emma he felt like he was truly home again. Emma was his home, always had been and kissing her the way he was felt like he had returned.

Neal knew from this moment on he was never going anywhere again. Fate or destiny could pull them apart all it wanted but he was never abandoning her. Let it try.

The two pulled back for some air. Neal smiled at Emma, taking her face in his hands. This time Emma smiled back.

It amazed her at how less than five minutes ago she could go from being angry and betrayed and unforgiving to the complete opposite. That was life though. No emotions stayed the same from one minute to a next. They were always changing and in some cases, like now, for the better.

Emma leaned into Neal, still smiling, her lips coming closer to his.

"I love you," she said to him.

"I love you too," said Neal, "sorry it took so long?"

"What's eleven years compared to twenty eight," she said referencing the length of time it had taken her parents to be together again.

"Or close to three hundred years without love."

Emma couldn't help but let out a little laugh. That was one of the hard things to remember about Neal.

She placed a hand on his chest, "Stop talking," she said her face getting closer to his.

As their lips lingered on each other Emma began to get a set of flashes. In them she saw Neal as an infant in Gold's arms, she saw him as a young boy, she saw the fear on his face when Gold had become the Dark One. There were a few other memories that were blurred but things really began to focus when she saw from Neal's perspective the day they met in the stolen car, she saw some of their memories together but the one that really stood out was when they had made love to each other that day in the motel room. It had been the best night of her life and unbeknownst to her at the time it had been the day Henry had been conceived.

As they kissed Neal too began getting a set of flashes. He saw the moment Emma was born, her being held in her mother's arms as they looked on with sadness, he saw the fight that had occurred as Prince Charming got his daughter to safety and placed her in the wardrobe to send her some place safe. He saw bits and pieces of Emma's life growing up in the system but things really began to become clear when he saw from her side of things the day they first met and several other memories. The one that stood out the most was the day they made love. That moment was so beautiful because though they had been honest about being with other people before none had meant as much as the relationship and the love they made with each other.

Though they felt like they could go on like this for hours the two of them pulled back. A look of awe in both their eyes.

"Did you see that?" Neal asked.

"What, what did you see?" Emma asked really wanting to know.

"You," he replied, "Your memories."

"I saw you too," Emma admitted.

Neal again took Emma's face in his hands. "I may hate my father for a lot of things but there is one thing I have to thank him for."

"What's that?"

"If it hadn't been for me or the curse we never would have met."

"Do you believe in true love," Emma asked him.

"I don't know, do you?"

Emma smiled, "Yeah I think I do. That was true love's kiss. I know that now." Neal smiled, "But we still have a lot to work through just so you know. Whatever this was or is-,"

"We'll figure it out. Together. I'm done losing you Emma, I love you."

"I love you too Neal."

They smiled at each other once more and continued to kiss well into the night.

~END~