Chapter 2! I promise more Emma/Hook interaction soon. But there might be a few obstacles along the way. Otherwise, there wouldn't really be a story. If you like or have some feedback, don't forget to review!

Disclaimer: I do not own OUAT.

Chapter 2: Conversation

After having dropped Henry off at Regina's, she decided to walk over to the station instead of taking the bug. She figured the walk would do her some good; get some fresh air and clear her head, the only true cure for a hangover (that, and greasy food paired with some aspirin). As she listened to the leaves rustling in the branches overhead and felt the warmth of the sun on her face she realized she had found her true home, as strange a place as it was to be. Even Regina, who had pretty much been her enemy since the day she had gotten here, had become a reasonable and civilized addition to Emma's life.

While enjoying feeling the fresh breeze on her face, she almost missed Neal walking straight towards her. Seeing him made her feel weirdly guilty, and she couldn't place her finger on where that guilt was coming from. But he was Henry's father, and they had such history together that she could hardly start ignoring him just because she felt some unwanted guilt. She stopped walking and smiled at him, and he immediately smiled back. She couldn't help but remember how she felt when he used to give her that smile before. She felt wistful for a time that was much simpler. A time in which she knew what she wanted and who she wanted to get it with. Emma was not a person equipped to deal with confusion.

"No yellow bug today, Swan? I thought you didn't like taking walks." Neal grinned an infectious smile.

"No regular bagel in your hand today, I see. Decided to give up on carbs?" It was easier for Emma to be snarky with him than it was to say what she was really feeling. Only because she didn't really know how she was feeling.

"I ate at Granny's. They've got some killer pancakers there. I saw you enjoyed the party last night, I take it a few aspirin were downed by you this morning." Neal said, still smiling. Emma wished he would just stop because it would make shoving aside her feelings that much easier.

"What can I say? The wine was good,' Emma was considering whether or not she should ask the question that had been on her mind since this morning, even though she already thought she knew the answer. 'I saw you talking to Hook yesterday. What was that all about?" She guessed that the innocent face she was trying to put on right now wasn't working particularly well.

Neal looked at her curiously. "I think you already know the answer to that Emma. Look, I know what happened between you two in Neverland. And it's okay. I know why it happened. He's not a bad guy. He can actually be pretty fair and honest when he's needed or when there's something in it for him. In this case, it was you. You were what was in it for him."

Emma looked at him with a shocked expression. That wasn't exactly the answer she'd been bargaining for.

"Don't look so shocked, Emma! It's not like you didn't know this would happen. Meeting Henry, seeing you again, I just…I get why you 'fancy' Hook or whatever, but that doesn't mean that I'm not going to try to show you what we could be like as a family."

"Neal, I..,' Emma began, but she didn't really know what to say. This was definitely not a conversation she was prepared to have yet. Not at all. 'You do realize you were just recentely engaged, right? I know that Tamara wasn't what you thought she was and that she betrayed you and what not, but that doesn't mean it didn't hurt. I don't think either of us are ready to even begin to try and see what could happen between us. I certainly know I'm not." Emma hadn't mean for it to come out so bluntly, but at least she had gotten her point across. She could see the pained look in Neal's eyes but she knew it was for the best.

"You know what Hook said to me yesterday? He said he would step aside. For Henry. So that you and I can at least try to attempt to be a real family. If you're not ready, that's fine. We'll try when you are,' Neal could clearly see the confusion on Emma's face as he explained what had been said. 'Look, I realize that this was a weird place to have this particular conversation, but it needed to happen eventually."

"Okay." She'd have liked to have sounded more intelligent, but right now, that was all she could muster.

"Have a good day at work Emma. Is it okay if I come pick up Henry for lunch tomorrow? I wanted to take him to Granny's if that's good with you."

"Yes, Yeah… sure. You can pick him up at the loft."

"Well, okay then. See you around, Emma."

As Neal brushed past her, she expected to feel some sort of energy as his arm brushed against hers. There was a slight tingle, perhaps, but nothing like it used to be. Nothing like when Hook had put his hand around her neck as he had kissed her back and their separate breaths had become one as their lips connected. There had been an energy there that she couldn't deny. It had almost been like… magic. When she had walked away and told him that it was a one time thing she could feel his eyes burning holes in the back of skull. She hadn't been able to ignore the burning sensation that seemed to be etched onto her skin where his fingers had grazed her, or forget how his blue eyes had seemed even brighter than she thought possible when she pulled him closer.

She shook her head. She needed to get her priorities straight. Henry, spending time with her parents, and work. That was what she needed to focus on. Not a man with a puppy dog cute face or a ridiculously handsome pirate who was constantly clad in leather.

As she walked towards the rest of the station, there was one question that she couldn't keep off her mind. Had Hook really said that he would step aside?