Chapter 2
I know it has been a while, but after episode 2x10, I didn't really feel like writing. After a few weeks now, in which this story got quite some followers, I decided that I should continue this story. So here it is! I hope you enjoy it I really appreciate follows, favouring and reviews! Reviews will keep me writing, I promise!
He was so stupid. Why had he waited so long to go and look for her? Why? He shouldn't have listened to that stupid puppet in the first place. He ruined everything. Pinocchio is not getting away with this.
Neal walked to a bench and sat down. He felt miserable. While running his hand trough his hair, he replayed the recent event. How was he ever going to make up for the pain he caused.. And the pain he was causing her right now.
Tired form the trip and the meeting with Emma, he leaned back and took a look around. And what he then saw hit him with surprise and.. Hope. A very familiar car was parked just a few metres away from him. At least it looked a whole lot like the car he and Emma used to live in.
He sighs. 'She kept it.' And he starts walking towards the car, just to make really sure that is the right car. He can not believe this. She did hold on to him..
Reaching the car, he can't help himself. He looks inside to see if there's anything left from him. He loved this car, he loved the woman that used to live with him in this car and he had loved the life he led back then. They were stealing and they had no real home, but he had never been so happy. He knew Emma had loved this car as well, and apparently still did.
But, wait a sec. If her car is parked here.. He turned around and then faced the front door of an apartment building. Let's see if he could find her here. This morning when Emma walked away from him, he hadn't been done talking and with this new found information. Maybe he could give it another shot. Actually he was going to keep trying. He was not letting her go again.
A few minutes later he was standing for the right apartment. He could hear Emma and another woman talking. The way the other woman was talking, he was guessing that it was her mother. She sounded really concerned. At least that must have been a good thing. Not only bad things had come from his departure 11 years ago. He was happy for her. He knew how much it meant to her, finally having parents in her life. Even if they were two fairytale characters.
He was about to knock when he heard his own name.
'Mary Margaret.. I just can't have him around. For me it's like this: Where Neal goes, there go a lot of painful memories. And they still hurt.'
He was so screwed, but Emma sounded strong. He guessed that most woman would be having an emotional moment with lost of crying and stuff like that. But not for Emma. Maybe that was also his fault. Maybe she was crying, but not on the outside.
'You're absolutely sure you don't want to mention Henry to Neal and Neal to Henry? I think they both deserve to know.'
Huh? He was missing something. Who's Henry? Jealous boyfriend? Ex-boyfriend? Jealous ex-boyfriend?
'Hey. May I ask what you're doing here, besides eavesdropping?'
Who was this man? The jealous ex-boyfriend?
'Charming?' Emma's mother asked .
'Wait, I'll get it.' And Emma stood up.
The door opened and the moment she saw him standing there he could see that she was putting her walls up. He didn't know what to say.
'Hey Emma.' The man, Charming, said while entering the apartment and walking over to Emma's mother. When he reached her, he kissed her. So not Emma's boyfriend, he guessed. More like.. her father.
'You.' Emma said angrily. 'Why won't you just leave? Just go. Get out of this apartment, get out of Storybrook and get out of my life.' And Emma was about to slam the door to his face, but he was able to set his foot inside before the door closed.
'Is that all you have to say? You never wondered why I set you up with the cops? You really think is just left you? You really think that I didn't love you? Em, we had our future planned.' He was begging her to listen. 'Please Em.'
The person that then opened the door, was not Emma. 'You set my daughter up with the cops?' Charming sounded calm, but Neal could guess that he was furious.
'Yeah, you know.. I-,I had to. Otherwise Emma never would ha-' He wasn't able to finish his sentence, because Charming's fist hit his nose. 'Ouch..' Neal immediately reached for his nose. He could feel the blood streaming down his face. 'Maybe I deserved that. You're by the way the second person to hit me today.' He could see Emma smile, but no one moved. 'A little help please?'
'Charming, since you were the one causing his nose to bleed, I guess you just let him in. I'll take care of it.' The brunette walked over to her husband. 'And I am not saying he didn't deserve it.' She kissed her husband on the cheek.
'Mary Margaret, do you have to?' Emma was clearly not happy with this. 'Henry will be home in a few.' She even sounded a bit scared. What was she scared for?
'Emma, Henry would love to know about him. At some point you have to tell him the truth anyway.' Mary Margaret came to him and took him to the couch. 'Sit.' She grabbed a towel and held it up to him. 'Here. Now keep pressure and your nose.' She grabbed his hand and put a finger on both sides of his nose. 'You really have to keep pressure and let your head slightly lean back.'
'Thank you.' The brunette smiled.
'Come on. Let's give them some privacy.' Mary Margaret grabbed her husband by the hand and went upstairs.
'I don't want to talk to him.' She shouted after them, but they didn't answer.
'I'm going to be her for quite a while Em. You can't ignore me forever.'
'You want me to give it a shot?' She sat down at the table. Angry.
'No, I don't want that. I want you to listen. There's more to the story than you think. And I am just curious, if you want me out of your life so badly, why do you still have the bug and the keychain?'
'I needed a car. I didn't have much when I came out of jail.'
'And the keychain, that is now around your neck? You didn't need that.' While talking to her, he took the time to really look at her. She was still as you beautiful as she had been 11 years ago, but she was more closed off than ever. You know, she could be a princess. She had the beauty. He loved her eyes. They noticed everything and they gave her some kind of wisdom.
'Neal, stop checking me out.'
'You're just beautiful.' He smiled at her. 'Why did you keep the keychain Emma?'
'None of your business. Is your nose still bleeding? I would like you to leave.'
'Oh come on Em! You can't wear that keychain around your neck and then tell me you just tell me you want me to leave. Look at me Em. Look at me, please.'
She turned her head and faced him. 'Yes, I can say that Neal, because you have no idea of the pain you caused me. No idea.' She stood up and walked over to the couch. 'Give me the towel.'
He gave her the towel. His nose had stopped bleeding. 'Give me a chance Em.'
She walked over to the kitchen. 'Go Neal. Henry will be home in a few and I still prefer not having to explain this situation.'
'Okay, if you don't believe me, go to that stupid man, August. Ask me if he knows Neal Cassidy. You'll be surprised.'
'What does August have to do with all of this?'
'You don't want to hear it from me go to him.'
Emma walked to door and opened it. I guess he really had to go. 'Emma, I never wanted to leave you. I loved and still love you.'
'Here.' Emma gave him something. He looked at it. The keychain.
'No…' It felt like his heart stopped beating.
'Go.' And as soon as he stepped outside the apartment she closed the door.