Chapter 13: Sacrifices

[1 year later]

Neal looked back to make sure that David Henry was secure in pen as he made his way to answer the door. A look of distain crossed his face as he saw who it was.

"What do you want," Neal asked.

"What no 'good to see you'," August asked.

"You've been AWOL for nearly two years, what are you doing here August?"

"We need to talk."

Neal reluctantly moved out of the way so August could enter. He wasn't about to close the door and talk to August outside leaving Henry alone.

"Okay what do you want to talk about?"

August looked around the apartment and the play pen took hold of his vision.

"That," August said pointing to the pen but more specifically to the child in it. He looked at Neal. "He's Emma's kid isn't he?"

"Like you didn't know?"

"I did know."

"What was I supposed to do," Neal asked, "Just abandon her all together? Leave my son to be raised by someone else."

"That's usually the idea behind the foster system yeah."

"And looked how well it worked out for Emma! I wasn't going to put my son through that, not when he still had some family around."

"I told you to stay away from her."

"I have been."

"Really then why is it you're conveniently living here in Tallahassee when Emma lives only ten blocks away?" Neal remained silent. "You being part of her life like this, it's not good for her, it's not good for you and it sure as hell is not good for the kid."

"I'm not part of her life. I keep my distance. I just want to make sure she's okay."

"And I told you she would be."

"Yeah two years ago and where have you been? You promised me you'd look out for her but you haven't have you?"

"I got sidetracked."

"Sure you did. Did you even give her the money?" August looked at Neal. "What, you didn't think I'd find out? I've seen how Emma's been living. She's gotten things together but not in the way she could have had you done what I asked. For her guardian angel you continue to do a crap job of that."

"Stay away from her Neal."

"I can't do that."

"God, you are just as stubborn as she is, aren't you?"

"I promise I won't interfere with her life but I won't stop looking after her."

"And what will happen if you get caught and she sees you or worse, she sees the kid?"

"He has a name you know, it's Henry. David Henry and she won't catch me."

"I'm telling you now you need to back off. Emma's a natural when it comes to tracking, it's in her blood, and listen to me when I tell you she will find you. Right now just by being here you're making it easy for her."

"You really just expect me to walk away?"

"You have before."

"Yeah to give her the space she needed. The space you wanted from me."

"It's not enough."

"Have you even bothered to consider why I'm sticking around, why I follow Emma?"

August backed away and raised his hands up, "I don't know, stalker tendencies maybe?"

Neal walked over to the pen and picked up his son. "It's because of Henry. He may not know his mother but I do. It's my way of keeping the two of them close."

"We all have to make sacrifices Neal. The kid is no exception."

"And what do I tell him when he's old enough and Emma still hasn't broken the curse?"

"That's up to you. Really think about this Neal. If you keep this up and Henry is old enough what will you tell him when he asks why you're watching Emma? The kid needs something stable and you following Emma wherever she goes is not good for him. Even if you tell him the truth, that you're watching his mother he's gonna ask why you can't go over and say hi. Don't make things any more complicated than they all ready are.

You know I'm right. It's time to stop being selfish Neal and time to really be a father to your son. Emma gave him up so he can have his best chance. What you're doing, this isn't it."

Neal looked down at Henry. He wasn't a big fan of August. If it wasn't for him his life wouldn't have turned out the way it did. He would've been happy with Emma. The three of them could've been a family, the two of them raising their boy together. He wanted Emma to break the curse so badly but by the looks of things she still didn't even know about it. How could she complete her task when she didn't even know where her life was headed? No one did sure but Emma was different.

The only thing Neal could do was have hope that because she had a destiny that Emma would end up there regardless of how she arrived or how long it too.

"Just give me one more night all right," Neal asked quietly of August. "We'll leave tomorrow."

"You sure, you're not going to show up at Emma's next stop are you?"

"Not this time." Neal looked at August. "This really sucks you know?"

August nodded, "I know. You'll see Emma again though and she'll be reunited with you and her son."

"She's going to miss so much. She all ready has. You know he said his first word about a month ago, it was 'mama'. Go figure hu?"