Author's note: So sorry for the long wait again!

Chapter 16

A strange feeling courses through him as he treks through the dense forest, pushing branches out of his face. A strange, yet achingly familiar feeling.

Oh, right. It's called guilt. The same thing he'd felt for many years after abandoning Emma, and now he's feeling it again. But why is he guilty? He's done nothing wrong (this time).

Maybe it has to do with the fact that this search isn't exactly selfless. He could deny it all he wants, but he knows it's fairly obvious why he was out here. It's not just because of Henry.

Which is why guilt is coursing through him. He's happily engaged, and yet he'd basically abandoned his fiancée in a castle full of strangers to search for his ex.

It's a good thing Emma hates him, or else he'd be screwed.

Suddenly, he is hoisted into the air in a swinging net, and he realizes too late that he's stepped into someone's elaborately made trap.

A dark haired, warrior type woman approaches from behind a line of trees. "State your name and business." The woman says coldly, her eyes appraising him. Her sword is pointed directly under his chin, the sharp point mere inches from his neck.

"Uh…Neal." He stammers nervously. "Who're you?"

She doesn't answer. "And what are you doing here, Neal?"

"Trying to find someone."

"Who?"

"My, um…" He stammers. How exactly should he refer to Emma? Suddenly, anger flares. Who is this woman and why is she so defensive? From what he remembers, people could come and go in the forest as they pleased. "I don't have to tell you." He protests.

"Oh, but you do." The woman answers. "You see, I'm not the one with a sword pointed at their throat. We don't take kindly to trespassers here."

"Well, I'm not exactly a trespasser. I'm from here. Not here here, but this land here."

"You're lying." Her eyes flicker coolly over him. "Your clothes. You're from the same land Emma and Snow were from."

Emma. Suddenly, he is all ears. "Emma? Emma Swan? You know her?"

The woman nods. "How do you know her?"

"She's the woman I'm trying to find." Neal responds.

"Why?"

What's with all the questions? "What does that matter to you?"

"Because Emma's my friend."

"Does that mean she's with you?" He asks eagerly.

"I don't have to answer." The woman snaps.

"Please. I-I just want to know she's safe."

Something in the woman's eyes shifts, and she appears to soften. "You care about her. Why?"

"Because she's the mother of my son."

"You're Henry's dad." The woman realizes.

"How do you know about Henry?"

"Emma and Snow were here months before. They told us all about their life in their land."

So you must know that I have to get back to him. He's stuck, alone, back in our land, and I need Emma's help to get back to our son." Neal practically begs.

As if deciding that he was trustworthy, she reaches up and releasing him from the net. Neal hits the ground with a sigh of relief.

She offers her hand and helps him up. "Mulan. Come. Follow me. Emma is with me and another friend, Aurora. She's safe."

They start to walk along the path towards Mulan's makeshift camp. "I must apologize for earlier." Mulan says. "After the curse, this land was ripped apart. Things are much different from when you were last here. There are many dangers, far more than you can conceive. And recently, the few that were left were wiped out by a deadly force. Not many people remain. So you must see why I am so cautious."

He nods. "Yeah, I get it."

"Emma never mentioned you when she was here." Mulan says as they walk.

"Yeah, well, that's because I broke her heart. I waited too long to tell her I loved her."

"Your love wasn't able to overcome your fear of rejection." She observes.

"Yeah. Not a fate I'd wish on anyone." He says morosely. "I'm afraid it's too late now."

Mulan places a hand on his shoulder in a surprisingly nice gesture. "Don't worry. When it comes to those we love, it's never too late."

~Scattered~

"Emma?" Mulan says as they approach the camp. "There's someone here for you."

Neal hadn't been expecting anything that resembled her being happy to see him. But what he hadn't been expecting was for Emma to immediately launch herself and handfuls of sticks and rocks straight at him with a guttural growl. Clearly, her anger towards him still holds very strong.

"You!" Emma snarls. "What are you doing here?"

Neal is slightly taken aback as he takes in his ex's haggard appearance. "Whoa. What happened to you?"

"None of your damn business!" She spits angrily, making a move towards him again, but Mulan motions to Aurora and they quickly hold her back.

"Calm down." Aurora says soothingly. "Your ribs. They aren't quite healed yet."

Emma ignores them as she glares at Neal. "What are you doing here?" She repeats.

"I-I've come to find you."

"What about your fiancée?" She sneers. Neal opens his mouth to ask how she knew, but Emma is too quick. "Think you could hide that from me? God, you're sick. You think I cared? I can't believe you just left her behind like you did me."

"She said she was ok with…"

She snorts. "Yeah, I'm sure that's what she said." Her voice has become high as she attempts to imitate Tamara. And rather badly too. "Oh, Neal. It's perfectly fine, you go off and search for your ex. I'll just stay behind in a castle full of loonies."

Neal runs a hand through his hair. "Alright, look. I get that you're angry with me. But you need to come back with me."

"What?" She gasps. "You're insane. You honestly think I'm gonna come anywhere with you after everything that happened?!"

"But what about Henry? Our son?"

Emma just gapes at him. I don't even know how you found out about him…" She turns away, and Neal can see the beginnings of tears glistening in her eyes. A stab of guilt jolts through him as he realizes that he caused that hurt.

"Emma…" He takes a step towards her, reaching out to place a comforting hand on her shoulder maybe, but she shudders away.

"Don't touch me!" Emma hisses. "You have some nerve, talking to me about our son. Because of you, I had to do the one thing I vowed I'd never do: give him up. Do you know how that felt? Do you? Giving up the one person who could've made it so I was never alone again?"

He winces at her harsh tone. "Em, if I'd known, I never would've left…"

"Don't call me that!" She screams. "You have no right! You ruined everything! Fucking up my life, fine. But what you didn't know is that you screwed up your son's life as well. For all I know, he's out there, alone, hurt, and suffering just like the way I did for so many years."

"But he's not! Henry's happy! He's safe and he has a family who loves him. You. You're his family. And your parents. You all love him."

"Stop!" Emma shrieks. "Enough! I'm sick of you and your lies!"

"I'm not lying." Neal insists, helplessness blooming inside. This is worse than he'd expected. "I'm telling the truth. Your family is back at the castle and they need your help."

"My family, huh?" She says coldly. "What the hell do you know about family?"

"Not much." He admits. "But I do know about yours. Your parents are back there. Snow White and Prince Charming. They need your help."

She stares at him, eyes wide. "You're insane. You belong in a mental hospital."

"No, look. Emma, I know it sounds crazy, but it's true. You're the daughter of Snow White. Come on. You believed it once."

"Once? What the hell?"

"Henry told me he brought you to Storybrooke…" Neal shakes his head. "It's a long story. The point is, you need to come back with me. Everyone needs your help. You're the savior."

Emma laughs slowly and bitterly for a long time. "Savior? You're out of your fucking mind, Neal. I'm no savior."

"Yes, you are. Emma, everything I'm saying is true. You've just forgotten everything!"

"I haven't forgotten anything." Emma spits. "I certainly haven't forgotten the fact that you left me to rot in jail with nothing but a pathetic car with a nearly empty tank of gas. That you broke all your promises! That you left me unable to trust anyone ever again."

"I know. And I'm sorry. But you can't let your anger for me ruin everyone else's lives. They need you." He reiterates.

"No one needs me, and I need no one." She whispers. For a second, Neal can see through her façade, catching a glimpse of the open teenager she once was, but as fast as it came it was gone. "You can take your lies and go, because I will never trust you, or anyone else, ever again."

And then she is gone, stalking into the forest.

"Emma…" Neal attempts to go after her, but he is held back by Aurora and Mulan.

"Stop. You need to leave."

"But…" Neal protests.

"No." Aurora shakes her head. "That's enough. She obviously doesn't want to see you." She, along with Mulan, lead him away from the camp.

"But she needs to come back to help our son!"

"I know." Aurora replies. "I believe you. Emma is suffering from some sort of amnesia, and she's quite stubborn."

"Couldn't agree more." He says wearily. "But I can't just leave here. She needs to come back!" He repeats desperately.

"Aurora and I will do our best to get her back to the castle. But in the meantime, you need to leave."

Neal nods, resigned. She's right, after all. Mulan and Aurora are the only ones that Emma trusts. "You'll really get her to come back?"

"In time. You have my word." Mulan says seriously.