Thanks to the awesome RainMirror for betaing this chapter for me!
She got a call from the hospital. The dwarves had found someone unconscious in the forest. They didn't want to divulge more details. They just asked her to go to the hospital ASAP.
It had been a slow day which was unusual given that Storybrooke seemed to be visited by villains with magical powers one after another. She got really sick of finding out that all these villains had somehow been related to Henry. She would kill to have a normal thug who got arrested just for breaking and entering or more mundane crimes like graffiti.
When she arrived at the hospital, Dr. Whale gave the report that after thorough checkup the patient was not a victim of assault or any violence. He was just simply too exhausted and also suffered a bit from malnutrition and dehydration.
"Do you have any other information about the patient?" she asked.
Whale looked everywhere else but at her. "I think it's best for you to see for yourself."
That's not suspicious at all. She opened the door and her heart went to her throat. "Neal…"
He floated in the white bright light. He had never felt so peaceful before. He didn't really remember who he was anymore but in this place, it really didn't matter.
Suddenly a very beautiful woman, no, a goddess, his mind corrected, materialized in front of him. She was in an Egyptian costume (how he knew it was Egyptian, he didn't know) with an eight-pointed star emblazoned at the front of her costume.
"Who are you?"
"My child, my name is not important as you won't remember it when you wake up."
"Am I dreaming? I thought I was dead."
"Yes and yes. I've observed you since you made a deal with your father which he couldn't fulfill. Such a brave and pure soul, so much misfortune. So willing to sacrifice yourself for love which is a quality I value most. I'll resurrect you and give you the chances you were denied from being cut short before your time."
"I'm sorry if I don't sound grateful. I somehow remember that dead is dead."
She smiled. "Not when you're the goddess of love and resurrection, among other things. Now drink this Water of Life."
"I'm happy here. I don't really need to be resurrected."
She put down the cup by teleporting it out of her hand. He felt the warmth of her hands when she stroked both sides of his face maternally. "So selfless and naïve." He was a bit offended by the latter part but he let it slide as he thought it was not wise to argue with the goddess of love, resurrection, etc. "Don't you want a second chance? You died before your time. You deserve more happiness on earth before coming back here."
He picked the cup up. "Does it have a price? All magic comes with a price."
"No, it's a freebie. However, I do give you a condition for your own good. You will return to life with all your personalities, skills, and other things that make you unique intact. But you will be wiped out of all your past memories. Believe me, with so much you've gone through, you're better off without them."
"Do I have a choice?"
"Well, either that or spend an eternity here without knowing what you could've been if you were alive."
"I'll take it." He drank the cup in one gulp.
He felt drowsier and his body got heavier. He lay at the nearby bench which was not there before. Before he passed out, he heard the goddess say, "Be happy, Baelfire. Live and don't dwell on the past. And don't come back here too soon."
Note:
-I know the description of afterlife and the goddess is a bit wonky but that's not really the focus of this story.
-I meant it to be one shot but I think it may work better as two or three-shots. Please tell me what you think.