Chapter 8: Sheriff's Station

David stood at Emma's doorway for a few moments and Mary Margaret stood close behind him, both of them watching their daughter work.

"I don't have to arrest you for chocking the life out of that pen do I?" David asked breaking the silence.

Emma looked up at him unsure as to what it was he was talking about. David motioned with his head to the pen.

"And here I thought the pen was mightier than the sword. Any harder and you'll be having to redo those files."

Emma looked down. She hadn't realized the amount of pressure that her hand was exerting until she dropped the pen and stretched her fingers.

"You okay?" David asked knowing that was the wrong question to ask. "Things got heated between you and that guy outside of Granny's this morning."

Emma took a breath. "You saw that hu?"

"It wasn't that hard to miss."

Mary Margaret came into the office. "Emma who was he?"

Emma stood up and gathered the file and stood up. "Just someone from my past," she said walking straight ahead and placing the file in the cabinet.

Emma continued to lean against the cabinet. She hated the way her head was spinning. It felt like a jumbled mess the way the dream catcher had been before she made the images clear.

"So that's why he managed to come to Storybrooke," said David, "because of his connection to you."

"It must be a deep connection," said Mary Margaret. "You told me you've been with other men before so why him?"

Emma closed her eyes and winced a little.

She wasn't sure if she could do this. She wasn't sure if she was ready. Though she had confided in her parents just last night, now that Neal was back it only complicated things. It was one thing to tell her parents about her life in sparse amounts but another when all of it had to be done at once or on a daily basis.

For the first time in a while Emma felt like her life was truly starting to fall apart, as if her memories and seeing Neal again were bringing back that seventeen, eighteen year old kid who fell hard in love and wound up pregnant and alone in jail.

Some people could let go of their past, move on, but for others the past was as real as something that happened just yesterday or several hours ago and it was harder to let go.

"He's more than just some guy," Emma said not being able to look at her parents. "He's Henry's father."

"I'm what?"

Emma and her parents turned toward the main entrance where Neal was standing.

"You have got to be kidding," said Emma.

The green metal door slammed, the keys turning in the lock.

"You're locking me up," said Neal, "What the hell for?"

"Because I'm sheriff and I can," Emma said disdainfully.

"Okay Emma, I know we have a lot to talk about but can we go back to the part where you said that I was a father? How did that happen, when did it happen?"

"My kid," Emma said, "Is none of your concern. And we have nothing to talk about."

"Emma," said David, "We can't just keep him locked up this way."

"You can't," Emma replied turning to look at him, "I can. He's staying in there."

"For how long," Mary Margaret asked.

Emma looked at Neal and contemplated the question. "I don't know. Eleven months sound good to you Neal?"

"That's not fair," he answered. "I didn't have a choice."

"Sure you did. You could have met me like we said but instead you chose to call the cops. I got eleven months because of you."

"You were the one who suggested on helping me in the first place!"

"You are so not blaming this on me!"

"No, Emma," Neal said lowering his head and his voice, "I didn't mean-I'm sorry. If you knew the truth though maybe you wouldn't be so quick to judge."

"Emma," said Mary Margaret, "Maybe you should hear him out."

"You don't know him the way I do," Emma answered still looking at Neal.

"And you don't know me either," Neal replied.

"You're right," Emma said crossing her arms, "I thought I did but I don't. The man I loved wouldn't have turned his back on me."

"Emma I'm begging, would you just listen to me, please?"

"Why should I?"

"Because it's not what you think. Look at me Emma: you know I'm telling you the truth."

Emma did look at him. She wanted to believe he was telling the truth but lately Emma was beginning to question her own ability to tell when people were lying. She had been wrong about Regina, at least she had been certain of it, what if she were wrong about Neal too? Could she really bring herself to trust in her gift the way she used to if it was only failing her?

Emma ignored the doubts in her mind. "I'm listening."

Neal glanced at David and Mary Margaret. Emma knew he wanted to speak to her alone but she wasn't ready for that.

"You said you know who they are," said Emma, "They're staying. I'm just going to tell them everything later anyways unless you just want to do us all a favor and stay quiet about it."

Neal placed his hands in his pockets, "It's fine. I'm glad you have them Emma. After all this time you finally did it."

"Did what?"

"Found them, broke the curse."