Chapter 12: Families are Complicated

By 7 A.M. Emma and Henry walked into the sheriff station.

Henry had woken his mom up at six, anxious to get the day started. He didn't even have to eat breakfast, only grabbing half a pop tart on the way out. Emma barely had time to get coffee.

All night Emma had been dreading this moment, the moment when her son would finally meet the man who got her pregnant eleven years ago. As the two walked toward the offices and two jail cells, Emma placed her hands on Henrys' shoulders.

"You up," Emma asked Neal who lay on the bed.

"Been up for an hour," he said looking up at the ceiling. "Not much to do in here. You know you really should put a shelf with some books in here or something."

"I'll get right on that," Emma said sarcastically. "Come on Neal, get up. I brought someone for you to meet."

Neal sat up now suddenly curious. Who would want to meet him? He supposed it could be anyone. It was a small town so many people were likely to know about the stranger that came into town.

Turning to his left he saw Emma standing with a boy, her hands resting on his shoulders, guarding him, protecting him. Neal stood up. Though he knew about Henry as of yesterday it was a completely different experience to see him in person.

"Is this-," Neal said not being able to get the words out.

"This is Henry, my…our son."

Neal smiled at Henry. "Hey Henry."

"Hi," Henry replied. Henry moved his head to the side studying him. "I always thought I got my looks from Emma's side of the family. I think I may have gotten some from you too."

"You did kid," said Emma moving to stand on Henry's right side, leaving one hand on his shoulder. "Trust me."

Neal looked at Emma. "You never thought to mention that to him?"

"I never had a reason to considering things."

Neal placed his hands in his pockets. "Fair enough I guess."

"Not really," said Henry. "She told me you were dead."

This time Neal's eyes bulged a bit wide, "You told him what!" he said at the same time Emma said, "Henry!"

"Why would you tell him something like that?"

"It seemed like a good idea at the time."

"Telling our son that I was dead seemed like a good idea?"

"I was still angry at you. Not to mention the kid all ready has a couple of thieves on my side of the family. Telling him there was another in it didn't seem like the best option."

"Family," Neal said with hope in his voice.

Emma threw him a look, "Don't start."

"I'm standing right here you know," Henry said.

He could sense the tension but he was also amused by it. This wasn't a side of Emma he had really seen before.

"I'm sorry your mom lied to you buddy," said Neal.

Henry just shrugged.

"Why are you apologizing to him," Emma asked Neal. "It's my fault for lying." Emma looked at her son. "I really am sorry Henry."

"It's okay. I don't like that you lied but you were just trying to protect me."

"Where did he get the brains," Neal asked. "I know that wasn't from me."

"His grandparents," Emma said, "That and his endless optimism."

"Guess it skipped a generation didn't it," Neal said.

Emma threw him a look but before she could comment on it Henry spoke up.

"You won't do that again will you?"

"Never Henry," said Emma. "I'll probably screw up every now and then since I'm still getting a hang on this whole mom thing but I won't lie to you again, ever."

Neal looked at Henry and then at Emma. "What do you mean you're still getting used to the whole mom thing?"

Henry looked down feeling guilty even though the words had come from Emma and not him.

"Emma," said Neal as he thought back to yesterday. "You said that you wished things could've been different, that Henry wouldn't have had to grow up without us. And now this; what's going on, what do you mean?"

Emma took a deep breath. "We have a lot to talk about."

"Can you let him out then," Henry asked. "Neal hasn't done anything wrong, not really. He's only in here because you're mad at him. And I am getting kind of hungry."

Emma gave Henry a look and then turned to Neal. "It's too much to ask for you to leave Storybrooke isn't it?"

"Not gonna happen," said Neal. "Not as long as we still have things to talk about and I'd like to get to know my son."

"I'd like to get to know you too," said Henry.

Damn out-numbered Emma thought. "Fine," Emma said reaching in her pocket for her keys, "But just so we're clear I still hate you right now."

Neal smiled, "No you don't. Even when you're mad you can't hate me, not really. You don't have a hatred bone in your body. Tough exterior now maybe but never hate."

"And whose fault was that I wonder?" Emma said as she unlocked the cell door.

"You were bound to develop it anyways," said Neal as he exited the cell. "You can't be a hero without it. All great superheroes have that and all great superheroes have a heart too." Neal looked at Henry. "So where are we going for breakfast?"

Henry smiled at Neal and Emma just rolled her eyes a bit. She hated that Neal was right about her. Even though it had been ten years and she had changed, he still knew the core of whom she was and that bugged her because other than her family no one had really pegged her that well. There had been one exception but as immediate as that exception came to her mind it was also gone.

Not saying a word Emma followed as Henry led the two of them to Granny's. Emma was glad she left the bug at the apartment. Smiling to herself she let Henry take shotgun and placed Neal in the back seat. She wasn't done with him yet and he knew it as he just smiled as he got in.