Chapter 14: Emma and Her Boys

The diner was beginning to fill up with a few people as Emma casually walked to the table where Neal and Henry were waiting.

"Everything okay," Neal asked as Emma took a seat.

"Everything's fine," Emma replied.

"They don't want me here do they," Neal asked.

"I don't want you here," said Emma, "but it doesn't matter. You are so everyone's just going to have to deal with that."

"I want him here," said Henry ignoring Emma's hostility toward Neal.

Emma couldn't help but roll her eyes and Neal just smiled at her expression.

Ruby walked over with a pad of paper and a pen. "Hey guys," she said with a smile, "What can I get you?"

The trio placed their orders and Ruby went off to get them squared away.

"So what have you two been talking about?" Emma asked.

"Neal told me about how you two met," said Henry, "So I know you didn't lie to me about that."

Emma sighed. She never was going to live her big lie down was she?

"Anything else," asked Emma. "No embarrassing stories right?"

"He told me how you two went out for drinks that first night after you met and how you made him try the hot chocolate with cinnamon.*"

At that moment Ruby had brought over the drinks. A glass orange juice for Neal and two cups of hot chocolate sprinkled with cinnamon.

"Thanks Ruby," Emma said with a smile.

Henry looked at Emma, "Neal said that the only way you would go out with him again was if he tried it."

"He's right. Your dad only likes his chocolate plain."

"Gross," said Henry.

Neal looked at Henry and smiled and then turned to Emma with the same smile. "After all these years you still drink it that way," he said to her.

Emma smiled at him, "No other way."

Henry took a sip of his as well.

"And I see our kid picked up on that little habit as well."

Emma shrugged as if it was no big deal, "It's a family quirk. My mom drinks it the same way as well."

"What's that been like," Neal asked. "Finding your parents I mean?"

Emma took a second sip, "It's been an adjustment. It's not every day you find out your parents are the people you grew up reading as a kid much less believe in any of it."

"I did," said Henry.

Emma smiled at Henry and Neal looked at his boy, curious.

"It's kind of a long story," said Emma as she noticed the look on Neal's face. It seemed everything was now. There was so much catching up to do.

"Well I'm not going anywhere," said Neal.

Emma looked at him, studying him, "You're not are you?"

"Do you really think I will?"

"I keep expecting you to. You did leave once before," Emma said bringing the cup to her lips.

"For you," said Neal as Ruby came over with the breakfast plates.

"Still doesn't change the fact that you left."

"But I'm here now," said Neal, "Shouldn't that be okay?"

"I'm not sure," Emma replied. "That's actually what worries me."

Neal wanted to ask Emma more about what she meant but instead Emma turned to Henry.

"Hey kid, why don't you tell Neal about how you knew the fairytale stuff was real?"

Henry smiled at his mom grateful that she let him tell that story.

The three of them continued with their breakfast and small conversation. Henry was adamant on filling Neal in about all things related to the Enchanted Forest even telling him that Emma was born there.

He talked about the evil queen's curse but he never mentioned Regina exactly nor the fact that he was adopted and for that Emma was more than grateful. It was a conversation that she had wanted to have with Neal herself.

Despite her own conflict with having Neal here, Emma couldn't help but admit the simple truth to herself that she was enjoying this moment. She had always dreamed of having this kind of moment. It was one she dreamt of the night she found out she was pregnant with Henry.

And now, like the dream of being with her own parents, this was a dream that had become a reality. Could one really have it all? Could Emma really have both the family she was born into and the family that she had created?

Emma shook her head. No. She was doing it again. She was going into the what-if scenarios again. She had to be realistic. And the reality was that while Neal was here now there was no guaranteeing he would remain.

She would keep an eye on him like she told the others she would. She would not allow him to hurt Henry or herself. She couldn't afford that pain again.

Author's Note: *-In reference to the Emma/Neal one-shot fic I wrote, "A Little Quirk of Mine"