Chapter 21: All I've Ever Needed

Emma stood outside of Neal's motel room pacing for a minute. She finally took a deep breath and turned to knock on the door. She could hear from the other side as the door was being unlocked. The door opened slightly and then widened.

"Emma," Neal said.

Emma placed her hands in her back pockets.

"Hi," she said simply.

Neal smiled, "Come in."

Emma did so and Neal closed the door behind her. She looked at it. There was no going back now.

Emma looked around the place and walked over to the lamp that was on the green dresser. There hung over it was the yellow dream catcher.

Hesitantly Emma ran her fingers over it.

"After all these years you still kept it," Emma said to him.

"How could I not? I'm sure it's the same reason why you kept the car."

Emma looked at him.

Neal shrugged like he was guilty. "I saw it earlier today when I tried to look for you."

Emma bit her lip for a second and then looked at Neal. She took a second deep breath.

"Those things you've said recently," Emma told him, "about you coming to find me, about you not going anywhere, you wanting me, you meant them right? I know you did but I have to hear it from you."

"I meant every word."

"And you're sure because this isn't just about me anymore. I have to think about what's best for Henry and always put him first and I can't just have you coming in and out whenever it suits you. It's not good for him. Being a parent isn't easy and there are days when the kid will drive you up a wall but once you decide to stay you can't decide to just leave when it gets too hard, you can't go back."

Neal took a step toward Emma. "There's nothing in my life to go back to. I got by on some low finance job in New York but it was never my dream. I've waited eleven years for you."

"And Henry," asked Emma. "He and I are kind of a package deal."

"I want to be a father to my son. I want the same chance you got with him."

"Were there other women?"

"A few but they never had any faces to them, they didn't mean anything. Were there other men in your life?"

"A few but they didn't mean anything either."

"Why are you stalling," Neal asked. "What is it you want Emma?"

Emma sighed, "That's what I've been trying to figure out for the past two days. What if you disappear again?"

Neal took another step closer. "I won't."

"Yeah but-,"

"Emma, listen to me carefully. I love you, always have. I messed up I know that but I'm not going anywhere not unless it's with you and with Henry."

"You're asking a lot Neal. I'm not that seventeen year old girl anymore. I can't just go wherever I feel like it. My life is here, in Storybrooke with my kid, with my mom and dad. This is home now."

"I'm not asking you to leave. I'm telling you I want to stay."

"You're sure because I don't even know how long that will be. A lot of people still look to me, still see me as the savior. A lot of people are getting home sick now that they have their memories back so there might come a day when I have to choose between this world and the Enchanted Forest and-,"

"And wherever you and Henry are that's where I want to be. I'm going to ask you again Emma, what is it you want?"

Emma looked up at Neal. For the first time since his arrival her eyes gleamed with hope. She took one step closer to him finally closing the gap so that they were mere inches apart. Emma smiled at him and he smiled in return. She reached up, their lips meeting softly.

It was gentle at first. Not like their first kiss had been a couple days ago at the sheriff's station. More subtle, cautious. Everything about the simplicity of it felt right. Emma knew in this moment it was exactly where she needed to be.

This time it was Neal who pulled back. For a second Emma looked hurt until she saw a smile form across his lips.

"You're sure," he asked.

Emma took a step closer erasing the distance that Neal had just created. She hesitantly placed her hands on his chest and looked up at him and smiled.

"You were right the other day, that thing that's between us, I do still feel it. Today I was reminded that where there's true love, it doesn't matter how much time has passed. What's eleven years when you have eternal love?"

Neal smiled at Emma impressed by her wisdom of words.

"I love you," he whispered.

Emma smiled, "I love you too."

The gap between their lips closed in again, their lips wrapping around one another.

~END~