A/N: Hello there! I am not sure where the inspiration to finish this story came after what, 3/4 years? But here it is...This is the last chapter and there will be a final epilogue after it! Swanfire is still such an awesome ship to write for and I hope you enjoy this conclusion to this story!
Two weeks had passed quickly for Neal.
After he left his father's that day he devoted all of his attention to Henry when he wasn't in school. When he was in school, Neal explored the town that, more and more each day, was looking like it'd become his home.
Every day he spent with his son he fell more in love with him and it broke his heart to think about leaving him.
Everyone he met was friendly and welcoming. He met Archie in the small park walking Pongo and later discovered from Henry that he was Jiminy Cricket back in the Enchanted Forest. Archie expressed his joy in knowing Henry's father was in town and Neal could see how much the therapist cared about Henry and not just as his former patient.
One night Neal ventured into the Rabbit Hole and there he met Leroy and a few of the other dwarves. Leroy, he had discovered, was Grumpy and was fiercely loyal to Snow. His distrust of him, as the Dark One's son, was obvious but Happy and Sneezy had fallen into easy conversation with him.
And despite being from that world, he had spent more time in this one, and found a silent amusement in talking to these classic fairytale characters.
Rumplestiltskin, for obvious reasons, he would always see as a real person, who the story books got wrong. All these other people, however, he had only known them as stories. Yet there they sat, next to him at a bar, drunk and arguing about who won the last game of billiards.
He stopped in at Granny's diner every so often and sat with Ruby and knew that, if he decided to stay, at least he had found one friend.
He even ran into Regina again one day at the diner. She glared at him suspiciously but he approached her with a friendly smile, determined to prove he was nothing like his father.
He discovered that Regina was less concerned about his relation to Rumplestiltskin and more about what his presence meant to Henry. And more importantly how his presence would affect her relationship with Henry.
He assured her that he wasn't there to steal Henry away, from Emma or from her, and that he just wanted to be a part of the boy's life in any way he could.
He didn't know much about the woman only what Emma and Henry had told him about the curse, and there definitely was a certain coldness about her but there was no denying her love and concern for Henry.
This woman had taken care of his son when he couldn't and he made sure she knew how grateful he was for that.
His genuine honesty and gratitude seemed to surprise her and possibly even made her a little more suspicious of him.
He knew she wouldn't trust him, being both the Dark One's son and Henry's long lost father but he at least hoped she wouldn't do anything about it.
When he ventured into the library one day and discovered Belle was the sole librarian he thought it'd be awkward. He thought he'd get yet another talk about forgiving his father.
However, Belle only looked surprised to see him at first, and then delighted, greeting him by his preferred name and welcoming him to the Storybrooke library, with not a single mention of his father.
She gave him a small tour and he observed the way she smiled the whole way through. She was obviously very passionate about books and the library was the perfect place for her. She was a sweet, delightful woman and he could certainly understand why his father had such affection for her. And Belle's heart was so pure he could almost see why she loved him too. It was just in her nature.
He liked to believe he had that nature but time had hardened him somewhat and there were some things he could not easily forgive.
She issued him a library card almost instantly despite his insistence that he didn't know if he was staying.
"Well, just for now then." She said with a knowing twinkle in her eye.
Despite her connections to his father, Belle was yet someone else who he saw the potential for a friendship with especially as he spent more and more time in the library.
Belle had an extensive collection and books were one thing that were a comfort to him in the lonely days. When he first came to this world he spent a lot of time in libraries. They were warm, they were free, and he could sit for hours and just read.
Often times he spent more time talking to Belle than reading and never, to his immense relief, was a single mention about his father made.
Despite being romantically involved with the Dark One, Belle retained her independence and warm heart and Neal admired her greatly for that.
His time spent with Henry consisted mostly of dinner at Granny's, occasionally with Emma, much to both his and Henry's joy. He was aware of the complicated situation and that he and Emma were still rocky but he couldn't help but feel a little flood of warmth as they all sat together and laughed over dinner, a glimpse of how it all should have been if he hadn't left.
Henry also took him to some of his favorite places in Storybrooke, including his "castle". Henry expressed that he wished he could show him his original castle but that it had been destroyed by a storm. Regina had built this new one for him and the rest of the kids in Storybrooke but it wasn't the same.
Henry even took him over to the mines, the back entrance to which had now been guarded off with police tape and Henry explained, with a little too much glee, how he and Archie got trapped inside.
"You went inside there?" Neal asked, his eyes widening and he was a little surprised at how his stomach clenched at the thought of his son in danger. Henry nodded vigorously, the smile still on his lips.
"Yeah my Mom, Regina, wanted to keep me away so I knew she had to be hiding something from the Enchanted Forest down there."
Neal scoffed a small laugh. Curse or no curse, looking at the structure Neal couldn't help but think Regina's command was that of a mother's and not an Evil Queen hiding a curse. "And was she?"
Henry shrugged. "I never got far enough to find out. But I was right about the curse so there still could be something down there."
Neal shook his head, a small smirk tugging at his lips, a part of him admiring Henry for his somewhat stupid bravery. Then he remembered he himself was ready to march onto the front lines of the Ogre Wars at only 14 years old, for duty only but he was still willing and realized his son had taken after him.
It was times like these, when he felt that natural paternal worry, and could see himself in the boy, that it really hit him he was actually a father to him. A fact that both thrilled and scared him to no end.
It also made him realize how and why his father had become the Dark One to save him. He had only known Henry for about a week and knew he'd do anything to protect him. At the same time he wondered how a father could ever abandon his son purposefully. He knew with every moment he spent with Henry that he could not let him go.
He suggested to Henry that Henry take him to another spot in town, so the adventurous little boy didn't get into his head to have a father/son journey into the mines.
Fortunately that didn't even seem to be an idea in his head as he readily agreed and walked happily away from the mines without a single glance behind him.
Henry was pretty much his grand tour master of Storybrooke and after spending just 12 days there he felt like he knew the town as well as its residents.
Despite the ever present knowledge of his father also residing in the town, it felt like home. He escaped the Enchanted Forest because he didn't want anything to do with that world anymore and it was strange to him that a town full of Enchanted Forest residents could make him feel such a sense of home and so quickly. Though he knew it mostly had to do with Henry.
The only other time he had even felt close to having a home was when he was with Emma. They didn't even have a proper home, they spent their days and nights in the yellow bug and sneaking in and out of motels, occasionally paying for a room when they managed to gather enough money for a night.
So home was never a place for Neal, it was always a person, first his Papa pre-Dark One, then Emma, and now Henry, (and Emma if he was lucky).
So it was with that in mind that he decided to stay. He couldn't give up Henry for anything - stable job or no, his son was going to be his life now.
That was how he found himself on the docks with the Storybrooke Mirror opened on his lap and a frown on his lips as he scoured the pages for housing options.
"I think we've found your new favorite spot."
A familiar, teasing voice broke his concentration from behind and he looked over his shoulder to find Emma smirking at him.
He smirked back. "I've always liked the water." He explained and his eyes flickered out over the expanse of the bay.
He heard Emma walk the few steps more until she was at his side and then she sat down beside him, leaving a good space between them.
He swallowed as he debated his next words. "We never did make it to Tallahassee's beach." He finally said quietly.
He could both see and feel Emma tense up beside him even with the space between them. He closed his eyes and winced slightly. Of course that wasn't the right thing to say, he chastised himself. The subject of their past would always be a touchy one and it was still far too early to treat it lightly.
"Emma-" He started to apologize but she cut him off.
"Tallahassee doesn't have a beach." Her response was calm and quiet.
His head lifted and his eyes opened as he turned to her. "What?"
She refused to look at him but there was the smallest hint of a sad smile on her lips. "I lived there for two years. The nearest beach was miles away...not even walking distance."
He gaped at her, feeling his chest clench uncomfortably. "You went to Tallahassee?"
She nodded, slowly. "I thought maybe you'd be there."
His heart dropped into his stomach and suddenly he felt a little nauseous. He swallowed thickly and let out a slow breath.
"There were so many times I thought about it."
Emma blinked slowly and then turned to him, her jaw tense. "But you never did."
"I never did." He confirmed in a whisper and said nothing more because he didn't know what else he could say.
Even after he'd left her to go to jail, even after she'd given birth to their child in jail, she had still gone to Tallahassee with hope in her breaking heart, and waited another two years for him.
And he had never shown up.
He never even thought…
Well that was not completely true. He had thought about finding her. From the moment he left her there were hundreds, probably thousands, of moments he thought about going back but something always stopped him.
The thought of Emma's "destiny" or the fear of seeing his father again. He knew which one was the reason he had told himself for 11 years and he knew which one was the real answer.
Well, it was no wonder she hated him really. At the moment he also hated himself.
He felt like the snail the Dark One had crushed under his boot.
Emma let out a slow quiet breath. "What's done is done, Neal." She said, her voice almost too calm. "We'll get nowhere thinking about the past."
He nodded his agreement but he knew their past would always be hanging over them.
"Yeah." He murmured and the newspaper crinkled as his fingers clenched.
Emma's lips tightened as she looked down at the paper in her hands and her eyes widened.
"You've decided to stay?" Her voice tried to stay casual but he knew her well enough to detect the slight hint of panic.
He flattened out the crinkles in the paper and shrugged. "I guess I have, yeah. If I can find a place…" He scoffed. "There's no openings in here."
Emma's lips twitched up. "No one is looking for apartments in a cursed town." She quipped. "I had the same problem when I first got here, that's how I ended up living with Mary Margaret. She was nice enough to let a complete stranger into her home."
Neal looked at her with a smirk. "A complete stranger who also was her daughter."
"Not that she knew that." Emma responded and then shrugged. "Well I guess somewhere deep inside she did." She scoffed and shook her head. "It's still so weird. Sometimes I look at her and still only see my friend, and then it hits me that she's my mother."
"I can imagine." Neal nodded. "I've always had my memories of the Enchanted Forest so I never had that culture shock. Except when I first got here."
"How long did it take you to adjust?" She asked. "You were pretty young, weren't you?"
"Fourteen." He nodded. "Almost fifteen. Adjusting was not easy. Even though I came here to escape magic I still sort of expected it to be here. I was used to being poor but I wasn't used to stealing and it weighed on my conscious and...well to be honest, I never felt truly comfortable here until I met you."
He slowly looked over to her and met her slightly widened eyes. "I didn't know who you were, the fact that we came from the same world, and though we didn't have a home and we made it through by stealing, I finally felt like I belonged."
Emma swallowed thickly. "Neal…"
His lips twitched sadly and he sighed. "Then when you were gone…" He paused, swallowed thickly and correcting himself, his voice thick, "... when I left…I felt lost again. I made a life here, as best I could, but truly I don't think I ever adjusted. I still felt like a stranger in this world. When you found me in New York, when you told me about Henry, and meeting Henry...I think I'm starting to feel something again. A sense of belonging. Here. Of all places." He scoffed humorlessly.
Emma smiled slightly. "I know what you mean. There's something about this town."
Or the people in it.
Emma's quiet catch of breath beside him made him realize he had said that aloud and they met each other's eyes for a few, long, intense seconds.
"H-Henry." He finally stuttered out and then cleared his throat. "I mean Henry."
She blinked at him and then her shoulders visibly relaxed and she nodded.
She then cleared her throat and pushed a few strands of blonde hair behind her ear as she motioned to the newspaper. "Well you're not going to find anything in there."
He let out a breath. "There has to be some kind of real estate agent here."
"Oh there is." Emma confirmed and Neal raised his brow inquisitively.
"You're just not going to like talking to him."
"Why…" He cut himself off as he finally caught onto the way Emma was looking at him and he groaned miserably.
"You have got to be kidding. He is the real estate agent?"
Emma shrugged apologetically. "He owns the town, only makes sense he owns the property."
Neal swore under his breath and aggressively closed the newspaper to which Emma's brow rose in response.
"Everything comes back to him, doesn't it?" He growled.
Emma presses her lips together and silence fell over them for a few seconds as they looked over the foggy bay.
"I guess giving him a chance isn't working." She said and he was grateful for the lack of judgement in her voice.
"He's been dark for too long." Neal responded quietly. "I want to believe the man that is my father still lives within him but every time I try to see the good there's something new that proves otherwise. There are some things you just can't forgive."
Emma was silent and again he wondered if his own words applied to him. Emma treated him a lot friendlier than he had been treating his father but there were still moments where she looked at him and he could see the hurt and anger behind those hazel eyes.
"And still you want to stay." She finally said.
He let out a slow breath. "The fear of being around my father is not going to keep me from the ones I love. Not again."
So there it was. His confession. He had let her go out of his own fear and while he regretted it it was something he could never take back but he was ready to prove to her that it would never happen again. Even if hope was lost for them, he could still make it right with Henry.
Emma turned to look at him and he slowly turned to meet her eyes. There was a pool of emotion swimming in her eyes, the realization of what he had said, the implication of what his words meant for the future, her conflicting feelings of how she felt about it showing in a sad vulnerability he had not yet seen in this Emma.
The corner of her mouth eventually twitched up in a half smile. "Well...I'm glad to hear that...for Henry's sake."
He allowed a small smile to form on his own lips and his heart swelled a little with hope as he observed the look on her face. Could it be possible she actually wanted him to stay? Or at the very least, didn't mind that he was?
"For Henry." He repeated again and then they both fell silent as they stared at each other. After a long few seconds, Emma finally broke their intense gaze, shifting uncomfortably as she looked out across the water.
He observed her for another few moments and then also turned his gaze out towards the water, content in the knowledge that Emma had at least accepted his decision openly and the fact that they could only go up from here.
Neal stood in front of the pawn shop for what seemed like hours. He had visited almost every shop over the last ten days but this was one he refused to enter. Even before he knew his father owned it the very building gave him a bad vibe.
He had tried desperately to keep away from his father at all costs and thankfully his father seemed to read his message loud and clear and didn't try to contact him any further.
He certainly didn't want to ask his father for any kind of help but he knew if he was going to stay in Storybrooke he had to.
He let out a large sigh and ignored the uncomfortable twisting in his stomach as he pushed the door open.
A small bell dinged above his head signaling his entrance. The shop appeared to be empty and he took a few seconds to look around the dim room.
There were objects of all kinds scattered around shelves and he wondered how many of them had been acquired from unfortunate deals.
He approached the counter and peered in through the glass, observing every object on display.
He heard movement from behind the wall and looked up, his heart racing in anticipation of having to deal with his father again.
His eyes were suddenly drawn to the familiar brown leather ball now rested on a shelf against the wall. The same one that Emma had used to identify him in New York and he realized she must have given it back to him.
"Bae."
His father's voice was low and laced with surprise, drawing Neal to where he stood in the doorway leading to the back of his shop.
He cleared his throat and tightened his features as he hobbled up to the counter to stand across from Neal. "Neal." He corrected himself.
Neal nodded curtly. "Papa." His greeting was cold and unfeeling. He didn't want to call him by that affectionate name but anything else seemed too strange.
"What can I help you with, son?"
Neal cleared his throat softly. "I was told you are the Realtor?"
Rumplestiltskin's eyes widened slightly. "Are you looking for a place to stay?"
Neal averted his gaze for a moment and nodded. "Yes…I…I want to stay. For Henry. I won't leave my son."
He didn't miss the flash of pain and regret that crossed his father's face and only felt a little bit of satisfaction from it. He apologized for it and while he was clearly still living in his dark ways, Neal almost wanted to believe he meant it.
Rumplestiltskin forced a tight smile to his lips. "Well I am very glad to hear that." He paused for a few long seconds and then continued, almost hesitantly. "You know...I do own a rather large estate and you are more than welcome to a room."
"No." He snapped quickly and Rumplestiltskin winced at the harsh tone and Neal sighed. That one he did feel guilty for. "I just mean...I'm an adult now. I've lived on my own for years and I want to continue to do so."
"Yes of course." Rumplestiltskin nodded with a small, tight smile. He turned back towards the doorway, "Please, come this way."
Neal raised his brow and leaned over, trying to peek into the mysterious room behind the shop.
"It's my office." Rumplestiltskin explained, noting his wary look. "All the paperwork is in there and we would be more comfortable."
Neal pressed his lips together but nodded once and then followed his father into the back room.
His eyes widened as he took in the room. It was a little larger than a standard office and the room was filled with objects that could have been in the shop.
"What is all this?" Neal wondered aloud.
Rumplestiltskin hobbled over to a desk covered with stacks of paper. "These are objects that have a more... personal attachment. Objects that are not for sale."
Neal swallowed thickly and his jaw clenched as he looked around at all the various objects and wondered how many were obtained through his deals and what exactly made them so "personal".
"Take a seat." Rumplestiltskin motioned to the couch behind him and Neal looked over his shoulder, eyeing the couch for the moment and then finally sitting down.
Rumplestiltskin came to sit beside him and Neal fidgeted only a little at his close proximity but then he handed him a binder. "These are all the housing listings. Apartments are in the front, houses towards the back."
Neal raised one brow as he opened the binder to find sheets and sheets of listings.
"If all of these are available, why aren't they in the paper?" Neal asked.
"The town was cursed for 28 years. Nobody had an interest in moving and there was certainly no one coming in from the outside. Not until Miss Swan, of course."
Neal pressed his lips together tightly and was about to turn another page when his father stopped him with a finger.
"Speaking of Miss Swan, there are quite a few open apartments in her building."
Neal smiled wryly. "Emma may not hate me like I thought but I don't want to push my luck in living in her building."
"You'd be closer to your son."
Neal lifted his head. "Is there a reason you're pushing me to live near Emma?"
"I just want you to be happy." Rumplstiltskin said.
Neal scoffed. "Yeah well I want Emma to be happy and I think she'd be happiest with me not living so close. I'll be in the same town as Henry...that's good enough for me."
He continued flicking through the listings and then stopped at one, his heart stuttering.
"What about this one?" He asked his father and Rumplstiltskin leaned in over his shoulder.
"Ah, that is a good choice"
Neal hummed. "Seems almost too good to be true. Why is it vacant?"
Rumplstiltskin shrugged. "Despite what you may think, I do not know everything about this town. Its true I created the curse but the town itself was Regina's design. She decided who lived where and why."
Neal looked up at him. "But you own it?"
"It is not owned by anyone at present, but I do have the ability to sell it to you, yes."
Neal chewed on his lower lip as he glanced back down at the photograph. Such a gorgeous place in this town that was uninhabited seemed like it would be too good to be true. Still, it seemed to be calling his name.
"And that's the real price?" He asked, spotting the figure.
Rumplstiltskin nodded. "Indeed. Despite the rest of the world being in the 21st century and despite that the curse has been broken, this town remains stranded in the 1980's. That includes the housing market."
Neal scoffed under his breath. "This place only continues to get stranger." He muttered.
"Is that the one you want?" His father asked.
Neal let out a sigh, a little bit of fear and excitement gripping at his heart. It was one thing to think about moving, another thing to decide, and a completely different thing to actually pick a place. A place that would bring him closer to Henry…and Emma.
"Well I will need to take a look at it in person but I think so. It seems perfect."
So that was exactly what he did. He took a rather awkward ride with his father to the house and it looked just as it did on the picture.
The inside was much the same. Fully furnished but never used and Neal made Rumplstiltskin swear he hadn't used magic on it. Rumplstiltskin promised he didn't but then made some mysterious comment about how it must have been made for him.
Neal was suspicious but couldn't help but agree. The house needed a little cleaning but it was perfect and a place he could see himself living. A place he could see Henry staying in with him, even if it was only a few times a month. A place that, perhaps one day, might be a home for a family.
"You are coming back, right?" Henry's voices was muffled as he buried his face in his father's chest, his arms wrapped tight around him.
Neal clutched Henry to him, running one hand over his hair as he smiled. "Of course I'm coming back."
"He better be coming back." Charming said, almost threateningly, his arms folded as he stood in front of his truck.
Neal gave him a small reassuring smile and held onto Henry for a few more moments until the boy reluctantly pulled away, peering sadly up at him.
"It's only going to be a couple weeks, Henry. Three weeks at the most and then I'll be back."
"For good?" Henry asked hopefully and Neal rubbed his shoulder with a smile.
"Yeah, Henry for good." He cast a meaningful glance over to Emma who was standing near her father, mirroring his arm crossed stance. Her lips twitched in a tight smile and he knew she would need actions and not words from him.
"And you're sure I can't come with you?"
Neal chuckled as he turned his attention back to Henry. "Yes, Henry...I'll be at work for most of the time, you'd be bored there all by yourself and you have school to go to. Don't worry, I'll be back before you know it."
Henry sighed dramatically. "Alright."
Neal smiled and ruffled his hair and Henry pulled a face before playfully swatting his hand away.
Neal kept his eyes on his son for a few more seconds before he moved over to where David was standing. "Thanks again for letting me use your truck."
David grunted. "Sure but if it doesn't come back, you know Emma is good at finding people."
"I know." He cast another look at Emma before turning back to David. "But I'm coming back. I just put a good chunk of my savings on a down payment here, it would seem kind of pointless not to come back."
"Yet you won't tell us where the house is." Emma remarked dubiously, raising one brow.
Neal smirked. "It's a surprise, I told you."
Emma rolled her eyes but allowed a half smile to cross her lips and he grinned right back at her.
"It's perfect." He assured her. "And don't go asking my father about it either. I swore him to secrecy and I think he respects me enough to honor that."
Emma chuckled. "Well I wouldn't have but your son…" She glanced past him to where Henry stood and Neal followed her gaze.
Henry snapped an innocent smile on his face as they both looked at him.
"He's very convincing." Emma concluded. "Manipulative...definitely gets that from your side of the family."
For a moment his heart dropped into his stomach but then he read her teasing tone. Still, he gave her a halfhearted smile. He wasn't exactly proud of having the genes of the manipulative Rumplestiltskin or that he passed that trait onto his son. Henry was still young and didn't have the influence of the Dark One but the possibility for corruption laid dormant in his DNA and Neal hated that.
Neal cleared his throat. "Henry, don't ask Mr. Gold about the house, alright? And don't go snooping to try and find it on your own."
Henry's grin grew impossibly wider, brown eyes that matched his own twinkling in mischief. "Okay, I won't."
Neal gave him a stern, warning look and Henry continued to grin.
Neal had spent enough time with Henry to know his curious spirit wouldn't keep him away, no matter what he said. If it was a few days he might be able to hold out but not a few weeks. All he could do was hope the eleven year old would stick to his word.
Neal rolled his eyes affectionately and turned back to Emma who shared a knowing look.
"I'll keep an eye on him." Emma said quietly.
"Hey!" Henry protested. "I don't need to be watched!"
"Alright." Emma agreed, if a bit skeptical. "But no snooping Henry, we mean it."
"I know!" Henry raised his hand. "I won't, really!"
Neal chuckled as he shared another look with Emma.
"So what's your plan?" Emma asked, changing the subject as she folded her arms.
"Well, I'll need to give my boss two weeks notice and then it will just depend on how long it takes me to pack up everything."
Emma nodded and cast a sideways look at her father's truck. "Are you sure this will fit everything? It's not exactly a moving van."
"Yeah, it should. I'm not taking any of the big stuff, I'll probably sell most of the furniture. The house came furnished, which I guess I should be suspicious of because of who sold it to me but I can't exactly hire a moving van to take my stuff to Storybrooke can I?"
"True." Emma nodded. "It's not exactly on the map."
"Nor do we want anyone discovering this little town of ours."
He surprised himself how easily that came out. He had bought a house with every intention to move in for good but it continued to startle him how easily he was able to accept a magic town, where his father resided, as his home.
It must have surprised Emma too because her eyes widened slightly as she stared at him.
Though he wondered if that was because she was still trying to get used to the idea of living in the same town as him again.
"Definitely not." David said, suddenly breaking the thick tension that was forming between them. "So make sure no one follows you back."
Neal's lips twitched up as he glanced toward David. "Don't worry, I'm good at disappearing."
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Emma's face twitch and her jaw clench.
"I'm coming back." He assured, turning back to her and her lips pulled into a tight smile and she nodded.
"You should get going." She said. "It's a long drive to New York."
He nodded slowly. "Right." He kept his eyes on her for a few more long seconds and then cleared his throat, turning back to Henry.
"Be good for your mom, buddy."
Henry smiled sadly and nodded. He chewed on his lower lip for a moment before he rushed forward to hug him again. "I'll miss you."
Neal swallowed past the sudden thickness in his throat and he wrapped his arms around his son. "I'll miss you too, Henry."
They remained in their hug for another few seconds before reluctantly pulling apart. Neal ruffled his hair again before looking to Emma.
"See you soon." He voice was low but full of promise.
Emma's lips twitched for a moment as she eyed him and then she rolled her eyes, groaning quietly as she took a step to close the distance between them.
Neal froze and his eyes widened as Emma's arms awkwardly surrounded him. He barely had time to react before she pulled away. "Good luck, Neal." She let out a deep breath. "See you soon."
He couldn't help but smile at her and hope fluttered in his chest as she smiled back. Then she quickly averted her gaze and the moment was gone.
Neal let out a breath and turned to David expectantly.
"I'm not going to hug you." David said pointedly and Neal laughed.
"I don't expect you to." He held out his hand and David sighed before reaching into his pocket to dig out the car keys and dropped them into Neal's palm.
"One scratch or dent..." David pointed at him threateningly. "I don't care who your father is."
"Dad." Emma rolled her eyes in exasperation and Neal noticed immediately that a loving warmth flickered to life in the Prince's eyes. It must have still been a recent thing for Emma to call him that.
"It's fine." Neal waved it off with a chuckle. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of her."
David nodded and then Neal walked over to the door and pulled it open.
He hopped in the driver's seat, started the car, closed the door and then rolled down the window, casting one last glance at his somewhat family.
David stood once again with his arms crossed standing near Emma who was slightly more relaxed with her arms at her sides and the barest hint of a smile on her lips.
Henry moved to stand in front of them, nearest to the truck and stared back at him with big sad eyes.
Neal gave him another reassuring smile. "See you soon, Henry."
Henry then smiled and nodded. "See you, Dad."
Emma moved up a few steps, placing her hands on Henrys shoulders.
Neal gave them a final wave, and they both waved back as he pulled out into the road.
He kept glancing in the rear view mirror, watching them as they slowly became smaller. He hated to leave them but he knew this time he was coming back.
His eyes drifted off their own accord to his father's shop as he passed it on the way out of town. He was almost surprised his father hadn't shown his face to say goodbye, but knowing him he was probably watching in some secret hiding place.
Within a few minutes, he passed the Storybrooke line and instantly he felt a difference in the air alone.
There was something strange about that town, concealed in magic, and there was a tingle in his bones throughout his stay that had disappeared as soon as he crossed the town line.
He let out a deep sigh but then smiled to himself. He was venturing back into a world with magic and monsters and danger but he was doing it for family, and that was the most important thing of all.
His boss was disappointed to say the least when Neal gave him his two weeks notice but when Neal explained the situation he let him go without a fight and a promise that he would always have a job there.
It occurred to him, as he worked his last days, that although he had secured a home for himself in Storybrooke, he had not secured a job, or had any clue what'd he do for a job.
He had spent a good amount of money on the down payment but he still should have had enough to get by until he figured it out. He survived on a lot less before and in much worse circumstances.
He knew that Emma would help him if it came to that, or he hoped she would and if not her, then his father but he knew that would be his very last resort. He most certainly did not want to end up working for his father.
Over the course of 17 days, Neal managed to sell most of his large furniture and belongings he didn't need.
He had started an odd collection of things over the years and some had deep personal value but others could be easily parted with. He only had David's truck to work with and there was only so much he could fit in there.
The few friends he had made at work were sad to see him go but threw him a going away party a few nights before he was set to head back to Storybrooke. One last wild night in Manhattan, they said, and he couldn't refuse.
He spent a good part of the night explaining Henry's existence as best he could and showing off his son. He never thought he'd be a father, none the less be that sort of father who would brag endlessly about his child. But Henry was a bright boy and he was his and he had eleven years worth of bragging to catch up for.
He would be sad to leave New York. Ever since he arrived in this world, he felt most comfortable in a big city. He could get lost in the large population, especially as a thief. New York was by far the largest city he'd lived in and he loved every moment of it. It had been his home but now Henry was his home, and wherever Henry was that's where he'd be.
After his two weeks were over at work he spent the last few days finishing up cleaning out the apartment and then visiting his favorite places around the city.
Then before he knew it, he had loaded up David's truck with everything he needed and said a final goodbye to Manhattan.
He left early morning on a Monday and decided to drive straight through, as long as a drive as it was, he didn't trust leaving his things over night while he stayed in a sleazy motel.
He stopped every few hours for a rest and to get something to eat but just over nine hours after he left Manhattan he found himself crossing over the line back into Storybrooke with a smile on his face.
He could feel the tingle of magic in his bones as soon as he crossed the town line, but he also felt the tingle or excitement of getting to start this new chapter in his life. This new chapter that would involve a father, of getting to know Emma again, and very possibly making peace with his father. The last one was a long shot but it wasn't completely out of the realm of possibilities.
He drove through the main streets, waving to people who recognized him.
He decided he would wait until he was set up in his new house to call Emma and let her and Henry know he was back.
So he knew he probably shouldn't have been surprised when he pulled up in front of the house and spotted not only Emma and Henry but also Emma's parents waiting at his doorstep.
He parked the car in front of the house and then stepped out of the vehicle with a laugh. He crossed in front of the truck as Henry came running toward him with a grin.
Neal grunted as the eleven year old came plowing into him with a bear hug. "Welcome home, Dad."
Neal beamed, his heart welling at the words and he wrapped his arms tightly around his son.
"Thanks, Henry." He chuckled and then narrowed his eyes playfully as Henry pulled away and looked up at him. "But hey I thought I told you not to snoop and look for the house."
Henry grinned unapologetically with a shrug and Neal laughed again.
"You were taking too long to get back, I wanted to see it!"
"How did you know this was the one?"
Henry ducked in his bottom lip and averted his gaze and Neal felt his heart drop. "Did you ask Mr. Gold?"
"I didn't ask him." Henry mumbled and Neal narrowed his eyes.
Henry's eyes sheepishly met his father's. "I was just taking a walk and he was there! He said he wanted to talk and he asked me if I was excited to have you move here and maybe gave me some little clues to where it might be."
Neal sighed, dropping his head. He didn't particularly like the idea of his son hanging around his father but he knew he couldn't stop that from happening not when they both possessed the same family stubbornness.
"I'm sorry." Henry frowned. "I know you said you didn't want me to ask him or look for the house."
Neal looked up at and took in the sight of his son's big remorseful brown eyes. He was still a kid, a manipulative kid but a kid none the less. And he was still new to this fathering thing and scolding the boy would probably start to happen a lot especially as he grew into a teenager. For now, he'd let it slide.
He gave him a small smile. "It's alright this time Henry. I know you were excited."
Emma walked up to stand beside Henry, slipping a hand on his shoulder. "I'm the future Henry, you have to listen to us alright?"
Neal's stomach flipped at the small but significant word. Perhaps they weren't together but Emma considered him at the very least an equal co-parent to her.
Henry nodded. "I'm know I'm sorry."
Emma slipped her hand down to rub his back and then looked back to Neal, giving him a small smile.
"I tried to keep an eye on him, but if there's one thing he's good at its sneaking around."
Henry grinned almost proudly and Neal chuckled quietly.
"Yes he told me all about the mine story."
Emma groaned loudly with a roll of her eyes. "Oh God, that was a terrifying day." She cast a soft glare down at the boy and he giggled sheepishly.
Neal smiled at them and then his attention was drawn to the two other people making their way towards them.
Snow smiled warmly once she caught his gaze. "I'm so glad you decided to stay, Neal." She said once she stopped at her daughter's side. "It will be good for Henry to have his father around."
Neal's smile widened and he opened his arm for Henry to slide against him. He pulled Henry against his side in a one armed hug and Henry grinned.
"Thanks, I'm glad I'm staying too." His eyes flickered to Emma's father who stood behind her, his arms folded lightly and though Neal didn't expect the same welcoming sentiment from the prince, he did smile and give a small, approving nod.
"Well," David finally said, unfolding his arms and clapping his hands together, "What do you say we help Neal unpack?"
"Alright!" Henry grinned excitedly and tore away from his father's side and dashed towards the truck.
Immediately all four adults' eyes widened as Henry approached the large, heavy furniture tied down to the back of the truck.
"Hey, kid, slow down!" Emma called after him and then exchanged a glance with Neal before jogging after him.
She placed a hand on his shoulder as Henry eyed the back of the truck, eager to help.
"Why don't you let us take care of the big stuff and you can help with some of the boxes?"
Henry pondered this for a moment, chewing on his lower lip and then nodded. "Yeah, alright. I don't think I could have carried the big stuff anyway."
Neal chuckled as he came up on Henry's other side. "Not just yet, bud but you'll definitely be able to carry some of the boxes. We just have to get the furniture out first."
David walked up beside Emma and nodded to himself as he looked over everything in the truck. "There's not too much here, it looks like. Shouldn't take too long but let's get started shall we?"
David, Neal, Snow and Emma worked together to get Neal's bed, dresser, a table and a few chairs out from the truck and set up in the house. Henry happily did his part and carried most of the boxes and even set them down in the appropriately labeled rooms.
All in all there really wasn't too much to carry in and they were done unloading the truck within the hour.
Neal and Emma came outside to check if there was anything else in the truck to find Henry carrying one last large box labeled for the bedroom.
The eleven year old looked tired and like he was struggling just a little to carry the box.
"Need help there, bud?" Neal asked as he walked towards them.
"Nope." Henry grunted, determined. "It's the last one, I can do it."
Emma smiled at him as he walked slowly past them and Neal knew he would be able to carry it all the way in.
David stood by the truck and as Emma and Neal looked over to him, he gave them a smile and a thumbs up, indicating the truck was empty.
"Thanks for all your help today, Emma." Neal said, turning to her with a warm smile.
Her lips twitched up in a small smile and she nodded. "It was no trouble. Besides, I couldn't let Henry do all the work...even if he wanted to."
Neal laughed, looking over his shoulder to where Henry disappeared into the house. "Yeah, he's a hard worker that kid."
"He is." Emma agreed, also turning to look over his shoulder. They both smiled when they heard Henry's laughter from inside followed soon by Snow's.
"So, what do you think? Of the house?" Neal asked, looking back at her.
Emma pursed her lips and gave the house another once over before she nodded and smiled. "It's nice...it suits you, I think. I guess it's almost…" She suddenly trailed off, her face slackening and he frowned.
She didn't have to finish for him to know what she was thinking because he had been thinking the same thing too. They had never gotten far enough to look at actual houses when they were planning their life together for Tallahassee but the house was something he probably would have picked out for them back then and judging by the look on her face, she thought so too.
She slowly lifted her eyes to meet his and their gaze remained locked for a good few long seconds. Her green eyes were filled with longing, fear, pain and such sadness it broke his heart all over again. He tried to reflect in his own eyes remorse and the same longing for what they could have had.
Her lips twitched but never made it to a smile and then she sighed and turned her head the other way to look across the yard.
She turned her body, crossed her arms and then finally a small smile twitched at her lips. "I do like the view though."
Neal smiled and also turned his body the same direction. "I thought you might."
The front yard was small with green grass, a path leading towards the front door, and a few bushes lining the front of the house. There was the street and then just on the other side of the street was a small patch of land, lined mostly with trees except for a small, barren patch directly opposite the front of the house where the blue water of the bay sparkled in the sunlight.
"You really do like the water, don't you?"
Neal watched the gentle, rippling water for a few seconds and then turned to look at the woman beside him. Her arms were still crossed, a small defensive position against the emotions that were no doubt plaguing her, but her face had relaxed and a small smile sat on her lips as she continued to watch the gently flowing water.
They had both lost so much throughout their lives and there was still so much anger and hurt buried just underneath the surface – between them and between he and his father.
But he had found something here in Storybrooke– a good something and even though he knew it would take a while to get past all of that dirt, it was the start of a brand new, hopeful beginning for all of them.
"Yeah, I really do."