A/N Alrighty folks, so a short one this week, and also a small time jump, one that will lead into a couple of other small time jumps, till we reach the beginning of S1 which is when things will start to get a little quicker, or so I hope. Now, to clear up some confusion, that was brought to my attention by a reader last chapter. This story's base idea, will not be changing, because I plan on taking a step back. It just means the story might lie dormant for a short time (I hope a month tops) Which once I get into the structure of the seasons, I might not even need to take time off at all. On that, only time will tell, I have at least three chapters already written, as well as one farther in the story. So bear with me

disclaimer: I don't own OUAT or any of the characters

It turned out, as the years passed, that Boston was where they were meant to get going. By the time Henry was five, they were living in an upper Boston apartment, and Neal finally had a good job. He worked as a handyman for their building. Emma continued to work in bail bonds, quickly becoming one of the most successful bail bondswomen in Boston, specializing in parents that walked out on their parents. The subject striking her hard, because of her own experience with parents, or lack of them.

Henry's first day of school hit seemingly without warning. Emma took him shopping, and bought all of the tiny notebooks, and pencils, she bought him new shoes, and several new outfits, her favorite a Peter Pan T-shirt, with the Jolly Roger on it, and Henry's favorite a Captain America shirt.

Then came the day. Neal and Emma were both there to see him off, shoes on wrong, and eyes wide, when he realized they weren't coming in with him.

Neal kneeled in front of the small boy, "Hey kiddo, don't worry, me and mommy will be here to get you after school."

"Why can't we go home now?" He asked, voice going up in pitch slightly, as he looked at all of the other children, darting past him, as they met with friends. "I don't know anybody. What if they don't like me?"

It was Emma's turn. She crouched by him, and pulled him into her leather clad arms, and pulled back to look him in the eye. "Henry James Swan-Cassidy." She began, using her soothing mother voice. "Now you listen to me." When the boy nodded, she continued. "You are going to go through those doors, and you are going to do what a Swan-Cassidy always does." She told him firmly. "You are going to keep your eyes up, that upper lip stiff, and you are going to walk in like, you belong there. You know why?"

Henry shook his head.

"Because you do belong. Henry, you know mommy didn't have a lot of friends when she was little, but you know what she did have?" another head shake. "Confidence. You go in there, and if they don't respect you, make them. Because if you believe hard enough, that you belong? You're gonna find out, that you really do."

Henry nodded.

"Now, what are you gonna do?"

He took a deep breath, and tried to look bigger, failing, because his shoulders weren't that big, and his cheeks turned an adorable pink with the effort. "I'm gonna go in there, and be a big boy." He promised. "Because A Swan-Cassidy is strong, and They belong wherever they wanna." He told her.

Emma nodded, and pulled him in for another crushing hug. "That's right, and I'll be here waiting for you, before the last bell rings."

Henry looked up at her, with wide vulnerable eyes. "Promise?"

Emma nodded. "promise." She promised, holding her pinky out to swear on it with her son, then the first bell rang, and Henry turned to look at the building.

"I'll see you as soon as school is over?" he asked.

Emma nodded. "Just as soon as that last bell rings." She promised.

Henry nodded once, then twice, and turned and ran into the building. Emma held back a sob, as her little boy went through the doors, of the school, shooting them one more look, before the doors closed between them.

~~If I Never Leave~~

The hours between, when Henry walked into the school, and when he walked, were the longest hours since the hours spent in the delivery room, when he was born. Neal found himself pacing outside of the car.

"Neal, get back in the car, school doesn't even let out, for ten minutes." Emma sighed. "You're going to wig me out, pretty soon. Just get in the car, he'll be out, when the bell rings"

Neal set his jaw, and nodded, climbing back into the car, his fingers drumming on the dashboard. "Are you sure it's okay? I mean, would it really be so bad to go and check with the office?"

A warm hand settled on his thigh. "He's fine Neal. We promised ourselves, when we agreed to send him to school, we wouldn't be those parents. We're not going into the office, we're not going to be helicopter parents." She said soothingly. "Now, just relax, and wait, for your son to come out of the school"

Neal took a deep breath and nodded. "I know, it's just, I've never done anything like this before. I just worry I'm going to make some sort of mistake"

Emma huffed. "And I have? We have the same fears, pal. The only difference is, that I know that even if we do make a mistake, it's part of being a parent. Every parent makes mistakes. Those that don't? Are lying"

As though on cue, the bell rang, and a minute later, a torrent of children came flooding out of the school. She scanned the crowd, and together, Emma and Neal climbed out of the car. They waited, side by side, as the children rushed past them. All but the one they were looking for.

Neal started to get tense, but then Henry came out the door of the school, with his teacher beside him, talking animatedly. The woman smiled sweetly, and urged the boy forward, when he saw his parents he darted forward.

Neal and Emma met him with open arms, Neal spinning his son around in a circle, feeling like it had been days, rather than hours, since he had seen the boy.

"Hey, Spinner, how was school?" He asked letting his son down on the ground gently.

Henry grinned. "It was great!" He turned to his mother, and tackled her. "You were right mom. I did exactly what you said, I walked in, I helded my head high, and I pretended to belong, and I did!"

Emma beamed at the little boy, pulling him into her arms, and Neal saw tears in her eyes. "I knew you would, kid, I knew you would"

~~If I Never Leave~~

Later that night, after Henry was tucked in, and told his story, Emma and Neal were laid back in bed, just relaxing, before they went to sleep for the night.

"He's growing up so quickly." Emma mused. "Was it just yesterday, that he was just learning to walk, while we held his hands?"

Neal smiled, pulling her back to him, Emma rested her head against his chest. "Was that yesterday? I thought yesterday, was when we brought him home." He joked.

Emma sighed, a wistful sound. "I always knew he would grow up, I just didn't expect it to feel like I blinked and missed it all, even though I remember every moment with perfect clarity." She brought her hand to cover his heart. "I just wish we could freeze him like this, so I wouldn't miss a moment"

Neal ran his fingers through her hair, thoughtfully. "Yeah, but think of all the moments we would miss, by never giving them a chance to happen. Think about what might happen five years, ten years down the road. Think of his first boy scouts camping trip, think of his first school dance, of the first date, the first heartbreak. We could freeze our perfect little boy, but think of all we would miss if we could."

Emma sighed again, a sleepy sound. "I know, but it is a nice thought… just to have our little boy forever."

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