Chapter 12
A Normal Year, A Magic Future
It had been a year since Storybrooke was destroyed but the Swan-Cassidy's were blissfully ignorant to it. It was a normal morning Emma got up and made breakfast, Neal woke up the kids and made the beds, Henry lay the table for breakfast and Tally watered the plants. They sat down to breakfast Henry said "mom, you forgot something".
"Right, the Cinnamon" she said getting up. The doorbell went "who's that" she said about to sit down.
"It's okay Emma" Neal said "I'll get it".
When he opened the door he saw his kind-of stepfather. "Hey" said Hook.
Neal said "hey, after all these years all you can say is hey".
Hook said "okay, maybe an apology is in order, sorry".
Neal asked "for what stealing my mother or handing me over to Lost Boys"?
Hook said "both, but I didn't come for a trip down memory lane. I came here for your family".
Neal said "what"?
Hook said "your memories were changed last year so what you think happened in the past eleven years isn't what really happened. Now you have to remember and go back to Storybrooke".
"Don't think so bucko" said Neal closing the door in his face.
As Neal came back Emma asked "who was that"?
Neal replied "no one important".
That evening the whole family went out to have dinner with one of Neal's work friends. "Hi Walsh" Neal said as they arrived at the restaurant.
"Nice to see you Neal" replied Walsh "and this must be your family"?
Neal said "yes, this is my beautiful wife Emma and our wonderful kids Henry and Tally. Henry just won the science fair and Tally got a gold star for her drawing in kindergarten".
Walsh said "must say they seem like the family most could only dream of. Treasure them and do what you believe is best for them".
Neal replied "I always do".
As they sat down at the table Walsh said "it's good to finally meet the incredible Emma and your charming children".
Neal said "they're great, I'm trying to convince Emma hey great a third one would be but..."
Emma interrupted "we have two, that's plenty, that's more then people in China have. And they're both so great why do we need another"?
Walsh said "Strong, beautiful and unafraid to speak her mind, what you do to meet such a rare jewel".
Neal said "I don't know but I'm do glad I did"/
Walsh smiled "well the reason I wanted to see you and your family tonight is you're up for a promotion".
Neal said "that's great".
Walsh replied "but I wanted you to know beforehand that it involves working with our branches overseas".
"Oh" Neal said.
Emma whispered "it's a good job and I'm not that attached to New York".
Neal whispered back "but our lives are here now and this is overseas".
Walsh said "don't worry, moving abroad is a big decision so I can give you some time to think about it. But if it were me I'd love the chance for an adventure, and the pay to give my family anything they wanted".
Later after they ate Walsh had to use the facilities and Neal went to order some more drinks for his family".
Suddenly a man came up to him and when Neal looked up and said "oh no not you again".
"Nice to see you Neal" Hook replied stretching out the name and then asked "wondering how I know your new name Swan-Cassidy"?
To tell the truth Neal was curious and asked "how"?
Hook smiled and replied "like I said last year your memories were altered because a curse was threatening the town but to save the town Regina needed to destroy her spell. It would take everyone back from where they came from but it would result to you and Emma being separated from Henry and your Sugar Plum Tally. To stay with them you had to leave but when Regina destroyed the curse nothing would remain including your memories so she replaced them. Now it's back and you need to return so Emma can save her family, Now in case you don't believe me ask yourself how I know the names of your wife and children". Neal looked unsure and sceptical. Hook said "I know it seems insane but it's true, I have some proof" he gave him a pack of Photos. "Find me tomorrow in central part at the entrance to the zoo and I can return your memories" and then Neal left not sure whether he should trust Hook or not.
"Your stepfather, how did he find you"? asked Emma later when they were home and the kids went to bed.
Neal answered "I have no idea, but he gave me this pack of photos. He said they will prove out memories have been altered".
Emma said "what? Like total recall"?
Neal replied "no idea but let's look at them".
They opened the pack of photos can saw a lot of different photo's There was a few of them at parties with other people they didn't know, they being outside a diner they didn't recognize, one of Henry with a woman with dark hair, one of Emma holding sheriffs badge and one of Neal and Tally in a candle stall. The last two made Neal shudder, the four of them was in the picture with his dad outside inNew York city, judging by the empire state building in the background. And the other was his father in a carriage with Henry and Tally like the ones they have in central park.
"That's my dad" Neal said,
Emma replied "looks just like you described, but didn't you say if you ever saw your father you wouldn't go near him".
Neal said "I'm wondering how my stepfather got these pictures, especially since there's two my father. If they saw each other one of them wouldn't survive and I doubt it would be be it my dad".
"So what are we doing about him"? Neal whispered the next morning
Emma whispered "if you want answers then we have no choice but to meet with him".
Neal glanced at Henry and Tally and said "I'm not sure what I'm more worried about; my father might have been around them my stepfather being around them".
Emma said "even if we meet with him he doesn't need to ever be anywhere near them".
Neal nodded and said "you're right".
Emma replied "I always am".
Henry called "hey do either of you have my permission slip"?
Emma said "what"?
Henry said "my permission slip, it's due today and if I don't hand it in I'll miss the museum trip next week"?
Tally called "mommy, daddy I can't find my backpack"?
Neal said "divide and conquer, you take Tally, I'll take Henry"?
As Neal gave Henry his permission slip Henrysaid "you should take it, the job I mean, it will be an adventure".
Emma and Neal went to central park and saw Hook outside the zoo and he smiled when he saw them. When they came up he said "hoping you'd show up, especially with the formidable Emma".
Emma asked "this is your step father, how old is he, he looks you're age"?
Neal said "much older than he looks trust me". Turning to Hook he asked"how do you know her names Emma or that she's formidable"?
Hook said "I think you know the answer, you just don't want to admit it".
Neal replied "I remember Emma's 28th birthday clearly, we went out for a family dinner".
Emma added "after the kids went to bed we enjoyed a glass of champagne and a movie".
Hook said "you only think that's what happened, your memories have been replaced so you could have a new life. But those photos were taken from Henry's camera he forgot in that extravagant inn when you were here with you father, the crocodile".
Emma asked confused "the crocodile".
Neal explained "it's his nickname for my dad". He turned to Hook "speaking of, why is my dad in two of them and with my family"?
Hook replied "he's their grandpa, the little lass even had a nickname for him, Grandpa Gold".
Emma showed him the picture of Henry and Regina "who is this"?
"Regina" Hook said "he's Henry's mother".
Emma said "I'm his mother".
Hook asked "did you ever consider giving him up"? The look on Emma's face said everything. "That woman adopted him and knew his best chance was with you. Knowing your memories of Storybrooke would be gone when the curse got rid of it so she replaced them with new ones so you'd have never given him up."
Neal asked "if our new memories gave us a new life like you said why come get us"?
Hook said "Storybrooke is back, and they need Emma, they need the saviour".
Emma raised an eyebrow "Storybrooke, the saviour, do you even know how you sound".
Hook replied "like a mad man I'm sure, but it's all true. If you don't believe ask your husband"?
Neal bit his lip looking nervous as Emma asked "Neal"?
" I knew you'd never believe me if I ever told you the truth but the guy I told you about, the one who convinced me to leave you gave me a similar story. You, a curse, my dad, Hook is telling the truth".
"Hook"? Emma asked.
"Killian Jones if you prefer but some do call me by my more colourful moniker" he lifted up his prosthetic hand and took it off so she could see. "His dad isn't much of a gentle man".
Emma looked at Neal and he said "he's not kidding".
Hook said "the first time I told you, you knew who I was right away. Bae tell her who you really are, who she is"?
Emma asked Neal "Bae".
Neal said "Baelfire, you can guess why I changed it. They guy who told me the story told me you were the saviour and you were destined to break it. The reason I hate the story of Pinocchio is because that guy was Pinocchio, the actual wooden puppet turned boy Pinocchio. I hate story of Peter Pan".
Hook interjected "Emma words were freaked out, whatever that means".
Neal continued "it freaked me out because I've actually been to Neverland and to say Pan's not a nice boy is an understatement".
Hook interjected "and your grandfather".
Neal and Emma looked at him with their mouths opened "that was my reaction too. Not surprising the crocodiles father is that demon boy".
Neal said "which brings me to my hatred towards the story of Rumplstilskin. You won't believe this but that's my dad. My gold spinning, deal making father".
Hook held of a vial of blue liquid "want some proof, take a swig of this and your memories will be restored".
Emma said "I don't think so".
Hook said "you accepted Rum when I offered it, and if either of you consider what I say is true don't you owe it to yourself".
Neal took it and took a drink and flashes of his true memories came back. He held it out to Emma "take a drink, you'll thank me for it later".
Emma rolled her eyes "just so I can prove I'm not going to crazy town" she took it. She took a drink and flashes of her true memories came back. "And my vacation is over". She looked up and said "really world, you had to bring a new evil".
Neal said "at least you'll get to see your parents again." He took a look at the rest of the memory potion "there doesn't seem to be that much left".
Hook said "when I received the memory potion the note said to give it to the saviour. I knew there was only enough for two people and before you ask I got it by dove so I had to take what I was given".
Hook came back to their apartment with them, Hook asked "are you sure we won't be interrupted by the little lad and little lass"?
Neal said "Henry had a sleepover set with Avery and Tally's gone to a friend's house for dinner. I'm picking her up at six".
Emma asked "so if everyone's gone back to Storybrooke why did you come instead of someone else"?
Hook replied "I can only guess something is preventing them from leaving".
Neal said "wait, you guess, or you know"?
Hook said "when we got back to the enchanted forest Snow White and the Evil Queen put aside their differences, the Dark One was dead, forgive me for taking some delight in that, the Orge's were gone, so frankly I was bored. So I decided to get back to my ship and my crew. When I was informed that a new curse was on its way I found an alternative means of getting here".
Emma poured him some rum, Neal said "to clarify you left them and now you've abandoned your ship to save them. I'm impressed".
Hook said "I came back to save Emma ... and you".
Emma asked "who did this"?
Hook answered "someone powerful enough to reach into this world".
Neal mentioned "that doesn't exactly narrow it down".
Hook replied "I'm not saviour, Emma is".
Emma said "you know what I was yesterday? A wife and a mother, then you came back into my life. Taking that potion was like waking up from a dream, a really good dream".
Hook pointed out "you still have what really matters to you, your children".
The doorbell sounded Emma asked "are we expecting anyone"?
"Oh" Neal said remembering "I texted Walsh this morning asking him to come over later and I'd give him my answer".
Hook asked "answer to what"?
Emma asked "what are you going to say"?
Neal said "I'll have to reject his offer, I can't say yes and ask for an indefinite sabbatical before going".
Neal slipped out but before he could say anything Walsh said "it's rather hot, is there somewhere cooler to talk".
"Sure" Neal replied taking him to the roof.
On the roof Walsh asked "so have you come to a decision"?
"Regrettably yes" Neal replied.
"Regrettably" Walsh repeated "there's the tone of an acceptance".
Neal replied "it's not as simple as that. Family troubles suddenly came up that Emma and I have to take care of. My step-father came here and told us and I couldn't ask for time off if I accepted".
Walsh said "surely they can fix things themselves".
Neal sighed and said "don't have much choice, I wish I could accept and give my family an adventure".
Walsh replied "And I wish you hadn't drunk that potion".
Neal said "what"?
Walsh said "just couldn't leave well enough alone. It really is too bad, you're a great guy".
Neal groaned "not another evil minion, by the way who are you working for"?
Walsh turned into a winged monkey and Neal's eyes widened. He looked around for something to protect himself with and saw a lead pipe. He got to it just in time, he swung it around but always missing Walsh, suddenly he was able to hit Walsh off the roof and when he looked down he saw Walsh disappear in a puff of smoke.
When Neal came back down Emma asked "how he'd take it"?
Neal answered "not too well, he tried to convince me to accept and I when I would he yelled and then turned into a flying monkey".
Emma asked "really"?
Neal replied "we were never safe here. Whoever is behind this knew how to get into our lives and tried to get us as far away as possible".
Emma said "then we leave first thing tomorrow".
Neal said "now we can focus on the next conundrum".
Emma asked "which is"?
"How to explain this to Henry and Tally"?
The next morning when Henry got home Tally was watching cartoons while Neal packed their suitcases and Emma made breakfast. When Henry saw how vigorously Emma was whisking he said "Mom, what did the eggs do to you"?
Emma turned to look at him "Oh, I didn't notice, good time last night"?
Henry said "great time, so did dad accept"?
Emma said "he couldn't, there was a difference of priorities". As she put the whisked eggs into the frying pan she asked "hey, do you believe in magic".
"Sure" said Henry. "It includes Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter bunny; if it can give me something, I believe".
Emma smiled as she put scrambles eggs onto plates and put one in front of Henry. As she put the other plates on the table "Tally sweetheart, it's time for breakfast, Neal, come on".
Neal came out with some suitcases Henry asked "are you going somewhere dad"?
Emma said "actually we're going somewhere. That difference of priorities was a new case for me in Maine. So we're all going for a while, it can be a vacation".
"and an adventure" Neal added.
Neal added "our...friend, Killian will be here soon, he's coming with us.
There was a knock at the door Emma said "he's early".
Neal said "and off we go".
