The busy streets of New York frighten Emma. She'd never been outside of Storybrooke and the city's noise and crowded streets made Emma feel dizzy. But this is where she was told she'd find Baelfire, or Neal as he was going by now. Neal had been on the run for awhile now, avoiding his last few years in the foster system. Emma wasn't even sure if this guy would listen to her, but it was her one shot at happiness with her mother.

"Okay Neal Cassady, time for a reunion." She murmurs to herself as she walks up to the abandoned house Neal was said to be hiding out in. Rumpelstiltskin had given Emma all the details, all she had to do was find the boy and convince him to talk to his father. Emma had left a note for Regina but she knew her mother would still flip out.

Mom, don't panic but I had to leave town for a few days. I'll be back soon, just ask Mr. Gold if you have any questions. I promise this is all part of the plan so we can be together, just the two of us. -Love Em

But Emma knew that her mother was most definitely panicking and it made Emma feel very guilty. She didn't want Regina to worry, but this was the only way. She just hoped Rumple could find a way. Emma notices movement from the house and sneaks around to the back door where a young boy is skillfully slipping out.

"Hey!" Emma calls chasing after him. Emma gave herself much credit for her speed and agility. She catches the stranger with ease and tackles him to the grass. He lands with an oof.

"What the Hell!?" The kid exclaims. "Who are you?!"

"My name is Emma." The blonde replies with a smirk as she sits up. "Your father sent me."

"My father!?" Neal exclaims in both fear and surprise.

"Yeah." Emma says growing impatient. "We made a deal and-"

"Wait..you made a deal...with my father?" Neal questions trying to let this information set it.

"Yes, keep up." Emma huffs. "Anyway I told him I'd find you if he'd let my mother and I escape to a different realm."

"Holy crap." Neal gasps as he realizes this girl is telling him the truth. "Do you have any idea what he does when someone breaks a deal with him?" Emma rolls her eyes, a trait she most definitely had gotten from her adoptive mother.

"Yeah, I'm aware. My mother is the Evil Queen." Neal looks at Emma in shock. "Well, I guess technically she's my adoptive mother."

"And you want to escape with your biological mother." Neal guesses. Emma sighs again.

"No, I want to escape FROM my biological parents. I want to escape WITH the 'Evil Queen'." Emma explains. Neal looks like he's trying to read a book written in a different language. "My mother isn't evil, she's just made some mistakes….such as attempting to murder my bio mom on numerous accounts."

"YOU'RE MOTHER IS SNOW WHITE!?" Neal exclaims. "I mean I was never in the Enchanted Forest when they were...but I've seen the Disney movie. WHY would you rather go with the Evi-"

"I told you she's not Evil!" Emma snaps. Neal throws his hands up in defense. "Are you going to help me?"

"I've spent years avoiding my dad." Neal tells her. "He abandoned me...but….I can't let you break a deal with him."

"So you'll come with me?" Emma grins. Neal sighs and nods.

"Where to?"

Emma isn't even up the sidewalk to the mansion when the door opens. She's surprised to see Snow and David standing there too. Regina practically flies down the steps and to her daughter, pulling her in the tightest hug Emma had ever experienced. Emma knows her mother's relief that she's alright doesn't change the fact that Emma is probably grounded for the rest of her life. Snow and David finally make their way to the pair and both look angry and hurt.

"Are you alright?" Regina asks, almost teary eyed.

"What were you thinking?" David demands.

"I can't believe you want to leave us." Snow adds. Emma gasps, they'd found the note. She looks at her mother, more scared than she'd been a few moments ago.

"We'll discuss this later." Regina says. She looks at Neal, who'd Emma had nearly forgotten about. "Who is this?"

"Neal Cassady." The boy answers. "Son of the Dark one." Realization washes over Regina as she understands why Emma had left. This was the plan she had been talking about. Rumple had made a deal with her.

"Oh my…" Is all Regina can say. The boy explains that he'd came to find his father so that Emma could keep up her end of the deal. David manages to direct the boy to his father's shop, hoping that he'd be alright.

"Good luck, Neal. And thank you." Emma says smiling at her travel companion. Neal looks at Emma's three parents. He saw how close she clearly was with her mother but he also saw the longing her birth parents had to be with her.

"Good luck to you too, Emma Mills."

After Neal had left Regina, Snow, Emma and David make their way inside. They had a lot to talk about and Emma knew it was going to be a very long night. She knew it had been wrong to leave, but that wasn't what she was afraid of. She was terrified that now that the Charmings knew of her plan they'd take her away from her mother again. And that was beyond any punishment she could receive for going to New York. They sit in the living room, Emma and Regina on one couch, Charming and Snow on another.

"Emma, honey what were you thinking?" Regina asks her daughter softly. "Something awful could have happened to you."

"I...don't know." Emma admits sadly.

"She clearly thought she could get away from us." Snow says looking miserable.

"How did you even know?" Emma asks.

"I found the note...when I came to pick you up. You never showed up in my classroom after school so I thought you came here." Snow explains tearfully.

"Emma, I thought things were getting better." David says.

"They were." Emma snaps. "But that doesn't mean I want this. I just...I wish the curse had never broken."

"But it did." Regina says gently. She cups Emma's face in her hands. "And we have to find a new way to live."

"You said-"

"I know, and I shouldn't have. I never should have given you hope or put the idea in your head. My wants and desires...they've never done anyone any good." Regina tells her daughter. "I have to stop being so selfish and realize….they love you just as much as I do and I think if you gave them a fair chance you'd love them too." Emma's stomach turns because she knows what's coming next and she can't bear it. "Emma, you're going home with Snow and David."

"NO!" Emma cries pulling away from her mother. "You can't send me away!"

"You can come see me whenever you want." Regina says trying as hard as she can not to let the tears fall. After she'd spoken to David and Snow she knew they were right. Emma was putting herself in danger and it was Regina's fault. Emma was better off living with her biological parents. Besides, it'd hurt less this way when Emma saw Regina for the monster she was.

"Mommy please!" Emma sobs falling back into Regina's arms.

"Emma, this has been decided." Snow says firmly. "We won't keep you from her, but this is how things are going to be."

"I hate you!" Emma screams. Regina's heart breaks as she forces her daughter out of their embrace.

"You have to go, Em. We'll have lunch together tomorrow, okay?" Regina tries to reason. Emma shakes her head.

"No, if you're willing to make me live with them then I don't want to see you." Emma snaps. Regina nods. She knew Emma wouldn't take this well.

"Okay, let's go." Snow says ushering Emma out the door. Charming stops and thanks Regina. He knew this was killing her and he almost felt sorry. But now he and Snow were going to be the parents. They all just hoped it didn't backfire on them.

A/N so there will be more Neal in the next chapter. Also I read a thing saying he was 24 when he met Emma who was 17. But 7 years is a lot when Emma is only 13 so were going to pretend that he'd only two years older for the purpose of this story. Also I hated writing the end because it made me sad that Regina had to let Emma go but it's important for what comes later. This is still a story about Emma/Regina's mother-daughter bond so don't worry! -Kaila