Chapter thirty-five

Dear Neal

I know that there is probably no way that you'll believe what I am about to write, so please give me the benefit of the doubt.

Eleven years ago, I found out that I was pregnant in prison, but I just felt too betrayed to even try and tell you, so I gave him up for adoption.

Henry came to find me a couple days ago and he brought me to Storybrooke.

I understand why you felt that you couldn't tell me about the curse, I probably would have dumped you and written you off as crazy. But the point is, that I believe now, (which is a very long story that I don't feel like putting down on paper).

I need you to come back to Storybrooke with your father, so that you can meet your son.

I hope to see you soon

Emma Swan

Neal put his head in his hands as he read the letter for the tenth time. He was getting the feeling that Emma didn't actually want him here and that it had something to do with one of his father's deals.

He sat in the diner at 8.30 am waiting for the pair to appear. He was beyond nervous.

Emma was clearly a completely different person, something that he honestly couldn't understand. He knew that she believed now, but it just seemed odd that she could possibly believe in a matter of days as her letter had suggested. The Emma that he knew would have taken at least a year to believe and even then something major would have had to happen.

But do I really know Emma anymore? he sighed internally.

"Hey," an awkward voice interrupted his thoughts.

Neal looked up in shock at Henry, "where's Emma?"

"She went to collect something from Mr. Gold."

Neal nodded, and noticed Emma's parents in the adjacent booth, they each offered him an awkward wave, which he returned, and then looked back at his son.

"So..." he began.

Henry gave him a small smile, and slid into the booth.

Silence fell over the two of them , and Neal eventually swallowed hard and put out his hand, "Neal Cassidy."

Henry let out a small laugh, and took his hand, "Henry Mills."

Neal furrowed his brow, "Mills?"

"Regina Mills adopted me."

Neal nodded trying to think who that was, but he was coming up blank, and silence fell over them.

Ruby walked over to the pair, hearing just how painfully the conversation was going and asked, "What can I get you guys?"

"A coffee and toast and..."

"The usual please," Henry smiled up at the wolf.

"Glad to see you're okay Henry," Ruby commented and with that she sauntered over to the counter.

"Why wouldn't you be okay?" Neal asked with raised eyebrows.

"Err..." Henry began; he wasn't exactly comfortable telling him everything just yet, so he just played it down, "it doesn't matter, my moms saved me."

Neal's eyes widened, "moms?"

Henry ran his hand across his face, silently cursing his blonde mother for abandoning him, "yeah...two moms."

"So...they're together."

Henry nodded and Neal just sat stunned for a few moments, before he added, "I thought Emma only came to town a few days ago."

"Yeah, in this timeline," Henry laughed, before he clamped his hand over his mouth.

"What?" Neal laughed nervously.

"They kind of travelled back in time and changed everything," he admitted.

Neal fell back in his chair, he was sure that couldn't be true, but then again it did explain why Emma was so different.

"And why would they do that?"

"They didn't do on purpose," Henry chuckled, "it was you know...magic."

Neal sighed, "yes, I know magic very well."

Silence fell over them again, and Neal resolved to talk to Emma about all of this. Ten silent minutes passed and Ruby placed two plates in front of them, and they each began to eat half-heartedly.

Ruby walked over to the Charmings and whispered, "I don't think it's going well."

Snow nodded in agreement, "they just need more time."

"With the rate it's moving right now, I don't think there's enough time in the world," Ruby replied, which caused each of them to sigh.

The bell rang and Gold rolled his eyes.

"Very prompt aren't we?" he commented.

"Just give me the potion, Gold," Emma replied as she strode to the counter.

"More like your dear girlfriend every day, Miss Swan, perhaps that is something you should watch out for," he quipped while reaching under the counter.

Emma just ignored him and held out her hand, upon which he placed a phial of purple liquid.

"You know that can't trick her into drinking it, so if you were planning on having the wolf slip it into her morning coffee, I would advise against it. I will not be making another one for free."

Emma set her jaw, unwilling to admit that was exactly what she had planned to do, she asked, "then what do you suggest?"

"Perhaps you should first focus on Cora?"

Emma furrowed her brow at the hopeful inflection in his voice, "and what do you want me to do to her?"

"I believe the mayor wished to give her mother her heart," he replied casually.

"And why would that help?"

"Her mother can be quite the manipulator, but with her heart I am sure that she would not be able to rope her daughter into whatever she is planning."

Emma thought about this for a moment, and realised that it actually made perfect sense, but she couldn't help but wonder why it would be Gold's first suggestion though.

"Is there something about you and Cora that you're not telling me?" Emma asked with a tilted head.

Gold's eyes widened, before he shook his head, "no, and even if there was, it would be my business."

Emma just nodded sceptically and began to walk away.

"Oh, and Miss Swan," Emma turned around, and Gold continued, "do try not to break my son's heart."

Emma sighed and nodded. She had considered the possibility that without Tamara around, Neal may actually try and explore his feelings, but she also knew beyond a doubt that she no longer loved him in that way. She also knew that she would rather be trying to help her girlfriend then having to deal with a love triangle. "I will try not to," she replied, knowing it was all down to Neal how their relationship would play out.

A/N Sorry about the lack of Regina, I thought Neal deserved at least a chapter haha

I'm planning to do the next competition on chapter 40, so if you have any questions that I can use, please feel free to pm me :)

Reviews would be much appreciated and I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter :)