Checkmate

45. Hi Thomas

Trigger warning for teenage angst, self harm, breakup grief. (spoilers)

The family eventually dispersed, Regina taking Felix with the rest of the boys, leaving Pan, Neal, and me on the seats outside of Granny's. The three of us were silent as the staff swapped over for the night shift. Pan sipped his cocoa quietly as his eyes flicked between the two of us.

"Could he change into something a little more normal?" Neal asked suddenly, causing me to jump slightly.

I looked between myself and the boy in question. "This is normal for us," I retorted, ending the topic.

"Beth- "

"You're afraid of us, I get it- "

"I'm not afraid... I just... He tortured me-"

"He tortured me too," I interrupted.

"And I know you got some tension you gotta work out and some relationship issues," he continued. "But you can't drop everything now your boyfriend is back."

"Excuse me," I choked, my brows pressing together.

"You can't just drop everyone here because of him."

"Neal."

"And I know that he knew you first but-"

"I'm right here," Peter said as he pulled his head up from his drink.

"I gave you a promise that I would protect you, so that's what I'm going to do."

"Neal."

"But I can't have him in my home, not like this." The three of us fell silent after Neal's announcement, our words evading all of us.

"Then we will leave," I agreed quietly as I stood from my seat, the metal grating along the concrete.

"Not you, him."

"Neal."

"No."

"You can't- "

Neal stood to face me, the man a head higher. "I can. I am older than you and I am responsible for you," he said as he pointed a finger towards me.

"Technically, I am older," Peter muttered, his eyes cast down upon the drink in his hand once more.

"Not now, Peter," I said through a sigh. "Neal, I know you feel you have an obligation to my mother but- "

"I have an obligation to you," he responded quickly. "I promised to be there for you."

"You're Henry's father. Not mine!"

"I'm his grandfather," Peter mumbled.

"Not now Peter!" I pleaded as I moved around the table to advance into the street.

"Were are you going?" Neal snapped as he followed closely behind me. The both of us leaving Peter at the table.

"You didn't see the way you looked at me. The way you judged me!" I stormed down the street, my sword swinging at my hip with every step. "It was not my can of worms to open, nor was it my information to tell you."

"You still kept it from me, Bethany!"

"I already told you I wasn't sure if my assumptions were correct until my memories returned."

"You could have told me."

"How?" I snapped, turning to face him, the two of us pausing on the sidewalk under a streetlamp. "How could I have found the right time or the right words to say "Oh by the way, the boy living with us is probably your grandfather. You would have thought me mad!"