We Can Love Again

A New Home

Sleep couldn't have come to her even if she tried. Emma spent the entire night staring blankly into the darkness, feeling like a weight was placed on her chest as she knew it would be the last chance she would ever get to sleep next to her son in a long while. She took hours filing though memories; remembering the good times and the bad times, she realized how much she took the twelve year old for granted. Henry had been lost once in Neverland. Now Emma was going to be separated from him again.

Snow and Charming got everyone up at the break of dawn, obviously more than excited to see everyone else again. The blonde found this slightly ironic- they were the two she thought would want to stay most of all. A thought in the back of her mind told her that they would return again someday, once they got everyone else in their kingdom to come back with them.

The final walk out of the hotel room was completely silent. Neal and Emma stuck close to Henry as much as they possibly could, savoring their last moments with their son. The remaining five hung back.

Soon, they were all surrounded by nothing but grass for miles it seemed, completely alone and distant from everyone else. David stopped and turned to look back at Robin, who already had the ring out and ready for use.

The large group simply stood in silence, exchanging looks with one another, not knowing what to do. It seemed so simple- open the portal and walk through it. But both Emma and Neal knew it wasn't going to be that easy.

Snow was the first to walk over to Henry and wrap her arms around him, trying her hardest not to get emotional for Emma's sake.

"I'm really going to miss you," she started, resting her chin on the too of his head- he was now tall enough. "You're really going to love living here. Everything in your book is here; don't be afraid to explore it all."

Henry gave her a warm smile, remembering when she had first given him the book.

"Thanks for believing in me grandma." He told her, as she slowly let go of her hold on him.

"Look at my grandson, brave as a prince." David said with a teasing smile, taking no time in giving him a hug as well. "Have fun, but don't get too crazy with the merry men."

Henry laughed, giving him a quick nod. "Promise. Take care of everyone back home. Tell them that Regina really changed."

David couldn't believe how mature the twelve year old was starting to become. "I will. I'm sure they'll miss you, though."

He gave his shoulder a squeeze and took Snow's hand, telling her it was time to start worrying about the portal. She nodded, giving Henry one last smile before heading off to talk to Robin. As the two left, Hook saw his chance to talk to the boy. He walked over towards him, trying to avoid Neal's tumultuous glare as he did so.

"I'm sad I never got to properly teach you now to be a pirate!" He said, bending down so he was eye level with him.

"Sometime in the future," Henry told him, "Emma and Regina made an agreement that she'll bring me back after two months."

Killian smiled. "Then I'll see you again. I'll have to learn everything about new realm you're from, it's quite strange."

Laughing, Henry leaned forward to whisper something in his ear, something Neal nor Emma couldn't catch. Hook nodded, straightening himself up and giving Emma a quick glance before walking off. Maybe she was seeing things; but it almost seemed like there was a real hint of sadness in his eyes.

Henry turned around to face his parents, tears already pricking his eyes as he went towards them, opening his arms as they both pulled him into a tight hug. That did it for Emma; the wall that she had forcibly built herself crashed down as she held her son in her arms for the last time in a long while. Two months, it's only two months... She kept repeating this to herself in her head, though it felt like an eternity.