Finding You ( A sequel to A thief who stole her heart)

4. I won't give up on us

Mary Margaret sat down a mug filled with hot chocolate with cinnamon sprinkled on top in front of Emma.

As Emma reached for it, the blanket around her shoulders shifted. David, who was close by, pulled it up for her.

"Thanks," she mumbled to both of them.

Mary Margaret looked over at David before speaking. He nodded his head, silently telling her to say whatever she needed to.

It was truly amazing how well they understood one another.

"Emma, do you want to talk about it?" She asked.

The it in question was obviously Neal. She didn't need to say it outright.

Emma kept her eyes glued on the warm cup in her hands, momentarily watching the steam radiate from it.

She refused to look at either of her parents. Their display of affection towards her was still foreign despite the baby steps they had made. However, she wasn't in a hurry to push them away either. She needed them more than ever right now, even if she couldn't say it.

"It's okay, Emma," David said reassuringly.

"I can't help but to blame myself." She quietly admitted.

"Why? You did nothing wrong." Mary Margaret told her.

"I could have saved him. Isn't that my job, to be the savior? I failed him and I failed Henry."

"Emma...you couldn't have prevented that."

"I should have been able to."

David rubbed his daughter's back comfortingly, but it did little to soothe her. Emma still felt responsible for whatever state Neal was in. If only he hadn't jumped in front of her. If only she insisted that he didn't come along...

"I should have never let him get involved. It was too dangerous for him." She said in a hushed tone before taking a small sip from her cup.

"Neal made his own decisions and I'm sure he didn't regret it." Mary Margaret replied.

Emma didn't say another word. She just continued to mentally torment herself and drink her hot chocolate.

Mary Margaret and David refused to leave her side, so they sat in silence with her.

Emma finished her beverage and stood up to put the now empty mug in the sink.

"I'm going to save him, somehow; I have to." She informed her parents.

"What do you mean?" David asked in confusion.

There was no bringing anyone back from the dead. Dead was dead. Even if Neal had miraculously survived being shot, he for sure would bleed out as he fell through the portal, or at least they thought.

"He didn't die. He was hurt, but he didn't die. We just have to figure out where he went and rescue him." Emma answered as if it was the easiest thing in the world.

"Honey, that's impossible." Mary Margaret shook her head.

"No it's not. I can do it. I have magic." Emma stated firmly.

Her parents never doubted her, but even magic had its limits. They didn't want to further upset her, but they couldn't support a fantasy that would only cause her more pain in the end.

"Emma---

"I'm doing it. With or without your help." She said and turned on her heels.

"What are we going to do?" Mary Margaret asked her husband.