Neal Cassidy x Fem!Reader - A Complicated History

It's Complicated

Neal shut the door behind his ex and his son. Your first meeting had gone fairly well. Everyone left in one piece, which you considered a win.

"He's a cute kid," you said finally. "He's got your spirit...and your eyes."

"Yeah."

"You make such an adorable dad."

He glanced up at you. "(Y/N), I know this is weird. This whole trip is. But I swear I didn't know about him until the other day. I would never lie to you about that. I didn't--"

"Neal, relax. I'm just teasing." You gave him a peck on the cheek. "I know your history is a little complicated. It happens."

He sighed. "You have no idea."

"Well, I didn't. Until your ex, your son, and your father all showed up and begged you to come to this tiny town in Maine."

"I knew you didn't like Storybrooke," he said with a slight smirk.

"It's not that I don't like it." You shook your head. "It's just that it's not what I'm used to. I'm not used to the peaceful silences or the way everyone seems to know everyone else. It just feels really...claustrophobic."

"Well, how about we go out to the park or something? Get some fresh air and forget about everything for a bit."

You smiled. "That sounds really nice, actually."

"Great. I'll grab my coat."




You and Neal walked hand in hand to the park. You both stayed silent during your walk, but it was a comfortable one. Something that was a welcome break from all the excitement of the past couple of days. When you got there, you immediately made your way over to the edge of the water and ran your hand along the surface.

Neal looked down at his reflection, frowning slightly. He knew that it wasn't fair to do this to you. To drag you all the way here for no apparent reason and bombard you with pieces of his past. He wanted to be honest with you. But he also didn't know how you would react if he told you everything.

Still, if he was going to marry you--

His thoughts were interrupted as something collided with his back. He fell into the water as someone tried to wrestle with him.

"Got you, crocodile!" exclaimed a familiar voice. Neal threw his attacker off of him, wiping his hair out of his eyes.

"Hook?!" he gasped. The tall pirate scrambled to his feet, his clothes and hair plastered to his skin.

"Baelfire," he muttered. "You look very much like your father from behind." He felt something cool press against his throat and he frowned.

"I'd stay very still if I were you," you hissed from the bank of the pond. Hook fumbled for a moment, realizing that his sword was missing.

He chuckled nervously. "Now, now, this is no way for a lady to greet someone."

"It is when you try to drown my fiance."

"(Y/N), I'm okay. Put down the sword," Neal said, as he made his way over to you. You had a dangerous look in your eyes that he'd never seen before. And he wasn't sure where it had come from.

"That's right, love," Hook said. "Listen to Baelfire and let the dashing rapscallion go."

You begrudgingly lowered the sword. Neal sighed quietly. 

Hook turned around.

"My thanks to the lovely..." He froze, recognizing your (h/c) hair and your bright (e/c) eyes. "Cassie?"

Neal narrowed his eyes. "Wait, do you know her?"

"Obviously not!" you exclaimed. "My name isn't Cassie."

"You and Baelfire?" Hook pressed, stepping closer.

You turned to Neal. "Why is he calling you Baelfire?"

"How do you know her, Hook?"

"I could ask you the same thing, you little--!" You shoved Neal behind you, pointing the sword at Hook once more.

"Start talking. Who are you and what is going on?"

Hook hesitated. "You really don't remember me?"

"Should I?" you countered.

"I would think you'd remember your own dear brother, Cassandra." Neal stiffened behind you.

"You're lying. I'm an only child."

Hook shook his head. "I'm afraid your history is a little more complicated than that."