Author's Note: Part in italics is from 2x04- "Tallahassee"

Chapter 1: Destiny

"She has a destiny," August said to Neal in the darkened ally, "and you, this life, you're gonna keep her from it. Okay you believe in magic?"

Neal swallowed and looked at August intently feeling as if he had somehow been exposed. "I take it you do," Neal said diverting the question from himself.

"So will you. Trust me. I'm gonna show you something, something that's gonna make you look at everything differently and when you see what I have in here you're gonna listen. You're gonna believe every word I say."

"Yeah right," said Neal. He took a look in the box and a wave of panic washed through his insides. He looked at August. "Kay I'm listening."

"There's a curse," said August, "and it needs to be broken. Emma is the key. I was tasked with keeping her on track and you my friend just got caught in the crossfire. Now I'm gonna tell you a story and at the end of it you're gonna have to make a decision: will you do the right thing or not? So, are you ready?"

Neal wasn't sure if he was ready for anything. He had spent years flying under the radar and now that old life that he had tried so hard to run from had finally caught up to him.

He nodded as he listened to Augusts' story.

After the tale was over Neal shook his head, "I won't do it. I won't leave her."

"You don't have a choice," said August, "and ultimately we both know what choice you're going to make. Emma can fulfill her destiny and you can go on with the rest of your life without all of this."

"I don't care," Neal replied boldly. "I've made my choice."

"So you're going to stay away," asked August.

"Wrong. I love Emma so I'm staying with her."

August began to seethe and protest. "If you do this-," but Neal cut him off.

"I'll get Emma on the path she needs to be on. I owe it to her to get her back to her family but if she has to do this then I am not leaving."

August knew by this point that Neal would not budge. He had known of their plan to run away together and now it was coming true, only difference was that Neal was willing to sacrifice his own issues for the sake of getting Emma home.

"Guess we have our work cut out for us then," said August. "I'll do some recon see if I can find out where they are." August got on his bike. "Don't hurt her," he said to Neal.

"I won't," Neal shot back.

"I'll see you around Baelfire."

Neal watched as August drove away, hating that he had just been called by a name he longed to forget.

He took a breath after what felt like a long time. Neal still knew there was a way out. Now that he knew who Emma was he could run and never look back and he could continue running in homes of never being found.

The sound of his cell phone in his pocket brought him out of his personal thoughts.

He saw the number and smiled. No he couldn't run. It was no longer about him anymore. She had spent her whole life alone and now Neal had the chance to change that. And not only was it to get her back to her family, but the truth that he was in too deep. He loved her way too much to walk away and he had to rely on that strength to get him through his own ordeal.

The phone rang for a third time.

"Hey," Neal said answering.

"Hey," Emma said, "Where are you?"

"Sorry I got held up. I'll meet you at our spot in half an hour."

"Everything okay," she asked.

"Fine, why would you ask that?"

"You sound different."

Neal cleared his throat. Even through the phone she could tell when he was keeping something from her.

"So everything okay," she asked again.

"It will be," Neal said with a confidence he hadn't felt at all this night. "Emma, I love you."

From her end Emma smiled, "I love you too babe. See you in half an hour."