A bright yellow bug sat tucked away on a street curb in Portland. Rain drops splashed lightly on the windshield as a young couple relaxed inside, staying dry. The song on the radio played, blending with the sound of the pounding rain on the roof of the car.
Emma curled up in the passenger seat, resting her head on Neal's shoulder. She loved days like this when it was just the two of them, no thieving, no running, just stuck inside a car together. Sometimes they both wished that it could be like this forever; stable and comfortable. But then again, they both loved being on the run together, completely in charge of their lives and their future. This was all they needed; each other. They were each other's home.
"What are you thinking?" Neal whispered softly in Emma's ear. He stroked her blonde hair, moving it our of her face.
Neal's whisper ticked her ear and Emma chucked. She intertwined their fingers together, shaking her head in a way that said "Nothing."
She could feel him smile as he left a light kiss on her head. He continued to play with her hair, aimlessly twisting it around his finger.
After a few minutes of nothing but the rain interrupting the silence, Neal shifted in his seat and said, "You know what I was thinking?"
Before she could reply, he had the door of the car open and was standing in the rain, laughing without a care in the world.
"What are you doing?!" she called, laughing as he danced around like a kid.
"What do you think I'm doing?"
He looked so happy and she loved seeing him that way more than anything. He was soaked, and so was the driver's side of the car for that matter, but Emma didn't both closing the door. Instead, she took a deep breather, trying to hold back her laughter and jumped out into the rain. The cold stung but after a few seconds, she was used to it.
She spun around, letting the water hit her face. She heard Neal laugh "I told you it was great!" from a few feet away.
"You're always right!"
"Of course I am," he joked, grabbing her around the waist and pulling her close to him.
They looked at each of, rain drops spilling down their faces. Emma couldn't tell if it was the reflection from the rain or how happy he was, but Neal's eyes gleamed as he looked at her in a way that no one ever had before; like she mattered. They made her melt.
They stared at each other for a minute, not saying a word. This was one of the most perfect moments they had ever shared, completely lost in each other. Completely and totally in love.
The music coming from the radio that had been left on in the bug broke the intensity of the moment.
"I love this song," Emma said, looking back at the car which was probably completely soaked on the inside at this point.
Neal followed her gaze, grinning. He leaned towards her ear and whispered, "Emma Swan, can I have this dance?"
She giggled and nodded, leaning into his arms. They stood closer, leaning on each other. Emma tucked her head under Neal's chin, listening to him hum along to the song as they swayed, dancing in the rain, not a care in the world.
In that moment, she had never felt more safe, more loved, or more wanted. She was Neal's girl and she would be for the rest of her life.