New Beginnings: Chapter Five

Early October 2014 Manhattan

"Do you have everything?" Neal asked as he rummaged through Henry's backpack. "Your pencils, textbooks, notebooks, rulers, deodorant, mouthwash…" he listed with a cheeky grin.

"Mouthwash? Seriously?" Henry asked.

"You never know when you need to impress someone," Neal replied.

"Dad," Henry deadpanned. "It's just the seventh grade. I'm not going to need to impress anyone until college, at the earliest."

Neal laughed loudly at that comment. It had been about a month since they had returned from their little trip in Maine. Even with the newfound knowledge that Henry was Neal's biological son, the pair only seemed to grow closer as the vacation progressed. By the time the two had returned from the trip, all of the paper work for Henry's schooling had been completed. Since the twelve year old didn't have any type of school file on record, the Board at the private school scheduled a few days for him to take different placement tests. Much to the surprise of the Board (as well as Neal's amusement), Henry passed all the tests with flying colors, even though he struggled slightly with the math portion of the test.

The principal at the school had originally suggested that Henry skip a grade and go onto eighth grade or even ninth grade but Henry turned her down.

"I'm already the new kid," he had responded. "I don't want to stick out more than I already do. Besides," he shrugged, "I want to make friends with people my age.

Neal couldn't have been more proud of his son then he was in that moment.

"Don't doubt your own ability to impress girls, Henry," Neal teased, his thoughts returning to the present. "You never know when you'll find the one."

"Like you did with Mom?" Henry asked.

Neal smiled softly in return. "Yea," he agreed quietly. "Like with your mother." He cleared his throat awkwardly. "Let's get going. You don't want to be late for school on your first day."

Henry nodded and tried to smile excitedly. On the inside, however, his stomach was filled with butterflies. It had been a long time since he had really gone to a school and planned on staying there. Even during his year of foster home jumping, his host families never once let him go to school, something he was pretty sure was illegal. Henry shook himself out of his stupor before his Dad could notice and quickly followed him out the door.

"Do you think Principal Green will try and push me to advance again?" Henry asked, trying to push his nerves down.

Neal snickered. "Abby can seem a little pushy at times but she knows when to stop."

Henry frowned. "You know her?"

Neal nodded. "Yea. The two of us are close."

Henry felt a sense of uneasiness feel his stomach suddenly. "Like how close you were with Mom?" he asked, biting his lip.

Neal frowned and stole a glance at Henry. "What's wrong?" Neal asked, noticing the discomfort on his son's face.

Henry bit his lip. "Call me a dreamer or crazy or whatever but," he rambled lightly, "I was kind of hoping you and Mom would get back together when they come back."

Realization crossed Neal's face. "Oh," he said lamely. "You think Abby and I had a relationship in the past?"

Henry nodded, his throat suddenly tight.

Neal reached over and ruffled his hair lightly. "Abby and I are just friends. We meet in college, about two years before she graduated. You don't have to worry about any potential wicked step-mothers anytime soon."

Henry let out a sigh of relief. A grin spread across his face. "Are you going to try and get back together with Mom?"

Neal thought about the question for a moment, his eyes watching the road carefully. "That's something I will have to discuss with Emma when I see her again. I'm sure I hurt her badly by leaving."

Henry frowned. "But August convinced you to leave."

Neal sighed slowly. "August may have persuaded me, Henry, but I made the choice to walk out on the two of you. I'm just as much at fault as August is for putting your mother through all of that."

Henry was quiet for a moment. "Would you have left if you had known Mom was pregnant?" he asked quietly.

"No," Neal answered automatically. "I wouldn't have left."

Henry brightened up considerably after that. He chattered animatedly with his dad for the thirty minute car ride. Normally, the students were required to stay in the boarding rooms for the entire year. However, since Neal had a very flexible job and Henry's social worker had strongly advised against the idea of Henry being away from a stable environment, the school had agreed to allow Henry to simple commute back and forth between home and school. It also helped that Neal was friends with the Principal of the school.

"Why haven't we told Julia about us being blood related yet?" Henry asked suddenly.

Neal smiled. "I'm going to tell her. Eventually."

"Eventually being?" Henry asked.

Neal smirked. "When your mother comes back."

Henry frowned. "But that could take a while. Months, even years," he trailed off sadly.

Neal sighed again. He reached over and ruffled Henry's hair again. "I know it could take a while but how would we explain that we know we are related? We can't really tell them about the Enchanted Forest. They'll think we're both unstable and separate the two of us."

"But you're my dad," Henry countered. "They can't take me from you."

"They can if they believe a parent isn't all there. I've done research on similar topics and every single time, whether it is a child's biological parent or adopted, if the guardian is suspected to be unfit in any shape or form, the living environment of the child is threatened. The government will step in and remove that child from that situation. Even if the parent is proven to be completely stable, Social Services will continue to monitor the household," Neal explained, his tone calm and steady.

"I keep forgetting you have three Master's Degrees," Henry commented, pouting slightly.

Neal chuckled. "So what do you say we keep our lineage a secret until your Mom gets back, yea?"

Henry nodded in agreement. "Sounds fair."

Neal smiled as he pulled up in front of the school. Henry could do nothing but stare at the big brick building. "Wow," Henry whispered.

Neal smiled. "The school has been around since the Civil War. It's one of the oldest schools in New York. It is a private school so you'll definitely get a good education."

"How much does it cost?" Henry asked, almost afraid to know the answer.

"Nothing," Neal replied.

"What? There is no way a school this nice is free."

"Austin's paying for the entire thing."

Henry looked over at his dad. "What? Why?"

During the month that the two had had together, Neal had phoned Austin and told him the premise for the story Henry was working on. Austin had quickly latched onto the idea and Henry and Neal had set to work on creating a manuscript for the play. They had used Henry's book as a base for the tale, applying lines and using the narrative to create the stage movement for the play. It had taken a good two and a half weeks to complete but, when they were finished, Henry was very pleased with the outcome.

Neal smiled. "He can't legally pay you for the story, since you are still a minor but he can donate some money to pay for your schooling. It's all under the premise of giving you a good education, seeing as I am your 'adopted' father," he replied, using air quotes around the word 'adopted'.

"And he has the money to do that?" Henry asked as Neal parked the car out front.

Neal nodded. "He's been saving up the royalties that I refuse to take from the original clothing lines."

"You don't take all of the royalties?" Henry asked as he opened the car door. He climbed out and tried to straighten his uniform.

Neal walked around the car, Henry's school bag slung across his shoulder. He knelt down and straightened Henry's tie and quickly smoothed out any wrinkles in the dark gray sweater he was wearing. "I only take what will get me by, which is about 30% of what I would make if I took the whole thing."

"And what's 30%?" Henry asked, suddenly very curious.

Neal grinned. "About five grand a month."

"Holy cow," Henry whispered. "How much would you make a month if you didn't take that?"

Neal paused for a moment. "About 16 grand a month," he answered honestly.

Henry's eyes nearly fell out of his head. "And Austin sales that much clothing in a month?"

"In between industrial and private sales," Neal grinned.

"Private sales?"

"Austin sales the original clothing to private investors. If they buy the outfits, they have to sign a contract saying they will not try to reproduce anything since it is copyright protected. One of the original designs can sale for up to $10,000."

"Why so much?" Henry asked as Neal held the door open for him.

"Austin has only the best materials imported for me to use; the best silk from China, some rich dyes from India. The price of the outfits are rather on the expensive side but they make for the best quality. Besides, all of the original clothing I make is completely from scratch. I basically do everything but that's what makes the product such high quality. The majority of people, however, don't even know that it isn't Austin making the cloths and designs. I like to remain anonymous."

"And you learned all of this from Mr. Gold?" Henry asked quietly, mindful of the closed classroom doors.

Neal nodded. He still looked a little uncomfortable when the subject of his father was brought up. Neal wordlessly opened the door to the office and Henry was forced to drop the subject. Henry filed in quietly, his previous nerves suddenly coming back with a vengeance. He immediately latched onto Neal's arm. Neal looked down at him in surprise.

"Can we come back another day?" Henry asked, his voice shaking a little.

Neal raised an eyebrow in surprise. Henry had been excited for the past week at the idea of going back to school and being around children his own age. Neal knit his eyebrows together in confusion. He guided Henry to one of the chairs in the waiting area and knelt down in front of him.

"What's wrong, Henry?" Neal asked, his voice soft.

"I just think we should come back another time," Henry replied quickly. "I'm not feeling so well."

Neal raised an eyebrow. "Rule Number One, Henry," he replied gently.

Henry dropped his gaze and stared down at his hands. "What if you don't come back?" he whispered. "What if I never see you again after you leave?"

Neal felt his heart break as he watched the apprehension that crossed Henry's face. He knew that look. It reflected back at him every day for the past eighteen years (plus about 300 in Neverland). He placed a hands on Henry's shoulder and used the other one to lift his chin up.

"Nothing is going to happen to make me leave you again," Neal replied, his voice full of honest. "I'm not making the same mistake I made thirteen years ago. And nothing is going to change my mind this time around."

Henry sat there for a moment, looking into his dad's eyes. He leaned forward and wrapped his arms around his dad's neck and fought back against the tears that were trying to fall. He took a couple of deep breathes as Neal's arms wrapped around him, holding him close. Neal gently rubbed his hand up and down Henry's back, quietly listening to his son's breathing. Even though he didn't get them often, Henry did occasionally have panic attacks that came out of nowhere.

"You alright?" Neal whispered.

Henry nodded and choked back a watery laugh. He pulled back and wiped his face with the tissue Neal offered him. His face turned a little red, suddenly embarrassed about breaking down the way he had.

"How about we make a deal," Neal said quietly. "Stay at least the first three periods and, if you are still feeling really off or you feel like you are about to have another panic attack, call me. I've explained the situation about your panic attacks to Abby and she has informed all of your teachers." Neal reached into his back pocket and handed Henry his emergency cell phone that Neal had purchased the week after Henry moved in with him. "Remember, emergencies only."

"But a panic attack isn't an emergency," Henry countered.

Neal raised an eyebrow. "It's considered an emotional emergency," Neal continued. "Call me if you still feel really uncomfortable. I'll pick you up."

Henry smiled and took the phone. "Deal," he agreed. "Did you put your new number in here?"

Neal nodded, mentally cringing at all of the people he had to still contact to give his new number to. While they had been at the vacation home in Maine, Neal had accidently dropped his phone into the little lake while he and Henry had been fishing. It miffed Neal a little, since he had had that phone number for years, since before he had met Emma. The phone wasn't old but the number was and it had carried him through the years.

"Earth to Dad," Henry said, gently knocking on his Dad's forehead. "Did some Daleks come and take your mind away?"

Neal grinned and ruffled his son's hair affectionately. "No, no Daleks. Just some small thoughts. Be glad they weren't Angels. This is Manhattan."

"Dad!" Henry whined. The Angels were his least favorite villain from Doctor Who.

"Come on," he said, helping Henry to his feet. "Let's go talk to Abby."

~ONCEUPONATIME~

Late October 2016 Manhattan- Two Years Later

"Dad!" Henry yelled as he ran down the stairs. "Your phone is ringing. Again. Have you seen my tie?"

"Your tie is where it was last night when I told you to pick it up," Neal reprimanded, looking over his sketches and list of clothing one more time.

"Dad!" Henry whined. "We're going to be late! And your phone is still ringing!"

Neal sighed and grabbed his phone. "The show doesn't start for another three hours. And it's the last night of the show. ."

"But you said you wanted to get there early to make sure all of the costumes were perfect and I want to get there just in case the actors have any question," came Henry's reply as he ran around the kitchen, searching through drawers.

"It's on the coffee table, where you dropped it last night when we came in. And if the actors don't know their lines by now, then they shouldn't be in the show," Neal replied.

Henry darted into the living room, yelling his thanks, choosing to ignore Neal's last comment. He quickly grabbed his tie and darted up the stairs, making sure he didn't leave anything important. Neal shook his head and swiped the front of his screen, answering his phone.

"Hello," he answered, trying to keep the frustration out of his voice.

"Bailey, boy!" a voice yelled from the other end.

"Jesus Christ, Austin," Neal hissed as he rubbed his sore ear. "Are you trying to make me deaf? And how many times do I have to ask you not to call me Bailey."

Austin laughed on the other end. "No. Just trying to make sure you can hear me perfectly fine. To answer your second question, I will call you by your real name whenever you tell me what Bae is short for."

"I hear you," Neal replied. "Loud and clear. And not a snowballs chance in hell will you learn what Bae is short for. I am not letting you get me drunk again," he griped.

Austin laughed again. "I hope you aren't like this for the show."

Neal rolled his eyes. "Of course not. What are you calling for anyways?"

Austin was quiet for a moment. "I've had a couple of people check all of the reservation names but there is no one registered under the last names Swan, Mills, Blanchard, or Nolan."

Neal sighed. "If they've heard of it, they will come. Just let the attendants at the box office know to ask for names before selling any tickets. How many did you put back?"

"I had Julia put back about six VIP and backstage passes," Austin replied. "Julia said she would man the area until right before the curtain raises. Are you even sure these people will show?"

"If I know Emma like I do, she'll try to find Henry. The last record of him before the adoption was at a foster home near the theater. She's bound to pass the theater."

"How do you know she will even stop?"

Neal chuckled. "Henry said his grandmother, Emma's mom, was the one who used to tell him fairytales. Henry told Emma all about the story he made up. She'll stop, I assure you." Or rather, Snow White will, considering the fact that the show poster looks just like her.

"Did you show Julia pictures?"

Neal hummed. "I showed her a picture of Emma. Of course, it was when we were younger. That's the only one I've got."

Austin hummed in response then was quiet for a moment. "How's Henry doing?" he asked quietly.

Neal frowned. "He's been busy trying to get the show together. A lot of the actors are having a hard time channeling the characters, since they are different from the original stories and from the Disney representations."

Austin cleared his throat. "I meant with… It has been a year since that happened."

Neal felt his throat close up and exhaled slowly through his nose, his mind mentally replaying the events that had nearly torn Henry and Neal apart, forever. He reached up and pressed his thumb and forefinger against his burning eyelids. He took a deep breath, held it for a few seconds, and released it slowly. "He's doing just as well as anyone could expect. He still has really bad nightmares."

"I would be worried if he didn't," Austin replied honestly. "I might not have the advanced major in Child Psych that you do but even I know that the situation he was in is bound to give even the hardest of people night terrors." Austin paused for a moment. "How are you faring?"

Neal thought for a moment. "Alright, I guess. Even though I have been a nervous wreck for the past year."

"The security system still working well?"

Neal nodded before remembering he was talking on the phone. "Yea," he replied. "They still haven't caught him?"

"No. It's like he completely disappeared. I've arranged for the NYPD to act as security throughout the show. All of the guests' bags are being checked and the police have a description and picture of him." Austin was quiet for a minute. "Do you think he will show?"

Neal sighed. "I don't know. He was heavily involved with the show before everything happened. I wouldn't put it passed him to try something."

Austin sighed. "As long as you aren't just being a little paranoid."

Neal smirked. "I've been through too much to be 'a little paranoid'," he replied. "Besides, my instincts are telling me he'll try something if we don't tighten security."

"As long as you are sure," Austin replied as Henry walked back into the kitchen, feverously trying to get his tie to cooperate.

Neal snickered at Henry's attempts. "I'll let you go, Austin. I need to save me son from the disaster that is known as a bow tie."

"Ha ha," Henry mocked. "Very funny, Dad."

Neal grinned at his son and said goodbye to Austin. He walked over to Henry and began to expertly tie the dark blue bow tie around his son's neck. "This is what happens when you insist on getting a bow tie and refuse to let me show you how to tie it. Why you thought you could learn from YouTube videos, I will never know."

"Bow ties are cool, Dad," Henry countered, giving his dad a look that dared him to argue.

Neal raised an eyebrow. "Are you quoting the Eleventh Doctor?" Neal asked rhetorically, knowing the answer to his question.

Henry simply gave him a look before he grabbed his bag that contained all of his notes. "I'm going to wait by the door. Maybe that will give you some incentive to finish getting ready."

Neal snickered as he watched his son run out the door. The smile slipped from his face as his mind drifted back to that night, one year ago. Neal closed his eyes and exhaled sharply, trying to rid himself of the phantom smell of blood that suddenly assaulted his senses. He bowed his head, his hands resting on the granite countertop. He closed his eyes, inhaling slowly to try and dispel the images that were appearing in his mind's eye. As soon as it got to the point of where he couldn't take it anymore, a sharp tapping sound startled him. His head shot up, his instincts that he had gotten from his years on Neverland kicking in. He scanned the room and his eyes came to rest on a small white dove, sitting just behind the window pane. The dove stared at him before cocking its head to the side.

"Damn bird," Neal cursed, wiping the sweat that had gathered on his brow. He walked over and wordlessly opened the window. The dove hopped in and kicked something off its foot before flying back out the window. Neal frowned and quickly picked the paper up. His heart skipped a beat as he took in the words on the front of the postcard: Greetings from Storybrook, Maine.

August 2013 The Enchanted Forest

Emma landed hard on her feet, her knees giving out from underneath her. She landed on her butt, the dress that she was suddenly wearing tangled up in her legs. She looked around, taking in the smell of the evergreen trees and the feel of the cool breeze around her.

"Ow," she muttered. "Are you alright, Henry?" she asked as she looked over. Her blood ran cold as she saw the spot that her son had last been completely empty. She stood quickly, trying not to trip over her dress. "Henry?!"

"Emma?"

Emma turned and saw her mother standing there, her hair long and tumbling in waves over her shoulders, completely dressed in white. Emma looked next to her, staring at her father, who was clad in dark brown leather pants and a white bloodstained shirt.

"Where's Henry?" Emma asked, her panic rising.

Snow's eyes widened. She looked around quickly for her grandson, trying to spot the boy. The curse had hit them all so quickly that Snow wasn't sure exactly where everyone was. "He's probably with Regina," Snow answered. "We'll find him."

"He's not with me," Regina replied, walking over to the three in a black and red outfit that was covered in feathers of matching colors.

"Where is he?" Emma asked, her voice turning desperate.

"He's not here."

Emma turned and felt her knees nearly give out. Standing a few feet away from her was a strange looking man with gold-flickering reptilian skin dressed in a dark grayish-green outfit made of leather. His hair was matted and wavy as his creepy eyes watched her intensely. It took her a moment to realize just who she was looking at.

"Gold?" she asked, her voice coming out as a squeak.

"The one and only," he relied in a creepy voice. "Though I prefer Rumpelstiltskin."

Emma suddenly felt very light-headed. As much as she believed in magic and fairy tales, actually seeing Gold as the Dark One was a little much.

"What do you mean Henry's not here?" Regina asked heatedly.

Rumpelstiltskin's eyes flickered over to her. "It rather simple. Henry was born in the Land Without Magic. The reversal of the curse wiped everything about Storybrook away, including all of us. However, since Henry wasn't born here," he emphasized, pointing to the ground, "the curse couldn't take him with us. It only brings those born of this world back."

Emma felt her blood freeze in her veins. Her throat seemed to close up as her eyes widened. "Are you saying that Henry is back there?" she asked, her voice quivering. "All by himself?"

Rumpelstiltskin looked around the large, quickly forming group, his eyes searching. Disappointment crossed his face before he turned to look back at Emma. "Yes," he replied coolly. "Henry is still in that realm."

November 2016 Storybrook

Emma sighed heavily as she pushed her still silent phone away from her. She leaned back in her desk chair and ran a hand through her hair. She looked down when she felt someone tug lightly on her jacket. She smiled as she quickly scooped the two year old up, setting him in her lap.

"Hello there, little guy," Emma smiled, her little brother giggling as he played with the ends of her hair. She looked up and saw her mother and father standing in the doorway.

"He couldn't wait to see you," Snow White said as she walked in, pushing the stroller over to the side. "He completely adores you."

Emma laughed. "Like any two year old would admire his 33 year old sister," she teased. It had taken her a while but she had come to terms with the fact that she and her parents were very close in age. "What has little Graham been up to?" she cooed, causing her little brother to laugh.

"Making a mess of things," David answered with a smile. His face fell as little. "You sure you don't mind watching him? We can always reschedule our date."

Emma shook her head. "If you do that then you will never get any alone time. I'm not doing anything anyways. I'm still waiting for either Gold to let me know when he is finished with his potion or for a phone call."

Snow frowned. "He still hasn't called back?"

Emma shook her head. It had been about two weeks since she had sent the postcard to Neal by way of a dove. Gold had told her that the potion to retain their memories would take three months, since he didn't have all of the ingredients he needed. Emma had taken it upon herself to try and contact Neal. Since she didn't know his number (he hadn't answered when August called. The line had been disconnected.), Emma decided to take a leaf out of her parent's book. Gold had given her some fairy dust he had acquired, telling her to sprinkle it over the dove and focus on Neal's face. The magic would do the rest.

She had been very skeptical about whether or not the magic would work outside of Storybrook. This last month had been making her solidify that doubt. She wanted to find Neal. She had hit a dead end on finding Henry. Her son had been adopted and the files had been completely sealed. She couldn't just very well tell the officer that she was talking to that she was Henry's mother that had disappeared for three years. Instead, she had acted as a bail bonds woman name Ruth Morgan, calling to see if Henry Mills knew anything about his birth mothers whereabouts. Unfortunately, the only thing that could open the adoption file would be a court order from a state governor. She couldn't do anything from behind the barrier of Storybrook.

That was why she wanted to get in contact with Neal. She had left her phone number on the card with a message for him to call her. If she could get ahold of him, she could see if he could find Henry, starting in the last place he had been on record: Manhattan. She knew it was probably a stretch, and maybe Neal didn't want to see her, but she had a gut feeling that in order to find Henry, they needed to find Neal.

"Emma?" Snow asked, seeing her daughter's spaced expression.

Emma blinked before her face turned apologetic. "Sorry. I was thinking." She stood, picking her younger brother up as she went. "You to have a date. I suggest you get going."

Snow and David looked a little apprehensive but they complied nonetheless. Emma shook her head at her parents before she looked at her brother.

"They really need to learn to have a good time and not worry so much," Emma cooed, causing Graham to laugh. Anything that Emma said was hilarious, in Graham's opinion. She shook her head and buckled him into the stroller. He immediately began fussing.

"Don't start that," Emma said playfully. "I'm just getting your playpen out so I can get some work done."

Luckily, Graham decided not to throw his temper tantrum and waited rather patiently for his older sister to set the pen up. Before long, he was in the bottom, babbling happily as he played with the numerous amount of stuffed toys that his parents had showered him with. Emma smiled before looking back down at her paperwork. Her eyes drifted over to the phone, watching it for a moment like it was going to suddenly ring.

She sighed and focused her attention on her paperwork. The next two hours passed slowly. Graham continued to play in his pen until he tired himself out, falling asleep with his little behind in the air, a little blue teddy bear cuddled to his chest. Emma stretched as the clock hit nine. She sighed and closed the folder she had been working on. She was just about to stand when she heard two sets of feet shuffling in the hallway. She frowned. Her parents weren't due back for another hour. Who could possibly be in the station at this time of night?

Emma listened closely, hearing muffled speech through the closed door of her office. As if by reflex, Emma's hand venture down to her gun that was strapped to her waist. She spared a glance at her brother, who was still asleep before pushing the door open, walking into the area where the jail cells were. She heard the pair stop around the corner and a muttered exchange took place. She clenched her jaw, really hoping that it wasn't Zelena or Cora or both.

"It doesn't look like anyone is here," an older male voice said. Emma frowned, trying to place where it sounded familiar.

"Someone should be here," a younger male voice replied.

"I can hear you," Emma said loudly, not wanting to wake her brother up. "Why don't you show yourself?"

She heard one of the people laugh. "She doesn't beat around the bush, does she?"

"Are you stalling? Because it seems to me like you are stalling. Are you suddenly getting cold feet?" the younger voice asked, mimicking the sound of a chicken.

"You little Dalek," the other person commented teasingly.

Emma just raised an eyebrow. She was not amused, even with the Doctor Who comment.

"We come in peace," the older person replied, their voice suddenly high pitched and squeaky sounding.

Emma sighed in frustration. She opened her mouth the demand they show themselves when the older person walked around the corner. Emma couldn't keep her eyes from widening or her knees from almost giving out. Never in a million years did she believe that Neal Cassidy would be standing in the police station of the little town called Storybrook.

And yet, there he was. He looked exactly as the dreamcatcher had shown. His dark brown hair was speckled with a little grey as his eyes practically reflected that goofy, warm grin on his face. He was dressed casually in dark blue jeans, a dark gray button-up shirt, and a black jacket with a black and dark purple scarf around his neck. He was watching her carefully, gauging her reaction.

"Neal?" she whispered, not quite sure if he was really there.

His grin softened a little, becoming almost wistful in nature. "Yea, it's me. Sorry I didn't call. We thought it would be easier just to drive up here. Granted, we did stop in Augusta because the drive from Manhattan is long."

Emma frowned. "'We'?" she asked, not really sure who Neal had brought to her little town.

Neal grinned and turned back towards the entrance to the office. "You can come in now, kid."

Emma frowned but didn't say anything. She froze when a young boy of about fifteen walked to stand next to Neal. He had a sheepish expression on his face and he had gotten taller. His hair was the exact same color as before, almost a carbon copy of Neal's. His eyes were warms and bright with tears. He was dressed in dark colors, much like his dad. The only difference was the fact that he was wearing the black and red scarf that Emma always saw him wearing. Even though she hadn't seen him in three years, Emma knew exactly who the teenager was.

"Henry?"

Author's Note: This chapter may seem a little long but the last 1000 words or so is actually a fan theory I wanted to present to my readers. It isn't something you have to read and it isn't needed to explain New Beginnings in any way. It is simple my theory on what COULD happen next season of OUaT based on events that have occurred and little bits of news that has been circulating about some possible characters.

On another note, the story is not over. There is still two years' worth of memories to go through concerning Neal and Henry as well as three years for the people of the Enchanted Forest. We haven't even touched the surface of what Henry or Neal went through in those two years nor have we even begun to cover all that has happened in the Enchanted Forest.

Please let me know what you think about the story thus far, particularly the setup of the chapters. This is the first time I have used such a format. I didn't want to just tell the story straight through: from Neal adopting Henry to the reunion that took place above. I wanted to show you, as the reader, how the characters have progressed from the different time periods. Thus, the chapter split setup of the story. Until next time, please read and review.

OUaT Random Fan Theory- Season 6

Before I begin, this is nothing more than a theory that my overactive imagination has produced after reading information on the upcoming season. I am not saying any of this will happen or could happen. I just couldn't help writing it down once all of the little pieces connected in my head. Of course, this is just my view and opinion. I am not in any way trying to force it on others or downgrading anything else that others are theorizing. I ask that you do not reblog this with the intent of trying to tear my theory apart. Again, it is a FAN THEORY, based on everything I have seen over the course of the last few seasons. Please do not send me hate mail or messages just to make yourself feel better. I have seen some of the crazy things this fandom is capable of on Tumblr and Twitter and every other social media outlet when their feelings get pokes a little. This is not an attack on any of the ships. It is purely my own imagination connecting different things.

Ok, so this idea has been bugging me since they released the information about Morpheus. The writers describe him as, and I quote, "an old soul in a young body". Now, in Greek Mythology, Morpheus is the god of dreams. One of his powers is that he can appear as any person in someone's dream. And exactly who do we know that had a dream when the season first started? Emma. And in the dream/vision/whatever you want to call it, Emma saw Neal.

Now, either that may have been Morpheus disguised as Neal or it could just have been Neal. OR… and this may be a stretch but, what if Morpheus is Neal/Baelfire. Just hear me out for a moment.

In episode 5X12, Neal is seen telling Emma that he is someplace where he is happy. Not once does he say the words that he is in Olympus, or Heaven or whatever. It's the other characters that assume he is there, e.g. Rumple, Emma, Milah, etc. Neal says that he came to warn Emma not to go to the underworld. After Emma says that she can't stop, Neal says he figures, with a smile, and kisses her on the forehead. He then leaves by saying that he has always loved her and always will before he gets out of the car.

Here is something that has really been bugging me about that scene. Not bugging me in a bad way but bugging me in a way that feels like foreshadowing. Once Neal exits the car, he heads back towards the ride that can be seen behind him and Emma while they are in the car. If you look closely, you can see there is a sign that says Asylum hanging on the ride.

Now, I may be reading too much into this, but why would Neal walk TOWARDS the ride that is labels Asylum? If all of you Oncers can recall (please correct me if I am wrong, I haven't seen past Her Handsome Hero because I moved to a different country and haven't been able to watch the last episodes), in the last episode/season finale, isn't Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde from an ASYLUM?

Back to Morpheus for a mo. The writers describe him as a person that is "an old soul in a young body". Now there are three people in the show that could be considered "old souls": Rumpelstiltskin, Killian Jones, and Neal/Baelfire. Rumpelstiltskin doesn't completely fit the description since he isn't young. Killian Jones/Captain Hook fits the profile but he is clearly in the story already, having just been reunited with Emma.

The only one, however, that isn't in the story thus far is Neal. Neal/Baelfire has been living for a very long time, ever since the Ogre Wars. He's lived through his father being the Dark One as well as having to live on Neverland for a very long time, which could actually be longer than the time in the Land Without Magic. In Second Star to the Right, Wendy comments that she had been there for a few days but only a night had passed for Baelfire, who had been sleeping, not even sure if Wendy would return. That's a different theory for a different time.

Another thing that the writers said about Morpheus was that he has a talent for reading people while also having his own hidden agenda. Now, having an agenda isn't necessarily a bad thing, nor does it mean that a person is trying to take over Storybrook or kill anyone. Having an agenda just means they have something planned. Morpheus could possibly be trying to take out Hyde or even be trying to work with the heroes. We don't know as of this point.

Back to the opening scene of 5x12. If Neal was really dead and is on Olympus, how in the world was he able to get in contact with Emma when she passed out? There are only two people in Greek Mythology that have the power to control sleep/dreams: Morpheus and his father Hypnos. Morpheus is the god of Dreams while his father Hypnos is the god of Sleep, whether it be intentional sleep or unconscious sleep such as passing out. Another thing, in Greek Mythology, Hades is the Lord/God of the Underworld. He isn't, however, the god of Death. That role falls to Thanatos, who also happens to be Hypnos's twin brother.

I know I keep jumping back and forth but please bear with me one more time. In Quiet Minds (3x15) Neal dies as a result of opening the Dark One's Vault. But what if he wasn't really dead but rather in a death-like slumber? In Greek Mythology, again, the mandrake can put its drinker into a death-like slumber. It could be possible that this happened to Neal or the combined forces of Thanatos and Hypnos saved him. As of this point, Eddie and Adam have yet to explain exactly how the Greek Gods exist. Are they actual gods? Or are they just people from the Enchanted Forest who have been effected by magic, somehow leading them to becoming gods? As of right now, I have no proof to prove or disprove this little bit of information. The only people we have seen from Greek Mythology are Hercules, Megara, Hades, and Zeus.

Not much is really known about them. It is quite possible that Neal somehow became a god either after he died or sometime in between the time he escaped Neverland and found Emma. Not much is known about Neal during that period, other than the fact that he stole some watches from a jeweler in Arizona. It is also entirely possible that Neal didn't even know that he had somehow become Morpheus.

Again, I could just be going out on a limb here but the amount of times Neal has been mentioned in the last season cannot just be random or have no purpose. Writers, myself included, tend to put different little hints throughout their chapters or storylines. Why would the writers of OUaT go for a whole season and a half, barely mentioning Neal then suddenly BAM! There are mentions of him everywhere, whether they be little, subtle accounts such as the dreamcatchers in the episode Dreamcatchers or calling him by either of his names, like when Emma and Regina go to Neal's old apartment. I'm sorry but this sudden input of foreshadowing and heavy mentioning of Neal seems to be suggesting that he could possibly be either appearing briefly or could be returning next season.

I hope you guess find this theory interesting. Please let me know what you think or if you have anything to add to this. Again, please do not reblog to disapprove this theory. If you have a different opinion, please feel free to message me in a CALMING manner and I will reply as soon as I can. Any hate messages will be deleted.