"You need to leave her. It's for her own good."

Neal balked. Yes, somehow, this dude knew about magic, knew his name, and somehow knew that Emma's destiny was to break a curse in… wherever the curse had dropped the residents of the Enchanted Forest. But Neal for the life of him couldn't believe that August was asking him to do the one thing he feared the most.

"No," he finally said. "I won't do it. I won't leave her."

"But I know your story, Baelfire. I know about your relationship with your father. Surely you don't want to see him again?"

He almost flinched back at the use of his real name, but he remained steady, staring intently at the other. "I love Emma. I would never leave her behind."

August glared. "And what about the innocent people that are cursed?"

"I'll get Emma there. I'll get her where she needs to go."

"Why should I believe you?"

"Because I can't do a worse job than you have of making sure she's safe. Where the hell have you been the last eighteen years when she was in and out of foster homes and living on the streets? We got a plan in action. We're going to settle down and live the straight life. And on her birthday… we'll be there to break the curse."

"What about your father? I thought you hated him? How can I trust that you'll really do that knowing your relationship with him?"

Neal bristled, anger growing. "Don't you dare bring my father into this. My relationship with my father is moot when other people are at risk. I don't care about my father, but if there are other people in danger… I can't let them suffer."

August seemed taken aback by that, and his eyes narrowed just slightly. "There's seriously no convincing you?"

"No. Not at all. I will protect Emma and lead her to her destiny."

The thought of it made his stomach twist in a knot, but he knew it was the best thing to do. He couldn't be a coward, not like his father. He needed to make personal sacrifices to make sure people he cared about were happy.

Wendy. John. Michael. Mr. and Mrs. Darling…

He'd saved them, but at the same time, he lost them too.

He wouldn't let it happen again.

"Look, I'll even send you a postcard when we get to Vancouver. I'll keep in contact with you if it means I can stay with her," Neal implored. "I don't want to hurt her like so many other people have."

August shifted, clearly not having expected push back, but he finally sighed and nodded. "Alright, fine. Just make sure she gets to Storybrooke by her 28th birthday. And keep her safe. You have to promise me that you'll send me a word when you get there."

Neal wanted to snap back at him, but he realized how lucky he was getting, and nodded slowly instead, choosing to be polite as he took the business card August had given him. "I will, I promise. Thank you, August."

"You better hurry back to your car. Emma'll be back soon," August said, hopping onto his motorcycle.

Neal rushed back to the bug, turning it on moments before Emma came running around the corner, watches in a bag at her side, and a wide smile of delight.

That damned smile would kill him one day, he was sure.

"I did it!" she cheered, breathless as she dropped into the passenger's seat, triumphant. "Canada here we come!"

Neal laughed, leaning to kiss her deeply. "You're brilliant, Emma. I - I still can't believe you'd risk so much for a criminal like me."

"C'mon, are you still worried about that? I love you, Neal. You're the only one that's really been there for me and hasn't betrayed me…"

There was something haunted in her eyes, and while Neal had the urge to ask, he knew better not to. And, it was that look that sealed his decision to not leave her.

He wasn't a coward. Not like his father. He'd keep his promise to Emma, and now, to August. He'd keep Emma safe… and bring her to Storybrooke in ten years.

Taking a deep breath, Neal put the car into drive and sped away from the train station, heading straight for the border.

"How long's the trip?" Emma asked, relaxing against the sea. "I've never been to Canada before."

"Map says only a couple hours. I picked up a couple late night snacks while you were gone for the ride up," Neal replied.

"You didn't have to - "

"We needed food, Em. We can't get to Canada on an empty stomach," Neal laughed. "Besides, we don't know what kinds of snack foods they have in Canada. This could be the last time you eat a bear claw until we can get to Tallahassee!"

Emma's eyes widened. "Don't you dare say that. I can't live in a country without bear claws!"

He grinned. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm sure Canada has doughnut places that sell bear claws."

"What's the plan?" Emma asked. "Luckily, I have a passport, but, if you're wanted here, there's no way they'll let you into Canada."

Neal paused as the city skyline became more distant in the rear view mirror. "I got a passport too. We'll just have to have faith that we'll both be let through."

"I don't know how to do that…" Emma said softly, flicking the radio on, classic rock bursting from the speakers. "But I'll try, for you."

Neal reached to take Emma's hand with his, using the other to steer. "Hey - look at me. It's going to be okay. I promise you. Nothing bad is going to happen to us again. We're gonna go, fence the watches, and we're gonna start our lives over. No more stealing from gas stations and sleeping in this uncomfortable as shit car. I'm going to get you a cute little apartment in Tallahassee. We're gonna fly straight from now on. I promise."

Emma's hand squeezed his tightly. "I don't normally pray, but I think this might just make me start."

Neal smiled. "Whatever will make you feel better."

All of this was for her. Dropping the Bonnie and Clyde act, going straight, getting her to some town called Storybrooke where he was destined to reunite with his father after three-hundred years.

He just hoped she wouldn't want something different in the ensuing years.

The drive was quiet, minus the radio, which began to crackle the further they got from Seattle and its radio towers.

"Do you want me to see if I can pick up a Canadian station?" Emma suggested.

"Yeah - if you want."

Emma hummed softly, fiddling with the radio, before the music flickered back on. Only You, by Yaz.

Neal unconsciously gripped the steering wheel tighter as the words rang in his ears.

"You okay?" Emma asked quietly.

"Huh? Oh… yeah, I'm alright. This song just reminds me of someone."

"Lost love?"

Neal kept his eyes focused on the road as the signs for the border crossing came into view. "Not exactly."

"Your dad?"

" … Sort of. He was as close as I had to a dad for a while."

"It reminds me of someone too. Someone I thought was my friend."

He noted Emma's cheeks had turned a dusty pink, but didn't say anything. "Sorry to hear that."

"Yeah. Me too," she sighed, looking out the window. "The watches are hidden. I made sure to hide the bag in my purse. Hopefully since it's so dark they won't search all that much."

Neal nodded as they got in line. "Just act cool. Like we know what we're doing."

"Right."

As the line creeped along, Neal's fingers tapped anxiously against the steering wheel. Just a bit longer, and they were free. All they had to do was -

"Evening!" the patrol officer's voice boomed suddenly. Neal scrambled to roll down the window. "It's a bit late to be coming across!"

Neal laughed a little as he handed him their passports. "Yeah… we had a bit of car trouble that set us back a couple hours. We wanted to get here in time for a late dinner… but instead we had to settle for gas station snacks."

"Ah, you don't need to worry about that there's a 24-hour diner about ten minutes from here, and a hotel as well. How long do you guys plan to be in Canada?"

"Oh - only about a week or two. One last hurrah before we start school, y'know?"

"Oh sure, sure. We've gotten a lot of you guys comin' through," the guard said, stamping both passports with a smile. "Well, Miss Swan, Mr. Cassidy, you enjoy your time here."

"Thanks. Have a good night," Neal said, tossing Emma's passport back to her as the other guard finished his sweep of the bug. Rolling the window up and pulling onto the main road, Neal let out a breathless laugh of relief.

They'd done it. They'd really and truly done it.

He pulled off to the welcome building, exchanging what little cash he had for Canadian dollars, and realized with glee that, just with their cash, they had enough for a proper dinner. Not for a motel room, but food was more important.

That night, they feasted on cheap diner food. Chicken strips, onion rings and grilled cheese, with pumpkin pie for dessert, and black coffee to wash it down. They slept in the bug in the motel's parking lot, and in the morning, managed to sneak into one of the rooms to shower before they continued on their way to Vancouver.

"Today just feels different, you know?" Emma asked, looking over at him with a wide grin. "It feels like we can just wash everything away once we get rid of these watches."

"It does. Like the start of the rest of our lives," Neal said, squeezing her hand and grinning as they drove through the confusing streets of Vancouver. "The pawn shop I looked up in the phone book should be on this road, so keep an eye out for that."

"There it is! Less Junk 4 U!"

Neal grinned, finding a parking spot and looking at the shop. "Are you ready? After today, everything changes."

"I'm ready for anything."

They clasped their hands together when they exited the bug and entered the shop, Neal holding the bag of watches carefully as he approached the counter.

"Hey there! How can I help you both today?" the woman at the counter asked with a wide smile.

"Got a few watches here that belonged to my dad," Neal explained, letting Emma's hand go and setting the bag down, carefully taking each watch out.

The woman's eyes widened as she took in the condition of them, lifting one into her hands delicately. "These are beautiful. Pristine, even! It's so rare that we get a treasure like this. You're really sure you want to sell these?"

Neal wrinkled his nose, shrugging a little as if it were a difficult choice. "Yeah, I'm sure. Before he died, my dad and I didn't have the greatest relationship and I'm not really a watch guy so… I figured someone else would get more use out of them if I brought 'em here."

"That's very kind of you. I know many people who would love to have a Patek Philippe in this beautiful condition. I can give you... $20,000 for them, is that alright?"

Neal and Emma gasped, pretending to be shocked at the price, letting out chuckles of surprise, and Neal gripping the counter hard.

"Twe - twenty thousand? That - that's amazing! We could do anything we wanted!" Emma remarked. "Ma'am… you've just changed our lives."

She laughed softly, gesturing them over to the register. "Aw, come on now, you're giving me too much credit. It's not just about the money, it's about what you guys intend to do with it."

"We plan to get an apartment in Tallahassee," Emma said, although Neal noticed she was beginning to look a little pale. "It'll be our first time living together."

The woman hummed, smiling a little as she finished counting out the cash. "Here you are… hey, are you feeling alright?"

"Um. Sorry but do you have a bathroom I could use?" Emma asked, her face going white.

"Of course, just go down this hall, it's on the right."

Emma rushed off, and Neal followed, worriedly waiting for her outside. Christ, this was only his second day of his promise to August, and Emma was puking her guts out in a pawn shop toilet! What if something was terribly wrong with her?

Neal fussed with his hands until the sound of the flush graced his ears. Emma looked shaken when she emerged, but otherwise okay.

"That's better…" she said calmly, popping a mint she'd swiped from the motel desk into her mouth. "Are you ready to go?"

He nodded wordlessly, taking her hand as they moved back into the main area of the store.

"Are you alright?" the employee asked as they approached the door.

"Yeah - sorry about that. We just had too much fried food last night and I think it's come back to kick me in the ass. Thanks for letting me use your bathroom," Emma said.

Neal found his voice. "Yeah, and thanks for the money too. You've really helped us out today."

"No trouble. You two have a good day."

When they were alone, Neal looked worriedly at her. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine, Neal… I promise. Let's just check into a proper hotel now."

He smiled, tucking a piece of blonde hair behind her ear. "Whatever you want to do. Maybe we can do a little bit of sightseeing before we go back to the States?"

"I think that sounds fun. It'll be like a proper vacation," she said with a grin. "I've never been on vacation before."

"Me either, so I'm glad it's with you."

"I love you, Neal Cassidy."

"I love you too, Emma Swan."

They kissed before driving off into the Vancouver afternoon.