Chapter 8: Phase 3- True Love's Power

For the next two weeks, things were pretty much smooth sailing.

Emma had hung out with Neal a few times outside of work and after her first session with Dr. Hopper she found herself more relaxed around him, something she hadn't been since his arrival two months ago.

Christmas was fast approaching, only a day to go as tomorrow marked Christmas day.

Emma hung her jacket up as she entered her apartment around noon. It was Christmas Eve and in the morning Emma had gone into the office for a little while before calling it a day. She would have her cell on in case anyone needed to reach her.

From the outside she could hear whispers but when she entered the door the talking stop as her parents and Henry looked up at her.

"What's going on you three," she asked knowing they were full well up to something.

"Nothing," said Henry. "We were just talking."

"About?"

Henry shrugged. "Just Christmas stuff," he said nonchalantly.

"Yeah I find that hard to believe," said Emma. "You're up to something, you have been for weeks."

"What makes you think that," said Snow.

Emma laughed as she placed her hands on her hips. "Well first of all Mary Margaret, you've never really been a good liar." Emma creased her brow for a moment and semi-retracted her statement, "Although I will say ever since you got your memories back you have gotten better."

"Must be the warrior princess thing," Snow said with a smile.

Emma walked over to Henry. "And second of all kid," she said ruffling his hair, "You couldn't lie to me the first time we met so what makes you think you can try to lie to me now?"

Henry thought for a moment and then looked at his mom, "What if I'm not lying, what if I'm keeping a secret?"

Emma looked at him. "Same thing," she said.

"Not really," said David as he stood up from his chair. "It is Christmas after all. You really wouldn't want Henry to ruin his surprise would you?"

"Figures you'd side with your grandkid," said Emma. She then looked at Henry. "Really though Henry, I don't need anything."

"Sure you do, you just don't want to admit it yet."

Snow looked at her daughter, "It's more than that though isn't it?"

"It's nothing," Emma replied.

"Nothing with you means something because if it were nothing we wouldn't be talking about it," said David.

Emma looked at her father. In the short time since her and Mary Margaret's return how was it that David suddenly knew her so well?

She had spent moments with him when he was just David Nolan and not just David Nolan the Prince Charming but in that time she never really talked about anything personal, it was always just business or finding excuses for Mary Margaret.

"Did Mary Margaret ask you to say that," Emma asked him.

David looked to Snow and back at Emma, "No why?"

"It's just funny how you took the exact words out of Mary Margaret's mouth," she said smirking at her mother. "She's used that exact sentence on me before."

"You're diverting Emma," said Snow.

Emma bit her lip, "It's just this holiday stuff. Kid I know I told you that I agreed to it but I'm just not the Christmas kind of girl. Growing up in the homes, the foster parents I did have or some of the aids when I was in the group home, they tried to bring out the Christmas joy but none of it meant anything. My foster parents would just end up sending me back or it was just the aids trying to feel good about themselves. I grew up hating Christmas."

"But it's not like that anymore," said Henry.

"He's right," said Snow. "It's different this time, this time we're together, as a family."

Emma looked down, "I know, I just can't let it go."

"You can try," Henry said to her. "I mean you've been working things out with dad haven't you?"

"Yeah I guess."

"And things are going good for once right? You're finally happy around him?"

"Sure."

"And Dr. Hopper has been helping right?"

Emma looked at him. "Wait a second how did you-," but Emma couldn't finish as Henry cut her off.

"Then isn't Christmas a minor obstacle to get through compared to that?"

Emma looked at her ten year old son. Though he was still young there were often moments when he surprised her, which was constant. He was so wise for his age. Emma wasn't sure if it was because of the way he had grown up or simply that it was in his genetics since both his grandparents also carried much wisdom.

Emma smiled at Henry, "Come here," she said to him.

Henry walked over and let his mom embrace her, him hugging her back.

"You're a great kid you know that?"

David and Snow both smiled at each other as they watched their daughter embrace her son. It was simple moments like these that Snow never found herself getting tired of. Snow often thought back to the day she had asked Emma if she was ready to be Henry's mom and though Emma's answer was a simple, 'yeah,' she had seen by the look in her eyes that Emma was more than ready and more than capable.

Moments such as these only confirmed Snow's faith in her daughter.

"Come on you two," said Snow. "Henry wasn't it your idea to bake cookies today?"

Emma looked up and Henry turned around. The two of them released each other and Henry walked over to the counter with his grandmother.

Ten minutes later Emma looked back and smiled at Henry and Snow as she answered the door.

"Neal," Emma said in surprise.

"Hey," he said with a smile.

"What are you doing here," she asked sounding confused.

"I invited him," Henry said behind her.

Emma turned to look at her son. "You did, when?"

"Yesterday," Henry replied as if it was no big deal. "I thought it would be fun if Neal helped too."

"It seemed like too good of an offer," said Neal and Emma turned to look at him again. "I haven't made Christmas cookies since I was a kid and it seemed like a nice opportunity to spend time with Henry and with you."

"Um…" Emma said diverting her eyes.

Before anything could be said and before Emma could move to let Neal in Snow spoke behind them.

"Hey you two, you might want to look up," Henry said with a beaming smile as he pointed upward where a bushel of mistletoe hung above them.

"Henry," Emma said through her teeth. She turned to look at him. "This was your idea wasn't it kid?"

Henry just smiled.

"I knew you were up to something," she said to him.

Henry's smile only grew wider.

Emma wanted to reach up and grab the mistletoe and throw it in the trash but she was stuck. Neal stood in front of her blocking her exit and her family stood behind her, waiting.

"Sorry about this," Emma said.

Neal laughed, "Sneaky kid."

"You have no idea. You wouldn't believe the other stunts he's pulled."

"Oh I think I would, you and I were pretty sneaky ourselves."

"Guess his grandmother isn't the only one he got it from."

"Well what's the harm, it's just one kiss."

"After ten years, are you sure?" Emma asked a bit nervous.

"I'm sure about you," Neal replied, "But you've always known that."

Emma smiled. "You're right, it's just one kiss. It's not like it will mean anything."

"Right," Neal said agreeing.

Ignoring the audience behind them Emma took a step closer to Neal and him to her. Neal then reached for Emma wrapping his arms around her waist. It felt so right and that scared Emma a little but she couldn't help herself as she wrapped her arms around his neck as she had done before when they were together.

Their foreheads met and slowly did their lips. As their lips met they were brushed over with a rainbow pulse. The wind from the pulse rippled through the apartment and the open door.

After the wave dissipated Emma and Neal continued to kiss each other; this time more fiercely than before.

Neal pulled back after needing some air. "What was that," he asked Emma in major surprise.

"I knew it," said Henry, "That was true love's kiss."

"But how," David asked, "Neal wasn't under a sleeping curse."

"Maybe he didn't have to be," said Snow. David looked at Snow confused. "When were back in our land Cora tried to pull Emma's heart out."

"Wait what," said David. How could Emma still be here if Cora had taken her heart? Before David could ask more questions Snow placed a hand on her husband's arm.

"Cora couldn't do it. She was blasted back."

"By the magic inside me," Emma said finishing for her.

David looked at his wife and then at his daughter, "You've been back for three months and you failed to mention this until now, why?"

"I told mom not to," said Emma. "I'm still not even sure this is yet. I haven't been able to control it."

"But it is magic," Henry asked.

"That's what Gold thinks," Emma replied.

Emma stepped away from the door, not caring if Neal was inside or not. She got her answer when the door shut behind her and Neal stood there.

"You talked to Gold about it," David said getting more shocked by the second.

"Just the one time," Emma answered, "When we got back. I was freaked out enough as it was."

"I still don't understand," David said trying to wrap his head around it, "How?"

"I'm your daughter," said Emma, "Think it through," she said not wanting to get into the particulars with Henry in the room. Instead she opted for something less dicey. "Not only am I the savior but apparently the love you and mom have is so strong that whatever magic came from it got passed down to me."

"Amazing," said David.

Neal took a step forward as he reached for Emma's hand. She didn't object. In fact it felt natural. Emma looked down at their entwined hands and then up at Neal.

"So what exactly does this mean for us," Neal asked Emma.

"It means you belong together," said Henry as he gleamed.

Emma looked at Neal and took a deep breath as she walked him over to the living room where they could have some kind of privacy.

"The kids' right," she said to him. "My magic-," Emma paused as she contemplated those words. "It's worked before but always under different circumstances. I've kissed other men before, even while I was here in Storybrooke but it never acted the way it did just now. The only person it's ever worked on was Henry but that was because of the sleeping curse and because I am his mother, I do love him. As far as personal relationships go, I've never been in love with anyone the way I've been in love with you."

"So you do love me," Neal said his eyes sparkling, "But you've always said-,"

"I know," Emma said looking down for a moment before looking up at him. "You were right in what you said to me that night in Archie's office. I was angry because I was in so much pain. What you did to me left me feeling empty for a long time. The hole never went away and I realized that it wasn't ever going to because deep down I always knew that I was still in love with you." Emma looked down and laughed, "Even though I tried so hard not to." She looked into his eyes. "I never could let you go. If I'd been able to I would've sold the car and gotten rid of the swan pendant a long time ago. I guess I just needed a little help. I'm just sorry that it had to be because of magic."

Neal took Emma's chin in his hands. "I'm not," he said to her. "If it wasn't for magic I wouldn't have found you."

"Which time," Emma asked with a smile.

"Both. You could've stolen any car but you didn't, you stole mine. And what are the odds that out of all the cars you would end up finding one with a guy living in it?"

"Not to mention one of the good guys," Emma said wrapping her arms around his neck. "I'm pretty sure the odds on that are slim to none."

"Slimmer if you take into account that the woman I fell in love with turns out to be superhero. If you hadn't broken the curse I never would have found you again."

Emma looked over her shoulder and her parents and Henry quickly diverted their eyes to pretend they weren't listening in.

"Well I think you have to thank Henry for that one."

Neal looked at Emma wondering what she was talking about.

"The sleeping curse was meant for me," said Emma. "Henry did everything in his power to get me to believe even going as far as sacrificing his life for me.

"Being a hero does run in your family doesn't it," said Neal smiling.

"Are you going to be okay with that, with all of it, with…magic?"

"I'll be okay as long as I have you. I love you, whatever else has changed that hasn't."

"I love you too. I'm just sorry it took a while for me to accept that."

Neal shook his head. "We've waited ten years. I could wait forever for you."

"Well you don't have to wait anymore…We don't have to wait."

Emma looked into Neal's eyes and leaned toward him, their lips meeting once again. Another rainbow wave rippled through the apartment.

Emma laughed, "Guess we're gonna have to get used to that."

Neal laughed as well. "Guess so."

Emma looked over at Henry. "Hey kid, get over here," she said with a smile.

Henry smiled as he reached his parents. David and Snow stood in the kitchen, David wrapping his arms around his wife and Snow cuddling into them.

In the living room Emma wrapped an arm around Henry's shoulder, the three of them in a tight nit circle.

"So what did you think of my Christmas present?" Henry asked admitting to his scheme.

"So this is what you had up your sleeve the entire time?" Emma asked.

"It wasn't just magic that gave you a boost," Henry said proud of his plans.

"I figured as much, you can't lie to me or keep secrets."

"I was able to keep this one," Henry said smiling that he got one over his mom.

"Well it worked," said Emma. She placed a kiss on top of his head. "Thank you Henry."

"You're welcome," Henry replied. "I wanted you to be happy."

"And you thought I'd be happy with Neal?" Emma asked wondering how her son could have known.

"I had faith that you would and I was right, you two are meant to be together."

"Yeah kid," Emma said looking at him and then at Neal, "We are."

Neal smiled at Emma. They were finally a family: The kind of family that they had missed out on being. And not only were they their own little family but Snow and David completed that. It wasn't just a separate family of three; it was a full family of five.

Everything about this moment felt right to Emma. She wasn't a big fan of Christmas and before Storybrooke she had never really experienced what it was like to have a family. Now there were four people in her life that she could never imagine without. This was the family she had always dreamed about.

"Hey you three," Snow said breaking the silent moment, "Did you still want to bake the cookies?"

Emma looked at Henry, "Come on let's go," she said to him. The three of them walked to the kitchen and Emma and Henry began helping Snow.

David stood with Neal and the two men began talking.

The afternoon wore on and the family drifted into the comfort of laughter and conversation.

[FADE OUT]

~END~