#boomswanfire

[nowhowaboutthatdrink-blog]

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[nowhowaboutthatdrink-blog]

We are not telling Emma that Baelfire's middle name is Destrian, okay? Okay. xD

Because this is now accepted as headcanon and he wants to hide it from everyone. LMAO. So, the only person who would know is Gold. Well, and Milah.

[nowhowaboutthatdrink-blog]

Emma smiled at him. "I'm glad you're taking the time to think of good things about yourself. I really am." She grabbed his hand brought it up to her, enclosing both of her hands around his and cradling it close to her cheek. She kissed his knuckles, wanting to show him that she cared for and admired him.

Neal smiled back at her. "Well, I've had a lot of time to think. And I realized...I'm not really being fair to you, or to myself. I mean...if Henry was in my position, if he'd made the same mistake I did? I would want him to forgive himself, to love himself. Because he's a good person. And so I had to apply that to myself." He said. "I want nothing more than for you to be happy, and I know it makes you sad when I can't see what you see. So, I'm learning to let go. Because I know I'm not a bad person, and I know that us being together makes us both happy. And I deserve that. I deserve to be happy."

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"I like that I care about other people and their happiness." He said. "I also like that I am loyal to those I love." That was two. "I have this ability to see the good in people and in situations." Three. "I'm a bit of a hopeless romantic." He said, shrugging. Four. "And...I can acknowledge my mistakes and learn from them, and I do everything in my power to right my wrongs."

[nowhowaboutthatdrink-blog]

So, Neal is very mad at me right now, and I have to start this out with an explanation, and give him time to cool down. See, I gave him an assignment. He has to publicly name 5 things he likes about himself, daily, until he starts to let go of his guilt and self-loathing. So, here he goes. 

Neal?

_________

Neal sighed. "Alright, uh...I like the fact that I'm a talented artist." He began. "Uh...I like my hair." That was two. "I'm a damn good father and I love my son more than life." Three. "I've got a decent voice. I mean, I can sing, and not singing in the shower, but really singing." Four. "And uh...I guess I'm a pretty patient kind of guy." He shrugged.

[nowhowaboutthatdrink-blog]

The Rescue||Neal & Emma

Listening to August, at first, Neal was convinced that leaving Emma was the right thing to do. But, he pictured Emma's face when she realized he wasn't coming back and it killed him. He couldn't do it. Leaving the man behind, Neal pulled out his cell phone. He and Emma had gotten disposable cell phones so they could contact each other if they got separated.

Dialing Emma, Neal was dismayed to find that it went to voicemail. Something was wrong. Emma always answered when he called. He got in the bug and drove through the streets as fast as he dared, towards the parking structure near the tracks. It was 9:04. He'd said 9 on the dot.

As Neal rounded a corner, he stopped. Emma was being arrested. Shit! August must have called them...damnit! He was going to have to think fast. Pulling out his pocketknife, Neal got out of the car and crept over to the cop car, and knelt by the side. He slashed the tires and then moved back to the bug, out of sight.

He watched as the cop placed a handcuffed Emma in the backseat and then got in the driver's side and tried to leave. When he couldn't, he got out and investigated, seeing the slashed tires.

Calling it in, he decided to go looking for the culprit. Brandishing his gun once more, the cop went straight inside the parking structure. He got a lucky break.

Neal didn't waste anytime. When the cop was distracted, Neal took off at full speed for the cop car. Opening the door to the back, he glanced at Emma. "We don't have much time, babe." He pulled out his lockpick and quickly undid the cuffs. "Come on." He grabbed Emma's hand. "The bug is parked just outta sight."

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Adventures in Ice Skating||Neal & Emma

It was winter in Portland and finally snowing. Neal was concerned about how they'd get through the winter. The heat in the bug went out ages ago and all they had was blankets and each other. He'd survived worse in his life, but Emma...Emma deserved so much more. 

Each night they'd huddle together under loads of blankets and do their best to keep warm. And each night, Neal would lay awake, hating himself for not being able to give her more. Not being able to put a roof over their heads.

When they were driving around one day, Neal had noticed an ice skating rink. He wanted to take Emma ice skating. The fact that he didn't know how to ice skate, and he was sure Emma didn't either, didn't deter him. Instead, it made him all the more eager to learn.

But, it cost money. And money was one thing they didn't have a lot of. He had thought of ways they could sneak in, or that he could steal someone's wallet and use the cash, but he wanted this to be different. He wanted Emma to be able to truly appreciate an experience, knowing that it wasn't stolen or forbidden.

So, after thinking it over, Neal had made up his mind. Telling Emma he was going to get them food, he grabbed a duffle bag he kept in the trunk, opened it up, took out a small box and left.

When he returned, he had food but also something else. Handing Emma the bag of food, he grinned as he climbed back into the bug. "Hey, babe. Guess what? We're going ice skating." Neal said, holding up two general admission tickets. "Don't worry, I didn't steal them. They're legit." He assured her. "We need to go the rink and rent skates, and then we can learn together."

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Baby's First Christmas||Neal & Emma

Neal and Emma had made it to Tallahassee months ago, and they had both been excited when Emma found out she was pregnant. Neal was determined to make a real life for them. He had found a job fixing cars, and between his job and Emma's, they'd managed to find a decent two bedroom apartment.

Now, Neal was working hard, not only at his job, but at home, to make sure that their son had the best they could give him. Emma had given birth to their son two months ago, and this would be their little boy's first Christmas. Neal understood that he was much too young to even understand what was going on, but he still wanted it to be the best.

He had gone out in search of a tree, and his intention was to come home with the biggest and the best, but what he ended up with was very different. He had spotted this small, sparse tree all alone and Neal's heart had broken. No one wanted this little tree, but he saw the beauty in it, and he knew they could make it wonderful. So, he brought the small tree into the apartment. "Babe? I'm home. I got a tree. It's not...as big as I'd hoped, but I think it's nice." He said, softly.