Let Your Heart Be Your Guide||Neal & Emma
Based on this idea (x)|| inswanwetrust
Neal Cassidy had never been a believer in the afterlife. It just wasn't something he had ever really given much thought to. Even after his parents died. He preferred to just not think about death at all, and just numb himself to it instead of analyzing it. However, it wasn't until the day his own life ended that he discovered there was much more to the world than he had ever imagined.
Instead of floating off into the abyss, or going to some nirvana, Neal ended up face to face with a bunch of men and women in hooded robes. He'd seen some odd things in his life so this was just another to add to the list. The group introduced themselves as Elders. They were a powerful group of elder whitelighters who advised and governed the forces of good. Their purpose was to preserve the greater good and they did this by counseling their whitelighters and helping them guide and protect good witches, as well as future whitelighters.
He had felt like his head was spinning, and when he was told he'd been chosen to become a whitelighter due to his selflessness, he was a bit confused. First off, he needed to know what a whitelighter was. It was explained that whitelighters were a sort of guardian angel for good witches.
As Neal accepted his calling, albeit reluctantly, he learned a great deal about magic that he never knew. He learned that magic was actually quite prominent in the world and had been for several centuries, but because of the ignorance and fear of others, those who practiced it had to hide their gifts. He also learned that magic was neither good nor evil. It was the wielder who chose how they would use their powers that determined whether the magic would be light or dark.
He began to develop a respect for magic and the people who practiced it, seeing them in a new light. As per his whitelighter duties, Neal was assigned several charges, witches and future whitelighters that he was to guide and watch over. There was one other key rule that was told to him. He was under no circumstances to see his family again. He had left that life behind and no matter how tempting it was, he couldn't go back.
He thought of Emma and Henry often, and even allowed himself to watch over them when he could, without arousing suspicion. He was currently living in Seattle, Washington, on the complete other side of the country, from them. He worked as a mechanic at a local repair shop.
That day was like any other, except that Neal couldn't stop thinking about Emma. For some reason that he couldn't explain, he had this feeling that she needed him. It was something he couldn't shake.
Moments later, he heard her crying out and could practically feel her life force draining. Without bothering to consider the consequences, Neal immediately orbed. He was at her side at once, and she was in really bad shape. "Emma..."
It was not going to end like this. He didn't care what they said. He was not gonna let her die. Closing his eyes, Neal raised his hands over her and concentrated on the power, and his love for Emma. Within seconds, the magic radiated from his hands and began healing her.
