Neal loaded up the last of their luggage into the back of the family's yellow Volkswagen beetle. They were finally ready to get on the road, but Emma was still protesting.

"I still don't see why you can't tell me where we are going," she said.

The truth was that if he told her exactly where they were going, she'd think he was crazy. His initial plan to tell her absolutely nothing hadn't worked at all. His insistence that he drove and that they all pack an overnight bag had raised suspicions. And then, when he couldn't find a way out of telling her how long the drive was, he had to admit their destination was in Maine.

Emma hadn't been pleased. It was fall, and Maine was sure to be cold - way more cold than Florida. She'd argued that they should wait until spring at the very least. And she'd also wondered why he wanted to visit Maine in the first place. That was an explanation he'd done everything to avoid.

He hadn't listened to August so many years ago when he'd asked him to leave Emma. But he had taken every other word August had said seriously. There was a curse that needed to be broken in Storybrooke, Maine, and Emma's 28th birthday had come. It was time to leave.

But he couldn't explain any of this to her. There was no way she would believe him. And if he told her the town's name was Storybrooke and she went to look it up, she wouldn't find anything. The town itself would not appear to exist. He didn't want to think about the questions that would come up from that or the fact that he wouldn't be able to answer them.

"It's a surprise," he told her.

"You are terrible at surprises," she said.

It was true, he was, probably because he didn't like surprises himself. Her favorite story was when he'd tried to organize a surprise birthday party for her on her 25th, but he'd spoiled it by actually telling her about it and suggesting she act surprised. In truth, any surprise he'd ever done for her, he'd always had to tell her about it before hand.

"I'm trying something different this time," he said, hoping he sounded genuine.

She stared at him, and he knew she knew he was hiding something. But she didn't press it.

"Why are we going north?" she asked.

"Because we live in the south," he said, avoiding her eyes. "We've already seen everything down here."

"A twenty hour drive?" she asked.

He did look at her this time. "I'm the one driving," he smiled. "What are you complaining about?"

She smiled back at him. "Please tell me we are at least going to a big city."

That would make the most sense. They were city people after all. But that wasn't the case this time.

"I thought we'd try something different," he said, feeling he couldn't get away with lying about this one.

She gave a sigh. "Neal-"

He took her arms. "Come on, Emma." He said, "This will be great." Although, in truth he had no idea what this trip would turn out to be like. "It's one trip. If you hate it, I'll never plan another family vacation again."

"Henry wanted to go to Disney World," she reminded him. The kid was ten, they lived in Tallahassee, Florida, and he had never been to Disney World. How terrible was that?

"This will be better than Disney World," he told her, and he didn't feel like he was lying when he said it.

Maybe she believed him because she relented. "Well, you are going to have to tell him that because he's still complaining about being the only kid in his class who hasn't been to Disney World."

"Go get him, and I'll explain on the way," he said, giving her a pat on the arm.

She smiled at him and went back into the apartment complex to fetch Henry.

Neal looked out past the parking lot at the road that would lead them out of the city. As many misgivings as Emma had about this trip, he had more. He knew at least in part what lay ahead of them, and he was not looking forward to it. But he needed to get Emma home, to help her find her family. He wasn't going to back down from that.

At length, Emma emerged from the apartment with Henry and the three of them got in the car.

"So we're not going to Disney World?" asked Henry forlornly.

"I promise you," said Neal. "After this trip, we can go anywhere you want." After this trip, he thought, they just might need another vacation.

It was early morning the next day when they finally arrived. Emma and Henry were asleep, still worn out from getting up hours before. Neal had hardly slept at all he was so nervous.

All night his head had swam with questions. How were they going to break the curse? How was he going to make Emma understand? Had he been right in bringing Henry with them? What kind of reaction would the townspeople have to their presence if any? And what would he do when he inevitably ran into is father?

He had no answers, none at all. And the questions just kept turning and turning. Several times he had considered turning the car around and going somewhere else. But how would he explain his behavior to Emma and Henry? And how could he live with himself for not bringing Emma home?

He forced himself to keep on task, and he took a beep breath as the car passed through the magical barrier he couldn't see but knew was there. He thought he'd feel something, but he felt nothing. They could have been traveling on any ordinary road. And he was inclined to let himself believe that was the case until he saw the Storybrooke sign and his stomach filled with dread.

They were here. There was no turning back now.

This story serves as both an exploration of how the curse might have been broken had Neal, Henry, and Emma stayed together as a family and also as a companion to my Outlaw Queen trilogy. As such, while this story should stand on its own, you do need to know that Regina is not the Evil Queen and is instead cursed just like everyone else. There is a new Evil Queen in her place. Furthermore, if you would like to investigate my Outlaw Queen trilogy, you can check out my profile.