timeconverges

am i familiar with it?

do i like the fandom itself?

who’s my favorite character?

"Smallville, I swear you're gonna turn me into a sap." She teased lightly. Her expression softened and she reached a hand up to gently caress his face. "I love you, Clark." Her voice was soft and emotional.

She wanted to know where and when he would take them when they have the choice of anywhere and any time.

"Okay, we'll go somewhere I want to go, but next time you're giving me an answer." He went over and typed it in a destination; usually, he would ask Gideon to do it, but he wanted it to be a surprise.

"Fiiine. But I am buying pie and ice cream for dessert. And you're gonna eat some."

"When was the last time you even watched an actual movie? You know one that had sound." The last part was teasing obviously.

"More often than you'd think." Sometimes he would bring the TV downstairs and leave it on in the background while he cleaned the diner.

He glanced around briefly before his attention settled back on her. The teasing expression softened slightly at her next words.

For a moment, he was quiet.

“Yeah,” he said softly. “Me too.”

A small smile tugged at his lips, though there was something more thoughtful behind it now.

“You deserve more than surviving, Tink,” Neal continued quietly. “You deserve an actual life. Friends, freedom, experiences… all of it.”

His gaze held hers for a brief moment.

“And I’m really glad you got out too.”

Neverland had been a trial when she first got there, but Tinkerbell had learned to adapt. Storybrooke seemed very different; there was something wondrous about it; It wasn't quite the Enchanted Forest, but there was a deep connection. Maybe there was a way that her own magic could return here.

Family.

That still meant something to him. More than he probably knew how to explain.

A small smile crossed his face, quieter this time. “Thanks, Tink,” he said sincerely. “That means a lot.”

But at the mention of Emma, his expression shifted again. More complicated now.

Neal exhaled softly, glancing away for a moment before leaning back slightly.

“I don’t know,” he admitted honestly. “Part of me will probably always love her.”

That much had never really changed.

“But loving someone and being right for them aren’t always the same thing,” he added quietly.

His gaze drifted downward briefly before returning to her.

“There’s been too much history. Too much hurt.” A faint, rueful smile tugged at his lips. “And somehow we always manage to find new ways to complicate things.”

A small pause followed.

“I think… right now, I’m just trying to figure out who I am when my entire life isn’t centered around running or surviving or fixing everybody else’s messes.”

"But you're right, we need to move forward. Maybe with food? I'm starving."

"Tink, I think that aside from Henry, you're the most important person in my life."

If anyone deserved a happy ending, Tinkerbell would do anything to accomplish that, but she also knew that might not be in his future, and maybe that was a good thing.

"Maybe not, but you never know. Shit happens. We've seen our fair share."

"I don't know if I've said it lately, but I'm glad you're here, that you managed to make it out and have experiences away from the forest, and from Neverland." He had been so young when he arrived there, and it wasn't like the island was good for a child's development.

"I like Victor; he's a bit standoffish, but I understand why. I think we'd get along." He had been from a whole other realm, stranded here because Regina didn't know of any other healers. "Not that there is a lot of injury in the town."

Maybe later.

She softened, taking that for what it was.

“Hey,” she said gently, a small smile forming. “I’m never too busy for you.”

She stepped a little closer, her voice lighter now, trying to keep things easy for him. “Why don’t you make me a shopping list of whatever you wanna cook? I’ll head over to Doose’s, grab everything…”

A small shrug followed, casual but intentional.

“And by the time I’m done, you’ll be closing up.”

But it didn’t last.

His gaze dropped, shoulders shifting slightly as he exhaled, heavier this time. “I don’t… I don’t know,” he added, shaking his head a little. “It’s not like I’ve got some speech ready.”

A brief pause, like he was trying to make sense of it himself.

“Every time I think about it, it just…” He trailed off, frustration creeping in as he let out another breath. “It doesn’t come out right. Or it comes out angry.”

His eyes flicked back up to her.

“And then we’re right back where we started.”

"I've never had parents," Tink said matter-of-factly. "I was born from a laugh; I didn't get a childhood or anything." She had always envied humans because of that. "I had Blue, of course, but it wasn't the same; she was more of a teacher than a caregiver."

A second later, he shook his head, easing back just slightly. “No. Not happening.”

He ran a hand through his hair, shrugging like it wasn’t a big deal—even if it kind of was. “I’ll figure it out. Do some odd jobs, whatever people need.”

His tone picked up a bit, more casual now.

“I can fix stuff, build stuff, paint… mow lawns if I have to,” he added, ticking it off like a list. “I’ve picked up enough over the years.”

Another small shrug.

“Someone’ll pay for it.”

"Blue offered that I join her and the others at the church, but I don't think that's for me." It just seemed like a boring lifestyle, a punishment. "Maybe Victor needs a nurse? I'm quite good at healing."