Baelfire/Neal Cassidy

Baelfire, called Bae, was Rumplestiltskin's only family and greatest treasure. Bae's mother, Milha, abandoned them when he was very young. It was to save Bae from the Ogre War battlefield that Rumplestiltskin became the Dark One. Bae makes Rumplestiltskin promise to leave behind his magic if Bae can find a way for them to be together as father and son without the magic of the Dark One. Morraine tells Bae about Reul Ghorm, the oldest and darkest magic, who gives Bae the last magic bean. This magic bean opens a portal into a land without magic (presumably our world). Bae goes through the portal, but Rumplestiltskin renigs on their deal and refuses to follow Bae. The last we see of Bae in FTL is him calling his father a coward as the portal closes.

Neal Cassidy is a young thief in love with another young thief, seventeen year old Emma Swan. They make plans to start a life together in Tallahassee, FL, but first they have some stolen property to get rid of. On his way to fence the merchandise, Neal meets August who convinces him to leave Emma for her own good. August proves to Neal that magic exists, and that the Curse is real. Neal truly loves Emma and makes August promise to let him know when the curse is broken. Neal also leaves their yellow bug and a substantial amount of money for August to give to Emma upon her release from prison. Neal does not know yet he has a son but finds out when his father, Emma, and Henry find him at his apartment in NYC.

We first see Neal in the opening scene of Season 2 heading to his apartment in NYC. As he arrives he notices that he left a window open and it is raining. As he goes to shut it he drops his cell phone OUaT the window and then a carrier pigeon lands on his desk with a post card from Storybrooke with the word "Broken" handwritten on it.