A Perfect Mess
A/N:
My mom is a nanny and she just came back from work and started complaining how disobedient the children were which inspired me to write a story where it's Emma who takes that job.
Also, one of the first books that I've read in English was The Nanny by Melissa Nathan and this story will be heavily based on this lovely book. I will change some things and try not to copy it, because I don't want to write everything the same way, but I will keep the main plotline which belongs to Melissa Nathan. Also there will be a lot of fluffiness, because of sweet kids. And how can you not love Hook playing with children?
Important details - this is AU, there was no curse and Storybrooke is just an ordinary town. Emma's not a saviour(althought she is one,but in a different sense) and MM and David are not her parents, but she's still an orphan. Some things are different too, like for example Neal not abandoning Emma ( there's no curse so August didn't show up). I also planted Greg and Tamara here and they seem really nice, but don't let yourself be fooled 'cos you will find out what happens eventually. I think it's all from the important things. If you have any questions - ask.
This A/N is really long, so I will stop there and let you read the story. I hope you will like it and won't be disappointed, but it's my first fic so I can't promise anything. You just have to read it, find out if it's any good and review to let me know if I should continue writing. I have first chapter for now, so we'll see if I'll write more or not.
Enjoy!
I
Loud screming and crying could be heard even before he came inside.
When after a minute of consideration (honestly, he didn't want anything more than to turn around and run like hell) he finally opened the front door, the complete and utter chaos greeted him.
He was pretty positive the Charmings had only two children, but he was floored when he saw kids running so quickly that he wasn't able to count them. Mary Margaret was making breakfast from the look of it, but he couldn't be sure because there was a smashed plate on the floor, so maybe there was something else happening (was there an earthquake and he just haven't noticed?) David tried to catch the girls who somehow managed to dodge his clutches - one of them laughing maniacally and the other weeping hysterically.
"Uncle Killy!"
He was discovered before he could flee imperceptibly. Bloody hell.
Killian observed how a little girl with hair as black as her mothers raced across the living room, tears rolling down her cheeks. He crouched and opened his arms when she was close enough to throw herself at him. She hold onto him tightly, sobbing quietly into his shoulder, he stood up pressing her even closer.
"Why are you crying, princess?" he asked the girl rubbing her back in circles.
"R-ru t-took my pa-pa-pan-pan-"
"I took her pancake," said an older blonde. She seemed pretty proud of making her younger sister cry.
"And you will be punished for that Ruth!" sounded Mary Margaret's voice from the kitchen.
"She's smaller, she doesn't deserve as many pancakes as me," pretested Ruth with pursed lips. Hearing her sister's words only made little Eva cry harder.
David came directly behind a girl that looked like him, only in female version and turned her around by the shoulders. "Stop tormenting your sister and get ready for school. You're leaving with mum in 5 minutes." He used his stern voice.
"But daddy-" started Ruth, but stopped when she saw a hard expression an her father's face and went to her room to retrieve a backpack.
David sighed audibly and dropped the mask. "Thank God you're here Killian. We were just leaving to work and you're a life sa-"
"Whoa! Stop right there, mate," he exclaimed still holding Eva who was now calmer and looked at the both of them with her round blue eyes. "I'm not staying. I was passing by and visited for a minute to tell you that Ruby will be late. She is sleeping off yesterday's party."
"I'm going to strangle her," Mary Margaret yelled evidently hearing their conversation and Killian chuckled.
"It leaves you to take care of the children then," said David smugly.
"I'm not going to pay for her irresponsible behaviour," he hissed.
"Y-you don't w-want to stay w-with me Ki-lly?" the little one hiccuped and gazed at him pleadingly. The tiny devil knew what she was doing to him with those eyes - he couldn't refuse her.
"Of course I want to, sweetheart," he whispered and brushed a black lock from her face.
"It's decided then," clapped David," you're a nanny today."
"I can't be a bloody nanny, your majesty," he almost growled. "I have stuff to do. It's time you finally hire a real nanny."
"What kind of stuff?" asked Mary Margaret and stood beside David with Ruth holding onto her hand.
"Important stuff."
"As always," said David and rolled his eyes. "We will find a new nanny. Maybe... Anyway, your sister's not here, so you have to replace her."
David grabbed his jacket, opened the door and let Mary Margaret and Ruth walk out of the house before him.
"Stepsister," he corrected, but David only patted Killian's shoulder and kissed his daughter on the forhead.
The door closed and he was left with Eva who was looking up at him with her innocent eyes.
"So princess, we're alone. What would you like to do?" asked Killian.
"Play pirates!" she shouted.
"Only if you let me be Captain Hook this time, love."
"Yay!" He couldn't help but laugh out loud at the young lass's enthusiasm.
.
.
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The night shift at the Joe's, a bar in the center of Boston, was finally over. It was a tough night, full of drunks that couldn't stay upright on their feet and some gross old idiots who only waited to put their hands on every single waitress's ass.
Yep, and she was one of them.
But her name was Emma Swan and she refused to be touched by disgusting dudes that couldn't keep their hands to themselves. She was always in trouble because of how she behaved, listening how the guests were more important than her sensitiveness. She would have marched out of here, throwing her apron at her boss's face and slamming the door so hard that every glass would break into pieces, but no matter how many times she daydreamed of doing just that, she needed the money more than anything.
Emma was wiping the last table, too tired to do it properly and readying herself to leave, when Charlie, the owner, shouted at her from his office "Emma, come here."
She reluctantly walked into the room, feeling the blade twisting in her stomach and knew that this is it, knew what awaited her behind the door, because it already happened to her too many times.
And as she sat there, on a suddenly very uncomfortable chair, keeping her face blank, and listening how she was fired, that this time pouring the whole glass of beer on the costumer's ( she would rather call him a stupid, grabby bastard) trousers was too much, she only thought of how life was so unfair. Especially to Emma Swan.
.
.
Opening the apartment's door, she slipped inside as quietly as she only could, took off her sneakers and jacket and headed to the bedroom not caring about brushing the teeth or removing her make-up. She sat on the bed, pulled off the tight jeans and laid down snuggling herself to the sleeping man. After today's events Emma was so exhausted that she fell asleep in less than a minute.
.
.
There was a distant beeping. It was getting louder and louder and the sound was making her brain ache.
BEEP BEEP BEEP
"Oh shut up already!"
After a few fruitless attempts, Emma finally managed to silence the beeping beast. She looked at the alarm clock that read 8:15 and growled, throwing herself face first back on the bed. It was definitely too early to be awake, especially after she came home at 3 in the morning.
No matter how hard she tried to go back to sleep, she couldn't.
Scrambling out of bed, Emma yawned and rubbed her sleepy eyes. She entered the kitchen and started the coffee machine. On the table lay a piece of paper, she intended to throw it into the bin, but a familiar writing stopped her.
Happy Birthday, babe!
Okay, she forgot it was her birthday today. How can you even forget your own birthday?
And all her boyfriend did was a quickly scrawled three words. But what did she expect? A bouquet of roses and chocolates? Yeah, right.
She was meeting up with her boyfriend and their friends later to have a small celebration, so maybe she will get her recompense then, although she doubted it. Emma and Neal were together since she was seventeen, they met while she was stealing the car he had already stolen and that's how their relationship started. They were thieves, living in the yellow bug (they still owned it) stealing food and clothes. These times were now long gone. She was 24 and worked as a waitress (not any more).
Her life was good, she had a place to live in, not a lot of money but they somehow managed to make the ends meet and a boyfriend who loved her. The only thing she lacked was a purpose. Her life was boring, not in a litteral sense of the word, but it was...featureless. She didn't wish to go back to how they lived a couple of years ago though. It wasn't normal to live in a car and everyday be afraid of being arrested. She missed the adrenaline, but knew these times will never come back.
And her relationship? Well, it was just a part of the routine. She loved Neal, but she thought they were just so used to each others company that it was the main reason they were still together. It was something constant and she'd already drowned herself in it, without a possibility of surfacing. She was too scared to push herself off the bottom.
.
.
Emma was the first one in the bar. She sat at their usual corner and waited patiently. More people were arriving and there was still no sign of her gang. She started to entertain herself with a napkin, folding it so that it would look like a swan. She sucked at origami, so after 5 minutes stopped playing with the napkin.
The door opened, letting in a cold October air and Emma shivered. Neal came in and made his way to the table.
"Hi babe," he greeted her. "Happy birthday to my girl." He kissed Emma's lips sitting next to her. "Didn't you order anything, yet?"
"No, I was waiting for you," she answered and Neal went to buy drinks.
He knew what she always had and didn't even bothered to ask the question. Today she wanted him to.
Neal came back with drinks for everyone, even though they were still not there, and she noticed that her glass was the only one that was decorated with a colorful small umbrella. It was her birthday present, she guessed. Oh how she wished to stick this stupid umbrella in his eye.
Soon Tamara and Greg came. Tamara was Emma's best friend (actually she was her only friend, so Emma considered her a best friend) and Greg was Tamara's boyfriend since high school. It was Neal who introduced Tamara and Greg to Emma. She didn't like them at the beggining, but with time she changed her opinion. Emma's never had a friend before and was cautious with letting people in, because she knew they will stab her in the back in the end.
"Emma," breathed excited Tamara throwing herself at Emma." Happy birthday!"
"Thanks." Emma smiled at her friend. Then she spotted that Greg was holding something behind his back. "Don't tell me it is what I think it is."
"You think right," said Greg and put the box with a big purple bow on the table in front of Emma.
"Guys you didn't have to," she said honestly and looked at Neal expectantly, trying to tell him mentally that they didn't have to, but it was a completely different story with him. Was he her boyfriend or not, dammit? Neal evidently didn't catch what she meant and only stared at her back.
It was a lost cause, so she focused back on her present.
"Open it," exclaimed Tamara. She was practicallly bouncing with excitement.
"What's inside?" asked Emma.
"It's a present, I can't tell you. It would spoil the surprise." Emma hated surprises. "You'll like it. Or rather Neal will." Tamara winked at him.
Emma carefully lossen the bow and rised the lid peeking in.
"Seriously?" she asked when she saw a red negligee.
"Isn't it gorgeous?" Tamara evidently took her sarcasm the wrong way. She pulled the negligee from the box and raised for Emma to see it. And it was even worse than she thought. It was red, really, really short and almost completelly see-through. Plus it was lace-trimmed. A black lace.
"No! It's...so revealing. What's even a purpose of wearing something like that when I could as well go naked?" Emma denied.
"I think it's beautiful, babe," interjected Neal. "You'll look sexy in it."
"Oh God, no." Emma's head landed with a thud on a table. "Don't start Neal. And you'll never see me in it, I can guarantee that." She never wore anything like that, preferring a normal PJs, but she usually slept in her knickers and a T-shirt anyway.
"Emma don't be such a prude. You don't have to pretend in front of us. Remember when we were in New York, in that posh hotel with 25 floors?" She nodded. "The walls were rather thin there and we h-"
"What?!" Emma shouted after almost choking on her drink. "You-we-didn't-" she stuttered.
"Not to worry, blondie," giggled Tamara. "The point is, we know you're not as innocent as you claim to be."
"Okay, let's change the subject!" said Emma putting the negligee back into the box. "Anyway, I have news." She looked at Neal. "I lost my job."
"What?"
"Really?"
"That bastard!"
Exclaimed accordingly Neal, Greg and Tamara.
"Babe, why didn't you tell me anything?" asked Neal gently, taking her hand into his.
"There was no opportunity. But don't worry, I found a new one," soothed Emma.
"Where?" asked the trio in unison.
"In Storybrooke, as a nanny," she said awaiting their reactions.
"Storybrooke? Where the heck is that?" It was Tamara who posed the question.
"In Maine."
"So you would be leaving Boston?" asked her boyfriend.
"Yeah. Don't worry, it would be only for a short time, until I find something else."
"I don't think it's a good idea." Neal shook his head.
"We need money Neal and the salary is surprisingly high. Besides, that is my decision. I want to work there." Emma was firm in her resolution.
"We'll talk in home, alright? Let's just celebrate now." said Neal.
She agreed and they got back to their drinks.
It was nearly midnight when Emma and Neal got back to the apartment. They thumbled onto the bed and that's where Emma received her second gift from Neal - none of the two were what she really wanted. She wanted to receive a real present, not a drink decoration or a round of birthday sex which after all these years became so predictable and simply boring in her opinion. Sure it was pleasurable, bot nothing else, no sparks.
She was happy though he didn't do what he's already done a few times before on her birthday - proposing.
They were together for about seven years now, but he still didn't seem to know and understand her. Each time she declined his proposal, she was hoping he would finally see that it was not about her not wanting to marry him, but about a DECISION.
She didn't want him to make the decision for her. She was hoping he would discuss his plans with her before asking the big question, flashing her a ring and waiting for her agreement or disagreement. And so she waited. Waited until they'd make this decison together, not separetly.
It seemed she will never see that day.
.
.
Emma Swan sat at the kitchen table, holding a mug of hot chocolate and sipping it from time to time. Her laptop stood before her and she was once again looking at the advert that didn't seem to leave her mind. She even had the whole text memorized.
A nanny wanted for busy professional household in Storybrooke, Maine. Sole charge of seven-year-old and three-year-old. A room with television and Wi-Fi provided.
She talked this through with Neal - of course he didn't want her to leave. They had a really intense argument, but she refused to let him choose what was right for her and what wasn't. She will be making her own choices. This job was a good opportunity to change the environment and think about certain things, like her life or her relationship. Maybe she should come out of her bubble and taste a different life in another town, far away from home. If she won't like it, she will just quit and go back to Boston. But Storybrooke was the opportunity she would not let go.
She was ready to try something new.
The only thing staying on the way was this fear. She told herself it was irrational, that it was only in her head. Deep down, in a part of herself that was burried a long time ago, she knew though why she was so terrified. No matter how hard she tried to forget about what happened 6 years ago - she couldn't. She probably never would. But she'll try. And it was a perfect moment to do that.
Emma grabbed her phone and called the Charmings.
.
.
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The ride was long and uncomfortable, but the yellow bug finally took her to Storybrooke.
It was a small town on the coast line, surrounded by a thick forest. Storybrooke was nothing like Boston- quiet, the air was so pure Emma finally found out what breathing really means ,and the sky was bluer then everywhere else. It was also colder here, Emma noticed, and buttoned up her coat.
The house from the address was rather big and had a small garden behind it. It really mached to rest of the town's image. It seemed inviting.
She rang the doorbell and waited anxiously.
Eventually the door opened. At first Emma was confused as to how, but then she looked down only to see a blond girl who was proabably seven years old.
"Hi, are your parents home?" Emma asked the girl.
She in turn only observed her unblinkingly. Emma felt like she was being judged right now, so she let a small smile appear on her face - better to make a good first impression.
"Are you a new nanny?" the child asked tilting her head to the side. Okay, she was being judged hard.
"Yes, I'm here to talk to your parents. Can you get them?" Emma kept smiling, but the smile was quickly replaced by an expression of surprise after the girl's next words.
"You have to go through me first. I'm deciding if we want you," she stated firmly not blinking once and further baffling Emma. It probably couldn't get more awkward than that.
Fortunately she was saved by a man who was undoubtly the girl's father.
"Stop harrasing our guest Ruth. It's impolite," he chastised.
Ruth threw a last lingering look at her and went back inside. Emma felt a sudden relief.
"Are you Emma Swan?" asked the father.
"Yes." She extanded a hand. "It's nice to meet you."
"I'm David Charming." A funny name she thought. "Nice to meet you too. Please, follow me inside Miss Swan, my wife will be here in a minute."
"Emma," she corrected. She hated being called Miss Swan - somehow she felt old.
Mr. Charming only smiled and led Emma inside.
She trailed behind him, looking around, noting every detail. There was a lot of pictures - of two girls in the pool, horse riding, on the beach and even a picture of the whole family dressed as queen, king and two prinesses. She wanted to do a full 360-degree turn and observe some more, but they were suddenly in a cosy living room and David motioned for Emma to sit on one of the brown armchairs.
A pixie-haired woman appeared at the top of the stairs holding a small girl whose hair color was the same as her mother's. The girl whispered something to her mum's ear who smiled at the child and then they were descending the stairs. Emma stood up from the sitting position and suddenly felt really nervous.
"Hello, my name is Mary Margaret."
"Emma Swan." The women shook hands. Mary Margaret seemed genuinely nice. Unlike a lot of people Emma met in Boston, her smile was sincere.
"How was your ride?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Long, but otherwise it was alright," she answered looking at the girl who was observing her.
"You're pretty, nanny." Everyone in the room laughed at her words.
"Thank you. What's your name?" asked Emma the little girl with what she supposed was her sweetest voice. She never really had an occasion to talk to children, but she saw how other people did it. She always thought it was stupid to talk to children like they were stupid,but oh well.
"Eva," she aswered shyly and hid her face in her mother's neck.
"Take her David." Her husband walked to Mary Margaret and took Eva. "Okay, let's start."
The family sat together on the sofa and Emma sat back on the armchair which was directly opposite the sofa. There was no way it always stood there, so they probably arranged it especially for the situation - that is the interrogation which was about to start.
Mary Margaret took what looked like Emma's CV in her hands and quickly read it.
"Oh, I almost forgot. Would you like something to drink?" exclaimed David standing up.
"Mmm, a water would be alright."
David smiled at her and left the three girls.
"So, in your CV you wrote you've never taken care of children," started Mary Margaret.
Crap. She knew she shouldn't have written that one. Who would want to leave their children with someone without any experience?
"That's true, but I really want to try. I mean, I love children."
Yeah, nice lie there.
"Do you have any siblings?"
"No."
"Not that Eva needs then anymore, but have you ever changed diapers?"
"No."
"Hm, and would you like to have children on your own someday?"
Emma didn't expect that question and blanched. All the memories came back to her and she felt a sudden urge to go back to Boston where there were no children. Maybe coming here was not a good decision.
Thank God she was saved by David who came back with a glass of water.
"I think that we should give Emma the job. She drove here from Boston - it's a long way. Besides, it doesn't really matter if she has an experience, what matters is that she's willing to stay. I say she's perfect." He smiled at Emma, who couldn't believe that he would leave his children with her after a minute of conversation.
"I know David, but-"
"I want this nanny. She's pretty," said Eva once again surprising everyone and making Emma smile.
"Sweetheart, I know she's pretty and really nice, but CV and experience is important too," reasoned the woman with her daughter.
"I want her! I picked her CT!" the girl shouted.
"CV honey," corrected her mother. "Okay," she sighed, "there is also Ruth. You've already met her. You'll have to take care of her too."
"It's not a problem. I can take care of the two of them," answered Emma.
"Are you sure?" asked Mary Margaret.
"I am."
"Mary Margaret I think we should just give her this job. We have no one else and you'll just scare her away with all these questions," said David. Once again he was saving Emma from his wife's avalanche of questions.
"You're right. Sorry about that," she smiled. "Do you smoke?"
"Mary Margaret!" exclaimed David.
"No I don't," answered Emma truthfully.
"Uncle Killy do," interjected little Eva and Emma could see how her face glowed with joy at the mention of whoever this uncle was.
"Does, sweety," Mary Margaret said to her daughter and then turned to face Emma. "Killian comes here from time to time. Actually no one knows whenever he might pop in to play with the children."
"That's nice," said Emma.
"Not really," grimaced Mary Margaret. "He's teaching them piracy." Emma's eyebrows shot up. "He's turned my princesses into pirates."
"I'm a pirate princess!" Eva yelled directly into her mother's ear.
"No you're not, you're a princess. Just princess." interfered David.
"You can just ignore Killian if he comes," resurred Mary Margaret. She didn't seem to be overjoyed with this Killian's visits.
"Nanny can be his new grilfriend!" burst out Eva.
"I have a boyfriend," Emma told them awkwardly. "We've been together for seven years."
"Oh, so it's true love?" asked Mary Margaret smiling brightly.
"I wouldn't go that far, but it's kind of serious," answered Emma.
The unconfortable silence fell. It looked like they didn't have any more questions.
Soon it was broken by Eva. "I'm hungry mummy."
"Just a second, sweetheart," said Mary Margaret. "So do you have any questions Emma?"
"No."
"Great! When can you start?" asked David.
"I can start whenever you want. Even immediately," she answered politely.
"Brilliant! Welcome to the family."
That's the first chapter. What do you think? Is it crap and I should stop? (rhyme) As I said it's my first fic, so it's hard to tell myself. Review!
And sorry if there are any language, grammar or spelling mistakes.