A/N: I'm here with yet another AU! I'm losing my mind a little, with all of these AUs running around in my head. But, I was watching The Holiday a few days ago, and I just had to write this.

I think this should be short—probably only about 5 or 6 chapters.

Anyways, enjoy!

Emma Swan hated living in New York City.

It was loud, the people smelled weird, it was crowded, the men were shady as hell, and it was just too big.

That, and her stupid ex-boyfriend (and sadly, father of her son) lived there.

Neal Cassidy.

That man made her hate New York more than anything else in the damn city.

The only redeeming part about her whole situation was that it was nearing Christmas-only about two weeks out, at that point.

But, she'd finally hit her breaking point with everything around her.

And, she knew she had to do something.

"Emma, are you crazy?" Mary Margaret, her best friend and sister-in-law, asked.

Emma had had the longest day at work, and she was just absolutely done with the world.

Henry, her eight year-old son, was long in bed, and she was sitting in her living room, on her laptop, with a glass of wine (though it definitely wasn't her first). She had found a website that allowed you to 'swap' houses with someone for two weeks, and she'd found the perfect place.

Only, it was in Ireland.

"C'mon, Mary," Emma spoke softly, looking at the screen, "Don't you think it'd be a nice break?"
"You know Neal wouldn't like you taking Henry."

"That's just too damn bad. He's not staying with that bastard for Christmas." Emma grumbled, scrolling through the pictures of the quaint home.

"Emma, I just don't know if this is a good idea." Mary said, "You don't even know who'd be staying in your apartment."

Emma rolled her eyes and scrolled back up to the top, where the man's information was.

"Sure I do." Emma shrugged, "His name is Liam Jones. He's only a few years older than me, and he's single. He couldn't do the place that much harm."

"Emma..."

"Mary, I have to get away. I can't be in this city right now." Emma sighed, "With Christmas coming up... I'm already stressed, and Christmas with Neal only makes it worse, and for once, I'd like for Henry to spend Christmas happy-not switching between apartments and listening to his parents fight."

"He won't be happy to hear that."
"Well, that's too bad." Emma groaned, "Henry's my kid, and I have custody. I can take him wherever I damn please."

"How many glasses of wine have you had tonight?" Mary sighed.

"Only, like, two." Emma scoffed, then narrowed her eyes, "Or, maybe four."

"Emma!"

"Maybe I should just go to bed." Emma lied, "I'm sure I'll forget about it in the morning."

"Please do that." Mary sighed, "Do I need to come over there and pry you off your laptop?"
"Of course not." Emma replied, "Night, Mary."

"Night, Emma." Mary said, then hung up. Emma tossed her phone aside before smiling and taking a drink of her wine.

There was a green dot next to the man's name, meaning he was online. Emma pursed her lips, debating messaging him about the place.

Fuck it.

Emma Swan: Hi, I'm interested in renting out your house!

She waited a few moments, grumbling to herself that she sounded stupid.

Emma: Are you there?

Emma: I was wondering if your house is available over Christmas? I'm in desperate need of a break.

Emma: I know it's really late to be asking you-you know, two weeks before Christmas-but, if you could... This would be a miracle.

She bit her lip, waiting for a response as she took another sip. A ding echoed through the apartment, making her sit up straighter and set the glass aside.

Liam Jones: I'm very interested-though, my house is only open for home exchange.

Liam: I haven't done it before, but we switch everything-houses, cars, pets. I've a good friend who has and loved it, though.

Liam: Where in the world are you, Ms. Swan?

Emma beamed and started typing away.

Emma: New York City.

Liam: I've never been there, but always wanted to go-I need to get out of the countryside.

Liam: Liam, by the way.

Emma: Emma.

Liam: I promise I'm normal, by the way. I don't smoke, I keep my place clean, and have a medium sized-dog. I'm single, as well.

A dog? Henry would love that.

Emma: I don't smoke either, and my place is pretty small, but clean. No pets, no significant others, just an eight year-old boy. But, he'd be coming along.

Liam: The cottage has two rooms-he could sleep in the smaller room.

Emma: Your cottage is very picturesque, by the way.

Liam: Thanks.

Liam: What does your place look like?

Emma pursed her lips, trying to think of how to describe it.

Emma: It's small-only one bedroom, one bathroom. But, it's got a nice kitchen, a really great view out into the city, and a living area. It's on the fifteenth floor, so you're pretty high up.

Liam: Can't beat that!

Emma: Can I ask you one thing?

Liam: Of course.

Emma: Is it quiet?

Liam: Breathtakingly so.

Emma took a deep breath before typing out her next response.

Emma: When can we come?

Liam: Would tomorrow be too soon?

Emma's eyebrows shot up in surprise, glancing back to see Henry sound asleep on her bed.

He was already out of school for break, she supposed he could...

Fuck it.

She needed this.

Emma: Tomorrow's perfect!

Liam: We're on, then! Two weeks, starting tomorrow.

Emma sighed with a giggle as she leaned back against her couch, closing her eyes. Two weeks, away from the city, away from Neal, away from her problems... Oh, yes.

She was going to enjoy the hell out of this.

The next morning, she explained it all to Henry, and he helped her pack for their trip. They left for the airport mid-afternoon, without telling anyone.

So, Emma wasn't surprised to get a confused call from David.

"Emma, are you crazy?"
"Funny, that's the same thing Mary said to me last night." Emma smiled, ruffling Henry's hair as they waited for their flight to board.

"Emma, I'm serious."

"David, I'll be fine." Emma spoke seriously, "We'll both be fine. We need a break."

"Does Neal know?"

"Of course not."

"Emma."

"What?"

"You know exactly what."

"What was I supposed to do?" Emma asked, gently rising from her seat and letting Henry know she'd be right back, "He and I fight on Christmas day every single year, without fail. That's not fair to me, and especially not to Henry."

"I know, but you should have at least told him."

"He'll be fine. He's a big boy, he'll figure something out."

"Where are you going again?"

"Some small town in Ireland."
"You don't know the name of it?" David sighed.

"Of course I do, I just can't pronounce it."

"Oh, god." David grumbled.

"Just trust me on this, okay? I think... I think this could be good."

There was silence on the other end before he sighed again.

"I trust you, Emma."

"Good." Emma smiled, "Oh, and Liam should be in the apartment within the next few hours."

"He's the guy renting out your apartment?"
"Yep. Try not to bother him, please?" Emma sighed, "I didn't tell him I had an annoying, adoptive older brother."

"Yeah, yeah, I'll keep it tame."

"Good." Emma said, then turned at the sound of the intercom, "Oh, the flight's about to board."

"Have a safe flight. Let me know when you land?"
"Sure thing, dad." Emma teased, then hung up. She hurried back to Henry, who was smiling up to her.

"Ready to go to Ireland, kid?"

"With you?" He smiled, "Yeah."

Emma grinned and ruffled his hair again, setting her hand on his shoulder as they went to stand in line.

It wasn't until then that Emma's heart started beating faster, her stomach twisting in knots.

She took a deep breath and kept repeating one thing in her head:

This will be good for you.