Chapter 1: Emma- Age 3

Well, I don't know if you remember me or not
I'm one of the kids they brought in from the home…
You may not have seen me, I was standing off alone

A three year old Emma Swan sat at her bed at the Riley residence. She had been taken in when she was a bay and for the first time in a short time, she felt like she had a real home even though she had known early on that she was adopted. Her adopted parents had told her so.

Jordan and Sarah Riley, her foster parents, were nothing but kind to her. She had her own room and Sarah had been decorating the house for Christmas. Her past Christmas' had been spent in children's group homes so this would be her first Christmas elsewhere and part of a real family.

Emma held a green crayon in her hand and over her left leg was her white embroidered blanket. In front of her were two sheets of pink construction paper. Hunched over, Emma began to write. She had learned how recently. If it's one thing Sarah loved it was teaching and she had been teaching Emma how to write.

'Dear Santa,' Emma wrote.

My name is Emma. Swan. Someone gave me that last name. It's okay.

I've tried to be good. I hope you think so.

This is what I want for Christmas:

- My real mommy and daddy

- A real home

- A book on fairytales.

Sarah read me a story of Snow White recently. I liked it alot.

I hope you can find me this year. Have a safe trip.

Love,

Emma

Emma looked at her letter to Santa and smiled. Pleased with how it came out. She made a few drawings on it. A few Christmas trees and a stack of presents and in the bottom right she drew a picture of herself and what she imagined her real parents to look like.

Emma then took the time to write the note over again on the other sheet of paper. She didn't want Santa to keep the letter. At least this way she could have a copy for herself and he could keep the other one.

With one of the copies she folded it and placed it in a wooden safety box that she had received last year from the home. She liked that box. It was special since on the cover was a swan carved into it.

Emma came racing down the hall toward the living room.

"Sarah, Sarah," she cried, "I finished my letter. It's going to Santa!"

Sarah smiled. "That's great Emma."

"Can we put it in the mail today?"

"Sure we can sweetie."

Jordan looked at Emma and nodded at his wife. Sarah sighed.

"Emma come here, there's something we need to tell you."

Emma went over and took a seat on the white couch next to Sarah.

Sarah took a deep breath, "Emma, you know we like you."

"I like you too."

"This is kind of hard to explain but sometimes things happen and plans change."

Jordan knelt in front of Emma, "Emma, Sarah is going to have a baby."

Emma's eyes lit up. "I'm going to be a big sister?" she asked excitedly.

Sarah looked at Jordan and he looked back at her.

Sarah took Emma's hand and patted it. "Not exactly sweetie. You see I'm not just having one baby, I'm having two. Emma, you're going to be going back to the home we got you from. You're going to be living with someone else soon."

Emma could feel tears in her eyes. "You don't want me anymore."

"No," said Sarah. "Of course we want you, we just can't right now that's all. It's too hard for all of us. You'll find a good home, I promise."

Emma got up from the couch, "No I won't," Emma screamed running to her room. "I hate you!" she screamed still running and dropping her letter to Santa.