This is set when Emma was young. Before she met Neal, she lived by herself for a while, since she got her independence when she turned 16. We don't know much about Emma's life during that time, so, obviously, this is 100% AU. Any similarities with what the show might reveal is merely a coincidence. Here, she lived an adventure in Neverland and met a certain Captain that we're really familiar with. Hope you all like it!

It was just another Monday. Emma woke up feeling a little dizzy from the party she'd gone the other night. She was in a small room she had managed to rent with the money she gained every month working at a restaurant. It wasn't five stars, but still, it was better than living at the orphanage with all those kids who didn't like her and those people who always looked at her as if she was some strange creature that had never seen love in her life. They weren't completely wrong, though.

Lazily, she walked to the bathroom to wash her face and try to wake up and live through another day having to tolerate her boss, who probably thought she was some kind of retarded that couldn't understand what the costumers were asking for. He disliked her, too. The feeling was mutual. And he only gave her the job because he was desperate for waitresses.

"Good morning, John." She said, in a low pitch, trying not to look at him.

"I hope so." John answered. She could see him through the kitchen window. Fat, old, but with skinny arms. Always had this dirty appearance, as if he'd been walking on a dusty road and didn't bother to clean himself up. Emma didn't know why people kept coming to his restaurant, but as long as they did, she'd have a job, and that was good enough for her.

"Any news about your wife?" Claire, the other waitress, asked him.

"What do you know about my wife?"

"We know that she left you. Wrote a note and everything." Emma teased.

"You bitches know nothing about my life. Just keep quiet and do your job." He stood up and left, meaning to turn the plaque that said Closed and set it to Open. But in reality he just didn't want to talk about the wife subject.

"He's a bucket of sunshine today, isn't he?" Emma said.

"Yep. Just another day in the office."

Claire and Emma weren't actually friends, but they didn't dislike each other either. They got on really well and both of them liked to tease John whenever they had a possibility to do so, and that was something they enjoyed doing together. Emma didn't know much about her, though. She knew she was 19 years old and had been living by herself ever since she was 15. Her parents had left her. She had a boyfriend named Marcus and was happy with him, as far as she knew. She ended up on that job because she hadn't finished school, so no decent place would take her.

"I'm looking for a bigger apartment." Claire said, while they got the kitchen ready, "Do you know of anyone who might have one to rent?"

"No, sorry. Maybe Mr. Johnson does."

"Who?"

"You know. The fancy man who comes here every morning to look at you. He looks like a guy who knows about realties."

Claire laughed, "To look at me? Emma, please."

"Well he doesn't like it when I'm the one taking his orders. He usually asks for you."

"You never told me that."

"You have a boyfriend, don't you?"

John walked in the kitchen on his heavy steps, "Are you two going to keep talking like two old ladies or will ever start working? We have costumers."

"On my way, your majesty." Emma said, laughing on his back.

"Argh, my feet are killing me!" Claire cried, while they were walking home, "I hate this job with all my strength."

"Oh, not me. I love it. It's what I dreamt of my whole like."

"You're not funny, Emma. Even when you try to be, you're not."

They laughed. The way back home was usually nice; they got to talk about trivialities and laugh at the stupid jokes Emma always tried to make. It was a cold day, and the sky was getting dark.

"I hope it doesn't rain." Emma said, "Last time it rained my room was turned into a swimming pool."

"Really?"

"Well, with the money I make at John's I can't exactly rent a palace, you know?"

"True. That's why Marcus and I are moving in together."

"Really? That's great!"

"I know, I know. I'm just a little worried. I don't know, it's a big step, I'm not sure if we're ready for it."

"You guys have been dating for…"

"Two years."

"Oh, I'm pretty sure you're ready for it."

"I hope so."

"I have to turn here, bye! See you tomorrow."

"Bye."

It had started to drizzle, and the wind was cold. Emma crossed her arms on her chest trying to warm up a little bit, but it was useless. She hated the cold and the wind. Oh, what she would give now for a warmer coat or a sunny city. A few blocks ahead, Emma suddenly realized that a boy was following her. He was probably her age, maybe one year younger, and wore a green shirt and black jeans. She couldn't see his face.

She started walking faster through the alleys, and when she finally saw her house she realized she'd been running. But when she looked back, he was no longer there. Maybe she was just being paranoid; maybe he wasn't following her at all, just going the same way. After all, lots of people lived in that neighborhood.

"Oh, home sweet home." She said, taking a good look at her place. It wasn't all bad, if you consider the price she was paying for it. There was a bed on the right corner of the room, and a bathroom on the opposite side. The "kitchen" (it was just a sink, a stove and a fridge) was right beside the main door, and between the bed and the bathroom she'd put a couch and a TV, right in front of the window, where she used to spend her nights off. The walls needed painting, and there was the problem with the drips, but aside from that, it was an ok place to live for a while.

It had been a tiring day, and the perspective of another day exactly like that one waiting for her after waking up in the morning wasn't the best. But she knew she had to get through it. She knew that there was a tough path she'd have to go through, but in the end, it would all be fine. She'd have a better place, better clothes, even a better boss.

After taking a shower and eating the leftovers she'd found in the fridge, Emma sat on the couch to watch some TV. It didn't really matter what; she just liked to let her mind drift off while the people on the screen talked about things she didn't care or understand.

As usual, she ended up falling asleep after ten minutes, and woke up in the middle of the night, freezing and mad at the world for being so mean to her. She turned off the TV and stood up to go to bed. She was comfortable and warm, closing her eyes when she heard a knock on her window. As she thought she was dreaming already, she just ignored it. But the damn thing was insistent, and kept knocking for a long time (at least it felt like a long time).

She had no choice but getting up and seeing what was going on. It was probably a bird or some stupid animal that was stuck there. "Why don't they take care of these birds already?" She thought to herself while walking to the window. But when she opened the curtains, there was no bird there. Actually, there was no animal at all. She couldn't believe her eyes, but there was a boy there, floating and apparently asking her to open the window for him.