Hi everyone! So this is my first incursion in the OUAT world as a writer. Up until chapter 10, the story is loosely based on personal experience, so this is somewhat personal. I hope you will enjoy it.

A HUGE thanks to Dreamtalker1, my first reader, who has helped me put my ideas in order more than once.

This story is not beta'ed, so all mistakes are my own.

Disclaimer: I wish...

Chapter 1

It's a cold Friday night for March in Boston, Emma Swan thinks as she's walking through Quincy Market, making her way to the Black Rose Irish pub.

Every other Friday, Emma meets with her friend Mary Margaret Blanchard for drinks and gossip. Every other Friday, because by being a police officer, Emma often has to stay late at the station. Not only that, but she would also cover for her colleagues to allow them to go back to their families.

Emma doesn't have much to complain about. For a girl who grew up in the foster system, going from one group home to another, she has it pretty good. It's not that Emma is entirely alone; she does have some friends… and a boyfriend. Who lives on the other side of the country and visits her only a few times a year. But she can't help but feel like there's something missing.

She met Neal Cassidy online, through a Facebook game. She had pressed "flirt" when his picture turned up, they started talking, she went to visit him in California a first time, and they have been together since. Both of their jobs are very demanding, so visits are few and far between. They keep in touch through texts and Skype, and phone calls here and there.

She hasn't seen Neal in person for almost a year now, and it is eating at her. She can't help but feel guilty, but Neal hasn't made much of an effort to see her either. And things with him have been weird for a while now. He'd complain that she's not the same anymore, that she's changed. But doesn't everyone change, evolve? She'd respond that he has changed too, but he would always deny it.

He was unemployed for several months before finding the job he currently has. He'd become bitter, negative… a pain the ass, if she does say so herself. She'd tried to support him the best she could from her side of the country, without much success. He was basically depressed and taking out his anger on her.

That phase of his life changed him. He'd stopped trusting people, including her. Things got slightly better after he found his current job, but it never went back to how things were before. He can't shake off that distrustful attitude.

And on top of that, she has learned that texting and online chat can lead to misunderstandings. She had never really experienced it before, but now she knows. She's always walking on eggshells when they text or chat online.

And she's tired of that. She had once hoped that they would end up in the same city at some point, so that they could take their relationship to the next level… but now, she's not so sure anymore. She doesn't even feel like talking to him anymore, she's always scared he will snap at her for no reason (it's happened before…).

Breaking up with him has been on her mind for a while now. But she's scared. She loves him, after all. What if there's no one else? Is there really someone else for her out there? Will there be someone else to love the lost girl she is? With her emotional baggage?

It's another reason she picks up hours at the station. It keeps her mind off of things; it helps her forget her problems. Because going home to an empty apartment just brings back everything to the forefront, and she doesn't know how to handle it.

So those Friday night drinks with Mary Margaret are always welcome. She hasn't known Mary Margaret very long, but they were instant friends when they met. They are basically polar opposites: Mary Margaret is this soft, positive woman who believes in hope as opposed to Emma, who is hard around the edges, has a hard time trusting people – being switched from one group home to another will do that to you – but Mary Margaret brought the positivity out of her. Mary Margaret accepts her for who she is and doesn't expect anything else from her, besides her trust.

It is on that thought that Emma steps into the Black Rose and spots Mary Margaret at their usual table. She makes her way over and they hug before Emma sits down.

"I ordered your usual," is the first thing Mary Margaret says.

Emma laughs. "Thanks. Hello to you too. So, how have you been?"

"Sorry, hi Emma," Mary Margaret says sheepishly. "Ah, you know, busy, as usual. Who knew a bunch of 10 year-olds would keep someone that busy." Mary Margaret answers with a smile.

"Yeah, but you love it."

It is Mary Margaret's turn to laugh. "True."

"And how's David?"

Mary Margaret blushes.

She met David while vacationing in Mexico the previous year. They were staying on the same resort and, unbeknownst to them, just a few doors apart. She had gone on that trip with Ashley and Aurora, two fellow teachers, and Ashley was the one to notice David first. Little did she know, David actually had eyes only for Mary Margaret. It caused a slight disagreement with Ashley, but all was forgiven quickly. Mary Margaret and David had gone on a few dates after getting back home, and they have been together since.

"David's great. He's kind of swamped with work right now, so he had to cancel this weekend, but he's good. I miss him." Mary Margaret pouts.

Emma bites at her lower lip to stop herself from laughing. They are so cute together.

"How long has it been since you last saw him?" Emma asks gently.

"3 weeks. 3 very long weeks." Mary Margaret pouts again. Emma rubbed her friend's back in a comforting manner. "Now, what about you, Emma? How have you been?"

"Oh, you know, busy with work. Crime doesn't sleep." Emma replies in monotone voice.

Mary Margaret frowns. Emma knows that she's being more closed off than usual, but she's not really in a sharing mood.

"How are things with Neal?" Emma cringes. Mary Margaret's frown deepens.

Emma swallows a big gulp of beer before spilling her guts, or she'd lose the little courage she has. "Things with Neal are… I don't know. Weird. Every time we talk ends up in an argument about some thing or another, always about little things that shouldn't even matter. And he always complains that I've changed. But, you know what? He's changed too! But he always denies it when I tell him that. I'm tired of this, Mary Margaret. I don't even want to talk to him anymore because it always ends up in a fight."

Mary Margaret had known that things between Neal and Emma weren't great, it's not the first time Emma talks about it, but she didn't think they were that bad. She knows that they had been happy at some point, but she doesn't know what changed. Emma was already in a relationship with Neal when Mary Margaret met her, and she was happy at the time. Mary Margaret has a hard time understanding how a long distance relationship like theirs has lasted so long, she'd asked Emma time and time again how she could do it, but it was kind of fitting for Emma. Her friend needed her independence. But she didn't imagine she needed it so much that she would be in a long distance relationship for so long.

"Maybe, Emma… you should think about breaking things off?" Mary Margaret offers softly. She knows this is a touchy subject with Emma, so better go about it in tidbits.

Emma sighs, bringing her hands up to support her head. "It's been on my mind for a while." She admits softly.

That surprises Mary Margaret greatly. "Really?" She asks slightly incredulously.

Emma nods. "Things aren't as they were. I don't know… I've been thinking about it. I need a vacation."

Emma's change in subject kind of gives her whiplash, but she accepts it. She knows she won't say more if she's not ready, so she lets it go.

"Well, I've been thinking that I wanted to go on vacation with David, but… I don't want to go alone with him." Mary Margaret stops, thinking. "Hey, how about we make it a group thing?"

Emma thinks about it for a moment, then nods. "Yeah. You know, I think that's exactly what I need. Let's do this. These last few months have been shitty at best; I need to have some fun."

"Oh, this is so exciting. You remember Belle? I told you about her divorce." Emma nods. "I think she'd like that. Would you mind if she came too?"

"Not at all. The more the merrier."

Mary Margaret claps her hand excitedly. "Awesome! Let me invite her over, I know she's free tonight. We can run the idea by her."

"Sounds good."

Mary Margaret grabs her phone and texts Belle.

Belle is the librarian at Mary Margaret's school. She'd been married for 10 years, and finally called it quits last spring. It was a nasty divorce: her husband didn't want to let her go; he even threatened her life, saying that if he couldn't have her, no one could. The divorce was granted to Belle, and she even filed for a restraining order, upon her lawyer's advice. Mr. Gold, Belle's now ex-husband, had been into shady business. She thought he had changed; he had assured her he had gotten an honest job, but he had been lying. He'd fooled her for 5 years. When she accidentally came across him doing business with the local Russian mafia, she was devastated. Gold is currently behind bars, but who knows how long he would be.

"She's coming over!" Mary Margaret exclaims. Emma can't help but smile at her friend's enthusiasm.

Shortly after, Mary Margaret waves excitedly at someone at the front door. A petite brunette approaches their table and her and Mary Margaret hug before she sits down at their table.

"Emma, this is Belle. Belle, this is my friend Emma." Mary Margaret introduces them. They shake hands.

"Nice to meet you," Belle says softly.

"You too. It's nice to be able to put a face on a name." Emma replies back.

"Indeed," Belle gives her a smile before turning to Mary Margaret. "So, what is this you want to talk to me about that couldn't be explained via texts?"

Mary Margaret laughs. "Well, Emma and I were talking about going on vacation. I told her I wanted to go on vacation with David, but I don't want to go alone. Emma needs to go away for a while too, so we were thinking of making it a group thing. And I immediately thought of you."

"Wow. I don't know what to say." Belle says, flustered.

Mary Margaret laughs. "Just say you'll come. You'll see; we'll have tons of fun!"

Belle can't help but laugh too. "Alright then, I'll come."

"Oh, yay!" Mary Margaret says excitedly. Emma and Belle can't help but laugh.

"Can I suggest inviting someone else?" Belle asks suddenly.

"Of course! The more, the merrier!" Mary Margaret mirrors Emma's earlier words.

Belle laughs again. "Okay. You remember Ruby Lucas? She just broke up with her boyfriend and she needs some cheering up. I think this getaway would do her some good too."

"Well then, invite her along."

Emma nods, taking a sip of her beer.

"Great!" Belle replies.

A few days later, while Emma is at home watching Netflix and eating dinner, her phone buzzes on the coffee table. She picks it up and sees she's received a text from Mary Margaret.

Hey! So I talked to David, and he likes our idea of a group vacation. -MM

Great! –E

He'll talk to his friends, but he's pretty sure they will want to come too. Is that okay? –MM

Sure, I don't mind. Meeting new people might just be good for me too. –E

That's the spirit! –MM

Emma laughs at her friend's comment.

Lol. Alright, let me know the verdict. –E

Will do! Good night! Xoxo -MM

Night! Xoxo –E

It is without much surprise that when Emma meets Mary Margaret for drinks again about 2 weeks later, that she learns that David's friends, Will and August, are also joining them. Belle and Ruby join them that night and, while they talk about the activities to do there, Mary Margaret suggests organizing a gathering so that Emma, Ruby and Belle meet David, Will and August. That way, they won't be all complete strangers at the airport the day of departure. Emma, Ruby and Belle readily agree to Mary Margaret's plan. The excitement goes up a notch.

Leave me a review if you feel up to it :)