AN: This is a nonmagic AU and I am going to try and tie in the whole ONCE cast at some point in some way so, look forward to that. As for the starting point know that Emma and Killian are 10 years old and in 5th grade, Elsa and Liam are 14 years old and are freshman and Anna is 7 years old and in 2nd grade. Read on to find out more.

OoOoO

It was a hot, muggy day in the smack middle of July, the perfect weather for a day at the community pool in Storybrook. Kids splashed around in the water, there was a line for the concessions stand that was almost as long as the one for the diving boards, two birthday parties where in full swing, people ate home packed lunches poolside while others glistened with sun tan lotion resting on towels.

Emma Swan had ducked away from her cousin Anna's 7th birthday party to try and tackle the high dive in peace. She fiddled with the straps of her purple and black swim suit and made sure her long blonde braid was still holding up, the last thing she needed was a loose hair in her face as she was about to plunge into the single most important moment in all ten years of her life.

Liam and Killian Jones sat eating a lunch their mother had packed before dropping them off at the pool for the day so she could head to work. Liam lay on his back, tossing grapes up one by one and expertly catching them in his mouth. Killian kicked his feet about in the water, flicking little droplets with his toes while finishing off his sandwich. "I'm going to go fill these water bottles while you finish the last of that." Liam announced before running off towards the water fountain, which too had a rather long line.

Killian watched people go off the diving boards one by one, some doing perfectly executed dives, others with canon balls and a few just limbs flailing in every direction. He'd just finished collecting up his and Liam's trash and looked up to see who was next to jump off the diving board; a girl about his age with a long blonde braid.

Emma felt her heart ready to beat out of her chest; she never recalled being so nervous but she also recalled never backing down from a challenge and this would not be the exception. She tried to give herself a pep talk inside her own head, convince herself it was no different than the low dive she mastered at the age of five. Her toes dangled off the edge, "You don't have to do it!" Emma whipped her head over her shoulder to see a sandy hair boy poking his head just above the back of the board, "You can just climb back down if you want to!" Emma took a few steps backwards, away from the ledge, "Yeah, it's fine to not want to jump." The boy continued but she was not about to climb down in shame! In an instant Emma raced to the edge, board bouncing slightly under her weight, she kicked off the end and plummeted to the water below.

A smile played on Killian's lips as he watched the girl frantically kick and grab at the air until she hit the water but the smile quickly faded. He didn't see the girl resurface, he could have lost her in the crowd of people but something just felt wrong. The nearest lifeguard was yelling at some kids for holding their friends under the water and had no clue what just happened and apparently neither did anyone else. Killian acted quickly and did the only thing he could think to do.

Her feet left the board and she was falling through the air, doing just fine until she felt her stomach creeping up to her throat. She was leaning too far forward, she was going to flip, how long was this fall going to happen? She panicked; loosing all composure she kicked and punched trying to brace herself for the impact.

Warm skin met cool water in a violent splash.

She started swimming in the direction she believed to be up but soon met the hard concrete floor that was the pools bottom.

Killian bobbed and weaved around kicking legs until he reached the diving area, his eyes stung from the chlorine but he managed to spot two people; one at about the middle of the water and another floating near the bottom. Long hair drifting upward told him that had to be the girl who jumped. He headed straight for her and so did the other figure, perhaps a lifeguard did see what happened, he thought but it was quickly dismissed when they both reached the girl and he realized it was just a kid who seemed to be no older than him. They each grabbed an arm, nodded to one and other before pushing off towards the surface.

Gasping air into their neglected lungs they towed the girl to the edge to the pool. A lifeguard finally noticed, rushing to their aid, "Thank you both." Emma faintly squeaked before she was taken away to be examined.

"Thanks, mate!" Killian stuck his hand out to the comrade who helped, "Killian Jones."

"David Nolan." They shook hands, "Did you know her?"

"No, don't know anyone really. Just moved her a month ago."

"From England?" David questioned by the thick accent.

"Ireland." Killian beamed, he loved being a little different.

A frantic woman ran by them, "EMMA! EMMA SWAN! HAS ANYONE SEEN MY EMMA?"

"'Bout ten years old? Blonde hair in a braid?" Killian asked.

"Yes! Yes, have you seen her?"

"She went off the high dive and I don't think she was ready for it yet, she almost drowned but she's okay I think. Some lifeguards have her now, over that way." David pointed out where several lifeguards were all huddled.

She thanked them profusely as she ran off. "Killian! I leave you for one bloody moment and you go dashing off! Who's this then?" Liam asked when he finally found him, "This is David and we just saved some girl from drowning!"

"Brother, what has mum said about telling your tall tales?" "He isn't making this up!" David came to Killian's rescue, "We both saw this girl go off the high dive and she didn't come back up, we jumped in a saved her! Your brother is a hero!" David exclaimed.

"We are heroes!" Killian shouted even louder.

Liam just chuckled, "Alright heroes, how about I treat you two to a frozen snack to honor your bravery?"

An hour passed and Killian said good-bye to David but not before making plans to meet up at the pool later that week.

"I think I should be a knight for what I did." Killian smiled proudly as the made their way to the exit.

"Being a hero isn't enough, aye? Got to be a knight too?" Liam asked, ruffling his kid brother's dark brown hair until it fell into his eyes. Killian brushed him off, pushing all the hair back and suddenly stopped in his tracks, "Oi, what are you doing? Mum's going to be here any second now!" Liam received no answer other than complete silence as his brother darted off to a small group of people.

Killian spotted the women from earlier who had been screaming for the girl. She was standing in a group of people, parents and kids alike, "Pardon me," he asked the tall woman, hair tied up in a messy bun but, those were all the words he managed to get out.

"You saved me." He noticed the squeaky voice from earlier, one that had thanked him so quietly. Killian turned to find her a few feet away from him, her braid was gone, hair in drying ringlets falling all around her, purple and black bathing suit covered by an oversized white t-shirt.

All sense of arrogance left his body then, "This was the young man who saved you, Emma? I'm her aunt Ingrid, you told me where she was."

"Yes, you and another boy." Emma answered her Aunts question.

Killian scratched the back of his ear fumbling over words to say to a girl he didn't know but he was instantly connected to. Emma flung her arms around him in a tight hug, "Thank you again! I don't know what I would have done. Thank you."

His cheeks went bright red and for a moment he forgot how to react but soon remembered how to return a hug, "It was no problem at all, lass. Happy to help."

Emma pulled back and held him at arms length giggling a little, "Why do you sound funny?"

"Emma! That isn't nice!" Her aunt scolded while Killian turned another shade of red but smiled all the same, an involuntary reaction to hearing her laugh.

"I'm from Europe, in Ireland." He took a step closer to her, "You should hear what you sound like to me." She laughed again.

"Is the boy who helped you a friend of yours? I need to thank him too."

"His name is David Nolan but I only just met him today. He is new to this town as well. He left about fifteen minutes ago or I'd help you look for him. " Killian informed her. Her face feel, sad was not a good look for Emma Swan he decided, "Well, if he is new to this town I bet he will be in school in a few months, I can thank him then!" She perked up.

"I can make it happen sooner! We made plans to meet back here on Tuesday, maybe you could come too?" Killian asked more her aunt than Emma. "I'm sure Elsa wouldn't mind bring you up here as long as you promise no more attempts at the high dive for a while." "Yes, Auntie." Emma grinned sheepishly.

"Killian! Come on! I can see mum's car pulling in now!" Liam shouted from near the exit.

"That'd be my brother. 'Till Tuesday then?" Emma hugged him once more and thanked him again before releasing him to his brother.

OoOoO

AN: Well, thoughts? I have about three more chapters written so far and more ideas just keep on coming to me. I do plan on doing some time jumps though so things don't get boring. If you have an idea for a story line, please, shoot me a message. Thanks for reading!

-NL