Prologue

"Swan." He gasped out.

"Do I know you?" Emma asked the stranger, positioning herself firmly in the opening.

"I need your help. Something's happened, something terrible. Your family is in trouble." The stranger's voice was somewhat shaky, his eyes pleading with a wild glimmer.

"My family is right here." She said thinking of Henry back at the table. "Who are you?"

"An old friend. Look, I know you can't remember me… but I can make you." He lunged forward and captured her lips in a determined kiss.

Emma, having been in similar situations- though none involving a pirate suit- instinctively brought her knee up to connect with his groin and she pushed him roughly out of the doorway back into the hall. "What the hell are you doing?!"

He grimaced through the pain, bringing himself to stand more upright. "It was a long shot; I had to try. I was hoping you felt as I did."

"All you're going to feel is handcuffs when I call the cops."

"Look, I know this seems crazy, but you have to listen to me; you have to remember-"

Emma slammed the door and heaved an exasperated sigh. What the hell was that, she thought. She made sure the dead bolt and chain were thrown, and then she returned to Henry in the apartment.

"Who was that?" her son asked without looking up from his scrambled eggs.

"No idea. Someone must have left the door open downstairs." Maybe he's a crazy homeless person, she mused. That would be simple enough to deal with. But he knew my name… another, less convinced part of her whispered. "Come on, let's eat."