Note: Events in this story are loosely based on the show's episodes and characters. I don't own ONCE or anything associated with it.
Emma Swan, bails bondsperson by day, bounty hunter by night was working a case of a man, who had skipped bail, this his wife had put up for him. Emma pretended no to know who he was online and set up a date to meet this guy. As Emma was getting ready for her "date" she read up on his case file. As she was reading the case file she was getting the picture real fast that he was a slime ball. She couldn't wait to take him in and collect her money.
Emma walks into a fancy restaurant in her sexy, skintight, red dress. As she is scanning the room for her "date" the guy spots her and waves for Emma to come over to his table. She acknowledges him and proceeds to walk over to the table and sits down.
"Emma?" Says the guy.
"Ryan?" Emma responds.
"You look way hotter than your picture!" Ryan blurts out.
"Thank you." Emma says in an irritated tone. "How are you?"
"Good. Starving." Ryan states. "Hungry?" He asks.
"Kind of." Emma replies. "I'm more interested in you. There's only so much you can put on the Internet, you know?"
"Me? Well,….let's see…" Ryan trails off.
"Wait!" Emma exclaims. "Actually, let me guess who you are just by looking at you."
"Okay. Go right ahead." Ryan replies.
"Stop me at any point that I get something wrong." Emma states. "You're the type of guy who…embezzles from his company, gets caught, and runs away after his wife put up bail for him and to thank his generous wife he goes out on a date with another woman."
"Who are you?! What do you want?!" Ryan shouts.
"Who am I?" Emma asks. "I'm the person who who's bringing you in for your court date so you can go to jail like you deserve." Emma states.
Ryan flips the table onto Emma and runs out the door. Emma, pissed that wine has just gotten all over one of her favorite dresses, follows Ryan outside where he is fumbling with his keys trying to get his car door open. She comes up behind him and knocks him out.
Emma walks into her apartment alone, again. And being alone on her birthday, again she lights a candle and places in on top of a cupcake. As she closes her eyes and makes a wish there is a knock at the door. She thinks to herself who could that be at this hour and goes to answer it.
It's a little boy and what he has to say is going to change her life forver.