Emma, Snow, and Charming were enjoying a calm breakfast when Henry walked into the house with the newspaper. "Mom," he said, asking for her attention. Emma, who was as caring as she was brave, gave her son her undivided attention. "What is it?" Henry quickly handed Emma the newspaper. He pointed to an article and explained, "a girl walked right into town. She saw it and she walked right it." Charming quickly butted in. "Why hasn't anyone told us?" he questioned. "She could be dangerous." Emma skimmed the article and looked back up at her family. "Because she's just a child," she answered, holding up the newspaper that had her picture on the front cover. Mary Margret took the paper and began to read it. "It says she's only fifteen and she's being kept at the orphanage." Everyone exchanged confused and worried looks until Emma stood up. "Well, let's go find out why she's here," she said grabbing her car keys.
When the group reached the orphanage, the girl was already being interrogated by one of the worried townsfolk. Emma and Charming showed their badges and the citizen quickly left. "You stay out here," Emma told Henry and Snow. "We don't want to overwhelm her." Snow and Henry agreed and took a seat on the bench. Emma and Charming went in the room where the mystery girl was being kept. Emma started to interrogate her at once. "How did you find this town?" she asked, looking for answers. "I ran away," the girl quickly answered, "and this town was the first place I found outside my own." Charming and Emma exchanged glances. Emma's was of pity while Charming's was of confusion. Emma quickly went from serious to sympathetic. "Why did you run away?" The girl looked at the table and took a deep breath. "I was trying to get away from my dad-" she cut herself off and continued, "Not my real dad. He adopted me a few months ago." Charming cut into the conversation. "What is your name?
he asked. "Where are you from?" The girl looked up, her eyes watering. "My name's Nikita and please don't take me back," she pleaded, ignoring his second question. "He wasn't a good person; quite the opposite actually." Emma nodded and gave the girl a small smile. "We're going to help you, Nikita. I'll be right back, okay?" she said tearing up.
Emma came out of the room and took a deep breath. Mary Margret shot up out of her seat. "What's wrong?" she asked. Emma blinked a few times and shook her head. "When I look into that girl's eyes I see myself." She paused, then continued. "She's been through a lot and came here looking for a safe place to stay, nothing else." Henry stood up and walked to his mother. "But how did she find us if Storybrooke is hidden?" he asked. Emma looked at her son. "I don't know."