Clothes lay strewn all about the quaint little room, and they all seemed to gravitate towards the cherry piece of luggage on the full-sized bed. Various shoes, goods, and an immaculate pair of leather hiking books graced the floor; posing as a threat for the blonde trying to navigate the quarter. Her favorite vermilion leather jacket was among the things that had accumulated in a pile. Emma Swan licked her lips as she ran off her list in her mind. Toiletries? Check. Makeup and accessories? Packed. Clothes? Sort of. Boarding pass and passport? Somewhere. Neal popped his head in the doorway, a look of perplexion on his face, and continued on the the kitchen. Emma and Neal shared a two-bedroom apartment in Tallahassee, Florida. She prefered to keep it modest and private, much to his grumbling dismay.

Majoring in marine sciences at Florida State University, Emma had been ecstatic at the chance to intern at the University of Alaska in Juneau. She would be along side leading scientists, assisting them in research during the summer. This was a pipe-dream of an opportunity; one which she would not turn down. Neal wasn't exactly thrilled at the concept, and had insisted he came with to protect her from the "wild brutes" of the territory. But the simple fact was that he couldn't afford the airfare and boarding. Neither could Emma; she was only able to do so because of the scholarships and incentives from the university.

She would leave the next morning, and she still had plenty of packing to do. In haste she packed her lingerie, toilettes, cosmetics, and pajamas. For the heck of it, she even packed three cocktail dresses and a pair of killer pumps. Emma left out for the next day her leather jacket, mukluks, and a sensible outfit for the thirteen hour flight. With her luggage sorted out, she ventured to the kitchen to join Neal for dinner. He had prepared two sandwiches and a pot of Ramen; the staple of college kids. He was a bit older than she, and he was going to graduate the next year with his bachelor's degree in economics. Emma however was only one year into college, and still had heaps to go.

Dinner conversation was light, and mostly filled with the sounds of chewing. At one point, Neal inquired, "So you're really gonna go? For the whole summer?"

She replied, "Yeah, I am. It's an amazing opportunity for me, and I've always dreamed of going to Alaska. Juneau sounds like a marine haven." She shifted uncomfortably as she looked at the promise gleaming on her finger.

"Alright," Neal soughed, "just remember where your home is, and who's waiting for you when you return."