Mirror Image

Emma Swan entered the restaurant, looking around for her mark. She spotted him sitting at a table off to the side. Emma took a deep breath, preparing herself for what she was about to do. Plastering a smile on her face, Emma strode to where Ryan was sitting.

"Emma," he stood, offering his hand.

"Hi, Ryan," Emma shook his hand, "You look relieved."

"Yeah, well it is the internet. Pictures can be…"

"Fake, outdated, stolen from a Victoria Secret's catalog."

Ryan laughed, "So, tell me something about yourself, Emma."

"Oh, well, today's my birthday."

"And you're spending it with me. What about your friends?"

"Kinda a loner."

"And, you don't like your family?"

"No family to like," Emma didn't enjoy lying about being alone, but it was safer for her son if the bad guys didn't know he existed.

"Ah, come on. Everyone has family."

"Technically, yeah. Not everyone knows who they are. Ready to run yet?" Emma pretended to be a bit insecure to keep Ryan off his game.

"Oh, not a chance. You Emma, are by far the sexiest, friendless orphan I have ever met."

Emma laughed at the lame joke, "Ok. Your turn. No wait! Let me guess. You're handsome, charming."

"Go on," Ryan's ego was stoked, so now it was time for the big fall.

"And, now stop me if I get this wrong. The type of guy who, embezzled from your employer, got arrested, and skipped bail before they were able to throw you in jail."

Ryan looked confused, "What?"

"And the worse part, this is your wife. Your wife loves you so much that she bailed you out, and how do you repay that loyalty? You're on a date."

"Who are you?"

"The chick who put up the rest of the money."

"You're a bail bondsman."

"Bail bondsperson." Ryan nodded, then he flipped the table over, taking off running. Emma sighed in exasperation. Now she was going to have to deal with the stain on her dress.

Emma calmly followed Ryan outside, crossing the street right behind him. Ryan was desperately attempting to get his car to drive, without any luck. He opened the door to see the boot around his back tire.

Ryan looked up as Emma caught up to him, "Look, you don't have to do this. I can pay you, I've got money."

"No, you don't. And even if you did, you should give it to your wife to look after your family."

Ryan scoffed, "What do you know about family?"

Emma leaned forward and looked him straight in the eye, "A lot more than you," then smashed his head into the steering wheel, knocking him out.

OUATOUATOUATOUATOUATOUATOUATOUATOUAT

Emma unlocked the door to her apartment, struggling to not drop the bag in her hand.

"Mom, let me help you with that," the bag was tugged out of arms.

Emma blinked, "Lucas, what are you still doing up? You should have been in bed hours ago. It's a school night."

Her loving child rolled his eyes, "Mom, it's your birthday. You really think I wouldn't stay up to celebrate it with you?"

Emma sighed, knowing there was no use in arguing. He was as stubborn as she was. He was already awake and nothing could change that now. "Fine. We'll eat one cupcake, then it's straight to bed. And I don't want any calls home about you falling asleep in class tomorrow, got it squirt?"

Lucas smiled, "Sure thing." Emma smiled back, pulling the cupcakes and candles out of the bag. She took out a blue, star shaped candle, settling it in the middle of her cupcake, and lighting the wick, "Go on, Mom. Make a wish."

Emma stared at the flickerin flame for a moment, trying to figure out what she wanted. She glanced at Lucas, realizing exactly what she wanted. Emma had always tried to do right by her kid, but she was a single mom with no support system. She hadn't been able to provide him everything he needed, but most importantly, she hadn't been able to give him a real family. That's what she would wish for, a family for her and Lucas. Emma closed her eyes and blew out the candle.

The doorbell rang. Emma was caught off guard at the sudden interruption, "Why don't you pour us some milk, and I'll see who's at the door," Emma said. She walked over to the door, wondering who on earth would be ringing at this time of night.

Emma's breath caught as she swung the door open.

"Are you Emma Swan?" Lucas was standing right outside the door, which was impossible since he was in the kitchen.

"Yeah," was the only thing Emma could think to say.

The Lucas look-alike smiled, bouncing on the balls of his feet, "I'm Henry. I'm your son."