Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time or any other copyrighted material mentioned.

All mistakes are mine!

I feel like I should say I am not an English student/anything. I mean, I teach math to tiny humans while getting my masters in psychology. You get the idea? Okay!

I also don't know anything about social service. I'm googling things as I go.

On with the story then! Hope you enjoy.

Milah Jones was exhausted. The last forty-eight hours had been the most stressful of her entire career, and that said a lot considering she had spent the past ten years working as a social worker in the Boston area. Nobody had warned her, during her college years, that the path she had chosen almost always led to helplessness and heartbreaks.

At twenty-four, she had been all smiles, determined to change the world, one case at a time. Now, ten years later, she had grown bitter. Her faith in humanity dwindled with each passing day. She knew now that her best efforts would most likely result in a child being place with a decent family for a little over three months before they'd be sent back for a reason or another. Sometimes, her best efforts ended up with her, running down a hospital hallway at 5am on a Tuesday morning looking for her little Swan.

She had gotten a phone call in the middle of the night, telling her that a child had been dropped outside the ER with her card taped to her shirt. Blonde curly hair, pale skin, green eyes. Between the age of four and six.

"Emma Swan," Milah had whispered, her voice cracking with tears. "Her name is Emma Swan. I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Is she allergic to anything, ma'am?"

"No, no, she's not. Why?"

"We'd like to give her something for the pain."

And that's how her already broken heart had been crushed.

She was driving on a road bordered by a lush green forest, the sun low in the horizon painted the skies in different shades of pink and purple. The car ride had been unusually quiet. Whenever Milah had to drive her somewhere, Emma would always babble in the back, asking all sorts of questions, feet swinging and kicking the driver's seat, but not today. She had tried getting Emma to talk, but her attempts had been fruitless. The child sat still in her booster seat, staring out the window, eyes unfocused. Milah wanted to blame it on the pain medication the doctor had given her, but the truth was nobody had gotten her to say a word since she had been found. Emma hadn't even made a sound when they had put the cast on her leg despite the tears and the obvious pain. Nobody really knew what had happened; they could only assume.

Turning down the volume of the radio, Milah tried to engage the child once more.

"We're almost there, Emma. You'll see you'll love it in Storybrooke with Mr. Nolan. David, I'm sure he'll want you to call him David. He's a nice man I promise. He's one of my best friends, Emma. He works at an animal shelter…"

But the little girl wasn't listening. Her head had lolled forward, resting on the cool window. Her eyelids fluttered wildly as she fought to stay conscious.

The social worker switched the CD player on, and classical music filled the car, giving Emma the little push she needed to surrender to sleep.

David Nolan had been best friend with Milah's husband since they were little boys, playing by the docks. His wife, Kathryn, had passed away a few years ago, and he was only starting to live again. Killian had joked one night, after one too many drinks, that David should consider adopting 'Milah's kids'; it wouldn't be too different from his current job at the shelter and it would keep him busy 24/7. They had all laughed it off, but a couple of days later, David had called her and asked what it would take to foster a child, and if she thought he had what it took to do it.

"David, we both know you'd be a wonderful father," she had said.

After making sure he was serious and thinking it over, Milah had called him back saying she had the perfect child for him if he was certain and ready. A little girl who had just turned six years old and who was in desperate need of a stable loving home. She had emailed him all the paperwork and after that it was just a game of waiting.

It hadn't been easy to persuade her boss to let her take Emma to Storybrooke, Maine, but the last incident with the Michaels had finally been enough for her to agree.

They all wanted the best for Emma Swan.

When she arrived, David was waiting for them, sitting on the porch step of his modest cottage, his knees bouncing anxiously. He quickly jumped to his feet when he saw Milah's car pulling in his driveway and he waved at her.

She shut off the engine and got out, happy to finally be able to stretch.

"God, David, why do you have to live so far into the woods. I swear the drive gave me leg cramps."

"Hey, Milah!" he greeted, a nervous smile playing on his lips. "It wouldn't be so bad if you got a decent car. How is this thing still even moving?"

"There's nothing wrong with my bug!" she stated with a light punch on his shoulder, before pulling him into a hug. "Thank you so much for taking her in, David. You are a lifesaver, literally."

Sensing his friend was on the verge of tears he gave her a little squeeze and stroked her back gently.

"I'm more than happy to." Milah step away and offered him a wet smile. "So, how is she?"

"I don't know… It's the first time I see her like this. She usually bounces back pretty quickly, but… She refuses to talk. We don't know what they did to her, David," Milah said, biting her bottom lip.

She felt guilty. She knew she never should have left Emma go with these people, even if it was just for a week. She had had a bad feeling about the Michaels from the start, and with Emma's past, Milah never should have taken the chance. How was Emma supposed to trust her now? How was she supposed to trust herself to do her job right?

"What did the doctor say?" David asked. His eyes were warm with empathy, but Milah could see the sadness in them.

"Broken leg, severe bruising on her arms, back and legs. They've beaten her up pretty bad," Milah said, her eyes filling with tears.

"Christ, how can someone do that to a child? To anyone?" David shook his head in disgust. They stayed silent for a while, both lost in their thoughts.

"Well, should we bring her things inside then? It's getting chilly out here."

"She doesn't have much. Just a backpack I filled with brand new clothes yesterday. You should be good for a little while. She might need a warmer jacket for the winter, but you'll have gotten the first check by then. Her stuff is on the passenger seat."

"You know I don't need the money, Milah," David said as he walked around the car.

"Yeah, I know Mister 'I'm loaded but I live like a peasant.'" They both chuckled.

"I don't live like a peasant. I just like simple things. I don't need money to be happy. Hey, should I bring the crutches inside too?"

"Please. I don't think she'll use them anytime soon. She's been pretty lethargic. Doctor says it's due to the pain medication they've put her on."

"You don't believe them?"

"I don't believe it's the only reason. They were pretty anxious to release her when they learned she's a state ward."

David nodded his understanding as he shut the door softly, mindful of the sleeping child in the backseat, and Milah couldn't help but smiled at his attention. David Nolan would be good for Emma, but she had a feeling Emma would be even better for him. He needed a little bit of love in his life again, and Emma Swan had plenty to offer.

Milah watched as he walked back to the house, wearing the Disney backpack on his shoulder proudly. She didn't know how she would ever pay him back for the chance he was giving Emma.

Taking a deep breath, the woman opened the car door, pushed the seat forward and bent slightly in front of the sleeping girl.

"Emma, hey Emma, we're here, love," she whispered softly, gently rubbing circles on the back of the child's tiny hand.

Feedback is always appreciated! xx

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