Growing up, Emma was always the last to rise. Her father was typically the first, he grew up on a farm and said it was just force of habit. Her mother followed not long after, somehow always being peppy. Both would practically have to drag Emma out of bed kicking and screaming all the way through her senior year. She still hated getting up early, but lately, she had trouble sleeping. Books she read suggested a body pillow, but it hadn't helped. The other side of the bed was still empty and nothing was going to change that.

Pushing back her covers, she got out of bed and padded down the hall, peeking into Henry's room, he was still fast asleep and would be for another hour or so. She headed downstairs and put on the coffee, her parents had yet to get up either. It was a Saturday, which meant no school for Mary Margaret-though she did have some tutoring sessions in the afternoon. Emma had thought of offering her services, but there wasn't much she could actually do. She had never been a terrible student, but she just wasn't teacher material.

As the coffee brewed, she headed out onto the steps where the paper had been delivered. In Tallahassee, she had never gotten the paper, everything was online. But Storybrooke was such a small town, the only way to get town news and look at the possible job prospects was to get the Storybrooke Gazette. She tucked it under her arm and went back into the kitchen where her pop tart was just about ready. Once her coffee was settled, she poured it out-black, just the way she liked it-and sat at the table, opening it up to the classifieds.

Just as they had been every day before, most of the openings were for jobs you had to have experience for, experience Emma didn't have. As a teenager, she had babysat for some neighbors but that was the extent of her childcare experience, so the daycare was out. She couldn't work in the mines and the Rabbit Hole only hired people with bartending experience. Letting out a sigh, she gave up and flipped forward a couple of pages to where the ads were. One called out to her, it wasn't something she had seen before: Queens of Darkness Spa.

It was a massage parlor, about an hour away in Bristol. They weren't advertising that they were hiring, but it was worth a shot. According to the ad, they opened at 8. Glancing over at the clock, Emma could see it was 7:45. She figured someone was probably there setting up, so she grabbed her cell and punched in the number. After a couple of rings, a voice filled her ear.

"Queens of Darkness, this is Mal. We'll be open in 15 minutes, if you could call back then…"

Emma interrupted before she could finish her spiel. "Hi, I'm um, not calling for an appointment. My name is Emma, Emma Nolan. I saw your ad in the paper and I know it's not a classified but I was wondering if you guys were hiring?"

There was a pause and then Mal spoke again. "What experience do you have, Miss Nolan?"

"I'm a licensed therapist and I worked for 4 years at this little parlor in Tallahassee. You could even contact my former boss," Emma assured her. Ingrid had always promised her a glowing recommendation.

"I see…well, we are always looking for new girls." Emma did her best not to squeal as a smile went across her face. "Why don't you come in today and I can show you around? I require a background check, but if you like the place and everything checks out, it may be a good fit."

Emma's smile dropped a little and an eyebrow raised. Even at Ingrid's, it hadn't been that easy for her to get the job. At the same time, she was a little desperate. "I can do that. What time?"

"I have a lull in appointments around 11. Do you need the address?"

"It's in the ad. I'll see you then, Mrs…"

"It's Miss Page. But everyone calls me Mal. See you later."

Emma heard the click and lowered her phone, taking a big sip of her coffee. This was going to be a big day…she just wasn't sure what to wear.

A couple of hours later, she stood in her mother's bedroom, wearing a robe. She had never been one to dress up, but wanted to make a good first impression. Her mother's fashion taste was more cardigans than leather, but it would have to do.

"You can borrow anything you like," Mary Margaret repeated for the millionth time as she put on her earrings. "I don't have any suits, but there are some dresses in there that'd be perfect."

"Thanks, Mom." Emma chewed on her bottom lip, weighing her options. Pushing back, some of the more matronly options, she landed on a white short sleeved top that had lace on the front and a blue paisley skirt. "What do you think?"

"Perfect. Though, I've never had to interview for a job like this. You said it's called Queens of Darkness Spa? What kind of name is that?"

Emma shrugged. "Hell if I know. Who am I to judge? It took me and Neal forever to name Henry."

"It's a sweet name," Mary Margaret gave her a smile. "You don't meet too many these days."

As if on cue, the little boy came barreling into the room. "Mommy! You're not dressed yet."

Emma chuckled. "Not yet."

"Are you sick?"

"No, I'm about to get ready. I have an interview."

Henry's face scrunched up a bit. He looked so much like Neal, right down to his confused face. "Inter…view?"

"It's to see if they want me to work for them."

"Oh." Henry was quiet for a minute and then ran out of the room. He returned a moment later holding his favorite teddy bear. "You should bring Cuddles. For luck."

Emma smiled and knelt to his height. "Thank you, kid. Come here." She wrapped him in a big hug and he wrapped his arms around her as far as his tiny arms would let him. "I love you."

"I love you too."

She let out a content sigh. Being a mom was the hardest job in the world, but Henry made it easy for the most part. He was her little partner in crime. "You be good for Grandpa and Grandma, okay?"

"I will."

A little later, Emma was on the road, Cuddles sitting on her dash. She was dressed in her mother's outfit, her hair thrown back in a ponytail as butterflies fluttered in her stomach. She wanted the job, she needed the job. She kept thinking about how if the tips were good enough, she could probably afford daycare so her father wouldn't have to overwork himself looking after Henry.

Bristol was a tourist destination and unlike Storybrooke, always seemed to be bustling with different people. Known especially for its water recreation, Emma used to go with her father occasionally to go fishing as a girl. Queens of Darkness was settled just outside of the heart of town, in a shopping center with a pharmacy and pub. Putting the bug into park, she wiped her sweaty palms onto her skirt and looked into the rearview mirror.

"You've got this Nolan, it's yours," she mumbled to herself. "You really need this job."

The reception area was beautiful, much more put together than her former parlor. There was a waterfall piece against the wall, lit up by red lights. Dragon figurines were scattered throughout the area along with a few comfy armchairs. Behind the front desk stood two blonde women, chatting. One was in her mid-30s, while the other couldn't have been older than her early 40s. They were dressed in white lab coats, tied tightly around them with the company's logo in the corner. Neither had noticed Emma's entrance, so she let out a small cough. Their talking ceased and they turned to face her.

"Hi, I'm Emma Nolan, I called early about the job, I'm supposed to meet with Mal Page," she said, a little nervously.

The older woman stepped forward, a smile going across her face, a twinkle in her blue eyes. "That would be me." She extended her hand, which Emma accepted to shake. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Nolan."

"Emma, please."

"I'm Kathryn," the other woman said, coming out from behind the desk as well, shaking Emma's hand.

"How old are you Emma?" Mal asked.

"24…ma'am." Emma wasn't one to usually throw that word around, but something about Mal made her feel a little intimidated.

Mal laughed. "Honey, I'm far too young to be a ma'am." Emma let out a nervous chuckle. "So, what services do you provide?"

Emma could feel the two women looking her up and down as she stumbled on her answer. "Well, I specialize in deep tissue and shiatzu, but I can do any kind." She reached into her bag and pulled out her sheet. "Here's my references." Mal's manicured fingers took it from her hands. "I know I only have experience with one prior parlor, I started working there as soon as I got my license and I would've stayed there, but they unfortunately closed."

"What a shame," Mal gave her a sympathetic smile and looked it over. "Even so, it seems you worked there for quite a while. And you'd be fine with a background check."

"Of course, I have zero to hide."

"That's what we like to hear. Why don't you come on into the back with me and Kathy, hmm?" She pushed open the door, leading the way. Kathryn gave her a friendly grin.

"Can I get you anything?" She asked. "Water? Tea?"

"Some water would be great actually," Emma said, her throat was feeling a bit dry. "Thank you." Kathryn nodded and headed off while Mal opened a door marked "Employees Only". There was a girl that looked barely old enough to be working anywhere, let alone a massage parlor. She was wearing a white robe, her auburn hair in two loose pigtails. Emma did her best to keep smiling, as the young woman was, though her eyes clearly wouldn't.

"Emma, this is Aurora," Mal explained. "She was our newest recruit before you."

"Nice to meet you," Aurora said, quietly.

Emma nodded. "You as well."

She went to ask if there was anyone else when the back door opened and someone else walked out. An eyebrow rose. She definitely hadn't seen her in quite some time and she had cut her hair, but there was no doubting it, that was definitely Regina Mills. She was wearing a robe similar to Aurora's, though hers was a little more filled out in the top. Emma remembered her from high school. She had always been two grades below her, but everyone knew Regina. Daughter of the mayor, and his deceased wife. Always hanging out with her posse of rich snobs. Not that Regina was ever cruel to Emma as her friends had been, they just never talked much at all. She wasn't even sure if the other woman would remember her until their eyes met.

"Emma?" Regina asked, unable to hide the shock in her voice.

What was she doing there? Suddenly, the gossipy women from the bar's voices filled her head. Emma had been go crazy looking for a job, according to them. Was she really that desperate? Her father had been Storybrooke's long time sheriff for Christ's sake! She looked her former crush up and down, a little taken aback by her outfit. In high school, Emma was more the type to wear skinny jeans and leather jackets. If anything…she looked like her school teacher mother. An uneasy feeling filled the pit of her stomach. This wasn't the place for Emma to be working, no matter how desperate she was. She wasn't the type to believe a man should provide for his wife, but did Neal really not make enough for her to have to resort to this?

"You two know each other?" Mal questioned, looking between the two.

"We went to high school together," Regina replied.

Emma nodded, smiling a little. "How have you been?"

"I've been…" Regina adjusted her robe, suddenly. Just as she was used to seeing Emma differently, Emma had always seen her in designer threads. The white teddy under the robe was not how she wanted to be reintroduced with her. "I've been good. And you?"

"Hanging in there." Kathryn returned, handing Emma a plastic cup of water. "Thank you."

"Kathryn, your 11:15 is here," Mal said. Kathryn nodded and headed out of the room, while Mal lead Emma over to what appeared to be a mirror. Regina and Aurora followed close behind, watching their boss flip a switch, showing the next room over. "It's a two way."

"Like on Law and Order or something," Aurora piped up.

Emma nodded and watched as Kathryn began talking to the man that was sitting on the massage table. From the bulge that could be seen in his boxers, he was just a bit too happy to be seeing the woman. She became worried that she was about to watch Kathryn be groped, she had a few clients in Florida that had been looking for a little more than just a massage. However, much to Emma's surprise, Kathryn removed her lab coat, revealing a pink bustier with black lace along with a black G-string. She strutted over to the man, a sultry smile on her face. The man laid down on his back and slowly, Kathryn worked of his boxers.

Emma looked from Mal to Aurora, neither seemed to be surprised. That's when it dawned on her. It wasn't exactly like Ingrid's…far from it. She had heard of places like it when she was in school, they were warned about how highly illegal they were. She felt ill, her hands starting to shake.

Regina could see Emma's green eyes wide with a mixture of horror and intrigue as she watched Kathryn blow her client. She realized that Emma hadn't exactly known what the parlor was and got a sudden sense of déjà vu. This happened every few interviews, Mal didn't exactly advertise what the parlor was, it was more of a place that regulars went to. Most of their clients and therapists came from word of mouth but occasionally they got the odd one that had no clue what they provided. It's why unless they specifically said while booking the appointment what they wanted, they never did more than a standard massage. The applicants who had no clue ran for the hills, but were usually too mortified to ever say anything.

Eventually, Emma's shaky hands dropped the water, she couldn't watch anymore. Without another word, she ran out of the room. The door in the reception area could be heard slamming shut a few moments later. Mal let out a long sigh, turning to Regina.

"You know her?" Regina nodded. "Make sure she keeps her mouth shut, okay?"

"Yeah…of course…"

It wasn't going to be easy, given who Emma's father was, but she had to. One word and they were all going to end up behind bars.

Emma sped so fast as she tried to make her way back onto the interstate. She couldn't believe what she had just witnessed, what she had almost gotten involved in! It wasn't that she was a prude, she had watched porn before…seeing Kathryn giving that man a blow job wasn't the issue. It was the fact that she would be receiving payment for it. That was illegal! Emma was no goody two shoes herself, she had been caught tagging as a teen, underage drinking had been her thing as well…but that was different in her mind.

"I have to pull over," she mumbled to herself. She couldn't get into a wreck over everything she had just witnessed. Pulling over on the quiet road, she laid her head against the steering wheel. She should've been able to guess it was all too good to be true. She got her hopes up way too high.

How was Regina Mills working there of all places? She knew that both of her parents had passed on, but they had been two of richest people in Storybrooke. Surely, they had passed on their fortune to their daughters. Had Regina squandered it away? She wasn't sure why she cared so much about her old classmate, it was just deeply troubling. She hadn't seemed like that kind of girl in high school.

Collecting herself, she sat up straight, putting on her seatbelt and heading back on the road. Her eyes glanced over at her son's teddy bear which still sat on her dash.

"I'm sorry I took you to that place, Mr. Cuddles," she said.

The part of her that was probably the most repulsed, was that she hadn't been entirely opposed to all of it. She had never exactly judged prostitutes. Most of them were in terrible situations and were just attempting to get out of them. She didn't nessecarily agree with it being illegal as long as the women were consenting and no trafficking was involved, it was a career nonetheless. And they made more money than she probably ever would. Sex with the right person meant something, but before she had gotten serious with Neal, she had slept around.

But the fact of the matter was…it was illegal. Yes, she needed a job, but one of the major reasons was because of Henry. He had already lost one parent, he could not have his other go to jail. No, she would find another job, any other job. She would drive hours away if that's what it took, find a way to move again. She couldn't do that.

Once she returned to Storybrooke, more than anything Emma needed a drink. However, the Rabbit Hole didn't open until 4 and it was only a little after noon. So, she settled on Granny's, parking her car out front. The minute she walked inside, she felt herself tackled in a hug. Before she could react, she saw the flurry of red streaks mixed with dark locks and caught on.

"Hello to you too, Ruby," she said.

Ruby squealed, tightening the hug for a moment before pulling off. "Granny said you were back! You totally suck for not calling me and telling me yourself."

"Sorry," Emma replied, though she still felt so far away.

Ruby frowned at her friend's lack of enthusiasm. "Hey, I was just kidding."

Emma caught look of Ruby's face, guilt filling her. "Oh, I know." She sighed. "I'm sorry Rube, I'm just in a weird mood…I had a shitty job interview."

Ruby nodded, her frown turning to a sympathetic smile. "Granny told me about everything, that's gotta suck. How about a grilled cheese, on the house? I'll even throw in a cocoa."

"Oh, you don't have to…"

"Nonsense, I want to." She lead her over to her old favorite table. "You should get your parents to watch your kid-who I still need to meet by the way-so we can have a night out. I'm sure I could even wrangle August to come out too."

Emma settled into her chair. "I really have to get back to finding a job."

"You can't look all the time. Plus, what jobs require interviews at night? Just think about it." Before Emma could even respond, the waitress was walking off to put in her order.

A few minutes later, the bell above the door jingled, but Emma didn't even bother to look up. She only did when she could feel someone sitting across from her. It was Regina. She had changed out of her robe and was wearing a black pantsuit, a pink blouse underneath.

"How did you…I don't even…you were at work," Emma fumbled over her words.

"Mal wanted me to come after you," Regina said.

"This is hardly the place…" Emma started to say.

"It's packed, no one's going to hear us," she said. She went to say more, when Ruby returned with a mug of hot chocolate. She looked a little stunned to see Regina there, the diner wasn't her usual hangout.

"Regina? Are you joining Emma?"

Just as Emma went to say, Regina spoke over her. "Actually I am. I'll have whatever she's having," she informed the waitress, unsure of what they offered.

"Okay, another cocoa with cinnamon and grilled cheese coming right up," Ruby replied, side eying Emma a little before she headed to the back. Regina pulled a face.

"You eat like a child," she commented.

Emma rolled her eyes. "You're the one that crashed my lunch."

"Look, you're not going to say anything, are you?"

"Who would I tell?" Emma asked. Regina gave her a look that was basically calling her an idiot. "Oh. No." She scrunched up her face. "I don't even think I could ever tell my father I stepped foot in there without turning all types of red." She could see that still didn't please Regina. "And I wouldn't tell anyone else either."

"You sure?"

"Do you not trust me?"

"This isn't a game," Regina said, folding her arms over her chest. "Mal works hard to keep that place going, it's her livelihood, it's all of ours. We can't have that blown." Emma couldn't help but snort at her choice of words, considering what she had just witnessed. "Oh, for the love of…grow up, Miss Nolan."

Emma rolled her eyes. "Look, I'm not going to tell. It may not be for me, but I have nothing against…that."

Regina studied her face, wanting to believe her. "So, why'd you run out like that?"

"It wasn't what I was expecting. I mean, did you?"

Regina straightened up a bit, smiling politely at Ruby as she set down the mug of her own before walking away again. She took a small sip and hid back declaring how delicious she found it. As much as she would like to enjoy that she was having lunch with Emma, this was serious. "We're not discussing me."

"I just don't understand how you of all people got involved."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Regina asked, offended.

"Well, you were the mayor's daughter…"

"Look, you don't know a damn thing about me. We went to school together, that was it, got it?" Regina snapped.

Emma raised an eyebrow, but nodded. "Got it."

They sat there in silence as Ruby brought over their sandwiches, looking between the two. Regina shot her a glare back and she slowly backed away to go wait on other tables. Emma picked up her sandwich, nibbling on it a bit.

"It's not that bad," Regina finally said.

"I'm sure it's not," Emma told her, knowing she was talking about the job and not the food.

"Maybe it's best that you're not doing it though, I'm sure your boyfriend wouldn't be okay with it." She took another sip of drink before biting the cheesy food in front of her.

Emma arched an eyebrow. "Boyfriend? I don't have a boyfriend."

"Didn't you ride off into the sunset with Neal after you graduated? Heard you moved to Florida, had a baby."

It was Emma's turn to straighten up a bit. "We did. But…Neal's not with us."

"Oh." Regina felt a slight twinge of guilt. She had been upset with Emma judging her, now she was doing the same. "Fatherhood too much for him?"

The look on Emma's face turned from one of confusion to one of full offense. "No. Neal was an amazing father. He died."

Regina dropped the second half of her sandwich, now feeling more guilt. Neal had died…just like Daniel. "Emma, I'm…I'm so sorry."

"Yeah, well…" Emma looked away, picking up her mug. "Not like you killed him or anything."

Regina didn't crack a smile at the lame attempt at a joke. "Look, I don't want to pressure you into doing anything you're not comfortable with but if you change your mind…Mal is always looking for new girls." She grabbed the napkin from under her mug and pulled a pen from her purse. Scribbling down her number, she pushed it toward Emma. "If you change your mind or have questions, call me."

Emma glanced down at the stained napkin before looking back up at Regina. "I…I don't know."

"Like I said, it's just if you change your mind. No pressure. Thank you…for keeping it a secret." She pulled out her wallet and plucked down some bills, enough to pay for both of them (unaware of Ruby's on the house deal to Emma). "I'll see you around." With that, she walked back out.

Emma's eyes drifted to the neat penmanship once again, Regina's offer echoing in her brain. It was a nice one, no doubting that. It just wasn't one she could take her up on. Another job would come…she was sure of it.


Please let me know what you want to see and if you are enjoying it. As I said, this is a SQ slow burn, so I promise even with mentions of Neal and Daniel, they are the desired outcome. It's just going to take them time to get there. I do have two Tumblrs, one is my main account where I just reblog and post random stuff about the fandom: just-an-outlaw and the other is my fanfiction account where I post my stories and answer questions, accept prompts, etc.: justanoutlawfanfiction, so feel free to follow both and send me questions and prompts. I'll try to work them in! Until next time, friends. =)