A/N: The chapters should slowly start getting longer as I get going. I try to stop where it feels natural to me, which can sometimes leave the chapter short. Never fear, I have several chapters already written and more to come after that! Reviews and comments are always appreciated! And don't worry, Killian and Emma interaction will happen in due time. Also, I hope to be updating at least once a week!

Rumple Gold looked up from his book as the elevator doors slid open to reveal Belle and Emma, a smile on the Aussie's face and a scowl on the American's.

"Belle, what are you doing back so soon?" The Scottish man inquired.

She and Emma walked into the room. "Oh, we're just going to get Emma here into something more suitable for her birthday party, Rumple." Belle explained, her smile brightening at the sight of her husband. You wouldn't think that the librarian and the business mogul would work on paper, but they were very much in love. Belle had happened to be browsing through the items in one of his many antique shops when they'd bumped into each other, causing her to drop the cup in her hands and his cane to fall from his. Trying to steady her and himself, they'd looked into each others eyes and colors had bloomed. Rumple had been shocked, since at his age he had stopped hoping that he'd ever find his true love, but from that moment on it had been bliss. That chipped cup now sat dead center on the mantel over their fireplace in the penthouse.

"Ah, happy birthday, Emma." Rumple drawled. He would have come, but his knee was bothering him a bit more than usual and it's not like he was the sort to go clubbing. He took his cane and tapped a package on the coffee table in front of him. "You forgot this, dear."

"Ah, right! This is from me and Rumple, Emma. I think you should open it now." Belle said, picking up the package and handing it to Emma excitedly, before plopping down on the couch next to her hubby.

Emma fingered the ribbon hesitantly, never one for gifts. "Oh, you know you shouldn't-"

"Nonsense, Emma, you deserve something nice." Belle cut her off, eyes bright. "Now sit down and open it!"

"I must admit she is right, Miss Nolan." Which was a shock, as a compliment from Gold was practically rarer than Tanzanite.

She blushed, sitting down on the love seat. "If you insist..." she said as she started to unwrap her present. Under the paper was a plain white box, which she opened. Pulling back the tissue paper, she pulled out a dress. Simple, yet elegant, it was an a-line halter dress that cinched at the waist with a ribbon and looked about knee length.

"It's blue." Belle supplied, grinning ear to ear. Then smugly, "And don't you dare say you can't accept it, I burned the receipt. Now at least try it on."

"Alright, alright." She grumbled, getting up and going to the closest bathroom to change.

As she looked into the mirror, she had to admit that it did look nice on her. She heard a knock on the door and when she opened all she saw was an empty hall until she looked to the floor. There was a pair of plain pumps, she assumed they were black. She slipped her feet into the shoes and walked back into the main room, where Belle was waiting for her by the elevator doors. "You look lovely Emma! Doesn't she, Rumple?"

"Yes, dear." He mumbled, nose staying buried in his book.

Belle sighed, shaking her head at her husband. "Are you ready, Emma?"

"I suppose, since you're probably not going to let me change." Emma grumbled as the elevator dinged and the doors slid apart.

"Right you are! Now let's go!" Belle cheered, grabbing Emma and dragging her into the Elevator. "Bye, Rumple! Love you! Don't wait up!" she called as the doors slid shut.

As they reached outside a cab was waiting for them. "You're not being the DD on your birthday!" Belle explained. "And you're not paying for anything!"

Emma knew better by now than to protest. When Belle was determined nothing would get in her way. At least her best friend meant well.

They payed the cabbie and exited the cab once they'd reached Locksley's, getting to go to the front of the line despite the protests of the other patrons.

As they moseyed up to the bar Robin was there to greet them. "Ladies, lovely to see you!" shouted the handsome Brit, grinning at the two women. "Drinks for the birthday girl and her friends are on the house tonight! The usual, ladies?" They both returned Robin's grin, nodding. "Right, one scotch on the rocks and one Red coming up!"

It was really ironic that Emma's favorite drink would be named after a color.

She and Belle grabbed their drinks and managed to wade their way through the crowd of the club to the stairs before climbing up to the V.I.P. section. They grabbed their usual reserved table. Lights flashed, music blared, and a sea of bodies gyrated below them. On the table was a note, which they both squinted to try and read.

'Emma

Happy birthday. I'm sorry to say that I have business I had to attend to at The Forrest, otherwise you know I would be here. I'm about to kick ass and take names. I hope you're having a good day and I fully expect you to eat, drink, and get laid.

~Regina'

They had to chuckle at that. Typical Regina. "You gonna do it, Em?" Belle shouted over the music.

Emma took a big swig of her Red, "Get laid? I don't know. It's been a while, but you know how these things usually turn out." While Emma wasn't exactly celibate, she didn't quite like picking up strange men at the clubs they frequented. Sometimes – okay, a lot of the time – it turned sour in one way or another.

"Well I think you deserve some fun. I also think you need to find a man!" To which Emma just glared at Belle. They had talked about this. Emma didn't date. She didn't want to get attached to a man, didn't want her son to get attached to a man, only for him to leave once he found his soulmate. The only way she was dating anyone was if he was meant for her and even then, the thought made her wary. Just because a man was right for her didn't make him a good fit to be a father for Henry. The thought made her down the rest of her drink, the fresh taste of apple barely registering in her mind as it washed over her tongue and down her throat. Oh yes, she fully intended to get drunk off her ass tonight.

"I'm going to go get another one!" Emma shouted as she rose from her seat. She made her way down the stairs, through the sea of bodies to her destination. Waving to Robin, he signaled her that he'd be with her in a minute. In truth, she hated the crowds and really just wanted to go back up top. She grabbed a bar stool and sat, figuring she'd make herself as comfortable as possible seeing as Robin and his coworkers were rather swamped at the moment. She was bored, this is not how she wanted to spend her birthday, surrounded by strange people, but Regina had insisted and now she wasn't even here. Impatient, she started twisting and swinging around on her bar stool, feeling childish but having a bit of fun.

Then she lost her balance and started to tumble off the chair. She closed her eyes, bracing herself for impact. When the floor never came she opened her eyes, she looked up into the eyes of her savior.

And saw blue.