(Emma)

I woke up late, it was past 10 and I groaned when I realized it was that late. I checked my alarms to see why they didn't ring and found out that I forgot to turn the volume on.

4 years have passed since I last saw Mary Margaret or Ruby. Sure we talk on the phone but I haven't them in person in so long. My life's been a mess ever since I joined George and helped him build a company that would help fight off the crimes.

I shook my head and sighed. This is the first thing I think of after I wake up. I almost scolded myself. Still lying in bed I brought my hands up to rub sleep out of my eyes and slowly sat up.

I had to go meet Robin today to ask when can I come in and so I could take the physic and aim test. I washed my face and brushed my teeth. I thought of applying some make up but thought the better of it. There was no point. I wasn't trying to impress anyone.

I went to the building, passed the reception desk after telling them my business and showing them Robin's note. I got into the elevator to take me to the third floor where Robin's office was.

I spent 5 minutes roaming around searching for Robin's office because last time I interviewed over the video call via Skype.

Just as I was about to turn back I saw a man dressed in blach shirt and leather pants 'Seriously?' come out of a door # 5.

I couldn't put my finger on it but he seemed familiar. Maybe our paths crossed while working a case or maybe we just sat in a same cafe or library; I didn't know.

Whatever. I thought to myself and walked towards him. He seemed focused on something in his phone as his eyebrows were set in a frown.

"Excuse me?" I tried to get his attention. He looked up from his phone still frowning but his expressions changed soon.

"Can I help you?" He asked me and then extended his hand, raised his eyebrow and smiled.

"I'm looking for Mr. Locksley's office. Can you point me to the right direction?" I asked and looked at him and then I knew, I knew that we'd met before and it was more than just sharing a relaxing spot. For a moment I considered asking him if we knew each other but shook that thought.

"Oh yes sure." He fluttered his eyes as he turned to point to a door. "Through that door."

"Thank you. Mr.—"

"Jones." He said. I nodded.

"Thank you Mr. Jones I'm Emma." I told him. It was the right thing to do after all he told me his name as well. We stayed quite. There was thick tension in the air as I looked to my feet then to my right.

"I'll be going now. I'm already late." I said and broke the uncomfortable silence. I left him standing there but as I was about to open the door he called.

"Emma?"

"Yeah?" I replied. He looked confused.

"Do—Do we know each other from somewhere?" he asked. Bongo. My mind sang. But I couldn't tell him I felt that too without getting in details and without lying I replied.

"Not that I know of." He nodded still confused and left the hallway I kept staring where he'd disappeared lost in thoughts my mind trying to find the exact moment I'd seen him but I didn't find any. Maybe he was in my memories I was blocking and I wouldn't want to remember them so I decided to bury my feeling.

"Miss won't you come in?" A voice pulled me out of my train of thoughts.

"What?" I asked still somewhat dazed.

"You'd been standing there for about 7 minutes now staring into space and I asked if you wanted to come in." I mentally slapped myself for acting so distracted and nodded.

"Yeah sure. Mr. Locksley?"

"Please call me Robin." He smiled and shook my hand.

After my interview and aim test robin nodded.

"I have to say I'm impressed Emma. You might even beat Mr. Jones our best employee. May I asked who taught you?" I stiffened at his question. Should I tell him? Maybe I should just lie.

But I won't lie. I have to accept what happened. But I can't.

"My husband taught me." I quietly said before I could process what I was saying. He seemed to understand my hesitation about the subject and left it there.

"Guess we'll see you on Monday. I'll assign you with one of our best so they could teach you the rules of this company though I doubt you'll have any problem." He smiled and shook my hand again I picked my bag and left the room.

A strange feeling of being watched came over me I stopped walking and turned around quickly there was another door nearby but there was no one in my line of sight.

(Killian)

I didn't know what happened but the moment that blond women told me her name I just knew I had seen her before. Not only seen her but… I don't know. I abandoned that thought there and went to print the files saved in my cell. But as I waited for all the pages to come out of the printer I found my thought focused on that blond. She was beautiful I had to give her that. Looking at her appearance she appeared to be strong but I could see a small fragile lost girl hidden underneath all the tough exterior.

Perhaps she was there to have her case sorted. Maybe. I thought to myself.

It was about an hour later when I got a text from Robin.

'We have a new recruit. I shall be assigning her with you. We're down in dungeons if you want to see her test.'

'Sure I'll be right down' I texted back.

'Stay hidden will you? She asked me she wanted to be alone.'

I was almost burning with curiosity. This woman was a mystery and I Killian Jones loved mysteries. First of all I had to find out where we had seen each other before. I got some coffee from the coffee machine and went to the basement we called the dungeons. Gave it a dark ring.

She passed her physic test beautifully... By beautiful I mean she was an expert, she totally kicked Robin's ass.

I watched from behind a door. Her movements were excruciating and the worst thing was I was not supposed to feel that way. I was dishonoring Milah's memories.

As she finished her aim test Robin asked her a question I couldn't make out but I still heard her broken voice with a little edge pointing that she didn't like talking about this. When she replied mentioning her husband and I don't know why but I felt hope that had filled my chest leave me.

This wasn't a woman this was a siren. I figured in my head.

I didn't realize I was watching her leave so I hid again as she turned around no doubt feeling my gaze on her.

I thanked the extra strong coffee because I was behaving rather like a teenager.

When I got home Liam jumped on my lap. I thanked Liam's babysitter paid her, her monthly fee.

"Baba?" said my four years old.

"Yes Liam?"

"Jenny was telling me today about her mama." I stiffened I knew this time would come. I knew he would ask me this.

"Do I have a mommy too?" He asked I closed my eyes and sighed.

"Everyone has a mommy my little pirate." I told him. "It's just that your mommy was so good and she was trying to protect me so she had to go away."

"Go where?" He said his head resting on my chest as his fingers played with buttons on my shirt.

"You'll understand when you'll get older." I tried to hold back the sadness in my voice and failed miserably.

"Do you remember her?" He asked. I smiled

"Every minute I spent with her." I said more to myself than to him. "Why do you ask?" I asked.

"I want you to tell me my mama's bed time story." I kissed his forehead and nodded. I would be hard but he had a right to know how his mother was like.

Soon I put him to bed and laid with him as well. I started running my hand through his hair soothingly and started.

"Once Upon A Time…"

(3 and a half years ago)

Milah and I could have not been happier. We met under the most disturbing circumstances. I remember running away from someone and leaving a person alone in the midst of some crisis. It was critical but I didn't remember the details.

Milah was the one who supported me and gave me a new will to live. She encouraged me to start over and black out the bad memories of my past. As I searched for jobs I found one in the same company Milah worked in. It wasn't the safest of jobs but it was what made us happy working side by side helping bring justice.

It was1 year after I found my brother after we were separated in the system. It was 4 years after I met Milah that I proposed, she said yes.

It was 2 years that we tried to have children but just as we were about to give up she got pregnant. But when she was 5 months along we lost the baby. We tried again after a year and this time everything went well and Liam was born 9 months later.

He was everything we hoped. Milah was one of the strongest women I knew. We hoped to raise Liam together but it seemed the fates hated both of us so no more than 2 months have passed when we got assigned to a case. It was a big one. Someone had threatened both of us, while robin insisted that we let someone else handle the case we decided to fight our own battle

I guess we should have listened to him because it landed me in a hospital with a shattered knee cap, swear head trauma a small graze of bullet while Milah died.

I mourned for months and it took all the support my friends could offer to bring me back but the events had left me with a broken heart.

Finally I was brought back to life by Liam. He was the only thing I had of Milah and I couldn't let his life go to hell because I was too weak to pull through a hurdle.

…

I fished my story, of course I left out the depressing memories but still it all came rushing back into my head.

I looked down to see Liam was sleeping I kissed his forehead and slid out from under the sheets. As I entered my room my sorrow turned into fury and I punched the bathroom wall till mu knuckles were bruised and bleeding. I yelled. And then finally my fury dies and all the devastation found its way back around my head and I cried myself to sleep.

Enjoy. Let me know if you like it.