AUTHOR'S NOTE: This takes place in the present day, about a decade after the events of the previous chapter (which was a flashback). I should probably mention that there is no curse. Regina Mills, Mary Margaret Blanchard, and David Nolan were all born in this world, not the Enchanted Forest, because there is no Enchanted Forest outside of Henry's book. Henry's book has fairytales, but in the more traditional sense of a nameless evil queen wanting to kill the innocent and beautiful Snow White so she can be the fairest. Storybrooke is a real town in Maine. Though the clock is broken, this does not affect anyone's aging or stop time in any way. I know, disappointing. Well, this is a land without magic.
Mary Margaret flipped through the channels as her roommate sat on the couch, eyes glued to phone. This was one of the last times they would be able to do this. Boxes filled the living room. Everything was changing. It all started when David gave her that beautiful ring with the green gem. Emma was the maid of honor at their wedding. Now that the excitement of the wedding and the honeymoon had died down, Mary Margaret was moving out of the apartment and into a new place with her husband. As exciting as that was, she regretted leaving her best friend behind.
"Emma, look at this." Mary Margaret said, finally resting on one channel. "The child of some politician is missing."
"So?" Emma asked, not looking up from her phone. She was probably playing a game.
"Isn't that what you do? Find people?"
"I'm a bail bondsperson. So unless this kid has skipped bail-" her breath hitched in her throat as she looked up and saw the picture of the missing child. And the name at the bottom of the screen. Henry Mills.
"Are you okay?"
Emma's eyes widened and watered as she placed a hand over her open mouth. Her thumb and the base of her forefinger closed around her nostrils systematically, as she attempted to control her breathing.
"Emma?" Mary Margaret asked, growing very concerned.
"I-I'm-" her breathing quickened as she removed her hand. She could not control it.
Mary Margaret grabbed a paper bag and handed it to Emma who graciously took it and breathed into it, calming her breath. Mary Margaret started to place her hands on Emma's shoulders, but Emma flinched away from the human contact and wiped her eyes with her sleeve.
"I'm fine." Emma said finally.
"Emma. I may not have your superpower, but I can see that you're not fine. What's bothering you?"
"It- it's complicated."
"You don't have to tell me, but I think you'll feel better once you do."
Emma closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths.
"I'm a terrible person," Emma admitted.
"No you're not."
"I had a family once, Mary Margaret. And then I messed everything up."
"That's your son?"
"I gave birth to him, but I doubt that you can call him my son."
"Oh Emma."
"I need to find him. I need to get him back home."
With that, Emma entered her own world. A world of leather jackets, electronics, and deep concentration. Mary Margaret knew that Emma would not be responsive for the rest of the evening.
