A/N: New here? Bear with me in these choppy first 4 chapters.. It gets better, I promise. As of now, I think, all I really need to mention is my two original characters, Holly and Gilbert. These two will be explained as the story progresses, but since every other character has an actor attached to them, I've chosen actors.. if you're interested. Gilbert 'is' Daniel Di Tomasso, with his longer hair (as seen in the cover image). Holly (though originally based on a real person from my waitress days) 'is' Olivia Holt. OH! I skimmed the 7th season. I never really watched it. I feel like it has no place in my ONCE - change my mind. Now that I've chewed your ear off... I hope you enjoy.

(if you've already read these first 4 chapters, you don't have to re-read them - I edited a few silly errors that were bothering me, nothing that effects the storyline.)

The table was set. Granny had made a special meal for everyone after the final battle. Everyone was there. Granny of course, Snow, David, baby Neal, Henry, Regina, Zelena with baby Robin, Hook, and Emma. Gold and Belle surprised everyone by bringing baby Gideon along. It was a beautiful evening. They had never had a feast quite like that, and Granny went all out.

It became a tradition for the holidays. They would all go to The Charming's farm and anyone who could cook helped Granny, it was never anything short of a blowout. Last Easter, Hook and Emma announced the pregnancy.

Holding the perfect baby in her arms for the first time, Killian right next to her on the hospital bed, the room overly crowded… no one cared. It was the happiest Emma had ever been. Surrounded by friends, family, her True Love, both her children...

Waking up was the hardest thing she ever had to do.

5:30 AM

Emma rolled over to smash her alarm, pissed at it for ruining such a pleasant dream. Weird, but pleasant. Only she could have a dream that spanned six years that ended in her marrying Captain Hotness. Something must have triggered it. Being alone, again for her birthday last night? A whole day of being 28 and she was still alone. Maybe the dream was trying to tell her something. Like make friends or find a nice guy and settle. Or perhaps, get over the family who abandoned you !

Whatever her mind was trying to say, she was absolutely awake now.

Normally, she'd snooze until 6, hastily take a shower, run out the door with wet hair, and barely make it on time to the "shop", as they called it, before all the good paydays were claimed. "Joey's 24/7 Bails Bonds" was too long to say, and no one wanted to give Joey the satisfaction by calling the place by his name.

She was surprised there was hot water this morning. Normally by the time she got up, the neighbors would have taken it all by now. Nope. This time, it was all hers. She even took a luxurious moment to dry her hair.

Fully dressed and ready for work, she realized she could stop at her favorite bakery down the street from the shop.

Taking the bus as usual, a redheaded woman came on board. She was carrying a baby in a sling.

She looked an awful lot like.. Who was it? A witch? Someone from her dream. It felt like ages ago, and her brain was playing scrabble with the fragments of the memory.

Emma couldn't help but lean over. "Do I know you?"

The woman looked startled, then smiled. "I see you on this bus from time to time." She didn't have an accent. Why was Emma expecting an accent?

"Sorry. Beautiful baby."

The woman smiled brightly before pulling out some pages. She began practicing for something, maybe a play. Emma could barely make out that the cover said Wicked .

She chuckled dryly to herself. Oh, how dreams folded reality into them was not a topic she wanted to think about. Who was the Hunky Hunkerson she ended up marrying? Model from GQ she barely got a glimpse at? She wouldn't be surprised. He was yummy. Probably gay, considering her luck.

Royal 'Cakes smelled amazing. She ordered her usual, then scoffed at the man behind her who ordered their specialty, which used real gold sheets that yes, were edible. She quietly wondered who had that kind of dough-

A man behind the counter handed her the togo bag, smiling brightly. "Have a nice day, dearie! Come back and see us!" She blinked a few times before returning his smile.

This was going to be a strange day.