Chapter 1: The Set-Up

Emma Swan pulled open the door to The Rabbit Hole and sauntered in. She could just make out the figures in the dimly lit noisy bar. In the far corner Mary Margaret Blanchard waved from a barstool. Emma quickly dodged the traffic flow by the pool table and booths and made her way to her best friend.

"You would not believe the day I had." Emma tossed her coat on the stool next to her and sat down. Mary Margaret pushed her glass of wine closer to the exhausted blonde.

"I'm gonna need something stronger than this." Emma laughed waving to a bartender.

"Okay, go ahead." Mary Margaret said after the man came back with Emma's scotch on the rocks.

"It was just one thing after the other. Regina called about some recent break ins to her office but to be honest I think it's another publicity stunt by the Mirror. Who the hell wants to break into the Mayor's office? Then I was sent over to Gold's shop because of a 'disturbance' which was yet another unlucky patron getting beaten for not paying the rent. I've got Gold in a holding cell but I bet you my paycheck he'll be gone by morning. I haven't even been home which means Henry was stuck alone at dinner." Emma said in one big breath, followed by a long swig of her scotch.

"I could tell. You're still wearing your badge." Mary Margaret pointed to the metal accessory pinned to Emma's jeans. Emma groaned, pulling it off and sticking it in her coat pocket.

"I'm beginning to think this thing is doing more harm than good. At least to my social life."

Mary Margaret sloshed the wine in her glass anxiously "Wait, didn't your badge just get you a date with some local out-of-town cop? How did that go?"

Emma glared at her best friend finishing off her drink " I wasn't bringing it up for a reason."

"That bad?" Mary Margaret asked putting her hand over Emma's and giving it a gentle squeeze. Emma shook her head in disbelief "Worse."

"Was it because of Henry again?" She asked alluding to the many times Emma had lost a suitor due to the mention of her son.

"I didn't even have a chance to mention him. The guy was such a sexist ass that I couldn't wait to get out of there. He asked me why I was carrying my costume piece around when I came here in my uniform. He said he thought I was in costume for some party when he asked me out. He kept saying how women should stick to being secretary's and assistants. The guy was so close minded I couldn't wait to get the hell out of there."

"I'm sorry, Emma.." Mary Margaret said gesturing to the barkeep for more drinks.

"I'm sick of guys. I think I'm done with guys. I'm just going to marry my job." Emma groaned dropping her head on the table. She reached out her hand as another drink was placed in it. She lifted her head groggily and chugged the drink back, letting the liquid shoot down her throat.

"Oh boy. I think it's time." Mary Margaret said sliding the empty glass away from Emma.

"I'm not done." Emma growled through her hands reaching for the glass.

"No, not time to stop drinking. I think it's time to introduce you to Killian." Mary Margaret rapidly typed on her cellphone presumably to her boyfriend, David.

"What the hell kind of name is Killian?" Emma rubbed her temples trying to process what her best friend was saying.

"He's Irish and David's best friend from college. He and I have been juggling the idea of setting you two up for a long time."

Emma perked up and directed her attention away from the alcohol and towards everything Mary Margaret was saying.

"Why is this the first time I'm hearing of him?"

"Because you two are very..special. We wanted to make sure you two were ready for the other." She explained taking a sip of her wine glass.

Emma's head was racing. There was a guy who was perfect for her and her best friend had been holding out on her? There had to be a reason. Mary Margaret and David didn't just keep secrets for the hell of it. There had to be an underlying motive for their actions.

"What's he like?"

"He's very charming. Romantic, funny, and very easy on the eyes." Mary Margaret scrolled through her phone and showed Emma a picture of the brown haired, blue eyed, scruff covered man. He had a cheeky grin on his face which seemed to speak volumes. Emma found herself getting lost in his eyes. Her eyes widened and her breath hitched as she examined each part of his face.

"Told you." Mary Margaret smirked, slipping her phone in her purse.

"You're right about him being easy on the eyes." Emma smiled to herself playing with the empty scotch glass.

"And just wait until you hear him talk. You'll melt."

"Is that so, Miss I-Only-Have-Eyes-For-David?" Emma teased, lightly punching Mary Margaret's shoulder.

"Just because I'm in love doesn't mean I'm blind," she joked getting off of the stool. "I'll talk to David about giving Killian a call and hopefully you two can meet up at Granny's this weekend."

Emma smiled brightly reaching out to hug her best friend to thank her for everything. Mary Margaret hugged her back, left a few bills on the table, and left the bar. Emma placed a few more bills on the table, and called home.

"Hello?" a groggy voice answered after the fourth ring.

"Hey kid. Did I wake you?" Emma chirped into the phone after hearing her son's voice. She heard him stifle a yawn as the conversation continued

"Yeah. I had a long day and I just..I just kind of passed out." Henry's words started to slur as he began to drift.

"Did you eat?"

"Yeah. Dad took me to Granny's before dropping me off at home."

"Good good." Emma tried to keep down the annoyance in her voice. At least Neal did something right.

"He told me to tell you something."

"Oh?" The last time he had wanted to tell her something he was telling her he needed space to 'figure out what he wants'. Bullshit.

"I think his exact words were 'here's to new beginnings' or something like that" Henry was already beginning to fall asleep.

"I see. We'll talk tomorrow, okay? Go back to sleep. I'm on my way home. Love you." Emma smiled at the sound of her son's sleepy voice fighting to stay alert to talk to her.

"Love you too. Night, mom."

After Emma hung up she let her ex-husbands words settle in her head. Here's to new beginnings. She thought back to the picture of Killian and smiled to herself.

Yeah.

Here's to new beginnings.