I would like to take a moment and address some reviews because I have been blown away with the support from the last few chapters.

TLWriter4721-Thank you so much! I recognize your name from earlier in the story and love your sweet words. I agree at some moments it felt like Emma was trusting quickly, but I did that to show her battling with the innocence that in still in is not completely broken at this point. It will be used as a comparison later in the story as she loses that innocence with the hardships she faces. And I have gotten many questions about the whole Neal-Henry story line and I am in the process of weaving it into the story and main plot. Hope you enjoy this chapter!

Polkie2-Can I just say that you are such an amazing follower that I get excited when I get notifications from you! You always say the kindest things! Thank you so much for the support you have given this story and the interactions you leave after the chapters! They are so appreciated.

Whataliar-I am sorry you are sad, but as a writer I love when I am able to get some emotions from people. But happy emotions are pretty great too, so I'll make sure to get some fluff in for you!

I will try to leave some personal comments towards reviewers in most of the chapters! Make sure you review! I love interacting with you guys.

Authors notes will be at the end of the chapter to avoid spoilers.

Chapter 16: Wilder

Emma Swan stopped saying hello a long time ago. It was nothing but a one way ticket to pain. Hello always meant goodbye. They were just one step closer to heartbreak, to abuse, to pain. Nothing good ever came out of hello.

At twenty-four, Emma had moved around to much. Consistency was the one thing she could never get in her life. Growing up in the foster system, she was constantly shifted from one bad experience to the next, with only glimmers of happiness. But most of the time, the darkness took over, resulting in her tainted memories telling her it was all bad.

The cold Maine air was a readjustment. Having spent almost her entire childhood around Boston, minus the her brief stay in Minnesota and other various spots, she was accustomed to the cold. The last the years she had spend in Tallahassee, ironically, and had quickly adapted to the warmth. But someone with no roots could not stay in one spot for too long. That was how she found herself in the small, cold town of Storybrooke, Maine.

She accepted a job at the sheriff's office, hoping it would provide a bit of stability for her and a safer job than being a bail bonds person. That job had been taken on a whim, stemming from the need for cash and her superpower of being the human lie detector. She needed a change though, a real one. A good one.

Maybe this little town was that. Or maybe it would just be another stop to wherever she was trying to get to.

She found herself in a little diner, names Grannies. It was a stereotypical diner, from the design to the food. Emma did not mind though. There was something quaint and peaceful about it. The was a noisy buzz in the room, but not an annoying noise level. It was just people, getting their daily cup of coffee or catching up with a friend over lunch. It was normal small town actions.

Emma sat down at the counter, eyeing the menu. Prices were reasonable and the food did not smell revolting as she had found was the case with other diners she had stumbled upon during her travels. Being a foster child, she had learned to not be too picky about food, since she never knew when her next meal might be, but some items she had found leaned towards cardboard than food.

"You gonna keep staring at that board or are you going to order something?" A sarcastic tone cut into her thoughts. She looked up to see an older women, glasses on her face and apron on her body, behind the counter.

"Just a hot chocolate." Emma answered.

"You look like you could use a coffee more." The women joked, most likely referencing the bags under Emma's eye due to long hours in the car.

"Or whiskey." Emma muttered. The older women disappeared into the back and a new body emerged, this time a young woman, around Emma's age, all legs with dark long hair and bright red lips.

"You must be the new sheriff." She stated, leaning over the counter. Emma raised an eyebrow, confused on how she would know that. The brunette kept rambling. "Small town. Everyone knows everyone. I'm Ruby by the way."

"Emma Swan." Emma told her hesitantly. The older women returned, placing Emma's drink in front of her. "You want whipped cream?"

"Sure." The women did so, returning the drink to Emma. "How much?"

The older woman waved her hand. Saying "On the house." before disappearing to the back again.

"You want anything else?" Ruby asked her. Emma was about the shake her head and answer no, just to end the conversation, but she changed her mind.

"Do you have any cinnamon?"

Instead of responding verbally, Ruby moved to a rack of spices and picked one up without even having to think. Emma took it from her and sprinkled it over the whipped cream before handing it back.

Ruby smiled. "You know, I only know one other person who likes cinnamon with their hot chocolate. You two will probably get along great because of your weird food choices." Like before, Ruby kept talking before Emma could even get a word in. "He'll be in soon, I think. He normally comes in during his lunch break."

Emma just hummed. "So, Ruby," She decided if she was going to enjoy her stay here, she might as well be friendly. Especially with the people who could supply her with food. "How long you worked here?"

Ruby let out a little chuckle. "Since I was little. I started getting payed when I was fifteen, but I'm convinced Granny put me to work when I was five. She raised my, but also had her diner to run, so I spent a lot of time here."

"Let me guess you spent a fair share of time in the Bed and Breakfast too?"

"Let's just say I am a pro at making beds." Ruby grabbed a rag and started washing down the counter to make it seem like she was at least doing something besides talking to the new customer. "So, how'd you hear about Storybrooke, Emma?"

"August Booth?" Emma asked more than stated, not sure if she got the name correct. When Ruby nodded she continued. "He was working in Tallahassee while I was in the process of leaving. He told me about Storybrooke and I thought I would give it a chance."

"Were you a sheriff down there?"

"Bail-bonds woman." Emma said, nonchalantly, taking a sip of her drink.

That perked Ruby's ears. "Ooh! How exciting! You must have so many interesting stories."

Emma shrugged. "They all end the same. I got the perp and get payed. I think the pay check at the end is pretty interesting, but I'm partial."

Ruby frowned. She was clearly a passionate one with all emotions. "You must have some better stories than that. You'll have to tell me over girl's night."

Emma almost choked on her drink. How, in five minutes, had she possibly gotten herself invited to girl's night? "Excuse me?"

"We have girl's night every week. We got out to the Rabbit Hole most of the time. My friend, Mary- Margaret, is a bit of a stick in the mud, but when she gets into it she gets into it. And Ashley comes when she can, but she's got her daughter, Alex, at home. Aurora is too innocent to get into any trouble, so I need a new partner. You sound like you could have some real fun."

Emma had a bad feeling that she would be meeting a lot of people, all at Ruby's insistence.

"Sounds like fun." Emma told her less than enthusiastically.

Ruby kept wiping, or whatever she called her fake work, down the counter, humming along. Her head perked up with the sound of the bell connected to the front door, as she did every time a new customer walked into the dinner.

"Here is Mr. Cinnamon right now." Ruby told her, in an excited hushed tone. "Killian!" She yelled.

An alarm in Emma went off the second she heard the name, but she pushed those thoughts aside. She turned around to see a tall man, dressed in all black, a leather jacket and disheveled dark hair and bright blue eyes. Some scruff decorated his face.

He walked over to the counter, keeping his hands in his pockets.

"Killian this is-"

"Emma" He cut her off with a breathy statement.

"Yeah" Ruby remained oblivious. "She is the new sheriff."

"Swan." He said quieter, stepping closer.

Then it hit her. Killian. Memories that she had suppressed for so long flooded in. Hot chocolate. Bus rides and walks home. Late night talks on the old porch swing. Saturday breakfast with Mrs. Abernathy. She remembered it all.

The fear set in. The past nine years had not been kind of her. If she had been a mess then, she was destroyed now. He would leave her. Her life would not allow the two of them to ever stay in the other's life.

So, Emma did the only thing she was ever good at.

She ran.

Okay, so we just began out time jump. I have had this planned from the very begining and I am very excited to see where this leads. A lot has happened in the past nine years. Stay tuned to see what!