Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. I give credit to the writers and actors of Once Upon a Time. Please enjoy my story, and leave feedback. Thank you.

Chapter 1

Emma

I awoke from a deep sleep. A nightmare. A nightmare that I was left alone in the darkness. Much like my reoccurring dream I'd had for about seventeen years. Since I was a child.

But this time, my nightmare had a twist to it. I heard a crying newborn baby. I could see in my dream, a tiny red baby boy. And in the dream, I got up from my bed and walked away

Startled, I glanced around my dim bedroom of my own apartment.

I groaned and rolled over to face the irritating ringing in my ears startled me and whirled me back into consciousness The squawking of my alarm clock me that it was time to get up and begin my day. I reached a hand to my bedside table and hit the button to silence the beeping. I yawned and looked at the window. The sun had just risen, golden light streaming into my room through black curtains.

I opened my eyes and flipped over my grey comforter and looked around my bedroom. It was seven am. I sat up gradually thinking about coffee.

I sluggishly walked into my clean kitchen to my coffee pot and pressed the "brew" button. I had prepared it the night before to make my morning easier.

As the coffee pot gurgled and started to steam the water and dripped coffee, I turned to my telephone which was on the polished black-marble counter and pressed my fingertip to the play messages button.

The first message said to me "Emma. It's me, John. Hey I have a job for you. Call me when you can, give you details, thanks. Bye," my bosses' voice said followed by a click and then a bee, ending the message.

"After coffee, John," I muttered to myself as I opened my cupboard door and took out a black ceramic mug. I crossed the kitchen to my fridge and pulled out a carton of French vanilla creamer, and poured it into my mug, followed by hot steaming French roast coffee. I sat on one of my stools next to the island in the middle of my personal apartment and took a long drink. I sighed and set down the cup and reached over to pick up my black cordless telephone.

I took another drink of my sweet coffee and dialed my bosses' speed dial button. Number 1.

"Hey Emma," John said after the first ring.

"Hey. What's up?" I replied.

"I have another guy I need you to find for me. Name's Neal. I can email you the stats now."

"Neal who…?" I asked slowly as I took another sip of my coffee this time drinking it all as John spoke:

"Neal Cassidy. Disappeared after he was incarcerated but I'm not sure how he's stayed on the run so fast. But you are great at what you do. I think I can give you this one."

"Nope." I said flatly. "Give that one to Ryan, I don't want that one. Got any others?" I set down my coffee.

John exhaled. "Why? I haven't told you his stats yet. Or do you know of him?" he asked carefully.

I rolled my eyes as I shook my head and looked around my empty living room. I sighed and looked out the large windows that overlooked Boston. "Just not interested in that case."

John heaved a sigh. "Alrighty. Then I have another for you. I'll email this man's stats. You sure, though Emma?"

I picked up my mug and looked into it, then stood up and refilled it with the coffee pot. "Yeah. Bye." I pressed the "end" button and slammed it on the counter. But not hard enough to shatter it.

I grabbed the blue coffee creamer container and spilled it into my second cup of coffee and opened my cupboard over my head and pulled out a box of strawberry Poptarts. I fished a foiled pastry and unwrapped it, but then my stomach growled, yet I wasn't even hungry. I set it on the counter and picked up my mug instead. I didn't want to even try to find Neal now.

Not after what happened between us. We were over and I was finally moving on, although my life had taken a huge couple of turns in the last year. Several massive events occurred, mostly bad ones. After having a child not too long ago, and then landing this new job that finally got me off the streets so I could have a fine life, made me think that it would be okay. Only lonely. What else was new?

I polished off my coffee, set it in my stainless steel sink and checked my email. I read the next man's stats, printed them out and ran a brush through hair with a look in my bedroom mirror. I put on a little mascara and lip gloss. I put on blue jeans and a tight fitted top and boots. I grabbed my red leather jacket out of my walk in closet, and my keys off of the counter and headed towards the front door.

I exited the elevators of my apartment building and made my way outside onto the busy streets, full of people walking by and cars and taxis zooming by.

I made my way down the sidewalk, then made a sharp right near an alley. I had parked my yellow bug on the corner of the alleyway. I fished my keys out of my pocket and stuck my car key into the handle of my driver's side door.

I heard someone walking towards me and the footfalls stopped. I immediately opened the car door and stood to face the stranger, ready for either flight or fight.

A young looking man stood in front of me. He had blue eyes and dark hair. He wore a leather jacket and all black clothes.

I frowned at him as he stared at me like he wanted something.

"Can I help you?" I said with warning in my voice that I was not willing to be kidnapped.

He gave me a once over. He seemed relieved. "You don't recognize me, do you?" He said in a British accent. His gaze was soft yet sad.

"No. Should I?" I held the top of my car door and gave him an odd look.

He sighed in what seemed to be defeat and then looked into my eyes. He seemed like a nice man, but it was unsettling that he seemed to like younger women. He looked to be at least twenty-eight or so.

"I don't have any money to give you." I lied.

"It's not that I want, I just know you from somewhere, and I just wanted to know if perhaps I could buy you a cup of coffee or something," he asked, his tone gentle.

His nerve to come on to me shocked the hell out of me. "Woa, look," I held up my palm, "I know you're hitting on me, but sorry I don't recognize you. And I have to get to work."

He bowed his head and shook it as if he'd give up. He dragged his soft gaze back to me and said in a soft husky voice, "Look, uh, I just need to talk to you."

I pointed a finger at him "Look I know you think you know me but right now is not a good time to be hitting on women. Especially those in a hurry." I glanced at my wrist watch and back at him. He had facial hair but it was trimmed nicely. He was tall and thin and handsome I'd give him that but he was starting to creep me out.

He rubbed his forehead with his fingers and exhaled. "How about this evening then?"

I scrunched my eyes at him curious as to why he was trying so hard. I leaned an arm against my car door, trying to decide whether I should just get in my car and leave or listen to what he had to say. I smirked, amused. "You sure are persistent aren't you?" I paused as he nodded slightly I could tell he liked what he saw. I lifted my free hand in front of him to stop his efforts and said, "Look I'm not into dating right now, I appreciate the guts it took to come over here and ask me out, repetitively but I really have to go." I pointe at my car.

"Please." He took a step forward. "Won't take no for an answer." He smiled widely at me, although I could tell his confidence was waning.

I studied him, wondering when he would finally back off. If he wasn't so good looking, I would gave left when he started speaking. I said, "What is your name? And did John send you to talk to me?" I held up a finger. Maybe he knew my job position.

"My name is Killian. And no, I don't know a John." He briskly shook his head. "I'm here to speak to you because…" He looked at me intensely as if trying to explain why he was attracted to me. There was no question in that. He lifted his hand. That was when I noticed he only had one. His leather coat covered the stump of the other.

I lifted my eyebrows suspiciously. "Because someone told you to?"

"No." He held my gaze. I could tell that he wasn't lying. He shifted his weight to the other foot and opened his palm as he spoke, "I just think that now that I know you're single, that you should allow me to buy you at least one drink." He dropped his hand, a lopsided smile curving his lips, like he had rediscovered his confidence in who he was. But his grin began to fade as I stared at him, perplexed as to who he was.

I let out a long breath. "Look, Gillian was it?"

"Killian." His brows drew together as if he was puzzled that got his name wrong.

"Right. I think it's a turn off that you're this aggressive in asking me out, as sweet as it is to offer, but I really am not interested." I gave him an apologetic little smile, a peace offering. I slid into my car, stuck the keys in the ignition and my Bug roared to life.

I glanced at Killian. He gazed at me mournfully and then turned around and lifted his head to the sky as if he'd lost so much yet he didn't even know me. I lifted a hand to say goodbye as if there were no hard feelings. He was frowning and watching me drive down the alleyway that would lead to the next street over.

Too bad he was so annoying as good looking as he was, I couldn't handle another relationship right now. I had just gotten out of one.

Playlist –

Wait For Me – Theory of a Deadman

Heaven – Theory of a Deadman

Lost in Paradise – Evanesance