Emma's life had become both insane and insanely busy, with Henry's curse being real, saving him with True Love's Kiss, meeting the parents who abandoned her, magic coming to Storybrooke, and stopping a mob from killing Regina and Regina from killing the mob.

She had her mom and dad, but honestly? Emma almost would have preferred a normal life to meeting her fairy tale parents.

But her life hadn't been normal since her long lost son had shown up at her door in Boston, and it hadn't felt normal since she was seventeen and living in the Bug with Neal. After he left, and she gave up Henry, her life had always felt empty.

Emma couldn't think about Neal, though. He had left her, had let her take the fall for his crime, probably hadn't cared about her at all.

She had told Henry his father was dead, and even though part of her burned to see him again, she hoped it was true.

She hoped Neal was dead and that she'd never see him again.

Nothing could stay calm in Storybrooke for long, and of course Emma ended up on the front lines.

She was the Sheriff, her parents were royalty back in the Enchanted Forest, she shared a son with Regina, and Neal, her ex and the love of her life and Henry's father, turned out to be Mr. Gold's son.

And Tamara was evil.

Earlier, she had wanted to find proof she was right, that she wasn't some jealous ex making stuff up. But now? She had all the proof she needed, and Neal and Henry had paid the price.

Henry had barely had any time with his dad, before Emma had to tell him that he had died, and then Tamara and Greg had kidnapped him, and she was going to put all her energy into saving him.

Then she could start grieving again. It could sink in that the man who she thought never loved her, who had regretted leaving her for twelve years, who she would never ever stop loving, was gone.

She knew Neal was dead, but all she wanted was to see him one more time.

This is my first time writing in the OUAT fandom and I'm so excited that I get to participate in Swanfire week for it! I hope the rest of you enjoy the influx of content as much as I will.