Emma Swan sat at her desk, well after the rest of her officers left, pouring over the same file she does every hour there is not an active case. She ignored the text from her best friend, Mary- Margaret, inviting Emma out to dinner with her and her husband, Emma's foster brother, David Nolan. She knew that the school-teacher thought it unhealthy to exhaust so much of her attention on the seemingly cold case, but there were still so many missing children, and she hoped to bring them home to the parents who never gave up hope. Additionally, though she wouldn't admit her more selfish motives: with Henry spending the week across town with her ex-wife, Regina Mills, she saw no reason to return to an empty apartment.
Henry had been the light of her life since he was born 11 years ago, and she cleaned up her act to give him the life he deserves. She got out of prison, worked as a bail-bonds woman until she finally got a job as a Sheriff deputy. Now, 6 years later, she was leading a precinct all her own. She only hoped her son was proud.
Emma shook her head, returning to the matter at hand, pulling up the database of missing children, printing out all new boys that had been added, hoping to narrow down which, if any, were the latest victims in this serial kidnapping case. She had been investigating this case for 4 years now, and while the folder got larger, she got no closer to finding the culprit.
She was sorting the latest 10 missing boys, having already determined 4 unrelated and 2 related, when her phone lit up with a picture of Henry, causing her to jump from the irritating ringtone. She blinked, seeing the time was now 9 o'clock. She pushed her work aside, sliding to answer the call.
"Hey, kid. How are you doing? Are you having a good night with Reg-your mom? "Emma started. Despite the rocky end and subsequent divorce, Emma and Regina agreed not to allow it to affect their relationship with their son. There were times where she felt bitter and wanted to remind Regina that she had no biological relation, but she logically knew that that didn't mean much. For the last 8 years, Regina had stayed steadfast in Henry and Emma's life and for 7 she has legally been Henry's adoptive mother following their marriage. Emma had no way of knowing how the relationship would end, and on her good days, she had no regrets.
"Hi mama! Mom and I have been having lots of fun! She let me help her make lasaghe, then we got into our PJs and are having a movie marathon! She even let me pick out some candy at the store! "Henry paused to take in a breath before launching back into his explanation of the rest of his week," I went to school every day and Mom's driver, Sydney, would pick me up and stay home with me until Mom got home. He's really good at helping me with my English and History homework!" another breath, "Then mom would make dinner and I would read while she worked in her office..." Henry continued on in the same vein of conversation with her humming and 'ahh'-ing as needed.
She couldn't help the annoying voice in her head telling her Regina would never change. She knew that telling her she didn't like Sydney around her son would not stop Regina, who put her position as Madame Mayor above all her parental and old marital obligations. She wondered if 'Gina knew that she was taking their son for granted. He was too happy, too loving to ever resent Regina like Emma did. She took a deep breath, tuning back into her son's ramble.
"How has your day been, Mama? Catch lots of criminals?"
"Some. Unfortunately, Kid, criminals don't unless we catch them. But I'm glad you're having fun with your mom. I miss you, kid, I'm excited to have you home on Sunday. I figured we'd go to the diner and play Mario Kart."
Henry laughed, "That will be fun, Mama! Oh... okay, mom... Mama, its bedtime. So I'll talk to you tomorrow! I love you!"
"I love you, too, kid. Don't let the bedbugs bite!"
"Goodnight, Mama!'
"Goodnight, honey." The phone clicked as Henry hung up the phone.
Emma dropped her phone on the desk with a sigh, leaning back in her chair and staring at the ceiling. It was going to be a long night.
—
Emma woke up early the following day and started her usual routine. She did a run around a few blocks in the neighborhood before jogging to the precinct and using their weights and punching bags. Once her work out was complete, she took a shower, put on her jeans, boots, t-shirt, and red leather jacket before attaching her weapon and badge to her belt-line and headed to her office.
She worked on case files as they came, assigning them to her officers, and ultimately doing her best to keep the crime at bay. She stopped briefly to have lunch with her deputy Graham and his fiancé, Ruby, who actual co-owned the diner. She refilled her coffee an unusually low 4 times.
It happened on her last coffee run. She was returning to her office when Graham came over shouting, "Emma! The computers are all down! We don't know whats going on!"
Emma rushed back, finding her office seemingly untouched, but after sitting down and looking at her screen, she knew something was very wrong.
Written in capital letters on a predominantly black screen was:
STOP SEARCHING FOR MY LOST BOYS. KNOW YOU'RE BEING WATCHED. - PETER PAN
She looked for her folder, yet she knew it would be missing. She picked up her desk phone, calling security. She demanded all security footage of the building and also shouted at the staff to shut down the building.
A ping from her computer attracted her attention. Now, the screen showed a video, pixelated and poor quality, but she froze when she recognized the scene. There playing on her screen was a video from Henry's classroom. She didn't know when it was from, but the implications made her stomach flip.
The video disappeared and text populated once more:
LOCKDOWN ORDER WAS TOO LATE. GOODBYE, EMMA SWAN.
….
HELLO, HENRY SWAN-MILLS. - PETER PAN
The screen went black and Emma sat frozen.
—
Authors Note: Hello everyone, and welcome to my newest story! **I do not own OUAT**