Chapter Text
Emma Swan stood in the center of her new room in a dingy apartment in Boston. It wasn't bad in terms of it being unsafe. It was just not what she wanted for herself or Henry. But she needed to start somewhere, and until she landed a job, this would have to do.
"Okay, Henry, let's go out and see what's around." Emma walked into her twelve-year-old son's room. Emma was still amazed at how strong and brave her kid was. Emma was only 18 when she had him, and she didn't expect to keep him, but she'd be damned if he ended up bouncing from foster home to foster home like she did when she was a kid. That's probably would led her to taking up with Neal and getting arrested for a crime that wasn't hers.
"We should get some pizza!" he exclaims, hopping off his twin sized bed. Tomorrow, he starts junior high, and Emma begins her job search. For the past six years, Emma has been a bail bonds person, but that's becoming too dangerous for a mother with a child to think about. However, she took criminal justice at her community college, and she knows that she'll end up right at the station tomorrow morning to fill out an application.
Emma agrees to the pizza. After all, they drove over ten hours today, and she certainly doesn't feel like cooking. By the time 10 rolls around, she's tucked in her bed. The exhaustion of moving taking a toll on her. She snuggles under the covers, tears threatening to overcome her. But she doesn't want to be weak for Henry. She has to be strong for the both of them. Neal wanted to take her son away, threatened her countless times. They had to get away from him and start over. So, she left without a trace.
The sound of cars beeping awakes her at promptly 6:15 a.m. Groaning, she throws back her covers. Henry doesn't need to be awake for school for another hour, so she ventures into the kitchen. She didn't unpack most of the kitchen stuff. However, she made it a point to unpack her Keurig. An Emma without her coffee in the morning is something the city of Boston does not need to witness. Especially if she needs it to land a job.
Pouring a good amount of cream into her coffee, she takes it outside on their small balcony. The sight isn't great, but at least it's not the back of an alley. It overlooks the bustling streets of the city. Leaning against the railing, Emma thinks about what her life would have been like if she didn't spend time in jail. Would she have overlooked what Neal did and got back together with him? Would she be in a more secure place in her life than she is now? It's the what-if questions that leave her feeling overwhelmed.
After Henry has eaten breakfast, she walks him to the junior high a few blocks over. Lucky for her, the police station is the next block over from the school. The location couldn't be better. She smooths down her black pencil skirt and checks to ensure the buttons on her white blouse are all done up. Although she isn't interviewing today, it's always a good impression to dress the part when applying for a job. It makes her look like she means business. Which she does; she desperately needs a job and quick.
The secretary greets her with a warm smile on her face. She introduces herself as Rose.
"Um, I'm here to apply for a job as an officer," Emma tells her.
Rose rummages through the file cabinet behind her, extracting a resume for Emma to fill out. Emma thanks her and goes over to the chair to fill it out. Once she's done, Ruby tells her they'll be in touch if the opportunity arises. Meaning if Emma fits the profile to protect the citizens of Boston. Walking out of the office, she walks aimlessly down the street. It's only been a day, and she's already over being unemployed. Being busy helps her take her mind off the disaster that is her life. The only saving grace she has is Henry.
About two hours later, Emma receives a call. It's an interview opportunity from the Boston PD, and they want to meet with her in an hour. Emma nearly drops her coffee on the sidewalk. Maybe her life is going to start looking up from here on out. She's never had a job call her back mere hours after applying. Saying her thank you, she nearly jumps for joy out in the middle of the city street. She arrives ten minutes before the interview, going over the responses to typical interview questions.
Rose calls her name, ushering her to the captain's office down the hall. She reads the name on the door: Captain Killian Jones. Hmm that doesn't sound much like a common name she hears too often. Emma's eyes collide with the bluest eyes she's ever seen. Matched with his dark hair and the scruff, he's like a hero in a cheesy romance novel she used to read as teenager. She almost forgets that she's in a professional interview. Shaking herself out of her swooning state, she offers a hand to the man. He takes it, his hand large and warm in hers.
"Nice to meet you, Ms. Swan. I must say I was quite impressed with your resume when Rose handed it to me this morning. I'm Captain Killian Jones."
He has an accent. Emma has always had a weakness for accents.
Emma smiles at him. "Thank you, and it's great to meet you as well."
Like any other interview, Emma nails each question. She can tell her approves by the way he nods his head when she answers his questions. About twenty minutes later, he's extending his hand to her, offering her a job as an officer. He shows her around the precinct. They stop in front of a cubicle where a man with dirty blonde hair sits on the phone. When he notices Killian, he sets the phone down with a smile on his face.
"Ms. Swan, meet David Nolan. You two will be working together for the near future. David, this is Emma Swan." Killian makes the introductions.
David grips Emma's hand with an easy smile. Killian excuses himself so Emma and David can get to know one another.
"So what brings you to Boston?"
She knew the question would come sooner or later. "Just thought it was time for a change. Tallahassee wasn't very good to me, but my son and I are excited to be here."
David keeps the smile plastered on his face. "You have a son? How old is he?"
"Henry, is twelve. He started seventh grade today."
Emma watches David's face for the usual reaction she gets when she tells people how old her son is. He, however, doesn't even flinch at it. Usually she's met with disapproving looks, especially from women old enough to be her grandmother. Being a young mom never bothered her, though. She would discredit those looks because she's doing what she was meant to do: be a mother to Henry. She never gave too much time to those looks of disapproval. Without Henry, she would be lost.
"My son just turned two," he reaches for a picture frame on his desk. "Leo. He looks a lot like my wife Mary Margaret. Are you married, Emma?"
She shakes her head. "No."
He gives her a sad smile. "Sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
Waving it off, she tells him it wasn't an inappropriate question to ask. "Well, I'll let you get back to work. It was nice meeting you."
"You too, Emma. See you tomorrow?"
Nodding, she heads back in the direction of Killian's office. He gestures for her to come in. "Are you okay with coming in tomorrow at 8?"
"Sure, my son goes to school a block over, so that works perfectly."
His gaze flicks down to her hand where a ring would normally be. He quirks an eyebrow slightly. "How old is the lad?"
"Twelve," she says.
"That's a fun age."
If only he knew. "Henry isn't like most preteens though. He's a lot more mature."
"Sounds like my older brother Liam at that age," Killian clears his throat. "I'll see you tomorrow, Ms. Swan."
"Emma," she says. "Please call me Emma."
Killian nods and she waves good bye. Walking outside, she smiles up at the sky. Maybe a fresh start and a new job is exactly what she and Henry needed. It'll be good here. And in the very least, she has a way of supporting her son.