Aurora walks out of the dressing room of the local dress shop in a beautiful purple gown. She spins around looking at herself in the mirror.

"Phillip is gonna want to ravage you," Ruby says stepping out from the changing room she was in. She's wearing a short skimpy black dress with a red cloak tied at her neck.

"And someone's gonna definitely want to ravage you," I say eyeing her.

Aurora looks over at Ruby and chuckles.

"I hope it's someone yummy, all the guys in this town are so..."

"Weird, dull, dangerous...."

"Not my Phillip," Aurora protests.

"Seriously where did you find him? Clearly he didn't grow up in StoryBrooke,"I joke.

Ruby looks over and smiles at me. She's been worried about me since the incident at school. I keep telling her that I'm okay, and some days I am, but others I feel like I'm lying.

Aurora smiles at my comment and spins around in her dress.

"He's gonna be in awe," I tell her.

"Which mask should I wear?"

Of course this ball is a masquerade, how cliche. We each grabbed three eye masks and set them on the small white box in front of the changing rooms. I grab a purple and silver mask with sparkling jewels and handed it to her. She puts it on and covers her mouth.

"Emma, it's perfect," she sighs happily.

Ruby grabs a black and red mask with a black feather sticking out the left side.

"Perfect!" She says.

"What about you Emma? What dress are you wearing?" Aurora asks.

I shrug. I haven't given much thought to it the past few days, I've been too busy staring at the text from Regina the other day. I still haven't called her, I doubt she even wants to hear my side of things.

"Aurora and I are gonna get dressed, then we are going to pick out the perfect dress for you. Who knows maybe your prince charming will be at the ball."

I laugh.

"You guys can live in your fantasy world all you want, but believe me when I say my prince charming does not exist," I say.

"Such negativity," Ruby teases, and it makes me laugh.

A few minutes later I'm being dragged through the aisles of dresses. There are so many different styles, I'm a bit overwhelmed. I've never been to a dance in my entire life. Sure there were dances in High School, but I never went. I was either in the process of being transitioned to a new home or too new to have any friends to go with.

My hands touch the silky and soft fabrics of each dress as I pass them by. Nothing is popping out at me, and I literally want to run out of here screaming. I swing around to the other side of one of the racks and my hand touches a satin dress. I turn to look at the deep crimson color of the dress, I tug it from the shelf and hold it up to look at it. The neckline swoops down and there are tiny jewels along the edge. There's some tulle underneath that makes it puff out a bit. I hear Ruby gasp.

"You better be trying that one one!" she yells from the other side of the aisle.

I laugh and shake my head holding it up once more to get a better look.

"Emma that's so you," Aurora comments.

"Fine!"

I walk over to the dressing room and close the curtains. I hang the dress on the hook above and start to get undressed. Standing naked in my matching black bra and underwear I stare at myself in the mirror. At the pasty white girl with pale blonde hair and a scar on her cheek. The scar still looks a little fresh, but the swelling has gone down a significant amount, Maybe I'll get a mask that covers that side of my face.

"We're waiting," I hear Ruby call.

"Hold your horses," I yell back with a tease in my voice.

I pull the dress and unzip the back. I step into the smooth fabric and pull it up over me.

"Someone want to zip me?" I yell.

Ruby's hands come through the curtain.

"I don't want to look until your fully dressed," she says.

I laugh and turn as she reaches for me. She misses a few times her hand grazing my ass in the process.

"Dude, that's not my zipper," I laugh.

Once it's zipped her hand disappears and I turn to look. My breath catches in my throat as I stare at myself in a dress. I've never worn a dress like this before in my entire life, in fact I don't remember ever wearing a dress.

"Did you fall down a rabbit hole Emma?"

I hear Aurora call.

"I'm coming, so impatient!" I yell.

I step out of the curtain and both of their mouths drop open.

"You know if you keep your mouths open for too long bugs will fly in," I say.

Ruby covers her mouth with her hands.

"Emma darling you look beautiful," Aurora says.

"Like you can do anything in that dress," Ruby adds.

I can feel my cheeks blush.

"Oh, pick a mask," Ruby says her hands flapping with excitement.

I look at the table of masks, but nothing seems to stick out. My eyes search the room, against the wall under one of the shop windows sits a glass box with masks inside. I pick the dress up and walk over to it. I look down at it, it's black lace and swirls around in almost a vine like design. I pick it up and place it on my face. It doesn't cover the scar, but when I look down at the small mirror that is propped up on the wall I know this works. I turn and Aurora and Ruby nod like crazy.

"I think the three of us are gonna be the hottest girls at this thing," Ruby says, causing us all to laugh.

Two days later as I walk through campus my phone goes off, it's Regina. I have a few seconds to decide what I'm gonna do, should I answer it? I know if I do all she'll have to say are negative things about me and I'm really not in the mood to hear it. On the other hand, my heart aches for Henry, I miss him. It feels like I went to see him so long ago. I know I went a few years without seeing him, but ever since I came home it's knowing he's within arms reach that kills me.

"Hello," I say breathless.

"Well Hello Emma," she says, a wicked tone in her voice.

"Hi Regina," I sigh.

"Why haven't you been answering me, we have a lot to discuss," she says.

I walk over and lean against a tree in the courtyard, hearing her voice makes me want to hit my head several times on the tree behind me.

"What is there to discuss? You don't want me to have my son, even though I'm trying..."

"I never said that," she lies.

"Clearly you said that the last time I saw him. Look Regina, I am very thankful that you have taken my son in, you and Robin have been amazing parents. I see that boy and think of just how good he turned out because of you, I'm not doing this out of spite. You knew one day there was a possibility I'd want him back, you knew when you signed the paperwork," I say.

"I love Henry," I add. "I've always loved my son from the moment I heard that cry. I hated that I shoved him away that day, but I had no idea that one day I'd actually try to turn into someone that he could look up to. I'm not trying to hurt you Regina, that was never my intention, I just..."

I can feel my eyes burn from the sting of tears, they slide down my cheeks before I'm able to hold back and stop them. A sob breaks through and I slide myself down onto the cold wet grass below.

"Ms. Swan I..."

"I'm sorry," I cry.

"Don't be," she says, her tone is half caring half cold hearted.

"Can I see him soon?" I ask wiping my tears.

"Of course you can dear, but let me be clear," she starts, and all I can think is here we go.

"If you get into any kind of trouble that could land you in jail, or could make you an unfit mother, just know I will fight for that boy just as hard as you, maybe even harder," she threatens.

"As will I," I say.

"Great, now that we've got that established you can see him Sunday morning," she says.

"I'll be there," I say.

She hangs up without another word and I'm left on the ground tears still falling down my cheeks. That woman is absolutely the worst, I regret ever choosing her to take care of my son. I wipe my eyes and check my phone, I'll be late for Gold's class if I don't hurry. I stand and wipe my pants off. I start for the building when someone calls my name.

"Swan!"

It's Killian.

"Not now Killian, I'm gonna be late for class," I yell.

"That makes two of us, I'll walk with you," he says catching up.

I don't say anything or look at him I just keep walking. I'm trying to hide that fact that I've been crying, but a sniffle blows my cover and before I can take another step Killian is standing right in front of me. I stare down at the dark navy blue shirt on his chest under his leather jacket.

"What Killian?" I say.

"Emma I..."

"I don't want to talk about it," I say. "I just want to go to class," I say in a robotic tone.

He doesn't move, just stands there. His hand reaches out towards my chin, but I back away. I shake my head and step around him. I hear him calling for me, but I ignore him. In class Ruby is already waiting in our spot and when I sit down she doesn't say anything, only covers my hand with hers and squeezes.

Killian walks in a few seconds later and looks up to find me. Curiosity gets the best of me and I stare right back at him. The guy I'd met a few weeks ago with the cocky grin is suddenly replaced with someone else. I can tell he feels bad for what went down between us, but I can't seem to get past it.

"What's his problem?" Ruby asks.

"No clue," I say.