I do not own any of the characters in this work of fan fiction, they belong to Disney and the writers of this show. This is a "What if?" story but I hope you find it enjoyable all the same. Alice in Wonderland seems to be my inspiration for chapter titles.
Any and all mistakes are my own.

Emma Swan was a sight to behold in her extra tight LBD, knee-high spiked heeled boots, and glossy red lips with nails to match. She might be a mother, but damn that didn't mean she couldn't be a hot mother. Thankfully Henry was safely with his father Neal. Emma applied a liberal amount of curling gel to her hand before working it through her hair, tousling it sensuously. Emma touched a hand to her throat ensuring her swan pendant necklace was still hung there, she almost never took it off, it had been a gift from Neal when they were dating. They had a falling out when he let her take the fall for a minor theft figuring she would get a reduced sentence as it would be considered her first offense. Of course neither of them had known she was pregnant at the time. Seventeen, alone, in jail, Emma had almost given Henry up, almost but something made her change her mind. Within six months of being released from jail Emma and Henry moved to Tallahassee, Florida a place her and Neal had talked about moving to. Less than a year later they moved again, down to Miami with the help of Sheriff Graham Hunter.

Graham was a good friend and a big help with Henry, he got Emma a real job. Five years later while working as a bail bonds person Emma actually ran into Neal again, he being her target. After paying up Neal paid her a visit and explained everything and in turn she told him about Henry. She was glad they were amicable Henry deserved to have both his parents in his life something neither she nor Neal had been blessed with. Neal shared an apartment with an old accomplice of theirs named August not a ten minute bus ride from Emma's duplex so on nights when Emma worked and every other weekend or so Henry was happy to spend the night with his father and 'Uncle' August. Emma and August had grown up together in various foster care homes he was like a big brother to her, always looking out for her, she had been happy to see him too.

Walking through the living-room Emma grabbed her red leather jacket off the back of the couch, heels clicking viciously across the hardwood floor all the way, and glanced in the mirror one more time to make sure she looked as stunning as she felt. To any passerby she might just look like she was headed out for a good time, a night on the town or a special date, but she was on a mission some jerk named Walsh wanted for fraud had skipped bail so now it was her job to bring the scumbag in. Whatever paid the bills.

Emma had read his file, originally from Kansas Mr. Oswald Walsh lost his house and wife after a tornado strike. His daughter, five at the time Dorothy, survived. Too heartbroken to keep her Walsh sent her to live with his wife's Aunt and Uncle; Emily and Henry Gale. His scams made him just enough money to send to his daughter every month but he hadn't seen her in years. Emma couldn't bear the thought of not seeing Henry for so long, eleven years later and they were still going strong.

Emma was almost out the door when she remembered her gun it was still laying on the kitchen table. Carefully Emma raised it, opened the chamber made sure it was loaded, snapped it shut, and clicked the safety back on. She had a new garter gun-holster strapped around her thigh and she slid the gun into place, the cool metal of the gun chilled the warm space between her thighs. It was going to be a long night.

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Walking into The Rabbit Hole was like watching an episode of the Twilight Zone while stoned, one hell of a trip. The whole bar was painted in ninja black and blood red with sporadic splashes of white, the first thing you noticed was the obscene hat rack directly to the left of the door, consider yourself lucky if you don't just walk right into it, hung with all manner of different hats Fez, Derby, Stetson, and Bowler's. The next thing you notice is the giant clock on the back wall that looks as though it's going to melt right off, and below it are four unkempt pool tables, one of which currently has four shady looking characters around it. The tables are either made of ebony or were painted black and lined with red velvet. The loan naked bulb above the table swings perilously on its frayed cord, its light is harsh and raw enough to almost blind Emma the rest of the bar is that dark.

To the left, beyond the murderous hat rack is a few small tables that surround a small dance floor and even smaller sound stage. The wall beyond is black about halfway up where it is bordered by peeling wallpaper that has a card motif spades, hearts, clubs, diamonds. Once upon a time the ceiling was white but now its nicotine yellow from years of its patrons smoking inside.

The floor is black stone of some-kind flecked with dark purple specks and Emma clacks across it as she heads, right, to the bar. She perches on the high leather topped stool and waits for the bartender to notice her. It's only early barley ten o'clock and Emma usually tries to avoid The Rabbit Hole but it's too early for her contact to be out, and way too early for her perp. She has a lead saying he'll turn up at the bar across the street, one of the establishments he swindled, and try to make a deal with the owner. Risky, even if the owner wasn't one Mr. Gold.

The Pawn Shoppe was a much classier drink house than The Rabbit Hole and was run by the ruthless Mr. Gold only one of his many business endeavours. Emma had never been inside but was familiar enough with its edifice. The particular street corner shared by these too very different bars was run by a working girl known only as Red, although Emma knew her real name was Ruby DeWolfe, because Emma had once had to arrest Red for skipping bail. Despite starting off on the wrong foot Emma saw an ally in Red and Red, Emma. Red could call Emma any time day or night and Emma would pick her up get her out of a dangerous situation give her a warm bed, or a warm meal whatever she needed. In turn Emma could call on Red for back up or help if she thought a perp might get the best of her.

The bartender tonight was a young man, just barely twenty-one Emma was sure, with died white hair. He had on a silver dress shirt with the top few buttons undone with a black vest and dress pants. Two thin silver chains hung off the vest one was connected to a monocle, and the other a fine silver pocket watch. Emma knew because he had taken out the pocket watch several times to check it. The sleeves of his dress shirt were rolled up to reveal a tattoo of neat cursive writing on his forearm. As he set down Emma's coke with ice she read the three word phrase In This Style. His silver and onyx name tag blinked at her under the blue lighting above the bar and she just made out the name Jack before he turned. So, that was the new bartender then Jack White at least he looked legal, if only just, the last girl Alice had been maybe sixteen. The owners Jefferson Hatt and Harold "Harry" March had been under a lot of fire for that one claiming they hadn't known she was underage. Emma had called bullshit on that; the doe-eyed blonde had not fooled her.

Halfway through her second cola Emma need to use the ladies room, the way conveniently marked by little white rabbits that stood out against the pitch wall.

"Four in the left corner pocket" came a delectable voice to her left as Emma neared the pool tables and a click later the little purple ball was indeed sunk in the appropriate pocket.

Emma would have loved to stay and watch, or better yet join in, she could beat anyone of those men in a game but nature and then her job, called. There was graffiti on the back of the stall door Emma had chosen, it was a riddle but she couldn't think of the answer, Why is a raven like a writing desk? She was still pondering it when she passed the pool tables again this time the game was over and one of the men, dark haired, unshaven, Mötley Crüe T-shirt, accent was pulling on his leather jacket getting ready to leave, "sorry Gents, I'd love to stay and whoop your arses at billiards all night but that would just be bad form, besides I got a job to go to." With a mock solute he was out the door and Emma didn't think the crowd was sore to see him go, it was the man who had spoken before and Emma had the feeling he'd been winning all night. Emma recognized one of the regulars, a heavily bearded fellow named Leroy and approached him.

"Hey, Leroy, you know that guy?" she asked nodding her head at the door to indicate Mr. Pool Shark.

"What's it to you sister?" he asked taking another swig of beer. What he meant was what was it worth her to find out. Emma didn't really care that much, it certainly wasn't worth the money she'd have to spend on a mug of imported beer for Leroy.

"Never mind" she said dismissing him, she marched to the bar downed her drink and checked the time, Red should be out soon.

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The cool autumn air stung a bit as Emma crossed Oz Boulevard which cut across Never Land Street the two roads interconnecting to make this peculiar little corner, Red's Corner as it was called. Warm golden light lit up the cigarette-butt lined sidewalk that spilled out from The Pawn Shoppe, even with the butts this side of the street was far cleaner than where she had just been. It was amazing the juxtaposition these two bars gave as they occupied their opposite corners. Emma preferred The Cave of Wonders a nice place not too far down the street, it had nothing to do with the fact that Neal and August both worked there part-time, she just liked the atmosphere.

Thinking of Neal, even for a moment, made Emma think of Henry and as she imagined him tucked in bed, had he ate his supper with no fuss? Was all his homework completed? How did he do on the test they had spent all week studying for? A sharp female voice broke Emma out of her motherly thoughts.

"Move it bitch, that is my corner." The scantily clad woman growled as she neared Emma.

"Red, relax, it's me" Emma declared holding up her hands to placate the advancing vixen.

"Oh my God! Ems I'm so sorry." Red crooned rapping her bare arms around Emma's shoulders in a loose hug. "I thought you were trying to steel my spot, I mean in that outfit can you blame me? You are a babe Swan." Red gave Emma the onceover, checking her out from every angle, and giving her a loving smack on her bum when she was done that made Emma jolt in surprise.

"So" said Emma suddenly ready to get down to business and get inside The Pawn Shoppe where it would be warm. She didn't know how Red did it, standing out here night after night as it got colder and colder. Whatever pays the bills. "Who is my lookout tonight?"

Walsh was armed and if he was coming here to Gold's place with a gun he was pretty much a dead man walking and anyone who tried to get in his way would end up the same. Emma was supposed to get in his way.

"There is a man inside who works for Mr. Gold" Red explained, "He watches the girls, if someone gets too friendly he escorts them out."

"Isn't that what bouncers are for?" Emma asked

"Bouncers are too intimidating, Mr. Gold prefers a more subtle touch. Anyways Jones is inside, he's already messaged me. Technically tonight is his night off, he's there only if you need him." Red grinned at her wolfishly and tried to pull her sleeveless fur vest closer around her to give her warmth. Red had on a very short, shorter than Emma's dress, black pleather skirt, red fishnet stockings, and tank-top with the grey faux fur sleeveless hooded vest over top. Her already lumineciant eyes were made to stand out even more with the application of thick black liner and false lashes. Unlike Emma, Red had foregone thigh-high boots for a pair of low heeled pumps, she was naturally taller than Emma and didn't want to be mistaken for a Queen. Besides, some men just found height intimidating. Her long raven hair was piled messily atop her head.

"I'll be out here if you need me" she said with a coy smile and a wink, Emma smiled back at her glad to know Red would be out here waiting on the off chance Walsh actually made it out of her grasp and escaped Red had ways of detaining him.

Emma took a deep breath then opened the fine handled door of The Pawn Shoppe and it was like going down the rabbit hole