Emma Swan

General Personality: Emma is like an onion with several layers that when peeled back reveal a different part of herself. She can be guarded, distant and cold towards strangers, but once she knows you she's very friendly. She doesn't give off the appearance of wanting company, but she would just as happily spend time among friends or read a mystery novel at home. Sure, she may play up the tough-girl act, but hidden further in the layers is a girl who feels broken and trying to find a place in this world. She's not had an easy life growing up, but what is clear is that she's a fighter. She always has and always will be a fighter, persistant at times when it comes to making sure things get done. Really she's one big mess of contrasting qualities depending on the situation. She can be hard & soft, intense or very easy, play it safe or be a little dangerous. It all depends on the situation at hand and what is called for. In a sense she's very good at adapting to whatever the case may be. Good with a gun, she's still like everyone else and is no where near as perfect or 'saviour' - worthy as people may think. She's constantly worried about doing right by Henry, by her parents, by the town, and most of time finds that she's so caught up being what everyone else wants that she can't be herself. She really doesn't think she's as special as everyone claims her to be and certainly doesn't brag about this title she's been given. Really she's still trying to find a place in this world, trying to fit in, be herself and juggle the responsibilities of being a mother. Oh, and she claims to have the ability to detect when people are lying, calling it a super power of hers.

History: Emma didn't know her parents growing up, unaware that she'd been the daughter of Prince Charming and Snow White, recalling only that she was left on the side of the road. As it was, she and another little boy ended up being brought into the foster system and later a home. Though she was unaware that the young boy had even been around given that he abandoned her quickly after and thus she was left alone in a strange new world. While some children end up finding their forever homes within the foster system, Emma wasn't quite so lucky. As it was she ended up bouncing from home to home for one reason or another like a new child, new carpets, too expensive etc. Whatever the reason, one thing always remained and that was the fact that she ended up getting put back in time and time again frustrating the little girl. This continued on for some time and she basically found herself hating the system and the parents eventually giving up on it. After so many years of being moved around, Emma finally gave up and took off when she was about 16. Not long after that she found herself in Portland, Oregon where she attempted to break into a car only to be startled when a young man catches her in the act. Oddly enough, instead of ratting her out to the authorities, he ends up going alone for the ride claiming he'd been wanting to steal the car too. They got to talking and eventually found themselves spending time together, pulling small thefts from gas stations and what not.

At some point down the line, the two of them fell in love and started dating; living life on the run and just enjoying each other's company. She can ever remember one robbery where she pretended to be pregnant and distracted the owner by faking labour pains allowing them to leave after he catches them. That had been quite the night with them going to a hotel where Neal asked her about where she wanted to live with him. An amusing thought to be sure as her eyes landed on Tallahassee, though they're plans end up being put on hold when it's discovered that Neal's wanted for a hefty amount of watches he'd stolen. Not wanting to believe it's the end for them suggests that she pawn off the watches and they head for Canada. They discussed a plan and when she showed up at the meeting place, things too a turn for the worst. Instead of Neal waiting for her there, she ended up finding herself getting arrested by the cops and put in prison. As if to make matters worst, things became heated when a couple weeks later she found herself pregnant with Neal's child. Something that should have made her happy if it weren't for the fact that someone told her that it was Neal who had tipped them off. It was a hard decision, but feeling that she was doing the right thing decided to give up her darling baby to avoid him living in prison while she finished her sentence. A decision she now regrets, but at the time it had seemed like a good thing those 9 months later when she gave birth.

Though it didn't make it any easier on her when her baby boy was taken away from her, not 10 minutes afterwards. Upon finishing her time at the prison, she eventually changed her life around, making herself a living as a bails bond. She moves to Boston something which ultimately would change her life on the day of 28th birthday. She had just been lighting a candle on a cupcake after a stressful day, like she always did every year when there was a knock on her door. Surprised, she opened it to find a small boy standing at her door asking for her and telling her this story about being her son. Shocked, she tries to get a handle on the situation, but he traps her and convinces her to come back with him to his town, Storybrooke. So she does only so she can bring the young boy back to his adoptive mother, only to find herself listening to boy's nonsense talk. She doesn't really believe Henry about the fairy tale thing, but doesn't say much as she arrives in town. A quick discussion with the boy's therapist after Henry refuses to tell her where he lives and she finds out he's the mayor's son. So she takes him there, and while the mother appears sweet, Emma suspected there was more to the woman. Against her better judgement and under the guise of wanting to make sure her son was alright, she decides to spend the night in Storybrooke where she meets Gold.

One day, suddenly turns into a week as things start to change around Emma which Henry claims to be because of a curse she's supposedly breaking. She finds herself a friend in Mary Margaret and Ruby while finding herself an enemy in Regina who is determined to keep her away from Henry and Storybrooke. From one frame job to another, Emma becomes more determined to stay on Henry's behalf, making it clear to Regina that she's staying even if she's still confused by Henry's talk of magic. She also meets several other people including Sheriff Graham who offers her a job as co-sheriff. However, she has begun to notice a stir in the town when a wave of smoke rushed over the town and then vanished as suddenly as it appeared. Things have become rather curious to Emma as she struggles to come to terms with what Henry's been telling her all these weeks. Something tells her though that bringing magic back isn't the best thing to happen to this town particularly with everyone still without their memories. Looks like she'll need to be the hero and do what it takes to save the town. The only question is how when she's not even entirely convinced what exactly she's dealing with.