Emma Swan/Relationships

The relationships of Emma Swan throughout *Once Upon a Time*.

## Family

Despite the fact Emma grew up resenting her parents and her other family members, Emma loves her family and does anything to protect them and anyone else she loves.

### Snow White

"*No, I do. We have to believe that she'll come back for us. We have to giver her her best chance.*"
—Snow to Charming

Before Emma breaks the curse, Emma and Mary Margaret were close friends (they even lived together), but they were oblivious to the fact that mary margaret was Emma's mother. Before the curse, all Snow wants to be is a mother. She fears that she will not fit to be one because her mother died when she was still young. She is later happy to learn she is pregnant with her daughter and does anything to keep her from becoming a villain. She also cries when Emma is taken from her arms and into the wardrobe, never to see her again for another twenty-eight years. Later they meet but Emma and Mary Margaret have a strange connection, unaware they are both mother and daughter. After the curse is almost broken, Mary partially awakes and realizes her other connections. They become friends and "family" even though they are unknowingly reunited. After the Curse is broken, Snow hugs her daughter after many years. They also love each other but Emma does not call her "Mom" until the season 2 finale before they were about to die and she later calls Snow "Mom" in season three finale and foreword on.

When she learns that her mother had sent Lily the daughter of Maleficent to the real world, Emma grows hurt and betrayed that both her parents lied to her. Snow as well is who she is hurt at the most. However, Emma realized that she had to stop blaming her mother, who said that she will never stop protecting her. Emma makes up with her mother and they resume their mother-daughter relationship.

### David Nolan

Prince Charming, or David Nolan, as he is known as in Storybrooke, is
Emma's birth father. Charming has wanted a son, but is happy with the
daughter he has. He also worries for their unborn child's safety and also sees
a happy ending where their child is safe and happy. Charming plays the typical
protective father, as David is later called "Dad" in season 2 finale. Charming shows protectiveness over his daughter by threatening Hook to stay away from her, but then slowly accepts their relationship in season
four, and also acts the typical parent to have his daughter be safe home, and Emma retaliates she needs to get her own
house instead of living with her parents still.

### Neal Nolan

Emma loves her younger brother, and even before he was born, she wishes to protect him and their mother from the Wicked Witch of the West before she can get her hands on her baby brother. She later rescues him from the said witch with Regina, Robin, and Prince Charming. Emma later is touched that Neal was named after her ex-lover, Neal Cassidy and touches the baby's hand.

In the fourth season when Emma has magic, the Evil Snow Queen gets to Emma, getting her to believe that her parents had Neal to replace her as a normal child. If something should happen to her parents, Emma would become Neal's guardian.

### Regina Mills

Regina Mills is Emma's step-grandmother. The Queen is also the Savior's enemy-turned-ally-turned close friend. At first, Regina and Emma are against each other and can not stand each other.

Regina wants Emma dead even before she could walk or talk. Later Emma is saved by the others and then she In season 2, Emma believes that Regina can go down the path of redemption. They are later enemies again. Regina then tries to save the town from destruction. She and Regina are forced to join forces to save their son from dying. Later n season 3, they both decide to go one. Once, Regina tries to teach Emma magic, but Emma proves to be a terrible student and separates from them. They later start to grow to friends. In season four, Regina has started to slip back into the darkness and her relationship with Emma is strained because she brought Marian (Zelena in disguise) back from the dead.

Emma promises to bring Regina's happy ending no matter what. They join up together again against the snow Queen. Together they use their magic, but are no match for Ingrid. After what they were through, Emma says that she hoped for them to be friends, which touches Regina. Later under the curse, Regina wants to kill Emma for what the savior did to her, and they eventually break the spell. After Elsa leaves, Emma decides to have a toast with Regina. Regina and Emma both drink to having shots with a friend. Emma later is determined to bring Regina her happy ending, joining Operation Mongoose. Later Rumple threatens Regina with two things: either save the savior from turning dark or Robin Hood, her beloved. Emma doesn't only consider Regina her friend, but also family.

In the fifth series, Regina has Emma's dagger. Regina is sometimes protective over Emma, for instance, she uses the Dark One's dagger to prevent Emma from using Dark magic to free Merlin from the tree. In season six, Regina tells Emma to kill her if the Evil Queen gets too much out of hand.

## Friends and Allies

### Lily Page

Emma first met Lily when the girl saw the former stealing food from the market and pretends to be her sister. They promise to be best friends no matter what. Eventually, Emma sees through her lies and refuses to be friends with her. Later, Emma discovers that Lily is actually the daughter of Maleficent, and was sent to the Land Without Magic only because Emma's parents cursed Lily to bear the darkness that is destined for Emma. Emma sets out to find Lily and make things right, but by then Lily has found out about what happened and is bent on killing Emma's parents. Understandably, this makes Emma angry, and the two fight. Eventually, Emma chooses not to kill Lily, although given the opportunity, and offers to bring her to Storybrooke to meet her mother. Lily is still somewhat angry, but with help from her mother, she learns to forgive. Emma and Lily do not go back to their childhood friendship, but they remain somewhat allies.

### Elsa

During Elsa's time in Storybrooke, she and Emma grew very close together of the course of the first half of season four.

Elsa and Emma first meet in the ice cave where she offers to find her sister, but Emma is stuck with the Ice Queen. At first, Elsa is very threatening towards Emma and threatens to freeze everyone in Storybrooke. Emma asks for Elsa to break down the ice but then realizes that both woman have a lot in common: they both have titles they don't understand, they can't control their magic. Elsa then starts to care for Emma, wanting to break her out. She then is able to break them out and Emma is saved. Then friendship is formed between them ("White Out"). Later, when the people are realizing that Elsa is to blame, Emma tries to hide her friend and Hook. Elsa then wants Emma to go out on her date with Hook, cause it is not worth the trouble for someone to put their life out on hold.

Elsa still hopes to find Anna in town and Emma continues to help her. Later on, Emma and Elsa defeat the Snow Queen once more, and then she tells Emma how to rebuild her friendship with Regina. .Belle, Emma and Elsa later discover the true part of the Snow Queen's evil plot, that they will be the perfect family together. They both practice in how to capture Ingrid, which they succeed in doing. Later Emma flees fearing she'll hurt someone else and Elsa knows she needs time to herself. Elsa later tracks Emma down and says that her powers are what makes Emma special and that their sisterly love is enough to help the savior get her magic back on track. Elsa later says to her sister that she trusts Emma with her life. Before Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff through the magical door for home, Emma and Elsa share a hug before Elsa departs for her home ("Heroes and Villains").

### Rumplestiltskin

Before Emma's birth, Rumplestiltskin predicted her birth. Their alliance varies throughout the series, as Rumplestilskin often switched sides. Before the curse broke, he struck a deal with her because she owed him one. In Season 2, when it was revealed that Rumplestilskin's son, Baelfire, is also Neal, the father of Emma's son, the two become allies. Rumplestilskin is even able to find the good in him, in Season 3. He helps Emma find Henry, who he now knows to be his grandson. Later, Rumplestilskin even sacrifices himself in order to save Neal, Belle, Emma, Regina, Snow, Charming, and Henry from Peter Pan, his father. After he is resurrected by his son, however, he is taken captive by the Wicked Witch of the West (Zelena). Zelena is able to control him with the Dark One dagger, so he is unable to ally with his friends and family.
In Season 4, however, once he begins to go back to his evil ways when he discovers a magic hat that, if given enough power, will help him cleave himself of the dagger. On the surface, Rumplestilskin appears to be working with Emma and her family. However, he secretly intends to trap her in the magic hat in order to use her power to cleave himself of the dagger. He tricks Emma by telling her that he will help her rid herself of her magic (which has caused her to inadvertently hurt Henry). Luckily, Elsa convinces Emma not to go through with the plan, and he is thwarted. Rumplestilskin continues his mission, undetected, until Belle catches him in the Clock Tower, attempting to kill Hook. She banishes him from Storybrooke, and Emma, and all others, believe he is no longer a threat. Unbeknownst to them, however, he returns. He attempts to make Emma go dark in order to get a happy ending for himself and the Queens of Darkness (Cruella, Ursula, and Maleficent). This plan fails, and Rumplestilskin's heart goes black, causing him to fall into a coma, and his power to boil off into the air.
In Season 5, while Emma is struggling to control the Dark One powers, Rumplestilskin is not a prominent figure. However, halfway through the season, Gold tricks Emma into killing Hook, so that the Dark One powers will be restored to him. He does aide them in rescuing Hook from the Underworld, however, and serves as a somewhat unwitting ally for the remaining time in Season 5.
In Season 6, Gold's son, Gideon, arrives, and attempts to kill Emma multiple times. Rumple, however, stay allies with her, and saves her from the giant spider Gideon summoned from the Echoles to kill her. In the end, once it is discovered the Gideon is, in fact, not evil, and is being controlled by Rumplestilskin's mother, the Black Fairy, Rumplestilskin does what is needed to be done. He refuses the Black Fairy's offer to join her, and kills the Black Fairy, allying with Emma.
At times, Rumplestiskin is a valuable and powerful ally for Emma, and other times, he is a formidable and devious foes.

## Romantic

### Neal Cassidy

"*I love you, Emma. I always have, and I always will.* "
—Neal to Emma before he disappears[src]

Neal was obviously Emma's first boyfriend.

They first met when they were both stealing the same car. Soon, they started a life of crime like Bonnie and Clyde. She started stealing things with him. Soon, Neal was wanted by the police For theft. Emma and him come up with a plan: they'll run away together to Tallahassee, Florida. Later, August ruins everything by saying that if Neal does not leave Emma, then she will not fulfill her destiny to become the Savior everyone wants her to be. Neal is forced to leave the woman he loves behind by blaming her for the theft of watches on her person. Emma is hurt by her lover and ends up pregnant with their son, Henry. She swears to never fall in love again.

In season 2, it is heavily implied that Emma still has feelings for Neal, and denies the fact she still has feelings for him. Henry eventually learns that Neal is the father and Emma lied to him about it. At first, Emma is angry and upset that Neal left her AND-AND DOES not want him engaged with Tamara. It is hinted that Neal is still in love with Emma in Selfless, Brave, and True. Even Henry wants his mom and dad to get back together, but Emma doubts that will ever happen. Gold mentions Neal's relationship with Emma when his father (-ff screen) refused to meet Tamara, saying Neal still "[carries] a torch for Emma." She is also determined to show that Tamara is nothing but a liar. Neal denies this and knows she is trying to deny it. Later, Tamara shoots Neal in cold blood and throws the magic bean to show a portal to another world. Neal refuses for Emma to go down with him, saying Henry needs a mother. Before he falls through a portal, Emma and Neal admit they love each other still before he falls into the portal for the Enchanted Forest.

In season 3 Emma remains unaware that Neal is still alive while he worries for Emma and Henry in Neverland after seeing her in the globe using his magic. After Snow tells Emma that Neal is alive, she is in shock at first hoping Neal is dead because she can not live with the pain of him still alive. Later she finds herself in a love triangle between Neal and Killian. She says she only loves Henry and will do anything to save him. They later have a tearful goodbye when he says that he'll see her again soon. A year later, Emma returns to Storybrooke and worries if Neal is hurt. Neal shows up, unexpectedly and Emma is relieved he is alive. Unfortunately, Emma has to use her magic to separate Mr. Gold and Neal apart. This also caused her to be very wary of losing her next lover .

They briefly reunite in season five, where Neal warns Emma that everything she hopes will not turn out as she thinks. He also states that he never stopped loving her before kissing her and walking away.

### Captain Hook

"*When I win your heart, Emma... and I will win it... it will not be because of any trickery. It will be because you want me.*"
—Killian Jones to Emma Swan[src]

Emma first meets Killian when they hold Hook hostage and plan to abandon him. Emma is anything but starstruck meeting the villain from Peter Pan. She doesn't fully trust him and that she abandons her companion to the Giant, but she still lets Anton free him from the chain in ten hours later to give a head start. Later they fight. Hook tries to flirt with her again, but Emma refuses to listen to him. She later warns him to stay away from Rumplestiltskin. He attacks her in Manhattan but Emma knocks him out in retaliation. Emma is later given Baelfire's sword and she is comforted by what he gives her. Hook also asks her who she really is, but Emma ignored his advances. She also kisses Killian for saving her father's life, but denies it as a one time thing. Later on, Killian reveals that he has moved on from Milah, but has started falling in love with Emma. But she still is in love with Bae. Later she gets angry that they are fighting over her. They later escape and Emma just says goodbye to Hook and for him to stay out of trouble.

In Season 3b, Killian and Emma are reunited and Killian gives her a potion that makes her remember who she really is and takes them to Storybrooke again. Hook does whatever he takes to prevent Emma from kissing his cursed lips. Killian had tried to avoid it. Later Emma becomes distrustful of him and refuses his help, but her father recommends that she goes and takes Killian. After Rumple drowns him, Emma gives him mouth to mouth resuscitation, causing Emma to lose all her magic. Later they get caught in another time and magically make it back to their own time. When Hook reveals that he gave up his ship for her and then they share a kiss, making themselves boyfriend and girlfriend.

In season four, Emma becomes protective of Hook and orders him to go to the Sheriff's station. Luckily she followed them and saves Hook from being killed as well as her father. She later says she can't lose them like her past lovers and Hook is at peace with that. They later go on their first date, and Emma gets pissed at Will Scarlet for ruining her date.

In season 5 Killian is desperate to save Emma from the Darkness like Belle and Rumplestiltskin were. Emma is in love with Killian, proving she is his true love. They also travel to a secluded area filled with flowers. Emma is also desperate to save Killian that she turns him into a dark one but later realizes that the man she loved died in Camelot. Even as two Dark Ones, Hook is determined to enact his revenge and make Emma pay for what he did to her. Now Emma must face off her old boyfriend again to save herself and her family.

Hook tricks Emma by pretending to be Henry and steals the dagger from her. He tells her to kill him to destroy the darkness once and for all, which Emma refuses to do but must by his consent. However, Emma refuses to give up and forces Gold to open a portal to the underworld. The woman vows to find Killian using her parents' motto, "I will always find you." Eventually Hook is brought back to Storybrooke and Emma and Killian resume their relationship.

In season 6 Emma and Killian are getting serious with their relationship. Emma and Killian move in together, but Emma's uncertain future made their future even more precious since she finds out that she’s meant to die in the final battle. They over this by focusing on their future together. Eventually he proposes to her with her fathers blessing. They get married. And in season finale she briefly dies but is revived with true loves kiss from Henry.

In season 7 Emma is briefly shown. She tells Killian she worries about getting a second chance at motherhood since she missed out on raising Henry. A few years go by and She announces her pregnancy to her son Henry. In the series finale she is shown arriving late to Regina's coronation with Killian and their newborn daughter Hope.

### Walsh

Emma dated Walsh, who
was secretly a flying monkey spying on her by Zelena, Emma's great-aunt and
Regina's half sister. She went on a date on him in the beginning of New York
City Serenade, first episode of the second half of season 3 and revealed to be
dating for eight months. He asks her if she will marry him, but Emma says she
needs times to think about it. The night she breaks up with Walsh, he attacks
her in his monkey form. Emma manages to make him fall off the building with a
pipe, killing Walsh before turning to dust.

### Sheriff Graham

Emma fell in love with Graham for a short period time before he died due to the Evil Queen, Regina, crushing his heart. Regina and Graham were having sexual interactions making her fill with envy because Graham left her after accepting that he was in love with Emma Swan.

1. ↑ "Rocky Road"