So this a fic that is a boarder line of AU and Canon, and I shall explain why.

Each chapter is based on each episode in the show. I am literally taking the show twisting, adding, changing dialog and scene and much later on plot direction for Swan Queen to become canon, and other ships as well. So be warned that a lot of the dialog is absolutely the same in most of the chapters, along with scenes just added with a twist. As you read you'll notice the small changes and later on become big changes to the scenes that you see on the show. So this is a 2 in 1 "fixed it" and "how should of happened" type of story.

If you like spoilers on my profile there is a list of characters that was both asked and I thought of being added to the story at some point. There is also a list of the story canon ship list. I try to honor all characters and involve them in the current plot so they are used more than one chapter.

I don't own OUAT. All proper credits go to A&E, Disney, history and whatever references I twist to my own use that isn't created by me, along with posts that inspire certain twists. I do take responsibly and credit of the time to plot out twists and careful decision making of dialog/quotes I use and the oc characters I make. Be warned that I use not only fairy tale references, but other popular books, games and comic books as well. If sky isn't the limit why can't I stretch the story's horizon pass the Milky Way.

Lots of thanks to beta Fiend89 and LauratheChef for editing.

A land where all the fairy tales,

And all mystical exist.

A place where good always win,

And evil always loses.

Where happy endings are the most powerful thing,

And no curse is a match for true loves kiss.

Until one day someone wants to take it all away.

And the story goes like this;

Once upon a time,

There was an enchanted forest filled

With all the classic characters we know.

Or think we know.

One day they found themselves,

Trapped in a place

Where all their happy endings were stolen.

Our World.

No memory of who they were,

As they walk the town.

Living as if everything is normal.

Their fate and lives,

Are in the hand of one person.

The savior of who

Will come to them at 28 years of age.

The survivor of the curse,

That will break it.

In Boston, Massachusetts...

Sighing, she enters the restaurant, not pleased. It's a Friday night and she has better things to do tonight, like watching bad reality TV shows. Sadly, she's here, wearing a snug red dress, showing off her body well for a douchebag of a guy.

She walks around waiters, scanning table after table, looking at each couple; eating and chatting, looking for her guy. Around the corner, her eyes stop at a table in the corner. There is a handsome man, sitting alone. As he lifts his head, he smiles when his eyes met hers she knew he was the one she's looking for.

There he is, smirking to herself as she walks over to him.

"Emma?" His eyes widen, watching her walk across the room. He rises, pulling out her chair, greeting her. His tone was hesitant and hopeful.

She nods, and plays the part she came to do. "Dave?"

He smiles and nods, taking his seat.

"You look relieved," she points out, half laughing.

"Well, it's the internet... Pictures could be..."

"Fake? Outdated? Stolen from a Victoria's secret catalog?" Emma finishes his train of thought. She smiles softly, understanding where he was coming from.

"Yeah..."

Silence comes between them, as they continue to stare at each other. Either of them weren't sure what to talk about. Blind dates aren't the most idealist because of this reason.

Wanting to get the date started and over. "So..." she starts, breaking the silence.

Taking the cue. "So... Tell me something about yourself, Emma," Dave asks.

Mentally smirking, Emma leans in, acts like she thinks for a beat. It's going to be easier than she thought. "Well... Let's see... Today's my birthday."

"And you're spending it with me? What, you don't like your family?" Dave asks, wandering of the reason, keeping the conversation going.

"No family to like," Emma shrugged, like it's no big deal.

"Oh. What about your friends?"

"I'm kind of a loner."

Dave smiles, using his charms. "Well, Emma, you are by far the sexiest friendless orphan I've ever met."

Emma just fake smiles, laughing at his lame pickup line. "Your turn."

Dave opens his mouth to speak, but she cuts him off...

"No, wait, let me guess," stopping him from dulling her with unwanted information about himself. Playing it off as she acts as she reads him. "Let's see... You're handsome. Charming," she lists things that will boost the man's ego,

Dave smiles, nodding his head, "Go on. I like this game."

Emma nods, smiles and continue, "The kind of guy who -" pausing for more effect, "now stop me if I get this wrong – embezzled from your employer, got arrested, and then skipped town before they threw your ass in jail?" Tone quickly changing from playful tease to all seriousness as she spoke.

A quick beat passes, confused as to what's going on. Collecting himself, he leans back. "Uh – what?"

Emma is suddenly serious as hell. Just like that, the coquettish girl is gone. She just wants to go home and take off her heels. They are starting to hurt her. Ignoring his question and continued on-

"And the worst part of it all is your wife. After all this crap she still loves you enough to bail you out. Of course she could only scrape together a quarter of the bail after you emptied the accounts.

And how do you reward that loyalty? You're out on a date," speaking with so much venom, feeling her blood boiling at the asshole in front of her.

"Who are you?" Dave questions, blinking a few times, wondering how she knew all that.

"The chick, who put up the rest of the money," smirking and battering her eyes.

"You're a bail bondsman," his eyes widen, realization clicks in.

"Bail Bonds-person," Emma corrects him. Not liking the job title. She's a woman and can do this better than any man in this profession.

The bastard doesn't even have the dignity to reply, but instead flips the table when the realization of him being caught clicks in his head. Lucky for her she was seeing this coming, quickly standing up, but wasn't fast enough to avoid wine spilling on her dress.

He bolts out of the restaurant, pushing people out his way as he ran out.

Not phased, or really bothered by the guy from bolting. What really bothered was the stain on her red dress. Why must this happen on her birthday. "Really?" she question to nobody particular.

Putting the stain dress issue aside, she strode towards the door. Refusing to run in heels on her birthday, ignoring the stares and the worried waiters, she walks confidently out the restaurant. Just another normal day for her, not bothering to break a sweat.

Dave races down the block, dodging oncoming cars, needing to get to his parked Audi. He pulls open the door, hops in and dares a glance over his shoulder to see Emma is striding down the block, moving with purpose towards his car.

Sweating, fumbling with his keys, turns the ignition, guns the engine, and hits the gas but nothing happens. Just an awful screeching sound. Confused, he opens the door and looks at his back wheel. Eyes widen when he sees the boot on his wheel. Cursing, he turns his head back, and finds the blonde woman now standing in front of him. With a smirk on her face.

Realizing that he been set up, he sighs. "You don't have to do this. I can pay you. I've got money," he begged, hoping to get this out.

She gives him a disbelieving look, couldn't believe how bold this man was. Her jaw clenched, he has some nerve. Breathing slowly, shaking her head, "no you don't. And if you did, you should give it to your wife to take care of your family."

"What do you know about family?" Dave says out of anger. Pissed off for being caught.

Something in Emma snapped. She grabs him by the collar and slams his face into the steering wheel.

Dave slumps back, unconscious. Emma just stands there for a moment. Calming her temper, she looks away. "Nothing," mumbling to herself. Hating herself now, letting her emotions get the best of her.

Emma enters her small, decent apartment. On her way to her kitchen, she takes off her shoes, and places a bag on the counter. Taking out a cupcake, she carefully puts a candle and lighting it up.

She leans over her island, staring at the lit candle, she watches the dancing flame in the air. She just stares in silence, reflecting her past life. Taking a minute for herself, she closes her eyes as she blew out the candle making a wish. Smiling at herself sadly knowing full well that it wouldn't come true.

Her thoughts were broken when she hears the doorbell rings again. Checking the time, Emma wonders who could be at the door at this time of night.

Opening the door, she finds a 10-year-old boy standing at the doorway, smiling up at her.

Lifting an eyebrow. "Uh... Can I help you?"

"Are you Emma Swan?" he asks.

"Yeah. Who are you?"

"My name's Henry," introduced himself. "I'm your son."

Emma mouth out, like a fish out of the ocean at the boy's news bomb. Before Emma could respond, the boy walks past her and enters in the apartment. She continues to stand in her doorway, absolutely fucking stunned.

She couldn't believe this is happening. This cannot be happening. Millions of things were running through her head. All things that she can think of happening to her, this wasn't one of them.

Quickly snapping back to reality, closes the door and follows the boy in.

Henry looks around the place, trying to get a fixture of what kind of person his birth mother really is. There were no pictures, and it doesn't seem like anyone else lives with her.

"What are you doing here?" Emma wants answers and she will get them.

"I already told you. I'm your son," Henry answers like it explains everything. Sadly Emma wasn't buying it.

"I don't have a son," Emma states. "Where are your parents?" Emma tried a different approach.

Sighing, seeing that his birth mother is more stubborn than he thought. "Ten years ago, did you give up a baby for adoption?"

Emma freezes.

"That was me," Henry tells her.

Emma stares him down, not liking this at all. "How did you find me?"

"I'm resourceful," Henry shrugged. "This isn't going the way I thought it would."

Crossing her arms over her chest. "And how did you think it would go?"

"If this was Oprah, there be lots of crying and hugging."

"I'm not the hugging and crying type," Emma pointed out the flaw in that idea.

"Everyone is. Just give it time." Henry shrugged like any given time, Emma was going to burst into tears. Looking around, his eyes land back on hers, "We should probably get going."

Emma lifts an eyebrow in question, tilting her head. Not understanding what the kid was talking about. "Going... Where?"

"I want you to come home with me," Henry answers too proudly.

And now Emma's been pushed to the limit. Fun time is over. Not liking how this day went from bad to worst. And here she thought that nothing can get worse on her birthday.

"Okay, kid. That's it. I'm calling the cops." Lifting up the receiver, she starts to dial.

"Great. And I'll tell them you kidnapped me."

That stops Emma cold. Looking at this kid for the first time with a mixture of shock and, yeah, a little respect. It would seem her genes are strong in the boy.

"I'll tell them my birth mother missed me so much she tracked me down and kidnapped me. I tried to fight, but she was so much bigger. So much stronger... "

Clearly he thinks this through...

"You're not going to do that," Emma calls him on his bluff.

"Try me," Henry locked eyes at her, being all serious.

Emma studies him for a quick second and sees through him, "Look, kid you're pretty good. But here's the thing. There's not a lot I'm great at in life. But I do have one skill. Let's call it a superpower. Don't know how it works. Or why. But I can tell when anyone is lying. And you, Henry, are," she finishes with a smirk, caught him red handed.

His jaw falls, caught and now for the first time he's sincere. "Please don't call the cops, just come home with me. Please".

Seeing the boy truly upset and possibly scared. Not wanting to push, but wanted to know the answer. "Maybe you should start by telling me where home is?"

"Storybrooke, Maine."

"Storybrooke?" What kind of name of a town was that Emma wondered?

"Yup," Henry nods.

"Seriously?" Emma is double making sure he wasn't pulling her leg.

"Uh huh," pointing at his nodding head, being serious.

"Well, alright. Let's get you back to Storybrooke," Emma decides to go with his plans for now.

Henry smiles, watching Emma go to her room to change. Part two of his mission accomplished. Operation Savior.

They were both off on the road, in a yellow '69 VW Bug, heading down the long highway between Boston and Maine.

"This isn't a road trip. So there will be no stopping anywhere. No singing or I spy," Emma lays the rules as they get on the road. Thus, ending any future conversations that would've been held in the car ride. Keeping her eyes on the road, she watches Henry from the corner of her eyes as he takes out a huge, old book from his bag and opens it to a page with Snow White and Prince Charming.

"Fairy tales?" She would thought he would be either too "cool" or old for that sort of book. But everyone eats your own.

"They aren't just fairy tales," Henry says seriously, snapping his head to look at Emma. "They're real. Every story in this book is true. It actually happened."

"Of course it did," sarcasm could be heard from her tone of voice.

"Use your "superpower" and see if I'm lying."

Emma looks at him, snapping her eyes back on the road, running her tongue over her teeth. Shit. He does seem awfully convinced. "Just because you believe something don't make it true."

"That's exactly what makes it true. And you should know that more than anyone," Henry pushes, trying to get Emma to understand him.

That caught her attention even more. "Why's that?"

"Because you're in it."

Emma's head snaps towards him, shoots him a look. "Kid, you've got problems," she declares.

"Yup. And you're going to fix them."

Emma just shakes her head, turns up the music on the radio, not wanting to get into it any further. Henry shrugs, returning to his book.

Passing the "Welcome to Storybrooke," sign, Emma continues to drive into town. "Okay, Kid. How about an address?"

"101 So Not-Telling-You Street."

Emma's clenches her jaw, getting on her last nerve. She quickly pulls the car over to the side of the street. She was tired of playing games, and confronts the kid. "Look, kid, it's been a really long day. It's... Almost..." looks up at the clock tower, " 8:15?"

"That clock hasn't moved my whole life. Time is frozen here."

Emma can't believe how relentless this kid is. "...Excuse me?"

"The Evil Queens cursed the Enchanted Forest. And now everybody who lived there, are frozen in time. Stuck in this town," Henry explains.

"Well, isn't that horrible," Emma said with dry sarcasm. "Why don't they just leave?" challenging him, hoping to find a flaw in this fantasy theory.

"They can't. Ask anyone. See if they've ever left."

Before Emma can challenge him further, a voice from outside the car interrupts.

"..Henry?"

They look to see an eccentric looking gentleman walking a Dalmatian and, oddly, carrying an umbrella. Emma notes it wasn't raining, or there being any chances of a shower.

"What are you doing here?" the gentleman question the boy, giving Emma a suspicious glance, before addressing to the boy again. "You missed our session today. Is everything alright?"

"I'm fine, Archie," Henry assures him

Archie studies the mysterious blonde. "Who's this?"

"Just someone trying to give him a ride home," Emma is the one to answer him. "You know where he lives?"

"Sure. Just up there to the right. The mayor's house is the biggest house on Mifflin Street".

Now Emma shoots Henry another look, "You're the Mayor's kid?"

Henry looks away, knowing full well that he got busted, "Maybe.."

Emma turns back to Archie; smiling, "Thank you."

"Of course," Archie nod. "Welcome to Storybrooke!" he says and steps back away from the car.

As they drive off, Henry looks completely defeated. Emma checks out Archie in her rear view mirror as they drive down the road. "He didn't seem cursed to me," she comments.

Being very invested in his belief, Henry had enough of the blonde doubting the truth. Like mother, like son. He blurts out, "Because he doesn't know. None of them do. They don't remember who they are. It's part of the curse."

Emma is slightly phased by the boy's outburst and how upset he seems to be due to her disbelief. Side glancing for a few seconds before looking back to the road. "Convenient," is all Emma says to his statement. "So which fairy tale was he?" she asks, playing along so not to upset him more.

"Jiminy Cricket," Henry answers.

"Right. The umbrella. How did I not catch that?" This kid got a real imagination, she will give him that.

Driving on Mifflin Street, finding the kid's house wasn't that hard to miss. Not when it was the largest. Parking her piece of a junk yellow bug, she steps out with Henry. He looks up, his demeanor changed, which makes her pause. The relaxed aura falls away and replaced by genuine fear.

"Please don't take me back there," Henry begs.

Emma softens, and maybe for the first time a piece of real maternal instinct kicks in. "Henry,

I'm sure your parents are worried sick about you."

Henry snarls at Emma's response. "I don't have parents. Just a mom. And she's evil," and fighting tears, "she doesn't love me, she only pretends to."

Just when she thought couldn't happen, Emma's heart breaks as she listens, because whether it's true or not, this kid believes what he says to be true. And it has her thinking if this whole "fairy tale" thing is some sort of escape for him. She knew better than most what it's like to find an escape from reality. She's about to say something, but gets cut off by a worried yell.

The door of the mansion is ripped open, and a depressed looking woman comes running towards them. "Oh my god, Henry! Where have you been?!"

Emma watches a beautiful woman, with black hair, rushes out to Henry, and doesn't hesitate to pull him into a tight hug. Cheeks are tear-stained and she's an emotional wreck. And it didn't seem like she wanted to let go of the boy.

The woman, Emma would have to guess was in her mid-thirties, pulls the boy an arm distance to get a better look at the boy. "Are you alright? Are you hurt? What happened?!" the woman shots a list of questions, demanding answers, to be informed what was going on.

Emma watches as the kid's adoptive mother checked him from head to toe to see if there are any physical injuries. The dark brunette cups the boy's face, as if assuring herself the boy is fine, and smooth out his hair to comfort herself, in a mothering way. She didn't seem evil to her, the woman looks actually concerned and worried.

Henry breaks from the embrace, and scowl. "What happened was I went to find my real mom," and with that he scampers up the stairs into the house.

Emma takes note how fast distraught, and heartbroken flash upon the woman's face before she puts on an indifferent mask. When she looks up from her kneeling position, their eyes lock for the first time.

The blonde woman isn't sure, but when their eyes locked, hazel with brown, an electric vibe sparked between them, and a shared shudder went down their spines. For some unknown reason, her heart started to pick in pace.

Breaking the staring contest, an awkward silence fell between them. "You're Henry's birth mother?" the woman rhetorically asks. She took the time to study Emma's profile.

Emma forces an awkward smile, meekly respond, "Hi. I'm Emma...Swan."

It's an awkward moment. An adoptive parent's worst nightmare, facing the birth parent. Both trying to size the other. What didn't come to notice until someone breaks the moment, they had tuned out the world around them when their eyes were locked on each other.

Someone coughs, making the brunette woman to break eye contact first. Her gaze falls on the British accented man that seemed to hold some sort of authority. "I'll just go check on the lad, make sure he's doing alright."

As it sunk what the day turned out, who she's meeting, briefly, oh so briefly, something flashes across her face. Concern? Worry? Annoyance? It's gone too fast for anyone to notice. Emma mental notes how controlled the other woman was with her emotions, never showing anything on the surface, just completely blank, a mask.

"Thank you for bringing him home," the dark haired woman says with forced smile. "I'm Regina Mills."

"Welcome."

An awkward moment of silence falls between them again. Both didn't know what to say. What does one say to the woman who adopted the child you gave up, and or say to the birth mother of the child you adopted, who didn't want any contact with the said child.

Regina didn't like how she doesn't have control of the situation, and that needs to be fixed. Putting on the most welcoming smile imaginable. "How would you like a glass of the best apple cider you've ever tasted?"

"Got anything stronger?"

Regina couldn't help from chuckling at the young blonde woman. She finds herself sincerely smiling. They head to the front door, just as they enter the mansion, the man came down the stairs and assures her that Henry was fine. He tells her he'll see himself out, nodding a goodbye to the blonde, she continues to lead the blonde to her study and motions Emma to take a seat as she goes to the small bar in the room and pours a drink for Emma.

Not wanting to get stuck in an awkward silence again, Emma forced herself to talk about something. "So. You adopted Henry..." Emma winces at her stupidity for asking of such question. The woman's presence made it hard to think clearly for some odd reason. The brunette is all kinds of beautiful that she hasn't faced before.

"Yes, he's been with me since he was three weeks old." Regina hands Emma a glass and takes the seat opposite of the blonde.

"How did he find me?" Emma ask the burning question.

"No idea. The record was sealed when I adopted him. I was told the birth mother didn't want contact. Is... That's still true?" Regina studies Emma carefully, waiting for the answer that will either put her to ease or be a problem.

The blonde woman wasn't surprised at the question. Regina had every right to worry about why she's here, and if she were to take Henry away. Sadly, it doesn't explain the butterflies in her stomach. She licks her lips. "Yeah, it is," Emma tells her.

Regina studies the young woman, deciding if to believe her or not. When she takes a small exhale of relief, she sees the truth behind the other woman's words. "Okay, then."

Another awkward silence falls between them, but it doesn't stay for long.

"I'm sorry he dragged you out of your life. He's really a good boy," Regina apologizes, assuring the blonde the boy was a good kid. That she raised him right.

"I'm sure he is," Emma says.

Emma mentally scowls at the kid she gave birth to. How can the boy be blinded too how this woman would give the world to him if he just asked. This was the type of parent she had wished adopted her. Where he should be grateful, the boy mistreats her. She doesn't see how this woman is a bad mother, and all the things he had said.

Coming to her son defense, "you have to understand – things have been tough lately. Being a single mother and Mayor. I do my best and I just want him happy. But you see the way he looks at me... And lately, he's become withdrawn. He's been acting out. So I sent him to see a therapist," Regina explained.

"The guy named Archie with a Dalmatian? Who Henry thinks he's Jiminy Cricket?" Emma wondered.

"Excuse me?"

"He says his therapist is a cartoon character. From his book," Emma explained.

Regina gave her a look like she had no idea what the blonde woman was talking about. "What book?" Regina questioned.

Emma's eyes widened slightly with the realization. Henry's been hiding it from his mother. That explains the sudden withdrawal Regina explained earlier. And that would mean that the kid was in therapy because of the random withdraw, not because he thinks everyone is a fairy tale character.

"You know what, it's none of my business and I've caused enough trouble. I think I should head back," Emma decided not to get in between family matters. Especially if she wasn't in the picture for 10 years and wasn't going to start. She isn't going back on her decision on giving up the boy, and refusing to have contact. Emma raises to leave.

Regina smiles warmly. "Of course. No trouble at all." And sees the blonde woman out. When she closes the door behind her, she leans her back against it, wondering what that was about.

Back outside, Walking down the path to her car, Emma comes upon the sheriff who is leaning up against her car. Smiling at her, munching on a pixie stick. "Pixie stick?" He offers one when she stands in front of him.

"I'll pass."

"Yes, I know. Terrible habit. It's amazing my teeth haven't rotted through. I'm Graham, by the way," Sticking out his free hand at her.

"Emma," shakes his hand, waiting to see if he would move but saw that he wasn't budging. Sighing, wanting to get the show on the road, "well, I've got a long drive ahead of me. So if you could find somewhere else to lean." Emma moves to her car, but he remains leaning on it.

"I think it might be better if you spent the night."

"Aww, how kind of you," Emma sarcastically smiles, battering her eyes, fake flirting with the man.

He smiles, mischievous, "I know Regina's drinks. I'd hate to get out the Breathalyzer. There is a Breakfast and Bed at the town square. They have rooms available. I called ahead."

Clearly not having a choice, "I guess I can spend the night."

Emma follows the sheriff's directions, and finds herself at the Bed and Breakfast. An elderly proprietor checks Emma in.

"Hello, I'm Granny. Would you like a Square view or Forest view? The Forest view is quieter, but the Square view you can see everything. There's no price difference" the elder stops short as she sees someone leaving. "Hey!"

Looking back to who the elder woman was talking to, finds a red-haired, twenty something girl sauntering out. There's one word that leaps to mind at the sight of this sexy girl. She wasn't as gorgeous and beautiful as Regina, but close.

Emma curses mentally herself for thinking of the brunette woman. The woman who adopted her kid has been on her mind since she left the mansion.

The tall, green eye, brunette is pulling on a red coat as Granny berates her, "where do you think you're going?"

"I've got a date, Grandma," the girl answers.

Granny looks at her watch, then back at her granddaughter, "at twelve thirty? No date starts at twelve thirty."

"Mine does," the redhead sticks out her tongue. Continuing out, Granny shakes her head, turns back to Emma. "That is Ruby, my granddaughter. Now where were we?"

"I'll take the Forest view," Emma smiles and pays for the room and taking the older style silver key of a swan.

Entering in the rented bedroom, she drops her overnight bag on the bed and plops down and sighs. Thinking about the events so far since Henry knocked on her door, meeting Regina, and seeing the little town. She can't help from feeling some sort of connection to it all. She shakes her head, getting rid of the ridiculous thought, she gets ready to get some sleep. Unzipping her bag seeing what is on top, she shakes her head as she sees Henry's book, stuffed inside among her clothes.

She shakes her head, smiles, "sneaky bastard," she mumbles. She can't question if the kid was actually hers or not, this proved it.

She takes out the book and starts to flip through it. Filled with text and drawings, catching glimpses of drawings from all the iconic fairy tales. And maybe from a few other stories as well. Was that Dracula she glimpsed? No time to dwell. Emma moves to the bookmarked page and sees -Geppetto? She was kind of rusty on her fairy tales. There was a crafting of a wardrobe in a tree.

Yawning as the minutes keep ticking, she closes the book and gets ready to sleep. She won't get involved. No. She isn't that person. She got screwed over before, and this was way out of her comfort zone. She doesn't do commitment. She gave up her right to have anything to do with the boy, and she's going to stick by it. Not even if his adoptive mother caught her interest. Not after him. She refuses to go down that road again. Those sudden sparks she felt in the Mayor's presence doesn't mean anything.

She forced herself to go to sleep, and plans the second she wakes up she's out of this town. The second she's out of this town, she'll forget about the boy, and the beautiful brunette woman.

Emma isn't a morning person when someone disturbs her in her sleep. She needs coffee before she can function correctly, otherwise she's a total Godzilla. So when there is a bang at the door, it didn't make her too happy. It better be important. Someone better be dying, or the building was on fire. Cursing under her breath, wishing she was still sound asleep. She was about to ignore whoever is at the door, and continue to sleep. But the banging gets worst, she hops out of bed, in little to no clothes. Still half asleep, she forgot she had no pants, as she opens the door to see Regina. Brown eyes were wild and worried.

"Where is he?! Henry?" Regina doesn't wait for an answer and storms into the room. "HENRY!?"

Standing behind her is the sheriff, eyeing at Emma. Ignoring the cocky smirk that shows on his face, she turns to look at Regina. "Again?" not believing the kid ran off once again.

"Afraid so," Graham replied.

Regina strides over to Emma, with controlled fury. And worry... And flushed? Emma wasn't sure. The woman was good at controlling her emotions quickly, for if you blinked then nobody would have seen. Only the cool collected, indifferent appearance.

"Did he contact you? Have you heard from him at all?"

Emma shakes her head.

Regina grows more worried, frustrated and a bit flushed. Trying so hard not to look down at the blonde's legs. Long white skinny legs that seems to run for miles, making her mouth dry. And bright red underwear. She force herself to look away, "he wasn't in his room this morning" she fills her in.

"I don't know what to say. I'm sorry."

Being reasonable, knowing full well this isn't the blonde woman's fault. "No, I'm sorry. I don't mean to keep bothering you. I know you have a long drive back to Boston."

Turning to the sheriff, she finds him staring at Emma. Something snapped within her, "Graham!"

Snapping his eyes at Regina, who didn't look too happy. He had the decency to look embarrassed and sheepish. Gulping, "sorry."

"Be a gentleman and wait for me outside," Regina spoke with venom, not liking how Graham stared at Emma. Graham quickly rushed out of the room, with his tail between his legs. Glaring where he once stood, that if magic did exist, she would burn him alive.

Ignoring the urge to ask what that was about, Emma focuses on more important matters. "I feel guilty. Did you try his friends?" She asks, wanting to help. Knowing that unintentionally it is her fault, she hated seeing the raven haired woman worried. It didn't sit well with the Mayor. She should be smiling and happy all the time.

"He doesn't really have any. He's kind of a loner."

Ouch. That sure as hell strikes a chord in Emma. That's something she and Henry have in common. "Every kid has friends. Have you checked his computer? If there's anyone he's close to, he'd be emailing them. That's where you should start."

"And you know this how?" Regina lifted an eyebrow in question.

"Finding people is what I do."

"Okay. I'll agree with you helping to find Henry but could you please put on pants." Not able to fight the urge to look down. Red is this woman's color.

Eyes widened, Emma looks down to find that she was only wearing briefs. Chuckling in embarrassment, "that explains why Graham was smirking and staring."

Regina's jaw tightens, jealousy shots through her at the mention of the pig headed man. Cracking her neck side to side, calming herself, keeping a straight face, blank from emotions. She turned, letting Emma have some privacy as she puts on skinny jeans.

"Okay, let's find your son," Emma puts on her red leather jacket.

It was a shame Regina won't be seeing Emma's red underwear, but that was replaced with how well the blonde looked in tight skinny jeans. It was like they were painted on the woman.

In Henry's room, Emma moves the mouse looking around the browser on his computer. Waiting for it to load, Emma takes a look around. She gets a profile of what kind of life the kid has.

Shelves were filled with books and a large collection of comics, pictures and drawings. Is this a boy who wants to live any world but this one? It made no sense to her. The kid is starting to seem like a spoiled brat in her opinion.

Tapping away at the keyboard, Regina watches anxiously next to Graham.

"Kid's smart, he cleared his inbox. All his emails are gone," feeling a little pride towards her child. Pulling out a USB chip on her key chain she plugs it in. "Luckily, I'm smart too. Little hard disk recovery utility I like to use. When you delete something, all you're doing is telling the computer to ignore the data. Doesn't mean it's gone yet," liking a challenge.

"I'm a bit more old-fashioned in my techniques. Pounding the pavement. Knocking on doors.

That sort of thing," Graham spoke.

"Well, you're on salary. I get paid for delivery," Emma points out. "Pounding the pavement isn't a luxury I get."

On the screen the inbox reforms email after email reappears. Emma raises her eyebrow at one, a receipt from a website. Clicking on it, "who's your mommy dot-com?" Seeing the extent of the website, he shakes her head in disbelief, and mumbles, "guess we know how he found me." Continuing to explore the site, clicking around, she comes to a page that reveals the price of the service. "Expensive. Does he have a credit card?" Emma asks Regina.

"He's ten," Regina says dryly, as if it explained itself.

"Well, he used one. Let's see if I can get a transaction record..." taps a couple of keys and is able to get more information, "who is Mary Margaret Blanchard?"

Regina's eyes grow cold, and her face tightens. One of the many of people she hates most in any world. "Henry's teacher," she gritted out.

Just hearing the very cold, almost venomous tone, Emma didn't have to take a wild guess that the brunette didn't like this woman. She was about to shot a line of questions that were crawling in her head, but Regina cut her off.

"Thank you for the help, Ms. Swan. But I've got it from here."

And that's when Graham shocks them both. Had both whipping their heads around to look at the man in shock. "Emma should go."

"What?" both say at the same time. There was that spark again, both making them shiver as it travel down their spines. Realizing it was happening again, both avert their glance, and instead glare at the sheriff for an explanation of the random statement.

"This falls under pounding the pavement. My area of expertise," Graham explains to Regina. "If Mary Margaret helped him find her," nods at Emma, "then she's the only way to get him to stop running."

Before Regina can protest, Emma sighs. She didn't want to admit it, not really liking the guy, but he did make a rather good point. "He's right. I'll go."

"But we've troubled you enough," Regina's temper calmed, as she softened her tone as she spoke to Emma.

Emma wanted to run. There was no doubt in her mind, but knowing full well what has to be done. "All due respect, it's on me. Don't worry, I'll bring him back," Emma promises.

For some odd reason, Regina found herself trusting the mysterious woman.

Somewhere inside the Elementary School of Storybrooke, a classroom full of fourth graders, listening in today's lesson. Sitting at their desks listening raptly to a sweet voice as they work on an art project.

"As we build our bird houses, remember that what you're making is a home, not a cage. A bird is free and will do what it will. This is for them, not us," A woman with skin pale as snow, hair as black as ebony and lips as red as rose, says to the children.

She's holding a small bluebird as she demonstrates her point, letting it go by the window sill. It flies outside the window and right to a bird house perched on a tree.

She continues on her lesson, "they're loyal creatures. If you love them and they love you, they will always find you." The bell rings, announcing the break. "We'll pick this up after recess. No running."

Just as the kids file out the door, Emma passes by them as she enters the classroom. The teacher is tidying up the class after the children departed. The woman notice another presence in the room, she looks over to see a blonde woman. She does a double take when she gets an odd feeling as if she should know her. But if her memory serves her right, she never met this woman in her life. Pushing that aside, she asks "can I help you?"

"I'm looking for one of your students. Henry," the woman says to her.

"And who is asking?" the teacher questioned. By the state of law, she isn't allowed to endanger a child in her care to a stranger. She can get her license revoked.

"I was his... It's complicated," not wanting to say.

"Well, I'm reasonably bright and as I'm not really in the habit of discussing my children with strangers, you might want to tell me," the teacher stays firm.

For the first time Emma actually spit it out, "I'm his mother."

Raising an eyebrow, "I'm pretty sure the Mayor is his mother."

"Yeah, right. The thing is – I gave birth to him." Then; pointed out, "but you already know that considering you gave him your credit card to track me down."

Mary Margaret blinks, putting it together, her face falls. "My... Credit card?" She hurries to her handbag, rifles through it. Her face falls once again. The credit card is missing from her wallet. "He's a clever one," smiles sadly. Sighing, "This is all my fault. I never should have given him that book."

There was only one book Emma knows Henry carries with him like it was a bible. "The fairy tales? Are you the one who put that craziness in his head?"

"That was not my intention," Mary Margaret defends herself. "You have to understand. Henry is – he's a special boy. So smart. So creative. And so lonely. He needed it," Mary Margaret quickly explained, she didn't intend to cause trouble or harm.

"What he needs is a dose of reality."

Mary Margaret gives her a soft look. "Tell me something. What do you think stories are for?"

"Getting through a long flight?" Emma shrugged.

"Dan Brown, maybe. But these stories? The classics? There's a reason we all know them. They're a way for us to deal with our world – a world that doesn't always make sense. You see, Henry's had his share of hardships."

"Kid seems like he's got a pretty good life to me." Specially compare to the life she would've given him. And the life she had growing up.

"Yes, but Henry's like any adopted child. He wrestles with that most basic question they all inevitably face." Pausing a second, "Why would anyone give me away?"

And that question tears right through Emma's heart. Knowing that it's her fault that he is this way and understanding where he was coming from.

The teacher realizes her mistake what just came out of her mouth. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean in any way to judge you," quickly assuring her, she didn't mean to insult her or make her feel guilty.

"No... It's okay." Sadly it wasn't okay, it stung.

"Look, I gave the book to him because I wanted Henry to have the most important thing anyone can have. Hope. Believing in a happy ending is a very powerful thing. But I guess he took it too far," sensing Emma's self-guilt.

Not wanting to get emotional or sidetracked, she pushes all her problems to the side. "Do you have any idea where he might be?" She came here with one sole purpose, and it was to bring Henry back to Regina.

Mary Margaret took a moment to think. Smiling when the answer popped up in her head. "You might want to check his castle." Knowing he goes there to think and to be alone.

Emma carries the story book and shakes her head as she looks at the badly built, wooden castle. This is what Mary Margaret meant. What a poor of excuse of a playground and of a castle. She walks up to the jungle gym like stairs and climbs up, pulling herself up and finds Henry, sitting alone. Staring out over the playground and into the town, the castle directly faces the clock tower that needs fixing.

Henry turns to see Emma arrive, then wordlessly turns back to stare at the clock tower. Emma settles down beside him, sliding over the book. "You "left" this in my gym bag."

Henry takes it back, but keeps staring ahead.

"Still hasn't moved, huh?" Emma looks out at the tower. It was still stuck at "8:15."

"I was hoping that when I brought you back things would change here. That it would move again. That... That the final battle would begin," Henry spoke with a defeated tone.

Emma sighs. "Henry, I'm not going to fight any battles," she tells him firmly, and sets him straight.

"Yes, you are. You're here because it's your destiny," Henry exclaims again.

"Henry – cut it with the book crap. It's enough." Emma was getting tired of it. At first was funny, but now it's getting ridiculous.

"You don't have to be hostile. You like me. I can tell. You're just pushing me away because I make you feel guilty." Smiling sweetly, "But it's okay. I know why you gave me away."

That stops her cold. Looking at him as he looks at her. He continues to talk.

"You did it because you wanted to give me my best chance."

Hearing those words affects Emma. Her tough veneer cracks, because he's right. Her eyes start to tear up, relived that he didn't blame her. That is all she wanted to hear.

"Told you everybody cries," with his I said so, tone.

Emma wipes the tears away. "How... How do you know that...?"

"Because it's the same reason Snow White gave you away."

"Right, because I'm in the book," she lightly chuckles, they are back to the book again. Oh how everything goes straight back to his Looney theory.

"Yes. And you're twenty-eight now, so it's time to get started. You're the one who's going to bring back all the happy endings."

"Let me tell you something, kid, I'm a real person. I'm no savior, you're wrong about that. But you are right about one thing. I wanted you to have your best chance. And it isn't with me. Come on, I got to get you home."

Henry shakes his head, not liking where this was going, and here he thought that Operation Savior was back on.

"Please don't do this. Don't bring me back to her. Just stay here with me for one week. That's all I ask. One week and you'll see I'm right. You'll see I'm not crazy," Henry begs.

"I have to bring you back to your mother."

"You don't know what it's like. My life sucks," Henry gritted out.

"You want to know what sucks. It's being left abandoned on a freeway. My parents didn't even think to drop me at a hospital. Then I found my way into the foster system. I was with a family until I was three until they had their own kid. So they sent me back. I bounced around from family to family until I was sixteen and could be on my own. Of course by then I realized I had always been on my own," Emma snapped. Looking away, trying to compose herself – these are painful memories. She will not lose control of little she had over her emotions. "Your mom's trying her best, Henry. It's hard. But none of us are perfect. You may not think she loves you..." she pauses, "but at least she wants you."

What should have happen was, Henry absorbs this incredibly heartfelt soul baring statement. But only one thing registers with him, "your parents didn't leave you in the street. That's just where you came through."

"What?" Confused from the change of subject.

"The wardrobe. When you went through the wardrobe you appeared in the street. Your parents were trying to save you from the curse," Henry explains what felt like a million times.

Not wanting to get into that, she takes his hand, "Sure they were. Come on, Henry." Reluctantly following her and carrying his book, they go back to the mansion.

The front door is ripped open, revealing Regina, with a look of supreme relief on her face. Looking at Emma and Henry, who was in tow. Just as the blonde promised. Once they were on the porch steps, Henry doesn't even wait for her to speak, he just blows by her and runs to his room.

Calling after him, "Henry!" But all was heard is a door slam. Sighing, Regina turns back to Emma. "I'm just glad he's back. Thank you," she smiles honestly.

"Yeah. No problem."

"Did he say... Why?" Regina asks. Everything is done for a reason. Everything happens for a reason. It's a belief that was drilled in the hard way, and which she solely believed in.

"I don't know. I think maybe... Maybe that Evil Queen's curse just got in his head."

She kept her face blank from revealing anything, but follow through with the act of confusion. "What?" Inside her heart skipped a beat. It's been a while from the last time she heard that name.

"From his stories," Emma reminds her of the book she mentioned earlier.

"Right. I should probably take that book away."

"What's the harm? It's only a book."

"Yes. That it is," Regina voice trailed off a bit. No longer wanting to be on this topic, she says goodbye to the blonde woman. "Well, have a safe trip home."

Emma nods at her, stepping away, ready to head home, but something's gnawing at her. "Hey..."

Regina stops, mid door close. "Yeah?"

"Do you love him?"

"Excuse me?" Regina is thrown back by that question.

"Henry. Do you love him?" Emma repeated, more clearly.

Something flashes in Regina's eyes, but Regina continued to be blank and collected.

"Of course I love him."

Emma looks in Regina eyes, studying the older woman. "Right. Sorry. Goodbye."

And with that Emma leaves, leaving a confused Regina at her doorway, watching her walk away. She has a feeling that this wasn't going to be the last time she'll see her. And does she dare say, actually looks forward to it.

As she walks through the town square, her meeting with Regina weighs heavily on her as she looks at this place through new eyes. And while there is no overt magic, there is certainly something odd and off about the place. Specially the pull towards Regina. That every time their eyes meet, an electric wave sets her heart pounding in her chest, turning her mind into a pile of mush. Not being able to think straight. Or stop thinking about her.

As she's walking, she notices – A butcher shop. A bakery. A hippie selling candles. A dwarf sized man shoots hoops on the basketball court. While it feels a bit surreal, Emma's not actually seeing anything without a rational explanation here.

Emma shakes her head, couldn't believe he's gotten to her, as she walks into the inn. Finding Ruby instead of Granny at the front desk. "Checking out?" the girl in her early twenties ask.

Emma makes a decision, a rash one. And she hopes it doesn't end up biting her in the ass. "You know what... I think I'd actually like to keep the room."

"Sure. How long?"

"Just a week." A week to get both Henry and specially Regina out of her head.

Ruby gets the paperwork for her.

Regina tucks Henry into bed. Kisses his forehead. "Good night, Henry."

Henry just nods, giving her the cold shoulder. Masking her frustration as she leaves, she walks by a mirror on her way to her room. She stares at herself, thinking of the past. And Emma. Those hypnotizing hazel, green eyes….

Clenching her teeth. After everything she did, she won't let anyone break her walls. This is supposed to be her happy ending, to try to fill an empty void. And nobody is going to stop her from having what been taken from her.

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