Chapter 1

"You will call me, won't you? Once..once you hear of anything?"

Emma Swan asked with such urgency that if anyone else were present in the room witnessing the girl's actions, they would say that she was begging. Mr Collins looks directly at the young blonde and places a hand on her arm to reassure her. "I promise you, as soon as we get an update I will call you"

Emma merely nods then gets shown to the door. Walking down the corridor to the exit, the blonde's mind was practically having a debate with itself. She knew what she was doing was right given her current circumstances but that didn't dull the pain any less that she was leaving her son behind. Trust had always been an issue in Emma's life and it was not until recently that it was pushed to its ultimate limit, which is why Emma constantly questioned her son's care to Mr Collins the adoptive agent and was adamant that she was not to leave him until someone definitely took him. She was not going to let her son go through the same life she had and grow up in the system, never knowing what was to happen or if he would ever be wanted.

Pushing through the double doors, Emma walked down to the corner of the street and out of plain view, removing her black frames she wipes a few stray tears away from her face. Taking a shaky breath, the blonde looks back to the building she had just come from seeing the doors open again. This time a brunette woman who appeared to be of some authority walked through with a massive smile on her face peering down at the carrier on her arm. Inside the carrier was a baby.

Emma's son.

After receiving a phone call a couple of months later and managing to find the woman's name, it didn't take long using her street smarts for Emma to find where her son lived. Which is why she was currently standing, staring up at a large white house with a big spacious garden. Emma pondered on whether this was a good decision or not. She had managed to stabilize her situation...sort of and wanted her son back in her life. Taking the steps to the porch, Emma remembered the face of the woman who took her son and straightened herself out the best she could, dusting down her cropped black leather jacket. Knocking sharply on the door, the blonde's eyes darted around the surrounding area as her nerves started to kick in.

Watching the door glide open, Emma looks up to the brunette standing in front of her. "Are..are you Regina Mills?"

The brunette raises an eyebrow curiously then pokes her head just out of the doorframe to see if the strange blonde had anyone else with her. Looking back to her, the brunette gives a slight nod. "Yes I am, may I ask who is asking?"

Emma takes a deep breath clasping her hands together. "My name is Emma..Emma Swan..I..I am your son's birth mother..I'm sorry I don't even know his name"

Regina's face drops at this. "you're Henry's ..birth mother?"

Emma nods looking worried at Regina's reaction. The brunette gulps allowing her fear to take over and panics. "I think it would be best for everyone right now if you were to leave. I do not want to see you on my doorstep again!"

Regina goes to shut the door but is stopped by a foot belonging to a surprisingly strong Emma. "No please!..I am not here to take him from you!"

The brunette scoffs looking at her again while keeping a firm hand on her door. "That is evidently clear, you wouldn't have a leg to stand on"

Emma nods looking down. "I..I just want to be a part of his life.."

Regina steps forward invading the blonde's personal space looking coldly at her. "Leave"

Emma nods slowly biting her lip to prevent getting upset and backs up, removing her foot from the door. Regina watches her a moment with a glare before slamming the door shut.

Sighing, the young blonde turns on her heels and walks down the path back onto the street.

Walking through the town, Emma heads inside Granny's diner and slumps herself down in a booth pushing some loose strands of hair out of her face. Leaning back she closes her eyes a moment.

Sitting inside her room on a single bed which was basically just a mattress on the floor, Emma sighs frustrated listening to the constant ringing sound that could be heard through her phone. "Come on Neal pickup.."

Hearing a click of a button and a shuffle she finally got an answer.

"Hello?"

Emma rubs her head agitated. "Neal? Where are you?!..you said you was going to be here two hours ago...they are going to be back soon"

"Babe I am just down the street give me two minutes"

Emma takes a breath relieved. "Okay I'll see you downstairs.."

Ending the call, the blonde shoves her phone in her jacket pocket and stands grabbing her duffel bag. Looking down at herself, she gives a small smile placing a hand on top of her stomach. "Let's go and tell daddy about his little surprise"

Scanning the room once more, Emma runs downstairs and out to door glad to finally be leaving the dreaded home behind.

"Hello? Excuse me?"

Emma blinks a couple of times with a frown looking towards a tall brunette standing by the table. Noticing that she had interrupted the girl's thoughts, the brunette gives a small smile and wave. "Hi..can I get you anything? A drink? Food?"

Emma sits herself up more gaining posture slightly embarrassed at being sloughed and out of it. "Hot chocolate please"

The brunette nods. "Coming right up!"

The blonde watches the waitress leave and return almost straight away. Emma smiles in thanks as the brunette observes her a moment. "Anything else?"

The blonde bites her lip. "Got any jobs going?"

The brunette raises an eyebrow curious. "I shall find out for you...?"

"Emma"

The waitress lets out a smile. "Emma..I'm Ruby"

Emma smiles back. 'I think I have found a place I could call home, I am not leaving Henry again'