So If I were to write the story for the gif set from helenastacie2, this is how it's going to be...

Disclaimer: I do not own OUat and all it's characters.

This is an AU story and there will be no magic. I am not used to writing angst, so if there is any in this story...

Regina Mills is a divorcee whose husband had moved on and now with a new family. A new wife… a son - the one which she cannot provide - and living in the same town as her estranged husband hurts. With encouragement from her parents, Cora and Henry Mills, she went on a vacation, leaving her work as an English professor in a private college in their town and flew to a small town in Maine: Storybrooke. Here Regina decided to rent a room with a family instead of getting into the one and only hotel – The Bread and Breakfast, and by cosmic fate, she rented the extra room of the Swan Family.

Emma Swan is a thirty year old, Autistic woman who had been struggling to find her place. She had a loving and supportive son and parents, and though she and her sister Ruby had had disagreements, the younger Swan had always got her sister's back. Despite these, in her simple mind, she knew something is missing. Even an imperfect, ugly duckling can be a swan and hopes for a happy ending.

A Beautiful Swan

[Uno]

Regina Mills look around the train station, it's been more minutes than she expected since she stepped off the coach and was not happy that it seems she's the only one left, waiting for whoever it was that's going to fetch her and bring her to the house where she's renting a room as a transient.

It has been eight months since her divorce was granted with her now ex-husband Daniel Caruso. Four months after the dissolution of their marriage, Daniel had announced to the paper his wedding to Carmona Sevilla who was then two months pregnant. She thought, at least he was not having an affair during their time together, or maybe he was being careful until their separation. That hurts, she did loved Daniel with all her heart and for him to just callously show to the world how he's going to get the happy ending he always wanted… a wife and a son or a daughter, whatever. No apology letter could wash the pain in her heart, so her good parents had the brightest idea… leave town.

That's how she find herself in this small town of Storybrooke, a quaint little town in Maine. The weather here is not as well as in San Diego, weather is more cold than hot, but what attracts her was that its a small town, quiet and no one knows her. There is only one hotel but renting a transient room seemed more exciting than usual. She remember her father and mother having a discussion about which is better; hotel room accommodation or transient room renting. Her father of course won the debate, it will probably be refreshing for her to live with a family and mingle with them in an unknown place.

"So long as the family doesn't like watching the Psycho movie," Her mother said huffing. Cora Mills being a woman of class has her own brand of crazy. She is a movie addict, and she's one who actually gets affected by them easily which her father found adorable. Henry Mills on the other hand is an 'haciendero', the youngest in a family with seven children and had been a mama's boy (him being the only boy). His siblings had agreed early on that once they get older, her father will inherit the villa they were living as his sisters will have to live with what their husbands provide them with.

All her musing was cut short when a panting boy stopped in front of her. He bent over his knee, a cardboard that should have been flat but now crumpled and seemed to be flattened by dirty hands is down on the ground and she could read her last name written on it in black, permanent ink. The boy's clothes were dirty, looks like he had been rolling on the ground. When he looked up, Regina can't help it but to kneel before the boy whose lips were bleeding.

"Are you…" he panted, "Mrs. Mills?" he continued. Regina's heart swelled when the boy grinned at her, his dark eyes that was like hers twinkled, so she nodded her head. "Thank God!" he said in relief.

"Are you alright?" she asked as she rummaged her bag to look for a tissue, finding none, she took out her clean handkerchief and start dabbing at the boy's lips.

"Hi," he said while the woman before him cleans his wounded lips, "I'm sorry, I'm late because I run into some kids, and…" his eyes widened, "Oh I'm sorry I'm being rude!" he said stepping back and taking the hand of the woman not holding the handkerchief, "My grandma said it is polite to introduce myself, I am Henry…"

Regina's smile widened, "Oh my lord, your name is Henry too?"

Henry frowned, "Why? Is your name Henry too?"

Now the woman's smile became a full blown laugh, "No, no of course not, My name is Regina and if I am not mistaken, your placard was meant to find me."

He nodded, "I'm not supposed to be happy that I came late because that's bad attitude, my ma says, she doesn't get late at work!" he said looking proud, "But right now I am glad I came late,"

"And why is that?"

"Well," he grinned wider, "I don't have to look for you, you're the only one left so there's no need for me to shout every time!" Once again Regina laughed. "I'll help you carry your bags Mrs. Mills,"

"Mrs. Mills is my mother," she said smiling, "You can just call me Regina instead."

"That really sounds better on you than Henry!" he said loudly. It seemed the boy has so much energy.

"True," then she looked at her bags, "Are you sure you can…"

The boy flexed his arms, "I'm strong! My grandpa said so!"

"I don't doubt that, and handsome too huh?" She watched the boy nod with a proud grin once again.

"Leroy is just at the end of the platform, I'm sure I can push your bags until there." He said and went behind the cart that has Regina's belongings.

"I think I can…"

"No way! I'm suppose to be… rival… I forgot, my grandma told me that before!" he harrumped for a few seconds and smiled again, "I can push this promise!" Regina relented and let the boy do it, walking very close to the cart just in case.

Alas they arrived at the end of the platform where a small man, bearded face and round, beer belly approached them. Gruffly he said, "Is this your mark Henry boy?" to which Regina frowned.

"Don't mind him Regina, he's got bad mouth, grandpa says so but he is a good guy." he then eyed the man, "Come on Leroy, load Mrs Mills… I mean Miss Mills…" he looked up and eye the classy looking lady, "Is that right?"

"Yes Henry," she said ruffling the boy's dirty hair and then her eyes followed the man carrying her luggage at the back of a police cruiser. "I just hope I'm not being dragged to jail,"

Henry laughed, "Oh no, my grandpa is the sheriff, and we don't really have a private car so grandma borrowed this from him, grandma's paying for the gas!" he said. "She's a bit busy today, she's is supposed to get you but one of our cow is giving birth, so she needs to be there to see to it!"

Regina nodded her head, and then Leroy was done and the two rode the cruiser, both sitting at the back.

"I hope it's okay if I sit here too."Henry said looking at his dirty clothes, "I can't sit in front because I'm still young… and I might get your dress dirty -"

"I like for you to sit here beside me Henry. It's like I'm sitting beside a younger version of my dad." she said, and then there was silence. "My dad is named Henry too," she said smiling as she imagine his father sitting by his side. Imagining what he'd say if he meet this boy with the same name as his. She looked down at the boy who had a frown on his face, "What is it?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "Nothing," and Regina didn't push.

-0-

It was a short drive from the train station to the Swan household. Regina observed the medium sized house that looks cozy enough. There was a small garden in front, a four step stairs leads to a wide porch. At the right of the front door was a large swinging bench, hanging via large rope. Leroy had put all her luggage on the porch, as Henry opened the door and led her in. Once inside she was met by a woman with raven, pixie cut hair. She was wearing a worn out dress and a bloodied apron in front.

"I'm sorry" The woman started, "I don't usually look like this, we have a mommy cow giving birth…"

"I understand, Henry did say…"

"Oh my lord, where did my manner go? I'm Mary Margaret," she looked at her hands and then at the pristinely dressed woman before her, "I would shake your hands but I'm afraid…"

"It is quite alright," Regina said smiling,

"Grandma I'm taking Regina's bags to her room."

The taller brunette looked surprise, "Oh you're not Henry's mother? I'm so sorry, I thought…"

"I'm actually taking that as a compliment," Mary Margaret said smiling, her dimples showing. "Henry's mother is my oldest, Emma, she's currently at work."

Regina nodded her head and then her eyes followed Henry who one by one pulled her luggage towards a large room at the back. "He is a very nice boy,"

The other woman nodded her head, "I'm glad he really grows up like he is, knowing he really has no one to work on with." she said, this time with a bit of embarrassed flush on her face. "Anyway, treat this house as yours, you can use anything in the common places you like. The room we arrange for you has its own bathroom, a half bath but I think it's better than sharing the common bath." she said pointing on a door near the kitchen.

Regina nodded her head, she knew when she found the advertisement on the web what she's getting at. Perhaps a change of lifestyle is what she needs to forget. The Swan seems nice, she doesn't think she have to worry about psychos trying to kill her. She'll inform her mother later when she's all set.

"Your room has a small veranda, we put a small coffee table there in cases you wanted to dine alone." she explained as she walked pass the taller woman and took the bigger luggage and pull it towards the room. Regina followed, her handbag carried in her arm. "This is your room,"

Regina stood at the doorway and inspected the room she'll be occupying for the next three months of her life. She decided to rent for the said time and will decide later on if she wanted to extend her stay at Storybrooke or not. The room absolutely doesn't have a hotel feel, but she can smell the freshness of the blankets, pillow cases, it feels like 'home'. The sliding door that leads to the small veranda was open,a white curtain billows as the wind swept in. Unlike the busy street of their town where you can smell carbon monoxide miles away from her townhouse, here, the wind feels fresh. She put her handbag on top of the bed and walked out to the veranda and smiled to see patches of yellow, white and pink colored roses. The rose garden was not fenced and it seemed it was well taken cared of.

"Every time Emma needs to release some steam, she comes here and tends to her roses." Regina looked at Mary Margaret who has this sad smile on her face and longing look in her eyes. "She planted all of this, she started with white, then one day, she comes to us all excited because she found yellow colored ones… and then there were the pink ones."

"She must be a very special woman for her to make this." She smiled, "It's not easy to take care of roses."

Here she found the older woman's smile to widen, "Indeed, she is a special one." she replied before she turned stepping to leave the room, "We'll be serving dinner at seven, you are most welcome to join us. I'll leave you now to rest." Mary Margaret nod at her before she finally disappeared. Regina on the other hand decided to watch the garden a little bit longer.

-0-

When Regina went out of her room to join the Swan's for dinner, she was greeted by a happy Henry. He was wearing a striped red and blue button up, long sleeve shirt, a khaki six pocket short that falls below his knees, no socks and a worn brown shoes. "You look very handsome," she said ruffling the boy's wayward hair.

"Really? My ma and grandpa always says I am but they are family so I can't really put my trust in them right?" he said grinning from ear to ear.

Regina laughed, "Your grandma doesn't think you are handsome?" she asked teasing,

"Oh it's a given. Grandma's always see their grandsons as handsome, no matter what!" The brunette thought Henry is such a lovely, little human being. That puts a little dampener in her mood, thinking that she wanted a 'Henry' in her life, but that fate was cruel to her for making her unable.

Henry and Regina's conversation was interrupted by the sound of a glass plate breaking on the floor. When the two looked to where the sound came, Regina saw a beautiful, blonde woman looking at her with wide mouth. She was wearing a black cardigan coat over a blue dress, her hand were still in a position of holding a plate… the plate that must have fallen and now broken.

"Oh sweetheart don't move!" Mary Margaret said as she hurriedly come to the woman's side and kneel down to clean the broken glass.

"Ma!" Henry run to her 'mother's side as well and held her hand, "Are you alright?"

The sound of Henry's voice actually caught the woman's attention, she looked down at the boy and her eyes seemed to start tearing up, "I...I'm sorry Henry…" and then her mouth turned and she started crying.

"Is she okay?" Regina got worried that the woman must have gotten hurt, some glass might have injured her for her to cry. She was about to step close when the woman flinched and hid behind Henry. She raised both hands in the air in surrender, "Okay, I'm just… are you injured?"

Henry smiled, "Oh, Ma is okay, she's just not use to having strangers around. We were so busy preparing we weren't able to inform her of your arrival!" he said and then looked back and up to his mother's face, "She's cool Ma. She's nice too so it's gonna be okay!"

Regina watched the blonde woman nod her head.

"Regina, meet my Ma, her name is Emma and she works at the diner! She makes great coffee!" he exclaimed proudly.

"Well that's good, I love coffee."

Emma's eyes suddenly brightened, "Really?" and then her head returned to bowing down.

The scene was halted when Mary Margaret stepped into the dining area with a tall man. "Good thing I made a lot of mashed potatoes!" the pixie haired woman cheerfully said and then turned to Regina, "Oh meet my eldest daughter Emma," she said placing a hand on her daughter's who were on Henry's shoulders. "And this man here," she said patting the man's abdomen, "Is my husband."

He smiled dashingly at their guest. There were few white streaks on his hair but all in all, he looks younger. He reached out his hand to Regina and charmingly said, "Sheriff David Swan at your service," and then he bowed.

"Charming!" Mary Margaret teased her husband and then they all sat. At the head of the table was David. At his right was Mary Margaret, Emma to his left, and Henry to Emma's side. She was seated beside Mary Margaret.

"I thought you said she is the eldest, does that mean…"

"Aunt Ruby lives on her own, she has a small apartment near the hotel where she works!" Henry blabber. David said a short prayer before they all dig in. While eating, Regina noticed the covert look the blonde woman, Emma, was giving her and it starts to feel uncomfortable for her. Good thing that it wasn't only her who's noticing this.

"Emma," Mary Margaret called out getting the attention of the others. The blonde woman didn't answer instead she continued her intermittent eyeing of the woman opposite Henry. "Emma sweetheart," Mary Margaret said again, "What did I told you about staring?" When the blonde still didn't respond and continued what she's doing, Mary Margaret raised her voice, "Emma stop that!"

Here Emma stopped and looked at her mother, Henry put a hand over her mother's, the one beside him and David stopped, spoon halfway to his mouth.

The blonde woman once again looked like she's crying, "I don't mean any harm." she said almost a whisper as she returned to bowing, "She's just so beautiful." she said and there was a red tint to her face.

"Mary Margaret it's okay…"

"That's rude Emma, you're making our guest uncomfortable."

"Regina, Ma is sorry…" Henry said defending his mother.

"It's o…"

"It's not okay!" The pixie haired woman continued, and before she can continue her rant, the blonde woman suddenly stood and run off.

"Ma!" Henry called out, frowning and then he glared at his grandmother, "She doesn't mean it!" he screamed and bolted after his mother.

The dining area was suddenly quiet.

"I'm sorry Regina, your first night here and…"

"I hope she is okay?" She said, not having the energy to get angry or be irate at the turn of event. She just wanted peace, a nice meal with a seemingly nice family.

"She will be," David said this time, "We are sorry actually," he then looked at his wife, "We thought it's going to be okay to get a transient even with Emma here. She… you see, our Emma…"

"She was diagnosed with Autism when she was a child, we thought it would be wise not to put that as a warning over the net…"

She was silent, she has no idea if she'll blow a gasket over something 'big' as this. She's paid for a room and is going to live with an unstable woman on the same roof!

"We are sorry Regina, we could reimburse your money so you can get a room at the bread and breakfast until we could find you another transient room.

Regina just close her eyes…

TBC