Just Let Me In
Regina Mills would never forgive herself. How could she? After what happened to Emma? To Henry? It was all her fault. She deserved the worst. She didn't deserve to live. But she survived the accident. Depressed, scared, and alone, Regina cannot imagine living in a world without the two people she loved most. That is until she meets Haley James, who changes her life in a big way.
Sorry! I got a full time job over the summer and have been busy balancing that and trying to apply to college for the spring semester. I've decided to rewrite this fic because I didn't like the way it was set up. But I want it to go in the same direction as my first attempt.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Once Upon A Time.
Chapter 1
Haley could have cared less to be honest. What was the point? She was 11 years old and had no expectations of being adopted. According to the rest of group home family, she was considered "to old". She sighed and turned to her side to look at the clock. 11:00 am. Wonderful, she thought. She curled up in the bottom of her bunk bed and was in the middle of reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone for the millionth time. She grumbled, closed her book, and trudged towards her closet to find something socially acceptable to wear.
It was a rainy Saturday morning. It was usually on this day that Haley would devote her time to read as much as she could before her "family" outings, which were on Sundays. However, this Saturday was different. According to her social worker, Ms. Katherine Nolan, she was to be up and ready to meet a potential parent at 11:30 sharp. She didn't give Haley a name. All Ms. Nolan had said was that surprises were always the best and that she had a "good feeling about this one". Haley hated surprises and at this point hated life. But what else was she to do? Haley grumbled some more. She grabbed a stained red baseball t-shirt, put on a pair of black worn out skinny jeans and slid into a white, muddy pair of converse high-top shoes. She headed out of her bedroom and made her way downstairs.
"Haley James!" Katherine looked at the child with disapproving eyes. "What in the world are you wearing? Did you even comb your hair? Look at yourself! Do you think this is appropriate for your guest?"
Haley mumbled as she grabbed a hair tie that was miraculously in the back pocket of her jeans. "Sorry, Kat." She pulled her hair up and made her way to the kitchen sink to wash her face quickly.
Katherine's eyes soften as she followed her. "Honey, if you want to be adopted, then you're going to have to give your very best first impression. It's sad to say but in this world, image is everything. And now that you're eleven...Well…you still have a chance but you have to be your very best…"
Still have a chance. Whatever. There's no hope, Haley thought. I swear Katherine if you give me a hope speech…
"Haley, what will the mayor think?"
Haley was confused. "What about the mayor? It's not like she's coming to visit."
Katherine shook her head and chuckled. "No, you're right. The mayor of Boston isn't coming. But the woman who wants to meet you is actually a mayor. You can't just meet her looking like you've been out running around with the local football team."
Haley looked down at her worn out t-shirt that read "Boston Red Sox". She frowned. "This is baseball."
Katherine sighed and smiled. "You have two minutes to go upstairs and change. The mayor doesn't like to be kept waiting."
"Aghhh!" Crash!
The two looked at each other and ran towards the sound in the kitchen. There, they found the kitchen door wide open and a boy who had fallen down in front of the fridge.
"Oh, August!" Katherine ran toward the eight-year old boy. He was covered in dirt from head to toe. She gently helped him onto his feet. "What happened?"
"I was trying to get a soda because I was thirsty," August mumbled. "And I fell."
"Where are your shoes?" Katherine tried not to laugh as she followed the trail of mud and dirt that was all over the kitchen that somehow made its way on the refrigerator door.
"Somewhere outside." August looked down.
Haley rolled her eyes and grabbed the soda. "Here, kid." She closed the kitchen door and grabbed a mop.
"Thanks, Haley." Katherine shook her head at August. "Enough playing outside. Both of you should go change." She grabbed the mop from Haley and pointed upstairs. It was already 11:30. "Go before she gets here."
"Maybe she's late...Hey, kid! I'll race you upstairs," Haley yelled as she ran out of the kitchen.
"No way," August shrieked. "I'm gonna beat you!"
"No running," Katherine called out and turned her attention towards the mess on the floor. She sighed again and went after them to make sure that they were changing.
They never made it towards the stairs. All three of them froze at the sight of a woman standing in the living room. Her arms were folded across her chest as she slowly inspected the room she was in. She was wearing a black business suit with a grey silk blouse. The black heels she wore made her look fierce, but the expression on her face was soft. Her make-up was impeccable. She looked flawless, which made her seem unapproachable. She turned and smiled kindly towards the children. Then, her gaze fell on Haley. "I'm never late, dear," she said softly.
.