Author's Note: This is just a little AU that popped into my head while reading this show. Right now its a one shot, but if I get the inspiration I might continue on.

It had been another long night of work and I was glad to finally be home. As I stepped through the doorway I slipped off my heels glad to finally be out of them. I quietly walked farther into the apartment, I was unsure of what the scene would be when I entered the living room.

"How was he?" I asked Sally, the latest in teenage babysitters I had hired.

"Perfect as usual. He did finish all of his homework after school and we ordered in pizza for dinner. He tried to stay up as late as possible, but I forced him into bed about an hour ago."

"Glad to hear it, thank you so much." I reached into my purse and pulled out the cash that I had laid aside for Sally.

I walked her to the front door and was saying my final goodbyes when Sally turned to me one last time.

"There is a note in his homework folder from his teacher, I didn't get a chance to read it so I am not sure what it is about."

"Thanks for letting me know." I tried hard not to sigh, I knew what that note was about.

We said our final goodbyes and I watched as Sally got onto the elevator before closing the door and locking it. I quickly headed off towards his bedrooms and quietly pushed the door open. The light in the hall was enough to illuminate my sleeping son. He looked so perfect and peaceful as he slept, not at all troubled like I knew he really was.

I didn't have the heart to wake him, but I knew I would hear about it in the morning if I didn't. So I quietly walked into the room and straight towards the bed.

"Henry." I whispered into his hear and gently rubbed his back. All I got in response was a moan. "Come on Henry wake up."

Slowly my son opened his eyes and blearily looked at me.

"Mom?" He asked blinking rapidly as he fought to stay awake and focused.

"Hey kid, sorry I got home so late."

"It's okay. I tried really hard to stay up, but Sally made me go to bed."

"And she was right to do so, it's a school night and you need your sleep. But if you aren't too tired I have a cupcake waiting for us."

"I'm not tired." I laughed as he sprung out of bed and headed straight towards the kitchen. How I wished I had that much energy and excitement.

I followed closely behind him and watched as he carefully pulled out the single cupcake and placed it on the counter. Next he headed for the drawer and pulled out the candles and matches. He finally completed the tradition by sticking one blue star candle into the cupcake and handing me the matches with a big smile on his face. I smiled back at him as I accepted his offer. I knew he probably could light the single candle himself, but it was always better to be safe then sorry.

"Make a wish mom." Henry reminded me.

I smiled at how cute he was. I thought hard about my wish. There really wasn't anything I wanted. I had a good paying job that I enjoyed, a nice apartment, and a wonderful son. What else could a girl raised in the foster system want?

I looked at my son again for inspiration. He was my world and there wasn't anything I wouldn't do for him. All I wanted was for him to be happy and to ease whatever was going on inside his mind. And there was my wish, for my son to find the answers he was looking for,

I closed my eyes and said my wish one more time before blowing out the candle. I opened them to see my son clapping with an even bigger smile on his face.

"Happy Birthday mom!" Henry cheered and threw his arms around me.

"Thanks kid." I pulled him in even closer and gave him a kiss on the head.

"So what did you wish for?" he gave me his best mischievous grin, which often meant trouble.

"I can't tell you or else it won't come true." I reminded him and playfully poked at his sides until he erupted into a fit of giggles.

Once Henry calmed down I carefully split the cupcake in half. It was the perfect way to end a crummy evening.

"Anything interesting happen today?" I asked.

"Not really, school was boring as usual. Though I am getting to a good part in my book. Maybe you can read it to me tonight." He asked hopefully.

I held back a sigh at the mention of the book. It was the route of all my son's problems. If he had never found it I wouldn't be getting those notes in Henry's homework folders and constant calls from his teacher.

"Maybe." I said back trying to give him a stern look, though I knew it was a losing battle. I could never say no to my son.

"Can I at least sleep with you tonight?"

I pretended to let out an exasperated sigh. "Fine, but you have to brush your teeth first."

"But I already brushed them." Henry whined.

"Yes and you just ate a cupcake. Now go."

Henry let out a sigh, similar to the one I gave him a moment ago, and then stomped off towards the bathroom. It was scary sometimes how much he was like me. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing, and at least he wasn't anything like his father. I just needed to remember to be careful about my actions; I wanted him to stay the sweet boy that he was.

After I cleaned up the cupcake wrapper and box and I headed towards my bedroom. The first thing I saw when I stepped inside was that stupid book in the middle of my bed, there was no way I was getting out of story time tonight.

I got ready in my bathroom and when I came back out Henry was already under the covers with the book open to the correct page. I got into bed with him and pulled my son in close. Even though I didn't enjoy reading the book, I did love how close we were in these moments. I wasn't sure how many I would have left with him, so I made sure to take advantage of the ones I had now.

"So what are we reading about tonight?"

"Prince Charming and Snow White are about the go talk to Rumpelstiltskin."

I started to read the lasted adventure in fairy tale world getting lost in them just like my son. It was hard not to believe my son's tales, especially when I read that Snow White was going to name her daughter Emma. I would love to blame a curse on why my parents abandoned me on the side of the road. According the therapists, though, I was not allowed to think like that if I wanted to help my son.

I was about to start the next section when I looked over and saw Henry fast asleep on my shoulder. I closed the book and placed in on my nightstand. Once again I took a moment to watch my son sleep as I gently ran my fingers through his hair. As old as he tried to act he was still a ten-year-old boy. All I wanted was from him not to have to grow up as fast as I had to, but it seemed like his school had other ideas.

I knew I wouldn't get to sleep until I read the latest note from Henry's teacher. I gave him a final kiss on the head and carefully pulled my arm out from under his head and placed it down onto of a pillow. I turned out the bedside lamp and walked back into the kitchen.

I pulled out Henry's homework folder from his backpack and saw the note that Sally had told me about earlier. With a sigh I tore it open and read the latest on my son's condition.

I didn't see what the big deal was. The kid had a large overactive imagination and was probably bored in class because school was too easy for him. The teachers and countless therapists said differently though, that what he was dreaming was not age appropriate for him and the sooner we got him back to reality the better.

I hated having to squash my son's dreams even if they were a little too real for my taste. He would out grow it in time, and of course he would hopefully lose that stupid book. I'm not even sure how he got his hands on it. But one day he came home with it and the next he was spewing stories about how I was the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming. I tried to tell him that it wasn't true, but he just kept gathering up more evidence to argue his case.

I glanced over the note, really it was just more of the same about Henry's "obsession" with this cured fairytale world and how I was the savior and we had to go and find it. I threw it away without a second glance.

I knew it was best not to argue with the teacher, I had learned that lesson the hard way, and headed over to the computer to find Henry a new therapist. I had lost track of how many we had gone through in a little over a year and I felt terrible putting the kid through this, but I knew if I wanted my son to be happy and to have his teachers off of my back I had no choice.

I hadn't been searching long when a new therapist's website popped up, Archie Hopper. I carefully screened the site and paid close attention to his credentials. At this point in the process I knew really well what would and wouldn't work for my son.

This Dr. Hopper seemed like a reputable man and might actually be able to help Henry. The only drawback was his location, Storybrooke, Maine. I was desperate though and was willing to do anything for my kid. Moving wasn't a big deal to us either, I knew we weren't going to stay in Boston for too much longer anyway.

I printed out the directions to the town and headed to Henry's room to start packing. I wanted to get a jump-start with this new therapist and see what he was all about. I would call the school in the morning and let them knew Henry was taking a sick day. School had never mattered much to me anyway and it wouldn't hurt the kid to miss a day or two.

Once I had Henry's bag packed I quietly entered my bedroom to grab my stuff.

"Mom, what are you doing?" I heard Henry mumble from behind me.

"Packing, you and I are going on a trip." I answered

"Really? Where?" That seemed to wake him up, which was a good thing since he was too big for me to carry him to the car.

"Pack your backpack and put on your jacket and shoes. I'll explain everything in the car."

Henry quickly jumped out of bed and followed my instructions. I chuckled to myself at my son's enthusiasm, he was always so eager for something new and would do anything I asked him to with little or no explanation. I wouldn't tell him the reason for the impromptu trip, not until the morning anyway. I didn't want to ruin his happiness and I didn't want to be sitting in a car for four hours with him mad at me.

Once I was all packed up I headed out into the kitchen to see Henry sitting at the counter with his backpack slung over his shoulder and that stupid book in his arms.

"Alright kid lets go." I said as I tossed him the keys to my car.

Henry jumped off of the chair and headed straight out the door. I picked up our two duffle bags and followed behind him.

When I got to my car Henry was already bouncing in the passenger seat. At least he had opened the trunk for me before he got in. I threw the bags inside, but before I closed it I pulled out my baby blanket.

I slide into the driver's seat and laid the blanket over my son's lap. Hopefully he would pass out quickly and sleep for the rest of the ride. The last thing I needed was a cranky ten year old meeting the new therapist. I wanted this to go as smoothly as possible, and I knew how important first impressions were.

"So where are we going?" Henry asked as he ran his fingers over the fabric of the blanket.

"Storybrooke, Maine." I answered

"Well then, Storybrooke here we come."

I glanced quickly at my son before saying, "Here we come." Then I turned on the car and we were off.