Finding Her Way Home
By: Lord-of-Dragons2007
A/N: I do not own the characters, concepts, and so on. This is an AU where Emma grew up in the storybrooke orphanage, free from the curse and where David wasn't in a coma and wasn't married to Abigail or whatever her name was.
Twelve year old Emma Swan never had it easy, ever since she was born she had to endure one heartache after another, one failure after another, one heartbreaking disappointment after another. After so much pain she just started to shut down, she no longer hoped for anything good no matter what happened, she always seemed to just go back to a group home after a few days because she was too broken to fix. Though the nuns at the Storybrooke orphanage never gave up hope on her, they told her hang in there, that one day her prince charming would come in and take her away to her castle. Though they didn't realize how ironic it was to say that to her, the town was under an evil curse, no one aged and nothing or anyone changed for over a decade. Everyone was miserable and very unlike who they normally were in the enchanted forest where everyone here, including Emma was from. She had escaped the curse that had affected everyone in town in the respect that she wasn't changed or made miserable because of magic, and she didn't escape in the sense that as a baby when she was sent though the wardrobe to escape the curse she appeared just outside of Storybrooke where she was quickly found and put in the foster care system that she had been in ever since she was born.
When she asked the nuns about where she came from and why she was there they told her the painful and heartbreaking truth that they wound her abandoned on the side of the road, ever since she had thought herself unwanted by anyone. The way people treated her and tossed her aside she felt like she never belonged anywhere, that she was too broken to fix right out of the gate, that her parents didn't want her. It was a hard reality that she faced every morning when she woke up from a dream that haunted her every night, it wasn't a nightmare, and it was actually a very pleasant dream though it felt like a nightmare in the morning. Emma often dreamt of having a family, of having a mother and father and they loved her very much with all of their hearts, and she was happy, then first thing in the morning when she woke up it was like a cold slap of reality as she realized it was just a dream.
Sometimes she would wake up in the middle of the night and just cry, much to the annoyance to some of the nuns and the other children in home as she tended to wake the kids on accident and the nuns as she desperately looked for some resemblance of love in her little life. Though usually the nuns just calmed her down enough to sleep, but didn't love her at all; made it easier when they left or fell off the system.
About the person in her life that was even remotely close to a mother figure was her teacher Mary-Margret, she was soft and caring and especially patient with her. Emma tended to slack in class or lash out, and instead of sending her away like the other teachers did Mary-Margret would take her aside and try to understand her and where she was coming and then worked to try and get her to either get back on task or calm her down. Emma really liked Mary-Margret and wondered what she would do when she had to move on to the next grade and go without her, it scared her when she thought about it but she tried not to and just enjoyed what little time she had with her favorite teacher.
Mary-Margret had always been a bit of a meek woman in the sense that she wasn't very assertive and was always seeking someone's approval for anything and everything, but when it came to Emma she was very protective of the little girl and cared about her more than she had about any other student she had ever thought. Even though she never communicated anything to her she often worried about Emma and wished she could help the girl beyond just in class and school, though she knew there was one thing she could do. She had enough space in her loft apartment for her, she made some extra money so she could support her and Emma together. Of course she would have to dial back her hours volunteering at the hospital so she could spend some time with Emma and her semi-nonexistent social life would have to take a bit of a hit but it would completely worth it if she could turn this little girl's life around and show her that she isn't broken that someone could love her for exactly who she was.
It had taken Mary-Margret a few months to go through whatever classes and paperwork in order to qualify as a competent parent for the orphanage that Emma was at. She had also taken to cleaning out a room and setting it up for her, she figured she would just leave it a little bear and they could decorate it together. It would be a good opportunity to bond together, as she moved closer and closer to finally being able to surprise Emma she grew more and more excited about it. Today was finally the day, she was just a ball of energy all day long and it was very noticeable, it was hard for her to keep it from Emma at school. Finally when four o'clock came around she rushed herself to the orphanage and was greeted warmly by the nuns, she was sitting in the main lobby filling out the last of the paperwork when Emma came in and saw her,
"Miss Blanchard, what are you doing here?" Emma asked her curiously, confused to see her teacher here,
"Well…I…Am here…For you." Mary Margret said as she accentuated the last couple of words with dot on the clipboard and paper and stood up excitedly,
"..Me? Did I do something wrong?" Emma said nervously as he watched the woman, Mary Margret had handed the clipboard and paper to Mother Superior who was the head nun who ran the orphanage,
"Thank you Mary Margret, and bless you." Mother Superior said as she took the last of the paperwork,
"Emma did you want to come with me and get your stuff?" The nun asked the girl curiously which left a semi-confused look on her face, she looked over at Mary Margret and she looked like she was ready to burst with happiness,
"I'm adopting you!" Mary Margret nearly shouted out excitedly, Emma' face lit up with excitement, unable to contain herself she flung herself against Mary Margret and embraced her in a tight loving hug. Mary Margret was surprised at first but then quickly melted into the little girl's embrace, after a moment or two of excitement and happiness Mary Margret pulled away,
"Go get your stuff kiddo." Mary Margret said gently with a wide beaming smile as she gently nudged Emma to follow Mother Superior to her room and get her things,
"Ok." Emma said excitedly in almost a whisper, she turned and went with the nun to get her things. Mary-Margret watched her daughter go to get her stuff and she could almost feel herself glow, she always wanted kids, albeit this wasn't the way she wanted to go about it but that didn't matter, she loved Emma as if she was her own anyway.
After a few moments she saw Emma come back with a sizeable back with her stuff, and she frowned on the inside. She couldn't believe that she only had so little that it could fit inside one bag that size, she was going to make sure to change that, she smiled and stood up again from where was sitting,
"Ready to go sweetie?" Mary Margret asked Emma gently,
"Yeah." Emma responded with an adorable megawatt smile of her own, as they walked to Mary Margret's car to put Emma bag in, Mary Margret took Emma's free hand in hers and held her hand like any parent would do for their child. Emma tensed up for a moment before relaxing into her touch, she wasn't use to such an act, wasn't use to being loved and cared for like this. If Mary Margret had not known what all was involved with Emma she would have thought that what she did was wrong, but she knew a lot about Emma and knew that she was ok with the action just she needed to get used to it. It was going to take time for her to get used to being cared for and loved, but Mary Margret was patient.
Once Emma's bag was in the car and they were in and on the road back to Mary Margret's loft apartment Emma needed to speak up,
"I'm grateful you adopted me, I am –"She started but was interrupted,
"You want to know why you, why now." Mary Margret finished for her assuming that's what she was going to ask as she glanced over at her for a second before returning her attention to the road,
"Yeah." Emma agreed timidly,
"Emma, I care about all of my students, but Ive never connected with anyone as much as I have with you. I just always thought of you as a daughter, I worry what will happen at thend of the school year when you move on to another teacher that wont take the time to get to know you and write you as a problem child and not give you the attention that you need." Mary Margret answered,
"And that's why I adopted you, because I care about you too much to let something bad happen to you. I want you in my life Emma." Mary Margret added after a second, Emma was a little taken back by her words. It wasn't just her she also felt like and looked at Mary Margret like the mother figure she always wanted in her life, she was sweet on her but was always firm and guided her when she needed it. Now more than ever she needed that in her life. Emma felt her heart swell, it was such a foreign feeling for her. She had never felt so loved and wanted, she never felt so safe and happy before in her life, for once in her life things finally looked up for the young girl,
"Thank you." Emma squeaked out with a shaky voice as she fought hard not to cry, she wanted so badly to let out tears of happiness but she didn't want to start things out with Mary Margret this way, with crying and seeming like a cry baby. Sensing Emma's intense happiness and her hesitation, Mary Margret moved her hand over and put her hand on Emma's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze,
"Its ok." Mary Margret said gently moving closer to tears herself,
"There's some Kleenex in the glove box." Mary Margret said after a moment with a shaky voice herself, Emma didn't need another invite to the box of tissues in the glove box. She grabbed a couple for herself and for Mary Margret, Mary Margret started to park the car across the street from her apartment and took the tissues from Emma,
"Thank you." Mary Margret said as she took the tissues from Emma and started to rub her eyes, Emma did the same still holding back all of her emotions. After a few moments of contained crying Mary Margret spoke up,
"What do you say we get your stuff upstairs and we can really let the water works go." Mary Margret said with a soft chuckle in her voice, Emma smiled at her words,
"Ok." She replied nodding her head in agreement, both of them took a couple of deep breaths composing themselves before they exited the car. Mary Margret went over and grabbed Emma's bag for her,
"I got it." Emma said,
"I know sweetie, let me get it this time." She said obviously not going to take no for an answer, Emma just let her, when they were ready to head into the building Mary Margret grabbed Emma's hand to keep her close while they crossed the street. Even though She knew Emma was old enough to do so she still wanted to hold her hand and keep her close to keep her safe, Emma now was more use it and didn't tense up at holding Mary Margret's hand, she welcomed being looked after like this. Even though she was old enough she enjoyed it. Once they were across the street Emma could tell what building they were going to go into and she tugged away from Mary Margret and went up ahead and opened the door for her,
"Why thank you." Mary Margret said as she entered the building,
"Thank you." Emma said with a smile on her face, she felt very comfortable around Mary Margret, she didn't feel pressured in any way shape or form. Mary Margret let Emma up to the apartment and used her key to get inside, when Emma was inside she looked around at the apartment and marveled at how spacious it was compared to some of the group homes she lived in in the past and in the orphanage. This was the first time she had ever seen Mary Margret's apartment, she was impressed at how spacious it was and how well decorated it was,
"Let me show you to your room." Mary Margret said as she put her keys down on the counter and lead Emma to her room, it was in the back but still very close to Mary Margret's room. It was a simple room with not much in it, just a little table, a spacious bed, a bedside table with a lamp and that was about it, Mary Margret felt a little embarrassed that she didn't decorate it at all,
"Sorry if it's a little bare, I didn't know how you wanted to decorate it. I figure it would be a good bonding experience for us." Mary Margret said hopefully, Emma's eyes and face were full of light, she finally a place to herself, this was just about the best day ever. She turned around and gave Mary Margret an excited smile,
"I love it." Emma said excitedly before she wrapped her arms around Mary Margret, she did the same as well before pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head. To Emma it felt weird, alien to her but she didn't hate it, she loved the simple little motion. It made her feel loved and wanted, something she had wanted ever since she was very little and knew she didn't have a real mommy and daddy, now she had a mommy and it was amazing. Mary-Margret was so happy she had made this little girl so happy, she had seen some of Emma's bad days and saw how unhappy she was. After a few moments she pulled away from the embrace and looked at Emma with such a happy glow of a smile,
"What would you like for dinner?" Mary-Margret asked her, Emma thought hard for a moment or two. She was a little nervous, she wanted a grilled cheese sandwich but she wasn't sure if wanting that would make Mary-Margret unhappy, if she wanted her to have something else. Emma mentally shook her head and cleared the thoughts out of her head, she knew and trusted Mary-Margret. She wasn't like the other foster parents, she was special and caring and amazing,
"Can I have a grilled cheese sandwich?" She asked in a small shy voice, Mary-Margret smiled at her,
"Do you want tomato soup with it too or do you want potato chips with it instead?" Mary-Margret asked in a chipper tone, this surprised Emma a little bit but brought a smile to Emma's face,
"Soup Please." Emma responded with a chipper tone of her own,
"Ok, I'll get dinner going and you can get settled and come down when you're ready to eat." Mary-Margret said before turning to go to the kitchen. Emma spent a few minutes unpacking her bag and putting things in the closet and in the little dresser that was in her room, after that she sat on her bed and thought about her day and the way things were going now she couldn't help but smile. Everything was looking really really good, she was happy, she couldn't be happier, she had a home now, she had a mother now and everything was perfect or as perfect as things could go for her right now.
A/N: ok so I was feeling a little angsty and wanted some cute little emma and family feels so I did a thing lol I hope you guys like this, not sure yet if I'll continue on this or not. You guys let me know in the reviews and such =)