Author's note: So, I'm kind of new to the whole writing a fanfiction thing, but I decided to do it anyways. I've had so many ideas running through my head, but until now I haven't been able to put them together. Please give it a chance, and I promise that it will get better as it goes on. If you like it, great, leave me a comment or a review telling me what to do better. If you don't like it, that's fine, nobody's perfect. But, anyways, here's the story!

I was sitting on the edge of the dock, listening to the seagulls cry and the waves crash up against the railings. The wind was whipping around me, trying to pull my ice white hair out of its tight bun that I'd had it in for god knows how many years. I was almost always here, ever since the curse broke and I remembered just who I was back in the enchanted forest. It was the only place I could come to in all of Storybrooke and feel at peace with myself. Anywhere else I had to wear my emotionless mask to hide the truth. No one knew who I really was, and I wanted to keep it that way. But it was fine, I dealt with it everyday, I was used to it.

I didn't have many friends, or, any at all really. The only kid I ever really talked too much was Henry. We had always been close, mostly because of our combined fascination with his storybook. Also because of the fact that he was the only one in this town who knew who I was back home. Although, with any luck, he will never know just how bad the things I used to do back in the Enchanted Forest were. I remember that first day I had met the little guy like it was yesterday. Back in the good old days when it was just the two of us against the world.

I was headed to a secluded corner of the library, as usual, because I didn't want to go back to my lonely apartment just yet. I was just turning the corner around one of the shelves when I crashed into a body, effectively spilling both of our papers and books everywhere. I bent down to start picking up the book that I had dropped.

"Oh gosh," I heard a boys voice say, "I'm so sorry I wasn't looking where I was going!"

"It's fine," I replied hastily, not wanting to socialize with anyone. "It wasn't your fault. I was in a hurry and wasn't paying attention."

I finally looked up at the victim of my accidental crash and realized that it was the mayors son. What was his name again? Oh right, Henry.

"Oh hey, it's...Henry, right?" I looked down at the book he clutched in his hands, noticing from the cover that it was a fairytale book. I loved fiction like that. "What book is that?"

He looked startled that I had actually decided to talk to him. "Hey," he commented, "You're that one girl who works at the community ed center aren't you? You never talk to anyone."

I huffed indignantly. "Well, maybe that's because I don't like anyone here."

Henry laughed. I was startled. I haven't really talked to anyone in such a long time, let alone made someone laugh like that.

Well, I know how you feel. The other kids don't really talk to me much either. Probably because of my mom."

I felt a pang of sympathy for the kid. I don't know why, but my whole life I've just had this feeling that I should stay away from other people, so that's what I've done. But Henry? He's such a likeable kid. All the adults in Storybrooke love him. Why wouldn't he have a ton of friends? But I could see from the look in his eyes that he was telling the truth, so I decided to go out of my comfort zone and asked him if he wanted to come sit with me in my usual corner. He agreed, and eventually he started showing me his unusual book. It was filled with detailed pictures, and amazing stories of adventures like Snow White, and Prince Charming. I listened to his theories of how the people in town were related directly to the characters in his book. We spent so much time in there, I hadn't realized how late it was until the librarian came over and told us it was closing time. As we both left the library, Henry stopped on the sidewalk and turned to me, his little boyish face looking up at me earnestly. "I never got your name!" He said.

I thought about it, realizing he was right. "Whoops, sorry little dude. My name is Aralynn."

He thought about it for a second. "Well, I'm going to call you Ari," he stated confidently. I laughed, ruffling his hair before I replied.

"You know, I've never had someone give me a nickname before. I like it."

From that day forward, I spent as much time with him as possible. As time went on, I began looking up to the kid, even though he was only 10 and I was 17. He just had so much happiness, and hope, it was hard to not look forward to our time together. Eventually, I met his mom, Regina. Apparently she approved of me, because she immediately hired me as Henry's official babysitter, so I was able to quit my old job and move out of my lonely apartment into their welcoming home.

The years went by, and Henry and I grew inseparable. We told each other everything, and we even made up nicknames and signs for anything and everything, that only we knew. But, maybe that's because of how we were pretty much ignored by the rest of the younger kids in Storybrooke. But we didn't care, we were perfectly content with going to the park and playing pretend swords and hide and seek with each other. Sometimes, Belle or Ruby would join us. Or even Neal, when he came to town.

I sighed in content of the memories flying through my head. Even when Emma came, I was still Henry's number one confidant. Sure, he started spending a little more time with her everyday, but I was fine with it. I really liked Emma, and she treated me like family as well.

I was broken out of my thoughts when I heard a struggle down the boardwalk. I hopped to my feet and peered around the railing to see those two jerks who tried to destroy Storybrooke dragging a tied up Henry towards the open waters. That made me pissed off, seeing as he was my best friend and two idiots were throwing him around like meat in a butcher shop. Hearing shouting, I looked farther behind them to see Emma, Snow, Regina, and Charming running quickly towards us. I looked at Emma and saw that she was yelling and waving her arms in the air, at what I didn't know.

Seeing a flash of green out of the corner of my eye, I turned to see Greg and Tamara shoving Henry into a portal. I quickly glanced back to see that Emma would be to far away to reach them in time. She looked at me, and I could see the desperation in them as she realized what I had, just moments before. I made my decision, sighing at the fact that I would once again be portal jumping. I hadn't done it in years, but I still hated it. But it didn't matter, because I loved Henry (as a little brother, of course) and I would never let him get hurt, no matter the cost for me.

Giving Emma a thumbs up to show her what I was going to do, I turned to the sea, closed my eyes, and jumped.

So, before you say anything, I know it sucks and it's boring. But I had to put that in there so that you could see how she met Henry, and how much he means to her. Also, it kinda gives a glimpse into who she is. But, I'll try to add in more of her past as the story goes on. For now, this is it. Please leave a review or something so I can know whether to continue the story or not. (Not to sound desperate or anything. I hate desperation lol) Thanks for reading!