AU with some similarities. For example being set up for jail and having Henry. Although it is non magical and I have bumped Emma's age up to 21 to suit the story.

Chapter 1

Squinting her eyes through the pelting rain drops hitting the windscreen, Emma Swan sighs in frustration at the lack of sign posts as she drives down a somewhat quiet and abandoned road. Quickly glancing down towards the map situated on the passenger seat, the young blonde then glares at an upcoming sign, with bright, white lettering against its dark, green backdrop, displaying the words 'Welcome to Storybrooke'.

"Seriously?" Muttering under her breath in disbelief at the town's name, Emma rolls her eyes as she proceeds to drive into the oddly named place.

Driving down the main street of the small town, the tired woman keeps her eyes peeled as she scans along the quaint shops that appear in her view. An ice cream shop, a hardware store, a chemist, a pawnbrokers, library, a diner and-

Slamming down on her brakes, Emma blinks at the sign above the doorframe to a small building on the corner. 'Mills Psychiatry'. Shifting gears and indicating to slip into the nearest parking space, the blonde huffs loudly as the nerves begin to kick in. Why she had to do this was beyond her. So what if she was in care all her life? Or spent the last year in prison? She was not crazy so why did she need to see a shrink? Unfortunately, her social worker had other ideas. Yes she may be of legal age and no longer in need of a social worker but the notion of seeing a therapist had been set long before she went to jail and now having been to jail, it made it seem even more plausible so she was in no position to say no. Especially with what went on while she did her time.

Grimacing outside the window at the depressing weather, she zips up her leather jacket and climbs out of her brightly coloured bug. Locking the door and making a dash around the bonnet in an attempt to escape the rain, Emma pulls on the door to the dimly lit building and steps inside. Shivering slightly at the sudden change in temperature, warm air hitting her chilled bones, the young woman tugs at her jumper sleeves hanging below her jacket cuffs. Frowning at the lack of reception, she makes her way up to the large door at the end of the small corridor and knocks against the wood while reading the name of her soon to be therapist.

Flinching slightly at the door being pulled open rather hastily, Emma's eyes widen as she comes face to face with a frustrated looking brunette woman of the same height, although it was obvious to see that the heels that the woman wore contributed compared to the blondes flat sneakers. "..hi...I..I have an appointment..3pm..."

Dropping her scowl, the brunette smiles and holds her hand out. "Miss Swan I presume? Dr Mills..come in"

Accepting the hand shake, Emma simply nods at the question then steps inside awkwardly.

Closing the door behind the young woman, the doctor gestures towards the couch and makes her way over to her chair. "I must apologise for making you jump, I have had some trouble with one of the townspeople and well off the record as I would never encourage this as therapist, I was ready to snap and bite their head off"

Giving a small smile at the brunette's explanation and smirk, Emma lowers herself down onto the couch and clasps her hands together tightly within her lap. "It's okay..."

"Now..." Leaning back within her chair, crossing her legs, the brunette reaches for her note book and slips her glasses on. "Why don't we start with the basics? The first question I always ask all my patients. Why do you think that you are here?"

Letting out a subtle snigger, the young blonde takes a deep breath. "Because I was told to?"

"Why do you think that was?"

Shrugging slightly, Emma bites her lip as she avoids looking anywhere but the brunette. "Because I was in jail? I mean you know I was there right?"

Nodding in response, the doctor drops her pen upon the paper and looks intently at her patient. "We don't have to go into any of that right now. First I just want to know about you in general and what do you think of your life now"

"It's the same as it always has been minus the year inside. I grew up in the system with nothing, came out of jail with nothing.."

Furrowing her brow, the brunette lifts her pen again to write the young woman's responses down. "How does that make you feel?"

"Like I've achieved nothing..." Looking to her lap, Emma begins to fiddle with her fingers before muttering quietly. "I'm..disappointed..in myself.."

"Why do you feel that? Surely the way I see it is, yes you did go to jail and yes you may have come out with the exact same thing you went in with but you're willing to make a change otherwise you wouldn't be here. You wouldn't have listened to those who told you, you needed to come here"

"I had a plan.." Sighing, the young woman lifts her head to meet her shrinks eyes. "Before jail. I was fed up of how my life was, constantly going from pillow to post and so I made a decision that as soon as I was old enough and out of the system, I was going to prove all those people who doubted me that they were wrong but they were right.."

"You didn't hurt anyone Emma.." Staring sympathetically, the doctor offers a comforting smile. "Can I call you Emma?"

"Yes.."

Proceeding, the brunette plays with the pen between her fingers. "Like I said, you didn't hurt anyone. Yes you broke the law but from the information I received, there was a moment where there was a doubt as to whether you should have been sent down at all"

"It wasn't my fault..I was set up. I just..trusted someone like an idiot and got left behind.."

"Right.." Treading carefully, the doctor tries to strategise her next move. "And this someone...was a friend?"

Feeling herself grow red, Emma clears her throat. "Well..."

"Oh..you need say no more"

"The problem is, I'm more angry at myself than him and yet he was the one who left me standing with a load of contraband to get arrested!"

Raising an eyebrow at the blondes sudden show of anger, the brunette purses her lips as she waves her pen out of habit. "Sounds like a coward to me"

Glancing to her lap, the young woman sighs as she calms down. "He was.."

Spending the rest of the scheduled hour discussing the beginnings of Emma's troubled life, the doctor ensured that she kept the blondes focus as she was opening up. Hearing the dreadful story of a young girl being shipped from pillow to post a total of 5 times by the time she was 3, the brunette appears sympathetic while making sure it doesn't come across as pity. That would be the last thing Emma needed. Briefly looking towards the clock hanging behind the blondes head on the wall, the doctor settles her pen down onto her book and places the items on the side table.

"Unfortunately dear we have run out of time.."

"Oh.." Turning away conflicted over how she feels about that, Emma locks her hands together awkwardly. "I guess..ill see you next week then?" Realising her assumption, the young woman turns back towards the brunette with panicked eyes. "I can come back right?"

Displaying a genuine yet soft smile, the brunette nods. "Of course Emma. One session won't fix everything. I wish I had some overnight cure for you but I feel as though you will benefit from these sessions and maybe after a month or 2, you will feel more like yourself again and won't need to attend any further"

Letting out a small yet desperate laugh, Emma shakes her head. "If only I knew who I was.."

"Give it time, you will.."

"Okay then.." Rising from her seat causing the doctor to do the same, the blonde attempts a smile. "Thank you for today.." Holding her hand out in gesture for a goodbye, she takes a breath. "I feel like a weight has been lifted already.."

Accepting the hand shake for a second time that afternoon, the brunette continues to smile. "You're more than welcome. I believe that you were given my number so if you ever need help just call. Have a safe journey home Emma"

Growing embarrassed, Emma confesses. "I don't exactly have a home right now..I've just been hopping from one place to another and this small town seems to have its charm, not to mention I now have therapy so I'm going to stay here for a little while. Until I get on my feet, I saw a bed and breakfast down the street.."

Ignoring the fact of being practically homeless, as to not make a big deal, the doctor nods. "That would be Granny's"

Frowning at the response, the young woman questions. "Your granny's?"

Chuckling, the brunette shakes her head. "Oh no dear, not mine any how, it's the woman who owns and runs the bed and breakfast slash diner. The establishment is called Granny's. Let me give her a call to let her know you're coming. I'll make sure you won't have to pay if like you said its until you get on your feet"

"You can do that? I never realised a therapist could hold such authority.."

Returning to her desk to make the intended call, the doctor looks pleased with herself. "They can when they are the mayor's daughter.."

Surprised, the blondes eyebrows raise. "This is a small town.."

"You'll soon find that everyone seems to know everyone's business, minus you of course because anything you say here is strictly confidential" sitting on her chair, the brunette reaches for her phone. "I'll see you next week Emma"

"Yeah. Thank you for all your help.." Smiling a little, Emma gives a small yet awkward wave and slips out of the door leaving the therapist to make her call.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"How are you finding Storybrooke so far?"

Watching as a mug of hot chocolate makes its way in front of her, Emma lifts her gaze from the menu situated in her hands and towards the older woman stood behind the counter where she is sat. "Oh..I..erm well it's kinda hard to tell...I've only been here a day.."

"Majority of that being in Mills' practice.."

Looking speechless as the woman clearly knows everything on her already, the blonde bites her lip as she thinks of a response. Hearing the jingle of the bell at the front of house, Emma silently gives thanks to whomever has walked in and prompting the older woman to wonder off and serve them. Overhearing a soft yet familiar voice, the young woman glances over her shoulder towards the booth nearest to the door.

"Up you go. That's it. Now sit nicely and wait for granny to come over"

Noticing her therapist leaning over the seat as she speaks, the blonde tilts her head to find a small girl sitting in the occupied seat and swinging her legs impatiently, blue eyes staring around the diner and red curls surrounding her face.

As if feeling a set of eyes on her while Granny jots down their choice, the brunette turns and looks towards the counter, spotting Emma sat upon a stool. Offering a smile, the doctor speaks once again towards the girl in what appears to be an order then walks up towards the counter to pay for their usuals. Standing beside the blondes stool, she clears her throat. "Hello.."

"Hi.."

"Glad to see you've settled in"

Simply nodding, Emma then looks across to the small girl again and feels a pang of sadness. "Cute kid.."

"Thanks" leaning over until they are practically touching shoulders, the brunette whispers in a joking manner. "She's not mine.."

"She's not?"

"No. She is my niece, my sisters child"

Folding her arms and resting them onto the counter, the blonde gives a small laugh "Certainly explains now why she looks nothing like you. I mean blue eyes, red hair..not even close"

"Exactly. I'm just getting her dinner as her mother is busy"

"So no children to rush home to then?"

"I would say that is rather personal question to ask wouldn't you? Who's the therapist here?" Giving a smirk at Emma's panicked face, the doctor gestures back to the booth. "I need to be getting back before she decides to put a mountain of sauce on the plate"

"Ok, sure.." Following the brunette with her eyes, the blonde calls out as she begins to walk away. "So that's a no then!"

Letting out what you would call an infectious laugh, the doctor smiles over her shoulder. "Goodbye Emma"