Disclaimer: I own nothing, it belongs to its respective owners. I only own the OC characters

Returning to a Home Never Known

Chapter One

Being labeled a juvenile delinquent then a troubled delinquent teenager had frustrated Anna. She had done nothing wrong and was simply suffering a case of unfortunate circumstances. Though she knew that the circumstances that she was born into would have anyone give an initial teasing reaction of "first world problems." Although her "first world problems" ended with her birthing circumstances as the horrors she faced after the event were very much real and a constant nightmare for Anna.

She initially immediately placed in the foster care system. It did not take long though to label Anna as troubled and a risk by the system. Her outbursts, anxiety, nightmares where too much for most of the foster parents that took her in. Then there was the assault against a foster parent and his harsh words and physical roughness unleashed a primal fear within her. Anna wanted to fight as forcefully as she could and then escape. The vase she threw, the kicking, biting, punches landed her in juvenile detention, or juvie as some called. It became readily apparent to the warden and the staff that she was a danger to herself and others. Anna would need psychiatric help. That was how she had landed in Spring Harbor in South Portland.

Anna had known better than to disclose her past, or at least, her true origins. It seemed that the hell she faced as a child and an early teenager were nothing new in this world. Being institutionalized she explained away that the pain she suffered was real and that she imagined a world of magic as a means to escape the abysmal family life. That is what she told her counselor. It was what they wanted to hear.

She had explained that all she had known was that her name was Anna. She could not remember her last name. She knew she was sometimes called Annie and Frannie (which was a shortened name for Frumpy Annie). Anna had told her counselors that she really could not remember her father's name but only remembered his general appearance as more distinguishable features were either blurry or morphed into a hideous monster.

Childhood amnesia the counselors had concluded. Even with hypnotherapy the blocks that Anna had placed to protect herself and her true identity were too formidable for the staff to uncover. Then there was the issue of her citizenship. Anna had told them that she was fairly certain she was born somewhere in Maine but again much of the details were fuzzy.

The counselors were concerned about what they could legally do for someone who essentially did not exist in any system. Anna was now a ward of the state but she was numberless. The government did not like the numberless individuals. However due to her extenuating circumstances the counselors had helped her create an identity. Anna smiled as this was her way of creating the life she knew she deserved and would create in spite of her beginnings. She would create a new beginning, a new middle and an end that she chose.

During her time at the hospital the counselors had seen the intelligence behind her cerulean eyes. They had allowed her to read books obtained from day trips to the library in town. Within the year and a half she had nearly read every book ranging from all different subjects. Anna loved the science and mathematics section. She loved the straightforwardness of the subjects and the fact that it was not based on the whims of emotions or feelings, an area she did not like to explore. The counselors soon allowed her to study online to get a high school education.

With her eighteenth birthday fast approaching (the only thing she had remembered was that it was past yuletide but before the new year festival), her GED under her belt, Anna knew that she wanted to carve out her own destiny. She would see the world, enjoy everything it had to offer: the food, the landmarks, the cultures, the languages most of all she wanted to live to the fullest. Anna waved goodbye to the family of South Harbor and decided to head to Boston, Massachusetts. She had researched the universities in the area and knew immediately where she wanted to attend.

Anna had her heart set on Harvard University. She had done her research. The undergraduate program of applied mathematics made her feel a sense of excitement that she had long since forgotten. The counselors and staff had tried to temper her excitement and push her into a more practical college like Curry College, or Fisher College. Anna knew that they were trying instill in her the need of being realistic. However Anna knew that she had to firmly grasp this hope, this dream.

Anna had done the whole application process. The application itself, the application fee (covered by the staff), the heartfelt essay, the interviews, everything. Anna did it all. It was not until a drizzly, dreary day that she had received the envelope. The. Envelope. The package that every prospective student dreams and wishes for. Here it lay before Anna. She cried. Tears of joy and excitement and most importantly of all, hope. The hope that she would not be a product of the abuse and humiliation. She would arise from the ashes.

-Seven years later-

Anna was living comfortably on Long Island while her corporate job was in the heart of Manhattan. With her PHD in Applied Mathematics she had decided to go very corporate. All the way to Wall Street. She grabbed the bull by the horns and carved out a nice little career and a nice income. She had always lived modestly which was born out of being at Spring Harbor for those couple of years.

With her savings Anna did what most in the financial sector did: invested in different companies, bought stocks, bought mutual funds, purchased a few rental properties, owned two apartment complexes and lived in one of the apartments, and owned a few franchises. She took care of her finances meticulously.

Anna had no time for holiday parties, romance, or friends outside of small talk among co-workers. The only time she had cared about these useless interactions was if it was for a client whose wallet would help her gain a bit more financial freedom. Though Anna did not know from what she wanted freedom. She simply knew she wanted it.

One lazy afternoon she had felt it. A strong pang of pain and hurt. Memories were flooding back in a torrent of pain, hurt, disgust and frustration. It as if a dam was broken by some unseen force and Anna was having to come to grips with the fact that she could never really escape her past. But she did not know where to even begin. Why was she feeling these very repressed feelings now? Why so vividly?

His face was now so clear. Her father's face in a permanent scowl and disgust. His regal clothing that hung on him giving him a bigger appearance as he would loom over her, and then eye-to-eye then again looming over her when he had beaten her to submission. Anna could recall the kingdom she was from. She could recall what had happened to her mother. She could remember the Ogre Wars. She could remember the deal. She could remember it all.

She gasped so violently her throat and lungs screamed with pain. The nightmares were returning she was sure of it. Anna only knew that now she would have to set her affairs in place and get to the bottom of this.

Author's notes:
1. How I searched the information: I used Google images to locate a population density of Maine. I wanted to avoid high population areas and there are many areas of Maine that have less then 1 per square mile ( wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Maine_population_ ). See the point below.
2. I found a population map of Maine and realized that both Somerset County, Piscataquis County, and Aroostook County
3. I did a Google maps search to see how long it would take to get from Boston, MA to different areas in Maine. I found that from Boston, MA to Hayden Landing, ME took about 3 hours and I figured that the speed of the car would be 55 miles per hour and if Emma was driving a bit faster she might arrive at that destination a bit sooner.
4. So I searched Somerset County on Wiki and found that Northwest Somerset had a population of 46! So I went to to see a map of Somerset County and see the locations of the towns and cities. I noticed that were no towns near King and Bartlett Lake and Spencer Lake. So I figured this would be a great spot to place the town of Storybrooke where it would be away from too much human civilization.
5. I figured I would address it here: How then would have Henry made it too Boston?! Well the area I chose is close to Hayden Landing, ME so I figured it was feasible that he researched what cab companies that serviced the area and walked out of the Storybrooke township to a part of the lake that had the waterfront residence. I am giving the assumption that if he chose an earlier time of day such as midday it is possible the cab driver saw him, possibly a forged note, etc that he figured that it was legit. Then took him to the closest greyhound depot which is Waterville, ME a whopping 77 miles away. From there he purchased a greyhound ticket to Boston, MA.
6. That said I also believe the town of Storybrooke would have gone through very apparent ecological change and not suffer the tempestuous weather that exists in Maine (i.e. massive snowstorms, ice storms etc) and Regina would have chosen milder weather
7. The way I see it is that they reside in this area but any existing roads that go through the area would simply go through and not see anything but those who are meant to see will see the roads that lead to Storybrooke etc. Or maybe something else entirely.
8. I know this is an introduction of an OC character (I'm sorry D:) It is mostly introducing a dynamic that I wanted explored with some characters and theorize about true love etc. However I do expect that the character of Anna is going to serve a purpose into opening new areas of magic that I want to explore. Basically play with these plot bunnies in my head. So please give it a chance and I assure you I will not Mary Sue this character! I really do promise though I do know that with how this is starting out it might seem like it.
9. I guess if there is any connection of this OC it would be to Rumplestiltskin (no romance) but there is no romance that is going to happen. I want to keep all romance that already exists in the show to remain that way. I am also not keen of having Anna interact that way at all with main cast members, past or present.
10. If there is romance involved I will make it with another OC character that lives in town.
11. Please read and review. And pardon the questionable grammar I will definitely try to keep an eye out but I may miss some here and there (hopefully not too frequently).