I do not own Once upon a time. That belongs to ABC and Disney

This is my first fanfic for Once Upon a Time. The basic concept is it is set twenty years after season one ended and that the curse has been lifted. What if Henry grew up, saw Alexander (daughter of Ashley and Sean) but didn't know who she was and enlisted Emma, Mary Margaret and the rest of the townspeople (If Henry knew of the birth of Alexander just pretend for this fic he didn't). It will also be three parts just to see how I get on but if people are interested I could extend it. Ships will include August/Emma and Mary Margaret/David.

Finding a mysterious stranger

Chapter one: Twenty years later…

(Thirty year old Henry Mills sat with his back to the breakfast bar at Granny`s Cafe and murmured something under his breath. Since the curse had been lifted fifteen years ago his adopted mother Regina had mysteriously disappeared and Henry moved in with his real mother Emma and her partner August who had got together a few years before. However Henry always wanted to travel and since the curse was broken he could leave Storybrooke and travel around the world when he was eighteen. But things wasn't that great for him now and he decided to come back home to ask for help from his mom and August who were now married and had a six year old son Graham. Ruby glanced at the young man from the corner of her newspaper and lifted the glasses from her eyes

"Henry are you ok?" she looked at Henry. Since the curse was broken time had carried on so now Ruby was looking older than the young girl she was when she arrived in Storybrooke, about mid forties she would guess. Henry nodded but Ruby knew something was wrong.

"There`s no jobs though" Henry grumbled as Ruby placed a cup of hot chocolate in front of him. She had took over Granny`s Cafe when her gran died a few years after the curse broke, however Ruby still kept the name in respect of her gran. She smiled sympathetically at Henry then smiled again but this time a wider grin as Emma opened the door of the diner, dressed in her leather jacket

"Emma hi" Ruby replied "Usual?" she glanced at Emma but she shook her head at the dark headed woman who was also one of her friends.

"Just popped in to see Henry before I go and help August down at the mechanic workshop" she replied shaking out her blonde hair which now was starting to go slightly grey "Hi" she smiled at her son scooting to sit next to him at the breakfast bar "Hey why the long face" she replied slightly punching him in the shoulder but it was more difficult now as he was much taller and broader than she was, and not the little ten year old she had met. Sometimes Emma joked that she wished the curse was still in place but was given disapproving looks from Emma and August.

"The usual" Henry sighed as he took a sip of his hot chocolate and followed the cinnamon around with his spoon "No jobs about and I just feel really down" he sighed lying his head on the counter.

"I could ask August if he could give you a place in his workshop" Emma suggested. Henry thought for a few moments "Look I'll run it past him and if you haven't found anything in a week and he agrees then you're sorted. Ok kiddo" Emma ran a hand through his hair and Henry scowled. "See the curse really changed your mood" Emma replied then realised what she had just said. Henry used to be such a happy go lucky boy but then the curse broke and he changed. Kind of instead of the curse making him depressed he was happy. When the curse broke his mood changed "H-Henry I'm sorry" she replied.

"Go" Henry waved his hand in the air and Emma sent a worried look towards Ruby as she left the cafe. Henry leant forward and took another sip of his hot chocolate wondering when this was going to end

"I`m worried David" August leant forward in his workshop. He and David became friends when Mary Margaret revealed themselves to be Emma`s parents and David ended up helping August in his workshop "I mean Henry used to be an ok kid, I mean with the book some people used to call him weird but he didn't meant any harm. But then he left Storybrooke like I did, ran away, and now he has nothing. No job, no girlfriend and he`s lucky Emma took him in as he wouldn't have a house ether". David nodded standing between an old cuckoo clock as the noise of August`s motorbike engine was heard and then Emma appeared lifting her head from the helmet and giving her husband and father a smile

"Where is Graham?" she glanced at August raising an eyebrow

"Emma he`s with your mom. Mary Margaret wanted someone to help her with making candles since the nuns don't make them anymore and so Ashley said she would look after Graham" August smiled. "How`s Henry" he replied giving Emma a peck

"Same" Emma murmured "I asked him if he would consider helping you and David out and he said maybe". Emma could never call David `Dad` she said it would feel too weird "But knowing Henry he won`t take it"

"Do you think I could be another curse?" David replied. Emma shook her head

"Regina disappeared" she replied "But Mr Gold didn't. Il pop up and question him tomorrow"

"Good luck with that" August muttered. Mr Gold had been ill for some time and now couldn't even remember his own name. Emma pursed her lips ready to give August a rant but then stopped when she saw her father shaking his head. Sometimes Emma could remind him so much of his own wife.

"So do you need a hand?" Emma glanced at the two men who shook their heads "Just when I was looking forward to getting my hands all dirty" Emma grinned

"Actually there is one thing" David replied "I need some things picking up. Some shopping and then there`s a clock that I got mended for mine and Mary`s anniversary from Mr Gold`s. You don't mind?" he glanced at his daughter and she nodded smiling.

"Sure" she replied "I`ll go to your house David, drop the things off and pick up Graham" she replied. David nodded still fiddling with a screwdriver as Emma lifted her helmet back onto her head and got back on the motorbike, dust flying as she went down the dirt path.

(Ruby shook her head as she glanced at the busy customers that were coming through the cafe. She looked at the young waitress who was busy with a few trays and wondered if she should help, but remembered she wasn't as young as she used to be. Her eyes flew to Henry who sat there doodling on the newspaper and wondered if she should say something. However her thoughts were interrupted when Alexander Boyd, a pretty twenty year old who sometimes worked at the café)

"Hey Ruby just came to collect my wages. My mom keeps telling me to get a better job but I mean when she was my age she was pregnant with me" Alexander shook her blonde head

"Sure I'll just be a minute" Ruby nodded walking into the back room to get Alexander`s wages. Alexander whistled a tune and glanced around the café, waving to the other waitress who was on duty that day. Ruby then came out and gave the wages to her.

"Could you pop in a few days this week? Jasmine is on holiday and we are short staffed" Ruby looked at the dark skinned waitress serving Henry his third cup of hot chocolate. Alexander smiled and nodded sharply

"Sure" she replied "It's not like I haven't got anything better at home. I`ll see you later Ruby" she glanced at the older woman as she left the café. Ruby nodded slowly and started to pick up a pen she had left on the breakfast bar next to Henry

"Who was that girl you were speaking to?" he glanced at Ruby

"Why?" she said puzzled

"I haven't seen her before around here" he replied "And she seems interesting"

"Well you're in luck. She`s waitressing every day next week so if you want to speak to her now`s your chance" Ruby replied walking back to the back room so she could continue sorting out wages. Henry sat back against the bar and mulled things through. He needed to know this mysterious woman and to try and becomes friends with her. Then maybe he could get his happy ending after all just like his mother did when she defeated Regina.

Next time

Henry stakes out the café and starts to know Alexander. Emma seeks out Mr Gold and wonders if there is another curse after all. Mary Margaret, Emma and Ashley have a night out

So there`s the first chapter. Hope you enjoyed and the next chapter should be out as soon as I can.