Home. What is home? Growing up in the foster system, Emma Swan had no sense of what home was. She had nowhere to call home. The only place that felt like home was her apartment in New York. It was small but it worked. However, it felt empty. She had nothing but a couch, a dresser, and a bed, but that's all she needed really. But that was about to change. Her sister Ruby was ready to join her in the big city.

When Emma arrived at the group home where her sister lived, she was ecstatic. She couldn't believe that her baby sister was coming to New York. Now that they are both finally out of the system, they can begin to live their normal lives together.

"Rubes?!" Emma screamed with joy. It had only been two weeks since she had last seen Ruby, but it felt like a lifetime. Emma wanted to take Ruby with her when she first left for New York. However, due to Emma's young age and inability to provide for both of them, the state wouldn't allow Ruby to leave with her. Every other week, Emma would drive up to Boston to visit her sister. But now Ruby was 18 and was finally out of the system.

"Emma!" Ruby belted as she ran toward her sister. Emma has always picked Ruby up when they hugged, but this time it was different. This time she knew that Ruby would be coming home with her. Home. Emma's apartment would now be both of their homes. They both were home to each other.

"So, are you excited?" Emma asked, setting Ruby down. Ruby was finally joining her sister in New York for school. Emma was in her senior year at New York University's School of Law, earning her degree in Criminal Justice. She was glad that her sister had chosen what seemed like an easier degree program. Ruby had been accepted into NYU to earn her degree in Business Management. Ever since she was a little girl, she has wanted to own her own restaurant.

"I am beyond ready to get out of this place. I honestly don't know how I've been able to survive these last 3 years without you here." Ruby said as they walked to the back of the yellow bug.

"Well, from now on you won't have to worry about that." Emma said, placing Ruby's sole suitcase in the trunk. She closed the hatch and put her arm around her sister. "Come on, let's go home."

They got in the bug and began their four hour journey to The Big Apple.

** 3 Hours Later **

"So, have you gotten your class schedule yet?" Emma asked. She was trying to make conversation because it had been quiet for a painful amount of time.

"Not yet. I should pick it up on Monday before class. How are the teachers there? I heard that in the first year of college, no matter the major, we have to take certain classes."

"The teachers I had were pretty good. But, most of them have either left the school or have moved up to teach classes focused to more specific majors. The only teacher that I had and still teaches freshies is Doctor Blanchard She teaches History, and she was one of the nicer teachers I had."

"Is the campus confusing to get around?"

"Not as confusing as the rest of the city. But you get used to it after a while." Emma could tell that Ruby was nervous. But, who could blame her? The biggest city either of them had ever lived in was Boston and it was nothing compared to what was about to come.

The next hour passes as Ruby asks a million and one questions to which Emma has a million and one answers.

"Seen any plays since living in the city? I know you said you were going to try to catch at least one before I came." Ruby asked. Both of them loved the theater, but neither of them had seen a professional play in ages.

"Not yet. Do you know how expensive those things are?" Emma said, pulling onto the curb in front of her apartment building. "Maybe, when we can get some money saved up, we can go to the theater." Emma said, stepping out of the bug.

"That would be great." Ruby said, closing the car door. "We could go see Hamilton. I heard it's doing great, and it sounds really cool."

"It would be cool, but good luck getting tickets. I checked into them not too long ago but they're sold out until next year. We'll probably have to settle for Wicked or something." Emma said, retrieving the suitcase from the back.

"Yeah, you're probably right." Ruby said.

They walked into the apartment building and Emma headed for the stairs.

"Why don't you use the elevator?" Ruby asked, pointing to an old elevator.

"The damn thing never works. It did when I first moved in, but even then, it was sketchy as hell." Emma said beginning to walk up the stairs.

When they got to the door, Emma stopped to fumble with her keys. She had been wanting to tell her sister something for awhile now and she was contemplating on telling her tonight.

"Are you okay?" Ruby asked, seeing that Emma was having some issues.

"Yeah. Just . . . excited that you finally get to see the place." Emma said, putting the key in the door. She opened the door, spreading her arms out wide. "Welcome home!"

Ruby immediately noticed the lack of furnishing. She looked around, and saw the small, tattered brown couch.

"I know it's not much, but I've been saving up so that when you got here I would have enough money until we both have jobs." Emma had been working down at the diner on 51st Street. She got paid next to nothing, and was basically living off of the tips people left. Good thing some people were generous.

"It's great." Ruby said. "So, can I just put my bag in your room?"

"Yeah, sure." Emma said. While Ruby stepped into the other room, Emma began to make some hot cocoa. She was ready to tell her sister.

Ruby changed into her pajamas while in Emma's room. When she came back, her sister had hot cocoa made. She knew something was up. "Okay, what's going on Emma? You never make cocoa unless you're anxious or on your period, and I know it's not the latter. So, what's up?" Ruby asked.

"Okay, you caught me. Sit down." Emma said, handing Ruby her cocoa. Ruby sat down and looked up at Emma with concern. *Sigh* 'Okay, Emma. You can do this' she thought. "I'm not really sure how to tell you this, so I'm just gonna say it. I like girls." Ruby just kind of looked blankly at her for a second. "I'm gay." Emma said, hoping to clarify her previous statement.

"Oh my God. Emma, I am so proud of you." Ruby said, jumping up to give her sister a hug. "I can only imagine how hard that must have been for you. I love you and I am always going to support you. Know that." Emma's eyes began filling up with tears.

The rest of the night went by really smoothly. They took time to catch up and just talk. They both decided to go to bed pretty early that night, because the next day was registration day.