The car was silent except for the low rumble of the engine. William "Liam" Black and his new foster parents had been on the road since five pm the pervious afternoon. It was now four twenty am. Liam's limbs ached from not moving since their last stop over an hour ago. He tried to roll the kinks out of his neck, and then looked to Charles who was driving the car. "Are we almost there?"
Charles sighed deeply, "About twenty minutes and we should be in our new driveway pal." Charles was one of the nicer foster dad's Liam had. Sure he drank a lot, but at least his temper was under control. He never yelled and never threw anything, which was a bonus in Liam's mind. Charles' wife Sarah wasn't that bad either. She was sweet but loved to nag on just about everything.
Sarah wasn't a fan of Liam's bangs that hung slightly over his eyes or the fact that his dark chocolate hair was almost to his shoulders. She hated his pierced lip and ears. And Liam's two tattoos had earned him a thirty minute lecture of how a sixteen year old shouldn't have them. He had tried to explain that the tattoo on his wrist, the symbols of Alpha and Omega intertwined with a crown above it, wasn't his choice. In fact most people called it his birthmark since he'd had it since before he was ever in the foster system. Of course, Sarah hadn't believed him.
That memory made him remove his watch and look down at his wrist. It was the only thing he had that gave him hope. Hope that the things he saw in his dreams were real, that his mother had truly loved him. Though these dreams were hope, they also haunted him. Liam was never able to see her face or hear her voice. All he could do was feel. Feel her love, her touch, her happiness. For years the young boy had sworn his mother would come for him, but as he got older that determination had faded away.
The pain and hurt of the foster system had destroyed it. The birthmark, his violet colored eyes, and belief in his mother had made him a target for bullying. The kids in the homes were horrible to him; calling him names, causing fights, and making sure he never got to stay in a home for long. Getting people to take Liam was hard enough without their help. In the last sixteen years, Liam had seen his far share of foster homes and run away from even more. He had been pushed around like toy no one wanted, he had the scars to prove it.
His eyes closed at the memories and he rested his head against the window looking out to the early morning sky. "I just hope this time is different. I'm tired of being a meal ticket." Liam thought to himself, "Please let this be a new start."
All of a sudden Liam's body felt got warm and tingly. Panic filled his body and his eyes shot open. Then he was filled with a calm he only felt in his dreams. "What the..." he whispered quietly.
Sarah looked back at him, "Are you alright?" She looked him over trying to figure out what was wrong.
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine." As the words left his mouth his wrist began to burn. It reminded him of the needle of the tattoo gun that was used on the 'Courage' tattoo that was across his chest.
Sarah nodded and then looked back to the road, "Oh look, we're here!"
Liam was too busy watching his birthmark change from black to the violet color of his eyes, "What in the world?" He thought to himself.
"Welcome to Storybrooke, our new home guys." Charles said with a smile.
0-0-0-0
Regina was sitting in her office attempting to get some work done though she was failing horribly. Getting Henry to school this morning had been hectic. The ten year old boy had continued to push on the subjects of fairy tales and how they could fix everything. This had lead to a migraine which had only gotten worse when she found out Ms. Swan was still in town. And now it felt like her head was going to explode. She wasn't able to focus on anything except Liam and how the mark had changed colors that morning. The only other time it had changed was when she had first held him, marking him as her son.
The sound of her phone pulled her out of her thoughts, "What?" She demanded as she hit the speaker button.
"Madame Mayor, someone is here to see you." Her secretary replied.
Regina acted indifferent and allowed the person to enter. The person was young and had moonlight pale skin with a few tattoos showing. When they started to approach Regina, she looked up.
"Hello Seth," she said coldly to the young man. His hair was barely medium length and swept to the side. His eyes were brown and were staring at Regina. She had a feeling he would show up today.
"Hello my queen," he said playfully. Seth knew Regina was the Evil Queen or really that she once had been. He had always been loyal to her and vowed to always be. He was once in the Queen's special attack force and her guard. He had been the one to find Liam.
Regina grumbled, "Don't call me that here. Now what do you want?"
Seth laughed quietly to himself while taking a seat before speaking.
"Out with it," Regina demanded.
"Okay, okay... We have a new visitor in town. I think you would be pleased to see him," Seth leaned back in the charge with a smirk.
Regina sat up straight and looked very ill content, "Who?"
Seth raised his right wrist. He had a mark similar to Regina's but not exactly. It was a vivid violet color like hers but the symbol represented a warrior, whereas hers was that of fate and linked her to Liam.
Regina's eyes grew wide. If her mark had changed and Seth's had changed that could only mean one thing. She wondered, "Is he really in Storybrooke?"
"He moved in down the street from me. I saw their car pull up yesterday and the mark burned. Should I shadow him? I mean, isn't it my purpose to be his protector?" Seth said in his mini monologue.
Regina just looked at him. She still couldn't understand how he had most of his memories. She rested her chin on her hand. "I suppose so. I don't want him in trouble."
Seth nodded and began to leave.
She sat there. She wanted to see Liam, but she had hesitations. Regina wanted to know more about him. Then she thought of her perfect sleuth, Sidney. She picked up the phone and dialed a number. "Sidney, get to my office...Now."
Ten minutes later Sidney knocked on the mayor's office door as he slowly opened it, "You needed me, Madame Major?"
Regina sat there with her arms crossed on her desk. "Yes Sidney, I need you help finding someone. I need information on a kid named Liam Black. He recently moved here and of course near my intern Seth's home."
Sidney sunk down in his chair some, "N-no, I was just wondering why? I mean I'll agree he seems a little sketchy."
"Sketchy," she thought to herself, anger welled up inside her. "How dare him," she thought. Regina clenched her fists and straightened up in her chair. "What makes him so sketchy," she asked in a calm tone.
Sidney knew that tone. He swallowed roughly and thought through his words carefully, "Well Regina, he isn't exactly like most boys around here. His hair is long with bangs almost covering his eyes, which are violet. I assume they are colored contacts. He has his lip and ears pierce. His attire is that of what the kids call Emo; skinny jeans, band shirts, cross necklace, converse shoes, and black bracelets. He also gets around on a skateboard."
The way Sidney described Liam was similar to Seth. The eye color though struck her inside a flashback of looking at his cute face and bright eyes. Then she snapped back to the moment. She didn't say anything for a short while. Then she spoke up again, "Get me his records... I mean all of them, from birth till now. Go get me what I want or there will be hell to pay."
Sidney stood, "When do you need them by?"
"Let's just say I will have them in my hand first thing tomorrow." Regina gave his a deathly glare.
"Tomorrow morning? Regina, you are asking me not only to get public records but also private. That is going to take time," Sidney knew she wouldn't like that answer but it was the truth.
Regina sighed, he was right. "Fine, you have three days, but the moment you have it... Report to me." She gave him a look telling him to get out.
"Of course," Sidney headed toward the door but stopped and looked back at her, "I can tell you this without his records, he's trouble." With that he walked out.
Regina rolled her eyes and sat back in her chair. This was going to be a long three days for her.
0-0-0-0
Henry was half way home from school when he saw Emma's car parked outside Granny's. He smiled, "She stayed!" Henry ran in to see Emma sitting at a both with a cup of cocoa. "Hey," He took the seat opposite of her.
Emma looked up surprised, "Henry, what are you doing here?"
"I was walking home when I saw your car. So you're staying?"
"No kid, I just slept in really late." She told him with a small frown.
"You should stay! You have to help me break the curse Emma. You're the savior!" He pleaded.
"Henry, your mom made it clear I can't stay. And kid, just because you believe something doesn't mean it's real." She looked at him sympathetically.
"But I have proof! Emma, I know who and where your parents are! You've got to stay. We have to fix this." Henry said defensively.
"My parents are probably dead, Henry."
"No they aren't. Your mom is Snow White, who's really Ms. Blanchard, my teacher! You're dad is Prince Charming. He's a John Doe in a coma." He stated.
Emma looked at him surprised, "You've really thought this out haven't you?"
"I did my research before I came to get you." Henry smiled proudly.
"Even if I agreed to stay, which I'm not, your mother would have a hay day." Emma sat back in booth.
"I could buy you a week. I know my mom."
"Henry, I don't know."
Henry sighed and looked at Emma pleading eyes, "Just one week Emma, that's all I'm asking for. I want to get to know you even if you won't believe me about the curse."
Emma ran a hand through her blonde hair; she was seriously regretting sleeping so long today. "Kid, your mom doesn't want me around. It was a closed adoption. You weren't supposed to be able to find me!"
"Whatever mom said last night she didn't mean. She was upset. Please!" Henry complained.
Emma looked around trying to think. Her eyes landed on the beautiful brunette in question, "Great."
Henry turned to see what she was looking at. Henry quickly formed a plan, "Let me handle this."
"Kid…" Emma drew out in a warning tone practically seeing the gears in his head turn.
"Hello Henry..." Regina's eyes narrowed as she looked at Emma. "Ms. Swan..." She kept her cool and turned back to Henry. "Why aren't you home?"
Henry gave her the most innocent look he could muster up, "I was headed home when I saw Emma. I just wanted to see if she was going to be staying a few days since she wasn't already in Boston. If she stayed a few days, we could all get to know each other."
"Really... Are you 'Okay' with this Ms. Swan? Breaking a law? After all it was you who threw him away." Regina was in no mood for this.
Emma went to take a step closer, but Henry quickly moved between them looking at Regina. He gave her, her own glare that said watch it. "Emma didn't break the law. I did mom. I used Ms. Blanchard's credit card to find her and to get to Boston! All Emma did was drive me home, instead of putting me on a bus home."
Emma looked down at the kid shock, "Damn he is my kid." She thought to herself.
"And she didn't throw me away," His tone was slightly hurt. "She wanted me to have my best chance."
She looked down at Henry. She saw the hurt in his eyes. Regina thought for a moment and then touched his cheek tenderly and turned her head to Emma. "He better be in my home in exactly one hour... One hour." She said in an icy voice. She didn't like it, but allowed it for Henry.
Henry's eyes lit up, "Really?" His excitement made him bounce in place.
Emma's head snapped up to Regina in surprise. She wanted to stay but she didn't want to start any drama.
Regina looked away from both. She counted down, "59 minutes"
Henry grabbed Emma's hand, "Come on!" He drug her away, "I want to show you something."
Emma looked back over her shoulder and mouthed, "Thank you."
Regina rolled her eyes and turned away from them. She walks over to the counter to grab some coffee. She was in desperate need of caffeine after last night.
0-0-0-0
Liam skated down Main Street looking for something to do. He didn't want to head back to the house yet. Skating and listening to his music were his freedom. Liam spotted a sign for a diner. "I could for something to eat." He thought to himself as he slowed down. Once by the door, he picked up his board and put it under his arm. Liam pulled open the door and then removed his ear buds. The smell of food made his stomach growl. The diner was small and homey. Almost everyone was looking at him. As he raised an eyebrow, almost identical to what Regina would do, he made his way over to the emptiest part of the counter.
Regina got her coffee and turned to leave when she saw Liam at the counter alone. He had just ordered food. It took herself a few moments before a step was made, but she walked over to him. "Mind if I join you," she asked in a kind and smooth yet awkward voice. For once in the time of being in Storybrooke Regina was nervous.
Liam looked up at her, curiosity coloring his features. The woman was clearly someone important. She wore a power suit, her make-up was flawless, and there wasn't a hair out-of-place, "Um...sure." He said uncertainly.
"I'm the mayor, and I wanted to welcome you to this town." Her voice had become steadier. "I am Regina." She then gave a small, hopefully welcoming, smile.
Liam gave her a half-smile, "You have a nice town, small but nice. I'm William Black, but everyone calls me Liam."
Ruby walked up at that moment setting down his sandwich and class of apple juice, "Here ya go sweets." She gave him a flirtatious smile, "You aren't from around here."
Regina turned her head and looked at Ruby. Her eye contact told her to back off. Ruby took a step back before going back to business. Once that was taken care of she turned back to Liam. "Nice to meet you Liam," She smiled at him then took a quick over look of him. He was just as Sidney described, but it didn't bother her. She thought it was fine. She took a sip of coffee and her mark peeked out of her sleeve a bit.
Liam smirked and chuckled a little, "Thanks for that. Is she always so forward?" He asked brushing his bangs out of his eyes which landed for a second on the tattoo but he couldn't make it out.
Regina laughed a little. "Yes, she usually is like that... to everyone." Regina went silent and turned from Liam. She didn't know what to say or ask.
"So," Liam played with his glass of juice, "I take it not many new people come around. I've felt like I was on display all day."
"No one ever comes here. It's rare for anyone new to come into this town. It a surprise to everyone." Regina took another sip of her coffee.
"Right," Liam took one more bit of his sandwich and stood up, "I should probably head home before Sarah starts freaking out." He picked up his board from the floor.
"Over protective mom," Regina asked with a smile.
"She thinks she's my mom, but she's not." He said a little harshly. Liam noticed his tone, "Sorry, she's my foster-mother. She's alright." He shrugged, "But not my mom."
Regina felt pain in her heart. All the years he's been without her and with the fakes. "Well then better get home." She stood up and started to walk out. "Nice meeting you Liam."
Liam followed her out, "Nice meeting you too Ms...?" He put his board down waiting for her reply.
"Mills, Regina Mills." She answered swiftly before heading to her car.
Liam got on his board and started heading in the opposite direction. "At least the mayor is nice." He thought to himself while he put his ear buds back in.
Regina got into her car and sat there. "At least that went somewhat well..." she thought. Then her emotions started to take control. With tears finding their way out of her eyes she thought about how much he must have go through. She felt responsible for all of this. Her cries became sobs. "How could I have let all the pain enter his life," she asked herself. She finally got it together and wiped away her tears. She started the car and drove home.