I walked hand in hand with Emma out the door. I had to force myself not to look around ever so often to make sure that no one was coming after us. I walked with my head held high, and my daughter right beside me. If anyone glanced my way, I knew that they would see nothing but a confident woman. A confident mother. Finally, outside, away from the darkened theater, the sun shined brightly and I took that as a sign that things would be going my way.

I've finally gotten Emma out of the theater, away from the woman that was supposed to be watching her, and to make it even better, Emma's following me willingly with the promise of new toys. I know I should feel bad for tricking a little girl, but I'm doing this for me. In a way, it will benefit her as well. She's no longer an orphan. She's now my daughter. She's mine. She's lucky to have me, and I'm lucky to have her. I wanted a child, and now I have one.

I lead Emma towards the parking lot which is on the side of the building, I walk up to my car and stop for a moment to address Emma. Before I can say anything she's speaking.

"Is this your car?" She asks. I nod. "It's so cool. I like it" She tells me. I can't help but smile. I take pride in my car. I appreciate the fact that Emma likes it. I take a moment to think of all the moments we will share inside that car. I can imagine taking her to school, taking her to work with me, taking her to the park...in my car. It will be nice. "Can I sit in the front?" She asks me bring me from my thoughts.

"I don't see why not" I tell her. I read child parenting books, I know that she's short enough to be sitting in a booster seat in the back, but again, I don't have one. I'll admit I'm unprepared, but it doesn't matter. I'll allow her to sit up front with me. I want her to stay with me. I want her to like me, It will make me being her mother so much easier. After then, I'll establish rules for her.

Emma lets go of my hand and races to the passengers door. I unlock the door and we both get into the car. Once inside shes talking once more.

"This is so cool. I've never been able to ride up front, only the big kids get to ride in front of the Van" She tells me. Shes looking around at everything in wonder. 'It's just a car' I think but don't say. Instead,

"Little one, I know where a really nice toy store is" I explain to her.

"You do?" She asks with an excited smile. I nod.

"Yes, in my town, it's called Storybrooke. I made sure that I only had the best...everything" I tell her. " In my town" I add. "Perhaps you would like to go" I suggest. We are going anyway, but it's nice for her to think that she has a choice.

"Yeah" She nods.

"Alright dear" I say as I start the car. "To storybrooke we go. We are going to have a lot of fun" I tell her and she smiles at me.


Storybrooke's a little under two hours away. After 30 minutes into the ride, Emma's quiet. I can tell that she's nervous. She looks out of the window with a worried look upon her face. Perhaps the long ride is getting to her. I wonder if she's going to be this quiet all the time. It's quiet in the car therefore I could easily hear a grumbling sound. At first it startled me, but then I realized it was Emma.

"Um...I'm hungry" She tells me. She's not sure if she's allowed to ask me for food, but she don't have any other choice. That fact both saddens and delights me. She needs me. "Can we stop for food please" She asks looking at me.

"Of course little one" I smile at her. "Do you know what you're in the mood for?" I question. I have no plan of getting out of the car, or even allowing Emma to leave the car, I'm sure Emma's been discovered missing by now, luckily, the outside world has drive through.

"Can we go to Mc Donalds?" She asks while pointing to big golden arches in the sky. We both see it off the nearing ramp of the expressway, I signal to get over.