Disclaimer: I (unfortunately) do not own Once Upon a Time/the characters (except for Ava - shes mine)
Warning: Coarse language.
Where we left off -
"Here. This is yours. I was going to make sure it went with you, but I fainted when I gave birth, and never even got the chance to meet you."
The item was a small golden charm in the shape of a horse.
"It was mine from when I was a little girl, and I wanted my little girl to have it."
Ava looked up at Regina and instinctively hugged her.
Regina was initially shocked by the interaction, but quickly embraced Ava.
She had finally gotten to meet and hug her little girl.
The following morning, Ava awoke to the smell of Sizzling bacon and eggs.
She opened her eyes, and freaked out at the fact that she had no idea where she was- until she remembered exactly where she was, and why she was there.
Dragging herself out of the bed, she changed back into her clothes –and out of the silk night gown Regina had loaned her.
She headed down stairs and was about to sneak out the front door, not wanting to cause any further hassle for Regina considering what she had just put her through.
She made the floor boards creak as she neared the door. "Ava, is that you?" she heard Regina's voice echo into the foyer where she stood.
She remained silent, but could hear the sound of stilettos tapping along the floor towards her.
Regina walked around the corner looking stunning – which Ava found weird considering it was only 7:30am, then again she was the mayor which would require her to look and act her best early in the morning.
Regina eyed Ava warily "Where are you off to this early in the morning? I've made breakfast for us all.. assuming you want to stay for breakfast that is." "Oh uh" she saw the look on Regina's face – one to which she couldn't say 'no' to.
"Yeah, breakfast would be nice. Plus, whatever you're cooking smells delicious" Ava said with a smile on her face. – It was a Saturday, and it's not like she had any plans anyway.
"Bacon and eggs- they're Henry's favorite" Regina laughed
"Mine too" Ava quietly giggled.
Ava headed for the dining table, where Henry was, while Regina went to finish off cooking the food.
"Morning!" Henry pretty much yelled at the top of his lungs. "Morning" Ava smiled.
"So..what have you got there?" Ava asked, pointing towards Henry's leather book which she thought looked hundreds of years old. – Though that was a slight exaggeration.
"Oh, just um, some stories, you know, the classic fairytales – with twists "
"Cool, so you like to read stories?"
Ava tried to keep the conversation up so that they didn't have to sit in awkward silence – though she had a feeling that Henry didn't even know what awkward was considering he could practically talk to anybody with complete confidence.
"Yeah, but this book is more than just stories" "What is that supposed to mean?" Ava chuckled.
"It means that these aren't just stories, in fact, they're the complete opposite. They're all actually true."
"Really?" Ava played along.
"Yeah, the Evil Queen created a curse that sent all the people in it to another land, this one in fact– right here in Storybrooke, and it was all to get her revenge on Snow White."
"So you're telling me that you think every single person in this town is a fairytale character from this book, but they're all under a curse?"
"That's exactly what I am saying- I'm glad you can understand so quickly– not many people do "
Ava found the young boys theory amusing. "Well then, why don't any of them try to find a way back to their home?" she queried.
"Because none of them remember who they really are – the Evil Queen gave everyone fake identities. Go and ask anyone in this town to recall a memory or them meeting someone else in the town, and I can guarantee they will won't be able to."
"Wait, so who do you think everyone is?"
"Well, I only know a few so far, and I'm trying to figure out the rest. But I know that Mary-Margaret Blanchard – my teacher- is Snow White, the man in the coma at the hospital is her prince charming. Their daughter –the savior is Emma – my mom – and the Evil Queen is.."
Henry stopped when Regina walked into the room carrying their food. He hadn't mentioned anything to his mom because he knew who she really was.
Ava was confused because Henry stopped talking as soon as Regina walked in the room.
She shook it off and started to eat the food that was placed in front of her.
"This.. is.. really.. good" she said between bites, remembering how hungry she was since she had skipped dinner the night before.
"I'm glad you're enjoying it, what about you Henry? Are your eggs cooked well enough?"
Henry quickly glanced up at her and nodded. Ava found the way the two of them interacted, strange.
"Well, I'd better get going. I don't want to keep you from your plans. I'd really love to talk to you more sometime" she said smiling at Regina.
"I would really like that dear". Henry looked back and forth between the two women and he understood the situation- he was pretty smart for a ten year old, but he decided he'd let his mom 'tell him'.
Ava stood from her chair and smoothed down her front – being sure that there was no food left behind. "Oh, and I would also love to hear more about you fairytale theory Henry" she stated with a wide grin on her face.
"We could go to Granny's sometime" Henry offered. "How about later on today? I'll buy you lunch if you're lucky" she grinned.
"If that's okay with you of course" she looked at Regina for consent.
Regina face showed a mixture of curiosity – about the "fairytale theory" and worry as to what it meant.
Her face softened when she was brought out of her day dream by Ava repeated herself.
She nodded and Ava couldn't wipe the happy expression off her face.
"Great, then it's a date!" She couldn't get over the fact that she was taking a 10 year old out for lunch – it was pretty weird, but then again, he was technically her brother, so what's the harm in wanting to get to know him?
She also found his story interesting and wanted to know more about it.
He managed to take her mind off of all her problems, and that's all she needed right now.
"Well, I'll pick you up from here 'round 12 and we can walk to the diner""Sounds great".
Henry felt like he could genuinely trust this girl – maybe she could help him make Emma believe.
Regina walked Ava out to the road. "Are you sure you want to walk, I can give you a ride."
"No no, I'll be fine. I've already put you through the ringer enough- and some fresh air will do me some good".
Regina couldn't help but feel like she needed to tend to every one of Ava's needs to make up for lost time.
"Thanks for letting me take Henry for lunch, he's an interesting kid and I'd love to get to know him better" Ava said, shocking herself by the fact that she wanted to get to know the kid she was originally jealous of because he got to have a mother, and she didn't.
"I'm sure he will want to get to know you – I'm going to tell him who you are when I go back inside – even though I have a feeling he's already caught on. He's too smart for his own good sometimes." Regina laughed. "Yeah." Ava smiled. "Well I'd better get going."
Ava left the house and headed back home – she knew her dad would be at the pawn shop, so she'd be able get home, have a shower and change into some fresh clothes without the threat of bumping into him.
Regina walked back towards the house, getting ready to face an intrigued Henry.
She had just reached the dining table when Henry darted in from the kitchen. "So, what's the story with Ava?" he asked bluntly.
Henry never was one to 'beat around the bush' and that was both a blessing and a curse.
"Sit down Henry" He did as he was told and awaited his mother's speech. "Ava is.. well.. shes.." Regina found it hard to say she's her daughter.
"Your daughter? .." Henry couldn't help himself but finish her sentence.
"Uh, yes..It's a very long story.. I had a feeling you already knew.." she smiled weakly
"what gave it away?" she asked "I heard her say it when she was at the door last night.." Henry looked at her guiltily.
He was eavesdropping on their conversation. He was also dying to say 'plus she looks exactly like you!' but kept it behind his teeth.
"Oh, well.. How are you feeling about all of this?" "I think it's awesome. I have a sister."
Saying it out loud made him even more excited. If he were to gain anyone as a sister, he would want it to be Ava.
"Right, well, we will talk more about this later. I've got my council meeting at 8 and I need to get there a bit early to open up the hall. I'd like you to clean up that mess you call your bedroom before I get back, and be sure you're showered and dressed for when Ava comes to get you".
Regina walked over to the bench where her purse was and pulled out a 20 dollar bill. She put it in front of Henry and told him to pay for their lunch before Ava got the chance to.
She knew Ava would decline the offer and insist that she paid herself if Regina tried to give the money directly to her – this way, Regina got what she wanted.
After Henry agreed to do as she said, she kissed him on the forehead and told him she'd see him later, before leaving for her meeting.
Ava felt a lot better after having had a shower.
She threw on a floral dress, which had a lace back and went to put some make-up – but not too much like Ruby, the waitress from the diner.
She preferred a more… classy look.
She sat at her desk where her vanity mirror was, and was applying her mascara when the sound of her door opening startled her.
Her hand budged and mascara went all across her eyelid.
"Fuck" she turned around to see who was there – even though she already knew who it was. Why was he home so early though?
"Hello deary".
She knew he knew that she hated him calling her "deary" for no reason in particular – other than it just sounded plain creepy.
Ava glared at her father without speaking a word, and turned back to her mirror, grabbing a make-up removal pad and putting it against her eyelid.
She re-did her mascara, and could feel Golds eyes sticking to her.
"What, you're not going to say anything to me? Not even a simple 'sorry'?"
Ava turned to face the man.
"and what exactly do I have to be sorry for?"
"Well, that's a long list. Let's see: Going through my personal belongings, skipping school, lying to me, cursing at me, slamming a door in my face, just being overall rude and disrespectful - I could list more, but that would only waste too much of my time"
"I'll start apologizing when you do."
"Au contraire young one. You will apologize now, or you will leave this house and never return."
"I beg your pardon?"
"You heard correct deary, so make your decision. I suggest you choose wisely."
Ava stood defiantly.
"Fine."
Just when Gold thought an apology was heading his way, another thing hit him.
Ava walked across the room to her wardrobe. She pulled the door open and grabbed her country road bag.
It was big enough to hold the majority of the things she needed/wanted. She began to pack her stuff into it, with Gold watching on.
"Where do you think you're going to go? No one here will take you in, and you said it yourself, you have no friends." He sniggered.
Ava had never felt more hatred for a person than she did at this particular moment.
She knew he didn't really love her, but she never thought he could be this cruel. She ignored his comment and continued packing her things.
Although she had a lot of stuff, only a small portion of it had sentimental value – and they were the things she was taking with her wherever she was going – which she hadn't quite figured out herself yet.
Once she had everything, she zipped the bag and stood, heading towards the door where Gold was standing.
"Excuse me.." she said angrily, but remaining fairly calm.
He remained in his place.
"Please." She said in a sarcastic tone similar to the one he used when trying to annoy people – Regina in particular.
"Who would have thought you to be so stupid" he spat and moved from the door way.
"I learnt from the best" she said as she left.
When realization of what had just happened set in, Ava started to worry.
What the hell was she thinking?
She could have just said sorry to the man, without having actually meant it, but instead she got herself kicked out.
She then remembered that she had to take Henry out for lunch at 12.
She checked the time and luckily for her it was only quarter past eleven.
Ava knew that asking Regina if she could stay with her and Henry was probably too much too soon, so she decided to call the one person who had offered to help her in any way she could – Mary-Margaret Blanchard- or according to Henry, Snow White.
Chapter FOOOOUR! Hope you're liking the story so far - I've decided that I like having Ava and Gold fight (incase you hadn't noticed already haha) I will try and get another chapter up as soon as possible! Feel free to leave me reviews - ideas, criticism, questions, anything at all! - it motivates me to write! ;) P.S - Sorry for any spelling/grammar/punctuation errors in all chapters - I was re-reading and noticed quite a few, but hopefully it was pretty easy to understand what I actually meant. The majority of this story has been written between 2 and 4 in the morning so there's my excuse haha. Will update soon!