The Real Lost Boy

-1 Month Ago-

Henry called out when he entered the station, but he knew Emma was out on a call and wasn't surprised when no one else was in sight. He dropped his bag on a desk before heading into Emma's office and started his search.

He had looked everywhere else and figured he must have left his English paper here. He lifted a few files he saw on the desk, then looked in the drawers on either side. When that proved quickly unsuccessful, he landed his hands on either side of the desk, a little harder than was probably necessary. The movement awoke Emma's computer and Henry's gaze caught the screen as it came to life. His eyes widened instantly.

On pretty much any other day, Henry would have ignored it. There was no reason to look at her computer, as he only used his own now. Today though, there was a notification on the screen. The results of a search preformed, most likely today. Also most likely, was that Emma had started it before being called out, and left before the results formulated and appeared on her screen.

Henry collapsed into the desk chair. He knew Emma still did these searches every so often. They weren't as frequent anymore, but he had no doubt her efforts hadn't ever ceased. This also wasn't the first time a promising window opened up. There were over a hundred women named Regina Mills in the United States and they popped up often. Henry couldn't pretend not to notice the way Emma had gotten so discouraged from all the time spent sifting through those results only to constantly come up empty. However, there was only one Luca Mills.

And here he was.

One Luca Mills had been added to the fifth grade roster of a small school in San Diego. Henry saw that it had been dated a couple months prior and was a little surprised at how long it had taken Emma to search again. They had just passed another one of Regina's birthdays though, and Henry could see why now was a time she would look again. He was surprised at how long it had taken, but then he knew how Emma was these days. It wasn't really all that surprising, he guessed.

He realized how fast his heart was beating. He had thought of this countless times, but it was different now that it was actually happening.

Two years. Two long years and here it was. One random day that was otherwise unremarkable, had just changed his life. His mind was running wild. If both felt like forever, and like no time had passed. Though if none had passed, he knew there would be no way he would be forming the plan currently taking root in his mind. After jotting down the information in his notebook, Henry glanced around the room before deleting the message.

-Present Day-

Henry stepped out of the office and walked with the Principal. It had all gone so much easier than he would have thought. He knew his computer skills were on par and wasn't worried about problems with his enrollment, but he did expect to need an explanation for showing up alone on his first day. However, the office staff had been kind and after confirming his place in their computers, the Principal herself had wanted to escort him.

He had been a little preoccupied with the thrill of seeing out his mission. Everything was going perfectly and it was exciting. So he wasn't paying much attention when he glanced up the hallway and spotted a semi familiar sight. He was still trying to process it when he had the presence of mind to step a little behind the principal to conceal himself. Being seen wasn't the plan yet.

He stayed hidden until they stepped into the classroom. The teacher inside turned and smiled.

"Principal Sanders, what can I do for you?" She asked, sounding genuine. She was dressed in jeans and a sweater, not nearly as formal as the teachers in Storybrooke.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, I just wanted to bring in our new student." The Principal stepped to the side and Henry now faced the whole class. With a smile, she placed a hand on his shoulder and looked towards the class. "Everyone, I'd like you to meet Henry Mills."

Henry took a deep breath. Part of him couldn't believe he was doing any of this. Emma was going to kill him, that was almost certain. The only chance he had, was if he was successful. He wondered if she would heed his letter. Probably not. But with the work he did on her computer, he at least had a window of time before she figured out where he was.

He had to be more careful. He didn't want to be seen yet and had already caught Luca's eyes once. It was so brief though and with his hair falling into his face and the height difference of a couple years, he knew that most likely, Luca hadn't recognized him.

Now Luca was another story. Henry assumed that he and Regina would have changed over time. Seeing how different the people back home were now, he would have been surprised if everything was exactly the same. But then he hadn't really though of Luca's physical appearance. He had just been picturing the scraggly little boy with hair in disarray. That however, was not what he saw.

He was taller, which wasn't so shocking. He was healthier looking though, stronger. Not such a fragile little child anymore. While Henry knew his own growth spurt outmatched Luca's by a good six inches, who would win in a fight, was a different matter. Regardless of all that though, it was most definitely the spiked up Mohawk that was a blaring red flag of the changes they had made. It wasn't even as much about Luca, as Regina. How that went down, was something he'd pay to see.

He kept his head down for the rest of the day. He put his hood up and brushed his bangs into his face. He looked out for signs of Luca, but didn't see him again until lunch time. He kept in the corner of the cafeteria and just watched the interactions of the very former Lost Boy.

It was nothing like it had been in Storybrooke. Luca had no one there. He always sat alone and the fact that he dreaded the place, was clearly evident in his expression at all times. Here though, Luca was surrounded by other kids. Three of the other boys around him had the same haircut, but there were a few others, as well as a few girls that all surrounded him, talking and laughing the whole time.

It was fascinating to watch. He was like a completely different person in one aspect, but then maybe not. Henry didn't know anything about them here, but if they were starting over, not only would Regina no longer be The Evil Queen, but Luca wouldn't be The Lost Boy. He was just a kid and that fun, carefree nature that accompanied such a status, was shining through.

When the end of the day came around, Henry hurried for the door. He stayed by the side of the building and kept a sharp eye out. It was hard to see through the herd of kids leaving the school, but he still spotted the familiar car the second it pulled up on the curb. He didn't blink when the front door opened.

No matter how prepared he thought he was. No matter how much he had thought of this during the hours and hours of travel on the bus. No matter how sure of himself he was, he was still so completely stunned when he finally saw her.

Two years had done a lot to him. A lot more than anyone, he was sure. From the day he had awoken to Emma handing him that letter, things had started changing. Very slowly, mind you, but it started then.

In those first few months, had he been in this position, the reaction would have been radically different. In fact, on any day, the reaction would have been different. But it had been two long years. Two years since he saw his mother and here she was.

It was similar to what he had noticed about Luca. Regina just had this bright shining light about her here. All the stiffness and rigidity that usually possessed her, was completely eradicated. She was dressed so casually, leaning on the Mercedes. Henry was nearly too distracted by seeing his long lost mother to notice the woman that had excited the passenger seat. But he did, and that was another perplexing sight.

The women stood side by side, looking towards the school, but talking to each other. Regina was laughing and Henry realized in that moment, that he couldn't remember the last time he saw her laugh like that. The woman next to her gave her a small nudge and Regina returned it, stunning Henry again with the formerly uncharacteristic display of playfulness.

He watched Luca run straight up to her and before greeting her, lifted a paper up for her viewing. Henry didn't know what it was, but it seemed to make Regina very happy as she gave him a high five before pulling him into a hug. Another kid was there as well, red hair, cut like Luca's, one Henry had seen throughout the day with him. The woman Henry now assumed to be his mother, gave that kid a similar reaction.

He stayed standing there as they all got back into the car, the women in front with both boys behind. They drove off and Henry still just stood there. It was one thing to think about her, to envision how they were now, it was an entirely different thing to actually see her again.

It took Henry another hour to finally leave the school that day.

-2 Years Ago-

"Did you even read it?" Emma looked down at Henry, who was much too impassionate for her comfort.

"I will." He shrugged.

"Okay…cool…whatever." Emma said flatly, throwing up her hands and walked back towards the kitchen.

She told him Regina was gone and he shrugged. She handed him the letter and he shrugged. She yelled at him and he fucking shrugged.

The only time she got a reaction out of him was when she showed him the adoption papers Regina included in her letter. She thought she saw something there. A flicker of something more than disinterest. It was gone quickly and he was back to bugging Neal to go out somewhere. But…he didn't shrug.

Emma didn't know that Henry just couldn't read the letter. He was angry about what had happened the night before when he saw his adoptive mother kiss Emma. When he heard her tell Emma to leave Neal. To end the relationship that Henry wanted more than anything. He was so angry, but now…she was just gone.

The woman that had nearly killed an entire town to have him to herself had just left. Signed him over to the woman she used to call an enemy. To the woman she had once banned from even seeing him. She wasn't going to be his mother anymore. She chose not to be his mother anymore.

It was those first few days that he just didn't know what to do. The town was fine. His grandparents were happy. Neal was relieved. Emma…Emma was the only one upset though she was trying hard to control it. Henry knew that.

He tried to pretend he didn't see it. He spent months denying what he knew. He acted like he didn't know Regina's letter to Emma was locked in her office at the station. He said nothing when he found her passed out with her face on the papers at her desk after she didn't come home the night before. He ignored the empty bottles lying around as well.

He denied seeing that vacant look in his mother's eyes when his father pulled her close. He chose not to over think the flinch when he snuck up behind her and grabbed her waist. He replaced all the missing smiles from her face with ones of his own. It was more than four months before he read his letter.

When she had left, after those first few days of shock, he had focused on his mother and father being together and being his family. While he was ignoring the signs around him, he was choosing to love his own life. He finally had it. The night his father proposed to his mother, he knew. He finally had everything.

He had everything he had ever wanted. A perfect family with a mother and father. He had Snow White and Prince Charming. He was a little prince among the greatest heroes. He was surrounded by love no matter where he turned and only when he was secure in that knowledge, did he pick up his letter and read it.

It was almost a casual deal for him. A spur of the moment decision. They had just come home from the celebration where his father asked Emma to be with him forever and she had accepted. He was used to seeing what he wanted and so when Emma said yes, that was that. They were to be married. The happy ending was truly here. He ignored everything else. So did his entire family.

He was too excited to sleep. While he laid in bed, he remembered the letter. It was late, he was tired, and in his mind, it would help to cement everything into place. Just say goodbye to her forever and he would stop having dreams about the woman that adopted and loved him his whole life. Just read the words and her face would stop popping into his mind while he was trying to enjoy his perfect family.

He grabbed it and tore it open finally, after the four month long delay. He sat back down on his bed and looked straight at the words.

Dear Henry,

I love you. I always have. I always will. It is something I cannot help. In my heart, you are my son. That is why I have made this decision. You and I both deserve a chance at happiness. I want you to be happy, Henry. I wish you all the happiness in the world.

Goodbye Henry

That was it.

Henry just kept staring. He had expected a lengthy recollection of their years together. He expected excuses and answers for her behavior. He expected pleading and begging for love and forgiveness. He expected something…Anything more…

He didn't sleep after that. He just kept looking back at the letter and then staring at the ceiling. She was gone. She was actually gone and not coming back. He just couldn't quite wrap his head around it.

It took him a month to sneak into Emma's office and read her letter.

Henry knew it was wrong. He was more than aware that this broke her trust. Both his mothers' trust actually, at the same time and on so many levels. But he still went to her office. He still used the key he stole and he still opened the cabinet. He ignored his own gut telling him that this was not okay and he took the envelope. He sat at her desk and he opened the letter. He took a deep breath and he read.

Over the next year and a half, his emotions regarding that letter would take a few turns. But when he finished reading it that day in Emma's office, he couldn't pretend he didn't feel like he had just been sucker punched in the gut.

-Present Day-

Henry paced around the motel room feeling completely bored. All the excitement of each piece of the plan falling into place dissipated as he found himself with absolutely nothing to do. He hadn't quite thought it all through as much as he assumed. He spent so much time planning his trip from Storybrooke, getting into school, getting into a motel, all without anyone realizing the teenager had no adult supervision whatsoever, that he didn't really account for what he would exactly be doing once he was here.

He didn't want to just barge in and reveal himself. He knew he needed a plan. If he just knocked on her door, there was a good chance he'd be on the first bus back to Main and then grounded for the rest of his life. He couldn't disrupt and upset everyone and gain nothing. That was unacceptable.

He had a mission. No matter what, he would accomplish it.

Henry repeated the same routine the next few days. He just wanted to watch for a moment and try to fit in with his surroundings. California was an interesting place. You could be loud and crazy and take attention, or you could hide behind those people and go unnoticed. Henry found it relatively easy to stay out of sight and blend into the background. For that, he was grateful.

He got to school early enough to watch all the parents and busses drop off students. He didn't have to wait too long until he saw the Mercedes pull up. Luca jumped out the back, followed by that other kid he kept seeing. That red headed boy made it all the way to the walkway before stopping and running back to the car. It looked like Regina was joking with him as he came back out of the car laughing, a lunch bag in hand.

It was a curious sight and it repeated in a similar fashion the next day. As did the lunch time and pickup routine in the afternoon. Regina and her friend waited for the boys outside the school and they drove off all together. On the fourth day, while watching over Luca at lunch, a random kid sat down at Henry's table. He looked up startled.

"Sorry, is this seat taken?" A boy he recognized from several of his classes pointed and Henry shook his head.

"No, you can have it." He said and the other kid sat down.

"You're Henry right?"

"Um yeah. What's your name?"

"John. So…you don't really talk to anyone." He said simply and Henry just nodded a little awkwardly.

"Yeah, well, I'm new." He shrugged.

"Right. Where'd you come from?"

"Uh…Maine." Henry hadn't completely thought of everything he would tell people. He went back and forth on using his real name, but he wasn't about to use Swan and making something up completely seemed silly in his situation.

"Why'd you move here?" He pushed on and Henry almost wanted to tell him it was none of his business. But then maybe it wouldn't hurt to have someone to talk to.

"Um…I have some family stuff going on." He said, hoping the allusive answer would suffice. He decided to jump in before John had a chance to continue. "So how long have you lived here?"

"My whole life."

"Cool, you play any sports?" He pushed on.

"No, I hate sports." He said and Henry didn't doubt that. His long hair and piercing didn't exactly scream jock.

"Oh, I just wondered because it looks like a lot if kids here do. I see a lot of those." He pointed as a younger boy with a haircut mirroring Luca's walked by.

"Yeah, that's one of the soccer teams. I don't know what their problem is." He rolled his eyes.

"Well they are the Sharks, right?" Henry asked, having noticed all the symbols of school spirit around. "It's kind of clever." He shrugged and ignored the look John gave him. "When uh…when do they play?" He asked, hoping to get a chance to see Regina again.

"I don't know man, I don't watch a bunch of boys running around playing with balls. There's schedules up around the school." He said and Henry really wasn't terribly surprised this kid didn't have others to sit with. The bell sounded and Henry was relieved.

"Well thanks." Henry stood and made his way out of the cafeteria.

Sure enough, there was a game happening that night. After school, Henry decided to forego waiting outside to watch Regina show up and instead stayed in the library to do school work. He figured if he was here, no matter how long that was, he might as well at least try.

When he was done, he made his way to the fields. As he had inside the school, he kept out of sight. He approached from the outside, a hat down on his head and sunglasses to help conceal himself. He was early, hoping to see them when they got there, but then he should have assumed. His mother had always been more than punctual.

Henry stayed off to the side, taking a seat on some bleachers and turned his body to face her. Regina was standing towards the line, chatting with a group of other woman while the kids on the field warmed up. Again, he was just so caught off guard by her demeanor. She was smiling and laughing unguarded. She continuously glanced back at the field towards Luca, but still maintained conversations with everyone.

When she looked at Luca, she had such a proud expression. He recognized that look. Once upon a time, it was aimed at him. Long before now. Long before he called her Evil. Before he turned his back on her. Before he left her for a better family. Before he lost her.

He had that same feeling now that he had grown accustomed to. That gnawing, twisting feeling in his gut that used to make him throw up. That now only served as a reminder of his failings. He wondered if would ever go away. Maybe if he was successful.

He watched the whole game. He had thought he wouldn't look away from Regina, but he found himself actually watching the players on the field. Luca was, admittedly, phenomenal. Henry had never watched him back in Storybrooke, so now was the first time he saw the boy in action.

Despite his usually childish and carefree attitude, in the game, he was focused. He was determined. He was a team player. He was good, not only at scoring, but leading the other boys. Passing it at the right time and encouraging them to make a shot. Henry really understood that look on Regina's face.

The longer he sat there, the harder time he had not going to them. The energy radiating from them was drawing him in and he stood up once, nearly walking right up to Regina and tapping her on the shoulder. It was extremely temping.

He wasn't even sure what he was waiting for exactly. Seeing them so happy changed things. He wasn't naïve or conceded enough to assume they were miserable, but the unabashed joy was a little unexpected. In fact, the more he watched, the less sure he was about his presence here.

But then he wasn't going back now. It wasn't just the length of the travel distance. It hadn't just taken him three days to get here. It had taken him two years.

The game ended and all the boys gathered. After a quick talk from their coach, Luca ran to Regina and she pulled him tightly into her arms. Henry didn't even realize he had stood again. He didn't know his legs were moving. It wasn't until he actually bumped into someone's chair that he realized how close he was.

Regina and Luca turned and Henry blinked out of it. He saw her face shifting to aim his way and reacted, stepping quickly behind some passersby and then ducked behind a wall they walked past. He felt a little ridiculous about this, but he just wasn't ready. All the excitement from his arrival here was gone. The moment he'd been preparing for, for the last month was here and he didn't know what to do.

He peeked cautiously around the corner and held his breath as Regina, with her arm around Luca, approached only feet from where he was. He saw her face so clearly, the beautiful smile so close.

"So do we get to stay late tonight? Because it is the weekend now." Luca asked and they were just coming past Henry when Regina responded.

"Yes, actually Susan said you could stay the night if you want. Just remember we're going to the center tomorrow for the opening." Regina replied and Henry strained his neck to see her as they finally passed.

That was the first time he had heard her voice in years. It was just as he remembered, but that didn't make the feeling any less intense. It was almost like the day he had gone back to the mansion and went into her room. It wasn't long after reading her letter to Emma. He had only gone there to retrieve some more of his things, but he couldn't help himself. He had stepped into her immaculate room. He sat on her bed and remembered the times she would let him sleep with her when he had a nightmare, or a storm scared him awake and he needed her comfort.

She had never hesitated. She always just lifted him up and covered him in the blanket before wrapping him into her arms. He had been so young and taken those moments for granted. That moment, sitting in her room, was one of those times the twisting in his gut led him running for the nearest bathroom.

Henry caught his breath and watched them leave. He went from the high of everything going right, to just feeling lost again. He watched them get into the car and still considered just running up to them. Just saying hi and going from there. But he couldn't do that. He still needed to find the right moment. He wasn't ready.

Only after they disappeared, did he finally step away from the wall. He walked the mile back to his motel, his mind working the whole way. He needed something to focus on. Once inside, he grabbed his computer and set his mind on discovering whatever "center" it was his mother had mentioned.

I'll fill in deeper than that, i just want to start giving some glimpses. Next chapter we'll be back to Regina and Luca and meet the mysterious Lilly :)