A/N: This was originally going to be all one chapter, but it was TOO long, so I thought I'd do two chapters instead for the pilot episode and to make it up to you guys so you don't have to wait so long, that you get a double update, so enjoy this and I'll see you in the next update. Hope you're enjoying what you're seeing so far though!

Soon, the two Mills siblings came out the door and went to the streets of Storybrooke. As it was a weekday morning, it seemed that everyone else in town was going about their usual business. Evie glanced around as something seemed strange today, though it was nothing out of the ordinary, it began to feel like she had experienced this day before and was probably a classical case of déjà vu with familiar sights all around, especially with the mysterious old man known as Mr. Gold, limping to his shop while everyone else tried to avoid eye contact or anything to do with him like he was the dreaded shark in the dark depths of the ocean, ready to attack whenever necessary.

Old Man Marco was shown to be standing on his ladder while struggling to repair a sign. "That should hold you." he then muttered to himself.

Evie glanced at him before looking over at the diner as a certain young woman in red was speaking with an older woman.

"I cannot believe you put me on the early shift."

"Not my fault you stayed out all night. When I put over easy on the menu, I was talking about the eggs!"

"Morning, Evie. Morning, Henry." Dr. Hopper greeted as he walked by with his pet Dalmatian.

"Erm... Good morning, Dr. Hopper." Evie nodded to him.

Henry didn't really say anything, but looked down at Pongo with a small smile.

"Beautiful day, isn't it?" Dr. Hopper then asked.

"Yes... It's nice... It's lovely..." Evie agreed before she held her head and rubbed it before she suddenly stopped walking, prompting Henry to do the same.

"Evie... Are you okay?" Henry asked his sister. "Is something wrong?"

"I-I'm fine, Henry... I'm just having a bit of... Of déjà vu." Evie explained as calmly as possible.

"Bless you." Henry then said.

"No, Henry," Evie replied with a light chuckle. "That just means I feel like I've experienced all of this before."

"Well... You sometimes walk me to school whenever Graham or Mom doesn't drive us," Henry reminded lightly before shrugging. "...Maybe it just feels familiar like that?"

"I... I guess so..." Evie said to him before smiling. "It's probably nothing."

Henry shrugged at her before looking at the pink pin on her uniform's blazer. "...Is that a Pinkettes' pin?" he then asked knowingly.

"Huh? Oh... Yes, it is..." Evie said before nodding. "Scarlet says if I ever wanna be her friend, I'm gonna have to wear it whenever she and the other girls do so that I can be an official Pinkette like them."

"I don't like those Pinkette girls," Henry frowned. "They sound kinda mean whenever you talk about them in school, especially Scarlet."

"Oh, Henry... That's just what teenage girls do with each other," Evie sighed as she explained to him as they continued on their way to school. "It's all about being friends."

Henry still looked like he had his doubts.

"Look, if a friend likes a pencil case, you get it for them. If your friend likes your new shoes, you give them to her. And if a friend wants you to steal something from Mr. Gold's pawnshop because they dared you, even if you don't really want to, you do it, okay?" Evie explained to him through the mind of a teenage girl. "Because if you don't, they might not want to be your friend anymore. It's all part of growing up, kiddo, and people need to grow up. You'll understand someday when you're older."

Henry heaved a sharp sigh. "Fine." he then said.

"Fine." Evie nodded firmly before they soon began to make it over to the elementary school.

"Good morning, Henry. Good to see you." Ms. Blanchard greeted, trying to look as happy and friendly as possible once she saw the boy.

Henry didn't say anything to her and just walked on past her into the doors of the school with his head down low.

"...Is he okay?" Ms. Blanchard asked Evie quietly in concern.

"To be honest with you, I don't really know anymore," Evie said before sighing sharply with a shrug. "It's a bit of a complicated story."

"Did you guys get in a fight with your mother?" Ms. Blanchard then guessed.

"That's complicated too, Ms. Blanchard," Evie said with a sigh. "I'm trying my best to keep Henry out of trouble and cheer him up, especially with this new fairy tale obsession that you helped start and he's starting to think that fairy tales actually happened and that we're all under some sort of dark curse or something."

Ms. Blanchard soon frowned a bit.

"Look, I don't know the full details, but like I said, it's complicated," Evie said. "I better get to class. If I'm late for Chemistry, Mr. Deley will toast me alive."

"...Okay," Ms. Blanchard said with a small nod. "...Are you sure you wanna go to school today though? You look a little pale. Erm... Paler than usual... No offense, of course."

"I'm fine... I just gotta get to school..." Evie told her before walking off a bit coldly.

Ms. Blanchard frowned in slight concern before thinking of something. "...Well, maybe this little project before recess will help cheer Henry up a little bit. We're going to be building birdhouses today." she then said, making Evie stop in her tracks.

"...What did you say?" Evie asked suddenly.

"We're making birdhouses," Ms. Blanchard repeated with a small smile. "I thought it would be cute and help teach the children responsibility and be a nice little craft."

"...Didn't you guys make birdhouses last week or something?" Evie asked as she slowly turned around to the woman.

"What?" Ms. Blanchard blinked, feeling confused herself, though it seemed like Evie was the strange one in this argument. "Actually, our last assignment was a Family Tree project. Don't you remember? Henry didn't hand that in because, well... Well, you know."

Evie then rubbed her head as she suddenly looked very confused.

"...Evie, are you feeling okay?" Ms. Blanchard asked out of concern. "You really don't look so good right now."

"I-I'm fine... I just could've sworn you guys did birdhouses already." Evie said to the schoolteacher as calmly as possible.

Ms. Blanchard frowned before she thought about something. "I think I know what this is," she then said. "You're probably just remembering when you did a birdhouse project too when you were Henry's age. Yours was so cute," she then beamed and giggled a little bit. "I even remember how you tried to put in a jacuzzi and make your birdhouse into like a birdmansion like Barbie's Dream House or something."

"Oh... Uh... Right... Maybe that was it..." Evie smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of her head. "...I'm sorry, Ms. Blanchard. I should get to class though. This is a very big test."

"Of course... You're probably just overwhelmed because of the test, even though you do so well in Mr. Deley's class," Ms. Blanchard said calmly and patiently. "You better run along now. I'll look after Henry for you while you're in your own school."

"Okay. Thanks, Ms. Blanchard," Evie said with a small smile. "...You know, you'd make a wonderful mother someday."

"Oh... Thank you, dear," Ms. Blanchard smiled back as she put her hand to her heart, feeling amazed by that statement. "I think you would too since you're such a good big sister to Henry."

"All right... I better get going then," Evie said as she walked off. "I wish that talking to my mom was easy as it is talking to you."

Ms. Blanchard waved goodbye as she went to tend to her other students while Evie went to her own school of Storybrooke High.

LATER AT STORYBROOKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL...

"As we build our birdhouses, remember: what you're making is a home. Not a cage. A bird is free, and will do what it will. This is for them, not us," Ms. Blanchard began to tell her students as she held a bird in her hands as gently as possible. "They're loyal creatures." she then released the bird out the open window.

The bird then flew out the window and flew up into a birdhouse beside the window.

"If you love them and they love you, they will always find you." Ms. Blanchard then advised her students.

The bell soon rang which made the students rise up out of their desks and begin to leave the classroom.

"We'll pick this up after recess. No running!" Ms. Blanchard told her students before warning them and smiled as she accepted a pear instead of the traditional apple from one of her students. "Why thank you!"

Regina then suddenly came into the room just as the students left.

"...Miss Mills, what are you doing here?" Ms. Blanchard asked out of confusion.

"Where's my son?" Regina demanded.

"Henry... I assumed he was home with you and Evie?" Ms. Blanchard then replied, feeling even more confused.

"You think I'd be here if he was?" Regina scoffed before gesturing to Emma who was standing in the doorway. "Did you give them your credit card so they can find her?"

Ms. Blanchard looked at Emma, looking quite puzzled. "...I'm sorry, who are you?" she then asked.

"I'm... I'm his-" Emma began to try to explain as best as she could, but it was a bit complicated.

"The woman who gave Henry up for adoption." Regina finished sharply.

"...You don't know anything about this, do you?" Emma asked Ms. Blanchard as calmly as she could.

"No, unfortunately not," Ms. Blanchard said before looking for her credit card, but then did see that it was there. "Well, mine's here... I guess Evie used her own?" she then replied.

Regina narrowed her eyes sternly.

"Erm... I'm sorry," Ms. Blanchard said, nervous of Regina's dark and icy gaze. "...Clever boy. I should never have given him that book." she then muttered to herself.

Regina began to get even more annoyed now. "What in the hell is this book I keep hearing about?" she then demanded.

"Just some old stories I gave him," Ms. Blanchard explained calmly. "As you well know, Henry is a special boy: so smart, so creative, and as you might be aware, lonely. He needed it."

"What he needs is dose of reality and he's even dragging Evie down with him. This is a waste of time," Regina rolled her eyes before facing Emma. "Have a nice trip back to Boston." she then added before walking out in a huff, knocking over a stack of books on the way.

Ms. Blanchard suddenly rushed over to go and pick them up, so Emma rushed in after her to help her out.

"Sorry to bother you." Emma said to the woman as calmly as possible.

"No, i-it's okay, I fear this is partially my fault." Ms. Blanchard replied, trying not to tremble.

"How's a book supposed to help?" Emma then had to ask, referring to Henry's book that he took with him practically everywhere.

"What do you think stories are for? These stories? The classics? There's a reason we all know them," Ms. Blanchard explained, sounding a bit passionate now. "They're a way for us to deal with our world. A world that doesn't always make sense. See, Henry hasn't had the easiest life." she then added before they left the classroom and came to walk down the hallway.

"Yeah, Regina's kind of a hard-ass and I'm a little unsure about his sister." Emma scoffed.

"No, it's more than them," Ms. Blanchard remarked. "He's like any adopted child. He wrestles with that most basic question they all inevitably face: why would anyone give me away?" she then added.

Emma seemed to frown at that question.

Ms. Blanchard then realized what she said. "I am so sorry," she then said to the other woman. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean in any way to judge you-"

"It's okay." Emma replied softly.

"Look, I gave the book to him because I wanted Henry to have the most important thing anyone can have; hope," Ms. Blanchard then explained calmly. "Believing in even the possibility of a happy ending is a very powerful thing."

Emma then had a knowing look on her face. "You know where he is, don't you?" she then asked calmly.

"You might want to check his castle," Ms. Blanchard suggested. "Evie might be with him too, she's been acting strange lately too. Not as strange as Henry with his new fairy tale obsession, but still... She's probably just overwhelmed with the pressures of pretty much raising her little brother since their mother is so busy being the Mayor of Storybrooke."

Emma looked thoughtful before simply nodding at the short-haired woman.

Evie was very lucky when she made it to school. She looked around as she came in through the doors and sighed in relief as she saw that everyone was still in the hallway and the bell didn't ring yet. She could not be late to class, especially for Mr. Deley's Chemistry Class. While she enjoyed the class very much, tardiness in his class would be a grave mistake for anyone who would dare make it and he would often make students come to school Saturday morning to do a make-up test if they were late and locked outside of the classroom. Evie had only been late a couple of times and unfortunately, not even being a responsible big sister to Henry and obedient daughter to Mayor Regina Mills would be enough of an excuse to get her out of trouble, especially from Principal Hoffman.

Evie soon rushed on over to her locker and tried to take a deep breath and stay calm, hoping that Henry would stay in school this time and that she would be able to have a normal day in school and maybe not hear about Fairy Tales for a while or at least be made fun of by it. Luckily, no one would ever make fun of Evie or Henry in public, especially with their mother who would be on look-out if she happened to be there and it was one of the reasons why the two siblings barely had any friends in Storybrooke, though more Henry than Evie as she was able to make friends with other kids in her early childhood such as Ben Gold, Chad Herman, Melody Summerfield, and hopefully, of course, Scarlet and The Pinkettes.

"Nice to see you're on time today, Miss Mills." Mr. Deley greeted his student.

"Erm... Yes, Mr. Deley, of course," Evie nodded as she came into the classroom. "I wouldn't miss this test for the world."

"I sure hope not," Mr. Deley nodded. "Especially since it counts for 58% of your grade and that goes double for all of you." he then reminded his students in the room, making some of them flinch nervously in fear of failing.

Evie then came to take her seat before Mr. Deley gave her her test packet as the clock hands went into position, prompting the teacher to close and lock the door as the class bell rang.

"You know the rules by now when we started class last month," Mr. Deley began to tell his students as he stood at the front of the classroom. "Eyes on your own paper, no talking, when you're done, bring your papers up to the front of the classroom and you may sit or read quietly. You have 30 minutes and cheating will most definitely not be tolerated. And... Begin." he then said before he began to wind up a timer before he set it down and it instantly began to tick rather loudly with other sounds being heard such as coughing or squeaking from other classrooms and the ticking of the clock up above in the classroom.

And then suddenly, every student suddenly took out their pencils and quickly began to work on their tests. Evie sighed as she held her head and began to look over her test paper. She found herself a little bit distracted as she thought about what was going on in Storybrooke now, especially with Henry, but she did her best on her test, answering the questions that she knew right away and some students looked envious as she flipped to the next page rather quickly, but it was mostly because she was doing the easy ones first before coming back to the hard questions.

She was feeling concerned about him and found herself chewing on her eraser until suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Some other students looked up and over as Mr. Deley seemed to mutter a curse word to himself before he stood up and answered the door, looking rather cranky at the interruption and stepped outside the room and shut the door behind him. The principal came to the door and talked with Mr. Deley quietly before the teacher soon came back into the room and spoke suddenly.

"Miss Mills." Mr. Deley called sharply.

Evie let out a small squeak as that startled her before she looked up and over, facing him with wide eyes and nearly looked like a deer caught in headlights.

"Apparently you are dismissed," Mr. Deley told the girl. "There's been a family emergency. You can finish your test another day."

Evie gulped before nodding as she stood up and shrugged before she went to do what Mr. Deley asked of her, though she looked concerned and wondered what the big family emergency could've been.

Henry was soon shown to be sitting with Evie on the wooden playground castle together, neither one knowing that they were about to receive some company.

"You know you nearly got me busted in school," Evie said softly. "I was in the middle of taking one of the biggest tests of my life."

"I'm sorry, I'll make it up to you later, I promise." Henry replied.

Emma was soon shown to be coming over with a certain book in her hands. "You left this in my car," she said before giving it to Henry. "...Still hasn't moved, huh?" she then asked.

"I was hoping that when I brought you back, things would change here," Henry explained to the blonde woman. "That the final battle will begin."

"Henry..." Evie sighed in the background.

"I'm not fighting any battles, kid." Emma told the boy.

"Yes, you are. You're here because it's your destiny," Henry urged. "You're going to bring back the happy endings and for the descendants like Evie."

"Can you cut it with the book crap?" Emma asked rather bluntly.

"Emma..." Evie frowned as she didn't like Henry being spoken to like that.

"You don't have to be hostile. I know you like me, I can tell. You're just pushing me away because I make you feel guilty," Henry told Emma calmly then. "It's okay; I know why you gave me away. You wanted to give me my best chance."

Emma paused as that seemed to touch her deep inside somehow. "...How do you know that?" she then asked.

"Isn't that what you said about Snow White and her baby?" Evie asked her little brother.

"It is and that baby was Emma." Henry nodded.

"Listen to me, kid. I am not in any book. I'm a real person and so is your sister. And I'm no savior," Emma sighed as she tried to make Henry understand. "You were right about one thing, though. I wanted you to have your best chance, but it's not with me. C'mon, let's go."

"Please don't take me back there!" Henry begged as he backed away before Emma could make him go with her. "Just stay with me for one week, that's all I ask! One week, and you'll see I'm not crazy."

Emma sighed to him. "I have to get you back to your mom." she then said as calmly as possible.

"You don't know what it's like with her," Henry complained. "My life sucks! The only good thing about it is Evie!"

"Aww..." Evie smiled softly as that made her feel a little bit good.

"Oh, you wanna know what sucking is?" Emma groaned and rolled her eyes before glaring. "Being left abandoned on the side of a freeway; my parents didn't even bother to drop me off at a hospital!" she then continued as she began to break down a little before Evie cupped her mouth a little bit. "I ended up in a foster system and I had a family until I was 3 but then they had their own kid so they sent me back," she then suddenly stopped to collect herself before trying to reason with Henry. "Look. Your mom is trying her best. I know it's hard. And I know sometimes you think she doesn't love you, but at least she wants you."

"Your parents didn't leave you on the side of the freeway; that's just where you came through!" Henry then told Emma.

"What...?" Emma asked.

"Okay, I think I remember this story," Evie spoke up. "There was a wardrobe like in The Chronicles of Narnia, right?"

"Yes!" Henry nodded, glad that she was paying attention to at least some of the stories that he shared with her ever since he got this book. "When you went through the wardrobe you appeared on the side of the street," he then told Emma. "Your parents were trying to save you from the curse."

"Sure they were. C'mon, Henry." Emma said with a scoff before taking his hand and they walked off, prompting Evie to go after them.

"Thank goodness that Mr. Deley is gonna give me another chance about that test," Evie sighed to herself. "I doubt Mr. Deley would do that to any of his other students."

"Easy for you to say, you're probably his favorite student," Henry replied. "I hear the big kids say that he's very ruthless and doesn't take junk from anybody."

"Trust me, you do not wanna see him angry," Evie advised. "Lemme guess though; he was a fire-breathing dragon in The Fairy Tale World too, right?" she then asked with a small smirk.

"Maybe... I'll have to look that one up later." Henry shrugged.

"Henry..." Evie rolled her eyes playfully a bit.

Soon, they were back at the mayor's house.

Regina opened the door to find that Emma was escorting Henry and Evie back home as the boy ran inside. "Thank you." she then told the blonde woman.

"No problem." Emma replied.

Regina nodded before looking at Evie. "Your teacher says you can retake your test... Apparently, you suddenly had to leave?" she then prompted.

"Yeah... I was apparently called away on a family emergency during Mr. Deley's test," Evie groaned before nodding. "I'm just glad he's not gonna bury me alive for that interruption that I couldn't control."

"You're one of his best students, so I guess he decided to give you a break," Regina replied. "Well, you better get a jump start on your own homework and if Henry needs your help, give him some."

"Yes, ma'am," Evie nodded before she came in after her little brother. "Later, Miss Swan."

"See ya, Evie." Emma told the girl as she went inside the house.

"They seem to have taken quite a shine to you." Regina then told Emma.

Emma suddenly started to laugh bashfully. "You know it seems kind of crazy. Yesterday was my birthday. And when I blew out the candle on this cupcake I bought myself, I actually made a wish. That I didn't have to be alone on my birthday," she then said to the black-haired woman. "And then Henry and Evie showed up-"

"I hope there's no misunderstanding here." Regina then suddenly interrupted.

"...I'm sorry?" Emma asked in concern.

"Don't mistake all of this as invitation back into Henry's life." Regina explained firmly.

"Oh..." Emma said softly.

"Miss Swan, you made a decision 10 years ago. And in the last decade, while you've been; well, who knows that you've been doing; I've changed every diaper, soothed every fever, endured every tantrum," Regina then told the blonde woman rather coldly. "You may have given birth to him, but he is my son."

"I was not-" Emma started with a frown.

"No. You don't get to speak; you don't get to do anything," Regina retorted bluntly. "You gave up that right when you tossed him away. Do you know what a closed adoption is? It's what you asked for. You have no legal right to Henry, and you're gonna be held to that. So I suggest you get in your car, and you leave this town. Because if you don't, I will destroy you if it is the last thing I do. Goodbye, Miss Swan." she then said firmly as she began to leave.

Emma watched her go, but she then suddenly thought about something. "Do you love them?"

This made Regina stop in her tracks before she turned around. "Excuse me?" she then demanded.

"The kids... Do you love them?" Emma reminded before repeating her question.

"Of course I love them." Regina defended.

Emma looked visibly troubled before she soon left for a new place to sleep for the night and at least six more afterward. Regina then took Henry's book without him noticing, and stood, watching herself hold it in the mirror in a rather mysterious way.

Inside the new place, it was a Bed & Breakfast, owned by a woman who was known by all as Granny and not just her granddaughter, Ruby Lucas, who she was currently arguing with right now.

"You're out all night, and now you're going out again."

"I should've moved to Boston!"

"I'm sorry that my heart attack interfered with your plans to sleep your way down the Eastern Seaboard!"

"'Scuse me? I'd... Like a room?" Emma spoke up as she came between the two women who were going at it and they seemed to be related.

"Really?" Granny asked, surprised at the request.

Emma merely nodded in response.

Granny then dashed off and brought out a book suddenly, coming behind her desk. "Would you like a forest view or a square view?" she then asked as calmly as she could. "Normally there's an upgrade fee for the square, but as the rent is due, I'll wave it."

"Square is fine." Emma reassured.

Granny nodded before taking out a pen, getting ready to write something down. "Now. What's the name?" she then prompted.

"Swan. Emma Swan." The blonde woman answered casually.

"Emma..." A voice said from right behind, making all of the women land eyes right behind Emma and in front of Granny, showing to be a certain suited man who had a bone-chilling smile on his face and appeared to have a boy that was Evie's age beside him who looked like he was trying very hard not to smile. "What a lovely name."

"Thanks." Emma replied to the strange man.

"Excuse us, Mrs. Lucas, but do you have what my father asks for?" The teenage boy asked, trying to sound stoic and look as stone-faced as a gargoyle.

"It's all here." Granny said as she soon brought out a roll of cash, handing it over to the man and the boy.

"Yes, yes, of course, it is, dear. Thank you," The man said, accepting the money without even counting it as he faced the blonde woman ominously. "You enjoy your stay, Emma."

The boy blinked before he then gave in and showed a smile, exposing his teeth to her. "Welcome to Storybrooke, Miss Swan."

"Uh, thanks, kid." Emma said to him then, feeling slightly spooked out by the man and the boy.

"Benjamin..." The man called sternly, making the boy freeze up as he seemed to do something wrong. "What did I tell you about what to do when we come to collect the rent?"

"Not to do it while smiling otherwise it shows weakness, Dad." The boy recited from memory.

"Precisely... Now come along, we have other people t say and you have homework once we get back home," The man nodded at his son as he left with him. "Make sure you do it all and no cheating."

"Yes, Dad. Sorry, Dad." Ben nodded as he followed after his father, looking like a well-oiled machine. Almost like an emotionless robot.

"Who were they?" Emma asked after seeing the man and his son.

"Mr. Gold and his son, Ben," Ruby said as she watched through the curtains as the father and son soon left the inn. "They own this place."

"The inn?" Emma asked.

"No, the town," Granny clarified. "How long will you be with us?" she then prompted the blonde woman.

"A week. Just a week." Emma stated and nodded.

"Great," Granny replied, handing Emma an old-fashioned key to her new room for the time being. "Welcome to Storybrooke."

Emma then accepted the key and went to get settled into her new temporary home.

Meanwhile, Evie was on her way to her bedroom and came to check on her little brother who was wide awake. "Henry?" she then asked softly.

"Evie, look, I wanna show you something," Henry urged his big sister. "Come on. Hurry!"

Evie looked over before shrugging and she then walked on over to join Henry's side out the window. She then tilted her head as she hunched down to see what he was looking at before he pointed out the clock tower. The clock's hands soon jerked and moved a little bit before it was soon 8:16 on the clock.

"Talk about a miracle," Evie remarked. "The clock tower is working for the first time since... Forever."

"Not a miracle, Evie. Magic," Henry said with a small grin. "Things are going to start changing around here."

"Hmm... I don't know about all of that..." Evie said, though noticed his grin which began to make her smile too a bit. "...Are you happy now, Henry?" she then asked.

"Very happy, Evie," Henry nodded. "I just know that Emma is going to save everybody."

Evie still looked unsure about Emma saving everyone like Henry believed her to be, but she smiled as she saw that Herny was being happy and friendly again. "Whatever you say, kiddo. Whatever you say." she then said softly.