I'm not exactly done with the entire story, but I'm a good 18 chapters in so that means everytime I finish a chapter I'll go ahead and update. Thank you to everyone who has been following this journey and I hope this rewrite does the first"Queen Without A Crown" justice. Like I've said, that was my first story after a very long hiatus and my writing style is so much different now. There's so much I wished I did differently or wanted to add. So here it is, the first chapter.


Title - A Queen Without A Crown - Rewrite

Setting - Season 1, the pilot and it goes into an alternate universe

Chapter 1 Welcome to Storybrooke

It was late… too late for Emma Swan to be driving from Boston to Maine to find a town she's never even heard of. She always knew this day would come. The day her son would find her. The day where she would have to answer to him. She just never knew it would be this soon. He was only 10, and he somehow found her and hopped a bus to Boston. Then again, it was exactly what she would have done long ago, when she had been young and desperately looking for her own parents. She had searched for so long until she realized either they were no longer alive, or they just didn't want to be found. She had given up, and since then had drifted from the desire to find them. Instead, she fell into a comfortable lonely cycle of just living day by day as a bail bonds person. She hardly even realized her 28th birthday had snuck up on her.

She glanced over at the young boy in the passenger seat of her old yellow volkswagen. He was shifting through the pages of an old fairytale book, finally having quieted down. He's been ranting about curses, evil queens, princesses and saviors. He believed she was some kind of savior meant to break a curse over the town she was driving to, and it broke her heart, because she was anything but a hero. She was just a lost girl who never found her parents, and who had given up her only son. Despite it being a closed adoption, she found herself wanting to know more about the little boy she had given up all those years ago, but she needed to keep herself from connecting because then it would only be another loss after dropping him off at his doorstep.

She needed to stay focused, and not let him get to her head. He probably had parents worried sick over him right now.

"There!" Henry was suddenly pointing straight ahead at a sign up in the distance. She squinted, trying to read it before her headlights shined upon it and she was able to see the big white letters, Welcome to Storybrooke, illuminated in front of her.

He was actually telling her the truth. Storybrooke did exist, and she couldn't help but think how strange it was that he was obsessed with fairytales, and happened to live in a small town that no one has heard of, called Storybrooke.

They made it through town, and Emma was actually surprised. It was an actual town, and a bit picturesque, like it came out of a storybook. Maybe, the kid was right with the fairytale theory, she couldn't help but humor herself.

"Alright kid, what about an address?" she asked, ready to drop him off, and move on with her night.

"Forty four not telling you street!"

Emma stopped the car right in front of the clock tower. She was quickly losing her patience at this point. She got out of the car and slammed the door shut. Henry followed, got out as well and walked around the car to meet her.

"Look! It's been a long night and it's almost…" She looked at the clock tower. That couldn't be right. "8:15?"

"That clock hasn't moved my whole life. Time is frozen here."

"Or maybe the gears are rusted," Emma muttered, looking at her phone to see it was well after 10pm.

"The Evil Queen did it with her curse. She sent everyone from the Enchanted Forest here."

"Hang on," she looked at him skeptically, unable to comprehend the nonsense coming out of his mouth. "The Evil Queen sent a bunch of storybook characters here?"

"And now they're trapped," Henry nodded.

"Really kid? Frozen in time, stuck in Storybrooke, Main. That's what you're going with?"

"It's true!"

"Then why doesn't everybody just leave?" she asked.

"They can't. If they try, bad things happen."

Emma didn't believe any of this. She was exhausted, hungry and cold, and in the middle of Maine and just about to find the sheriff station if this kid didn't tell her where he lived. Luckily for her, a red haired man with his dalmatian happened to walk by, his therapist to be exact. Apparently he left school early and skipped his session to find her. She also found out he was the mayor's kid. He must have a good life to be able to live with two parents in a mansion. Although she could see in his eyes, as she pulled up into Mifflin street, he was actually afraid of going back. Despite the crazy fairytales that spewed from his mouth, she was actually curious as to who exactly was raising her son. What had him so anxious to be returning home?

When she pulled up to the big white house, she could see a cop car parked outside. They were looking for him. She parked right in front, and got out without a word to him as he grumpily followed behind her.

"Please don't take me back there!"

"I have to. I'm sure your parents are worried sick about you," she said, stopping in the middle of the walkway to face him.

"I don't have parents! My dad doesn't even notice I exist, and my mom…" He trailed off, his hazel eyes suddenly full of grief. "She lied to me. She's evil!"

"Evil? That's a bit extreme, isn't it?" she asked, hands on her hips, because he really did have no idea what it was like to be in a foster home with evil foster parents that only saw you as a check, or at least she hoped he didn't. He was being extreme, but she could see the anger behind his words, and that was very real.

"She is," he sighed, the anger turning to a raw kind of grief that only came with betrayal. "She doesn't love me; She only pretends to."

"Oh kid…" she sighed, her heart breaking. "I'm sure that's not true."

"Henry?"

Before anything else could be said, the door had flown open and a brunette woman with shoulder length hair and dark eyes was rushing down the walkway with the sheriff behind her. Emma looked at her with wide eyes, her heart skipping a beat and she couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was. She was at a loss for words as the brunette pulled Henry into her arms and hugged him. She could see how worried and scared she was from her red watery eyes and deep worry lines on her face.

"Oh Henry!" she cried. "Are you ok? Where have you been?" He pulled away from her, and she stood, looking hurt from his rejection. "What happened?"

"I found my real mom!" he shouted and Emma was shocked at how malicious his tone was as he ran up the walkway and disappeared inside. The kid really did seem to hate his mom, who was currently frozen and staring at her as if she couldn't believe the words that Henry shouted at her. Her dark eyes regarded her fearfully, and Emma had never met anyone whose eyes were so expressive and deep with emotion. She felt as if she could get lost staring into them.

"You're Henry's birth mother?"

"Hi," Emma couldn't bring herself to say anything else. She felt her cheeks burning as the woman continued to scrutinize her. Maybe she had expected this day would come, where Henry would eventually bring his birth mother home? Maybe she had been dreading this day since she adopted him?

She hardly even registered the sheriff offering to go check on Henry. Her eyes met the woman's and she couldn't resist the pull of them, capturing her in their captivating gaze. She hadn't even realized they were alone, until the woman smiled, the distraught look that had been reflecting in those dark eyes was suddenly being masked by an emotionless expression she couldn't decipher.

"How'd you like a glass of the best apple cider you ever tasted?"

"Got anything stronger?"

The woman invited her in and Emma's eyes wandered around the beautiful mansion in amazement. She was just in the foyer but was already taking in the grand staircase, hardwood floors, and the beautiful shining chandelier above their heads as the sheriff came down the stairs and assured them Henry was fine.

She could hear them whispering behind her, only catching the woman's words, "Let him know he's safe and there's no need to rush home from his dinner party," before the sheriff verbally agreed and left the mansion for the night. She was too distracted by the beautiful home and her wandering thoughts on how Henry could take this for granted when she grew up with nothing, to even question who they were talking about.

The woman closed the door behind her, shaking her from her thoughts, and then held out her hand. Emma shook it, the warmth of her hand pulling her eyes from the house and back into those dark eyes. Only this time, she couldn't see an ounce of the fear and concern she had seen outside. It was like she was wearing an emotionless mask. Emma frowned in confusion, wondering if she was just imagining things, or this woman's walls were higher than her own.

"I'm Regina Mills, and as you may know by now, Henry's mother."

Emma didn't miss the emphasis on mother, like she was somehow trying to remind her in a passive aggressive way exactly who she was, and what Emma had given up 10 years ago. She didn't rise to the bait, and instead, masked her own emotions, suddenly closing herself off as well. She didn't want any part in Henry's life or his mother who happened to be gorgeous with deep dark eyes and warm hands.

She had one job to do tonight. Drop the kid off and leave.

"Swan," she said, keeping her tone neutral. "Emma Swan. How did he find me?" she asked as she followed Regina into what looked like a home office. She sat on the couch as the brunette prepared two glasses of cider from the minibar.

"No idea," she replied. "When we adopted him, he was only three weeks old. Records were sealed, we were told the birth mother didn't want to have any contact."

"You were told right," she nodded as Regina handed her a glass and sat on a brown leather recliner across from her, observing her with those eyes as if she were trying to look right through her.

"And the father?"

"There was one."

"Do I need to be worried about him?"

"Nope. Doesn't even know."

"Do I need to be worried about you, Miss Swan?"

"Absolutely not."

Regina was questioning her, which Emma completely understood. She was making sure she wasn't losing her son. Well she didn't have to worry about that, because she wasn't planning on sticking around. Henry seemed fine, angry at his mother and ranting about fairytales, sure, but otherwise fine. She took a sip of the cider, the taste deliciously tangy but strong. Definitely the best apple cider that she's ever tasted, compared to the cheap watered down versions she'd have at a bar.

"I'm sorry he dragged you out of your life. I really don't know what's gotten into him."

"Kids having a rough time. It happens."

"You have to understand, ever since my husband became mayor and with myself being a full time college professor, balancing things has been tricky. You have a job I assume?"

Husband? Where was he? She nearly forgot all about him, and then suddenly she remembered Henry mentioning how he barely noticed him. Maybe he hasn't been around much since being elected?

"Uh, I keep busy," her voice shook, her eyes roaming around for any sign of the mayor. There were no family photos.

"Imagine having another one on top of it," Regina continued. "That's being a mother. So I push forward. Am I strict? I suppose? But I do it for his own good. I want Henry to excel in life. I don't think that makes me evil, do you?"

Ah, so that's why Henry was frustrated. Aside from the adoption thing, Regina was probably a strict parent, and this was probably a classic case of rebellion. This was probably why he associated her with the Evil Queen in his book.

"I'm sure he's just saying that because of the fairytale thing."

"What fairytale thing?" she asked, genuinely confused, but Emma could see a small glimmer of suspicion in her eyes.

"Oh, you know his book," she said. "How he thinks everyone is a cartoon character from it. Like his shrink is Jiminy Cricket and you're…" She stopped, suddenly not wanting to offend her by calling her the Evil Queen.

"I'm sorry," she said, staring right through her and sitting up way too straight to be telling the truth. She might not know exactly what Emma was talking about, but she probably had some sort of clue. It would explain why she suddenly became so tense. "I really have no idea what you're talking about."

Emma took a large quick sip of her drink, finishing it in one shot and set the glass down. She felt she over welcomed her stay, and it was time to start heading back to Boston. Back to her lonely apartment. Back to wandering the streets for her targets, and maybe even back to wondering where her home was. Another birthday. Another year of being a lost girl.

"You know what, it's really none of my business." She stood, suddenly feeling way too warm in this grand house with its chandeliers and hardwood floors. "He's your kid, and I really should be heading back."

"Of course," Regina nodded, not arguing with her and politely showing her out.

That whole interaction had been strange. There was something about Regina Mills that Emma couldn't quite place. She had been worried as any mother would be when Henry had come home, but the moment she realized who Emma was, she had emotionally withdrawn from her, like she had shut all the doors to the walls she was hiding herself in. Emma could more than understand the need to shut people out, but there was something in her eyes that was more than being emotionally withdrawn. She suddenly remembered the whispered words she exchanged with the sheriff in the foyer, and realized just now, how her voice had sounded. She was fearful… of what? She wasn't sure. She had to be talking about her husband, but then it wouldn't explain the way her voice shook as she spoke about him.

Something had to be going on, but like she had claimed in the study, it wasn't her business. She brought back the kid and now it was time to head back. She walked down the walkway towards her yellow bug when she suddenly felt as if someone was watching her.

She wasn't sure why, but she kind of hoped it was the beautiful brunette; Because even through the tough exterior and cool professionalism she hid behind, she could see there was something more than Henry's rebellion that had shaken her tonight. She didn't miss the apprehensive whispers with the sheriff or the subtle glances she threw at the door as they talked. She was an enigma, and as much as Emma wanted to stick around and get to know Henry and the woman who had raised him, she knew she had to get back to her life.

She turned, looking up into one of the top windows, and even if it wasn't Regina, her heart melted to see her son gazing at her instead. The minute she caught him, he quickly closed the curtain. Her heart ached, just like it ached when she heard him cry for the first time in the hospital and she was too afraid to look at him. She couldn't let herself be involved in his life, because then it won't just be her getting hurt in the end, it would be Henry too.


The emotionless mask she had firmly in place darkened as she shut the door on the blonde stranger who had brought her son home. Regina had been sick with worry all day, and now that Henry was home and safe, she could feel her anger rising. The nerve of that boy! To be running off and taking a bus all the way to Boston to find the stranger that threw him away!

And on top of all that, she had to deal with her husband, Leopold Blanchard. She had to calm him down enough so that he wouldn't disrupt his evening and be here to scold Henry himself. She had insisted she had the situation under control.

She needed to calm herself.

She didn't want to go up there, yelling at him and making him hate her more than he already did. She planned on having a strict discussion with him, to make him understand just how dangerous it was for him to be running off like this. He was lucky he wasn't kidnapped or lost!

She needed air, so she found herself heading to the kitchen and stepping out into the backyard where she tended to her magnificent apple tree. It was cold, but it was exactly what she needed to calm the hot rage boiling inside her. She loved her son. She had been patient with his snarky and rude behavior for weeks, but this was the final straw. She would not tolerate him running away to different cities!

She wrapped her arms around herself, feeling goosebumps erupt on her skin, as she looked up through the leaves of her tree. She wished for strength to deal with her angry and rebellious son. She wished for strength to deal with her husband. A shiver of fear ran through her at the memory of his angry voice on the phone when she had called him to tell him Henry never made it to his session. As Mayor, he was too busy to leave the office, and after work he had a dinner party planned with associates. He was furious, but more furious that his plans were ruined. She had told him she had the situation under control and that he wouldn't have to disrupt his evening. He was still going to be angry when he got home, and in order to shield Henry from it, she planned to have him in bed and asleep so Leopold wouldn't disturb him.

It hurt that he was more angry at the possibility that his plans might be ruined, than being concerned for the safety of his son. He never once spent time with him, or even took an effort to get to know him since he was a baby. At this point, she felt like was a single mother. The anger started to fade into a deep heartbreak. It didn't matter that she held no love for husband. It mattered that he couldn't be the father Henry needed; The father that he had been when his daughter was a little girl. He had her on such a high pedestal with his first wife, that nobody else mattered to him; And it made her sick.

She sighed, closing her eyes against the moonlight, and letting the last of her anger wash away. It was time to talk to him. She opened her eyes and headed inside. Leopold wouldn't be home till close to midnight so she took her time in getting ready for bed, taking a shower and letting the warm water wash away the stress and extreme fear she felt today. Standing outside of Archie's office only for him to tell her he thought Henry was with her. Not knowing where Henry was, was the scariest moment of her life, and she's had a lot of them. By the time she was done, dressed in her robe with her silk nightgown underneath, and her hair brushed out, she knocked on his door.

"I don't want to talk!" he grumbled, but she opened the door anyway, not giving him a choice. He was lying on his bed, facing away from the door. She came in and sat on the edge, wishing he'd look at her.

"What were you thinking?" she asked him, her voice stern but gentle.

He didn't answer.

"Henry?"

He was ignoring her, so she stood and walked around the bed to find his face full of tears. Her heart melted, hating that he was hurt and angry all because of her; because she loved him so much she was too afraid to tell him the truth until he had been snooping in the closet for his birthday present and found his adoption papers. He was shocked and angry of course, and when his defiance against her became worse, she put him in therapy which didn't seem to be helping at all. In fact it was getting worse, and now he was running off and taking buses to Boston.

She knelt before him and she was grateful that he didn't turn away from her. She gently dried his tears, looking into those hazel eyes that used to look at her with nothing but love. Not the cold hard defiance they now held.

"I could have lost you," she whispered. "You could have been hurt."

"As if you care," he sniffled, breaking her heart more than it already was. It was practically in shreds by now. She didn't know what to do, and she couldn't stop her own eyes from welling up with tears. She held them in, not wanting to cry in front of him. She tried everything to reconnect with him, and he was just pulling further and further away from her.

"I do care," she said, her voice cracking. "You have no idea how scared I was when I found out you never went to your session. I thought something bad happened to you. I assumed the worst, because the worst can happen. I know you're angry at me. I know I hurt you, but it's not an excuse to hop on a bus and leave town. Don't you ever run away like that again." Her voice had become hard, getting her point across without yelling at him. She stood, not even bothering to tuck him in or kiss him goodnight. He wouldn't have wanted it and she couldn't deal with another rejection. He didn't say a word as she stopped at the door and turned to face him once more.

"Get some sleep. We'll discuss your punishment tomorrow."

Her voice was stern, but really she just wanted to hold him and comfort him until there was no more hate between them and all that was left was the easy unconditional love he once held for her before he had turned 10. She turned off the light and tried not to cry as she shut the door and headed to her bedroom.

She couldn't sleep.

She was too distraught over Henry running off and bringing that woman back to Storybrooke. So she found herself sitting in the living room in front of the fireplace, and staring into the flames, their glow casting a reflection in her dark turbulent eyes.

Emma Swan.

She couldn't get the woman out of her head. Her mind was whirling with erratic thoughts on why Henry decided to find her. Did he really hate her so much that he decided to find the woman that abandoned him? At least she was leaving, and she hoped she never showed her face around here again.

She was so lost in thought, that she barely even heard the front door open, or the sound of heavy footsteps on the hardwood floor crossing the foyer. It wasn't until she heard his voice, did she nearly jump out of her skin.

"I see you're still up," Leopold observed, and she turned, facing the older man with gray balding hair and a clean cut gray beard. His dark eyes were void of any love or affection that a husband would have for his wife. He came over and helped her up from the floor, looking at her with a hard questioning gaze, as hard as the lines on his face. His touch as he held her hands in his were cold, and she quickly pulled them back.

"Henry's safe and in bed," she informed him. "I couldn't sleep."

"Where was he?"

"He… He took a bus to Boston," she said. "A woman brought him home." She didn't tell him the woman was his birth mother.

"For years, I have been telling you not to coddle him; You are too soft on him. And now look, he's running away and taking buses to Boston." His voice was leveled in a way that meant he was actually furious, and she desperately tried to calm him. She kissed his cheek, hoping he would only focus on her and not on the sleeping boy upstairs.

"I already scolded him. Let's go to bed," she whispered. "It's been a long night."

He looked at her, long and calculating and she wasn't sure if he was going to listen to her, or rush upstairs to scold their son. After all, she never showed him any type of affection, and must have realized it was a distraction; but seeing how tired he looked with dark circles under his eyes from working all day and then having to socialize, he let out an annoyed sigh. He relented, and she thanked her lucky stars, because Leopold letting her get away with what she wanted was something that has never happened before.

So she quietly took his hand, leading him up the stairs, and making sure to rush him past Henry's closed bedroom door as they made it into their master bedroom. She knew she wouldn't be able to stop the inevitable, knowing he was going to scold him sooner or later, but at least she was able to shield him from his exhausted anger. The kind of anger that she was the most terrified of.


Across town a yellow bug was racing through the sudden onslaught of rain. Emma squinted through the windshield wipers, trying to see the dark road up ahead. The closer she got to the town line, the darker the path became. Henry's words, Bad things happen, resonated in her mind. The storm had gotten so fierce, she partially started to believe him. It was as if something was trying to prevent her from leaving.

She glanced down at the passenger seat and then scoffed in disbelief at what she saw. That damn book! No way he left it there by accident!

"Sneaky bastard," she chuckled fondly and then the moment she looked up she was met with haunting dark primal eyes. A wolf was standing in the middle of the road, appearing out of nowhere.

Like magic.

Maybe Henry was right.

She swerved right into the Welcome to Storybrooke sign and the last thing she could remember as her head hit the steering wheel, was the howl of the wolf through the pouring rain