As the Sun went down, the lot of them were sitting by a campfire just down by the water. Granny had brought some alcohol with her and Ruby had brought s'mores. They had planned to share some personal stories, hoping it would encourage Emma to open up a bit as well.

"Oh dear, sitting here brings back so many memories." Granny said with a gentle smile and took a sip of her whine. "I remember when Henry brought me and Ruby here, I don't think she could have been more than 4 years old. This place looked so different back then." the old woman chuckled and started to reminisce.

Henry was a sweet man, and Granny had always liked him. His wife, not so much, but she wasn't one to judge, she was determined to give Cora a chance. Granny knew something had to be special about her since a man like Henry had fallen for her.

"So let's go then." Henry smiled and parked the car outside of a cottage that was still under construction.

Ruby and Regina were eager to see it because Henry had told them he had planned on building a pool and pastures for horses.

"It's beautiful, Daddy!" Regina grinned and Ruby agreed.

"It really is," Granny said and met the man's sweet eyes. "but tell me my dear friend, why do I have a feeling that Cora doesn't like this place, hm?"

"Oh, Eugenia," Henry chuckled. "she's something else my wife, I know, but she let's me spend my money as I wish at least." Granny knew there was more to the story then Henry let on, but she didn't push.

"Well, that's good, I guess." Granny grinned back as she looked out over the enormous land. It was really beautiful.

The main house was ready but a little guest house, that was twice the size of her diner, was still under construction. It was placed just down by the sandy beach. She glanced quickly to her daughter, or granddaughter, as she actually was. She would probably spend a lot of summer Days with Regina as they were best friends. With Belle coming along too, of course.

The girls ran down to the beach to test the temperature on the water. In the meantime Granny and Henry walked up to the porch to have a cup of coffee.

"I'm glad you wanted to join us, Eugenia." Henry started. "I like to share my life with people that matter to me, and your granddaughter makes my daughter so happy."

"I can't say no to you, my friend." Granny chuckled before she continued, this time with a more serious tone in her voice "and I owe you my life because without you, Ruby may have never become mine that day….. I'm just afraid I will fail her, like I did with her mother."

"Oh nonsense, Eugenia!" Henry said and reached for her hand. "You did what you could with Anita, and what happened to her was a tragedy. But don't ever think, for even a second, that it was your fault. Because it wasn't. She hid it well when she got in with the wrong crowd, and when you found out it was just too late. You loved that girl with all of your heart. You do that with Ruby as well, I may be old and blind, but I can see that much!" he promised

Granny shrugged because she knew Henry wasn't a man known for his lies, but it wouldn't take away the nagging fear she had in her chest. Some nights that fear alone kept her awake. Ruby's mother, Anita, had run away when she had been just 17 years old, and despite the fact that Granny had done everything in her power to get her back, she failed. She would never forgive herself for doing so.

Then the day came. The old woman was awakened by a banging on her door. She guessed it was Henry, but when she opened the door and couldn't believe her eyes.

"Anita…? " Granny gasped. She hadn't seen her in over 10 years, but now, as she stood in front of her, it felt like it had been just yesterday. Her hair was in a sloppy ponytail and she had bags under her eyes. She looked to be twice the age she actually was, but still the same beautiful Anita.

"Hi, Mom." Anita said with a crooked smile.

"I can't believe it's really you.. " Granny said as her voice broke. She had never thought she would see her daughter again. Just as Granny was about to invite her in, a unfamiliar little voice interrupted her.

"Hi Granny..."

The old woman's eyes suddenly moved to a little girl standing a bit behind her daughter. She had the exact same auburn red hair as Anita, and she had her honest eyes as well. Then it hit her, what the little girl had called her.

Granny's eyes searched for Anita's, desperately asking questions she wasn't able to vocalize.

"I know what you're thinking, Mom, and yes, this is my daughter. Your granddaughter."

Granny dragged her daughter into a tight hug and it made them both cry. The old woman never knew why her daughter had chosen to run away, but she would never ask. In this moment she didn't even care. The only thing she cared about was seeing her again.

As they parted, Granny dried her eyes and kneeled down so her eyes met her granddaughter's.

"Well, aren't you an absolutely gorgeous little girl." Granny smirked and Ruby giggled, but there was something troubling the little one. She was refusing to let go of her mother's hand. So when Granny stood up again, she invited them in.

Granny gave Ruby some crayons and paper to play with in the living room, so when the little girl was preoccupied, she and Anita sat down in the kitchen.

"I know I'm probably not welcome here…..but I didn't have anybody else to turn to.. " Anita said as her voice broke.

"I'm always going to be here for you, my dear daughter, and I'm not one to hold a grudge. Of course you will always be welcome here. You should know that." Granny said with a gentle tone.

"I'm so sorry for just running off, Mom. If I just had stayed here with you, I wouldn't been in this horrible situation… " Anita said between sobs.

"Just tell me what's going on, please?" the old woman pleaded as tears of sympathy swelled in her own eyes.

"I was so stupid when I ran off as a teenager. I just got mixed up with the wrong kind of people...or well, the wrong guy." Anita sighed when Granny took her hands in her own.

"Don't be afraid, my dear. I'm not going to judge you." the words encouraged the woman to push on.

"I started to do drugs….and all these years are just a big blur for me. I'm not using anymore, but I'm sick, mom, and I don't want Ruby to end up in foster care when I die…"

Granny felt her heart in her throat. She had been so happy about seeing Anita again, even though she knew something terrible had happened, or in this case, was bound to happen, for her to come home again.

"I want you to take care of Ruby, Mom. Please! I know I'm in no position to ask for something like this, but I'm desperate…" Anita breathed and pulled away. Granny cast a quick look into the living room. She studied Ruby closely before she turned her attention back to her daughter. "I'm begging you, Mom… Please help me."

"Where is her father?"

"He died.. Drug overdose…she never actually knew him."

Eugenia agreed to take Ruby in without hesitation. Soon after, she wondered if she had made a such big decision too quickly.

Ruby was a worrisome child at first. She had struggled with sleeping, eating, and even struggled with saying the simplest of words. Granny couldn't help but wonder what her only granddaughter had been through to behave like this. Either way, it broke Granny's heart.

Granny didn't give up though. She was determined that this was going to work out. She had gotten a second chance at raising a daughter, and this time around she wouldn't fail, like that last time. Granny loved little Ruby to pieces. She brought back so much happiness into the old woman's home again, and Granny was so happy having the company.

When Henry had heard about Ruby, he helped Granny with every paper needed to legally adopt Ruby. Just a couple of months later Granny got the news, Anita had died of hepatitis, that she probably had gotten due to her drug abuse.

Granny was terrified she would fail Ruby as she had failed Anita, but Henry assured her that she had never done anything wrong with her daughter. As well as she wouldn't fail this time around either. She was a wonderful mother, and cared more for her granddaughter then Cora did for her own daughter.

Ruby hadn't heard many stories about her mother at all, nor did she remember her. So it was quite emotional for Ruby to hear this. Belle noticed the sadness her girlfriend felt, so she swung her arm around her, as she whispered "I love you.", so low only the two of them heard. When Ruby laid her head against her shoulder, the brunette smiled.

"I'll go next then." Belle smirked and cleared her throat. Ruby gave her a light hearted eyeroll and smile.

It was a warm weekend in June and Henry had invited the girls with him to the cottage, like he did almost every free weekend he had. Regina didn't have to say much more than 'cottage and trip', before Ruby jumped into the car.

Granny was always happy when Ruby was invited to the cottage, as were Belle's parents, Colette and Maurice. They lived on a farm just out of town, and just as Granny, they were business owners that didn't have much money. Despised that, they wanted to give their daughter the world.

Belle loved her parents, and every time she was invited to the cottage, she felt torn. Her parents were old and sick, and she felt responsible for them, even though she was just a teenager. They had to literally drag her outside of her room sometimes.

"Have a good weekend, my little bookworm." Colette smiled, and she just shook her head when she noticed Belle's luggage. Of course she had to bring half of her library with her. Belle couldn't go anyway without her beloved books.

"Are you sure I should go? I mean, I know you need help around the farm.." Belle was cut off by her father's voice.

"Belle, you deserve to have a fun weekend, and without your parents." Maurice said and ruffled her hair. Sometimes it was hard to believe Belle was so young, because she had always behaved so much like an adult

Belle was their little miracle, because though they met at an older age, they had tried to get pregnant for years. Close to 20 years. They were about to give up, and try to enjoy growing old together, when Belle finally entered their lives. She was so fantastic, in so many different ways. One important thing was that the older couple rarely ever fought, and Belle always helped when they needed her. They were a perfectly happy little family. Even Ruby and Regina were around sometimes, and helped out when the farm needed extra attention.

Unfortunately they were getting too old to even care for the small things, and the house was slowly starting to lose its charm, day by day. They didn't want to move, but they had to and it was gonna break Belle's heart. To the naked eye maybe the old house didn't look to be so much work, but to Belle it was paradise. Her own paradise. The whole upperfloor was hers alone, and her parents had built her a big library where she spent most of her days, except for when she was hanging out with Ruby and Regina.

"Mr. Mills, how are you?" Maurice smiled and offered Henry a big hug. Regina's daddy just chuckled and gave him a big smile in return.

"I'm wonderful, and even better now that I'm gonna spend the weekend with my favorite girls." he said.

"We're so thankful for this, that you include our daughter." Colette said and Henry just smiled at her as well.

"Of course, my dear, nothing to be thankful for. Your daughter makes mine happy, and that I'm thankful to you for that." Henry turned his eyes to Belle and grabbed her bag, pretending it was so heavy he couldn't carry it. Belle just chuckled at him.

"My dear Belle, how many books do you have with you this time?" he asked and the brunette shrugged.

"I think maybe 5?"

"5? Then I guess you don't have enough time for riding the horses if you have so many books to read?" Henry asked with laughter in his voice, knowing Belle was actually the quickest reader he knew.

"Of course I do, , I just can't leave home without at least 3 books!" Belle grinned. Henry nodded and turned his eyes back to her parents.

"She's gonna be something big, your daughter, you know that right?"

"We hope so Mr. Mills." Colette said when they heard Ruby from the car.

"Hey! Come on! I wanna go!"

As soon as they reached the cottage Belle and Ruby headed for the beach, while Regina and her Daddy took the horses for a short ride in the forest.

Belle and Ruby were laying on the beach, snuggled close as always. They had always been like this with each other. Even though neither Henry nor Regina had ever thought it was weird in the first place. The two girls really tried not to be like this around everybody. Though here, at the cottage, they could be themselves.

"Belle, ehm, I got something to tell you." Ruby said with a low and nervous voice and sat up. The brunette wondered what had made her friend, who always was so happy and forward, suddenly sound so afraid and small.

"Is something wrong with Granny?" Belle asked anxiously, but Ruby shock her head and bit her lip. Belle raised an eyebrow and wondered what it could be.

She watched as Ruby looked around, to make sure they were alone, even though they both knew they were. Belle cupped Ruby's head in her hands, gently making her meet her eyes.

"Rubes, tell me what's going on. You're scaring me a little." Belle said with a small comforting smile, and Ruby pulled back, taking a deep breath.

"Belle, I am.. I think I'm gay." Ruby finally said. "And I think I maybe…. like you?"

"Ruby, I know." the brunette chuckled and Ruby's eyes widened.

"What? How?!"

"I just know you, I guess." Belle shrugged and then something she dreamed about for so long happened. Ruby's lips brushed against hers.

Belle had always wanted to kiss Ruby, but had never dared to. So when the redhead pressed her lips against hers that day, she had kissed her right back. Belle still remembered the butterflies in her stomach.

Emma smiled at Belle's story. Glad she had finally gotten to hear it, since she had always wanted to know how they got together.

"So this was were you shared your first kiss?" Granny asked and both Belle and Ruby nodded dreamily. Belle really only remembered the butterflies, Regina's smiles, and Henry's hugs. They had been so accepted. Everyone had been happy for them, well except for Cora, but she was a story on her own.

After Granny's and belles stories had come to an end, the group just started some smalltalk. Then it hit Emma. She realized this had to be some kind of plan to make her open a bit. It's probably Granny and Ruby's idea. Emma thought to herself as she let out a big groan.

She didn't like to share stuff. Mostly because the stuff she remembered and lived through was anything but fun or something you wanted to share.

Fuck being afraid. It's time for me to open up. I'm gonna tell them a story, I wanna show them I trust them. But what should I tell them? Emma thought to herself and then it hit her.

Like a ton of bricks.

The Swans.

She had plenty of stories about The Swans! Even if this one in particular was really personal to her. It wasn't just happiness and smiles, but she wanted to tell it anyway.

"If anyone doesn't mind, I can go next..?" Emma suddenly suggested and the whole group looked at her, everyone curious. Belle was one of them who had never heard Emma share anything and studying Ruby's behavior, she knew this was huge.

"Wow Swan, I'm impressed! " Ruby said with a big grin even before her sister had started her story. Emma rolled her eyes but continued.

Emma had lived with the Swans for almost 2 weeks now. Her foster mother Diana absolutely adored her. Sadly, the young girl had been traumatized due to terrible living situations, so she was already scarred for life. It broke Diana's heart, because she saw the happy side of Emma, from time to time, so she knew what a wonderful kid there was under all that darkness and fear.

As the days passed, Emma started to get better and better mentally. The Swans learned how to handle Emma's outbursts and feelings, but they were always kind and careful. She still didn't fully trust her foster dad, Greg, as well as she trusted Diana. Still, the man was considerate and understanding, and provided the space the little girl needed. Some days that paid off. There were a few nights when Emma went to him, instead of Diana, and begged him to read her bedtime story.

"Emma dear, come now! Hurry up or we're gonna be late!" Diana shouted, as she fought hard to hold back her laughter. Today they had planned to surprise Emma, but it as it turned out the little girl didn't cope well with surprises.

"I don't want to go.. I don't know where you're taking me! " Emma stuttered as she came up to Diana. The woman kneeled down in front of the shaking girl as she dried her tears.

"Emma, it's nothing to be afraid of. I promise." Diana said with a gentle smile. Emma scraped with her foot across the floor and couldn't really stand still.

"Promise? "

"Promise, Sweetheart."

Emma was barely 10 years old, but her bouncing around in the foster system had already taken a toll on her.

She had trouble sleeping, eating, and bathing. Trouble relaxing over all, and Emma refused to refer to Diana and Greg as her mother and father. They still hadn't adopted her after all, but they wanted to give her this surprise anyway. Because they wanted Emma to realize just how much they loved her. So as Greg parked the car outside a big building, Emma gave them a curious look that quickly turned into teary eyes.

"You promised me I didn't have to be afraid!" Emma snapped as tears started to roll down her cheeks. The Swans shared a quick look before Diana turned her attention back to the scared little girl in the back seat.

"Emma, listen to me dear, it's totally safe. I promised you, remember?" Diana said but Emma didn't seem to believe her.

"You're sending me back, aren't you? Why are you sending me back? I'll be better!" Emma was shaking like a leaf, so Diana grabbed Emma's hands and shook her head.

"We're not sending you back, Sweetheart."

"Then where are we?" the little girl asked, as she dried her tears. She already looked a bit happier.

"It's a surprise, my girl, but I think you're gonna like it." Greg chuckled as he tried to reassure and the three of them finally left the car.

Emma was nervous, as they were sitting outside of some kind of office, or at least she figured it was. Emma wondered what kind of surprise she would get in a place like this? She was so deep in thought that when the office's door finally opened, she almost fell off her chair.

"Ah, the Swans, come in!" he smiled and Emma grabbed Diana's hand imminently as they walked inside. Diana was Emma's security. She loved Greg too, but she had been hurt by too many foster dad's, so she was always on her guard when it came to him.

"Thanks for having us Gold, on such a short notice" Greg replied. "And sorry for being a bit late."

"Don't mention it Mr. Swan, I owed you one, my dear friend!" Gold chuckled and turned his eyes to the little girl in Diana's lap. "Oh, so this is the new family member I have heard so much about, huh?" New family member?

"Yes, this is Emma." Diana said and leaned near Emma and whispered. "Say hello."

"Ehm, hello Mr Gold." the young girl said quietly, before she buried her head in her foster mother's hair. She hated to meet new people. Especially when it was new men. Or men in general.

"Anyhow, I have already organized all the paperwork for you, Mr. and Mrs. Swan, so all I need are your signatures." Gold explained and Emma looked up with widened eyes.

Was she being officially adopted? Was the thing she always dreamed about actually happening? Was she about to have a actual family? Emma bit her lip and shook her head. She knew it was never gonna happen. She wasn't that kind of girl, she had been promised that too many times.

So many times that she actually started to believe it herself. She was trouble, she was a disappointment, a disaster and a waist of space. The only thing Emma tried to do, was to enjoy the time in the Swan family because this had been the best time of her life.

They cared about her, they fed her, made sure she had clean clothes and included her in everything they did. Emma felt like she belonged for the first time in her life, but unfortunately, the little girl knew this happiness wasn't gonna last forever.

She was used to being tossed around and beaten, starved, and yelled at, so she had started to think that was gonna be her life.

Emma was sure she wasn't gonna get adopted any time at all or really feel like she had a family that loved her, no matter what she did or said.

She was just gonna bounce around through different families, until she was an 'adult' in the eyes of the authorities, and probably end up on the streets. It was probably horrible for a "normal" ten-year old to have thoughts like this, but to Emma, it was nothing else but true. Normal.

When Greg scooped Emma up in his arms and put her on his lap, she snapped back to reality. Greg laid her hand on the desk in front of them and gave Emma a pen to hold. She didn't understand what was going on though, and if it had been another foster dad she had been with, she would have been to scared to even ask. Thankfully, she knew Greg wasn't like that, even if her mind played tricks on her sometimes..

Emma had always had a hard time reading, probably because no one had given her the help she had needed, so she turned around around and looked at Greg. What was she supposed to do?

"What is this?" she asked and the foster dad grinned then ruffled her hair as he sat her down on the floor again. Emma curled up to a ball as he kneeled down in front of her.

"Emma, look at me." he said and the girl carefully did as he asked. "Good girl. So. do you remember what I always say, Hm?" Greg asked and Emma shrugged. As Greg sat down more comfortably, she flinched, because she knew that wrong answers to questions had earlier in her life meant getting hit, so she looked down on her feet and tensed.

"Emma, look at me, you're not in trouble okay?" Greg offered her a big smile and Emma's curiosity was shining in her eyes again. "Well, I always say, whatever happens tomorrow is a mystery, and that you never should do anything you regretted yesterday. So with those words, I want you to sign this."

"What is this?" Emma frowned.

"We can't adopt you just yet Emma, and who knows what can happen tomorrow. But regardless of whatever happens, I want you to always remember me and my wife by accepting this from us."

Emma looked down on the paper but her mind was racing, so she couldn't make out the words properly. Greg just continued to smile at her.

"Emma, we want to give you our last name" Greg said and Emma looked up from the paper and attacked him with a gigantic hug, making Greg almost fell backwards.

"Oh Emma, I knew you would be happy about this!" Diana said and joined them for a group hug. "Everyone deserves a last name they can wear with pride"

When Emma finished her story she looked around the fireplace. Everyone was sobbing, including herself.

"Why.. Why didn't they adopt you?" Granny asked, tears streaming down her eyes. I love you so much Granny. I owe you my life. Emma thought to herself as she let out a big breath. Regina pulled her close and Emma felt so safe in the arms. And safe because she was surrounded by family. Her family.

"Life takes unexpected turns sometimes, I guess." Emma shrugged and dried her own eyes.

She always got emotional when she thought or talked about the Swans. "About a month later Diana's father became really ill, and it took a real toll on her. And as that happened, Diana found out she was pregnant, something they had tried for years without any success. So as everything turned out I got sent back because they felt they couldn't give me the best home due to Diana's sick father and her sudden pregnancy"

Emma was surprised that she hadn't left the fire after telling them that story. The time with the Swans was always gonna be a sore spot for her and even if she had been so happy with them, and loved them with all off her heart, she also hated them, despised them because they threw her away just like everyone else had done. You were supposed to be different….

"I'm happy you ended up at Granny's doorstep though." Ruby said and broke the silence.

"Me to, Rubes." Emma smiled. "Me too."

"So, here's a cheer to my favorite little Swan, the best sister anyone can ask for" Ruby grinned. "Cheers!"

Emma smiled at her sister as she realised something. She had finally gotten the family she always dreamed about. The family who let her be the one she truly was and accepted that. Emma couldn't hold back either the smile or the tears. I finally have a home.