Henry followed Emma into the classroom an hour usual than he was used to with a muffin in his hand courtesy of Regina. He groaned as he slid into his desk and yawned.

"Why are we here so early?" he mumbled out as Emma began to open the shades earning a glare from the tired boy.

"Because I have staff meetings on Wednesday mornings and Regina had to get ready to attend a meeting of her own so you're stuck kid." Emma giggled as she watched the boy unwrap his muffin. "Besides you should be happy Gina woke up early to bake you muffins!"

"Mm…and chocolate chips ones!" Henry smiled as he took a bite.

Emma smiled as she watched the boy dig in and then she began to gather her materials for her meeting.

"Okay I have to head to the lounge in a few are you going to be alright here?"

"Yeah, I have my comics with me to read. I'm good."

"Okay cool. I will be back in about a half hour." Emma left the room and began heading to the lounge when Ashley walked out of her own room.

"Hey is that Henry that walked in with you this morning?" Ashley asked approaching her friend.

"Yeah, he stayed over with Regina and I last night. His sister abandoned him!"

"What? What do you mean?"

"She just left him. He said she left town with her boyfriend a few days ago. Left with him with twenty bucks and no food in the fridge…I took him back to my place last night but Ash I don't know what I'm going to do."

"Emma he's not a stray puppy he's a child! You can't just rename him and keep him you have to contact the authorities."

Emma took a deep breath, "I know but that is so scary. What if they send him away or something? He is just starting to settle in here and now what? They might ship him off somewhere else?"

"Unfortunately babe that isn't up to you," Ashley gave her friend a sympathetic look as they entered the lounge.

….

The school day had ended and Emma was packing her things up to head home. Henry was waiting for her in the back of the classroom when Mrs. Lucas knocked on the door.

"Miss Swan, may I have a word with you for a moment?" The woman said eyeballing and then smiling at the boy in the back.

"Sure," Emma said stepping out of the room with the older woman closing the door behind her.

"Oh my dear sweet Emma," Julie said as she looked sympathetically at the younger woman she had grown to care so much for. "I love that you have such a big heart honey but you could really get yourself into trouble this time dear."

Emma felt her heart sank as she realized that Ashley must have told Julie about Henry.

"I understand that you think you are doing the right thing for this boy but in the end it will end up causing you more heartbreak and putting him through more pain. You need to contact the authorities Emma. They are going to have to try and find his sister."

"And what if they can't?"

"Well then they will do what they have to do but Emma that is not up to you to decide."

Emma nodded her head she knew that the woman was right but it didn't make it any easier to hear.

"Here are the numbers you need dear please call them as soon as you can okay?"

"Yeah, I will." Emma took the card from Julie and half smiled in return.

"If you need anything give me a call okay?" Julie squeezed Emma's shoulder and walked down the hall.

Emma shook her head and choked back tears wondering how she was going to be able to face Henry knowing that she was going to have to do the one thing she told him that she wouldn't.

….

Emma had decided that she was going to call the authorities after dinner tonight. If they were going to take the kid he was going to at least have one more happy dinner. When they arrived at the house Regina's car wasn't there yet and Emma sent her a quick text making sure that everything was okay.

As soon as they walked into the house Henry dropped his book bag and fell to the floor to play with Skittles. They two had bonded a lot last night and Emma was delighted to see him smiling so much. She grabbed her phone when she heard it go off and the message on the screen brought another smile to her face.

Regina: Hey beautiful yes I am okay. When I left my meeting I spoke with Belle. They are back from Vegas and are coming over tonight for dinner so I am at the market now getting a few things. I will be home soon. There are some cookies on the counter for you and Henry…Don't eat too many!

"Hey kid, want some cookies?" Emma smiled and the boy flew to his feet as they both ran to the kitchen.

…..

Henry was in the back yard playing with Skittles while Regina prepared dinner and Emma set the table for their soon to be guests.

"So what is the process anyways? What happens with Henry while they look for his sister? Can he stay with us or what? What if his sister doesn't want him back?" Regina asked as she vigorously chopped vegetables for dinner.

"I don't know babe. I really don't know. I have never been through anything like this before."

Before they had time to discuss it further they heard the doorbell ring and Emma set the last glass down and head to the door.

"Hey Asshole!" She screamed as she lunged at Killian embracing him in a hug. "You could have told me you know!"

"I'm sorry Swan I was wrapped up in the moment."

"Yeah…yeah…." She smiled and then turned to Belle. "Congratulations again Belle I am so happy for you both." She hugged her new friend and Belle smiled into the hug.

"Thank you so much Emma that means a lot to us." She pulled back and then looked around nervously. "Where is Gina? We spoke earlier and she sounded good but I'm still afraid she is upset with me."

"She's okay, she's in the kitchen cooking, come on in." Emma stood back and let them walk in.

The three of them rounded the corner of the kitchen and Killian spotted Henry in the backyard.

"Who is the lad?"

"Oh, that is Henry one of my students."

"And why is he in the yard playing with Skittles?" Killian questioned.

"Long story…"

"Hey Gina…" Belle said quietly.

Regina looked up from the stove and smiled, "Hey you."

Belle felt relief and practically ran over to hug her friend.

"Congratulations dear," Regina said into the hug as she felt Belle's embrace grow tighter.

"Thank you, I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you too."

The woman began talking as Regina continued to cook and Emma and Killian stepped outside.

"So, seriously Swan what is with the boy?"

"His parent's died last year and he was living with his older sister. Now his sister took off on him. I brought him home last night but now I have to call the authorities and I am freaking out."

"Man, that's rough."

"Yeah and I have no idea how this all works. Like what happens if they can't find his sister?"

"They send him to another relative."

"And what if there isn't another relative?"

"Then he goes into foster care…"

"Great." Emma shook her head. "Hey how do you know all of this anyways?"

"Because I was a foster kid."