First of all, I would like to thank you all for reading. I can't believe that this story already has over 100 followers. I have never been more excited for a project than I am for this AU.

Feel free to ask as many questions you want, either via reviews or PMs. Or you can ask me on Tumblr at captainswanapproved. Throughout the summer, I will be posting sneak peeks on my Tumblr, and writing updates. This story already has it's own tag.

I will try to answer any questions I receive via reviews in the notes before chapter 2 without revealing any spoilers. Reviews and constructive comments are always appreciated. I hope you enjoy this next chapter.

Chapter 1

Killian Jones woke up at 7:15 AM, as was his habit. He dressed quickly in a pair of black slacks, a light blue dress shirt, a black vest, and a black tie, toed on his dress shoes and checked his gold wristwatch.

As usual he arrived in his classroom promptly at 8:00 AM with a steaming cup of black coffee from Granny's. It could have been another normal day in the quiet town of Storybrooke, Maine.

Only this morning when he was straightening the papers he kept in a box beside his desk, he caught a glimpse of a strange object on his desk out of the corner of his eye, an object he'd never seen before. It was a thick leather bound book with gold lettering reading "Once Upon A Time".

"What the bloody hell is this?" he murmured as he picked up the book and began to leaf through it.

By all appearances it was a normal fairy tale book, filled with the classic stories that he had incorporated into his curriculum for years. But these tales were different. They didn't end with the happily ever after they also depicted what happened after the characters found their way to each other. In all his years as a teacher Killian had never seen anything like it.

"Mr. Jones?" a familiar voice said, yanking him out of his musings and Killian looked up from the book to see Henry Mills standing in front of his desk.

"Apologies, Henry. I was distracted," Killian said, leaning back to give Henry his full attention.

Henry Mills was by far Killian's favorite student. He was clever and attentive in class and his imagination was greater than any other student he'd ever taught. But more than that, Killian saw something of himself in Henry Mills.

He was adopted, having been given up by his mother when he was just an infant. His own father had abandoned Killian when he was only a few years younger than Henry. He knew what it was like to feel alone in the world. He knew what it was like to have no hope.

Which is why Killian took special care to encourage the lad's vivid imagination. Over the course of the year Killian had loaned Henry all sorts of books. As a child he had used literature as an escape. Like Henry he had been a lonely little boy, but the characters in books had been his constant companions and their stories gave him the key to surviving; the hope that one day things would get better, the hope for a happy ending.

Henry came to school a half an hour early every single day and ate lunch in the classroom often, spending time with Killian and talk about what he had been reading. Sometimes Henry would talk about his home life and about his unhappiness. Killian suspected that he was one of the few people in this town that Henry could actually talk to. He couldn't blame the boy. His mother was the classic disciplinarian and kept him on a strict and confined schedule.

"My mom wants me to start seeing Dr. Hopper every day," Henry said, sitting on his desk, his feet dangling over the edge.

"Why is that?" Killian asked, setting down the fairy tale book.

"We got in a fight last night and I said that I wished she wasn't my mother," Henry elaborated. "Then I said I would find my real mom. She told me that my real mom never loved me and that's why she gave me up."

"I'm sure it was far more complicated than that lad," Killian told him, a wave of sympathy gripping his heart. "Perhaps she was trying to give you your best chance?"

"I don't think so," Henry mumbled dejectedly. "She just didn't want me."

Killian's heart clenched, his eyes flickering to the fairy tale book on his desk. If any stories could give a young boy hope it had to be the ones inside this book. "Henry, what do I always tell you and your classmates?"

"Hold onto hope."

"Exactly. Hope fuels the great literature. Hope is what helps everyone make it through each day. And if you are losing it as a child, then I might have something to help."

"What?" Henry asked, sounding cautiously optimistic.

"I found this when I arrived this morning. It turned up out of nowhere. It is a book of fairy tales."

"How is this supposed to help?"

Killian handed him the book. "These stories are a way to deal with our world. You see, lad, this world might not always make sense, but believing in the possibility of a happy ending is a very powerful thing."

Henry nodded. "Do you think you'll find yours?"

"I hope so," Killian said.

"Thank you, Mr. Jones."

"It's nothing, lad." He smiled down at Henry before he pushed him gently from the desk. "Now class is going to start soon, so why don't you take out your school things?"

Henry grinned at his teacher and grabbed his bag, rummaging around and getting his things out before the other students came into the class room.

That very night Henry opened the book, only to find a familiar face staring back at him.

The face of Regina Mills, his adoptive mother.

According to the book, she was the Evil Queen and had cast a curse to take the happy endings away from everyone in the Enchanted Forest, cursed them to live their lives in this world without their memories and there was only one person who could break the curse.

The Savior.

Her name was Emma, the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming.

For the next week Henry read the book from cover to cover, careful to do so only at night when his mother didn't know what he was doing. If this was all true then he couldn't take a chance that she might discover what he was up to.

One night, a week after Killian had given him the book, the characters appeared in his dreams, swirling around in his mind, his brain connecting each character to one person in Storybrooke and as he woke with a start, he reached immediately for the book he had shoved under his bed.

It all added up. The book was telling the truth.

Opening it, he flipped through it, searching for the part about the Savior. She had given birth to a son, given him away immediately afterwards, convinced that by leaving him she was giving him his best chance.

Henry dressed quickly, eager to present his theory to his teacher. Killian Jones was probably the only one who would understand. After all, he had given him the book. The book had presented itself to him. That had to mean something.

The only thing that didn't make sense was the fact that his teacher wasn't in the book. There was no mention at all of Killian Jones. There was no illustration of him.

Henry would solve that mystery later, though. For now he needed to ask his teacher a favor. He needed a credit card and his theory would be his justification.

"Mr. Jones?" Henry burst through the door, breathing heavily.

Killian looked up from the papers he was grading with a start, narrowing his eyes as he saw the hardly suppressed excitement on Henry's face.

"Henry, what's the matter? Did something happen?"

"That book you gave me," Henry said, placing the book on his teacher's desk. "These stories are all true."

Killian stared at the boy for a long moment before he spoke. "How can that be possible?"

"Well, to start with, my mom is the Evil Queen, and my real mom might be the Savior."

Killian opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. This was absolutely ludicrous. He had given Henry the book as a way to make sense of the world but he hadn't thought that Henry would take the sentiment so literally.

"Henry—"

"I swear I'm not crazy." Henry opened the book and flipped to a page with a picture of the Evil Queen crashing Snow White and Prince Charming's wedding. "See? That's Regina. And Prince Charming is Mr. Nolan who works at the animal shelter. You said the two of you were friends. Can't you see it?"

Killian had to admit that the Evil Queen did bear a striking resemblance to Mayor Mills, and if anyone in this town was vindictive and ruthless enough to place a curse on an entire realm, then it was probably Regina Mills. He had never liked her, and now he liked her even less after learning about Henry's home life. And then there was Prince Charming, who admittedly looked quite a bit like his best friend David Nolan.

Killian shook his head. This was ridiculous. They couldn't all be fairy tale characters from a different realm. But there was no use in making Henry feel as if he was crazy. Killian cared too much for the boy to inflict that kind of pain upon him. Instead, Killian asked Henry to elaborate on his theory, and sat and listened as Henry told him all about the curse and the suspected identities of various citizens of Storybrooke.

Killian waited patiently for him to finish his explanation, furrowing his brows as he realized that something, or actually someone, was missing in the story Henry had just told him. "What about me?"

Henry was about to answer but was cut off by the sounding of the bell, students spilling into the classroom.

"We'll talk more at lunch, Henry."

Killian was distracted for most of the morning, electing to give his students free time to work on their fall projects while he was flipping through the pages of the book, scanning each of the stories. Though not once did he encounter any character that might have been him in this other life but he had to hand it to the boy. Many of the characters resembled citizens of this town. Perhaps Henry was on to something.

At lunchtime Henry hung back, pulling up a chair beside Killian's desk.

"I'm not in the book, am I?" Killian asked.

Henry shook his head. "But as far as I know Snow White isn't in Storybrooke either. Mrs. Nolan is Mr. Nolan's first wife and I've never seen her anywhere."

Killian nodded, knitting his brows in concentration. David's marriage to Kathryn was an unhappy marriage which he supposed was only to be expected if the man was separated from his True Love.

"Well Henry, if this is true, then how do you expect to find the Savior?"

Indulging Henry for the time being seemed to be the best course of action. Besides, Henry was a rather precocious boy. Coming from anyone else, Killian would have cast the theory off as utter lunacy, but the fact that the book had mysteriously appeared to him and that Henry had such faith in his theory had to mean something.

"I think she is my birth mother, and I have a way to find her. There is this website but it is kind of expensive."

"I sense that you're about to ask me for a favor," Killian said with a small smile.

"I can't trust anyone else," Henry explained. "The book appeared to you, and you believe me, right? You don't think I'm crazy."

"Of course not, lad," Killian uttered earnestly. He still wasn't convinced that he was a cursed fairytale character but for the first time in the years that Killian had known Henry, the boy had faith and Killian wasn't going to be the one to take that away from him.

"So, you need a credit card."

"I found her," Henry told him the next day during lunch, waving the printed piece of paper triumphantly. "Her name is Emma Swan and today is her twenty-eighth birthday. It has to be her. All the details add up."

"And where does this Emma Swan live?" Killian asked.

"She lives in Boston. I can go there after school, and I can convince her to come back with me."

"And just how are you going to do that?"

"I'll take the bus," Henry replied eagerly.

"I can't allow you to go on a bus to Boston all by yourself."

"But I'm the only one who can leave. You can't come with me. You might not be in the book but you wouldn't be here if you weren't from the Enchanted Forest. If you try and leave, something bad will happen to you."

Killian sighed. "You have a point. But what if Miss Swan doesn't agree to come back with you. How do you want to convince her?"

"I was hoping you could help me come up with something."

"Well, seeing as she's your birth mother you can always tell her you'll call the police and tell them that she kidnapped you," Killian mused.

"That's great. I just have to get out of here before my mom starts to suspect anything. I should leave now."

Killian stood up and removed his wallet, handing Henry an envelope with some change for the bus fare and a credit card for emergency use.

"Henry, please be careful," he said, placing his hand on the boy's shoulder.

"I will. I promise. I'll bring Emma home and then we can work on breaking this curse and figuring out who you were back in the Enchanted Forest." Henry told him excitedly, wrapping his arms around Killian and he stiffened briefly before hugging the boy back.

"Thank you for believing in me." Stepping back, Henry grabbed his backpack and tucked the envelope into his pocket. "I'll see you in class tomorrow."

Returning to his desk, Killian slumped down onto the chair, rubbing one hand tiredly over his face. There were times when he feared being a teacher wasn't the right job for him. He had just given a ten-year-old money and his credit card to chase after his birth mother, even telling him he should blackmail her if she didn't agree to accompany him back to Storybrooke.

He would lose his job over this if it would ever come out that he had helped the lad but if he could reunite a mother and her child then it was worth it. And if such a reunion resulted in the breaking of a curse, well then he was in for an exciting adventure, and Killian Jones loved adventure more than anything else.

"What would you know about family?" the man taunted.

Slamming his head against the steering wheel, Emma sneered. "Nothing."

Then it was business as usual. Emma turned him in, receiving her payment and on the way back to her apartment she stopped by the bakery to pick up a single vanilla cupcake and a candle, as per her birthday tradition.

Once inside her apartment she toed off her heels and placed her cupcake on the counter, lighting the candle. "Another banner year," she murmured as she blew out the candle and made the same wish she did every year.

I wish I didn't have to be alone today.

She lingered with her chin propped up on her folded hands as suddenly a knock at the door interrupted the silence, making her jump in surprise and she cursed silently, trying to ignore her pounding heart as she stood up and walked slowly towards the door, wondering who it could be.

As she opened the door she needed to adjust her gaze a few inches lower, staring at the boy standing there. He couldn't be older than ten.

"Can I help you?" Emma asked.

"Are you Emma Swan?

"Yeah, who are you?"

"My name is Henry. I'm your son," He replied with a big grin on his face and without waiting for her answer he ducked under her arm and strolled into the apartment like he owned the place.

"Whoa, kid. I don't have a son," Emma told him, mashing down the memory of giving birth shackled to a hospital bed. "Where are your parents?"

"Ten years ago, did you give up a baby for adoption?" He asked without answering her question.

"Yes." She said, seeing no point in denying it any longer.

"That was me," Henry told her cheerily.

Emma's heart clenched with guilt. "Give me a minute," she said, retreating to the bathroom and closing the door firmly behind her, the memories of his birth assaulting her. Her heart had broken into a million pieces with the knowledge that she couldn't give him a proper home, swaying her to make the right decision. She had to give him up. And now the past was back to haunt her, just as it always did.

"Hey, do you have any juice?" Henry called. "Never mind. Found some."

Taking in a deep breath, she straightened, taking one look in the mirror before she reached for the knob and opened the door, joining him again.

"You know, we should probably get going," Henry told her the moment she stepped into the room, setting down the juice carton.

"Going where?" Crossing her arms, she leaned back against the counter, not willing to let the boy get to her in any way.

"I want you to come home with me."

"Okay kid, I'm calling the cops."

Just as Killian had suggested, Henry used the blackmail approach to convince her. "Then I'll tell them you kidnapped me."

"And they'll believe you because I'm your birth mother." Emma sighed, shaking her head, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

Henry shot her a sly grin. "Yep."

"You're not going to do that."

"Try me."

The hitch in his voice didn't go unnoticed by Emma. The kid was good, but not good enough.

"You're pretty good but here's the thing. There's not a lot I'm great at in life but I have one skill. Let's call it a super power. I can tell when someone is lying, and you kid, are."

She reached for the phone, starting to hit the numbers for the police, casting him a warning glance.

"Wait," Henry held up a hand to stop her. "Please don't call the cops. Please come home with me."

She set down the phone, eying him scrutinizingly, her heart skipping a beat as his brown eyes looked up at her pleadingly. "Where's home?"

"Storybrooke, Maine."

"Storybrooke?" Emma asked, raising a brow, "Seriously?"

The boy nodded, looking up at her with wide brown eyes that reminded her so much of his father.

"Alright." She huffed, recognizing her own stubbornness in him and knowing he wouldn't give up until he got what he wanted. "Let's get you back to Storybrooke."

"What's that?" Emma asked, glancing at the book Henry was clutching in his hands.

"I'm not sure you're ready."

"Ready for some fairy tales?" Emma said teasingly.

"They are not fairy tales. They're true stories." Henry replied. "Every story in this book actually happened."

"Of course they did," she said, rolling her eyes, sounding unconvinced. This whole road trip was insane. She should have sent him back to Maine on a bus. "Just because you believe something doesn't make it true."

She should know what she was talking about. After all she had always believed that her mother would come find her. Yet here she was, still alone. No family, no friends. Nothing.

"That's exactly what makes it true." Henry insisted. "You should know more than anyone."

"Why?"

"Because you're in this book."

"Kid, you've got problems."

"Yep, and you're going to fix them."

His fingers were wrapped tightly around the book as he contemplated his next move. Maybe he should ask her to take him to Killian's home. He knew where his teacher lived, and Henry knew that if Regina saw Emma, she would suspect something.

Emma's yellow bug crossed the town line, and they drove down Main Street, finally coming to a stop in front of the clock tower.

"Have you got an address for me, kid?"

"There's a loft near the school," Henry told her.

"But you don't live there," Emma said, glancing at him as she got out of the car. "Look, it's been a long night. It's already—" She glanced up at the clock. "8:15?"

"That clock hasn't moved my whole life," Henry explained as he slipped out of the passenger seat. "Time's frozen here."

"Excuse me?"

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

"You expect me to believe that the Evil Queen sent a bunch of fairy tale characters here?"

"Yeah, and now they're trapped."

"Frozen in time, stuck in Storybrooke, Maine. That's what you're going with?" She wanted to shake her head. His whole story sounded completely insane but she could see that he believed every word of it.

'It's true," he said insistently.

"Then why doesn't everybody just leave?" Emma argued. "You left."

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

"Henry!"

Henry turned around to see Dr. Hopper coming towards them, out for an evening walk with his Dalmatian Pongo.

"Henry, what are you doing here? Is everything all right?"

He was dressed in a dark grey pea coat and slacks and Emma couldn't help herself. She was trying to guess which fairy tale character he could be but came up blank.

"I'm fine Archie," Henry told the strange man.

"Who's this?" The man called Archie cocked his head and watched her intently.

"She's my mom," Henry elaborated.

"Oh, I see," Archie said, glancing nervously between Emma and Henry.

"Do you know where he lives?" Emma asked, starting to become impatient.

"Yeah, sure. Right up on Mifflin Street. The Mayor's House is the biggest one on the block."

Emma's eyes widened as she turned her head to stare down at Henry. "You're the Mayor's kid?"

"Maybe," Henry said, averting his gaze to the ground.

"Henry, where were you today? You missed your session. I asked Mr. Jones and he said he sent you home early because you weren't feeling well."

"Mr. Jones was right. But I started feeling better so I went on a field trip."

"Henry, what did I tell you about lying? There was no field trip today. Giving in to one's dark side never accomplishes anything."

Emma was already tired of this town and laying a hand on Henry's shoulder she turned him around. "Okay, well I really should be getting him home."

"Of course," Archie said. "Have a good night, and you be good, Henry."

"So that's your shrink?" Emma inquired as they walked back towards the bug.

"I'm not crazy," Henry told her defiantly.

"I didn't say that. But he doesn't seem cursed to me. Maybe he's just trying to help you."

"He's the one who needs help. Because he doesn't know."

"That he's a fairy tale character?"

"None of them do. They don't remember who they are?"

"Sounds convenient," Emma said, trying to keep the mocking tone out of her voice. "Alright. I'll play. Who is he supposed to be?"

"Jiminy Cricket," Henry told her as he climbed into the bug.

"Right. The lying thing. I thought your nose grew a little bit."

"I'm not Pinocchio," Henry said exasperatedly.

"Of course not. That would be ridiculous. And what about this Mr. Jones? Is he another cursed fairy tale character?"

"Yes. But I don't know who he is."

"Your story is getting less believable by the second, kid. Let's just get you home."

"Please don't take me back," Henry begged as Emma marched him down his mother's front walk.

"I have to. I'm sure your parents are worried sick about you."

"I don't have parents—just a mom. And she's evil."

"Evil? That's a bit extreme isn't it?"

"She is. She doesn't love me. She only pretends to."

Emma's expression softened. "I'm sure that isn't true."

The door opened to reveal a woman in a grey dress who hurried out to greet her son.

"Oh Henry," she said as she took him into her arms. "Are you okay? Where have you been? What happened?"

"I found my real mom," Henry told her, pushing past her to run into the house.

The woman turned around to Emma, her eyes narrowing. "You're Henry's birth mother?"

"Hi," Emma said weakly.

"I'll just go check on the lad," a deep accented voice spoke from the inside of the house and Emma glanced up to see a sheriff standing behind the woman. He was attractive to be sure, but cops weren't her type. Not after the life she'd lived.

The woman smiled coldly. "Would you like a glass of the best apple cider you've ever tasted?"

"I'll take something stronger," Emma said and followed the woman into the house.

"How did he find me?" Emma asked as the mayor poured her a drink.

"No idea. When I adopted him he was only three weeks old. The records were sealed. I was told the birth mother didn't want any contact."

"You were told right."

"And the father?"

"There was one."

"Do I need to be worried about him?"

"No. He doesn't even know Henry exists," Emma told her.

Regina's eyes flashed dangerously, making Emma feel uncomfortable. "Do I need to worry about you, Ms. Swan?"

"Absolutely not," Emma said, fully determined to leave this whole mess behind her.

"Madame Mayor, you don't need to worry." The sheriff was coming down the stairs, speaking with a soft voice. "Other than being a tired little boy Henry's fine. You might want to keep him home tomorrow though."

"I think I will," Regina uttered, determined to get to the bottom of this mishap. "Thank you, Graham. You can go."

The sheriff nodded, throwing a smile at Emma before he left.

"I'm sorry he dragged you out of your life." Regina turned around to Emma again, leading her into the study. "I really don't know what's gotten into him."

"The kid is having a rough time. It happens."

"You have to understand, ever since I became mayor, balancing things has been tricky. I assume you have a job."

"I keep busy," Emma told her, sipping her drink.

"Imagine having another one on top of that. That's being a single mother. I have to push for order. Am I strict? Of course. It's for Henry's own good. I want him to excel in life. I don't think that makes me evil."

Emma shrugged. "I'm sure he's just saying that because of the fairy tale thing."

"What fairy tale thing?"

"Oh you know, his book. He thinks everyone is a cartoon character from it. Like his shrink is Jiminy Cricket."

"I'm sorry but I really have no idea what you're talking about," Regina said.

Emma couldn't exactly place the expression that briefly flashed across Regina's face, but it was something akin to recognition. "You know what. It really isn't any of my business. He's your kid, and I should get going."

Emma left the mayor's house with a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. Something wasn't right about Regina Mills and she wondered as she climbed into her car if she was doing the right thing by leaving Henry. But the sentiment was ridiculous. She wasn't his mother, not really.

It had started to rain the moment she had driven out of the parking lot and by the time she approached the town line the rain was coming down in thick sheets.

Out of the corner of her eye Emma noticed that Henry had left his book on the passenger's seat and she huffed. "Sneaky bastard."

As she looked back onto the street her eyes fell on a figure standing in the middle of the lane and she cursed loudly, jerking the wheel around to not hit the person straight on, the tires screeching against the damp road as the bug crashed into the "Welcome to Storybrooke" sign. On impact Emma's head hit the steering wheel, knocking her out.

The cloaked figure walked slowly towards the driver's side of the car, looking down at the now unconscious Emma and leaning forward, they pressed a kiss to her forehead before making a quick escape back into the woods.

When Emma woke up she was laying on a mattress and her eyes fell on the bars in front of her.

Are you freaking kidding me?

Sitting up, she glared at the man in the cell next to her who was whistling loudly.

"What are you looking at, sister?" He grunted.

"Hey Leroy, manners. We have a guest," a kindly looking older man uttered. "You must be Henry's mother. He must be glad to have you back in his life."

Emma rubbed her throbbing forehead. "Actually I was just dropping him off."

"I don't blame you," Leroy sneered. "They're all brats."

"Well, I'd give anything for one. My wife and I tried for many years but it was not meant to be," The old man said mournfully.

"Leroy, if I'm going to let you out you need to behave." The sheriff told him before he opened the door and let Leroy step out of his cell. "Put on a smile and stay out of trouble."

Leroy gave the sheriff a sickeningly sweet grin and stomped off.

"Seriously?" Emma asked, shuffling forward and putting her face between the bars.

"Regina's drinks are a little stronger than we thought," Graham told her with a shrug.

Emma scoffed. "I wasn't drunk. There was someone standing in the middle of the road. I would have hit them if I hadn't swerved."

Graham shot her a disbelieving look and said. "Right. I'm sure that someone would be running around in the woods in the middle of the night."

Emma glared at the sheriff. He might be cute, but she was seriously considering punching him in the face when she got out.

"Graham," a familiar voice called and Regina hurried into the station. "Henry's run away again. We have to—" She trailed off as she spotted Emma in the cell, her eyes narrowing. "What is she doing here? Do you know where he is?"

"Lady, I haven't seen him since I dropped him off at your house. And thanks to your friend I have a pretty good alibi."

"Well, he wasn't in his room this morning."

"Did you try his friends?"

"He doesn't really have any. He's kind of a loner."

Every kid has friends," Emma said. "Did you check his computer? If he's close to someone he'd be emailing them."

Regina frowned. "How would you know?"

"Finding people is what I do. Here's an idea. Let me out and I'll help you find him."

Emma couldn't help but feel a little proud as she opened Henry's email to discover an empty inbox. "He's a smart kid but I'm smart too. I have a little hard disk recover utility that I like to use. "

Graham knelt down beside her. "I'm a bit more old fashioned in my techniques. Pounding the pavement, knocking on doors. That sort of thing."

"You're on salary, I get paid for delivery," Emma replied, typing rapidly. The computer beeped as Emma searched through the internal hard drive. "Huh. There's a receipt for a website. It's expensive and he used a credit card."

"He's ten," Regina huffed.

"Well he used one," Emma told her, pulling up a transaction record. "Who is Killian Jones?"

Regina scowled. "Henry's teacher. But he won't be one anymore when I'm through with him."

"And who is the most fearsome pirate in literature, class?" Killian asked, slapping the desk with his left hand.

"Blackbeard," one little girl replied.

"I'm afraid not," Killian told her, shaking his head.

"Davy Jones," a boy said.

"No. Captain Hook from J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan. We'll take a closer look at this classic story after recess," Killian spoke as the school bell rang and the children began to file out.

Killian looked up to see Mayor Mills pushing past his students, followed by the most gorgeous woman he had ever seen in his life and Killian's breath caught in his throat at the sight of the woman with golden curls and wide green eyes.

"Ms. Mills?" Killian gave the mayor a sharp nod, forcing himself to tear his gaze away from the blonde. "What are you doing here?"

"Where is my son, Mr. Jones?"

"I had assumed that the boy was home sick with you."

"Do you seriously think I'd be here if that was the case? Did you give him your credit card so he could find her?"

Killian blinked, his eyes flickering to the blonde woman for a second before meeting Regina's eyes again. "As a matter of fact I did, Madame Mayor."

Regina gave him a menacing glare. "Why the hell would you do that? This woman gave him up for adoption."

Killian's gaze moved back to Emma who was looking at him with pointed curiosity.

"Well, Ms. Mills, it's become very apparent to me that the boy is unhappy at home. Henry is a very special lad. He is clever and creative and it was a shame to see him so unhappy. I could hardly say no when he asked me for a simple favor."

"You're going to regret this, Mr. Jones," Regina hissed.

Killian grinned, raising a brow. "Am I?"

"Oh, yes. You will," Regina told him, turning on her heel, knocking over a stack of paperwork as she walked away. "This was a waste of time. Have a nice trip back to Boston, Ms. Swan."

Emma stared after her as Regina left the classroom before turning back to Killian, watching him intently. Damn, he was attractive. Probably the most attractive man she had ever seen. His dark hair was tousled and his blue eyes were twinkling with amusement. Besides he looked very sharp in his slacks, vest, and dress shirt. Emma's tongue flicked out to moisten her lips. She should feel embarrassed by her shameless ogling, but she didn't.

"Enjoying the view, Ms. Swan?" Killian asked with a playful lilt in his voice.

And of course he had an accent which only made him even more attractive. Damn it.

She felt her cheeks heat up, and Emma Swan did not swoon. Not at all.

"No," Emma said, quickly getting down on her knees to pick up the paperwork.

Killian knelt down in front of her and they reached for the same book. "I've got it, Swan," he said with a smirk. "Regina is far too easily aggravated."

Emma's green eyes met his blue ones and her heart seemed to flip over in her chest.

"You seemed to take pleasure in upsetting her," Emma told him as she was standing up.

"I was only speaking the truth. I'm sorry the lad ran off this morning though. It is partially my fault. You see, I gave him the book."

"How is a book supposed to help?" Emma asked.

"What do you think stories are for? There's a reason we all know these classic stories. They are a way to deal with our world, even though it doesn't always make sense. Henry hasn't had the easiest life," Killian explained, straightening his papers.

"Yeah, Regina is kind of a hard-ass."

"It's more than that. Like all adopted children, Henry struggles with the most basic question." Emma studied Killian as he spoke and took note of the brief flash of pain in the depths of his eyes before he moved closer and invaded her personal space. "A question that they all inevitably face. 'Why would anyone give me away?'"

Emma's breath caught in her throat and she knew that he was not only talking about Henry anymore. But how on earth did he know?

"Forgive me, Ms. Swan." Killian took a step back, realizing that he had hit a weak spot with his words. For some inexplicable reason he longed to reach for her, to comfort her. A woman he had only just met. It made no sense. And yet he understood her and recognized that lost look in her eyes. The look of an orphan. "I did not mean to judge you."

"It's fine." Emma swayed back, trying to get as much space between them as possible. "Just answer me one thing."

"Anything."

"Do you know where he is?"

"You might want to check his castle."

"You left this in my car," Emma said, coming to sit beside Henry and handing him the book.

"How did you find me?" Henry asked.

"Mr. Jones."

Henry sighed, not taking his eyes from the clock tower in the distance.

"It still hasn't moved, has it?"

Henry shook his head. "I was hoping that things would start to change once I brought you back. The final battle is supposed to begin. "

"I'm not fighting any battles, kid."

"Yes you are," Henry replied. "You're here because it's your destiny. You're going to bring back the happy endings."

"Can you cut it with the book crap?" Emma huffed, her eyes flashing.

"You don't have to be hostile. I know you like me. I can tell."

Emma looked at him with a raised brow, "Can you now?"

"You're just pushing me away because I make you feel guilty but I know why you gave me up. You wanted to give me my best chance."

"How do you know that?" Emma questioned, trying to remain carefully neutral.

"Because Snow White did the same. She went through the wardrobe when she was still pregnant with you. She wanted to give you your best chance away from this curse."

"I'm not in any book," Emma told him. "I'm a real person. I'm no savior. I can't be the person you want me to be. You are right about one thing, though. I wanted you to have your best chance. So, let's go."

"Please, Emma. Don't take me back to her. Stay with me for a week and you'll see that I'm not crazy. Just one week," Henry pleaded as he slipped from the platform and grabbed her hand.

"I can't stay here. I have to take you back to your mom."

"You don't know what it's like with her," Henry protested, "My life sucks."

Emma whirled around, her hair flying. "You want to know what sucks? Having your mother disappear. The same day I was born my mother went missing. They never found her, so I wound up in the foster system. I had a family until I was three but then they had their own kids so they sent me back. My mother never even tried to find me. I grew up alone." Emma swiped at the tear on her cheek and crouched down in front of Henry. "Look, kid, your mother might not be perfect but she is trying her best. I know it might not seem like she loves you sometimes but at least she wants you. "

"Your mother didn't abandon you. She was abducted!"

"Abducted?"

"Yes. By the Evil Queen."

"Sure she was. Come on, Henry. Let's get you home." She gripped his hand and together they headed back to Regina's house.

"Thank you," Regina said a little reluctantly after Henry had pushed past her and run up to his room.

"No problem," Emma replied.

"He seems to have taken quite a shine to you."

Emma smiled slightly. "You know, it's kind of crazy. Yesterday was my birthday and when I blew out the candle on this cupcake I bought myself I made a wish that I didn't have to be alone anymore and then Henry showed up at my doorstep and brought me here."

Regina's mouth formed a thin line. "I hope there is no misunderstanding here. Don't mistake all of this as an invitation back into his life."

"I didn't—"

"You made a decision ten years ago. You gave him up. And in these last ten years I have raised him. I've changed every diaper, soothed every fever, and endured every tantrum. You may have given birth to him but he is my son. You have no legal rights to him and you are going to be held to that."

"I was not—"

"No. You don't get to speak. You don't get to do anything. You will leave this town, or so help me, I will destroy you if it's the last thing I do."

Emma's fingers curled into a fist, her voice low as she asked, "Do you love him?"

"Of course I do," Regina told her. "Which is a lot more than I can say of you. The woman who tossed him away without a care in the world. Goodbye Ms. Swan."

The door slammed shut behind her and Emma stared at the closed door for quite some time before she turned around slowly and walked towards her bug, her fingers shaking slightly as she reached for the handle.

Regina was wrong. She did love him.

"So, Ms. Swan, are you staying?" Emma had pulled up to Granny's Bed & Breakfast only to find Killian Jones strolling by.

Emma looked at him, her expression wary. "Why do you care?"

"Simply because if you don't stay the boy would just keep going after you."

"He would?"

"Aye. He's a very determined lad. Forgive me for not introducing myself formally. The name is Killian Jones, and I have the very distinct pleasure of educating your son." Killian said, holding out his hand to her.

Emma took it cautiously. "I'm Emma Swan, and yes, I'm staying. But only for a week."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Emma. If you want to arrange a parent teacher conference I'd be happy to oblige." He told her, giving her a wink, his mouth tilting up into a lopsided grin.

Emma rolled her eyes. Killian Jones was far too sure of himself. But he genuinely cared for Henry which was more than she could say about Regina, so that won him a few points.

"Well it's getting late," Emma said. "I should go get a room."

"Of course," Killian replied. "I look forward to seeing you around."

Emma watched him go and wondered what it was about this man that was so . . . intriguing, for lack of a better word.

Emma shook her head. She wasn't here to flirt. She was here to make sure her son was okay. In a week she would leave and go back to Boston, back to her normal life.

When Emma entered the inn all she could hear was shouting.

"You're out all night and now you're going out again?" the voice of an older woman resounded from upstairs.

"I should have moved to Boston!" the voice of a woman about her age exclaimed.

The owners of the voices came marching down the stairs. "Well I'm sorry that my heart attack interfered with your plans to sleep your way down the East Coast."

"Excuse me," Emma interrupted the fight, getting the attention of the two women. "I'd like a room."

"Really?" the older woman asked—Granny, she assumed—looking almost too eager. "Would you like a forest view or a square view? Normally there is an upgrade fee but I'll waive it. Now what's the name?" Granny inquired, moving behind the desk and taking out an enormous ledger.

"Emma. Emma Swan."

"Emma?" a deep male voice sounded behind her and Emma turned around, her eyes falling on a man with shoulder length brown hair, dressed in an expensive looking suit. "What a lovely name."

"Thanks," Emma told him, feeling a little bit unsettled by his impish grin.

"It's all here," Granny said, holding out a roll of cash towards the visitor.

"Yes, dear. Of course it is," the man spoke, taking the money. "You enjoy your stay, Emma."

"Who was that?" Emma asked once he was gone. Judging by the look on Granny's face, he was not to be taken lightly.

"Mr. Gold," The girl answered as she was peering out the window. "He owns this place."

"The inn?"

"The town," Granny told her, "So how long will you be staying with us, Ms. Swan?"

"A week. Just a week."

"Great," Granny said with a smile, handing her a heavy silver key. "Welcome to Storybrooke."

On the other side of town Henry was staring out the window, his eyes glued to the clock tower and a grin spread out on his face as the hand finally moved.

The clock was working again. Things were about to change for the better around here.

Killian noticed it too. He looked up from his stack of homework assignments, the sound of ticking evident in the silent room.

He glanced at his wristwatch. Time had started to move forward. Perhaps Emma Swan was the Savior after all.

Regina went down to her basement and opened the heavy metal door. She had been keeping Snow White locked up in here for years. But what she found was not what she had expected.

The cell was empty.

Cursing loudly, she whirled around, smashing the mirror hanging on the opposite wall with the skeleton key.

Something had gone terribly wrong.