Chapter One~

Daybreak over the town meant that everyone would start their day like every other day before, simple—plain—boring. Across town and near the forest was a slightly rundown building with a porch where overhead was a sign reading in black letters 'Storybrooke Orphanage'. On the second floor in a bedroom overlooking the forest was a figure already dressing for the day in jeans and a long sleeve peasant blouse, their hair in a braid around their head. Exiting the bedroom the figure passed five other doors not including the bathroom before heading downstairs into the kitchen to help make breakfast for everyone. Already in the kitchen was the head of the orphanage Mrs. Lorewood, her black hair in a messy bun atop her head and back turn towards the figure having entered the kitchen.

"Morning!" the figure said so that Mrs. Lorewood turned and grinning said,

"Morning Aria, come on breakfast won't make itself." and so Aria went over to the counter where the plates where and moved them into the dining room, setting them up for everyone. Once the table was set she returned into the kitchen to finish getting breakfast ready as footsteps started down the stairs. As the children began to enter the dining room Aria, the niece of Mother Superior who instead of living at the Convent lives here in order to help out, went to check on the kids. The orphanage has ten kids in total with the eldest being twelve and the youngest being five. Upon entering Aria found all the kids already sitting and laughing at the dining room table, each in their own spot.

"Morning Aria!" they all cried as she entered so that she smiled saying hello to every one of them as Mrs. Lorewood began bringing the breakfast. When Aria went to bring in the rest she could hear the kids laughing and making jokes so that she shook her head. Hearing Mrs. Lorewood reenter the kitchen Mrs. Lorewood turned as she told Aria,

"Tomorrow the rent is due." Aria nodded not saying anything as the mild-aged woman whipped her brow with the back of her hand adding,

"And—we're behind." at this Aria felt her eyes widen as she whispered,

"What are we going to do? This is going to be the third time we're behind!" Mrs. Lorewood exhaled deeply as she looked over her shoulder towards the dining room where the kids were totally oblivious to the situation. The frown on her face combined with the dark circles under her eyes were enough to tell Aria that she already knew the situation they were in was bad.

"I'll go get a job." Aria said simply but Mrs. Lorewood shook her head saying,

"I need you here."

"And we need to pay the rent! We can't fall behind any more than we already are!" she hissed so that she added as she started for the dining room,

"I'll go into town and look for a job." so that once back in the dining room Aria finished setting down the food before taking her own spot. As breakfast went on she made small talk with all the kids before she realized she best be going if she wanted to find a job. So standing she headed for the door when one of the girls asked her,

"Where are you going?"

"Into town sweetheart, don't worry though I'll be back soon." so stepping outside with her purse and keys, Aria started into town so that once on the corner of Main Street she began her job hunt. From store to store, shop to shop she went only every place seemed full. By the time lunch rolled around Aria stepped into Granny's Diner to eat unable to find anything! Sitting at the counter she plopped her head in her arms as she heard a voice ask,

"Rough day kid?"

"You have no idea Ruby." Aria said looking up before ordering a cheeseburger and coke so that as Ruby the waitress headed into the kitchen with her order, Aria picked up the newspaper lying on the counter.

"Hey Aria!" she heard suddenly so that turning towards the voice she found a boy wearing a large backpack and school uniform so that she ruffled his hair saying,

"Shouldn't you be at school Henry?"

"I took lunch off, besides no one will know I'm gone. I'll get back before anyone notices!" the kid said with a smart grin as he took a seat next to Aria while Ruby set her order down. Raising an eyebrow at Henry sitting next to her, the boy winked at Ruby making her laugh and shake her head as she went to take other people's orders.

"So what are you doing here kid?" Aria asked so that Henry told her,

"It's about Regina, she's driving me insane!" making Aria laugh outright before telling him,

"Well she is the Mayor, and a bit uptight." the last part she whispered to him so that he laughed hard before he said between giggles,

"You have no idea, anyway, I have an idea that I need you to help me with." Aria raised an eyebrow at that as he dug around inside his backpack before pulling out something. Handing it to Aria, Henry whispered to her,

"Just don't show it to anyone else, ok?" nodding, Aria read the paper he had given her to see—an address located in Boston! Staring at him, she had to wonder what he was up to before saying,

"It's almost the end of lunch at school kiddo." so that Henry looked over at the clock on the wall and seeing his eyes widen in shock Aria laughed as he shot off the stool. As he raced for the door he nearly ran into a figure dressed in all black with a navy blue tie. Though luckily for him the figure moved around at the last second to reveal a golden topped cane allowing Henry to rush out the door. Upon seeing who it was, Aria felt her heart drop into her stomach and appetite leave as she asked for the check. As the thump of the cane got closer, Aria prayed the figure would just move away from her and not spot her—but he did.

"Ah, Ms. North what a coincidence that I should find you here."

"Yes well, I was just going actually Mr. Gold." Aria said having paid her check and standing was about to head for the door when he stopped her with,

"The rent is due tomorrow for the orphanage." freezing mid-step, Aria bit her tongue before forcing herself to turn around and put a smile on her face.

"Mr. Gold, you know better than anyone that this year has been extremely hard on the town." Aria began only he held up one hand saying as he did,

"If you're going to tell me that the rent might be a little late, you know better than anyone that that would be the third time now." forcing herself to stay calm despite him using her words against her, Aria said,

"That wasn't what I was going to say, what I was going to say was that I was looking for a job to help pay said rent." watching as Mr. Gold raises an eyebrow at her, Aria tries to play it off by shrugging before heading off again towards the door though she hears him following her. Once she reaches the door and just before she can open it, Aria feels him lean in slightly behind her saying to her,

"How chivalrous of you Ms. North, and just when I was looking for an assistant for my shop." hearing this Aria just continues out the door praying that no one else heard what he had said since she could practically feel the smirk on his face. As she walks down the block with arms crossed over her chest Aria realizes she has one last stop before she'd have to head back to the orphanage empty handed. Upon entering the Pet Shelter she saw Dr. Thatcher behind the counter who smiled once he saw her enter.

"Hey Dr. Thatcher, I was wondering—do you need any help around here? I'm looking for a job to help pay the rent over at the orphanage." to her surprise the man nodded telling her with a smile,

"Well we do need someone to help walk the dogs who come in and things like that, it wouldn't be the best pay in town but it would still be something." grinning wide Aria had to fill out some paperwork before calling Mrs. Lorewood to tell her the good news. When she had finished telling Mrs. Lorewood the news, how was extremely excited and thankful for the fact Aria was willing to get a job, Aria was shown around the pet shelter by Dr. Thatcher. Once she had a basic idea of where everything was she started by taking the first dog for a walk, a black lab mix. As the two headed off through the forest on a trail, Aria hummed to herself with a smile on her face happy that she finally would be able to help out the orphanage pay the damn rent. About four minutes into their walk, the lab began pulling her up a hill having smelt something making her laugh saying,

"What did you find there huh?" only once she reached the top of the hill Aria saw—a wishing well. Confused, she tilted her head as she went over to it carefully to peer down into it. Laughing softly, she pulled out a penny and closing her fist around it looked at the dog saying,

"I think I'll make a wish," before saying to herself,

"I wish—for some good luck to come to the orphanage." and with that she dropped the penny into the wishing well and headed on back to the pet shelter, never once thinking that her wish might come true—for a price.