Emma had been driving for around four hours at this point. She went in no particular direction other than away from everything she knew in Boston. Two pit stops to fill the car with petrol were the only deviations she took from the plan of leaving her abusive life. Her stomach gave out a loud rumble as she passed a sign in The middle of nowhere, welcoming her to Storybrooke.
'What a weird name for a town.' She thought to herself with a wrinkle of her nose. She kept rubbing at her eyes and opened a window to try keep her awake. A few minutes later it was seven am and she was driving through a old fashioned looking town centre. The blonde noticed it was tiny and not a chain store in sight. A neon sign for 'Granny's Diner' caught her eye and since Emma knew she couldn't possibly drive anymore and stay safe, pulled up outside the establishment. Henry started to stir in the back seat, a blanket had been wrapped around him as he slept through everything. Emma got in the back seat and stroked his mop of brown hair. "Henry...I need you to wake up for me." She told him with a soft, loving voice. The lump under the cover moved and he pulled the blanket off him. "Ma? Where am I? This is not my bed." He said as he felt the car seat around him. Henry was registered blind but still could see general blurred shapes around him and if he used his magnifier, could see up to a few inches away from his face.
"We are in the car, bud. "
"Why?" Henry sat up as he rubbed his eyes and yawned.
"We needed to leave Boston. We are going on an adventure, its going to be our new start."
"With Killian?" He asked quietly, worried about what her answer was going to be.
"No, not with Killian, I've left him." Henry smiled and sighed with relief at that news. He really didn't like the man
"Good. It can be like old times again." Henry grinned and took his seatbelt off. Emma gave him his cane and he got out of the car. Emma held the back of his head and gave him a tender kiss to his forehead.
"I love you so much, Henry and I promise things will be so much better from now on." Emma stroked his soft hair and stood up straight. "There is a Diner just in front of us, I don't know about you but I am starving."
Henry enthusiastically agreed with his mother and put his hand on her back while he was led to the old fashioned looking restaurant and used the cane to guide his path.
A bell jingled above their hand once they walked in. "Well hello new people." Emma closed hte door behind them and turned to face the person behind the welcoming voice. A brunette woman with below shoulder length hair was walking up to them. She was wearing the tiniest black shorts Emma had ever seen and her white shirt was buttoned then tied at the waist so her toned stomach was on show. The waitress was sporting a huge smile showing off her white teeth. Emma couldn't help but noticed how gorgeous the woman was.
"My name is Ruby and I'll be your waitress this morning." Ruby greeted them warmly however was looking a tad surprised to see them.
"Hi there I'm Henry, nice to meet you." Henry beamed and used the hand that was on Emma's back, to wave at Ruby.
"Well aren't you just the most adorable and well mannered little dude." Ruby praised and looked at Henry then Emma. "Are you guys eating in or taking out?"
Before Emma had the chance to even think about an answer, Henry replied, "Eating in, definitely. Do you have any booths?"
"Oh yes and I have the best booth just for you two." Ruby led them both to the back of the restaurant. Ruby made sure to push any chairs in so there was no obstacles in Henry's path. But it was pretty clear and wide spaces between tables anyway.
As the pair sat on opposite sides of the booth Henry looked closer at the seating. "The seats are my favourite colour, that is so cool!" he remarked and turned to face Emma again.
"No way! Red is my favourite colour too." Ruby told him. "All my friends call me Red."
"That's so cool!" He giggled at the nickname. "Do you like Ma's jacket then?" He asked pointing to the red leather jacket Emma was wearing.
"I love it." Ruby admired the jacket and not at all the gorgeous blonde who was wearing it.
Emma gave a tired smile at Ruby and missed the way she was looked at. Emma couldn't stop the yawn that left her lips. "Oh excuse me."
"Hey its no problem. Are you visiting anyone here, looks like you need some rest." Ruby commented, noticing how exhausted and pale the woman looked.
"No we are just passing through, it's been a long drive."
"Well we own a B&B and we have a few vacancies if you need somewhere to crash?"
Emma paused to think about the offer. On one hand she wanted to get far away from Killian and Boston as possible. On the other hand though she was exhausted and it would not be safe to drive a second longer without some rest.
"Oh please Ma, can we stay!?" He asked her with his best puppy dog expression. With a soft chuckle she nodded her head.
"Yeah we can stay, but I'm going to need a few hours sleep Hen."
"That's fine, I'll keep myself busy I promise." His smile was what got her up each morning. He was the only shining light in her miserable existence.
"Alright then we will take a room."
"Brilliant, I will make sure it is ready for you by the time you finish breakfast. Speaking off lets fill those bellies." Ruby walked over to the counter and got them menus. She gave Emma one and gave Henry a large print, multiple page menu. "Do you need any help with the menu buddy?" Ruby offered.
"No thanks Red, Ma should have my magnifier." Emma took his hand held magnifier out of her satchel and gave it her son who proceeded to lift the menu close to his face and read with the magnifier.
Emma was impressed and touched not just with the rare finding large print menus but with how normal Ruby was treating her son. People usually ignored him or tried to do too much for him instead of going with his lead of what he could or couldn't do. Henry was a highly independent little boy who had such an enthusiasm for life that didn't match Emma's.
"What can I get you both to drink then while you choose?" Ruby asked them both.
"Can we get a jug of water and an orange juice please."
"Yeah can I have an orange juice as well please?" Henry asked briefly lifting his head away from the menu to ask hen went back to reading.
"Coming right up." Ruby left the pair and got their drinks ready. Before she took the drinks over she rang the B and B next door and asked Tink to get a room ready. Ruby placed the tray down and set the drinks out.
"You guys need more time or are you ready to order?"
"Can I get the waffles with nuttela, ice cream bananas and maple syrup please." Henry asked politely.
Emma chuckled and shook her head, "I have no idea where he puts it."
"He's a growing boy and looks like he's got a lot of energy to burn it off." Ruby smiled and wrote the order down. "And what about you..." She lingered unsure of her name.
"It's Emma and I will have the chocolate chip pancakes with berries."
"Good choice, Emma. It's my grandma who cooks and her pancakes are to die for." Ruby told her with a wink.
"Well I can't wait to try them." Emma said with a genuine smile.
Ruby sauntered off and gave the order to Granny. The place was quiet since it had only just opened for the day. There were three other older gentlemen in the place, two separate at the counter and one at a table in front of the window.
"I like it here already." Henry told her with a smile.
"Oh yeah, kid?"
"Yeah, Red is cool and oh gosh I'm so excited for these waffles." He giggled and wriggled in his seat. "Did you bring my tablet?"
"Of course, buddy." Emma took his tablet out of her satchel and gave it to her son.
"Thanks, Ma." Henry said and started to play an episode of the old series of teenage mutant ninja turtles.
Emma leant back against the seat and watched her son fondly enjoying a TV show she loved herself as a kid.
Emma jolted in her seat as Ruby placed the plates down. She must have fallen asleep sat up she thought.
"Sorry sweetheart, I didn't mean to scare you." Ruby said with a warm smile and gave a squeeze to her shoulder. Emma tensed at the contact at first but her anxiety lowered as she looked up at the kind woman and saw no threat there.
"No its okay." She gave a small smile in response then looked at the towering plates of food. "Oh wow... are these like super size portions."
Ruby chuckled and shook her head, "No these are standard portions but we will pack anything and give you a doggy bag if you can't finish."
Henry turned the episode off and took photos of both of their meals. He zoomed in on the photos and gasped. "This looks amazing."
Emma smiled and agreed with him. "Thanks Ruby."
"If you two need anything at all just give me a shout. Oh and your room is ready." Ruby gave them both a grin and walked off.
"Well dig in kid." Emma grabbed her knife and fork and dove right in. The food was like an orgasm in her mouth. Emma was in agreement with Henry, she was liking Storybrooke already.