"I'll be fine, Mom!" Paige called over her shoulder as she searched the closet for her her shoes. "Henry's missing. I have to help."
"Paige. It's a school night." Her mother said with her hands on her hips.
Paige finished lacing up her left sneaker. "I won't be long. I just really need to do this Mom."
Mrs. Grace gave her daughter a stern look. "Half an hour. That's it. Otherwise, Graham is getting a call from me. I'm sure he doesn't want two missing children on his hands."
"I'm not about to go missing." Paige said, giving her mother one last hug. "I'm sure nothing bad has happened to Henry."
It only took Henry about a second to realize that he probably should have rung the doorbell instead. He found the little button on the left side of the door covered in writing. Henry did not hesitate in pushing the little button as hard as he could. He was sick of waiting. If he was right, and he so hoped he was, the woman on the other side could change his life forevermore. She would break the curse, riding into Storybrooke like some kind of white knight, and he would have a real mother again.
The door opened. A beautiful blond woman stared down at him questioningly. Henry wasn't sure she looked quite the part of the white knight, but she certainly could be a princess, especially in her pink dress.
"Um," The woman leaned again the doorframe as she examined him closely. "Can I help you?"
"Are you Emma Swan?" The words were out of his mouth before he even knew he was saying them. Maybe that was better. Henry wasn't sure he could actually properly articulate anything.
"Yeah. Who are you?"
Henry bit his lip. It didn't matter if she hadn't wanted him, he thought as he took a breath. Storybrooke needed her. "My name is Henry. I'm your son." He smiled. Henry had said it. It was like a weight had lifted from his shoulders. He had found his mother and she knew who he was.
Henry heard his stomach grumble. It had taken longer than he had expected to get to Boston from Storybrooke. He had forgotten about food. His throat also felt scratchy. That drinking fountain at the station in Newburyport seemed so long ago. Henry pushed past Emma into the apartment. After all, he had come all this way to find her, she could at least give him something to drink.
"Hey, Kid. Kid. Kid!" She called as he looked around the apartment.
It was a nice enough place. There was a beautiful view of the city, but it didn't seem quite lived in. There were papers here and there. (File folders, Henry thought, for her cases. The website had said she was a bail bondsman.) But there was nothing that showed that this place was a home.
"I don't have a son," She said adamantly.
Henry resisted the urge to whip around. He may have been in Storybrooke his entire life, but he was still her son. They even looked a little alike. She had his nose and chin. (Henry knew that it was the other way around but he liked to think about it this way.)
"Where are your parents?"
Now, Henry thought, turning around fluidly. He needed to warm her up to the idea. He wanted to run and hug her, or do something else equally silly, but he didn't. Henry pretended to be calm, cool and collected. "Ten years ago, did you give up a baby for adoption? That was me."
She scrutinized him even more, probably trying to find the same similarities, he already knew were there. "Give me a minute," she said as she rushed out of the room.
It could have gone worse, Henry thought. He knew it was a lot for anyone to deal with. I mean how often did the kid you tried to forget you even had show up on your doorstep? He could give her some time to adjust to the news. In the meantime, he could find a solution to his growing thirst. He began to search the refrigerator.
"Hey, do you have any juice?" Henry moved around several boxes of Chinese takeout. His mom sure ate a lot of takeout. Regina would have had a fit if he even suggested takeout. "Never mind, found some," Henry shouted as he found the orange bottle. He wasn't sure where the cups were so he drank straight from the bottle. It was something he never would have dared at home, but it felt different here.
Speaking of home, he thought as Emma reentered the room, he should probably get back there. Regina would have noticed by now. Sheriff Graham was probably already working the case. He hoped Paige wouldn't be in too much trouble for covering for him.
Paige shivered. Maybe it hadn't been the brightest idea to storm out of her house and help look for Henry. She knew where Henry was. He was somewhere between here and Boson, but the Evil Queen couldn't know that. So instead of being warm and sitting in her cozy little house with a cup of tea and her book, Paige was outside pretending to look for her best friend. She needed to keep pretending. They couldn't let the Evil Queen win. They had to keep any progress toward breaking the curse hidden. So even if that meant wandering pointlessly around at night, Paige would do it. Everything would be worth it in the end.
More rain was falling now. A part of Paige wanted to go back home and find a more suitable jacket and some gloves. She knew however that her mother wouldn't let her leave the house again. Paige moved to stand under the awning in front of Mr. Gold's shop.
This was silly. She had already proven she had no idea where Henry was to Graham and the Evil Queen. She had acted in character and gone out searching. Paige had covered all her tracks and yet she was still outside. She tried to reason what to do next.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Sweetheart, what are you doing out so late?" A voice behind her said.
It was harder to see her up close. It was hard to see her flinch away from him and give him an accusatory glare. Jefferson thought he was ready for this, but he wasn't. He couldn't stand the distant look in her eyes. It certainly didn't help that he had called her sweetheart. She was all alone and confronted by a stranger. If they were in the Enchanted Forest, she would have started running all the way back home, back to him.
Grace looked down at her feet and muttered something instead.
"I didn't catch that." Jefferson knelt so that he could look his daughter in the eye. "I'm sure it was eloquent, but do you mind repeating it?"
She smiled. It wasn't her usual light up the room smile; it was more of her I-have-a-problem-Papa smile. He just wanted to grab her and hug her, but this time he was the problem.
"I'm looking for someone." She didn't look at him when she said it, just continued to stare at the spot on the sidewalk.
"Most people are," the words from so long ago bubbled to his lips unconsciously. "Do you want help?"
This time she did look at him. He stayed still as she scanned his face. It was only a few seconds but it felt like a lifetime. "I guess so."
Grace began to walk away from him. Jefferson stood and followed, unwilling to let her out of his sight now. He had interacted with her for the first time in nearly thirty years. He had no reason to stop now.
"How about we go to Granny's and you can tell me who I'm looking for." Jefferson just wanted her to keep talking. He missed her voice. He missed her laugh too, like a tinkling of bells that always made him feel better. She was better than any treasure he could ever find in all the lands.
"How do I know you're not a serial killer or something?" She asked. "My parents might never see me again."
Her words had an unintended sting to them. "I promise I will never hurt you."
"That's a lot to promise someone you just met."
"Alright then, I pinky swear I'm not a serial killer." Jefferson offered his hand out to her. "Besides, how many serial killers have you heard about in Storybrooke?"
Jefferson could see the hesitation flicker across her eyes before she grabbed his hand. "I guess none, but you still could be a something."
"Everyone's a something. My name's Jefferson, princess." He gave her a little bow like he used to when she was little.
"I'm Paige." She offered him a curtsey and a genuine smile. "And Granny's sounds good. I'm beginning to get a headache."
It had taken some time to get Emma to drive him back to Storybrooke. She was stubborn just like he was. Her superpower was really cool though, Henry thought. It was like the power of Snow White and Prince Charming's true love had given her some awesome abilities. Maybe she could do magic too.
Emma hadn't been too receptive to the idea of the curse either. It stung a little that she thought he was crazy too. It shouldn't have, the idea of being a character in a storybook was fantastical, but it did. Henry had always thought that the savior would just believe him. She would be willing to come and fulfill her destiny. But Henry reasoned, if she believed right away, it wouldn't be much of a story.
Despite Emma's initial protests, they did stop to get something to eat. It had been late at a sketchy little gas station, but they had still stopped. Emma hadn't eaten much of anything after her case earlier and Henry's stomach had started to sound like a vicious animal.
Emma didn't say much. They had driven in relative silence since they left Boston. Henry had continued to read his book looking for any more clues. He was still only about halfway through. Henry had read the part about Snow White and the curse so many times, but there were a whole bunch of little stories he hadn't even begun yet.
She had been born cursed. Sometimes it wasn't even a curse, more of a gift, but it still was a burden to bear. Ever since she was little, Elsa had been kept by herself, locked safe and sound in her room. Her parents had meant well, she supposed, but she was still alone most of the time. Elsa couldn't even open the door. A sorcerer had created a seal to keep her powers hidden within. She was a dangerous weapon. Unfortunately, it also kept the world out.
When she had been seven, someone had knocked on her door. Elsa had found that odd. Her parents, on the few occasions they visited her, had always just entered. Her food and supplies always just magically appeared when she needed it.
"Hello?" A tiny voice asked.
Elsa didn't recognize it.
She heard the pitter patter of feet as the little girl ran away. She could hear the voice shouting, "MAMA! What's in this room?"
Elsa crept closer to the locked door in case the little girl came back. She didn't take very long.
"Hello! My name is Anna! Is anyone in there?" Anna's voice was much louder than it needed to be, but Elsa could only smile. She wasn't sure she was supposed to answer but Mama and Papa had never told her not to and she was awfully lonely.
"My name's Elsa."
Anna clapped her hands. "Really? My big sister's name was Elsa!"
That puzzled Elsa. It wasn't like her name was that common.
"Now, Anna what are you doing?" The Queen asked as she looked at her youngest daughter lying on the floor in front of the locked door.
"Mama!" Both girls said at once.
It was then that Elsa had her answer and she didn't like it one bit.
Tea with Jefferson hadn't been all that bad. Paige had laughed really hard at some of his jokes and he had smiled the entire time. He even liked his tea the same way she did. Jefferson had offered to walk her back home, but Sheriff Graham and the Evil Queen had barged in as they were leaving.
"You should be at home, Paige," Graham said. "Here I'll give you a ride in the squad car. It's too late for you to be out late all by yourself."
"I just wanted to help look for Henry."
Graham smiled. "I know, but I think we should leave this one to the professionals, okay?"
Paige put on her best teary eyed face, "So you'll find him?"
"Not if we have to deal with brats like you," Regina accused. "Sheriff, I'm going back to my house in case he tries going back there."
"That's fine Regina. I'll meet you there." Graham assured. "We'll find him. Just let me get this little lady home first."
The Evil Queen gave Jefferson a scorching glare as she left.
Despite their parent's protest, Elsa and Anna had bonded rather quickly. It hurt that their own parents had tried to keep them apart, but Elsa knew they were only doing what they thought was right. They always did what they thought was right.
Anna still couldn't enter the room and Elsa still couldn't leave it, but they made do. They talked a lot through the door. Sometimes Elsa read stories aloud or Anna shoved drawings she made under the door. Sometimes they played chess with two boards, one on each side so they could see what was going on, and talked through each of their moves. Most of the time, they just talked.
Elsa loved teasing Anna. She loved hearing her sister burst into a fit of giggles. Elsa had always wished she had someone to talk to and now she did.
"Do you think you'll ever get to come out?" Anna asked one day.
Elsa paused. It was a question she asked herself a lot too. "Maybe. I'm dangerous. When I was really little, I created a storm that nearly sent Papa flying out the window. I think that's when they knew," Elsa paused. She didn't want to say it but she had to. "When they knew they needed another heir."
"Me. They needed me." Anna whispered like she was telling the greatest secret of all.
"Yes. You." Elsa sighed. "They needed someone who could run Arendelle without scaring everyone."
"But you're not dangerous. Your curse is."
"Still. I am my curse."
"No. You're not. You're my big sister."
Henry looked out the window. They were just crossing into town. He must have nodded off at some point. He shook himself awake. He still needed to tell Emma about the curse.
"Okay, kid, how about an address?" Emma asked when she noticed he was awake.
"Forty-four, Not-telling-you Street."
The car jerked to a halt. Emma slammed the door as she got out. Henry shrugged his shoulders. He placed his storybook on the seat and also exited the car.
"Look, it's been a long night, and it's almost," Emma paused to look at the clock tower. "Eight-fifteen?" Her last words sounded completely puzzled.
"That clock hasn't moved my whole life. Time's frozen here." It was a really obvious sign that something was wrong with Storybrooke. Henry knew there was more than enough money to fix it.
"Excuse me?"
"The Evil Queen did it with her curse. She sent everyone from the Enchanted Forest here."
Emma was beyond incredulous, "Hang on. The Evil Queen sent a bunch of fairytale characters here."
"Yeah. And now they're trapped."
"Frozen in time, stuck in Storybrooke, Maine. That's what you're going with?" Emma's tone was mocking.
Henry knew she didn't mean anything by it. It was hard to believe in the curse, but he was sick of everyone not listening. "It's true!"
"Then why doesn't everybody just leave?" Emma asked as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Henry thought of all the times he had seen people drive up to the line and then turn around urgently. "They can't. If they try, bad things happen."
"Henry!" A familiar voice interrupted. Henry sighed. Archie meant well, but he still needed to convince Emma that she was the savior. He couldn't do that if she had any more reasons to believe he was crazy.
"What are you doing here? Is everything all right?" Archie asked quickly crossing the street with Pongo in tow.
Henry knelt to pet the Dalmatian. He had always liked dogs. Regina would never let him get one though. She didn't want a thing like that dirtying her house. "I'm fine, Archie."
"Who's this?"
"Just someone trying to give him a ride home." Emma said, staring at Archie with her arms crossed.
"She's my mom, Archie."
"Oh. I see." Henry knew that in that moment Archie was thinking of all the conversations he had with Regina about how normal it was for adopted children to want to know more about their pasts. He was sure Archie regretted it now.
"You know where he lives?"
"Oh. Yeah, sure, just uh, right up on Mifflin Street; the Mayor's house is the biggest one on the block."
Emma gave him a look. "You're the mayor's kid?"
Henry ducked his head. He knew just how much trouble Regina could cause for people. Henry didn't mean to cause problems. Emma just needed to be in Storybrooke. She needed to break the curse. "Uh. Maybe?
Archie broke the silence. "Hey. Where were you today, Henry, because you missed our session."
Henry tried to make his appointments seem as nonchalant as possible. "Oh, I forgot to tell you. I went on a field trip."
Archie knelt to give Henry the advice only a conscience could. "Henry, what'd I tell you about lying? Giving in to one's dark side never accomplishes anything."
It was moments like that when Henry was absolutely sure about the curse. He had seen those words printed on the page about one of the last council meetings before the curse.
Emma interrupted the meaningful exchange. "Okay! Well, I really should be getting him home."
"Yeah. Sure. Well, listen—have a good night, and uh, you be good, Henry." Archie said as he left to finish his walk with Pongo.
As much as he loved Archie, Henry knew this exchange wasn't helping his case.
"So that's your shrink?"
"I'm not crazy." He was right. Henry understood it sounded crazy, but he knew undeniably that something was very wrong in Storybrooke. His entire life had been proof.
"I didn't say that. Just that he doesn't seem cursed to me. Maybe he's just trying to help you," Emma reasoned.
"He's the one who needs help. Because he doesn't know."
"That he's a fairytale character."
"None of them do. They don't remember who they are." Henry turned and began to get back in the car. He needed to come up with some new plan so that Emma couldn't leave as soon as she dropped him off.
"Convenient. All right. I'll play." Emma opened up the driver's door. "Who's he supposed to be?"
"Jiminy Cricket"
"Right. The lying thing. Thought your nose grew a little bit."
Henry almost laughed, but he stopped himself and pretended to sound outraged. "I'm not Pinocchio!"
"Course you're not. 'Cause that would be ridiculous!"
AN: I apologize for the limited Henry/Emma interactions. They are harder to write simply because they had to be in the bug for about two hours, but most of the important conversation is covered when they arrive in Storybrooke. Emma was also trying to avoid getting too attached at that point.
To incorporate more Frozen elements into the story, I'm also including Elsa's backstory before she steals Kay. (So yes despite the fact that's she's Elsa, we're still going with the Hans Christian Anderson plot line.) In true OUAT style, even Frozen is slightly different from the movie.