AN: I have no idea how foster care works. This is just my imagination.
I don't own the characters or OUAT.
All mistakes are mine.

"Rebecca," Emma started, "please, tell me you found someone. I don't even need two parents, just one would be fine."

"Emma, relax. I found a couple. They're located quite a bit away. They're about four hours away from the heart of Boston, which is where we have to go to get your papers. We'll be leaving for Storybrooke, Maine Monday night," Rebecca stated calmly.

"Storybrooke?!" she all but yelled in the small car. "Who the hell names a town that?"

"Emma! Calm down!" the social worker replied. "The couple is very nice and are willing to take you in. Their names are Mary Margaret and David Nolan. Do you still not care why Steven and Abby gave you back?"

"I don't care. They don't matter anymore," Emma said bitterly.

"Emma, you have to give someone a chance to explain. If you had stayed -"

"Why give them a chance if you know that they'll just let you down. Like I said, they don't matter. They're in the past."

"Ok. Fair enough. Just remember, keep an open mind," she reminded Emma.

'Only if they do the same,' Emma though but didn't dare say. 'The only foster parents who knew I was gay was Steven and Abby. Then they went and kicked me out. Nothing will ever be fair, so why should I even try to get comfortable with a family.'

"Emma Swan! Stop going into your head like that!" Rebecca ordered. "You just spiral deeper into negative thoughts. Now, is that keeping an open mind?"

Emma had to crack a smile at her social worker, "No." Rebecca always knew how to get her to smile. "Why don't you just take me in? We get along so well."

"You know why. I would love to, but its considered a conflict of interests," Rebecca said sadly. "You're such a great kid, Emma. You deserve a good, happy family. I hope you find that with Mary Margaret and David."

Sunday morning, Emma and Rebecca started the last part of the trip from Tallahassee to Boston.

'It's been three days. Rebecca deserves some time to relax. I know she's taken the time to sleep, but when was the last time she had a decent meal? Probably Wednesday afternoon, right before Steven and Abby called. When we get to Boston later, she's going straight to bed,' Emma thought to herself.

As they drove past the "Massachusetts Welcomes you" sign, Emma took a deep breath. She didn't know why, but she felt nervous. She has done this thing, switching families, many times before. The longest she stayed with a family was two years, but that was when she was six.

'I thought Steven and Abby were gonna be it. I felt comfortable around them. They felt safe. Guess it wasn't meant to be.'

"Emma, it'll be another hour to Boston, now that we're in Massachusetts."

"Hmm. Sounds good. You can finally sleep in a bed tonight instead of in this tiny car," Emma said before she closed her eyes to relax.

"Emma, wake up. We're here at the office. I'm going to leave you here for a bit. I have to get your papers so that Mary Margaret and David can sign tomorrow. I'll be back in twenty minutes," Rebecca said to a waking Emma. "And fix your hair. You have car head, haha."

"You're hilarious, Rebecca," Emma said back dryly while fixing her long, blonde hair.

Twenty minutes later, Rebecca walked out of the office building and back into the car. Rebecca said as she got in, "Let's get to the motel."

Rebecca and Emma spent all of Sunday evening and night sleeping in their respectful motel beds. Emma was the first to wake up Monday morning at 6:30, but she tried to go back to bed.

'There's no reason for me to be up right now. Rebecca and I are leaving later this afternoon,' she thought. 'I'm tired. Shut up, brain. Let me go back to sleep.'

Emma woke up again at 10:30, just as Rebecca finished putting her shoes on.

"Come on. Up and at 'em, Ems," Rebecca cheerfully said to the teen.

Emma whined, "But I like Boston. I've always liked Boston."

"Well, you might like Storybrooke."

"Probably not. It's a stupid name."

"Emma... Open mind."

"Fine."

"Because we had breakfast at 11, do you think we could stop and get food? Like now?" Emma impatiently asked.

"Not yet. We're almost there. We'll be there in half an hour," Rebecca replied.

"But I'm hungry!" Emma whined for the second time that day.

"You're always hungry. It's 2:30. You can wait until 3."

"Ugh... Fine."

'I can't wait to eat. Depending on where we go, I'll get a grilled cheese. Or pancakes. With a milkshake!'

'Did we just pass a "Welcome to Storybrooke' sign and an 'Entering Storybrooke' sign? What is up with this weird place?' Emma thought twenty-five minutes later.

Not even five minutes after, Rebecca parked the car in front of a building with the sign, 'Granny's Diner.'

'Yay! Milkshakes!' Emma cheered in her head.

"Here's twenty bucks, Ems. Go buy whatever you want. I'm going to look for Mary Margaret's and David place," Rebecca said after Emma got out of the car.

"You'll come back, though. Right?"

"Of course. I'll see you as soon as I find them."

"Ok. See you soon!" Emma said as her social worker drove off.

'It's time for food now!'

As Emma opened the door to 'Granny's Diner,' the little bell above it rang. Every single head in the diner shot up to stare at the newcomer. Uncomfortable, Emma walked, with her head down, to the stools at the counter.

"What can I get you, miss?" an old woman with graying hair asked, while she handed Emma a menu.

"Can I get a chocolate milkshake and a grilled cheese sandwich?" Emma tentatively asked without looking at the menu.

"Of course. Ruby!" the lady yelled to no one in particular. "Grilled cheese and a chocolate milkshake!"

"You got it, Granny!" an unknown girl yelled back to her. "Five minutes!"

"Five minutes," Granny said to Emma with a smile before walking away.

As a young girl with red streaks in her black hair walked from the back with Emma's food, the little bell above the door went off again. Unable to help herself, Emma looked towards the door.

"Good afternoon, Mayor Mills and Regina. Would you two like your usuals?" the girl with the voice from earlier asked the pair that had just entered.

'That must be Ruby, then. And I'm guessing that the two people who just walked in must be mother and daughter. Regina is really pretty.'

"Yes, Ruby," Mayor Mills confirmed. "But we will be taking them to go, please."

"Um, Mother. Jefferson and Zelena wanted to meet up today to work on a project for a class. Is it ok if I stayed and waited for them?" Regina asked her mother, which confirmed Emma's suspicions.

"Of course, dear. Ruby, my food will be to go, while Regina's food will be to stay. We will be in the booth in the corner."

"Sure, Madam Mayor. I'll inform Granny."

Ruby placed Emma's food down in front of her. "You ordered the chocolate milkshake with this grilled cheese, right?"

All Emma did was a nod at the young waitress.

"Great! That'll be just another minute, alright? I'll bring it out as soon as I put the Mayor's order in."

Emma still couldn't do anything but nod at Ruby, even after she walked away.

'Who is that girl? She's so pretty. Why did she have to sit so far away?'

Emma was stuck in her head until Mayor Mills walked out of the diner and as Rebecca walked in. She didn't even notice her shake was placed next to her grilled cheese.