author's note: I have been planning this story for years. I think it's about time I actually post something for it. This is just a short little prologue. More of Episode one will be covered iin the next chapter. I think it's fitting this scene stands by itself.
I only own my OC Ava Swan.

Someone Like You
Prologue

Ava sat the cupcakes on the counter and grabbed the tea kettle. She hummed quietly to herself as she filled it. Her Shetland Sheepdog, Agatha, trotted along behind her, pleased to see her owner.

She frowned when someone knocked at the door. She turned off the water and placed the kettle on the stove before approaching the front door. She wasn't expecting anyone, and Emma would have her key.

She glanced through the peephole before opening the door. A young boy stood on the other side, carrying a brown satchel. Agatha panted and wagged her tail excitedly as the boy entered the apartment. The boy stroked her head gently.

"Hi, can I help you, are you lost?" Ava asked.

"Are you Emma Swan?" The boy asked.

"No. Why are you looking for Emma?" Ava frowned. She didn't recognize the boy and no one she knew had a child the boy's age. Where did he come from and how did he know her sister's name?

"So, you know her. Good. Can you help me find her?" The boy walked into the apartment. He looked around the room, his hand clutching the strap of his brown leather satchel.

"I'm sorry - but who are you and why are you looking for my sister?"

The boy frowned. "Sister?"

"Yes, Emma is my sister."

He shook his head. "No, that can't be right. The book doesn't say anything about a sister."

Ava frowned, "Book?"

"My book. That's why I have to talk to Emma." He climbed up on one of the stools at the kitchen island. "She is going to be here soon?"

Ava ignored his question and walked over to the cordless phone. "Why don't you tell me what your name is and we can work on figuring this out. It's obvious there has been some kind of mistake." Agatha had climbed up on the sofa in the living room and was lying on her stomach with her snout resting on the arm, watching everything.

"My name's Henry."

"Okay, Henry. How did you get this address?"

"You can find out a lot of things on the internet." He shrugged nonchalantly.

The tea kettle began to whistle and Ava jumped. She scurried over and turned off the burner. She was beginning to question her judgment about opening the door. What if this boy's act was a ruse for some kind of criminal?

If that were the case wouldn't they have broken into the apartment by now? She hadn't bothered to relock the door after letting the mysterious little boy into her apartment.

She had honestly thought he was lost and needed help. She glanced over her shoulder at him. He was sitting at the kitchen island, lost in thought.

She debated locking the door, just in case there was some murder lurking in the hallway waiting for the opportune time to attack. The boy didn't pay her any attention as she walked over to the door. She glanced out the peep-hole, but the hallway was empty.

Ava stood with her hand on the lock. Emma had her key and would be able to get in if she locked the door but; If there was someone dangerous out there and she locked the door, it would make it harder for Emma to get to safety.

"So, Henry, why are you looking for Emma?"

"I need her help."

Given Emma's line of work that meant someone dangerous could have followed the boy to their apartment. Her fingers fluttered over the lock, "What do you need her help with? Maybe I can help you instead. Then we can get you home to your parents. I'm sure they are very worried about you."

Ava decided against locking the door, afraid it would put her sister in jeopardy if the boy was here with information about a criminal. She turned to face Henry, who was now looking at her with mild curiosity.

"You can't. It has to be Emma."

Ava frowned. She was afraid of that. "Is this about her work?"

He shook his head, "No. This is about my town, where I live. I need her help saving everyone who lives there."

She walked over to the kitchen island and stood across from Henry. It was clear he had a very over-active imagination. "One person can't save an entire town, Henry."

"She can, It's her destiny."

Ava grabbed a cup out of the cupboard and placed it on the island. She then grabbed a tea bag from the canister they keep on the counter. "Henry, why don't you tell me your parents names and we can work on getting you home."

"I can't go until I talk to Emma. I need her to come with me and help me." He sounded slightly whiny.

Ava sighed. Maybe she should just let Emma handle this. She could explain to him that she wasn't the person he was looking for, they could call the police, and they would take the boy back to his parents. "Fine. We can wait and talk to Emma. Do you want a drink while we wait?"

"Do you have any juice?"

Ava nodded and got a class out of the cupboard. She grabbed the orange juice out of the fridge and filled the glass before sliding it across the counter to him.

"Thank you." He took a sip and sat the glass back down. He watched as Ava put the juice away. "So you're really Emma's sister?"

Ava nodded, "Yes. She's a year older than me."

"But that can't be right." He frowned, looking down at his glass.

"Well, I promise you - I'm not lying to you. My parents adopted she was a baby." Ava grabbed a spoon out of the drawer and added some sugar to her tea.

"So she's not really your sister. LIke she is but you have different parents."

"My parents were her parents." Ava said simply as she stirred her tea.

Henry nodded, "But she has other parents. Real parents."

Ava drug her lip between her teeth, biting back the retort that formed on her tongue. She took a deep breath to calm herself, "I suppose so, yes. Somewhere she has other parents." She took a sip of her tea.

"So, if you're Emma's sister - that makes you my Aunt." Henry said with a smile.

Ava choked on her tea. "You-You're what?" She sputtered, clutching at her chest.

Henry seemed unphased by her reaction, "My Aunt. Emma is my mom so, if she is your sister that makes you my Aunt.

Ava took a deep breath and leaned forward, both hands resting on the island. "Your Emma's son?"

Henry nodded. "And Today is her 28th birthday."

Ava sucked in a deep breath. Emma had chosen a closed adoption. Where had this boy gotten all of this information? How had he been able to find out Emma's name, her birthdate, their address? Maybe she had read this situation all wrong. What if the adopted parents were looking for something from Emma. What if this was some kind of phishing scheme.

Ava turned her attention to the door when it swung open. Her sister came inside and locked the door behind her. Agatha jumped down off the sofa to greet Emma who gave her a quick pat.

"Hey Ave, what's going on -" Emma stopped at the sight of the boy at the counter. She frowned and turned her gaze toward Ava. "Who's this?"

"I'm Henry" The boy lept right into action. Which was probably good because Ava was still stunned. He jumped down off the stool and walked toward Emma. "I'm your son."

Emma frowned, eyes narrowed, "This isn't a funny joke."

"It's not a joke, Em. He turned up at the door a little while ago and said he was looking for you. I thought maybe it had to do with your work. He just informed me about who he really is right before you got home"

Emma shook her head, "Look kid, I'm sure there is some kind of mistake. You're not my son."

"I am. You gave me up for adoption ten years ago. I found you and I need your help.``

"I'm going to call the police and have them take you home." Emma walked over to the cordless phone and picked it up off the cradle.

"You don't want to do that."

"And why not?"

"I will tell them you kidnapped me."

Ava glanced at Emma with wide eyes. "Emma, you could get in a lot of trouble if he says that."

Emma sighed, "because they will think I took him because I'm his birth mother."

Ava nodded, "I've heard about it in custody disputes."

Henry jumped back up on the stool and took another drink of his juice.

"Yea, I don't believe you" Emma turned on the phone and hit the 9 for 9-1-1.

"Pease. Stop. I really need your help."

Emma sighed and put the phone down. "Help with what?"

"I need you to come home with me."

"Emma, I don't know if that is a good idea."

"Well he has to get home somehow."

"We should just figure out his mother's number and call her."

"Please come home with me. Please." Henry pleaded.

Emma gave Ava a defeated look and Ava sighed.

"Where's home?" Emma asked.

"Storybrooke, Maine." Henry replied.

"Maine?" Ava said, surprised. "How did you get all the way to Boston?"

"I rode a bus."

"Storybrooke? Really?" Emma scoffed.

Henry nodded.

Emma glanced at Ava. "Well, I guess that means we're going to Storybrooke."