Chapter Text
Emma’s car rolled across the Town line. The beat-up yellow bug drove through the deserted streets, headlights shining on slick black tarmac.
‘Hey kid, wake up.’ She reached across the consol, shaking the young boy’s shoulder.
Henry began to stir, wiping sleep from his eyes. The kid had fallen asleep not long after they left Boston, exhausted from a long day of looking for his birth mother. He looked out the window, watching as Storybrooke passed by.
‘Where’s your house?’
Henry stayed silent, refusing to answer her.
‘Come on kid, you’ve got to go back. Just tell me where you live so this adventure of yours can be over.’ Emma was tired, and she just wanted to go home, curl up in bed, and forget about everything that had happened since she blew out her birthday candle.
When Henry’s silence lasted longer than a few minutes, Emma pulled the car over. She got out, slamming the door. Looking around, she spotted a small diner, lights still on, with a few solo patrons inside. Worst case scenario, she would just have to go in and ask around. Surely in a place as small as Storybrooke someone would know who Henry’s mom was.
A second car door slamming tore Emma’s attention away from the diner. Henry walked around the car, his small hand reaching for one of hers. She didn’t move, caught in the pleading eyes of her son. No. Henry wasn’t hers, not anymore. She gave him up. Gave him his best chance. He squeezed her hand tightly.
‘Please don’t take me back. She’s evil.’
‘Aw Henry, come on. All kids think their parents are evil at some point. What did she do? Make you do your homework, with hold desert until it was done?’ Emma laughed slightly, pitying the young boy before her.
‘No.’ He dropped her hand, ‘She cursed a whole town.’
‘Henry please, enough of this fairy-tale stuff. Your mom isn’t the evil queen, alright? Now let me take you home!’
‘Henry?’ A voice called out.
Across the road, an old man waved. He and his dog crossed the road. The black and white dog leapt up at Henry, covering his small face in kisses.
‘Pongo, down boy, down.’ Henry giggled as the dog became more and more excited.
The old man held his free hand out to Emma.
‘I’m Archie Hopper, how do you know young Henry?’
Emma shook his hand. ‘Archie, nice to meet you. I don’t really know him. I’m –’
‘My mom. Dr Hopper, this is Emma. She’s my mom.’
Emma shrugged, guilty as charged.
‘Look, do you know where he lives? I’m just tryna get him home.’
‘Yeah, yes, of course. The mayor’s house is the biggest on the street, you can’t miss it.’ Archie crouched down to Henry’s level. ‘Henry, we can discuss this in our next session. But you have to promise me you won’t go running away again before it.’ Henry promised before giving Pongo a goodbye pat.
‘Seriously kid? Your mom is the mayor? You’ve got to be kidding me.’