Once Upon A Wondrous Love (A Once Upon A Time Fanfiction)

Chapter Three: Temporary Home

Alice

"Hey, how ya feeling?" I looked up to see the blonde from yesterday. She leaned against the door, her maroon leather jacket gleaming in the fluorescent light. 

"I'm alright I suppose." I supplied, tossing my cup of applesauce onto the tray before me. "I'm Emma. I didn't get a chance to introduce myself before grilling you." she said, reaching out a hand. 

"Alice, if you couldn't understand my mumblings." She let out a chuckle and then looked at me. "You said you were looking for your parents?" she asked, sitting down in the chair that the brunette (whom I learned was Mary-Margret when I awoke in the early morning hours). 

"Yes." I answered, glancing around. "And you don't know anything about them?" Her tone showed understanding; something I was not expecting. I shook my head.

"Dr. Whale says you can be released at any time, what do you say we go get some real food?" I returned her smile and nodded.

****

We entered a diner that held the sign 'Grannys'. 

Inside, the walls and floor were silver and when the door caught the wind and slammed just a little too hard, everyone turned to take us in. I shifted behind Emma and she smiled confidently. 

"Come on, this is my favorite table." she said, grabbing the one closest to us. I took the seat with my back against the window, so I could take in the curious stares. "Don't worry about them. I felt the same way when I came here." she said reassuringly. 

"With a dramatic entrance such as mine?" I quipped. She nodded. "Something like that." I gave her a smile as a tall, dark haired girl approached us. 

"Hey Emma...the usual?" she asked, trying not to stare at me. "Yeah. Ruby this is Alice. Alice, this is Ruby." The girl smiled a row of perfect white teeth and nodded. "Welcome to Storybrooke." Her tone, however, was a little suspicious. 

"What would you like, it's on me." Emma said, meeting my eyes. "I'll have whatever you have." I responded. Emma looked at Ruby and smiled. 

"Is everyone always so...suspicious?" I asked, averting my eyes. "We just don't get many visitors around here, that's all." she said reassuringly. 

"Listen, I want to help you find your parents." Ruby placed our drinks in front of us and left. "Why?" She was too eager. "Well for one, I'm the Sherriff, finding people is kinda my thing, and I see a kindred soul." "You're an orphan too?" The words spilled out before I could snatch them back. She sighed. 

"Kinda, well not anymore. I found my parents." "Oh, what was it like? I have always dreamed of what it would be like to finally meet them." She furrowed her brow and let out another sigh. 

"At first I was just really surprised. I was overwhelmed." she trailed off, leaving us to silence.

"Do you still speak to them?" I asked as Ruby set down two plates containing fries and a burger. "Yeah, but it's complicated." 

I didn't press further, knowing how it felt to have privacy invaded. 

 "So your ID said you were from Virginia. How on Earth did you end up here?" she asked, hanging me the ketchup bottle. I placed some on my plate and took a sip of my unsweet tea: just the way I liked it. 

"I-uh was working in a diner down there off the interstate." I paused to pop a fry into my mouth and watch her stiffen. Shaking it off, I continued. "Anyway, this guy stopped in one night and we got talking. He said he was a writer and knew of a place that I might find some answers." She stiffened even more. 

"W-What was his name?" she asked. I puzzled for a moment. "August. He was a really nice man." I commented more to myself, continuing to savor my burger. "About six feet, dark hair and a bit of a beard?" she asked. I recalled him and nodded. 

"Why? Do you know of him!?" I asked quickly. She nodded. 

"Good! Where does he stay! I want to speak with him?" She stopped me from getting up and cleared her throat. "He, um...he passed. A few months ago." My heart sank as I fell back into my chair. 

"Hey, we are going to find your parents. Whether or not they are here or somewhere else." she said, grabbing my hand. I recoiled a bit at her touch but soon calmed. 

"But where am I to stay before that time comes?" I asked, wringing my hands. I had no money. "Hey Ruby!" Ruby looked up from her dish bucket at us. 

"Yeah Emma?" "Does Granny have a free room?" "Uh huh." she answered. Emma looked back at me and smiled. 

"I don't have any-." "I'm sure we can figure something out." Emma interjected. She offered me another smile, but I couldn't help to feel like something was...off.

****

"So this is your room. Not too extravagant, but it has a hot shower." Ruby said, setting my duffle bag down on the bed. "Do you work here too...as well as the diner?" She nodded. 

"Yeah, one day they'll both be mine." she said softly, sighing. "So where did you come from?" she asked quickly, obviously wanting to change the subject. 

"I lived in New Jersey for awhile, then Virginia where I worked in a diner for what seemed like forever." "Been more places than I have." "Well I better go. Granny will need me." She was just about to leave when she turned to me. 

"You know, we could really use some help at the diner. Maybe you could work a few days a week and that's how you can stay here." she suggested, handing me a key with an etched rabbit on it. 

"Sure." 

That was the only way I could respond, I was staying for free after all. 

****

My first real night in Storybrooke was long. I tossed and turned in the bed and when I finally did wake, the flowers on the wallpaper threw me into such a tizzy, I was unable to fall back to sleep. 

I sighed and made my way downstairs and out onto the porch where I could gather my thoughts. The scent of smoke filled my nose. I glanced and saw a figure standing on the corner of the porch. "I'm sorry." "It's alright it's just me." Ruby's features were made more apparent to me in the half moon. 

"Bad dream?" she asked. "Yeah, more than I can count." I said approaching her. "Want one?" she held out a box in her hand. I nodded and thankfully took one. 

"So what do your nightmares consist of?" she asked as I breathed in the smoke deeply. I coughed and responded. "My past. Being alone. Never finding my parents." 

"Your parents. Right. Do you know anything about them?" I shook my head. "All I have is this town...what about you?" "I got to meet my mom once, but Granny was a much better deal." she said, laughing lightly. 

"Be happy you have someone." Ruby chuckled. "Yeah. One day I will get out and see the world." 

"Well if you ever need a guide, I will be more than happy to help." I said, taking her hand reassuringly. 

"Well, I better get to bed, I've got an early morning ahead of me." she said, extinguishing her cigarette. I nodded. 

"See you tomorrow?" I nodded once more.