The swan rebirth

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

One Year Later

Henry was walking down the street, supposedly heading to school. But he couldn't not today, today marked one year that he lost her, that he lost Emma. It was weird so many things had changed, but at the same time nothing changed. A few villains have shown up, and the town managed, some new people seemed to show up, babies were born, to put it simply the town was moving on. But he couldn't or at least not like the rest of them, he at least knew his close family understood, and didn't push him. He tried though, he tried for Emma. He continued to work hard at school, knowing that she would want that, and he did what she asked, being nice and kind to his mom, visiting his grandparents, bonding with his uncle, and there was Killian, her death had brought them closer. Yes his grandparents where grieving too, but Killian seemed to understand it more and he did the same for Killian.

It wasn't difficult for Henry to choose where he was going, it was the place that was special for the mother and son, the place they first bonded, their first really moment together. The castle, it was destroyed years ago, but a few weeks after Emma funeral, under the guidance of Marco, he and Killian rebuilt it. It didn't take much to talk Killian into helping, Killian had heard many times over the couple years from the mother and son about this castle and its special meaning to them both, if it help the kid he had been more than willing to help. The castle they built took them a month, it wasn't a exact replica of the original but it worked, it helped, it was a place for him to go be by himself, to think.

Henry finally makes it to the castle; he first goes over to one of the few benches that had been placed there sometime after the first castle was torn down. He takes a apple out of his back pack about to take a bite, he is taken from his thoughts by the sound of someone clearing there throat. He turns to see a girl sitting on the structure, he had started seeing her around school a few months ago, she seemed to literally appear into town out of nowhere, and no one seemed to know much about her either. She appeared to be either his age or a year younger, long brown hair with streaks of red in it, she always wore skinny jeans and button up flannel shirts, occasionally she had a hoodie on, her plaid shirt peeking out underneath, those days she usually had a beanie on as well. "What are you doing here?" Henry questions her.

The girl jumps down from the castle and walks over to him and sits down on the bench "It's quite here, I like that" she says giving him a smile. "I just kind of found it one day, I was just walking and found myself here, anytime I need to get away from things I come here, you know?" she asks, receiving a nod from Henry. She then holds out her hand to him "I'm Riley by the way."

Henry takes her out stretched hand "I'm Henry, Henry Mills."

"Oh all formal huh?" she says jokingly "well then, I'm Riley Alena Miller. But just call me Riley."

"Riley Alena, what's with the two names?"

"My mom couldn't choose one I guess, so gave me both, I'm really not sure honestly."

"You don't remember?" Henry asks raising his eyebrow.

"Short version, I was in a car accident a few months ago, my parents died, and now I live with a foster family. I don't remember anything really from before the crash; I get like glimpses of things that's it."

"That sucks."

"Yeah well..." she looks out to the water a moment then looks back to him. "So what about you, what are you doing here?"

"Just wanted to be alone to think. A year ago my birth mom died, and well just didn't want to see anyone today."

"Year ago today?" he answer with just a nod "I get it, it sucks. It's only been a couple months since I lost my mom, but I miss her. I think at least, I feel like I miss someone but not sure who. The weird thing Henry, the moment I saw you that feeling, well it's not as bad."