I drive to Mary Margaret's apartment while feeling better about the world. I'm smiling from happiness, not politeness. I might have a friend. I have someone I can talk to. Someone likes me for... me.

Lost in my newfound happy thoughts, I almost kill a man. I stop short just in time.

"Sorry!"

At the apartment, Mary Margaret says, "Bella? Come in, come in."

Emma and David are also inside. I step in, holding my duffel bag in front of me. I don't normally apologize to people. I never needed to mend a relationship. I never cared if I lost someone. No one was important to me. But I need a place to stay since I can't remain at Granny's Bed and Breakfast.

"I just wanted to say... I'm sorry... for breaking into the library, the car chase, ...and smashing a store window."

Emma and David exchange a glance.

"That's not who I am. I guess I acted that way because... you and Mayor Mills expected me to. But I suppose I should've tried to prove you both wrong. After all, that's one of the best feelings in the world."

There's a silence.

"We appreciate that, Bella," Emma says.

"And I was wondering if I could stay here... while I'm in town."

"Of course, you can," Mary Margaret says next to me, putting an arm around my shoulders and a hand on my upper arm.

"Thank you."

"Your room is in there. Regina decorated it for you." That surprises me.

Mary Margaret gestures her hand toward a door in the living room. The living room is snug between a frosted glass wall and the brick one at the front of the apartment, which says "Black Bird" in huge yellow lettering and has a giant crow illustration. Part of that crow is on the guest room's door.

I step into the small ivory room, which has a rustic aesthetic. The twin bedframe is white iron with distressed gold knobs on the posts. Beside the bed is a short white nightstand with a cubby instead of a drawer. On top of the nightstand are a little pink lamp and a plant in a mug. Next to the door is an oak dresser with an oval mirror hanging above it.

It's a charming room, but it's meant for a family girl, not me. Chrys would love it, though.

"Do you like it?" Mary Margaret asks after I set my bag on the floor by the edge of the navy and white floral patterned rug.

"I... It's pretty, but how did Mayor Mills decorate so fast?"

The three exchange awkward glances until Mary Margaret says, "Magic?" She smiles like a clown, which scares me.

"I bet." I turn to view this sweet room again. Do I really get to stay here? It's perfect.

"Would you please join us for dinner tonight?"

"We'd love to have you," Emma says.

No. I'm not having dinner with them, even if they are nice enough to let me stay here. They'd either ask questions or ignore me. I'd sit and eat while they talk to each other. I would rather be alone and eat in my car or at Granny's.

"Thanks. I'd really love to," I say sarcastically, "but I was planning to go sightseeing. I'll see you guys after." I'm a great liar. It's kind of like my superpower.

See, the trick is to make sure the lie can never be proven it's a lie. I could've told them I promised someone else for dinner, and they would ask the other party how it went, and that person would say it never happened, and bam! Busted. It's a gift. It's all great thinking.

"Bella." Emma comes over before I leave. "Forget what I said about Henry. I misjudged you. I'm sorry."

"It's fine. You were protecting your son. I wish someone would do that for me."

I know I said I don't want to find out whether my parents are how I expect or not, but I still want to find them—whoever they are. I'm scared, but it's the only way I can have a family. Don't I deserve one as much as anybody else?

* * *

Around six, I realize halfway to Henry's house that my car is at the mechanic's—thanks to Emma and David. Besides, it's not like I need it much here. Everything in this town is within walking distance.

Henry strides toward me.

"I thought I was meeting you at your house," I say, agitated.

"You were, but I thought I'd meet you halfway, considering what happened between you and my mom. Also, because of that, I don't think we should go back to her office."

"I second that. So, where were you today?"

We walk the way I came.

"I'm a kid," he shrugs. "I go to school."

"School doesn't end at six."

"I was at a friend's house."

"Again? I remember a time when you said you'd help me find my parents."

"I will. But today was busy. Tomorrow. Promise." He wears his backpack and carries his storybook, as usual.

"Why do you always carry that thing?"

"Because it's important. Probably more important than anything you'll ever know," he says, lifting his head to meet my gaze beside him.

"Finding my parents is important to me. Your book's more important than that?"

"My book is history. Everyone is this town's history, even yours."

I roll my eyes.

"What have you been up to without me?" he asks.

"I went a little sightseeing. You know? Your grandmother's place, the Cannery, Mr. Gold's pawnshop—"

"You met Mr. Gold?" He stops dead in his tracks.

"Yeah. You didn't mention he's your grandfather. Does your whole family live in Storybrooke?"

"Kinda, but he's not safe. You can't trust him. Whatever you do, never make a deal with him." I've never seen the serious side of Henry. Then again, I've known him for three days.

"Okay, fine." It's not like I was going to, anyway. We continue moving, and I say, "Where are we going?" I don't dare tell him about my meeting with Killian. He might scold me again.

Wait a minute. I'm sixteen, and I'm scared a twelve-year-old kid will scold me? Since when do I allow a child to control me? All I've been doing is following him around like a puppy. But he knows about my parents. I can't find them without his help. I can't do this on my own. I need him. I never thought I'd need a kid to do this. I never thought I'd need anyone for anything. Not ever.

"To my grandparents' apartment. I'm having dinner there today."

"Right." As my life would have it, I'm being dragged back over there for dinner. "Is there a reason you're having dinner this early? At the foster home, we eat around eight."

"Ever since Pan kidnapped me, my mom wants me back home by then. So, Mary Margaret, David, and Emma are having an early dinner today."

"I didn't know. Sorry."

"Why? Nothing's wrong," he says, stuffing a hand in his coat pocket. "I just wish my mom wasn't so overprotective."

I watch my steps on the ground, which is bristled with dead, crunchy leaves. "Do Mayor Mills and Emma alternate who gets to spend time with you a lot?"

"Yeah. We have it down to a system," he says, bobbing his head.

I tilt mine forward to better view his face. "Do they fight over you?"

"All the time," he says, happy about it. Is that a good thing? I guess it's a good thing.

"...I wish people cared enough to fight over me."

Soon, Emma and her parents run toward us.

"We've been looking everywhere for you," Emma tells me.

"Why?" I don't know what this could be about. My car? The window? Dinner? Maybe she changed her mind and came here to arrest me or tell me to stay away from Henry again.

"We thought you didn't want to stay for dinner because you felt alone," David says.

"What he means is," Emma cuts in, putting a hand on his shoulder, "we know you'd rather be alone, even if you don't want to be. I know that's how you feel because that's how I felt at your age—alone. It's either that, or you're up to something."

"I'm fine, thanks." My eyes burn, but I won't let them tear. "And as you can see, I'm not up to anything. Just because I'm new and an orphan doesn't mean I'm a troublemaker. I already said that's not who I am. I apologized." But Emma's right. I don't want to be alone, even if I'm used to it.

"And there is nothing in Storybrooke to sightsee," Emma says, inclining her head.

"I think the clocktower is sightseeing worthy."

She looks at me with disapproval.

"We would appreciate it if you stayed for dinner," Mary Margaret says. "After all, you're staying with us until you find your parents."

"So, I guess I'm staying with you guys forever because there's no way my parents are characters from a book."

"We were heading over there now. I'm starved," Henry says.

"Then let's go," David says.

They all look at me, waiting for me to agree.

I'd be rude if I declined, but who cares? They didn't when they ran here, expecting to catch me causing trouble. But I'm hungry. And need to save my money. I'm not gonna have any after I pay the mechanic for fixing my car.

And their faces. They're so expectant and optimistic.

I roll my eyes once I make up my mind. "Fine. I'm pretty hungry, too."

This can't hurt, right?

I walk next to Emma while David has his arms around Henry and Mary Margaret ahead of us. It's a sweet sight. The three of them smile. Henry's lucky.

"How did you know I was lying?" I ask Emma.

"It's my superpower. I always know when someone is lying." I'd like to have that superpower. Then, I'd know whether someone is being genuine or not. Then, I could trust. Eye reading doesn't tell me everything.

I say, "It's nice that you guys do this for Henry. He told me."

"We're a family. We have to accommodate each other."

"Henry's lucky to have so many people who care about him."

She puts her arm around me and smiles. "We'll find them." She nods.

I smile back. No one has given me comfort. No one has made me feel safe the way I do right now. It's possible I'm wrong about people. Maybe not all of them are lying cheats who don't give a crap and search for ways to bring me to my knees. But it's too soon to reverse my belief based on one kind gesture.

* * *

It takes about an hour and a half for Mary Margaret to cook our meal. Emma and David help her here and there while Henry shows me the bedroom on the loft. He says Emma sleeps on the couch when he stays over, so he can have the bed. I don't know why she doesn't take the guest room where I'm staying. I doubt the couch is more comfortable.

We take our seats at the table when everything's finished.

"Thanks for agreeing to stay, Bella. It means a lot," Mary Margaret says, placing plates on the square table.

"How could I refuse?"

We eat our food in peace, and, by that, I mean they talk about news in Storybrooke, their friends and family, and how Henry's doing in school. I've never been to a real family dinner. I try not to tear up as I finally understand what families talk about with each other. Even with Irene, we'd take our meals to our room or eat around the house, never at the table.

They laugh and share stories in front of me. To divert my attention, I bounce my leg beneath the table and bite my tongue. Everything around me is irrelevant. It's just them. And me. Though, they're not talking to me. As I expected. But I don't care. I like observing. I like listening.

I break away from watching to cut into my piece of chicken.

"How was your day, Bella?"

My head shoots up at the mention of my name. Some silence goes by before I say, "Excuse me?"

"How was your day?" Emma repeats.

"My day? You want to know about... my day?"

Emma nods, and the others smile at me.

"Oh, well... My day was... strange, but... good."

"Are you enjoying Storybrooke?" David asks, setting his glass down.

"Uh—Yeah. I met some people in town. Belle, Mr. Gold—" I almost let Killian slip, "Ariel, and Eric, whom I think you all know."

"I wouldn't trust Mr. Gold," he says.

"And I definitely wouldn't want to get on Regina's bad side. I've been there too many times to not warn you," Emma says with a curl of her mouth.

"Too late. We've already gotten off on the wrong foot. You saw how she treated me at the station."

"Did she threaten to get rid of you?"

Startled, I say, "No, but she told me to leave town."

"Typical Regina."

"That's not all that happened to me during my visit. Some sort of winged beast almost attacked me before Emma scared it away."

They stop eating and put down their forks. The sudden silence makes my heart thump.

Here we go. Maybe they'll tell me about it. I have to know what it is and what it's capable of.

"A winged beast," I say, interrupting the quiet. "That's crazy."

The family stares at me in worry.

"Right?"

"A flying creature attacked you?" Mary Margaret asks, her mouth falling open.

"Almost. It was a science experiment, right?" I ask her, but she doesn't answer. Then, I look to David. "At some Storybrooke laboratory?"

He shakes his head, his face crinkled in concern.

Next, I turn to Emma. "Please tell me that's what it was."

"Sorry to let you down, kid." She frowns.

"Regina found a way to get rid of them. Though, I've never seen one," David says.

"Me, neither," Mary Margaret adds.

"I'm hoping that way involves a rifle."

"No. It's more of a less violent way that involves... special ingredients."

"What?"

"Forget her," Emma says. "What're your plans for tonight?"

"Um... You know? Maybe catch a movie, rob a bank, hot wire someone's car," I joke.

They stare at me, except for Henry.

"I'm kidding."

They laugh, as do I, and I feel part of the family. A feeling I have never, ever had.

I could get used to this.