Chapter Text
The bell rang as a new customer arrived at Granny’s diner. Ruby looked up absently from her newspaper only to jolt when she saw a stranger looking around carefully. The girl was positively gaunt, swimming in a t-shirt and flannel.
”Hey there sweetie, what can I get ya?” Ruby asked with a smile to hide her serious concern.
"Um, I'm new in town. Is there a place to stay?"
"Yeah! So this is Granny's diner, we also have a bed and breakfast. Do you know how long you'll be staying?"
She blushed, arms wrapping around herself in a sad imitation of a hug.
"I don't know yet. A while."
"Well that's alright. I can show you where to go when I take my break. In the meantime though, how 'bout I get you some food?"
The girl smiled carefully and nodded.
"Um, do you guys serve curly fries?"
"Sure thing. By the way, what's your name?"
"Stiles," the girl said before looking down. "Stiles Hale."
"Well it's nice to meet you Stiles. I'm Ruby. Take a seat, I'll just go get you those fries."
"Thanks," Stiles whispered.
Ruby met Granny in the back on the way to get the fries and let her know they'd be having a guest for a while. Granny wasn't always the most sensitive woman, but she could tell something was bothering her granddaughter.
"Not now, she's waiting on her fries and it looks like she's earned a bit of a break."
With that, Ruby readied the order and brought them out.
"Here you go, one order of curly fries. Do you want anything to drink with that?"
"Some water would be great."
Stiles paused, looking down again.
"Actually, I should probably have some milk."
Ruby didn't show any confusion over the statement, just brought over a glass of each.
Stiles smiled, digging into her fries even as she pulled a pen and notebook out of her bag. She started writing a list.
"Hey Ruby, do you know any places that are hiring around here?"
The older girl frowned in thought.
"I'm not sure. By the way, how old are you?"
"I- I'm 17. I'll be turning 18 in two months."
Ruby's lips twisted thoughtfully.
"Well, I don't know about openings around town, but maybe Granny could let you take a few shifts here and there."
"Really?"
"I mean, I'll have to ask first, but I don't see why not."
"Thank you. Thank you so much, you have no idea-"
"Hey, no worries. Everyone needs friends."
Stiles' eyes watered and she swallowed hard before nodding. Anything more and she would likely start crying.
Granny was indeed willing to give Stiles a room at the bed and breakfast. The teen still had to pay for it, obviously, but it wasn't too expensive. After a good night's sleep, Stiles made sure her stuff was relatively in order before heading out.
Stiles wandered down the street a little absently. Storybrooke was a quiet town, which was a welcome change from Beacon Hills. She didn't have a destination in mind, just using the fresh air to settle her stomach. A hand rested subconsciously on her stomach over her womb, as though she could protect and soothe the life growing inside with that simple gesture. There was already a bumb to indicate the pregnancy but she thought her thin frame and baggy clothes were hiding it well enough.
She paused at the sight of a pawn shop. She was a traumatized, pregnant 17 year old girl in a new town with no support system, and limited resources, a pawn shop seemed like a fine place to at least look into what she might need in a few more months.
Holy shit, she was going to be a mom.
No, now was not the time for any sort of panic. Now was the time to ignore the problem until it couldn't be ignored anymore. With that thought, she opened the door to "Mr. Gold's Pawn Shop". The bell rang to warn the owner of a customer, and a man walked out of the back room with a cane.
"Hello, and welcome to my shop," the main said with a soft Scottish accent.
"Hi."
"You're new."
"Wow, must be a small town if you recognize a new person on sight."
"I make it my business to know who's living in my town, Miss..."
"Hale. Am I right to assume you are Mr. Gold?"
"Indeed you are, dearie. Now what brings you to our quiet little town?"
"Hmm, how about none of your business?"
The man eyed her, seeming to linger on her abdomen. It was uncomfortable to say the least. There was something about his demeanor that felt slimy. It made the strange hollow in her chest burn.
"My apologies, it isn't often that we get tourists. I simply cannot help my curiosity. Such a young girl, expecting a child. Are you sure you're ready. I could find a good home for the child-"
That burning sensation flared and the man froze.
"If you ever lay a hand on my children I will tear your cells apart until you are not even dust on the wind," Stiles growled.
Mr. Gold stared at her with a strange mix of hunger and fear.
"Fascinating."
She took a deep breath, pulling the sensation back.
"You know what, I'm gonna go. Feel free to leave me alone."
Stiles quickly exited the shop, struggling to rein in the rampaging power inside. She stumbled down the sidewalk, wanting to put some distance between her and Mr. Gold's shop, and the man himself. She reached into her pocket and gripped her new phone. She had left her original phone back in Beacon Hills. The goal was to leave, to disappear. That wouldn't have worked if she kept an easily tracked device with her, so both she and Peter had gotten new phones, paid for in cash, and so far the only numbers she had were Peter's, and now Ruby's.
The teen was about to give in and call her partner when she bumped into someone on the sidewalk.
Looking up, she saw a very nicely dressed woman with short black hair. She looked rather severe in her pant suit, like someone she didn't want to be on the bad side of.
"Oh my god, I am so sorry! I- I wasn't looking where I was going, and I'm really new around here, heck, I'm really new on this coast! I just-"
"Whoa, hey! It's alright, just calm down."
Stiles took a couple deep breaths, using the feeling of the woman's hand on her shoulder as a grounding point.
"Better?"
The seventeen year old nodded, blushing under the woman's gaze. Concern made her face softer.
"Good. My name is Regina Mills, I'm the mayor here. What's your name?"
"I am so sorry, Madam Mayor. I'm Stiles Hale, I just got to town yesterday."
The new arrival was concerning to Regina, but there was no way this girl was the lost daughter of Snow and Charming, she was too young.
"Well, Miss Hale, welcome to Storybrooke. If you ever need anything just let me know, we don't often get new residents."
Stiles hesitated before biting her lip.
"Um, is there some sort of doctors office here with an opening for new patients?"
Regina frowned.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I just, have some things I need to deal with over the next few months."
Regina eyed how the teen hugged herself and came to the correct conclusion.
"You're pregnant."
"Yeah and what of it," Stiles snapped.
"I meant no disrespect, Miss Hale. What you do with your body is your choice, but seeing as you are pregnant I do have a suggestion for a doctor to go to. Most people would automatically go to Doctor Whale, but he can be... a bit of an acquired taste."
"Thanks. Honestly, if there's a female doctor I would probably be more comfortable. No offense to male doctors, or males in general. I just feel like we have different things going on below the belt and I've found that members of the male sex can be very hit or miss. In one family alone, the middle aged guy tried to protect me, while the grandad beat me to a pulp."
As she said it, Stiles realized how strange a statement it was and blushed under Regina's disturbed gaze.
The former evil Queen looked over the teen with a new focus. There wasn't much to see with her clothing, but her wrists were very small, and scarred, as though she had been tied up with coarse rope either for a prolonged period of time, or multiple times. Her posture, while more relaxed than it was at first contact, showed that she was still ready should anyone try to attack her.
"You know, I was about to enjoy a little brunch at Granny's Diner, would you like to join me?"
Stiles bit her lip, hesitating. The woman seemed alright, but she wouldn't be the first psycho to seem sane at first glance. All that being said, Stiles was tired. She was tired of looking over her shoulder for the next threat. Absolute worst case scenario, she could always dip into that terrifying well of power to defend her budding family.
"Sure."