This was a prompt I got on tumblr by Lauren(swanqueenxrizzlexaddict), and beta-ed by my amazing tumblr sister Marie (thisisamadhouse). It will be a 3 chapter piece [I hope]. Anyways, this is my first time writing an AU and I'm nervous and proud about it. I hope you enjoy...

"You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed." Antonie de Saint Exupéry

Fostering was one of her plans; technically, it was hers and Daniel's plan. She hasn't thought about it for a long time, since he passed away. They were so young, so light, they used to make tons of plans, plans for a wedding, plans of a married life, plans for when they were retired and their kids were all already married. Those plans were cut short by an accident. After that, she did what she was raised to do best, she worked her way to success.

Regina Mills is now the head editor of an important publishing organization. She works 7 days a week, although she is only required to work 4. It took her 3 years to go from assistant to editor, two years to reach the top. Fostering had been one of her plans. One day within those five years in this company she was moving from a small town, right outside of Boston, to a decent apartment in Cambridge. While she was going through boxes, she found a bucket list, one she did with Daniel, and there it was in the top five, Fostering/Adopting. There was a clear difference in the calligraphy, he suggested entering the foster system, she dreamed of eventually adopting a child.

That was the day she decided to carry the plan, for Daniel and for her. She applied and soon enough she fostered a little girl that needed some medical care, she stayed with Regina for about 4 months. The day she left was the day Regina realized that saying good-bye to Daniel would not be the last time she would do it. In the process of fostering she became friends with Ruby Scarlet that worked for the police as an officer and social worker. She was the one to usually deal with the kids that would enter the system.

Fostering is one of Regina's plans. She has never thought of the second topic on that bucket list, adopting. She doesn't know if she wants to do it without Daniel. She has Robin now, but they are still so fresh… Yet, fostering is still okay.

Adoption wasn't one of her plans, she didn't see it coming; or, she did see it but she was too busy to realize it.

Henry has been a ward since forever. His biological mother gave birth to him in prison. He has never met her. He got used to the idea of having no one. He has never gotten used to the system. Today is his last night at the group home but he doesn't know that. Right now the only thing he knows is the searing pain running through his body. An agonizing feeling he has on his right wrist, he can barely turn because it feels like his left side will torn apart. The only thing he knows is that he lost the fight.

It all started with the other boys teasing him about his writing and reading habits. There's nothing wrong with it, he knows it. In fact, writing is what kept him from trouble most of the time. He decided to turn his own journal into a book and he was almost done. Then, one of the boys found it and started to read it out loud, tearing pages apart. That's when the fight started. That is when writing failed on keeping Henry from trouble. It was not a fair battle, 4 boys against him, besides he was never the punching type. Suffice to say, he recovered his journal, much damaged now, he lost his pride and left the battlefield sore. The home group woman in charge put the boys apart, she had just left to the market and came back to screams and sounds of broken things.

As it has always been, Ruby is the one coming here to pick him up, she was the one to take him to his first house and after that she was always around.

Here he is now, sitting on the steps on the front door waiting for the familiar police car. When he sees the car turning into the street, he doesn't know if he's relieved to see Ruby or if he's afraid of what's going to happen now.

Ruby made sure she would be the one to pick him up. She cares about him, he has a good heart. Something has to be done, he most certainly could not go back to the home group and she knows it. But what would she do with him? She gets out of the car and looks at him, the sight of him already makes her heart hurt, he's beaten up, eyes puffy and defeated.

"Hey buddy." She gives him a half smile and sits beside him, "Are you alright?"

He just nods in response. She can see a bruise on his cheek and she can read him too well by now to know that he's hiding much more, given the way he's holding the sleeves of his shirt covering his hands and the way he's sitting in an awkward posture choice.

"Henry, I'm going to take you to the hospital to get checked out-"

"No." He vehemently says and she's startled by his tone, "I mean… I don't need to go to the doctor. I'm fine."

She can't push him right now, so she decides to keep an eye on him and take him to eat something, hopefully talk… this will buy her time to think about what to do with him.

"Okay. It's alright. Are you hungry? I just came from a long shift and I'm starving."

"Yeah, a little."

"Great. Granny's, then?"

"Okay."

Ruby grabs his backpack, the only thing he has besides his journal.

"Okay, off we go, young man."

He waits for her to lead the way so she won't see him wincing standing up. The 15 min drive to Granny's is quiet. Once they are there Granny comes to greet Ruby and when she sees him she gives Ruby a knowing look. The old lady has grown very fond of Henry and Ruby would take him there once and a while.

They choose a booth to sit then Granny comes to take their order – although she knows exactly what it would be – "The usual, sir?" she asks trying to bring him to smile.

"Yes, Granny, thanks."

"Granny, you know my order but… but today can I have a side of whipped cream for the waffles? Thanks." Ruby smiles and her grandmother.

They eat without conversing, except for quick mentions of why he got into a fight; Ruby wants to wait for the right moment to ask him questions. She needs to make some phone calls and check with some families first…

"Henry, do you mind staying here for a few minutes? I just need to call the station really quickly…"

"Okay."

Regina is getting out of a meeting with one of the new writers she would publish, when her phone rings.

"Hello"

"Hi, Regina, it's Ruby."

The name of the officer, friend, makes her heart race. Ruby would only call for one reason and she knows it.

"Ruby? How are you? It's been a long time…"

"Yeah. I'm great. Do you have 5 min to spare?"

"Uh… sure. Is everything all right?" Regina asks as she enters her office and locks the door.

"Regina, I have uh… Are you still available to foster?"

And there it is why she called me, Regina thinks.

"Oh… yes. Is there another baby?"

"Good! No, not a baby. A boy."

"A boy?"

"More specifically a 12 year old boy."

"Oh." That is all she manages to respond. A boy. She has never fostered a child older than 2.

"Yes. Regina, this is a little personal, this boy he's very special and I don't think he can stay in group homes anymore… I mean… I've spent the whole afternoon thinking about where to take him and I think you could do him good. He's great, believe me."

Regina rubs her temple as Ruby is babbling fast all the words. She did not expect to foster now. Even more, a boy?! Is she willing to do take a boy in her home? She answers before she can think too much about it.

"Okay, Ruby, okay."

Ruby keeps going and doesn't listen to her answer, "…he got into a fight because the other boys took his journal and apparently he was – WAIT! You said okay?"

"Yes. You said a fight? Is he… okay?"

"Thank you, Regina! I knew you would be the right person. And Henry-"

Regina repeats the name in a whisper, "Henry."

"Yes, that's his name, sorry I didn't mention it before. So, he's hurt but he was upset when I picked him up and I didn't want to stress him more. I took him to eat something and I was hoping you could manage to take care of him."

"How bad is it?" Regina says this as she writes an email to her secretary to cancel all meetings and everything she has scheduled for today and tomorrow.

"Not really bad. I think he has some bad bruises and maybe a sprained wrist… but I'm not sure, he's being very walled up right now. Listen, he really is a good kid, you just need to get to know him."

"Does this have an expiration date?" she needs to know if and when she'll have to say good-bye.

"Not really. You really are my last hope for him. No pressure."

"I didn't expect this today. I'm at work now but I've already cancelled everything. I'll be home by 4 pm."

"Great. I'll bring him to your apartment. Thank you so much, Regina."

"You're welcome, Ruby."

She hangs up. A boy. Her heart beats faster and she is suddenly very nervous about him. But something is telling her that this was the right thing to do. She starts to gather her things to head home.

Ruby walks back to the booth and Henry has his head down. He must be tired. She calls his name every gently and touches his shoulder.

"Henry?"

"Oh, hi" he rubs his eyes wincing a little when his clumsy hand touched his cheek.

"Are you ready to go?"

"Am I moving to another group home again?"

"No…" she smiles at him reassuring that this is good news "I think I found you a home."

He eyes her suspiciously " Did you?"

"Yes, I think I did."

Ruby leads him to the car and she watches him through the mirror. He is nervous about it, fingers twitching in a pattern. Sometimes he stares blankly out the window and sometimes she sees hope in his eyes, then he suddenly shakes his head shaking with it the hope.

She truly hopes this will be the last time she picks Henry up to take him to a new place.

What did you think about it? I might post chapter 2 by the end of the week.