AN: Hey guys! So this is my first OUAT story, and I really hope you like it. The latest episode really got me wanting to read what would have happened if Pinocchio had stayed with Emma. Right now, this is a one-shot, which I hope to make longer. This plot bunny wouldn't leave me alone and wanted to be written as soon as possible. So if there are grammatical and other mistakes, I apologize. Please read and review! Even to tell me it sucks.

He heard her crying before he even stepped into the room with her crib in it. That wasn't as weird as it may have sounded. He was sure that the enchanted tree gave created a deep bond between the two of them. Ever since he and Emma came through to the "real" world, Pinocchio had been able to easily decipher her emotions. When she was hungry, he knew. When she needed a diaper change, he he knew. Just by the slight noises and faces she would make, he would know exactly what she needed. And right now, Emma was upset because Pinocchio had left her alone.

"Hey, Emma. Don't cry," He said, placing the large, red tool box down near the blue steel crib. "Look at me. See?" Pinocchio started making funny faces, sticking his fingers into his mouth to spread it and poking his tongue out. He made lolling noises and crossed his eyes, hoping to stop Emma from being upset.

Thankfully, it worked. Emma stopped crying and glanced up at Pinocchio with bright, blue eyes. "There, that's better right?" He returned the look with a satisfied grin. He made a wave motion down to the floor for her benefit, and went to grab one of the tools from the tool box.

Just as he was getting one of them, a voice coldly called out, "Do those tools belong to you?"

Frightened by Mr. Ruskin's, the coordinator of the group home, appearance, Pinocchio jumped a bit. "I was just trying to fix the crib. I didn't want Emma to fall out and get hurt." He tried to explain, hoping that he wouldn't get into trouble this time.

The group home run by Mr. Ruskin was the only place that the social workers could place them together. After explaining to the cops that he had found Emma at the side of the road by himself, and that he was alone as well, the cops put out a missing person report for both of them. When no one came to claim them, law enforcement had no choice but to let social services take charge.

Knowing that they had to stay together, Pinocchio made up a story that didn't stray too far from the truth. He said that his father and he had been traveling alone, walking along the road, when they heard a baby cry. After finding Emma, his dad said that he would go and get help, and that he, Pinocchio, was to watch her until he came back. When his father didn't come back, he went to the cops. The social workers came up with the conclusion that his father abandoned the two of them, and left town. It made Pinocchio so mad when he overheard the conversation between one of the cops that he had found and one of the social workers about how certain people shouldn't be parents. Yet, he kept quiet.

Instead, Pinocchio tried to learn as much as possible about the strange, new world he and Emma were in, by observing the things around him. If anything could be said about Pinocchio, it was that he was a fast learner and adapter. That was why when the social workers mentioned how he was going to be separated from Emma, he did everything he could to make sure that didn't happen.

Unfortunately, that led them to Mr. Ruskin's group home. There were five other children living there before the two of them got there. They were all older than Pinocchio, so they took him and Emma under their wings. Pinocchio, or "August" as he was now to be called, had no idea how someone who made his house available for children could be so cold and cruel. The first time he got into trouble was when he accidentally broke a china plate. His father and he never could afford luxuries like fine plates, so he wasn't aware of how carefully they had to be dealt with. As soon as it fell to the ground and broke, Mr. Ruskin shot up from his seat at the table, stalked over to him, pulled Pinocchio out of the chair, and roughly pushed him towards the cupboard to get a broom to sweep up, all the while shouting at him. The other kids looked on with sympathy and pity, giving him a knowing glance. That night, when he saw the large handprint bruise on his arm.

"Don't you ever touch anything in this house again! Nothing belongs to you," Mr. Ruskin said cruelly, grabbing Pinocchio's arm so tightly that circulation was more than likely getting cut off.

Steeling himself, Pinocchio answered, "Yes, Mr. Ruskin."

Mr. Ruskin looked at him for second before pulling his hand away, grabbing the screwdriver that was in Pinocchio's hand and putting it back into the tool box. He shut the lid and closed the snatch with a definitive bang, picked it up and walked out.

Pinocchio followed his every step until had left the room. After Mr. Ruskin left, he got up from the floor and leaded against the crib. He looked sadly at Emma, who returned his gaze.

"Hey," Pinocchio turned his head away from Emma and saw one of the older kids walk into the room. "You okay?" He asked, nodding his head towards Pinocchio's now throbbing arm.

Pinocchio nodded his head after a slight delay. The boy looked relieved and started talking to him again. "Can you keep a secret?" He asked, voice low.

Again, Pinocchio nodded. The boy walked over towards him, and reached a hand into his pocket. When the boy's hand was out, it had a wad of cash tied together with a rubber band. "Wow," he exclaimed. "Where'd you get that?"

"Stole it from the sock drawer," He said. "It's enough to buy us all bus tickets out of here."

Pinocchio looked at the money and then back to the boy. "You're leaving? When?"

"Right now. You wanna come?"

This is it! No more Mr. Ruskin, he thought. A grin was spreading across his face when he realized that he had Emma to take care of. "I told my father that I would take care of Emma. Can she come? Please?" He begged the boy, hoping that the boy would understand.

Unfortunately, that was not the case. "We can't take care of a baby. You wanna stay here for the rest of your life, be my guest." The boy started making his way out the door.

Just as the boy was leaving, Pinocchio called out, "Wait!" The boy turned back to face him.

What do I do? He thought helpless and confused. Pinocchio knew he didn't want to stay here, but to leave Emma?

"You must look after this child, in this new world. You must promise me that. Promise me. It is the only way we'll see each other again."

Pinocchio turned back to the crib and then looked the the boy and the other kids waiting around. He ran a hand across Emma's forehead, and closed his eyes. He knew what he had to do. "Good luck. I wish you guys all the best."

The boy shook his head, but understood. "Thanks. But you better stay safe, Kiddo. If anything happens, run. You hear?"

"Yes, I got it." With those parting words, the other kids all sneaked away.

I made a promise, thought Pinocchio. And I intend to keep it. I need to be good and true, the blue fairy said so. I hope you're proud of me, Father, wherever you are.

Review please! Any feedback helps me! Also, I would love to hear your ideas about what could have happened to Emma, and how if Pinocchio stayed what would have happened. I already have some idea where I want to take this story if I expand on it and finish it, but hearing your ideas would be wonderful as well! Thank you! :