The Heart's Lonely Shelter

*note: Hello everyone! I've enjoyed this little break I had after Mirrors and now am back with another SQ fic for y'all. I hope this fic also gets responses like my previous ones, if not, well I tried. Please review cause that'll determine whether I'm continuing this story or not. Happy reading :)

Chapter 1: Ice Queen

She followed him under the rows of streetlamps. He shivered against the cold October wind but walked on. The moon was hovering low over the tall dark buildings; its silver silhouette fell on the paved sidewalks and mixed with the dimming glow of the lamps. Her sneakers squeaked as she raced up to meet her companion.

"Why can't we just go back home?" she mumbled falling in step with the boy.

"Emma, we don't have a home anymore" he muttered. He bit his lip. Emma caught the trace of his faint hairline below his nose. He was so proud of his 'stache.

"August, where do we go then?"

"There's no we, Emma!" He yelled out, stopping under a street sign. He turned around. Emma swallowed as she faced her brother.

"You can't go back in that house and you can't come with me. I'm gonna leave you with some really nice people here. They'll take care of you."

No…no…August please…

Tears rolled down her cheeks as her brother tugged her along. Each step was a mile. Her feet were suddenly heavy as she dragged them across the rough city streets.

She couldn't imagine living in some strange new place without her brother. He was her only family, the only one left who cared about her.

But he doesn't. He's leaving.

"Look, Em, you're seventeen, ok. You're tough enough to handle this."

They crossed another block. The tall white building appeared in front of them.

East Side Homeless Teen Shelter.

Emma knew that building all too well.

"August don't you dare leave me there" she hissed, her throat going dry.

No…no he can't leave me…this isn't happening…

"Do you really want to go back in the house with that bastard still living there? Fuck!" August stopped on his track. Emma nearly walked into him.
He grabbed Emma's shoulders and jerked. "I can't leave you there Emma, and I can't stay either! He'd have ruined you! That man is not mentally stable and you know it. He destroyed mom with his booze addiction. He beats the crap out of you! I had to get you out!"

"But you're leaving!" Emma snatched herself away. Her eyes stinging.

"I got a job" August muttered, "it pays well."

"A job where?"

"With a bunch of bikers, I was asking around and they asked if I can fix cars and engines and stuff…it's what I've been doing my whole life ever since mom…" he paused.

Emma swallowed hard.

August continued. "I got hired as a mechanic. They've got a garage down south, New Mexico. I'm going with a few friends"

"Then let me come with you!"

"You won't be safe there, sis" he sighed. They were walking again. The stairs to the white building were only a few feet away.

They stopped near the steps. Emma was on the verge of bursting into tears.

I can't believe this is happening…

August looked towards her, blue eyes full of sadness. She could tell this was killing him, leaving her behind like this. He pulled her into a tight hug.

"I'll come visit you as soon as I can. Don't hate me, Em, please. We don't have any other choice"

Emma closed her eyes against the tears. She wanted to hold on to this moment. To him. Her best friend. Her brother.

"I don't know what to do, August, what am I going to do?"

"Emma," August pulled away and looked straight into her eyes, "remember what mom used to say, every time you came home with bruises and scrapes, "we've got the tough one right here," I used to laugh then, cause it was so ridiculous. You cried at little things and she still called you the 'tough one'. She was right you know."

For a moment Emma went back to those days. Mom waiting with hot cocoa for her, wearing that floral-pattern dress. She'd get home all muddy, ripped jeans and with scraped knees. Everyday was a fight in their neighbourhood- she was either taking down a guy who stole her lunch money, or chasing after one who smacked her ass. But everything got better once she walked into the house. The soft hands would put band aid on her bruises. A kiss on her cheeks welcomed her inside then a warm voice promised her dinner. Mom made everything better.

No one made dinner in the house in the past two years. No one called her the 'tough one' anymore. The soft hands were long gone.

The memory disappeared. Emma started to climb the stairs.

"I'll miss you, Em," August called from behind.

Emma didn't turn around.

"G'morning !"

"Morning, Katherine. How's everything going?"

"Well there haven't been any changes since your last visit, sir. We're still short on volunteers. The fundraiser dinner you hosted last week got us some much generous donations. We're hoping to buy kitchen appliances and maybe even an extra bed."

"Good, good. I have a volunteer very much eager to work with you."

Eager? Really father? Did you not hear a word I said in the car? I don't fucking want to dammit…

"…you know my daughter Regina"

"Why of course! Hello, Ms. Mills!" Katherine beamed brightly. Regina nodded from behind her father.

She hated this place. Her father insisted on funding this godforsaken shelter full of scums and filthy orphans. He was wasting his money on lost causes.

If he'd just open an actual business here…a spa maybe…or a designer boutique…

"We'd love to have Ms. Mills on our volunteer team! It'd be such an honour..."

Regina tuned out the boring manager. What a drag. If her father hadn't threatened to cut her off and close her accounts, she'd never in a billion years would've agreed to this.

God, this place stinks! Ew! Are those spider webs on the wall? Urgh! Do they not have cleaning staff here? Disgusting.

She scowled the more she looked around the lobby. Papers were scattered all over Katherine's wooden desk. A small rusty calling bell sat near the ancient desktop computer. Who uses those things anymore…

The stairs to the left lead up to the bedrooms. Across the lobby was the hallway that leads to dining hall, kitchen and back yard. The distant clatter told Regina the brats were having lunch.

"We have a new addition to our family. A young girl came in late last night. I haven't had a chance to learn her story yet, but she will be staying with us for a while it seems"

"Is that so? Well I shall introduce myself to her before we leave today, and welcome her into the family," father chirped happily, "now Katherine, Regina will be joining you starting today. I want her to get involved with the members as much as possible, learn from their experiences. After me, she will be the one to take over this place; I want her to be prepared."

Hah. I'll just close it down and invest in something worthwhile.

"Treat her like you would any staff member. She will also live here once a week. She'll be here everyday after her classes. The only time she's allowed to take days off will be during her college finals. It's her first year so she is indeed under pressure but I really believe working here would only help with her education. Is that alright?"

"Ofcourse! We'd love to have her working here." Katherine smiled, "Ms. Mills let me give you a tour of this place. You can pick any two areas to volunteer in. The options are many- from joining the kitchen staff to helping with the athletic programs."

Regina walked along, quietly, with her father and Katherine. She hardly paid any attention to what was being said. Her eyes looked around without any interest.

"This is the kitchen; we provide three meals a day. Break fast is usually bread with sometimes jam or other spreads, fruits, cereal and dairy-milk or yogurt. Lunch and dinner has veg, non-veg options for the members. Here's today's menu"

She pointed towards a small chalkboard sitting on top of the first stainless steel counter top.

Lunch

(Non-Veg)

Fish Sticks

Salad

Yogurt

Beans

(Veg)

Steamed vegetables

Salad

Yogurt

Beans

Regina frowned at the condition of the little kitchen. The walls were stained yellow. Cooks were all huddled over stoves and sweating like pigs. She peered under a lid- the food was mushy and looked more like mashed potatoes than beans.

Ew.

Neither Katherine nor her father seemed bothered by this.

They walked into the dining hall. Regina's stomach turned watching the kids wolfing down the disgusting beans. They weren't bothered either.

The back yard was a big chaos. Some playing basketball in the middle of a soccer game. The coach or volunteer, whoever, was napping under a tree while the kids were running around. A few were sitting around on broken benches, trying to read tattered, old books.

"We have about sixty members here at our shelter, ages between twelve and nineteen. The ones over the age of sixteen, we offer them placements in the community. We have baby sitters, newspaper boys and girls, maids, painters, gardeners, shopkeepers- all under our roof. A lot of them are saving up for college and working towards GEDs. We are partners with the local drug and alcohol rehab centers. Therapists volunteer here and help the teens with free sessions. We're here to help them because they have no one left to guide them, Ms. Mills." Katherine finished after they returned to the lobby. Her father nodded towards her as though this moment should be a huge eye-opener for her. She had no such revelation.

"I've a meeting to attend to this afternoon. Let's meet our new friend and then I'll be on my way." father walked towards the stairs. Regina followed along with Katherine.

The rooms were pretty small. Each had a window, pair of bunk beds, two wardrobes and two tables inside. They walked near the end of the hall and stopped in front of a room which was empty, save for its only occupant at the moment.

Regina saw a tall figure lie over white sheets. She could see her blue t-shirt and long legs protruding from black track shorts. Blonde curls were spread over her pillow.

Katherine knocked on the door.

"Emma! Emma, come say Hi to Mr. Mills."

They waited a breath before the lock clicked and the door flung open.

Emma eyed the two people beside the shelter's manager.

"I'm Henry Mills, owner of this wonderful place. Welcome to East Side Teens', my dear!"

Hah…he left out the homeless shelter part…nice.

The old man was mostly bald, strands of grey hair stuck out from behind his ears. His neck tie was too tight for his small throat. His black coat was sharp and crisp, buttoned over his stubby belly.

The girl standing beside him was of course his daughter. Emma saw the resemblance. However, she was very much young, maybe same age as hers or a bit older. Her dark hair was tied back in a long pony tail; eyes wore mascara and her lips dark red. She had a slight frown on her face that she was trying to hide. Her earrings glinted.

Rich brat. That was all Emma could think of as she smiled and introduced herself.

"I'm Emma. Emma Swan."

She shook hands with Mr. Mills then turned to the girl.

"Regina Mills" she nodded curtly, making no attempt at shaking the hand in front of her. Emma stuffed her hands into the short's pockets and stared.

Ice queen.

They all walked into the room. Katherine and Mr. Mills chatting brightly about how delighted they are to have her.

"Regina, here is joining the team, today. She'll be here to help with anything you need Emma."

Haha oh god she's frowning even more. Rich brat really doesn't wanna work here does she? She's being punished. Well I'm not going to make it any easier for her that's for sure. Maybe this place won't be so bad after all…

Emma smirked, stealing a glance towards Regina. Ice queen had her arms crossed over her chest and was sending murderous glares in her father's direction. The grown ups were oblivious to the tension growing in the room.

Yup. This won't be so bad after all.