When people hear the name Teresa Holmes, they think of the way the young woman can wield a bow just as good as Robin Hood and Princess Merida. And when they learn she was in love with someone, they always assume the boy is an archer himself, most likely with an attitude and a past similar to her own. Those people would be wrong, for Henry Mills is something Teresa didn't know she needed.

Sure, maybe Henry Mills isn't great at archery. And yeah, he wasn't born in the same world as herself and he can be a bit of a nerd with comic book characters but so what? Who was she to judge with the past she has behind her? A past Henry would look at her in a different light should he learn out of it. She found his obsessive love for comic books rather adorable, not that she would admit that out loud. Besides, sometimes opposites attract, as they have more to learn from each other.

If things were different and Teresa was born in the United States instead of the Enchanted Forest, most likely she would have become obsessed with the same superheroes as Henry Mills. But everything that has happened in her past happened for a reason, leading her by the hand to this exact moment. To her first date with her soulmate. To say she was nervous would be a huge understatement.

The platinum-blonde stood in front of her body-length mirror, clad in the navy blue dress and white cardigan she had bought. Snow White did her hair, the platinum strands curled and half pinned up in the back. The remaining strands elegantly fell down her back and over her shoulders, and her crystal mother's pendant rested against her skin, hidden beneath her dress. She hoped that Henry wouldn't notice it, as he has an undying need to remind her she need not subdue her magic when she has perfect control. Meanwhile, Teresa thought otherwise. If she had perfect control, why would her magic freeze over Storybrooke? She needed to wear it, just in case.

God, that dream.

It hovered over her, causing her to feel sick to her stomach with anxiety. She had eaten nothing all day, terrified that she would just throw it up. She had to get in the shower before getting into her dress to cleanse her body of the nervous sweat that clung to her skin. Teresa tried to figure out what Henry had prepared for them, hoping it's not some fancy dinner like in her dream.

Snow White's voice pulled the teenager away from her thoughts, causing the platinum-blonde to look at her in the mirror and hum a question in her throat. Snow White laughed and laid both her palms on Teresa's shoulders, reciting what she said before. "I said you look beautiful, Teresa."

The archer forced a smile, her mind too troubled to produce a real one. "I look unrecognizable," she uttered, and it was the truth.

Teresa Holmes looked unrecognizable, and she hated that, feeling out of place in her own skin, as she wasn't used to wearing make-up or dresses at all. She didn't like to wear make-up; Henry claims she doesn't need to either with her natural beauty. But she knew there was no going back now, that she would just have to suck it up and wear a dress and some make-up for one night. For Henry, as he most likely would arrive tonight wearing a suit of fine material, purchased by the former Mayor Mills.

The raven-haired woman clicked her tongue. "You do not! You look like the princess you are."

Teresa snorted. "I'm so far from a princess, Snow, it's not even funny."

"The clothes they wear and how they dine with poise posture shouldn't define a princess. A princess can be anyone they want to be. Look at me for example," Snow White smiled. "I was a spoiled little girl until the death of my mother. Then, I looked at life with a different light. I changed for the better, no longer caring about my crown and instead, my people. My father allowed me to take on a new love for archery, and I wasn't so afraid of horses anymore. I embraced who I was, and that made me the princess you later met. You are a princess, Teresa, and one whom I believe many children ─ Neal and Robin included ─ will become inspired by for her courage and compassion and strength. I'm not sure I would have survived your past, but you did, Teresa. You should be proud of the princess you are."

Teresa smiled and stepped into her friend's arms, hugging her tight. "Thank you."

Snow White laid a kiss on her friend's temple as she hugged back. "You're welcome." She then sniffled and pulled back, reaching a hand out to fix Teresa's hair once more.

Before Snow White could speak, there was a knock on the door. The two friends turned around and found David standing in the doorway of Teresa's bedroom with Neal in his arms. A smile was on his face and he wore a surprised expression as he took in Teresa's appearance.

"Wow," David breathed. "Teresa, you look..."

Teresa could feel a blush creeping onto her face and she chuckled at his expression. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I look ridiculous," she smirked.

David let out a breathy laugh. "You look beautiful, Teresa. The young man waiting for you downstairs is very lucky."

Snow White grinned and clapped her hands. "Oh okay, Henry's here! Teri, why don't you go downstairs while I get the camera?"

Teresa's eyes widened as they followed the fleeing Snow White, who brushed past her husband and out the doorway. "Wait ─ the what?"

David offered the platinum-blonde a small smile. "I tried to tell her you wouldn't want a picture but, well, you know Snow."

The teenager sighed. "Unfortunately, I do," she grumbled while making her way out of the room. David followed behind her as Teresa ascended the staircase and made her way into the parlor.

When Teresa's eyes found Henry Mills standing nervously in ─ just like she assumed ─ a fancy suit with a singular white rose in his hands, she smiled and the feeling to vomit came back. She swallowed and approached him, nervously wringing her hands together as she watched his face. Henry's eyes started at her feet, taking in her full appearance from her shoes to her hair before finally coming to rest on her ice-blue eyes.

Henry felt like he couldn't breathe as he met her gaze. He had seen nothing more beautiful than the way she looked right now. "You ─ um ─ you look..." Henry stumbled for words, blushing with embarrassment as he tried to keep his eyes connected with her own, but he found it hard to do with how nervous he felt.

He extended the flower toward her and exhaled a nervous, shaking breath from his usually dry lips that Henry could have sworn wasn't this dry before. "I know you don't like flowers but ─ um ─ well Killian... he said that girls, they like flowers on dates, so I ─ um ─ got you one."

Teresa smirked at his nervous rambling and reached out a hand, grasping the rose in-between her fingers. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Henry grinned, feeling his heart lighten as she accepted it despite not caring much for flowers. His girlfriend brought the white rose to her nostrils and inhaled. The soft smile which formed on her face afterward nearly made his heart stop beating.

"I found it!" Snow White rushed down the stairs, nearly falling over the last step. She ushered the two nervously blushing teenagers together for a picture and grinned as the camera flashed, capturing the memory she has longed to witness and would cherish forever.

After Snow White got a few more pictures, Teresa and Henry said goodbye and the pair departed out the front door where Henry's car awaited them. Regina and Emma had gifted it to Henry a few weeks ago after he passed his driver's test. Teresa was working on getting a license of her own but enjoyed the long walks far more. It gave her time to think. That and Teresa was certain she would never get used to a car.

Henry opened up the passenger door for her and held out his hand for her to take. Teresa smiled at the gentleman he was being and took his hand, accepting his offer to help her into the car, as she absolutely despised the heels she wore. With a quick "Thank you" and "You're welcome" being changed, Henry was closed the door and climbing into the driver's seat.

Henry started up his car and pulled out of the driveway, the pair waving toward the married couple standing on the front porch, watching them with smiles on their faces. Neal was waving and mumbling a chorus of his adorable bye-bye's that always made the archer grin. The toddler had the platinum-blonde wrapped his finger and no one could say otherwise.

The car ride was silent for a while, both parties too nervous to speak, until Teresa cleared her throat and broke through the awkward silence. "So, what has Henry Mills planned for us this evening?"

"It's a surprise," the boy grinned back.

"Can I at least get a hint?" When Henry remained silent, the girl groaned.

"You are the worst!" She exclaimed teasingly, causing Henry to laugh.

Five minutes down the road, Henry's car came to a stop. As he twisted the key and stuffed them into his jacket pocket, Teresa tried to figure out which building Henry was taking her to. Or, perhaps, if he was planning on taking her to the park.

The platinum-blonde went to unbuckle her seatbelt and climb out of the car, but Henry quickly stopped her, causing the girl to flinch away from the car door handle.

Teresa turned toward him with a confused expression. "What?"

Henry blushed. "I have to open the door for you," he stated as if it were obvious. Teresa chuckled as she watched him climb out of the car and jog around to her side. He opened the door and extended his hand. She took it with a small laugh and once she was on her feet, she leaned forward to kiss his cheek.

"You don't have to be such a gentleman with me, Henry," she assured him.

"I know, but I want to be," Henry replied, causing her to smile. He extended his arm toward her and she grinned, wrapping her arm around his. Henry looked both ways before leading her across the road and Teresa felt her entire body freeze up as her eyes connected with a familiar sign reading Gusteau's.

Her feet stopped moving and her breathing became uneven. Teresa's arm fell from his and she took a step backward with a shake of her head. "No, no, no, no, no," she kept repeating, willing herself to wake up from this repeating nightmare as she pinched the skin of her arm.

"Teresa?" The worried voice of Henry Mills filled her ears, but she couldn't focus enough to direct her attention away from the restaurant that has been haunting her mind for days.

"This can't be happening," the platinum-blonde whimpered. Spinning on her heel, the girl began down the sidewalk, holding the white cardigan tighter around her body as she moved fast.

Henry was beyond confused by her reaction, but that didn't stop the boy from chasing after her. "Teresa!" He called just as he caught her wrist and forced her to turn around. He gently grasped her biceps, keeping her in front of him so she wouldn't run off again. "What's wrong?" Her glistening tears and loud breathing caught his ears, causing him to frown. "Why are you panicking? Did I do something wrong?"

The fear that was swimming in the oceans of her blue eyes as she spoke made him worry, for what could scare the headstrong archer this much. "Henry, don't make me go in there. Please don't make me go in there. I can't... I can't... I..."

Henry didn't waste a moment. He pulled her into his arms and began to run his hand up and down her back. She trembled against his torso, her fingernails curling into his touch. He had never seen Teresa like this before.

"Please, Henry," she cried.

"Hey, hey, it's okay," Henry spoke soothingly, unsure of what was happening right now. She was perfectly fine until she saw the restaurant. What could have happened between those few seconds?

After a few moments, Henry pulled back and brushed her hair away from her face, taking a moment to part them from her trail of tears, as the hair strands clung to the dampness of her skin. "Teresa, what's wrong?"

The platinum-blonde bit her lip. "I can't go into that restaurant, Henry, and I wish more than anything that I could tell you why."

"Is this about your dream?" He queried.

Teresa hesitated. "Yes."

Henry frowned but understood as he nodded and took her hand in his own, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Then we don't have to eat there. I only got the reservation because you deserve a ridiculously expensive dinner. But we can go wherever you want." He took her hands in his own, which caused her to look him in the eye. "Teresa, as long as I get to spend tonight with you, I don't care where we eat."

Teresa sniffled and reached a hand up to wipe away her tears. Usually, she would feel silly and weak for crying but didn't very much care at this moment with the real pain she had felt in her dream resurfacing. "Henry..."

"I mean it," he insisted. "Anywhere you want."

She thought for a moment before smiling through her tears. "Some of Granny's cocoa sounds good right about now."

Henry grinned. "Well, you know that I am never one to turn down a cup of cocoa. Granny's it is!"

Teresa chuckled and took the arm he was extending towards her. Before they started walking, she leaned up and kissed him, parting with a sniffle. "Thank you for understanding."

"I'll always understand, Teresa," Henry said seriously, his soft brown eyes boring down into her own. With his hand, he reached up and pulled the pendant out from beneath her dress, allowing the crystal to rest against the fabric of her dress rather than her skin. "That's why I also haven't tried to get you to take this off. But Teresa... I will always be here when you need to talk. I promise."

Teresa grasped the front of his suit jacket and leaned in for another kiss and, with this kiss, all the fear her body had been drowning in, dissolved with his soft and warm lips molding with her own. And just like that, their first date was perfect.

Teresa Holmes and Henry Mills would always remember tonight; the greasy hamburgers and french fries, even the sweet kisses that tasted like chocolate and cinnamon.

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A/N: Well ladies and gents, that concludes act one! I hope everyone enjoyed it and are as excited as I am to finally begin season six :)

And for those of you wondering, this is what Teresa's dress looked like (minus the clutch.) Just imagine it paired with a white cardigan to bring the whole ensemble together: