The curse still happened and magic exists. I have done the research for this. SwanQueen!
Because of being in several severely abusive foster homes, Emma runs away at age 8 and lives on the streets but because of the trauma Emma has faced, she mentally regresses to that of a 3 year old.
Regression is what happens when the mind can't handle anymore trauma and still learn and grow at a normal rate.
Emma's regressive behaviors include:
1. clingy when left alone
2. uses baby talk like "No want cookie!"
3. needs a comfort object like a stuffed animal
4. sucks her thumb
5. bed wetting
6. likes to play with toys in the bath tub
7. plays like a 3 year old. like with toys and plays pretend
Henry is still Emma's son and is still adopted by Regina.
Henry goes to Bosten looking for his birth mother, Emma and tracks her down and finds her living on the streets with a bunch of homeless kids. Henry convinces Emma to come with him to Storybrooke but Emma will only come if she can take Alex, a homeless 3 year old girl, with them. Alex is Emma's sister.
The homeless group of kids only accepted Emma into their family because she acts just like a kid does.
Emma can't drive so they take the bus back to Storybrooke.
When Regina opens the door and welcomes her son back, Henry tells her that he found his birth mother and that she is right here along with her sister. Emma sucks her thumb and says to Regina "You're pretty".
Regina lets them stay at her house because she is not quite sure what to do about an adult child.
Emma has been regressive for so long that she doesn't know how old she is or that she os in fact an adult. Emma doesn't know how to be an adult. She never learned to read very well and doesn't know how to write or count at all.
Emma only trusts Regina to help her.
When the curse brakes, it's Regina, Emma, and Alex that fall through the hat into the Enchanted Forest.
Emma still acts like a child but she is learning. It will be a wile before Emma feels safe enough to want to try to grow up. She will have to learn how to talk like an adult, read like an adult, act like an adult, think like an adult, and socialize like an adult.
