The boy was crying again. Regina paused in the shadows staring at the prison bars made from roughly cut pieces of wood. It isn't a real prison of course. Nothing so simple could really hold the famous Peter Pan captive. It is simple, barely holding together with tiny snippets of rope, made by the small hands of a group of boys. And because they made it and told him he had to remain there he will. He understands why and he accepts that what he did was wrong.
The tears tug at Regina's heart. He is still just a child who made a foolish mistake. Rumplestiltskin took advance of his youth and his innocence to make a deal that affected all of their lives. It isn't the only life the Dark One tried to ruin, chasing his son. Ironic that Neal was now all grown up, that Rumplestiltskin got his wish too late.
She knows that Peter won't accept her words of comfort. He doesn't trust grown ups. Rumplestiltskin wouldn't tell them what Peter's part of their bargain was, but she can guess.
She tries to offer what little comfort she can, without letting him know that she notices him. Sometimes she will walk a little further away from his cage playing with her magic, creating little shapes in the air and casting light into the darkness of the night. As she passes tonight, she is formulating a new plan.
The Lost Boys hate Peter's imprisonment. Punishments only come from grown-ups and Neal had to suggest it to them when they realised Peter had betrayed them. The punishment was a fair way for them to forgive him without banishing him. Peter had been frightened he would be sent away. Some of the older Lost Boys, the ones he had sent out to find Henry, had gradually grown older and older. He knew if he we banished from Neverland he would finally have to grow up. Neal understood. He agreed that it was time for the older boys to leave and promised to find them homes and families in Storybrook. They had begun to lead Peter astray, picking up adult thoughts and ideas. Neal also knew that Peter loved his freedom. Wherever and whenever he wanted to go, there was no-one to stop him. Now he was trapped.
Regina pulled herself away, headed back to the small cottage the boys had built for her. It was nothing like the mansion she had created for herself in Storybrook, it was better. She had made a few adjustments using her magic – there was no way she would sleep on their idea of a bed – but nothing that would hurt their feelings. The Lost Boys listened to her more now, as they grew to trust her. She told them stories, sometimes the reality of life in the Enchanted Forest and Storybrook, sometimes simple fiction. They would be happy to hear her suggestions that Peter had been a captive long enough. Once he was free they would simply forget anything had ever been wrong. Having Peter still locked in the cage upset them because it was a reminder of darker days. It would have to be their decision though.
When Peter was finally released he might ask her to leave. Neverland was his island. The Lost Boys were still his Lost Boys. She was just another grown up.