Saying goodbye

*Disclaimer* I have no rights to the characters or the show.

Note- spoilers very sad chapter.

It was fortunate that in turn of destroying pans shadow that awoke the blue fairy who was more than willing to give the black wand in assistance to stop the possible new curse. The group returned with the wand finding a semblance of hope. Gold spoke with certainty on what to do. His uncertainty was evident but nothing was more important at the time so everyone took to believe his tone.

"Go find Henry, Henry when you wake in your body you run from wherever you are till you find them. The curse, the scroll you must bring it. When you do give it to your mother she is the only once who can stop the curse before it is enacted." He placed a wrist cuff on Henry and continued. "When pan wakes here I will take care of him. This make the wearer unable to use magic." He waved the black wand over Henry's face casting him into a sleep. A devious smile broke across his face as everyone left.

Henry was only momentarily under the sleeping spell that transferred him back to his body and pans back to his. It seemed momentary but he had to be sure. His body worked with him faster than he assumed it would as he went to leave from the building he was in. It was the library but he was completely unsure how he would have made it here. It was highly unlikely that pan had set the curse off here. He did check on his way out but it wasn't like he knew what to look for.

Still holding the scroll in his hand he remembered he had to bring it to his mom. She was the only one who could do something whatever it was he knew she was ready to do anything. Hearing a great amount of running outside he clasped the door and at his name he bolted out to great his family. His moms embrace was missed but shortly into it he knew it had to stop.

"Mom, ma, I'm ok you just saw me." He said pulling from them.

"Yes but we didn't see you." His mom said and Emma ruffed his hair. He should have expected it and actually he did but it still wasn't time for that. He held out his hand and let Emma take the scroll first. He held his breath now and feared it wouldn't be an time soon before he could breath right again.

Emma felt a dark dark magic surround her something she had never felt before. The scroll had Regina's magic in the background she supposed it was suppose to because it was she who used it. Pans magic terrified her it was beyond Regina's. The darkness It could engulf her if she let it but she shook the feeling best she could. Handing it to Regina she hoped for the best. Unable to see anything else but Regina's worry she held on to Henry knowing he saw it too.

For more than 10 seconds Regina's face went terrifyingly blank and with a purple glow she crumpled to the ground. Falling without a sound like her life was drained from her with the purple glow. Emma instantly dropped to her knees at Regina's collapsed form's side with a hard thud. It was impossible to read if she had simply fainted or worse. She heard the commotion around her but she only called out to Regina and took her hand.

Behind her everyone gasped except Snow. She was unable to make any noise so she clung to her husband hoping to be able to speak soon. Her eyes did her well bringing forth her silent words. She was afraid that Regina was hurt but still for no one else's concern but her own. She wished amends or something.

The moment Emma had clasped her hand even through her gloves she felt their shared spark surge through her. She couldn't explain it but she didn't have to because Regina gasped for air just then.

"Emma!" It was a whisper but held urgency in Emma's ears. For a moment her face held her worry but Emma could see her force it down hardly working. She stood her footings slightly off but very mayor like didn't let it show she didn't want to look weak.

Regina focused on being strong she needed to be for herself but mainly for Emma and Henry. She knew what needed to be done. The scroll had shown her what would happen if she broke the curse to before it started. The price for her magic the first time the curse went was so great but she would make it right even if the cost was greater. Her thoughts rang with what was to come. she looked out at the town. There was so much she had grown to like about it but nothing more than her family.

"Regina you ok?" Emma asked bringing her out of her thoughts. "What did you see?"

"What needs to be done." Her tone was quite and broken. Henry stood in front of Regina.

"We have the scroll you can stop it right?" Just as touched his cheek, bent down, and said yes the scroll vanished. Regina's clutching fingers slipped closed and all her concern skyrocketed. In front of them Peter Pan but how?

With a wave of his hand before anyone could say or do anything she was immobile. It wasn't just her though all beside her so was everyone else. Her heart dropped feeling she would be to late to fix everything. He was mumbling on about who to kill first clearly set on Neil. She tried to focus just a spark of magic but nothing came to her.

Again in all her life she felt weak and unable to protect a loved one. This time it wasn't just a love in which she hadn't explored, it was deep and grown roots in her. She admitted only to herself that she needed help. She questioned where rumplestiltskin was.

Sure enough as though willed to the aid rumplestiltskin appeared. The many questions were where had he been for pan to escape, why did pan have magic, what was he going to do to stop him. The young boy in front of them clearly could not know love, he had a son, a line of his own blood, and yet he had great hate a disgust for rumple. Rumplestiltskin on the other hand had learned different forms of love, his lost son, belle, and now Henry.

In comparison she was like him grown to love, feared loving, and feared not having it. With Henry it was love longing to returned unconditional but always fragile on his end. As would be rumple's relationship with his son. Then with great fight and resistance she grew to love someone who could make or break her world again as did rumple with belle. He was a beast that she healed just as Henry and then Emma did to her. She found guilt building in her gut because she never wanted to lose them as did rumplestiltskin and what played out before her was how she felt she would find herself.

Regina could sense rumple was not able to use magic and caught sight of the wrist cuff. She wasn't sure how that had happened but knowing rumple he wouldn't be here if he didn't have a plan. He spoke upon interrupting pan using a moment to tell his son he used the curse to find him and then tell belle she showed him love. It was mushy but that moment was the one time in decades she had ever seen him be mushy. Then that moment vanished and rumple challenged father.

"Time to end this." he said facing pan. Pan smirking.

"Yeah and how are you going to do that, without magic you're weak."

"I lost my shadow as well but I sent mine away with something important." He pointed out an with no time at all his shadow came to him holding his dagger. "The only way you die is if I die." The dagger was thrusted into pans back and pierced through to rumple as well. The shock set in Regina's core if she wasn't frozen she would have shivered with shock.

A final twist of the dagger into the no longer young boy but old man and rumple they disappeared in a black swirling smoke. Emma could feel her body falling through the last motion she had been doing before but held still again. A shrill cry broke her heart. It was by no doubt belle, Emma would give anything to make what she just experienced easier but knew nothing would. Neil was a person she could speak to but all she could muster was an apology. He mumbled about his dad did what he had to and the words brought her back to Regina. Her face hung with a deep sorrow.

Knowing that rumplestiltskin was in no way her favorite person she knew it had to be whatever was coming next to stop the curse. Emma was sure now that Regina was not ok and she was going to regret asking.

"Regina are you ok, you're going to be ok right?" Regina's face softened as she faces Emma and Henry. Henry stood by his dad trying to be all the comfort he could be. Emma's eyes showed all her worries as she spoke. "Gold has said there is a price. What is it? What do we have to pay?"

"This is my price I must pay. I cast the curse I am the one who must take on the price." Her heart breaking with every word. "I must give up what I care about most." She should have guessed Emma wouldn't see the whole price. She reached behind her for Henry. Looked at her with eyes that begged to understand.

"Henry?" Emma's voice cracked she did have it in her to imagine what Regina meant by 'give up'.

"When I cast the curse I wanted my happy ending. To stop this new curse I need to undo my original curse. Storybrooke will go away. Never existing, everyone would go back where they came from." In that sense it seemed good. "Except Henry." Her resolve broke and her face showed her pain.

"No! But-" Emma tried but Regina had to finish.

"He was born here he can not return."

"Here alone? No." Emma's head spun unable to see what Regina had yet to still confess.

"No you will stay with him. That is my price, what I gained from the curse I must give up." She didn't want to drag this out losing her strength every second she looked into Emma's watering eyes.

"No! We both go, we all go and be happy." She held Henry and tried reaching her hand out to take Regina's. She couldn't go living without her she had only just confessed her long time feeling for her. Regina wanted to take her hand but forced herself not to just yet.

"You must, if I don't pay the price destroying the curse won't work. Everyone will return like nothing happened and you must stay." She look to her son. He was being strong behind his slight quivering lip. She took him into his arms. She could stay like this if she let it, she didn't know how to pull back as if it was her last time.

Thankfully she had an excuse, grumpy came yelling through the street. He scrambled down the street just like the person he was here would have. She released Henry an casually took Emma's hand now letting the distraction cover her movements. Instantly Emma squeezed her hand.

"It's here! It's coming!" He panted and continued. "The curse it's all over." Regina didn't flinch she was not willing to show her fear she had to keep her strength even if it was just appearance, for Henry and for Emma show them it would be ok. Suddenly all eyes fell to her and hers to Emma.

"I thought this was suppose to be a happy ending, this isn't very happy." Her pout dug into Regina's heart hoping to find a way. Regina would do anything if there was another way but there wasn't. It wasn't snow that spoke but she was looking into her husbands eyes hoping to make a message anyways.

"Happy endings aren't always what we think," he nodded getting some sort if idea what she was intending to say. "Look around we all have been affected by you. All you ever wanted was Henry and now, now you can have him." He was bad at this but he tried and she shook her head refusing to except fate would give her more than she expected or asked for and then take it away. They had been broken apart why when they were mending would fate make them return to the same path they started.

Regina pulled her family close and held them before making them rush. Now they said goodbyes at the boarder of town. Henry was quiet and yet to full express his going to miss his mother. Neil and hook tried to make a lasting impression of affectionate goodbyes but Emma only say it as useless. Her parents hugged her and though snow couldn't speak it make a noise she gave Emma a strong goodbye with a kiss to her forehead. She didn't want goodbye she wanted a promise to see them again. Finally Emma turned from Regina wish to say see you soon and not never again. Henry peeled from her hold and walked to the car.

"Emma," Regina's voice stopped Emma she turned slowly hoping she changed her mind. "There's something else."

"Oh just great what else why can't we just have a happy ending?" Her heart sunk low in fear.

"I know it's not but I can give you one." Her eyes twinkled at her son and then returned to Emma's. "When the curse is broken Storybrooke will never have existed, wiped clean from your mind. The last two years will be gone." She took Emma's hand assuring her to be strong. Her resolve was a pile of dust and she saw Emma's was too. "My gift to you is good memories. You'll have always had Henry never given him up. This is your second chance your happy ending."

"It won't be real having him and the memories they were yours." Emma said

"The past won't but your future, both of you, it will be." Regina's heart pounding as if trying to break the cracks she already had making them worse.

"I wanted one with you too." Her final plea "I just found you and Henry, I just let my heart feel again and I just don't want you to leave me too."

"Never! I will always find you. I'll find away to come back to you and bring you home." She scrunched her nose trying not to cry. She sounded just like a charming but she meant it. "Go, for Henry."

Emma leaned in an placed a kiss to her lips. Everything swarmed her head. I'll never forget you she told herself.

"Fate brought us together to mend past mistakes," she smiled gently her forehead resting against Regina's. "It will bring us back together believe that."

Looming closer in was pans curse she kicked herself as she let Regina go and jogged to her car. She was right she had to go for Henry, make herself trust in fate. She hit the gas and crawled into a speed descent to escape the cloud. Regina Regina didn't hesitate she ripped the sheet on the scroll and crumpled its spilling magic into her hands. She focused on that not her family leaving. Not the future her fears swirling around in her gut pushed down further and she summoned her magic and thrusted it into pans curse. The cloud turned purple around them and instantly she controlled and willed the power.

Emma crossed the line she felt it and she sent the magic to her and Henry. She gave every drop of memory she had with Henry and placed Emma in her memories instead. She changed her memories and let her believe her past was always with Henry. She stood still her back to the yellow bug, the same one that had come in with Emma and Henry and changed her life. Now it was leaving changing her every second she thought about it. She wiped Emma and Henry's mind of the town, of friends, of home, and of her.

Emma looked in to the rear view mirror with a reason but behind her was an endless scene of trees, an empty road, and now she couldn't remember her reason. They had been driving for a while no one behind them, it was a curious habit she supposed looking at her son beside her in the passenger seat. It was cuz she always worried about him, always had and now they where off to a new home how could she not be worried. She smiled and took his hand this time, this home would be permeant she promised.

One year later.

Emma plated some breakfast and handed one to her son sitting at the dinning table. They had a routine and felt comfortable in there home they had made together over the past year. Before then it was like she and Henry had been looking forever but now she smiled at the way they lived. They sat quite this morning much like most mornings, music playing because they liked to be relaxed in the morning. Breakfast was their time before school and work and the rush of the city.

Henry like most kids his age didn't like to be take to school and didn't mind the city transport or noise he made it to school, good grade, and always home when she made it of work. He was a great kid, quiet but great and she thanked god she raised him right somehow. He turned out polite and sweeter than any kid she'd ever came a crossed and not just because he was her son but somehow she did him good never knowing how to raise a kid having been brought up without a family.

It had been quieter than usual this morning and she unintentionally slipped into her thoughts. A slight banging knock on the front door pulled her back to focus. Her soon looked to her questionably since they never have early morning visitors. Padding to the front door she turns off the music and peeps through the peep hole.

Strange a man stood in the hall outside her door. His hair scruffily and he wore a trench coat old and out of fashion. She hesitantly opened for the man.

"Hello?" She should have made sure she brought her bat or something. She sighs to herself this man looked like trouble.

"Emma! Of thank you! Your family there in danger you have to come." He threw he a wild look, almost as bad as hers. 'How does he know my name?'

"Um excuse me my family is right here you have the wrong person." She started to close the door. A boot stepped in the way.

"No wait-" he didn't finish he thrusted himself forward an kissed her. Shit he thought feeling a rough push back and a even more painful kick to his groin. He could see he over did it.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" She didn't tell but made her point aside from Henry being right behind her.

"I.. Thought.. You felt the same that maybe." He didn't get to finish before the door slammed in his face. His nose crunched and he yelped in pain again. Still not a morning person I see. He waddled away have limping half keeled over. He left the building a reached a strange vehicle that he was convinced to enter to make it here. The man in driver seat looked at him.

"Didn't go well did it?" He grinned at his friend holding his nose.

"Peachy she'll be going back in no time" his tone soaked in sarcasm.

Emma frowed her eyebrows as she walked back inside. Thinking how ridiculous the man looked and acted. He knew her name but really that wasn't weird. What was weird was how he said family, how he kissed her, and how revolting it was. she wiped at her lips. Yet she smiled because she thought if her not so recent but delightful dreams. She would kiss those lips if the woman of her dreams was real but she wasn't. She scowled at herself before sweeping her hand out to grab Henry's now empty plate.

He pulled on his backpack grinning up at his mom. He knew she didn't like saying goodbyes anymore so he gave her hug.

"See ya later." And he was out the door. Emma shoved on her work boots, threw on her old red leather jacket, and was out the door too. No sign of the delusional man she proceeded to her car.

her job cross town from home was just like her old bails bond job but big time. She was never sitting long once inside. She loved it always out getting people that needed to be caught or found. Something called her to the part of town as well as the place she picked for the apartment. She drove here and things just fell into place, money wasn't a problem never was for as long as she could remember. Her things with finding a school, home, and work all seemed very called out to her. It was a first for her but when it ended up best for Henry it was good for her.

Stepping on her floor she greeted her assistant with a smile and entered her office. Her first job sitting in the file on her desk. She called out from the office.

"Thanks Reb I'll be set for the day." Flipping through the pages. This was gonna be a long job. She clicked on her belt and gun. Opens her laptop tying out a quick email and closes it again. Sighing wounded how it got so easy just to live when all she ever did before Henry was run.

Turning from her closed office door she hears her assistant talking. Slowly she enters hearing her mention she's be out of office today. Rounding the counter she see a face she hadn't seen in ages.

"You!" Her finger ticking towards her gun ready to shoot a knee out.

Review

Honestly hope to do really awesome stuff next chapter. belle breakdown, Regina's, everyone just misses someone. Gezzz!