I'M SO SORRY. I know it's been a long time and I'm sorry but things have been really hectic for me plus an awful writer's block. But I'm back in the game again! I shattered my massive writer's block and I'm flying towards the finish line! Please read and review and above all enjoy!

Chapter 10: Forgive or Fall

The tunnels stretched on like an unending paths of darkness. All that kept them from stumbling off to be lost forever was Pan, someone Regina was nowhere near ready to trust. The tension amongst the group was nearly palpable, united by Mim as they were the battle to come would possibly kill them all if they didn't work together.

Regina watched as Ven walked before her, the black hair swishing softly against her narrow back. Her blue eyes traced the pale scars that lay scattered over the girl's tanned skin. Scars that shouldn't have been there. She should never have given her away. She knew that and she had regretted it every day since.

But would that be enough?

Ven had been unbearably cold to her, in fact to everyone. She stood next to Pan, her trust in him astonishing and seemingly unbreakable. Of course they had spent nearly two hundred years together. Though time was a fickle thing in Neverland.

She tapped Ven's shoulder, gaining her attention, she was met with a glare. She risked the glare and slowly dropped to the back of the line amidst curious glances from Emma and Hook, hoping the black haired teen would follow her.

Thankfully Ven did, dropping back until they were walking two abreast.

"What do you want?" Ven asked, her voice low.

"Ven, we're going into a battle we may not escape from," she said. "I-I don't want to lose you-"

"Don't Regina." Her voice was as cold as her stare. "Don't, after all these years, pretend to care."

"But I do care." She was aware that her voice was pleading, but she didn't care. She couldn't take losing her daughter again and not being able to tell her how much she loved her. "I care, I love you so much. I'm so so sorry, I thought it would be the best thing for you, my mother-"

"Don't shift the blame. You gave me up. You handed me over to the despicable woman you called mother. You lost me."

"And I have regretted it every single day of my life. I promise you. I'm so so sorry. I care about you so much-"

Ven halted, turning to face her. "Ok. So maybe you do." The mismatched eyes narrowed. "But I don't." She felt her heart break. "Listen to me Regina and listen well because I'll only say it once. I was alone. I was alone and afraid for my entire excuse for a child. I have lost everything… but I have also gained everything. I have a place here, a family. Neverland is my home and Peter is my love." Ven raised her chin. "I am not a broken child crying for 'mummy', not anymore. I don't need you anymore."

Regina watched as she turned to retake her place beside Pan. She bowed her head, struggling to hold back tears.

You are my daughter…

Ven clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles were white. She realized her hands were shaking and she hated it. Damn you Regina. She had been managing to suppress her warring feelings but Regina had brought them forth with only a few words. She had to get ahold of herself.

I hurt her. She grit her teeth. She abandoned me. Screw the circumstances, she let me go. She shoved down the guilt. But you hurt her. She had been cruel. And she had enjoyed it. It felt good to finally say what had been grinding away at her for years.

But you hurt her.

"Ven are you alright?" Peter's voice was a mere murmur.

She gave a nod. "Oh yes, wonderful. Our magic is gone, our enemies are walking behind us and Mim is about to destroy the island."

Peter surprised her with a soft chuckle. "Your sarcasm never ceases to amaze me m'dear."

She sighed. They walked in silence for a few moments, the distinct sound of footsteps hitting stone echoed through the cave.

"You snapped your heart in half."

She looked at Peter. "So?"

He looked at her. "So? So?" he echoed. "Good god woman! You could have died!"

She shook her head despairingly. "Oh Peter, if I had a fourpence for every time I've heard or thought that."

Apparently the immortal hadn't managed to wrap his head around that particular detail quite yet.

"How much further?" Rumplestiltskin snapped.

"We're almost there," Peter replied levelly. She was astonished at the way Peter managed to… forgive his brother. Rumple had sold him to Mim for Neverland's sake! But she knew not to take Peter's expressions at base value, he was master of emotion control, nearly. He could say one thing and be feeling something entirely different.

Ven placed a hand over the pendant around her neck, only to find it wasn't there.

She bit her lip hard. I can't do this. I can't do this. She didn't have her magic. She couldn't do it.

"Calm down," Peter murmured.

She glanced at Peter, his eyes were front but his voice was gentle.

"How…?"

"Your heart-rate is accelerating, alarmingly so."

She frowned curiously. "Can you… feel my heart?" His heart too now.

He held a finger to his lips as a low rumbling sounded.

"What's going on?" Emma pushed to the front. "What is that noise?"

Peter hissed a word of silence at her. "That's the sound of the falls. We're almost to the center," he said. "Does everyone know what you're doing?"

Nods all around.

"Good. We need utter silence." They continued.

Slowly the rumbling grew to a roar, and from a roar they rounded a bend and came in sight of a massive waterfall that thundered down over the exit of the cavern. The light that filtered in was contaminated by dark shadows and a loud explosion sounded above the rumble of the falls.

Peter held up a hand, then nodded.

Go. The unspoken word. The herald. The signal. This was it. Ven took a deep breath. This is it. It's do or die now. One chance. That was all she had. If she failed they all died. One chance.

She met Peter's eyes once more, then she ran forward and leapt straight into the roaring falls.

I know I know short chapter but the next ones coming ASAP!