This chapter moves forward a little faster than normal. Also, I didn't have time to proofread, so if there are tons of mistakes, that's my bad. Hope you enjoy - it might be a few days before the next chapter. I'm gonna try to have the next chapter of Somewhere in Between out later tonight.
Regina followed the rambunctious group of boys, lost in her thoughts. All of this seemed surreal. They were going home. Daniel was there. The Lost Boys had all decided to come along, agreeing that Neverland had lost most of its appeal when Peter Pan had left.
Feeling a tug on her hand, Regina looked down and smiled when Tootles looked up at her. "What's it like where you live?"
"Well," Regina thought how best to explain the world to a child who'd only been out of Neverland once in the last several decades. "It's quite different from Neverland; from my old world as well. There's no magic there, but they have all kinds of things that make up for it. I'll show you everything when we get there."
"You'll love it!" Annie said brightly, stepping up next to Regina. "And you and Henry are going to get along really well!"
"You think so?" Tootles asked hopefully, though he was looking at Regina.
"Oh, yes," Regina told him. "Henry's going to love you. He's always wanted a brother."
"Really?" Tootles watched his feet as he walked along, trying to imagine what this new world was going to be like and how Henry would be as a brother.
Regina looked to Annie. "You're sure this way of going home will work?" she asked her. They hadn't had much time to discuss their return plans. Annie had been eager to leave and had assured both her and Daniel that her idea would work. She'd gone to the fairies for help while out with the Lost Boys and they had apparently agreed whole-heartedly. They'd even sent her back to the tree house with 'proper Neverland attire', as they'd put it.
She was now wearing a soft, lilac-colored cotton dress that came down most of the way to the ground but trailed off in a diagonal cut. It was covered in actual flowers that trailed beautifully over and around it, making up most of the one-shoulder strap. Regina was wearing a matching dress in a sky blue. The fairies had also insisted on decorating their hair with flowers. It was all braided up and pinned back with flowers and ribbons of small vine woven in. Even Daniel had smiled at the end result. Regina looked exactly as she had back when they'd planned to marry. Young, vibrant and happy. The lighter colors helped bring that out.
Daniel, for his part, was wearing the same tan pants as before, but the fairies had given him a soft green tunic to wear along with them.
After they'd all changed, the Lost Boys had loosened up considerably, which is why they were all now headed back toward the shore.
Annie had explained that trying to take them all through at once would be impossible, but if Hook would allow it, the fairies could help sprinkle his ship with enough fairy dust for them to fly home the old-fashioned way – old-fashioned for Neverland, at least. The boys had been violently against the idea at first. Working with pirates? It was out of the question! But with the fairies help, they'd been convinced that it was the only way.
"You look much better," Regina observed, smiling at Annie.
"I feel much better," Annie smiled back. She linked her arm with Regina's and rested her head on her shoulder. "Thank you."
"You just needed rest. I didn't do anything."
"Not that. I meant for doing what you did. Going to the world of the damned," she said quietly.
In answer Regina unlinked her arm from Annie's and wrapped it around Annie's waist instead, pulling her tightly into her side. Annie put her arm around Regina's waist as well and smiled.
Daniel watched from a few steps behind, marveling at how completely different Regina seemed. The light blue she wore brought back vivid memories of when they'd been younger, happier, full of innocence and hope. Her actions were different as well. It seemed he'd missed something crucial during the time the curse had been broken; some fundamental change in her. The Regina he saw now with an arm wrapped around Annie and holding Tootle's hand was not the same from a few months ago. She'd been different with everyone since he'd been able to see her again and he wondered what had occurred. He would have to give her a chance to explain everything; he wanted to. He wanted to be able to be happy with her. To kiss her, hold her. He wanted all of that as badly as she did. He just didn't want to be with someone who used dark magic to get what she wanted; even at the expense of others; especially at the expense of others. He watched the trio for a little while longer before making up his mind. Increasing his pace, he caught up to them easily. "Mind if I join you?" He asked Tootles as he stepped up next to him. In answer, Tootles simply stuck out his other hand, smiling up at him. Daniel smiled in return and for the first time, he didn't let that smile fall when Regina looked over at him. Hesitantly, she gave him a very small smile that brightened significantly when his still didn't fade. It was a start.
They reached the shore to find Hook and a few of his crew waiting for them with a couple of boats, ready to take them to the ship.
"Well, would you look at that?" he asked, taking in the sight of the odd group. "The fairies tell me you've come to ask for a ride back to your world?"
Regina stepped forward. "Am I to take your waiting here like this as a yes?"
Hook noticed the dramatic change in appearance. Fairy clothing had a way of making anyone look beautiful, but on Regina, it was quite a change. He didn't think he'd ever seen her look so…soft. He bowed slightly, grinning at her. "Yes, Your Majesty."
She shook her head, letting out a small laugh, but felt something press against the back of her legs. She looked down to find Tootles, moved partially behind her, peeking his head out to watch Hook. The rest of the children remained behind Daniel and Annie, staying back cautiously. They'd been forbidden to bring weapons of any sort, and without them, they felt vulnerable. Not nearly as confident as the proud warrior Lost Boys they proclaimed themselves to be.
Regina placed a hand on Tootles' head, running it through his hair comfortingly. "It's alright, boys," she said, speaking to all of them. "No one's going to hurt you."
Hook looked around at each of the boys, taking in their scared expressions. "So it's true? The Evil Queen is taking the Lost Boys with her?" The warm smile he wore kept the nickname he used from being offensive. The truth was he'd grown rather fond of the Lost Boys. He'd been there for a few hundred years after all. He just had too much fun playing with them as the evil Captain Hook to change how they interacted. He was happy that they were all going to a place where they could be happy. "She's right," he added, nodding at Regina. "No one will hurt you. We've already promised the fairies the same. You trust them, don't you?"
Hesitantly, all the boys began to nod. Nibs, regaining some of his confidence, stepped forward. "Let's get on with it, Hook."
Smiling with amusement, Hook stepped aside, gesturing to the boats with his hooked hand. "Your ship awaits."
Daniel accompanied the older boys and Annie in one boat, while Regina helped the younger boys into the boat Hook headed. When she was seated herself, and they'd pushed off, Hook watched as the boys all sat around Regina and little Tootles crawled into her lap, hiding his head and wrapping his arms around her.
"What magical pill did the fairies give you?" Hook asked Regina as she smiled up at him, rubbing her hand in circles on Tootles' back.
"What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean," he told her, gesturing at the sight in front of him. "Your outfit, your hair, the way you've regained the love of the Lost Boys." He laughed. "You're a new person."
Regina inhaled deeply, taking in the salty sea air and the flowery scent of Neverland. "Not a new person, Hook. An old one." She sighed happily. "Though there does seem to be something magical about this place, doesn't there?"
Hook chuckled. "It suits you."
"I think so, too," Regina said. And it was true, she was feeling happier than she'd felt in a long while. More like her old self. She only hoped this feeling would last and not disappear when they got back home.
It was odd for everyone involved when the Lost Boys were all standing on Hook's ship. The pirates stood there, not sure what they were supposed to do while the Lost Boys all shifted awkwardly on their feet. They were saved when the fairies appeared.
Tink made her way straight to Regina, who had Tootles in her arms again. It had been so long since Tink had appeared to her, she'd almost forgotten what the beautiful fairy looked like. She hovered lightly in the air so that she was eye-level with Regina. Looking her up and down, she nodded her approval. "Much better," she said happily. "The fairies had almost lost faith in you, but I knew you could be redeemed." Not giving Regina a chance to answer, she continued. "It's time. We're going to sprinkle the ship and all of you with fairy dust. It will be up to you all to do the rest. You must all think happy thoughts."
Regina smiled at Tootles when she said, "That shouldn't be hard." Tootles laughed and laid his head on her shoulder.
"Very well." Tink grinned. "Make sure to come back and visit."
"We will," Regina promised.
A moment later, there was a shimmer to the air as fairydust covered everything around them. Regina laughed and looked at Annie. The fairy dust coated her skin in sparkles and she practically glowed with happiness, laughing as well. Everyone was laughing. The pirates looked quite a sight with the glitter coating their dirty skin.
No one noticed at first that the ship had risen into the air. Then, a pirate down at the end of the ship shouted, "Oy! We're flyin'!"
Pirates and Lost Boys mixed as they all rushed to different sides of the ship, cheering and shouting as they saw the island of Neverland growing smaller behind and beneath them. Regina, with Tootles, joined Annie and Daniel where they stood looking down over the ocean.
Annie grinned, looking between the two of them. "We're going home," she said to Regina, before turning to look at Daniel. "All of us."
Emma fought the urge to run as the heavy silence stretched on. Her words played on repeat in her head. 'I have a son. He's uhh...he's yours.' How else were you supposed to tell someone they were the father of your child? Emma imagined there had to be a better way, but she hadn't been able to think of one. Instead, the truth had just sort of tumbled out by accident.
Neal was staring at her in disbelief. Finally, after what felt like forever, he asked, "Why didn't you ever tell me?"
"I decided to give him up for adoption." It didn't really answer his question, but she didn't care.
"So, you…" he struggled to wrap his head around all of it. "You uh, you haven't seen him? I mean, you've never met him?"
Emma was silent. This was the part where she could tell him about Henry and how he'd come to find her. That he was the reason she was in Storybrooke now. This was her opportunity, but she couldn't open her mouth. It didn't seem to matter, however.
"It's the little boy from this morning isn't it?" he asked, somehow putting things together. "He's your…our…son? Henry?"
Her eyes widened in panic, not believing that he'd figured it out so quickly. "Yeah."
They both jumped when the door to the diner was thrown open and an excited Henry bounded in, David not far behind. Emma's heart nearly stopped in fear, but she needn't have worried. Henry had come with news. "Emma, Emma! Come quick! There's a pirate ship coming to Storybrooke. It's almost here!" He came over to her, pulling her to her feet. "Come on, come on!" he shouted impatiently, tugging her toward the door. She looked at David only to see him nodding in a sort of daze.
"It's true," he said. "You can see it, plain as day."
And so, Emma allowed herself to be pulled out of the diner with most of the patrons and Neal following behind her, all curious to see what Henry was going on about.
When they reached the docks, there were already people on the gigantic ship working to secure it. Mary Margaret and a small group of townspeople had gathered to watch the strange commotion. At this range, Emma could see why it was being called a pirate ship. It certainly looked like a pirate ship and the men on board definitely looked like pirates. It didn't take long for them to extend a board that they began using to walk down to the docks. Everyone moved closer as a group of children began making their way down followed by a girl everyone recognized to be Annie.
"Annie!" Henry exclaimed happily, starting to run toward her, and she looked up and waved.
The crowd of bystanders grew noisy as everyone moved to stand at the base of the ship and talked to each other about what was going on. How what appeared to be a pirate ship had found its way to Storybrooke, and with Annie aboard. It went silent a moment later when a smiling Regina appeared over the edge of the ship, making her way down to them with a small boy in her arms.
Dressed in a flower covered dress with hair up in braids and covered in what appeared to be glitter, smiling widely, it took a moment for anyone to recognize their usually dark-clad, mean-spirited mayor. Of course, it was Henry who recognized her first. "Mom?!"
She stepped onto the dock and set the child down. "Henry!" she cried happily as he launched himself into her arms.
"Mom! I'm so happy you're back! I was so worried!"
Regina finally pulled back and looked behind her. "Tootles?" she said to the small boy who was standing timidly behind her. "Come on, sweetheart, it's alright." She crouched down as the boy approached cautiously and put her arm on his back. "Henry," she said, looking up at her son. "This is Tootles. He's going to live with us. Tootles, this is my son, Henry."
Henry looked back and forth between the two of them. "Tootles, like one of the Lost Boys? From Peter Pan?"
Regina nodded, while Tootles looked confused at how Henry knew about him and Peter Pan.
"Wow!" Henry grinned. "Is he going to be my brother?" he asked hopefully.
"Yes."
The word had barely escaped Regina's mouth before Henry had jumped up, shouting "Yes!" He reached a hand out, grabbing Tootles' and shaking it. "I'm Henry, I'm going to be your brother. I'm gonna teach you everything about this world."
Seeing the two boys smiling at each other, Regina stood up, patting both of their shoulders.
She stood up into chaos, as everything seemed to happen at once. Nibs had caught sight of Neal in the crowd. "Peter?" he asked in awe. All of the other boys ran over to see if this was truly their lost leader. "Peter? Peter is that really you?" they all asked in wonder, gathering around him.
"No!" Emma said. "No! No, no, no, no, no," she started reaching for something, anything, to grip onto. She was lowering herself slowly to the ground, not able to hold herself on her feet any longer.
Neal was staring at Regina, not believing his eyes.
Meanwhile, Daniel had stepped down onto the dock, and Mary Margaret had made her way over to him slowly in a daze, oblivious to everything that was going on around her. "Daniel?" she asked. Her voice and face were both filled with confusion. She looked at Regina, who was now watching her with a sort of horror, realizing what was happening; Snow was remembering.
"Daniel?" Mary Margaret asked again, seeming surer this time. "I thought…you…" She looked back at Regina. "He was dead."
"Snow White." Daniel smiled warmly. "You've grown quite a bit!"
Not believing her eyes, she threw her arms around Daniel, laughing through happy tears. "You're alive! I can't believe it! You're actually alive!"
I'm off to watch the new Once, but I'd love to have some reviews waiting for me in the morning :)