"Oh my God, is he unconscious?" Emma asks, shaking Henry's lifeless body "Henry, can you hear me?"
"He passed out as soon as his heart went into Pan," Neal says, kneeling beside Emma.
"What the hell did you do to him?" Emma shouts at Pan.
"Oh, I didn't do anything, Emma," Pan says "It was Henry. He offered me his heart of his own free will"
Emma stands up from the ground and takes her sword, pointing at Pan.
"I'm going to take it back from you," Emma says angrily.
I see her going after Pan but I can't bring myself to be away from Henry.
My boy!
My precious little boy.
"I don't think you have it in you,"
I hear Pan's voice behind me.
I turn my head to look at him and watch in horror the object he has in his hand.
Pandora's Box.
"Rumpelstiltskin didn't," Pan says, playing with the box in his hands "Why should you?"
"Where is he?" Emma asks.
"What did you do?" Neal asks in front of me, standing up.
"Why, he is right here in this box," Pan says "safe and sound. And out of the way. Unfortunately for you, he can't hurt me anymore. And neither can you"
"Really?" Emma uses her sword on him, cutting his arm "How did that feel?"
"Like a tickle," Pan says.
I turn my head to look at Henry again, my little boy completely unconscious laying on this hard cold floor.
My heart is just a throbbing organ full of pain for my little boy.
My little Prince.
I ran my hands on his beautiful face as I let the tears fall down my eyes.
I failed him!
"How is he?" Emma asks behind me.
I can't bring myself to answer her.
I can't do anything other than look at him.
I noticed more than I see Emma kneeling in front of me.
"You are going to be alright, Henry," I say while running my hand on his chest.
Because he is going to be alright.
I don't care what I have to do.
I don't care who I have to kill.
Emma covers my hand on Henry's chest with hers and squeezes it.
"We're gonna get you home," I promise him.
"Regina?" Emma calls my name softly.
I lift my head to look at her, blinking my eyes slowly.
I snap out of the grief I'm feeling, briefly, and start to be practical.
I'm going to get Henry's heart back!
But first, I need to preserve his body.
I summon my magic and position my hands above him, letting my magic flow to his body.
I notice Emma watching me intensely as I use my magic on Henry and I decide to explain to her what I'm doing.
"This preservation spell," I say "can keep him in this condition for a while longer. Buy us time to get to Pan"
Emma stands up while I'm still working on Henry.
"You were a Lost Boy. Any idea where he went?" Emma asks.
"Well, I…I mean, I know where he lived where… his compound," Neal says.
"That's idiotic," I say harshly "We all know that. You think he is stupid enough to go back? You are useless"
"Okay, enough," Emma says.
"Don't tell me what's enough," I say back to her angrily "My son is dying"
"Our son," Emma says hurt "So yes, I know how you feel"
"You have no idea what I feel," I say angrily "You have your parents. You have this… person" I point at Neal "A pirate who pines for you. You have everything, and yet you claim to know how I feel? All I have is Henry and I'm not about to lose him because he is everything"
"That's not true," Emma whispers.
She kneels in front of me and takes my face between her hands.
My tears soak her fingers but Emma doesn't seem to care about that.
"That's not true, Regina," Emma says looking deep into my eyes "You have me. And we have Henry and we are going to save him. Together"
I close my eyes, letting the tears fall down my face as I let Emma's words sink inside of me.
When I open them again, Emma leans forward to kiss my lips and I let out a cry of relief when I feel her lips touching mine.
I'm not alone.
I have her.
And we have Henry.
Together.
"What do you wanna do?" Emma asks when she pulls away from me "You wanna run the show? Run it! How do we save Henry?"
"I don't know," I say defeated.
"Even if we can find Pan, he was powerful before" Neal walks close to us.
Emma stands up from the ground to face Neal.
"With Henry's heart, I don't know if we can hurt him," Neal says.
I look at Emma's sword, the one she used to attack Pan.
The sword is glowing with red thick liquid.
Blood.
"Yes, we can," I say, still staring at the sword "Look"
Emma lifts the sword and the three of us look at it.
"You nicked him. If he can bleed, we can hurt him," I smile "And if we can hurt him, we can kill him"
I look at the sword, glowing with his blood, feeling a mix of magic and anger run through my veins.
"And we will," I finally say.
We make the arrangements to transport Henry to a safe place and for once, I'm glad nobody is annoying me about using magic.
Emma takes Henry from the ground and carefully puts him in my arms.
I magic the three of us to the camp where we stayed the night before.
As soon as we arrived Neal takes off to find Hook, Tinker Bell, Snow, and Charming at the place we have previously agreed to meet after we saved Henry.
I walk to Emma, silently passing Henry to her arms and when I see he is safe with her, I wave my hand in the air to make a mattress appear on the ground.
Emma walks with Henry to the mattress and carefully deposited him on top of it.
I sit down next to him, taking his hand with mine to kiss his palm, before letting it rest on top of my heart.
Emma sits down on the other side of the mattress, softly running her fingers on Henry's hair.
"He is going to be okay, Regina," Emma says softly.
"I know," I nod "I will kill that demon and take Henry's heart back"
"In the cave…"
"Not now!" I say harshly "Now we focus on Henry"
"Okay,"
We stay there in silence just staring at Henry.
My heart is heavy and I'm so scared.
I can't fail him.
I won't fail him.
I will save Henry even if I have to give my life in return.
I will do anything for him.
And I won't regret it.
No matter what it takes, no matter what costs me.
I will never regret doing anything for my boy.
We hear sounds coming from inside the woods and Emma quickly gets up from the mattress.
She walks around the mattress, putting herself in front of me and Henry, holding her sword defensively.
More fuss and then we see Neal and all the others walking in our direction.
They are all here!
They all gather around us and Emma starts to tell everyone what happened.
"Gold is in a box," Snow says "Then David can never leave the island"
And of course, that is what she is worried about.
My son is lying lifeless on top of a mattress and the only thing she is worried about is her precious Prince Charming.
And now I can't even plot a good way to kill her because of Emma!
"Mary Margaret, that doesn't matter," Charming says "I've already made peace with that. What matters is Henry. How much time do we have now?"
"Maybe an hour before the preservation spell wears off," I say, still looking at Henry.
"If he is airborne," Neal says "He could be anywhere on the island"
"One hour is much time, I suggest we start looking," Hook says.
For once, I agree with the pirate.
There is no time to waste anymore.
I rose from the mattress abruptly and walk in the direction of that teenage beast who was Pan's right hand.
It's about time to let The Evil Queen out.
"Where is he?" I shout.
I grab the lapel of the hood he is wearing with force, looking at him with pure venom.
"Gone," The boy smiles "There is nothing you can do. He has already won. Pan never fails"
"You won't talk," I say angrily "How about I make you talk"
I lift my hand in the air, ready to rip his heart out, but something holds my arm back.
No, not something.
Someone.
"Regina, wait," Emma says, holding my arm.
"There is no time," I shout, looking back at her.
She pulls me to the side, away from the boy, putting her hands on my shoulder.
"I don't think torture is our best move here," Emma says "Look at these kids. They've been to hell and back. We need to try something else"
I look at the children they brought back with them, they all look scared and hurt and well, properly tied up.
As they should.
"Yeah, we tried the cute and cuddly," I say looking at Emma "They don't respond to reason. What else do you have to offer"
"What every kid wants," Emma says, looking over my shoulder before looking at me again "A mother"
Emma smiles softly at me before turning her back to the lost boys.
She kneels in front of them, looking at them all at once before starting talking.
"Guys, listen to me," Emma says softly "We are not gonna hurt you. I know you're loyal to Pan, and I get that. But you are making a terrible mistake. For a long time, I thought I was never gonna find my family. I was an orphan, like all of you. A lost girl. And I was reminded today that I'm not alone"
Emma looks at her parents and then me.
I'm standing behind her with my arms crossed when her eyes meet mine.
She looks at me lovingly before giving me a soft smile.
And I can't help smiling back at her.
"I have a lot of people who love me," Emma says looking at me before turning to look at the lost boys again "And I never thought that was gonna happen. And if that can happen to me, it can happen to you"
"Pan is the only family we need," Felix says behind us.
"No. Family doesn't do what Pan did," Emma says "Pan lied to you and made you do terrible things. He lied to Henry and convinced him to give up his own heart"
"To save the island," A small boy says.
"No, to save himself," Emma says back.
"Don't listen to her," Felix says "Pan cares about all of us"
"No, he doesn't," Emma stands up "We care about you. And we can save you! We can take you home to with us to our land. There is no reason to fear Pan anymore. Until he absorbs the power from Henry's heart he can be stopped. You just have to tell us where he is"
"Leave now while Pan still allows you to breath," Felix raises his voice.
"Where is Pan?" Emma whispers looking at Felix.
"Not telling," Felix says back to her.
"Can you really bring us home?" One of the boys asks.
"Shut your mouth," Felix shouts.
Emma walks to the little boy, the same one who questioned about Henry's heart earlier, and kneels in front of him.
"Yes," Emma says "With your help"
"His thinking tree," The little boy says.
"NO!" Felix screams.
"Yes, his thinking tree," Another boy says.
"Stop it, all of you," Felix shouts.
"What is that?" Emma asks.
"It's where he goes when he wants to be alone," The little boy says.
"Can you tell me where that is?" Emma asks.
"Yes, but you have to swear, swear that you will take us with you," The little boy says.
"I promise," Emma says, her voice choked as she looks at the little boy "We are all going home. All of us"
We all walk closer to the boy, and he starts to explain where Pan's thinking tree is.
"The pixie woods?" I ask "That's where he is?"
"It's just North from here, it's where the pixie dust used to grow," The little boy says.
"You know where that is?" Emma asks at Hook.
"Aye. The whole region is deserted now," Hook says "No one but Pan has set foot in those woods for centuries"
"Then let's make history," Neal says.
"We're gonna need you here," Emma says, walking closer to Neal "Once we get Henry's heart it's gonna be a race back, we'll need help on both ends"
"What you need from us?" Charming asks.
"Let's gather up the lost boys, get them on board of the Jolly Roger" Neal says "Prepare the ship to fly"
I see some bickering between Hook and Neal, but I don't stay to listen to them.
I can't be bothered with them fighting over Emma right now as if one of them didn't know Emma and I are together.
Neal knows.
He saw her kissing me in the cave.
He heard what she told me.
We are together!
I walk to where Henry is and sit down on the mattress next to him.
Wendy is there, and she smiles politely at me before walking away to give me some privacy.
I take Henry's hand with mine and bring it to my lips to kiss.
"I'm going to get your heart, honey," I whisper "And then we are going to go home. It won't take long now, I promise"
"Hey," Emma's voice says behind me.
I turn my head to look at her and watch her walk closer to me. She keels in front of me and puts her hand on my thigh.
"We have to go now," Emma says in a small voice.
I nod at her before lowering my head to kiss Henry's forehead.
"I'll be right back, Henry," I whisper.
I get up from the mattress and follow Emma inside the woods.
Snow is coming with us too, the Gods know for what reason.
Emma explains to me what Hook told her about how to get to Pan's thinking tree and the three of us go inside the woods again, taking turns leading.
We don't talk much.
Emma tries to interact with me, constantly asking if I'm okay.
And I have to suppress the urge of being rude to her.
Of course, I'm not okay.
But I know she means well which is why instead of snapping at her I just nod and say yes.
And then I walk a little faster, to get some distance between us.
So I can think clearly.
We walk for about one hour until we arrive at the place Hook told her.
I spot a little metal box on top of a rock and take a step back, gasping when I realize what it is.
"Look," I say.
Emma takes her sword from her back as I walk closer to the box.
We stop in front of the box and I see Snow eagerly dropping everything and running to get it.
I should let her get the box.
I should let her suffer whatever consequences that came upon her by touching the box.
One has to be really stupid to think Pan would just leave the box laying around unguarded like that.
But then I look at Emma and I am reminded that the woman is her mother.
Unfortunately.
"Careful," I say "Pan wouldn't have just left it behind for no reason"
"It's David's only way home," Snow says looking at me "Without Gold, we are stuck here"
She goes for the box but before she can even touch it, something pulls her back.
I see Emma calling her mother's name and then the same thing traps her and pulls her away.
It's the tree roots.
Before I can do anything, the roots wrap around my body and pull me back too.
And now the three of us are tied up to the tree.
I keep trying to get away but it seems like the more I try, the tighter the bonds get.
"Are you still at it?" Pan says leaving from behind the tree "Don't you know? Peter Pan never fails"
He kneels to pick up Emma's sword from the ground.
"I didn't expect you to find me," Pan says "But then again, I shouldn't be surprised. You're mothers. Quite tenacious about your offspring. Believe it or not, I understand that. But if you are looking to see Henry again, I have to tell you, there is only one place you'll be reunited… in death"
That little bastard.
I will kill him with my own hands and I will enjoy every second of it.
"Having trouble moving?" Pan asks "Not surprised, giving where you are. You see what's hastening your demise is your regret"
I try to move, but these damn ropes keep getting tighter and tighter around my body and it seems like the more I move, the more that thing rolls around me.
"What are you talking about?" Emma asks.
"This tree is the site of a very important event for me," Pan says looking up at the tree "I abandoned my boy here"
"You have a son?" I ask surprised.
"I'm older than I look," Pan says, looking at me.
"If you have a child, you must regret losing him too," Emma says beside me.
"But I don't," Pan walks away from us in the direction of Pandora's box "Quite the opposite, actually. See, I have him all boxed up, so I don't lose him again"
Pan waves the box in front of us and I can help the question that rolls out of my mouth.
Could that even be possible?
"Rumpelstiltskin is your son?" I ask surprised.
"That he is," Pan says.
"How is that possible?" Snow asks "You're…"
"Younger than him? Not really" Pan says "Just like you and your daughter"
"You are a fraud," I say looking at that sorry excuse of a boy "Your magic is weakening. You can't even hurt us" I smile "Let alone, Rumplestiltskin"
"You are right," Pan says, looking angry at me "But that's why I'm here. This tree will protect me until my power is restored and then" He smirks, pointing his sword at me "Well, then I get to have some real fun. And I won't ever have to worry about my child again. Something else we all soon have in common"
Emma moves in Pan's direction but that only makes the ropes pull us back and tighten more around our bodies.
It hurts when my back collides against the tree and my stomach is compressed to the point I can breathe.
But I don't blame her.
Have he been closer to me, I would do exactly the same thing.
"It has to be another way," Emma says.
"No, you are not going to get to me," Pan walks closer to Emma, pointing his sword at her.
I'm going to kill him for that too.
"See, this tree attacks the regret inside anyone who comes here," Pan says "And you? You've got plenty"
"I regret not taking a better shot at you when I had a chance," Emma says calmly.
"Well, that's not all, is it, Savior?" Pan asks "No! I have your son's heart inside me I can feel just how much you let him down time and time again"
"Leave her alone," Snow says.
"Perhaps I should," Pan says walking to Snow "After all, what chance she has at being a good mother?"
Pan keeps on talking about regret and abandonment and the more he talks about the more I consider my actions.
And the more I consider my actions the more I feel the ropes around me getting looser and looser.
And how about that?
I do feel sorry for some of my actions in the past, yes.
Especially the one that affected… Emma!
But do I regret them?
A smile play on my lips as I feel another knot loosen up around my wrist.
And my magic running inside my veins.
I hear Pan talking again and roll my eyes at his words to Snow.
I can't stand one more second of this boy's voice.
"Are you quite finished?" I ask him.
"Last words from the Queen," Pan says, walking closer to me "Perhaps a deathbed confession from the one who has the most to regret of all"
"Yeah, there is one problem with that," I say "I did cast a curse that devasted an entire population. I have tortured and murdered. I've done some terrible things. I should be overflowing with regret but…I'm not"
I move my arms on the ropes that are barely holding me anymore and they break apart all around me.
I look at the face of fear on Pan's, staring back at me in disbelief.
I walk closer to him anger and magic running in every single vein of my body as I take a step closer to that little demon.
"Because it got me my son,"
I say angrily as I reach inside his chest and grab Henry's heart with my own hand and pull it out of that demon's body.