Henry sat in the kitchen of the mansion, flipping through the pages of the storybook. Looking through it now, he couldn't believe all that his mom had done just to get her revenge. She couldn't have killed innocent people. Right?

"What're you reading?" Regina asked, walking into the room. She froze at the sight of the storybook. She was really starting to hate that thing.

Henry quickly closed the book. "Just looking at the pictures. Some of them are really pretty."

Regina sat down next to him and grabbed the book, flipping through it herself. She stopped at a page that had just her, Evil Queen and all, staring at the reader. "Look at what a monster I am."

Henry went to correct her, but found that he couldn't. Deep down, a part of him was still scared of what his mom could do.

"You are not a monster," Emma said, walking into the room. "You've changed, remember?"

"Not according to the book," Regina said, running her fingers over the page. "According to this, I'm just as much a monster now as I was before."

Emma looked to Henry to help her out, but he wouldn't meet her gaze. She glared at him before turning back to Regina. "What do I need to do to make you believe that you're not a monster?"

Regina looked at her sadly before standing up and walking away. She stopped in the doorway and looked back at Henry. "I see the way you look at me. I know that you're still hesitant around me. Which I understand. But there's more to the story than you know."

Emma glared at Henry as Regina left the room. "Nice going."

"I didn't do anything!" Henry said.

"Exactly!" Emma countered. "Why is it so hard for you to see that she's changed? She's not the Evil Queen anymore!"

Henry grabbed the book and held it up. "How can someone go from being this to being good? They can't. Once you're a villain, there's no going back."

"How would you know?" Emma asked. "Have you ever actually met her as the Evil Queen?"

Henry froze. "Well. Not exactly. But I've met her through the book."

Emma shook her head. "That's not the same thing. I have met the Evil Queen, and trust me when I say that your mom is nothing like her now."

"But she still could go back to her old ways," Henry argued.

Emma groaned before grabbing the storybook from him. Once in her hands, the book glowed before sucking Emma and Henry inside.

"Where are we?" Henry asked, looking at his surroundings.

"Best guess? Probably the Enchanted Forest," Emma said.

"We came through the storybook?" Henry asked. "That's cool and yet slightly frightening."

Emma turned at the sound of horse hooves. "Maybe that's someone who'll help us." She started to walk towards the sound, Henry following close behind.

As the carriage came into view, Emma's eyes widened, and she grabbed Henry's arm. "We need to hide. Right now."

"What? Why?" Henry asked. "It's just a carriage. Maybe that person could help us."

"Not likely," Emma said. "We don't have time to argue. Just trust me." Not waiting for a response, she pulled Henry quickly into the bushes just as the carriage came into view.

Emma silently hoped that the carriage would keep going. Unfortunately, the carriage stopped right in front of their hiding place. The door opened, and Regina stepped out.

"Mom?" Henry whispered. "Why are we hiding from her?"

"We're not hiding from your mom," Emma said. "We're hiding from the Evil Queen."

"But I thought that they were the same person?" Henry asked.

Emma shook her head. "Not at all kid. Not at all."

"Why did we stop?" Regina demanded, glaring at the knight driving her carriage.

"I beg your pardon Your Majesty," the knight said. "But I saw movement here and saw whoever it was dive into those bushes over there. I thought that you might like to investigate."

Slowly, an evil smile spread across Regina's face. She turned to the bushes that Emma and Henry were in, walking closer. "If you'd like a chance to live, I suggest that you come out this instant."

Emma grabbed Henry's arm before standing up. Regina's eyes widened as she took in the sight of the two people standing before her. "What unusual clothing," she said.

"We aren't from her Your Majesty," Emma said politely. "We are just passing through."

Regina looked at them skeptically. "Then why hide? Unless you're lying and helping Snow White on her journey."

"We haven't seen her," Emma said, squeezing Henry's arm before he could talk. "And we were hiding because we didn't want any trouble."

"I see," Regina said. She looked at Henry. "And is your son mute?"

Henry tensed as she addressed him. "No, I can speak."

Regina chuckled at his obvious fear before turning and walking back to her carriage. "Today is your lucky day. I'm feeling generous. If anyone asks, I wasn't here. Understood?" She looked back at Emma and Henry, who both quickly nodded.

Regina smiled in satisfaction before climbing into her carriage. As soon as it was out of sight, Emma and Henry both relaxed.

"I have never been so scared in my entire life," Henry said.

"Now do you see what I mean?" Emma asked.

Henry nodded. "The Evil Queen and my mom are totally different people." Emma smiled at him as gold light surrounded them both.

"We're home," Henry said, relieved. He quickly closed the storybook and pushed it away. "I'm going to stay away from that for awhile."

Emma laughed. "I think it was my magic that transported us. I wanted you to see how the Evil Queen and your mom are different."

"And they sure are," Henry said. "Speaking of which, where is she?"

"Upstairs probably," Emma said. Henry jumped up from his chair and immediately starting running up the stairs to Regina's room. Emma smiled before following him.

Henry stopped in front of Regina's door, hesitantly opening it. Regina turned and looked at him from her spot on the bed, quickly wiping her cheeks.

Henry mentally hit himself for causing his mom pain. Quickly crossing the room, he climbed onto the bed and hugged Regina tightly. At first she tensed, but quickly relaxed and hugged him back.

"I'm sorry," Henry mumbled. "I never meant to doubt you or how you've changed. You're nothing like the Evil Queen."

Regina smiled sadly before pulling away from him. "And how would you know that?"

"Because I met the Evil Queen," Henry said.

Regina's eyes widened. "You what?"

"Met the Evil Queen," Henry said. "Emma's magic transported us into my storybook and we ran into you."

Regina's jaw dropped and she pulled away from Henry. "You saw me? As the Evil Queen?"

"Yeah," Henry said, confused by her reaction.

"I didn't hurt you did I?" Regina asked.

"No," Henry said reassuringly. "Just acted intimidating and kinda scary. No one got hurt though."

"I scared you?" Regina asked, horrified. This was the last thing that she had ever wanted. Henry was never supposed to meet the Evil Queen, that's why she had changed.

"Just a little," Henry admitted. Regina winced, and Henry turned helplessly to Emma, who was standing in the doorway. This had not gone as planned.

Emma walked into the room, sitting right in front of Regina. She grabbed Regina's hands, getting her attention. "My magic took us into the story so that Henry could learn the difference between his mom and the Evil Queen. Yes, we both were scared. But the Evil Queen was the one who scared us. Not you."

"But we're the same person," Regina argued.

"No. You're not," Henry said, scooting closer. "I met the Evil Queen today, and you are nothing like her. I didn't realize it until now, but you've changed a lot for me. You're not the Evil Queen anymore. You're just my mom."

Emma smiled proudly at him. Mission accomplished. She pulled Regina to her and hugged her tightly. A couple seconds later, Henry joined in. Regina smiled as she felt love surround her completely. The Evil Queen was no more.