Halloween was only a day away and Emma was ecstatic. Emma wanted to do a costume with Henry. They decided to go as Jessie and Woody from Toy Story 2.

This was Emma's first real halloween. Emma was dressed as Jessie and Henry was Woody. Emma looked so cute in her costume that Regina couldn't help taking dozens of pictures.

Regina trusted Henry to not let Emma get hurt so she agreed to let they go without her. Henry was excited to be a big brother and take Emma out on her first trick-or-treating adventure.

Henry groaned after the 20th picture was taken of the two of them, "MOOOM, enough already. Can we go? We have to be back before it gets dark. At this rate we aren't going to make it to the haunted house."

Regina frowned at Henry, "Henry you know Emma is too young to go to the haunted house."

Emma wasn't paying attention, so Henry nodded and said, "Fine I won't take her"

Henry handed Emma her pillowcase and took her hand. They both gave Regina a quick hug and left the mansion.

Regina was standing at the front door watching as Henry and Emma walked down the walkway.

Emma turned around and waved to Regina. Regina smiled and waved back.

It was getting dark and Emma and Henry were able to make it to all of the houses in Storybrooke.

On their way home Henry ran into some of his friends, Dylan and Paige. Unfortunately one of the boys,Tate, Henry really didn't like. When they saw Henry they waved him over.

Henry walked across the street with Emma to say hello, "Hey guys, what's up?"

Tate laughed and asked, "Dude, what's with your costume?"

Henry rolled his eyes and said, "Emma wanted to be matching, so we went with Woody and Jessie."

Paige 'awwed' and said, "That is adorable!"

Paige bent down to Emma and said, "Hey, I am Paige, I'm Henry's friend. I really like your costume"

Emma smiled and shyly said, "thanks"

Tate turned to Henry and asked, "You going to the haunted house? First group is going in now"

Henry shook his head and said, "Can't, Emma isn't old enough. And I'm not 16 yet so I can't say it's ok"

Paige and Dylan nodded their heads, but Tate just shook his.

Tate smirked and said, "You aren't 16, but I am. We will just go in together. I will hold Emma's hand and make it seem like she is with me."

Henry paused and said, "I don't think so guys, my mom would kill me"

Tate pushed Henry on the shoulder and said, "Wimp." Tate bent down and whispered to Emma and asked, "Hey kid. You want to help me, help Henry?"

Emma was confused but figured if Henry needed help she would agree, so she nodded her head.

Tate said, "Ok. Hold my hand and don't say anything ok?" Emma nodded.

Tate stood up and smirked at Henry, "Well she is on board, come on"

Tate took Emma's hand and lead her towards the entrance. Henry quickly grabbed a hold of Emma's other hand.

When they all reached the entrance the bouncer asked how old Emma was. Tate was quick to answer, "She is with me, she is my little cousin."

The bouncer checked Tate's ID to confirm he was at least 16, he nodded and told them the instructions, "Alright, everyone turn your cell phones off, you are to follow the green arrows on the ground, there is a door at the end of each section for emergencies, but note it will be dark and will take you to the back of the house. If you have epilepsy triggered by flashing light please do not enter. And if you don't want to be scared please do not enter."

Everyone nodded and they all entered. Emma was holding onto Tate and Henry's hand when all the lights went out.

Tate let go of Emma's hand and turned to talk to Paige. They all were following the green arrows and all were screaming as mannequins dressed as horror movie characters jumped out. At one particularly scary mannequin Henry jumped and threw his hands up to fight the inanimate object. When he recovered and went to grab Emma's hand again she was no where to be found.

Henry was turning in circles and calling out Emma's name, "Emma? EMMA! Emma where are you? EMMA?"

Henry ran through the rest of the haunted house looking for Emma. He followed the arrows and was lead outside where his friends were standing and waiting.

They all looked up, Tate was laughing and asked, "What took you so long?"

Henry was frantic, he was turning in circles and asking, "Where is she?"

Dylan and Paige knew he wasn't freaking about the haunted house, "Henry what's wrong? Where's Emma?"

Henry looked at them with wide eyes and said, "I don't know. I let go of her hand for a second and she was gone! I need to find her! She has to be scared. Oh God my mom is going to kill me!"

"And why would I do that?" came Regina's voice from behind them. Henry turned slowly and cringed at Regina's stern look. Dylan, Paige, and Tate all ran off at the sight of the clearly upset mayor.

Regina decided to come look for Henry and Emma when they hadn't arrived home an hour after they said they would. She called Henry's phone multiple times and kept going straight to voice mail. Regina looked all over town and when she asked a couple on the street they said they saw a teen and a kid dressed as Woody and Jessie head towards the haunted house.

"I am so sorry. Tate tricked Emma into agreeing and before I could stop them they were taking to the bouncer and going in. I am so sorry mom!"

Regina looked around, "Henry, where is Emma?!" She originally thought the other kids were trying to hide her but when they ran off and Emma wasn't to be found, Regina began to panic.

Henry shook his head and said, "I don't know. She was in the haunted house with me and I let go of her hand for a second and she was gone! I swear I checked the entire house!"

Regina was trying to control her breathing in, out, in, out. Regina ran to the front of the house and told the bouncer to shut the house down and turn on the lights. The bouncer tried to argue but Regina just yelled, "I am the mayor of this town, and my four year old is lost somewhere in that house! Now SHUT. IT. DOWN!"

The bouncer quickly turned on the lights and ushered all the people from the house. Regina and Henry called out to Emma, "Emma! Emma sweetheart it's mommy, where are you?"

Regina and Henry were back at the exit with no sign of Emma. Regina told Henry, " Call Sheriff Graham and tell him Emma is missing. I am going to take a look around and see if anyone has seen Emma. Stay here, I mean it Henry!" Henry just nodded and turned his phone back on to call Graham.

Regina was calling out for Emma. She walked down the block away from the haunted house and towards main street.

Just when she was about to turn around she saw Mr. Gold and a little Jessie exit the ice cream parlor.

Regina called out to Emma, "Emma!"

Emma and both turned around. Emma had a smile on her face, Mr. Gold not so much.

Regina ran the length of the block towards Emma, Emma dropped her ice cream and ran to meet Regina, "Mommy!"

When Emma was within arms reach Regina grabbed Emma and picked her up into a tight hug. "Oh God, Emma. Are you ok? Are you hurt? What happened? I was so scared." Regina set Emma on the sidewalk and began checking her over for injuries.

Emma nodded and said, "I ok mommy. I got lost, but then found me. He got me ice cream and was going to walk me home."

Regina sighed a breath of relief and kissed Emma on the head. Regina then picked up Emma again and looked towards Mr. Gold.

Regina cleared her throat and looked at Gold, "Thank you Rumple. I really am thankful you found her. Thank you."

Gold nodded his head and curtly said, "Yes well family is important, I would hate to see Emma taken from family."

Regina eyed Gold wearily and said, "Well thank you again. We should get home, it is way past her bed time."

Gold looked at Emma and said, "See you soon dearie."

Regina felt a chill run down her spine as Gold spoke to Emma. Regina turned and quickly walked away.

Regina walked back to where she left Henry. Henry was sitting on a bench with his head down talking with Graham. When he looked up he saw Regina tightly clutching Emma to her chest.

Henry quickly jumped up and ran over to Regina and Emma. Henry tightly hugged both Regina and Emma. "Em I am so so so so so so sorry!"

Regina put Emma down and told Henry, "Hen, go sit at the bench with Emma while I talk to Graham."

Regina waited until Henry was sitting with Emma on the bench to walk over to Graham who was now standing by his cruiser. Regina could still see both Henry and Emma from where she and Graham stood.

Graham cleared his throat and said, "What a night."

Regina sighed and said, "Yeah."

Graham looked and Regina and could tell she needed to cry. He took her hand and pulled her into a hug. Regina hesitated at first but couldn't hold off any longer. Regina wrapped her arms around Graham's waist and let his strong arms hold her up while she sobbed into his chest.

Graham stroked her hair and said, "It's alright".

Regina started to regain her composure and quietly said, "She was gone. I didn't know where she was."

Graham nodded in understanding, "You love her. You want to keep her safe"

Regina nodded and informed Graham of who found Emma. Graham sighed and said, "There have been no new people entering town. Not unless they came in today while I was on halloween patrol."

Regina nodded and wiped her face, "I should get them home it has been a long night."

Graham grabbed Regina's wrist and said, "Don't be too hard on Henry, he feels bad enough. He is beating himself up all on his own."

Regina nodded and thanked Graham for his help.

Regina got Emma and Henry in the car and headed home. Graham headed back to the station to fill out his report on the evening.

To bad they didn't know that on the other side of town a bus was pulling into Storybrooke bus depot, and that one of it's passengers was the one and only Avery Gold.

A/N: Sorry for the delay, School and ruby has taken most of my time. Really love reading your reviews, so keep them coming please! I am going to be introducing Gold's son in the coming chapters, which will add a little drama. Hopefully people are still interested! until next time! :)

-Luveverythingtv