Once A Lost Girl | Once Upon A Time Story | Peter Pan

03x09 - Save Henry - Present

        As we got closer and closer I started losing my nerve. The anxiety was coming back. I shoved it down and kept my cool. I glanced behind me, making sure they were still following, slowing once I saw the break in the trees.

        The clearing was small, the tall pixie dust tree in the center the only thing towering over the ground. I looked around, carefully stepping in. The women behind me filed in. Emma drew her sword. Regina pointed out Pandora's box sitting all alone on a rock. I braced. This was somehow a trap. He could have done anything to it.

        "Careful. Pan wouldn't have just left it behind for no reason," Regina said, stopping Mary Margaret in her tracks.

        "It's David's only way home. Without Gold, we're stuck here." She reached for the box anyway.

        Vines whipped out from the tree behind us, snatching up Mary Margaret. Shit. Emma called to her mom, the next to be bound to the tree. Her sword fell from her hands. In the next moment, Regina and I were being forced against the tree. We struggled, seeing if the vines would give. They got tighter instead. I swore.

        "You still at it? Don't you know?" Pan stepped out of the tree line, picking up Emma's sword. "Peter Pan Never fails. I didn't expect you to find me, but, then again I shouldn't be surprised. Three of you are mothers--quite tenacious about your offspring. Believe it or not, I understand that." Understand? What does that mean? "But if you're looking to see Henry again, I have to tell you there's only one place you'll be reunited--in death."

        Regina growled, tugging again against the vines. I winced as she did, the vines brushing against my side where Pan's shadow grabbed me all those years ago. Pan chuckled, clearly amused at Regina's continued effort.

        "Having trouble moving? Not surprised given where you are. You see, what's hastening your demise is your regret." Pan scanned Regina and then shot me a glance.

        "What are you talking about?" Emma asked.

        Pan looked up, forlornly scanning the tree itself. "This tree is the site of a very important event for me. I abandoned my boy here."

        I froze. Time stopped. My lungs ceased. My body felt... it felt... I can't even describe. I swallowed, turning my head to look Peter in his eyes. His expression didn't even change.

        "You have a son?" I breathed. Regina scoffed, no doubt ready to comment. "Not now, Mother." I shut her down.

        "If you have a child, you must regret losing him, too," Emma said.

        I couldn't even focus. Literally I couldn't even focus my vision. My thoughts were clogged up. One thought rear-ending the other and then being rear-ended itself and on and on so much that I honestly wasn't even thinking. I completely stalled. He never said anything. How--how old is he really? I was so young when I came here. My stomach was knotting up again. He manip--took advantage of my naivety. I had to face it. I couldn't ignore it anymore. Peter Pan never loved me. He used me.

        "--See, I have him all boxed up so I don't lose him again." Pan chuckled. The sound pulled me slightly back to reality.

        "Rumplestiltskin is your son?" Regina questioned. Now, that? That snapped me back to reality.

        "That he is," Pan confirmed. My breathing got shallower. My eyes scanned the ground blankly. The vines seemed to tighten around me again.

        Mary Margaret finally spoke up. "How is that possible? You're--"

        "Younger than 'im?" Peter smiled and I dared to glance up. He seemed to really be enjoying the look on my face. "Not really. Just like you and your daughter."

        "You're a fraud," Regina seethed, "Your magic is weakened. You can't even hurt us; let alone Rumplestiltskin."

        I hung limp against the vines, closing my eyes and taking a steadying breath. When I looked up again, Pan was right in front of me. I studied him, tracing his body until I found it: the scratch marks I left. He couldn't even heal his forearm. I let the still-wet blood on his arm--an arm I didn't even remember scratching--fully bring me back. It steadied me. I had a mission, and that mission is Save Henry. We need to get away from this fucking tree.

        "You're right, but that's why I'm here." He looked proudly at the branches above us. "This tree will protect me till my power's restored. And then, well," he paused, smirking, that same mischief I let deceive me alight in his eyes, "then I get to have some real fun. Then I won't eve have to worry about my child again. Something we will soon have in common."

        Emma lunged at him, albeit in vain. The vines kept her firmly against the tree. There's a way out of this. Neverland runs on belief. I believe that. I believe we can get out of this. I believe we can save Henry.

        "That's not all, is it, Saviour? No. I have your son's heart inside me. I can feel just how much you let him down time and time again." There he was, back to his old ways. Pan was taunting her. Unfortunately, it was working. The look on her face gave it away--it gave away her regrets.

        "Leave her alone," Mary Margaret said darkly.

        "Perhaps I should. After all, what chance did she have of being a good mother?" he laughed, "look at the example you set. Abandoning her for twenty-eight years."

        "Are you finished?" Regina asked, unamused.

        "Last words from the Queen. Perhaps a deathbed confession from the one who has the most regrets of all."

        "Yeah, there's one problem with that," Regina started. I watched her carefully. What is she up to? "I did cast a curse that devastated an entire population. I have tortured and murdered. I've done some terrible things. I should be overflowing with regret, but I'm not." She pushed, the vines coming apart in front of her. I rushed away from the tree. Regina shoved her hand into Pan's chest. "Because it got me my son." She ripped her hand out, Henry's heart firmly in her grasp. Pan collapsed, dropping Pandora's box. I picked it up. "Now let's go save Henry."