Once Upon a Dream:

Page 98: Regret:

Eleven years ago.

Storybrooke, Maine.

Dream waited by the entrance, waiting with her friend, Paige. Paige's parents came to get her as Dream waved at her. She moved to sit on the wooden bench, waiting for her mom. 

Mary Margaret walked over, about to leave, when she noticed Dream sitting by herself. "Dream? Is your mom not here yet?" Mary Margaret asked, knowing that if Regina could not pick Dream up, she would normally send Graham to pick her up. But they were like fifteen minutes late. 

"No." Dream said as she kept holding onto her red backpack straps.

"Is Graham coming to get you?" Mary Margaret asked, sitting next to Dream. 

Dream just shrugged, looking towards the door. She rose up when Gold walked in but sighed, thinking he was her mom or Graham. 

"Regina called me to pick up little Dream," Gold said, looking at Mary Margaret. 

"Okay..." Mary Margaret smiled, watching Dream walk out with Gold. 

"Do you want to go get some ice cream?" Gold asked as Dream walked beside him.

"Mommy never lets me have dessert before dinner. She says it will give me a tummy ache." Dream said, looking ahead when Gold looked down at his daughter, who did not know. 

"How about I take you to Granny's? You could have a snack before dinner." Gold smiled, making Dream think about it. 

"Okay... But we can't tell my mom." Dream smiled as she held her pinky out, making Gold smile. 

"Okay. I promise." Gold smiled before walking her to Granny's.

Meanwhile, Regina headed back to the agency with Henry. She walked into the room where the adoption agent was when she sat Henry's car seat on the desk. "I wrote out instructions for his bedtime, nap time, and feeding," Regina said, handing the agent the schedule she wrote out. 

"Ms. Mills, I assure you, the baby will be in expert hands here." The agent smiled at Regina. 

"I know. I'm just sad that this couldn't work out. The circumstances were unforeseen." Regina sighed, looking down. 

"Not every child is the right fit for a parent. You're a mother, you know, sometimes putting the child first can mean having the strength to give him up." The agent said, making Regina sigh.

"Where will Henry go next?" Regina asked him.

"We already have a new family lined up. He's gonna be just fine," The agent said as Regina finally looked at baby Henry. The agent noticed, sighing to himself. "I'll tell you what, you take a minute. I'll be right back, okay?" The agent stood up and walked out of the room.

Regina moved over, looking at Henry. "Oh, Henry. You deserve better than me. You truly are the only one, maybe besides Dream, in all the realms who believes in me." She said, holding his little hand as he cooed at her. She picked him up, and he grabbed her locket, which had Dream's picture on it. Regina tried to hold back her tears when the agent walked back into the room. 

"Would you like me to hold him so we can get the last of those signatures?" The agent asked as Regina tried to collect herself. 

"No. That won't be necessary. Henry is my son." Regina said, putting Henry back in the car seat. "The best thing for Henry is to stay with a mother who will never let go of him...ever again." Regina smiled, picking up Henry's car seat, before walking out of the room to head back to Storybrooke.