Identity- Once Upon A Time

Hidden Bravery

"Mom!" Henry ran back to the apartment building. His feet splashed in the puddles which sent cold droplets of water up his pant leg, but this feeling did not phase him. Henry's fist was curled around a tiny black pebble which had tiny white streaks that patterned the smooth curves. He thrust the heavy green door open and dashed into the room. As he ran to the center of the room, he breathed heavily as he had run about three miles without stopping. This was to the shock of his family as they were worried about his whereabouts from the night before where he had vanished into the rain. "Mom...She...Visited me...." Henry gasped for air.

Regina walked over to Henry with a look of worry on her face, "Henry who visited you?" She smoothed down his wet, now light brown hair, "Who?". Henry was at a loss for words and had to sit down. Everyone else sat in the chairs surrounding, waiting for an explanation.

He held out his hand which cradled the pebble with pride. "Lily." Henry grinned widely. "She came to me last night, when I was over by the shore."

"The shore?" Said Mary Margaret. "What were you doing at the shore last night? And why are you soaking wet?" She saw that the brown leather on Henry's, or rather Pan's suit was frosted over a bit and little frozen areas were melting in the heat of the apartment.

"I had to run away, so I ran to the only place I felt safe." Henry looked down at his clothes, "Oh and I'm kinda drenched because I hadn't really found a shelter that had a roof that wouldn't leak,"

"The playground." Regina said slightly irritated.

Emma twiddled her thumbs curiously and was leaned in toward the center of the circle of the chairs. "Henry you said you saw Lily? Did she tell you where she was all this time?"

Henry's memories were slightly fuzzy, but he remembered what she had said. "She appeared in the dead of night after I had drifted off to sleep. When I talked to her, she said that it was best to not know if she was there or not."

Emma stood and rested her hand on his shoulder, "Henry, I'm sorry but that probably wasn't her." Her eyes panned the rest of the group's faces, "it could've been one of Pan's tricks."

"But it was her! I know it!" He retorted.

Gold stood up and spoke, "Henry, it seems like Pan wants you out of the way of his plans. What if this is to distract us, to lead us away from defeating him?"

"But I know it was her, I just-"

"Look at you Henry! If you hadn't gone after her the first time, you would be back in your own body, and we wouldn't be in this bloody mess!" He looked at Henry with a disgusted expression.

Henry felt anger bubble up inside of him, "You don't know what he did to her over there!" A silence hung in the air which left everyone speechless. "He nearly killed her and I just had to sit and watch! That's why I have this body! I have it because if I hadn't made this sacrifice, he would've done unspeakable things that I couldn't even comprehend!" Images of blood dripping down the tree and metal cages flashed behind his eyes.

Emma stood with a look of guilt spread across her face, "I'm so sorry Henry," She went to hug Henry but he shook it off.

"No. I went to Neverland to save her and I will not stop until I do!" Henry was a bit stubborn at times but when he had an important goal, he'd finish it, no matter the cost.

Mary Margaret stood excitedly. "Alright then, where do we start?"

"Maybe she's in that house in the forest," Suggested Emma. "It would be a perfect hiding place for captives."