Adventure begins when all consequence is forgotten. Neverland is the birthplace of such folly, giving even the loneliest of boys a purpose and camaraderie. However, such fancy free days give way to desperate lonely nights raging with unfathomable fear. No one knew that better than Peter Pan, the most lost of the lost boy, because centuries alone can do funny things to the soul and worse things to one's humanity.

A brewing rage bubbled in Pan, as he watched a Queen, a Savior, a Pirate, a Princess, a Dark One and a Sheppard Boy try to tempt fate by derailing his plans and save the boy with the heart of the truest believer. They had intended to surprise him but ended up fighting a battle they were not capable of winning. Pan's rage showed its full force as an enormous white light flashed before the traveler's eyes, hitting them with a force that could split skin and bruise bone. All at once it engulfed the six and dispersed them among the regions of Neverland.

"See how well you find each other now." Pan's smug demeanor returning with each cackle he emitted.

A pool of crimson trickled down the rocky slope, polluting the surrounding emerald foliage. Twigs and debris clung to its bubbling edges slowing its sticky flow. Drums echoed in the distance clashing with the otherwise eerie silence. Two motionless bodies lay strewn along the jungles remote clearing riddled with bruises and lacerations. One unlucky victim's legs gave way to a jagged ivory edge. The only darkness that would find them quicker than death would be the predators that would pick up on the metallic sweet smell of blood. Night threatened the lowering edge of light and the glimmer of stars littered the apex of the sky.

Fingers slowly twitched to life gripping the ground surrounding them. Chocolate brown eyes fluttered open taking in what little they could make out in the dusk. First the sensation of the cold ground under her fingertips registered, then her throbbing bruised body. She inhaled sharply, immediately grabbing her ribs, which were no doubt badly bruised if not broken. Her memory was fuzzy at best, clogged with images of chaotic fighting, smoke, magic and a blonde…Emma. She stumbled to her feet scanning the clearing only to find she was alone. She began to walk back into the thicket of trees.

"Regina?"

She spun around to see Emma half buried by large palm leaves and in far worse shape than herself. She walked toward her removing the leaves from her body, revealing in the process a badly broken and cut leg. As the moments passed, the events that lead to their predicament became clearer but so did her aches. They had been ambushed.

"Don't try to walk; your leg needs to be set, unless you still feel the need to prove your invincibility." Regina scoffed at the memory of Emma trying to fight Pan off with nothing but her father's sword.

"I didn't see you complaining when I saved your life back there."

"Hardly dear I was only giving you the confidence boost you so clearly needed to sit at the grownups table. Obviously the product of true love means nothing when backed into a corner."

"Damn it, just come over here and help me up."

Regina obliged but rolled her eyes enough for Emma to see her distaste at being asked for her help. Emma leaned into Regina's shoulder and balanced on her good leg, hopping over to the largest rock in the clearing and positioning herself half sitting. Both sat in silence accessing their injuries, until Regina began to scavenge the clearing picking up sticks and large branches. She moved toward Emma and ripped at the remaining shards of Emma's pant leg.

"Ouch, jeez what the hell are you doing?"

"We have to move. Pan isn't one to let his prey grow stronger. This is all a game to him, and I want the upper hand for as long as possible. So shut up and let's get you mobile again."

"Can't you just use your magic and fix both of us?"

"No, magic here is foreign and easily sensed. Neverland is powered on imagination."

"Then imagine my leg is healed!"

"You're ignorance is unbelievable. It doesn't work like that."

"Well than oh great 'Queen of everything', explain it to me."

"I… I'm not sure. Damn it, you are infuriating!"

Emma let out the smallest chuckle at Regina's admittance of ignorance. She had never seen her in any position other than utter power and control. However this was the worst of times to be at any disadvantage especially one of knowledge. Regina continued to brace Emma's leg in silence. Emma bit down hard on the pieces of denim Regina had ripped from her jeans. Her eyes began to water as Regina pulled the sticks tighter and closer to her exposed skin.

"AHHHH, Mother of …" Emma's eyes began to flutter as the pain intensified and her consciousness began to fleet.

"Don't you dare pass out on me, Swan! It's going to get worse before it gets better. I have to make it tighter." Regina resisted the urge to yell at her.

"I…give me a distraction… just talk, anything. Tell me…tell me about Henry, when he was a baby or little or anything! Son of a…"

Regina voiced a heavy sigh, smoothed the edges of her blazer and began to tighten the holds on Emma's leg. Emma gave another audible screech of pain and held the scrap of jean ready to place it between her teeth again.

"Talk!" Emma demanded.

"Okay. Okay, the first night I brought Henry home it stormed like I had never seen before. The sky was that unmistakable hue right between blue and gray. It rained fiercely and clouds gathered along the edge of town. The wind was merciless and scattered every leaf from every tree on the block. Henry was so tiny, ten fingers, ten toes and alarmingly alert eyes. He stared at me like I held all the answers in all the realms and it was my duty to tell him all those secrets. I strapped him into his car seat, which took more maneuvering than I anticipated. He didn't make a sound despite the deafening thunder and Maine's seemingly self destructive behavior. I pulled into the driveway and he instantly began to cry. Screaming as if I had thrown him to the weather; whaling as loud as his tiny lungs would allow. He continued for hours. Nothing seemed to appease him; I tried everything every baby book had said. I changed him, feed him, put him in the baby swing, and took him for a ride in the car. Still nothing calmed him."

Regina's voice trailed off as the emotions so heavily attached to that first night bombarded her again. Her eyes began to mist with the faintest trace of the emotions she was struggling to control. She fastened the final bindings on Emma's leg and sat silently next to the exhausted woman.

"I didn't mean for it to be a painful thing." Emma whispered.

"No, it wasn't. I just forgot how much he used to need me. He did cry, nonstop, that first night but only until I held him close. Until that moment I had used everything I could think of to comfort him except for me. My mother wasn't a warm woman; as I'm sure you remember. I wasn't shown affection or coddled when I was in pain. It didn't occur to me that love was the comfort he sought. When I was at my wits end, I undid his swaddling and held him close to my chest; his hot cheek on the skin of my neck. He molded into me, a perfect puzzle piece. Until recently, it was the only way to comfort him when he was upset."

Regina let the story sink in. Maybe now Emma would understand how losing her son had actually affected her. There wasn't much time for contemplation before a rustling could be heard in the nearby bushes, alerting both women to the impending danger.