This story takes place around the time of 3x8 but follows a different path. I started writing it last week so things that happened to some of the characters on the show in Episode 8 either haven't happened yet or won't (for this story anyways :P). I hope you like it!

"I believed you! I thought you were good!" Henry said angrily, struggling against the other boy's grip.

"And that's what made it all the more fun. You should learn not to trust people so easily Henry, one day it's going to get you killed." He said with a wicked smirk.

Regina raised her hand in the direction of Pan, magic radiated from her fingertips and the look on her face was murderous.

"Regina don't!" Snow shouted.

" What are you doing?!" Emma grabbed her arm but Regina ignored her. "What if you hit Henry?"

"I'm warning you," Regina glowered at the insufferably smug boy in front of her. "Let Henry go or I promise this day will be your last."

"Threats? Really? Just you try to attack me. I dare you to. At the smallest move you make against me, your boy is dead." Peter pulled Henry in front of him, not to use him as a shield, but to prove that Henry's fate was in his hands.

"Regina stop," Emma said breathlessly, "there are other ways of saving him."

"And you know something?" Pan continued. "In the end I'm going to have to thank you! Henry is of more use to me dead anyways."

Regina couldn't take it. She pushed Emma away from her and in the split second that Pan was distracted she aimed at him with all of the power she could muster. In an instant, the boy's body turned rigid and he fell to the ground before disappearing in a crack of magic that reverberated straight back into Regina like an electric shock. Where Pan had been standing only moments before was now just a cloud of purple smoke. Henry too had been engulfed in the magic and was no longer visible. Snow grabbed Emma as she made to run into the smoke. The purple haze slowly began to disperse but there was no sign of Henry.

"What have you done?!" Emma yelled at Regina who had collapsed onto the grassy forest floor, a look of horror on her face.

"Henry!" Emma shouted, looking around for the boy.

"Emma try to stay calm, I'm sure he's safe." David tried to soothe his hysterical daughter.

"Don't just stand there, help me look!" Emma shouted.

Snow patted his arm affectionately, she could tell by the look on his face that he recognised Emma's diligence. It was the same as her mother's.

"Come on let's start looking. He can't be far." Snow said.

"Henry!" Snow and David joined in.

Regina shakily pushed herself up, brushing her hair away from her face. It had happened so fast, she wasn't even certain about what she had done. Or how for that matter. He had to be okay though right?

He couldn't be... No, he would be fine.

Regina saw Emma storming towards her and braced herself for a fight.

"I can't find him anywhere!" Emma said frantically. "What was that spell you cast? Where did he go?"

"I... I don't know!" Regina said, just as worried as the blonde. "It was an accident, Henry shouldn't have been affected."

"Well then what happened to him?" Emma fumed.

Regina shook her head, anxiously looking around for him. Snow and Charming and disappeared into the surrounding woods in search of the twelve year old.

"Regina!" The blonde seethed.

"Emma I don't know! I'd like to know as much as you." Regina said testily.

"Emma I think we found him!" Snow's voice could be heard from further in the forest.

"Where is he? Is he okay?!" Emma shouted, racing towards Snow's voice with Regina rushing close behind.

"Mary Margaret?" Emma called again when she didn't receive a reply.

Regina and Emma saw David standing up ahead, looking quite shocked. They could just see the back of Mary Margaret, she seemed to be leaning over into a space between the bushes.

"What is it? What's happened to him?" Regina asked, a hint of dread in her voice. If she'd hurt her son again she would never be able to forgive herself.

"Is he alright?" Emma asked as the two made their way to Snow.

"Come on, it's going to be okay I promise. We're not going to hurt you." Snow said in a kind and gentle voice to someone in the bushes.

"What's going on?" Emma asked David.

"He's not... uhhh... I think he's been..." He ran a hand through his hair, not knowing what to do.

"What?" Emma urged.

"That's it honey, come on." Snow said. And just then they saw her lead a little boy, no older than four, out of the shrubbery where he had been hiding.

"Henry!" Regina breathed, astonished. It was him, of that she was certain, but he had been turned back into a toddler. He'd been turned back into her baby.

"Henry?" Emma asked bewilderment.

The tiny child looked around fearfully at the adults towering over him.

Regina crouched down, hoping he still knew who she was.

Henry was now looking up at Snow who was still holding his hand. His eyes landed on Regina and he reached his other hand out towards her but Emma rushed forward and picked him up instead. "Don't worry Henry it's gonna be okay, we'll find a way to fix this."

Unfortunately little Henry didn't recognise her and he began to cry and scream.

"Emma stop, put him down." Regina rushed forward, her voice had a frightened edge to it.

"No! Stay away from him. You did this, this is all your fault!" Emma said on the verge of tears. Hugging the squirming toddler.

Regina swallowed nervously, trying not to cry herself. "It was an accident. I didn't mean to I swear. Please give him to me."

Emma shook her head angrily. "You're not getting anywhere near him. I told you not to do it!" She said as a tear escaped from her blue eyes.

Regina held her hands up in front of her, showing that she meant no harm.

Emma felt a hand on her shoulder. "Emma she won't hurt him." Snow said softly. "Look how scared he is, Regina is the only one of us he knows right now. Just let her hold him."

Emma looked down at the crying, confused little boy in her arms. How could her own son not remember her?

"Mommy..." The little boy said in a small voice. He was looking up at Regina with pleading eyes, "What's happening?"

"I'm not sure sweetheart," Regina said in a shaky voice. "but we'll figure it out I promise." She reached out to touch his arm, hesitating for a moment to see if Emma would protest.

"Here, take him." Emma said a little gruffly.

Regina smiled gratefully at her before lifting Henry out of Emma's arms, gathering him in her own. She felt his small arms wrap around her shoulders as she held him close to her, one hand resting on the back of his head.

"Mommy how'd we get here? I don't 'member."

Regina looked up at the others, a little lost for words. "All that matters is that you're safe now. We're going to get you home." She said tenderly.

The little boy looked over at the other adults, Emma was being comforted by her parents but she was staring at Henry tearily.

"Who's...?" Henry asked, pointing a tiny finger at Emma.

Regina looked up the other woman, "Darling that's Emma. And you don't have to be afraid of her, she's a friend." The brunette smiled a little apologetically at Emma. "And this is Mary Margaret, and this is David." Regina gestured to them in turn, keeping her voice in gentle tones.

Snow smiled kindly. "It's nice to meet you Henry."

Henry grinned and shyly turned further into his mother's embrace, hiding his face from the others.

Emma gazed longingly at the toddler. She had never seen him at this age. Watching Regina and Henry interact she realised how much of his life she had missed. Regina was like a whole different person around this Henry. They looked like any other mother and son. Just like the ones she had watched enviously as she was growing up alone.

There was a shadow of guilt in Regina's eyes, but also one of delight.

She had often dreamed of a moment such as this, but she'd known it would never happen. Yet here he was, three years old and completely real. How many other mothers got a chance like this?

"Do you know how to change him back?" David asked.

Regina was gazing down at Henry. Her face fell at David's question.

Of course she knew how. But the question was, did she want to?