*ongoing fic set after season 5 finale*

Everyone is at Granny's when we return. Killian and I walk in hand-in-hand. He tells me he's going to grab a table for us. I watch as he heads towards where my parents and my little brother sit. My mom looks down at Neal with a huge smile. Killian sits across from them, David and him conversing.

"I guess everything is back to normal."

I turn to see Zalena sitting beside me at the bar. She holds her baby, Robyn in her arms. After everything Zalena has done to us, it's hard to come to terms with her as being a good guy. Then again, if Regina turned over a new leaf, I don't see why Zalena can't as well.

I sit down on the stool. "For now."

She caresses her baby's arm as she continues to talk with me. "You know Emma, there's no reason why we can't be friends."

"Funny," I shift in my seat. "I still have the bruise from when you used magic to throw me to the ground."

"I also saved the town from Hades," she throws at me. And she does have a point. If Hades would have survived, there's no telling what could have happened to any of us. Who knows? Maybe Storybrooke wouldn't even be here.

"I do owe you a thank you, so thank you. Hades could have caused a lot of damage." I see Granny give me a nod from the other side of the counter.

She makes her way over to me. "And what can I get for you, Savior?"

I smile. "Emma is fine, and two grilled cheese with-"

Granny holds her hand up to stop me. "With onion rings. It's all you order, dear."

Turning around to see my family and Killian, I smile at them. They've come far with accepting Killian as the man I love. Than again, so have I. Never in a million years would I have thought I would fall in love with a pirate or a villain. But much like myself, he's changed for the better. And if I didn't know any better, I would say David has taken a liking to him as well. He, out of everyone, was against Killian's affection towards me. I never intended to act on my attraction to Killian, but once I saw the kind of man he really is, I couldn't help it. My heart has been broken more than I would have liked it to, but he's sharpened my heart. He's made me happier than I ever thought possible in my life.

"Here you are," Granny sets my grilled cheeses on the counter. I slide her a ten dollar bill and hop off the stool. Zalena grabs my wrist lightly.

"I mean it, Emma. I truly am different," she whispers.

Not bothering to respond, I head to the table. Killian slides into the booth so he's next to the wall. David and him continue talking about their adventure at the mental hospital they were trapped in. Sliding Killian's grilled cheese to him, I happily start eating mine. As of now, it's a quiet moment and I intend to savor it while it lasts. Who knows when everything will be normal.

"Where's Henry?" Mary Margaret asks me.

I swallow what I was eating. "With Regina. I think it would be good for her to have him after everything she's been through."

David looks between Killian and me. "Do you need somewhere to stay?"

I shake my head. "I have my own house. Remember?"

His eyebrows scrunch together in worry. "I know, but the last time you were in that house, you were the Dark One."

"If you're afraid of me becoming the Dark One again, you have nothing to worry about. I don't think that's how it works. Besides, Gold has the darkness all to himself now."

Killian shifts slightly beside me. "It's okay if you don't want to go back there, love."

"No," I say sternly. "What happened to me has nothing to do with anything. You know what? I think I just need to go, get some rest."

"Swan," Killian sighs when I slide out of the booth.

I head towards the door. "I'll see you at home. I just need some alone time right now."

I see the worry in my mom's eyes. She thinks I'm going to fall back into darkness again. I wish she would understand that I'm strong enough to not fall back. With Killian and the rest of my family at my side, there's no way I can resort back into the darkness. Gold's too weak to change, but I'm not. After going to Hell and back, I feel like I can do just about anything.

The air hits my face and it smells like it may start raining soon. Unlocking the door to my bug, I get inside, excited to get home and get some rest. The past couple of weeks have been hectic. I look forward to sleeping in for once. Tomorrow, I return to my duties as sheriff. I never knew I would be this excited to get back to work.

"I won't go dark again." I repeat to myself.