Everyone was inside Granny's pretending not to stare at Killian and Emma who were just outside at a patio table.
"The boy does have a thing with that book." Killian said awkwardly. He scratched behind his ear. "So…I'm sorry for my behavior this morning. I hope that you won't hold it against me."
"Doesn't seem to have been your fault." They sat in awkward silence as Emma looked around. "Magic. Huh. This is a strange place."
"You have no idea" Killian sighed.
Emma looked at Killian as he stared at something across the street. He felt her looking at him and turned making eye contact for the first time since they'd sat down.
"Thank you."
"For what love?"
"For coming to my rescue this morning." Emma smiled.
He nodded his head. "I'd go to the ends of the world for you, to the end of time."
Suddenly Emma lunged forward throwing her arms around him. Her forehead touched his as she looked from his eyes to his lips. Killian remembered the last time she was this close to him, held him like this. It was right before she sacrificed herself. He closed his eyes, relishing in her closeness and then their lips connected. It was more than any kiss had ever been.
A flash of golden white light fanned out from them. Emma pressed herself as close to Killian as possible. He felt that she remembered and hugged her all the more tight.
All too soon they had to part to breathe.
"Hook" she whispered through a big smile.
"Aye."
A tear rolled down Emma's cheek and he whipped it away.
Inside David almost had to hold Snow from running out the door to their daughter. They deserved a moment together, alone.
Regina went to cover Henry's eyes but didn't need to as Henry had turned away. While this was the kiss he wanted to happen so badly, he didn't need to see it.
Emma and Killian shortly walked into the diner. Emma's arms were wrapped around his waist as his arm was wrapped around her shoulders.
"Emma!" Snow cried hugging her daughter close. David came up and held the two most important women in his life.
After many a happy yet tearful reunion, they were seated finishing some celebratory hot cocoa with cinnamon. Emma was very happy, yet confused to be alive and by what had happened. Belle explained everything that had happened. In almost disbelief Emma wanted to reach into herself and take a look at her heart, but her internal lie detector was not going off and she also just felt it to be true.
One by one everyone left leaving only Snow, David, Emma, and Killian.
"David, I suppose we should tell them."
"Now's as good a time as any."
"Tell us what?" Emma asked alarmed.
Killian kissed her temple. "The side effects of our shared heart love."
They told them about sensing strong emotions of the other, the strong connection and electricity when they touched, the way they could have a silent conversation without words yet completely understood.
"Belle is recording everything. It's new but it's powerful and good." Snow smiled at David. "She'll want to talk to the two of you about it as well. I'm sure yours will be somewhat different given the different circumstances and all."
David took a deep and heavy breath. Emma braced herself. She knew whatever was coming was the catch.
"There is a cost. We each only have half a heart. When one half dies, the other does as well. Our lives and deaths are connected."
"While I wouldn't want to live without David, I would want him to live on if I were to die first." Snow said sadly.
"It's a cost we are willing to pay though."
They all agreed it was a small price for everything they were gaining.
"So that's everything?" Emma asked her parents.
Snow and David smiled at each other. Snow blushed.
David avoided their faces as he said, "we'll let you figure the last bit out on your own."
Emma and Killian stopped as they reached the stairs to the porch of their house and stared up at it. It was the first time they would enter this house together with their future before them. The future this house represented. This was a big moment.
The smiled at each other then Killian leaned in and gave Emma a soft kiss.
They went inside, both exhausted from the day and headed straight up to their bedroom.
Emma looked out the expansive window at the almost full moon over the sea when she felt a nervous energy well up inside her and felt Killian stand behind her.
"What's wrong?" She asked as she turned to face him.
"Emma, I love you more than I ever thought was possible. I cannot begin to understand how I deserve you. But when it's love, you just know, everything. We have had everything try to tear us apart, yet here we are. Together. Our futures before us, forever entwined."
Emma reached up and ran her fingers through his hair as he pulled something out of his pocket.
"Emma, this was my mother's" he said showing her the ring. "She said I would know who to give this to one day. I was 5. Centuries later, I've found its owner. It's yours. Emma, make me the happiest man to ever sail the seven seas or travel the realms. Consent to marry me."
Emma smiled and kissed Killian deeply pulling him onto the bed with her as he slipped the ring on her finger.
"Assuming that's a yes are we?" Emma said cocking her head to the side.
The next day they shared the news of their engagement.
While Regina was very happy for them she rolled her eyes half smiling. "Kind of just a mere formality at this point isn't it?"
"If our daughter wants a wedding then she is going to get one fit for the princess she is."
"We um…figured out that heart sharing thing you didn't tell us about." Emma coughed.
Snow smile while David took a deep breath and stared Killian straight in the eye with only the look a father could have. "Great. Don't need to know any more than that."
Snow immediately started to plan the wedding. Emma and Killian smiled. They just wanted a simple affair but Emma was her only daughter so she was allowed to think big.
Eventually the conversation steered towards more recent events.
"I would really like to help Lilly find her father" Emma said sympathetically looking at Killian. She knew what it was like to not know your parents. Besides, the extra darkness in her was supposed to be in Emma. She felt like she owed her just a little.
They went to deliver the news to Lilly who was still locked in her cell. Snow, David, Emma, Killian, Regina, Robin, and Henry were all present and ready to help another find her happy ending.
Gold eventually spoke up. "I now you all don't think very highly of me, but Lilly, I foresaw the heroes winning. I know the importance of a father. The clue you need is in the back of my shop."
Lilly looked at Gold with a silent thank you.
"Well we've got a happy ending to deliver." Emma stated as they released Lilly from her cell with the understanding that Lilly would turn to the light in exchange for their help.
Belle lagged behind as everyone left. She still couldn't trust Rumple even though she knew his powers were gone, but she was grateful. "Thank you Rumple. For helping Lilly when you have nothing to gain in return."
Belle left the station.
Rumple looked around and pulled a small key from beneath his measly mattress. He was no longer tethered to the dagger and Belle's commands. While he could no longer be the Dark One, he would find another way to find a way to regain his powers. The heroes' distraction in helping Lilly find her father was just what he needed.
So that's the last chapter. Let me know if you'd like to hear what happens next and I'll write a new story that continues with this one. This was meant to be a CS story though and Emma always hopes to see the best in everyone. I hope you enjoyed this story.
