Zelena clapped her hands together. "Walsh, we're going to a party."
"A party? Where?"
"The Enchanted Forest." Zelena watched Emma reunite with her father. Her nerves were on fire with the anticipation of finally destroying the line. "We'll let the Princess Emilia have her moment."
Walsh watched her. "Who cares?"
"And then we'll kill her."
"Kill her?! What happened to the party idea?"
"That's where we'll kill her. Crush her at the height of her glory!"
"Please," Walsh begged. "Forget the girl and get a life.
"Oh, I'll get a life. Hers."
"I remember now," Emilia said, looking over the portraits. "Oh, how I loved all of them." Emilia ran her fingers over her mother's picture. There were pictures of all of her mothers and father's closest friends, including Ariel, Aurora, and Cinderella. Apparently, all very real people. Emma sifted through the rest of the pictures.
David watched her, her hair falling in her face. His chest tightened. He finally had his little girl home. "Oh," David said, grabbing the drawing from her that had just come up, "the drawing you gave me."
Emma looked at it and started laughing. "Oh, yes."
David looked at Emma, smiling. "To hear your laughter once again. So much like your mother."
Emma's eyes filled with tears as she moved in to hug her father. She was home, for the first time that she could remember she had a home. Unfortunately, she couldn't stop thinking about Neal and August.
Neal bowed before the King. "You sent for me, Your Majesty?"
"The money, as promised, with my gratitude."
"I accept your gratitude, Sir, but I…I don't want the money."
"What do you want then?"
Neal looked down, his shoulders sagging. "Unfortunately, nothing you can give."
David stepped forward. "Where did you get that shawl? You were the boy, weren't you? The servant boy who got us out? You saved her life and mine, and you restored her to me. Yet, you want no reward."
Neal stood up, straightening himself, searching for courage. "Not anymore."
"Why the change of mind?"
"It was more a change of heart," Neal mumbled. "I must go." Neal bowed and let himself out of the Kings office. He strolled down the stairs but was stopped by a smooth voice.
"Hello, Neal."
He slowly looked over, afraid to look her in the eye. "Hello."
"Did you collect your reward."
Neal bit his tongue, she wouldn't care what he did anymore. "My business is complete." Neal bowed and searched the castle for August, who he found getting dressed up with Pongo. That damn dog again.
"Well, if you're ever in St. Petersburg again, look me up. So long, August."
August looked at Neal in the mirror while straightening his tie. "You're making a mistake."
"Trust me. This is the one thing I'm doing right." Neal walked over to the dog and bent close. "So long, mutt." Neal sighed as the dog whimpered. Hell of a time for the dog to decide he likes him. "I can't stay. I don't belong here." Neal backed away and hugged his best friend. He'd visit soon enough but for now he needed to get away.
David watched Emma stare through the curtains. Perhaps the feelings weren't one sided. "He's not there."
Emma jumped and faced her father, her cheeks heating. "Oh, I know he's not." Emma wanted to kick herself. "Wait, who's not there?" Yeah, right, like that's going to fool the man. He is your father after all.
"A remarkable young man who found a young girl's shawl."
"No, he's probably too busy spending his reward money as fast as he can."
David looked back out at the people dancing, draping an arm across his daughters' shoulders. "Look at them dance. You were born into this world of glittering jewels, and fine titles, but I wonder if this is all you want."
"Of course." Emma looked at all of the guests. "Of course it is. I found what I was looking for. I found out who I am." Emma turned to her father. "I found you."
David pulled her close to his side and the kissed her head. "Yes, you did find me, and you'll always have me, but is it enough? My dear, he didn't take the money."
Emma pulled away, gaping at her father. "He didn't?"
David smiled. The light in her eyes was the same light he could see in Snow's when she looked at him or Emma. "Knowing that you are alive, seeing the woman you have become, brings me joy I never thought I could feel again. Whatever you choose, we will always have each other."
Emma looked back at the ballroom. If he didn't take the money then what… "Dad," Emma turned back but found her father gone. "Alright, Pongo, it's just us." Emma looked down but he wasn't there. "Pongo?" She heard a bark to her right and saw the ballroom doors open. She ran, well, ran as best as she could in heels, to find Pongo. "Pongo, get back here!" She ran off through the garden. Where did that dog go?
