And we're at the end!

What a ride it has been. I hope everyone enjoys this final chapter!

And cover! I finally got around to making it, I'm sure people will recognize the scene that it's based on.

Oh and Happy Halloween if you celebrate it!


As Regina transported them to the hospital, both women were silent. Not knowing which room to go to, Regina merely took them to the right wing, and Emma silently took it upon herself to lead the rest of the way. Reaching the door, Emma started to grab the handle before Regina called to her, snapping her away from her thoughts, and pausing what she was about to do.

"What is it?" she asked, turning to her wife, hand dropping.

It was then that Emma saw vestiges of the Regina she knew, not this paranoid version that probably wouldn't trust her with a paper clip, much less with her life and happiness.

"Thank you...for doing this," Regina silently mumbled, as if she was fighting her instincts at saying something scathing instead.

Emma gave her a goofy smile and moved a few paces towards her and met her lips in a slow kiss. "I love you Regina, I would do anything for you, you know that, right?"

Regina's fight against the paranoia had ended for now, as the brunette scoffed and said, "Let's just get this done with."

Clearly battling paranoia wasn't easy. So Emma left it that. With a nod, she turned back and entered the room. Mary Margaret sat on the now empty bed, half of a pair of cuffs dangling sadly by her side, while she was looking down at the floor solemnly.

"Mom?" Emma said.

Her mother looked up at Emma's voice, a soft smile adorning her face as she jumped down to stand and look at her daughter and Regina, though Emma could tell there as a broken quality to her expression. "Hey, you two made it."

"Where's dad?" came Emma's next question. She wasn't really in the mood for small talk.

Mary Margaret sighed. "Arguing with Blue."

"What? Why?"

"They're having a disagreement over what potion to prepare," Mary Margaret explained, clasping her hands in front of her and looking anywhere but the two women in front of her. "David wants Blue to prepare the potion for Regina, but Blue is hellbent on doing a potion that will subdue Al and his siblings before they can wreak more havoc."

Regina sighed, finally speaking since she came in. "Of course the meddlesome fairy has her own agenda. What did you expect? And why aren't you there with them?"

It pained Emma to see her mother flinch at Regina's harsh words, though she did see the logic in them.

"It was getting a bit too much, and they're working in another room. I thought I could wait where it was a bit more silent."

Emma nodded, and spoke up before Regina could deliver another scathing line. "Alright, let's go now and see what we can do. Did she say why she couldn't work on them simultaneously?"

They began to walk back out of the room, and Mary Margaret explained. "She believes we should prioritize. Al and his siblings are the real threat, and Regina can wait for later."

"A plan that clearly can't fail," Regina snapped, voice laced with sarcasm. "I knew this was a waste of time."

"Regina, wait!" Emma whipped around, arm flying out to try and catch Regina's. But it was too late, Regina had already transported herself.

Emma growled and clenched the hand she had extended to try and grab Regina and stop her. Whipping around to face her mom, she ordered, "Do whatever it takes to get Blue to get that stick out of her ass, and get her working on both potions, or so help me, after this is done, I will be charging her for something."

Without waiting for her mother to respond, she called forth her magic to clutch the vestiges of Regina's remaining magic, and follow the trail to her wife.


Regina was in her vault pacing, wondering what her next step should be. She was so lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice Emma arriving, and when Emma spoke, she gave an undignified yelp.

Clearly her next move had been to form an angry fireball and aim it at her wife's head.

"Whoa! Regina it's just me!" Emma quickly exclaimed, hands up placatingly.

"I know very well who you are," Regina retorted, hand steady. "And that's exactly why I'm not lowering my hand. How I put up with your nonsense for all these years is beyond me."

"Falling in love with someone will do that to you," Emma deadpanned.

Regina scoffed. "Yes, love. Mother was right, it's a weakness. One that only opened me up to hurt."

"Hurt? Regina, you have your memories, you know I would never hurt you," Emma countered, brows furrowed as she stood her ground.

"Yes, not personally," Regina acquiesced. "But that's not what I was referring to. I meant that because of you, I believed people could think I changed. You made me choose hope, rather than jaded cynicism which had served me so well. But of course, people like the Blue Fairy can't see that, and won't ever see it. And with her are numerous others who think the same, and I've had it!"

The last part came a bit hysterical, and Emma was wondering if she should rethink her plan, but she knew that if she backed off, she would merely confirm Regina's fears, which were currently running rampant through her wife's head. "My offer to take us away from Storybrooke still stands Regina."

"I've thought about it, but that would be about as efficient as running away, and I refuse to run away!" Regina's chest was heaving, and her expression broke from the enraged mask it was, to something much more human. Fear. The flame died, and Regina's shoulders sagged as her arms drooped. Like an old plant wilting at the end of its life, and she looked lost.

Emma didn't waste a second before she had Regina firmly in her arms, and she felt Regina lean into her, and grow heavy. Emma allowed the pull of gravity to do its work, and as they sunk to the ground, she felt Regina's heaving sobs before she heard them. Uttering soothing noises, they stayed kneeling on the ground, Regina with her head buried into Emma's chest, hands clutching at Emma's shirt and jacket, sobbing tears she hadn't allowed herself to shed until now.

"Shh," Emma soothed. "It's okay, you're safe."

If she hadn't been paying attention, she would've completely missed Regina's next words. "I'm scared, Emma."

Breaking away, Emma kept a firm but calming grip on Regina's upper arms and moved to look her in the eye. "Hey," Emma whispered, waiting until Regina met her gaze to continue. "I'm here for you, Regina. In sickness and in health, for better or worse, remember? You don't need to be scared, you'll always have me on your side."

And Regina felt like the only thing she could do was give a teary yet grateful smile, letting her head droop back down to rest on Emma's chest. They held their position for a few minutes more. Regina was terrified of moving. Terrified of the hole she had dug herself into. Her mind felt like an absolute whirlwind. Part of her wanted to lash out, destroy this weakness, build thick emotional walls that would finally get rid of all her doubts and worry and humanity.

But no.

She couldn't.

She was wanted, and loved. She could feel it. Somehow, she could feel the care that Emma had for her.

"Come on," Emma murmured. "I have to show you something."

Regina's eyes narrowed at Emma's vagueness. And yet, despite her apprehension, she let Emma stand them both up, her curiosity mounting when she felt Emma's magic thrum and white smoke billow around them as her wife teleported them.

Home. They were in the foyer of the house they shared and had built so many memories within its walls. Now, Emma gave her a comforting smile before she let go of Regina and approached the stairs. "Henry?" she hollered. "Can you come down here for a minute?"

In no time at all, Henry was bounding down the stairs, and as he saw his mom, he bounded into her arms. "Mom, you're okay!"

Emma let them have their moment, smiling when she saw that Regina let go of her paranoia for a moment to just enjoy this with their son. Once they broke apart, she moved to wrap an arm around Henry's shoulders. He had grown so much, but she could still wrap her arm around him without having to keep her arm at an awkward angle.

"See what you have here?" Emma asked, gesturing to both her and Henry. "We're not going away. We're family, and we'll stick by you. You don't have to be scared Regina."

Henry nodded. "Yeah mom. Dark One or not, we'll figure it out. I mean, she," - Henry jerked a thumb to his other mother - "is the Saviour, I've got the heart of the Truest Believer. And you're the most resilient person ever. If anyone can solve anything, it's us. Together."

Together. That sounded like such a perfect word. Regina bit her lip, but she couldn't stop the smile from spilling into her face. Emma and Henry wasted no time before they went to cocoon Regina in a hug. Spontaneously, both had the same idea, and went to plant a kiss on either of Regina's cheeks.

The effect was instantaneous. Regina felt a clarity and...lightness. She stumbled backwards in shock. "What-"

Mother and son looked at each other in confusion. "What is it, Regina?" Emma asked, brows furrowed.

"You broke it," was all she murmured. Then she sighed, relieved, looking between both pairs of confused eyes, and repeated, louder, more excited, "You two broke it!"

"We broke what?" Henry asked, hoping for clarification.

Rather than answer right away, she extended her arms and rushed back to them for a bone-crushing hug. "The paranoia!"

They laughed in relief, Henry whooped in delight too, breaking away from the hug to mention he was going to get drinks to celebrate.

Once they were alone, Regina settled Emma with a glare. "Wanting me to rip your heart and crush it?" she asked sardonically. "Not exactly winning words if you were trying to convince me you didn't think of me as the epitome of evil."

Emma had the good graces to look bashful. "Spur of the moment thing. I was kinda panicking and that was the first thing that came to my mind. I'm really sorry."

Regina knew that Emma had quite a case of foot-in-mouth syndrome, so she accepted the words, knowing that Emma was sincere.

To prove her point, Emma surged forward to kiss her lips softly and reverently, and Regina welcomed it. Hell, she needed it.

As they once more parted, Regina faltered, feeling something weird in her stomach.

Henry was the first to notice, having been returning laden with a tray of cups that he instantly set down on the table nearby when he felt something wrong. "Mom?"

She flinched, and rolled her shoulders, clearly feeling discomfited.

Emma, who was closer, went to clutch her wife's shoulder. "Hey, what is it?"

Regina looked at Emma, and she seemed panicked, eyes wide and mouth parted ever so slightly. "Get back..."

"What?"

"Get back! Leave!" she roared. With all the strength she could muster, she tried to push Emma back. Her wife stumbled a few paces back, and Henry moved to join her, holding Emma steady.

When they made no move to leave, she let out an animalistic growl and magicked them away.

"Reg-" was all Regina heard before Emma vanished. She felt around for the magical barrier that Emma must've erected to protect Henry, and changed it so that no one could enter this house.

She had barely managed to build another thought before she felt the darkness crawling its way out of her.


Emma and Henry swatted the smoke away and saw that they were in the hospital once more.

In fact, they had shown up right where Regina had disappeared when she had been there earlier, in the middle of the hallway.

"Emma? Henry?" It was David. He was peeking his head out of a nearby room, before Mary Margaret flung the door open to have a look for herself.

"What are you two doing here?" the brunette asked, ushering them to enter. Blue was standing begrudgingly by a cauldron, glaring at them.

"Regina kicked us out," Emma started. "But we got rid of the paranoia."

Blue muttered something, but thankfully for her, Emma wasn't too preoccupied to actually listen or question her about it.

David looked confused. "Why did she kick you out?"

"She seemed scared," Henry piped up.

Emma shook her head, clearing it. "I'll go find out. Meanwhile, new plan. Priority is getting Al once again, and getting rid of this darkness, thereby subduing all three siblings."

She started to head out when she head a voice ask, "What should I do?"

Whipping around, Emma was left facing her son. "Stay with your grandparents, kid. It'll be safest with them."

Henry nodded, silently wishing her good luck, and he went to gather in front of the cauldron. Sparing one last glance, Emma went outside, and called forth her magic, willing it to take her home.

When the smoke cleared, she was standing outside, on the porch. Letting out a low growl, she approached the closed door, only to be shot back by a volley of magic that send her tumbling all the way back across the street. Thankfully she landed on the Kiplings' very manicured lawn. Picking herself back up, she flexed her fingers, still feeling the electricity crackling through from where her digits touched the magic.

Stalking back across the road, she made her way back into her house's front lawn. But instead of heading for the door - she knew there was little point in trying to tackle it all gung-ho on it - she went for the windows. Perhaps she could gleam something from the ones with the shades drawn, or even find Regina and try to reason with her. She didn't care if she sounded like a maniac yelling at her wife through the window, but she was going to be getting her message across somehow. So she started looking, hoping to find a sign of life.


In the middle of Storybrooke's forest, Al was running. The metal from the dangling remains of the chain on his cuff was joined by his harsh breathing and rustling leaves were the only sounds he heard. He reached the cave where he knew his siblings were, and descended harshly into the spacious area. There they were, just as Regina had described.

With a wave of his hand, they were back to their human selves, and Al barely managed to catch his breath before he said "Come on, we don't have much time. The paranoia worked a little too well, and Regina's unhinged."

Wordlessly, the two other siblings climbed back out behind their brother, until they all paused, feeling a strange sensation in their stomachs.

Next thing they knew, the darkness was leaving them, and gathering into one floating form above them, leaving behind three trees growing once more, their roots skewed, and their trunks growing too close together to be healthy.

But the darkness didn't care. No, it was interested in joining its fourth counterpart, and it wasted no time heading that way.


Emma meanwhile, was still trying to find a way in. She had seen no signs of life thus far. Having reached the backyard, she decided she should at least try the patio door. So she scrunched her face up in preparation for the pain, and slowly inched her hand closer to the handle.

To her immense surprise, the door didn't send her flying back, and instead opened. Slipping inside, Emma decided to listen before moving.

She heard Regina, and a raspy voice. Not taking any chances, she was glad the patio entrance was right near the kitchen, so she was able to reach into the cutlery cupboard and find the biggest knife they owned. Making her way closer, she strained her ears to get a better sense of the situation.

Then, she took out her phone and sent a message.


A few minutes ago, Regina had collapsed onto her hands and knees as the darkness left her.

"Regina Mills. You were a worthy host for a good while, but you've gone soft," a voice said. It was raspy and monotonous. It lacked empathy and made her skin crawl. "But no matter, I have grown stronger, and I have no need for a physical body anymore. Humans are weak, and even the trees aren't good enough for my plans. So allow me to unlock your house and undo the magical barrier, my other fragments shall be joining us soon."

As Regina shakily went to stand up, she huffed and pursed her lips. She felt alone now, scared even. She had sent Emma and Henry away because she felt what was happening, and was afraid the darkness would seek out her family and try to take over them. But it seemed that hadn't been its plan. Eyes focusing, she was staring at a cloaked figure, with a dark robe and an expressionless golden mask with crisscrossing lines along the bottom, and a pattern on the top. There were holes for the eyes, but only inky blackness stared back.

"What do you want?" she ground out.

"I want everything. The world giving in to the darkness. But you needn't care about the intricacies, you will have your own role in this dawning of the new age," it responded.

Betraying nothing, she feigned interest. "Oh really? So I'm not a good host, but I am a worthy ally to you?"

Before the darkness could respond, the front door blew open and a flying mass of darkness, tendrils and webs of a black liquid-like syrupy substance came pouring in. It crashed right into the darkness, enveloping it before the figure absorbed it all. "Much better."

From behind the figure, Regina saw Emma wielding something...was that a carving knife?

Unfortunately, she wasn't the only one who noticed. "Ah, Emma, so glad for you to join us," the darkness greeted with a malicious tone, turning to face the blonde.

"Leave her alone," Regina uttered.

The darkness let out a mirthless laugh. "I'm not the one who can't mind her own business. It's time the Saviour learnt a lesson, wouldn't you say?"

But Regina was not about to let that happen. She called forth a powerful fireball and aimed. "Take one step closer to my wife and I will make you regret even setting eyes on her."

It seemed the darkness was wise enough to heed Regina's words, and turned back to face her. Emma continued walking, brandishing the knife, making he way into the foyer.

"Now, where were we?" the darkness asked.

"About to leave," Emma growled, holding the knife as if it was a baseball bat, and she was ready to strike a home run with it.

The darkness waved a hand dismissively, but otherwise showed no signs of having paid attention to Emma's words. "Ah yes, you not understanding why I want you to join me. Would you like that I...sweeten the deal?"

Regina frowned, and then scoffed. "You really think you can bribe me?"

A chuckle. "Perhaps sweeten was the wrong word. Bribing isn't really my thing."

"Hyaah!" Emma exclaimed foolishly, swinging the knife with both arms, fully intending to strike the darkness from side to side. But the weapon just phased through the figure, making Emma stumble.

"Emma!" Regina exclaimed, and began to move towards where Emma had gone. But she was stopped by the darkness extending its arm straight to its side like a barrier.

The darkness sighed and then flicked its wrist and sent Emma skidding backwards, while simultaneously picking the knife up with its magic. Forming a fist with its hand, the knife shattered into a hundred little pieces before the fist unfurled, letting the shards fall. "Now that the distraction is taken care of, let's get serious."

She turned to face the darkness with rising anger. "You think you can come around just like that-"

Regina's remaining words died on her lips as the darkness began to shift, changing its form. By the time Regina's mouth snapped shut, she was facing Cora, complete with a haughty frown and disapproving, mightier-than-thou jutting out of her chin. "Regina," she said, and it sounded so much like her mother that a broken sob escaped her lips.

Then she remembered where she was. "Pretending to be my mother will not buy you any sympathy for me."

Cora - no, the darkness - let out a scoff. "Regina dear, I'm not looking for sympathy, but rather a form you'll be more receptive to."

"Then you're barking up the wrong tree, as that is the last form I would take orders from," Regina muttered.

And yet, this form of Cora just cackled. "I thought it was quite to the contrary. You forget that I've resided in you for quite a while, Regina. I know you. You're terrified of Cora, even in death."

Regina, in an attempt to not show fear, just smirked confidently. "You might look like her, but you're not her. Even if I did fear her, I feared what she did, not what she looked like."

"I didn't just transform into Cora just for the aesthetic. I did it because I know that what I'm about to do will hurt more in this form."

As Cora began to advance towards Emma, Regina reacted, jumping forward to stand in front of where Emma was still picking herself up. "You want me, fine, we can negotiate, but you will leave Emma alone."

Cora raised an eyebrow knowingly. "So much for this form not having an effect on you..."

Regina's mouth quivered involuntarily in irritation. "Do you want a prize then?"

"No, your allegiance. Together, this world can become something incredible."

"Or maybe...you will back off." Both Regina and Cora whipped around to see the Charmings and Blue bounding up the steps and coming in through the front door. Blue had spoken, brandishing the dagger in her hand.

Cora paled - if such a thing was possible, but she certainly didn't look confident anymore - and asked, "Where did you find this?"

"My business," Blue said. "But I control you now, and you will cease your plans."

"If you think-"

"Silence!" Blue held the dagger tighter. "And change your appearance back to your original one."

The darkness heeded the orders, wordlessly becoming the hooded figure once more. Regina felt Emma approach her and wrap a comforting arm around her, and she sunk back onto her wife's comforting chest.

"Now, behave." Blue took out a familiar box. Pandora's box. She activated the mechanism, absorbing the darkness within it. It didn't utter a sound as it disappeared into the tiny prison, and when it closed, the box just let out a woosh with an air of finality. It was gone.

Regina was shocked. "That's it?"

Blue seemed to understand what Regina was truly asking, and offered a tight-lipped smile. "Not all wrong-doers must be defeated in a ferocious battle. Sometimes, it simply is a game of chess."

"A treacherous one," Emma muttered, eyeing the box and the dagger.

"Perhaps," Blue sniffed, turning the box in her hand. "But I don't think it would've been too merciful if given a chance."

"What will you do with it?" David asked.

Blue seemed to ponder on it for a moment. "Make sure it never sees the light of day again."

With that, she bid all of them goodbye and left.

Emma shook her head. "Does she really have to be so shady?"

Mary Margaret let out an exasperated scoff and fixed her with a glare. Clearly this was a topic that had been exhausted multiple times over the course of many years. "What do you have against her, Emma? She just saved us all! Give her a break."

To Regina, she muttered conspiratorially, "Still shifty."

Regina let out a laugh. She was just so happy, even listening to them banter. It was as if she had been rejuvenated. After giving Henry the all-clear - he had holed up with young Neal at the Nolans' house with Red - she thanked the Charmings and ushered them out of the house, before proceeding to have her wicked way with Emma.

Just because she was no longer hosting a piece of the epitome of evil didn't mean she couldn't get naughty.


Epilogue

"Come on Emma, we're gonna be late!" Regina called.

Emma huffed, climbing down the stairs at an arduous pace. "Are you seriously rushing a pregnant woman to go faster?"

Regina rolled her eyes. "Yes I am. Your mother keeps sending me frantic texts and you know how I get when she's in one of those moods. Plus if you think I'm going to miss our son's graduation..."

"He's graduating high school, not summa cum laude at Harvard, we can afford to be a few minutes late." Emma grumbled, reaching the final step and seeming proud of herself for that.

"It's still important!" Regina responded, exasperated. "I'm also surprised you know what summa cum laude even is," she added after a moment, while they began to walk to the car.

Emma's smug smirk made Regina roll her eyes, but the response had her groaning. "I'm a genius, haven't you already figured that out?"

"With your Charming genes dear, I'll admit I don't think there's much chance for a genius to shine," Regina playfully riposted.

Mocking that she was affronted, Emma countered, "I will remind you that those very same genes are running through our son's body, and our future child's."

They had reached the car so Regina turned towards Emma, and gave her a slow and languid kiss. Once they broke apart, she said, "And that there is the proof that nurture does conquer nature."

Emma smirked, pulling Regina closer, "Oh don't look so smug babe, you love the Charming gene."

Regina didn't respond, and made a show of thinking it out, biting her lip and looking dubious.

"Oh come on!" Emma groaned.

With a laugh, Regina kissed Emma again. "Okay okay, I admit it, I love you, and our little family, no matter how much the Charming gene might get on my nerves."

"Please, the Charming gene is what makes us this desirable."

"If that's what you want to believe dear, then sure. Now come on, our son is about to graduate." Regina gave one final kiss before going to open the passenger door for Emma, since she was already quite a-ways along her pregnancy, and Regina refused to let Emma drive.

Though she found she was quite enjoying pampering her wife. It was an exciting and new process, made so much better because they could now enjoy this together.

The end


Tadaaa! In Sickness and in Health is now complete!

The darkness' likeness was based on the Dark One seen in the ep Dreamcatcher with Merlin. And shady Blue came through! I figured I should have at least one fic where she isn't the inherent evil/bad guy.

I'll admit I wasn't ever planning on ending with a pregnancy, but since everyone seemed keen earlier on to have one of them pregnant, I figured, why the hell not!

Now, since my ongoing stories' count is quite high, I won't be starting a new story quite yet, but I would still like to ask for a favour!

In my profile, I have a list of plots for upcoming full length stories, and I would like for you to tell me what are your top three options for most interesting story you'd want me to tackle.

Once I finish a few more stories, I'll get around to writing the ones which people seem most enthused about. Maybe even for the next Big Bang since that's coming up again.

Anyway! I hope you all enjoyed this fic, with all its twists and turns, and that the ending was satisfactory!

Meanwhile, I'll be updating Her Stable Girl, and How many times can a heart break? so look forward to that.

Thank you to all the readers for sticking with this, and all the wonderful reviews too!