I know, I know, I'm awful, I'm sorry. Truth is I think this one is winding down. I didn't really want to end it because I have some ideas for further one shots in this "universe" but I can't say for sure when I'll get to them since I'm working on a pretty long fic right now (Memories Keep You Near) along with a couple others I really should tend to. PLUS I have ANOTHER idea for a fic on top of all that...lol (It involves Emma, Snow and Charming having a bit of an adventure with a pendant that keeps taking them to different worlds and times a la Gargoyles. Interested?)
BUT...if you guys insist I could be persuaded into a epilogue, unless you think I should just keep this open to put more musical one shots as they come to me? Thanks so much for reading and for your patience! You guys have been AMAZING in your support. I can't believe this started as a one-shot and wound up being such a popular fic! I LOVE YOU GUYS!
And now, the ball comes to an end...
The Storybrooke Spring Ball was beginning to wind down. Emma sort of wished that she could go back in time, for just one second, and tell herself when she was a scared child, or a miserable teenager, or a depressed adult just how purely happy she was going to be someday. To give herself something to look forward to.
She didn't wish too hard, because, hell, it might be possible.
She accepted Jefferson's hand again, no longer loath to dance, and maybe the alcohol helped but she liked to think it was just because she was having more fun than she she'd ever had.
She didn't even mind that her father was standing nearby the entire time, glaring distrustfully at her dance partner. In fact, though she'd never admit it aloud, she liked it.
"Aren't you glad I was right?" Jefferson teased. "About you and the curse I mean."
Emma rolled her eyes. "Don't push it, Hatter."
The gleam in his eyes only increased, and he pressed closer than necessary for the dance. "I thought you wanted for someone to 'push it.'"
She tried hard to glare at him, really she did, but he made it very difficult not to smile.
"Mind if I cut in?"
Emma glanced down to find Henry at her elbow, grinning cheekily. Jefferson bowed out immediately, and passed Emma's hand to the young man with a flourish that made Emma have to bite her lips again so not to smile at him.
"Until next time, Princess."
This time, she couldn't stop her lips from quirking up.
"Did your Gramps send you over here?" she asked her son once they resumed dancing.
"No…" he replied unconvincingly.
"Right," and yet even though he was meddling, she couldn't find it in her to be annoyed with her dad. Maybe if he kept at it, she would eventually, but for now how could she mind the opportunity to dance with the true love of her life?
"This was the best night ever," Henry said, and Emma smiled at how his eyelids drooped.
"Yeah it was, Kid."
"I like this, being all together, like how a family is s'possed to be."
"I think it's about time we had real family, huh Kid?"
For a moment they grinned at one another, less like mother and son and more like two abandoned kids who at long last had what they'd always dreamed of.
It felt wonderful.
"How could you let me walk out of the house like this?" Lacey was hissing to Gold as they walked past Emma and Henry.
"You guys headed out?" Emma asked, pausing in the dance.
Gold had a flushed, yet happy look on his face, but before he could answer Lacey was speaking up. "Yes, it's been fun but I've suddenly realized that I'm dressed like a harlot so we're heading home."
Emma eyed Lacey, catching the difference in the way she spoke and held herself. "…Belle?"
Belle's face broke into a grin, and she hugged Gold's arm tighter in both of hers. "Lacey was so…" she glanced uncertainly at Henry. "impressed by Rumple's dancing that she just wanted to kiss him, and just like that, I remember!"
David and Snow had walked up by this time, and David smirked at Gold. "Told ya so."
Gold rolled his eyes at him. "Yes, yes, you were right. I suppose I owe you one now. Are you ready, dearest?"
Though she was fully Belle, the look she gave Gold was wickedly Lacey. "Very ready."
Emma shared an uncomfortable look with her parents while they strolled away from the ball. "Well that was fun."
"I don't get it," Henry said.
"Never mind," all three adults said in unison.
They looked up when Ruby approached the microphone once again, tapping it to gain everyone's attention. "Well guys, it looks like our fairytale night is coming to a close, who thinks we should hear a few words from one of our fearless rulers, huh?"
The crowd, clapping in enthusiastic agreement, turned their eyes to the Charmings. When Emma realized just exactly what Ruby meant, her eyes widened and she hurriedly pressed a finger to her nose and looked at the rest of her family.
Picking up where Emma was going, Henry giggled and touched his own nose, nudging his grandfather. Frowning in confusion, David copied his daughter's and grandson's gestures, whispering, "Why are we doing this?"
Only then did Snow look over at them, finding three faces with fingers on the tops of noses. Having the memories of an Elementary school teacher, she knew exactly what that meant and she rolled her eyes. "Really?"
"Not it!" Emma exclaimed, both to reiterate her refusal to speak, and to explain to her father what he was doing. David smiled and sighed in relief.
Giving an indulgent smirk, Snow stepped confidently onto the stage, and Emma marveled at how steady and graceful she moved, knowing full well that her mom was still buzzed.
Ruby skipped away from the mic and Snow took her place, and once again Emma saw, instead of her bubbly, sweet natured best friend and mother, Snow White the leader. Poised, strong, benevolent, beautiful…everything Emma wanted to be. Maybe she was a little old to want to be like her mom when she grew up, but darn it if she didn't.
Snow delicately cleared her throat. "I want to thank you all coming tonight. I am so glad that we were able to have this; a night for just enjoyment and being together without…" she smiled and waved a hand. "well, you know. We should also all thank Ruby for coming up with the idea and pulling it off without a hitch!" Everyone gave Ruby a hand, to which she curtsied in response. Snow smiled warmly at her friend then continued. "I know the past year has had its share of challenges."
"That's a hell of an understatement!" Leroy exclaimed.
Snow shot him a playfully sardonic look. "Okay, the past year has been one giant pit of unending madness. But we've faced every challenge together, just as we will any new ones that come our way. We may be coming to a time of change, of decision. This could very well be the last time we all gathered together this way. I don't know what our futures will bring," she chuckled. "Hell, I don't even know what world I'll be in from one day to the next!" that made everyone laugh, though Emma thought Snow White saying 'hell' had the most to do with it. "But I do know this; I know that I have a family that will always be at my side, and my people who I will always cherish. So when the time comes and you decide whether to go to our land of birth or stay and immerse yourself fully into the world we've called home for the last three decades, know that we'll always be one people. One kingdom.
"We may be nothing but legend and folklore here, but our story, this story is one that will be told for generations to come, in this land and the other. It will be the tale of family, striving to find one another, it will be the story of a hero…whether she wants it to be or not," she winked at Emma, gathering a good-humored chuckle from the crowd at Emma's expense. "It will be the story of redemption, of hope."
Emma saw Snow's eyes drift away from her family, to someone standing in the back. A peek showed that she was looking right at Regina, who was pretending not to listen. "It will be the story of forgiveness, of overcoming all obstacles. Long from now, we'll all be fables once again…bedtimes stories. But the truth will always be there, hidden in the hearts of those who believe. That we were real. And we were here."
Snow raised her glass, and for a moment Emma fumbled around for a glass of her own to raise until Jefferson slinked up beside her to press one into her hand.
"To our people," Snow concluded. "To Storybrooke!"
"To Storybrooke!" everyone echoed.
When Snow found her family again, Emma didn't bother to try and hide the look of admiration on her face.
Despite quiet offers to make herself and Henry scarce for the night, Snow insisted they all needed to get home, get their nice clothes 'put away and not on a chair!' and get some sleep.
It took a while to make their goodbyes, and Emma tried her damnedest to not look over at Jefferson. Eventually he made his way back to her, and ignoring her parents glares, kissed her cheek goodnight.
Emma ignored the fact that it made her blush more than any kiss on her lips had.
Henry and Grace shared an adorably sweet and shy goodbye, too aware of their audience for more than a 'see ya later.'
After they'd said goodnight to everyone and helped Ashley find her missing shoe, David hooked his arm for his wife to take, Henry mimicked the pose for Emma, and they made their way out of their fairytale ball and to their cars.
Henry went with David in his truck, and Emma dragged her feet to Snow's Jeep, bone tired and ready to fall into bed.
"Emma, pick up your dress, don't let it drag."
"You're in front of me!" Emma exclaimed. "How did you know?"
"I'm your mother," she said simply. "Automatically means I know everything."
"Well, I'm a mother too!"
"But I'm a grandmother. Automatically makes me know more than you."
Emma glared at her back, even when she shot a cheeky grin over her shoulder.
They were quiet in the car, riding along in silence until Snow turned on the radio, mumbling something about needing to wake up more.
Emma wasn't listening to what was playing until she realized her mother was singing along.
"…am I gonna fit in? Jumped in the cab here I am for the first time, look to my right and I see the Hollywood sign…"
"OH GOD NO!" Emma jolted forward, switching the channel so violently she nearly broke the knob.
Snow frowned at her. "Hey…"
The song beginning on the next station caught Emma's attention, and hiding her smirk began to sing. "I'm not Snow White but I'm lost inside this forest, I'm not Red Riding Hood but I think the wolves have got me…"
Snow barked a laugh. "Believe it or not, cursed me loved this song!"
"Irony!"
So because it seemed necessary, and after all they were all alone, and on the verge of tired delirium, they began the loudest and most off key car karaoke either had ever known.
"You be the beast, and I'll be the beauty, beauty, who needs true love as long as you love me truly? I want it all but I want you more, will you wake me up boy, if I bite your poison apple?"
Snow banged on the steering wheel and Emma danced in her seat the way she hadn't since she was sixteen.
"I don't believe in fairytales! I don't believe in fairytales! I don't believe in fairytales, but I believe in you and me, take me to Wonderland…"
They had pulled into a parking spot at the apartment, but were still sitting in the car, belting to the top of their lungs.
"Take me ta', take me ta', take me to Wonderland!"
Tap tap tap.
They froze, and Snow turned down the volume as David and Henry stared at them from outside the window. Henry had David's cell phone, taking a video.
"Ah, man, again?" Emma moaned.
Snow wrinkled her nose. "I have no regrets of having fun with my kid."
Emma wanted to make a joke about hardly being a 'kid', but then it sunk in that she, same age that they were, was someone's kid.
"This was fun," Emma said, determinedly forcing back emotion from her voice. "I know I complained in the beginning, but I'm glad we did it."
"Me too," Snow agreed. "I'll never forget tonight."
"Uh...Mom?"
"Yes?"
Emma fiddled with the strips of cloth on her skirt as Henry and David left to go inside, apparently bored now that they weren't being silly anymore. "Dav...Dad said something earlier, like he hadn't meant to...like that it was my ball? What did he mean?"
Snow hesitated, biting her lip.
"Oh come on, what did he mean? Do I need to go wheedle it out of him?"
Snow chuckled. "No, it was a conversation we had...but I made him promise not to tell you. I didn't think you'd like it."
"I didn't think I'd like wearing a ball gown and have everyone staring at me. Well, I still don't like everyone staring at me, but I love the gown."
"Okay, okay," Snow reached into the backseat and produced a white box. "I thought about giving this to you, but I chickened out. I was worried it would embarrass you if I gave it to you in front of everyone."
Emma didn't admit that, whatever was in that box, it probably would have embarrassed her to receive it in front of everyone, especially considering the way her mother was holding it so tenderly. "We're not in front of everybody now..."
Snow smiled. "Nope. Emma, in...in our world...the one I grew up in, a..." she gave Emma a look that told her not to panic at her next choice of words. "A princess...well, when she reaches a certain age...she...well..."
Emma chuckled breathily, trying to ease her mother's nerves. "Is this the same Snow White that delivered such an eloquent speech only hours ago while still under the effects of alcohol?"
Snow laughed at herself. "Maybe I need more alcohol. I'm sorry...let me try again. "When I was a girl I was given a ball to introduce me to the kingdom as a princess. Sort of like a coming out ball. I was only a child, but I was to honor them, let them see the leader I would become. And yes, though my parents didn't believe in marrying their little girl off like some rulers did, I was to meet suitors."
"Good for your parents. You say all this like it never happened?"
She shrugged. "Well it didn't, not that way at least. My mother...she passed away. My ball was replaced with her funeral."
Emma barely knew what to say. Henry's book hadn't said anything about that. "Wow...that's awful...I'm so sorry."
"When I was pregnant I dreamed of giving you your ball, of making it everything mine wasn't. I would have given you this," she slowly opened the box, and Emma's eyes widened at the sight of the sparkling tiara nestled inside.
"This was my first crown. My mother gave it to me, and her mother gave it to her, and so on for as long as anyone can remember. One afternoon when I was preparing for the ball, before my mother got sick, I was horrible to my maid, Johanna when I caught her trying it on."
Emma made a face, trying to picture her mother being anything but perfect.
Snow caught the look and her lips quirked. "Sorry to dash your vision of me, but I'm afraid I could be quite a spoiled little brat back then. My mother was very upset with me because of my behavior and told me that being a leader meant being just and loving and treating others as equals," she reached into the box and carefully lifted up the crown. "She told me that this is heavier than it looks. I never forgot that, and never had anything been truer in my ears."
Emma gazed at the crown, swallowing in nervousness of what it meant. "Sounds like I would have liked your mom."
"Oh I think you would have too, you're so much like her, Emma. Fearless, fair, strong. And I just know she would have loved you."
"What was her name?"
At that Snow's eyes sparkled. "Her name was Eva. Except...you see she told me that when she was a little girl, she couldn't pronounce her "V"s very well, and so she couldn't say her own name correctly. Because of that, it stuck, and all of the people who knew her as a girl, all of her friends and even Father would call her by her nickname in private. Emma. She called herself Emma.
Emma blinked, barely believing what she was being told. "You named me after her?"
Snow nodded. "Yes, I did. I named you after the person only certain people were allowed to see, the warm, caring, funny woman people called Emma. On the outside, she was a bold, strong leader named Eva. You really are a lot like her."
Emma looked down at the crown still resting in her mother's hands. Snow followed her gaze and then lifted it up. "Is it okay?"
Swallowing tears, Emma nodded, twisting a little awkwardly in her seat to face her. Snow slowly placed the tiara on Emma's head then moved her hands down to frame her daughter's face. "It suits you."
She wanted to deny it, to vehemently deny that a crown suited her in any way, but the look in her mother's eyes prevented that. So she smiled. "It is pretty heavy."
Snow smiled back. "I know, but you get used to it. Sorry that this isn't much of a coronation. You deserve so much more, Emma, you deserve everything."
"I think this is perfect," Emma whispered. And to her it was. Sitting in her mom's car in their driveway, in the dark, music playing softly on the radio, and she'd just been given her mother's crown. It was perfect.
Snow nodded in agreement. "I want you to know, that while I want you to have this, you do not have to bear it. Meaning that while you are a princess, you don't have to rule. We don't know how our lives will end up, but however you want your life to be is how it shall. Never think that this is something you have no choice in. That said, you...would make an amazing queen."
Emma wanted to believe her, wanted to believe her so badly. But she couldn't...not just yet. However for the first time, she allowed herself to think, to dream, to wonder what being a princess would be like. And maybe someday, she could believe it.
"I love you."
Snow gave a laughing sob and pulled her daughter into her arms. "I love you too, Emma. So very much."
Once they had themselves under control, they finally left the car and made their way inside. Snow offered Emma the box, but she shook her head and kept her tiara on it. Once inside, she gave the boys looks, daring them to mention it.
She went straight to her room, feeling too tired and emotional for any more words, and meticulously cleared a spot on her dresser so that her crown could be displayed properly. She'd never been sentimental, never cared much for things. Only her baby blanket had ever held any real value to her. Now her crown sat on her dresser, and her blanket was at home on her bed, and she had heirlooms that meant something to her and she had a family downstairs that she would die for. Yes, if she could go back in time, she would tell herself that she had a damn good life coming. And whatever the future held, good or bad, for the first time in her life, Emma embraced it with open arms.