Just some minor tweaks to the epilogue

A/N: I was never completely happy with the first version of the epilogue so I added some parts and changed some of the wording and order.

Epilogue

With a sign Henry closed the Storybook he had just completed. After thirty years he had finally been able to tell his mom and Killian's story. Pieces had been available before but never the full story. That made him fear the news that had brought him and his siblings back to their childhood home was true. Not wanting to think about the phone call that his mom and Killian had not returned from their latest sailing trip and that an unexpected powerful storm had crossed their planned path he rose and walked to the window, looking down at the playset that had replaced the one Grandpa, Killian and Robin had built all those years ago. The next generation loved it as much as they had enjoyed the predecessor. Around him the house was quiet, too quiet. It just did not feel natural. His mom and Killian had built this home overlooking the ocean shortly after they had broken the Dark Curse. At first it was the sound of arguments that filled the space, no matter how quiet they had tried to be. His mom and Killian were both strong-willed and with the Light and Dark there were always disagreements. The one thing that had always struck him was that there was never any hatred or malice in the debates. Their love and trust in each other was always dominant. Their example had stood him in good stead when he had arguments with his wife. Then came Liam and Leia. The twins had almost always been up to something, but seldom quietly. Of course then there was all the family get togethers. Having spent so long without family his mom and Killian had never minded hosting the holidays or birthday parties, especially once the younger generation had begun coming. Now that they were all grown up this was still the preferred house to gather at, hence the new, updated playset. There were so many good memories here. He blinked back tears wanting to hear the familiar noises that had occasionally driven him crazy when he was younger.

Closing his eyes he thought back to the last time he had seen them, only a week ago. Grace had taken the kids on a mommy time trip so he had decided to spend the time they were gone with his mom and Killian. He just did not see them enough with how active and busy their lives were. As always they had welcomed him with open arms. He had been surprised when he retreated to his childhood room for that night that he was being compelled to write some more of their story. For the first time he was able to see the actual fight to break the curse and bind the Darkness. While he could not see all the specifics he saw enough and his respect for them grew even greater. Shaken by what he had seen he had closed the book and gone downstairs to get a drink, needing to clear his thoughts before trying to sleep. Not surprisingly his parents were still sitting on the couch, Killian's arm around his mom. One step into the room he stopped. There was a dark glow around Killian and a white one around Emma. They were more than leaning into each other, their silhouettes gave the image of one person. The Dark and Light ebbed and flowed around them. He had only seen this phenomena a few times and then only in fights against foes. And they were never leaning on each other like this, it was more like they were wielding the opposing powers as a team.

"Mom? Killian?" he asked hesitantly, not wanting to disturb them. They turned to him with matching small smiles and Henry was surprised by the exhaustion he could see on them both. He knew, had known for years, that they did not need the same amount of sleep as other people and had occasionally seen the tiredness slip through their masks but could never recall it being so apparent. "Are you okay?"

"Just," Killian looked at Emma, as though uncertain how to describe what they were doing. "Relaxing and recuperating."

Emma's smile was weaker. "There are times when we just have to be, to let the Dark and Light link." Her eyes closed a moment. "It has always been a burden carrying the Light only and Killian has the same with the Dark."

Surprised, but happy, that they were sharing this information with him for the first time Henry sat down in one of the chairs opposite them. "I never knew that."

Killian's smile contained all the love he felt for his family. "You guys were not meant to. It was part of the burden we took during the Breaking and Binding." He glanced at his wife, squeezing her hand. "Our reliance on each other has grown through the years."

Weakly Emma dropped her head on Killian's shoulder. "We are tired in a way that sleep can not cure."

For the first time he really looked at them and could see the deeply rooted fatigue. He wondered if it was new or if he was just now seeing it.

With an understanding look in her eyes Emma said. "We usually hide it better." She glanced up at Killian, the familiar love radiating from them. "We have always been enough support to each other."

"But now we are wearing down," Killian said softly. "It is more of a struggle to just be us and not let our natures take over."

Scared of what he was hearing Henry looked back and forth between them. "What do you mean? Merlin said you would have full lives!"

Killian leaned forward so Henry could see the honesty in his eyes. "We have. We have had so much more than anyone else who ever faced the Dark Curse."

Emma leaned forward as well, putting her hand over his. "We have got to see our children grown and married, seen our grandkids born and got to know them." She glanced over at her other half before looking back. "We do not intend to leave, but we can both feel a change in the air and in ourselves." She visibly swallowed. "No matter what happens I want you to remember that we love you all and that will never change." She leaned back into Killian as the settled back on the couch, the Dark and Light again appearing and blending.

Unable to do anything else Henry only nodded. That conversation came back to him now and he knew why he was not surprised when the call had come. In the back of his mind he had been expecting something like this.

Seeing movement on the playset he hurried outside to join his younger siblings. He needed to be with his family. To feel the love of his parents that filled them all and bonded them together by more than blood. When he got outside he realized not only were Liam and Leia there but also Rachel, Neal, Charlie, and Ruth Eva(his grandparents youngest). No spouses were present and it was past all the kids bedtimes. The older adults must all still be in living room. Liam scooted over to make room for him on the platform. "Did you find anything?" he asked hopefully.

Unable to face his family Henry shook his head. Even though he knew he had no reason to he always felt guilty when his powers as the Author did not give him any further answers about situations. No one had ever blamed him but he often blamed himself, despite both sets of parents repeatedly telling them it was not his fault. He also had not shared that last conversation with his siblings, although he had encouraged them to go see their parents and bring the kids. He, himself had brought his three children to visit twice.

Leia collapsed into Liam, who held his twin tightly.

Henry stared hard at this hands when he forced himself to go on. "It ended with the sea and sky opening up to swallow the Jolly Roger as a giant wave broke over it."

Releasing a shuddering breath Neal idly spun the swing he was sitting on in half circles. "It seems somehow fitting it was on the Jolly Roger and no one knows what truly happened."

"As soon as I crossed the town line I knew they were gone," Ruth said in a small voice. Liam pulled her into his other side. "It just feels different."

Laying back on the slide Charlie stared up at the stars Killian had taught them all to navigate by. "The strength of Light and Dark went with them. Now it is all us. If you try you can feel the difference."

"Not good or evil?" Neal asked with a joking smile.

Rachel rolled over so she was laying on her stomach on the platform. "I do not think anyone who was raised with Uncle Killian and Aunt Emma would ever equate Dark with Evil and Light with Good. They always tried so hard to balance each other and show us the Dark is not necessarily bad and Light not always right. I don't think I truly appreciated those lessons until I had become an adult."

With his own smile Liam leaned back against one of the posts, stretching out his legs with Charlie playfully pushing them away from him. "When we were kids I always hoped if we were caught it would be Dad who caught us. His punishments may have been worse but Mom's lectures and inability to see beyond the fact that we had misbehaved was tougher to deal with."

"No," Leia contradicted her brother. "Best was when we were faced with them both. They balanced each other."

For a few minutes they were silent before Charlie spoke. "It must have been hard for them, always needing the other to balance them. We could all see it."

Neal nodded his agreement. "They could stand apart, but they were always more alive when they were together. More fun to be with as well."

Charlie laughed at that. "We all learned very early not to go around one and ask the other for permission to do something. All the adults got on us if we tried that. Not that they were wrong. I was not right for us to try to take advantage of their natures."

"My fourth birthday," Rachel began.

Smiling Henry leaned back listening to the stories being told. It reminded him that even if they were gone his mom and Killian would not be forgotten.

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Hours later, again in his childhood bedroom, his wife asleep in the bed, he opened the book he had finished earlier to the last page. There was a picture of Killian at the helm of the Jolly Roger, one hand on the wheel the other wrapped around his mom. Emma had her arm wrapped around his waist, their bodies leaning into each other. It had been years since he had seen them that relaxed, even with each other. Blinking back his tears Henry gently ran his finger down his mother's cheek. 'Be happy,' he whispered. 'Find the peace you could never truly have here.'

As he closed the book and put it on the shelf with his other storybooks he thought he felt his mom's gentle kiss on his forehead. 'We are,' the night seemed to whisper. 'We love you.'

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In another realm a pirate ship sailed on crystal clear waters under a cloudless blue sky. A retired pirate in black pants and a white button up shirt stood at the wheel with a contented smile on his face and an arm around the woman at his side. She was dressed in white slacks and a black t-shirt, long blond hair flowing in the wind. Sighing in contentment she leaned against his chest. They smiled at each other exchanging a quick kiss before looking back out to sea. Both had an ease and relaxation they had not felt in years. They were filled with balance, happiness and most of all, love.

A/N: Well this is it The End. It turned out a little different then I originally planned but I hope it was satisfactory.

Thank you for reading, following and making this story a favorite. Especially thank you for all those who reviewed. I would love to hear your final thoughts on the story.