Epilogue

May

Months had passed. The months hadn't been a complete walk in the park, but they had been a pleasant, almost relaxing few months as opposed to the rest of my life.

Classes went well. Both Graham and I easily had our classes completed and ready for graduation. Henry was doing better and every day Eva reassured me that they were getting closer to getting a replacement heart for him. We never did figure out exactly what Cora did to Henry's heart, if she did anything at all, but we knew he would be better with a new heart.

We still didn't have a permanent home, but we were doing fine. Graham, Henry, Grace and I stayed at different places weekly. I hated the uncertainty it left with the children, but they still viewed it as an adventure.

Cecilia reassured me that she was working on helping me find a place to live, but any time I brought it up, I was instantly shut down. It worried me. Even though I now had custody of the children, I was constantly worried someone would come in and say I wasn't a good enough parent for them.

Speaking of parents, whatever Cora had been doing wasn't the only thing wrong with Jefferson. He had only just got out of the mental hospital and visited the children every now and then. He tried visiting Emma, but Graham had finally built up the courage to ask her out.

And she'd agreed.

So Jefferson left Emma alone.

It was great to see him better and being able to spend time with his children, but he didn't want the company anymore. In fact, he had left the company to me and Cyrus, his vice president, while he left it to start another company, a company that made children's toys.

I knew the moment it started up, I'd have a harder time moving Grace and Henry in between houses.

Granny had the children today, actually. Her and Ruby were watching them while Graham and I got ready for graduation.

Emma, Regina, and Rumplestiltskin were also graduating today. As were all the guys.

The ceremony was nowhere near as long as I'd expected it to be. Once it was over, Cecilia made all of us pose for thousands of pictures.

By the time we were done, Rumplestiltskin dragged me away from the group, away from the children.

"I have something for you," he said with a smile. He glanced around before going down on one knee. My eyes went wide.

"I know we haven't known each other long, and I know that it took some time for us to really get to know each other, but I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Belle, will you marry me?" he asked. I stared down at the ring and then at him.

"And Bae is still okay with it?" I asked him suspiciously. Rumplestiltskin's smile widened.

"So are Henry and Grace. They gave me permission," he said with a smile.

"Really?" I asked him, shocked. He nodded.

"They even helped me pick out the ring. The ring I really don't want to return," Rumplestiltskin hinted, waiting.

"Yes. I'll marry you," I said. His grin grew.

"That's good. Cause I have another surprise for you," he said. He pulled me towards his car, in which he slid the ring on my finger. He started driving out of town.

"What about the kids?" I asked anxiously, glancing over my shoulder.

"They're following us," he promised. Sure enough, another two cars ended up following us, I noticed, after we turned off the main road. Rumplestiltskin drove on a dirt road into the woods. After a while, he pulled over and jumped out of his seat. Before I could even get my seatbelt undone, he'd jerked the door open.

When I got out, I saw a house. A new house, nestled in the woods. The other two cars parked and the children leapt out, as did Cecilia, Bae, Graham, and Eva.

"What do you think?" Henry asked excitedly.

"Is this…for us?" I asked Rumplestiltskin, wide-eyed.

"Yes. It's for us. As a family. The inside isn't done yet, but it will be before the wedding. I got overzealous," Rumplestiltskin admitted sheepishly.

"I love it," I breathed, staring at the building.

"I take it she said yes?" Cecilia asked her son drily. Rumplestiltskin nodded, grabbing my hand to hold it up.

"I told you she'd like that ring!" Grace said excitedly.

"I still liked the bigger one," Henry grumbled, but he still had a smile on his face.

"That wasn't a real ring. That was plastic," Bae said, his tone matter-of-fact. Henry stuck his tongue out at his friend playfully.

"I have some more news for you," Eva said. Her words had all of our eyes turning on her.

"I got a phonecall this morning saying that there is a heart coming for Henry. The surgery has to happen within twenty-four hours, but Henry has a heart. Henry will be fine," she said.

I exhaled before throwing myself at her. I hugged her tightly.

"Thank you so much. All of you," I said pulling back.

"Hey. That's what families are for. And we're your family," Cecilia said. I glanced over at Graham before something dawned on me.

"Wait – where are you going to live?" I asked him. He pointed towards a trail. I squinted, seeing the basic outline of a cottage.

"I've been building my own. And I'm within babysitting distance," he said with a wink.

"I couldn't get rid of him," Rumplestiltskin complained playfully. Graham batted his eyes at him, causing Rumplestiltskin to promptly turn away.

"You guys are the best," I told them.

And I meant it. I'd found my family. They weren't what I would have suspected. They weren't what I was looking for.

No. They were better.

I hadn't suspected when we'd move that Storybrooke would be where my crazy whirlwind of a story would wind down, but it was.

Our move to Storybrooke, Maine gave us a home and a family.

And we were going to remain there, happy.

Healthy and happy.

THE END

Here ya go! I told you I'd give you an epilogue! Now, I said I would write another OUAT ff next, but then I got on Doctor Who. I might still write those fanfictions, but I'm doing the Doctor Who one first, so sorry to everyone who was waiting for my next fanfiction! Thanks for all the review! You guys were fantastic!

Andi