A/N: This is the last regular chapter - all that's left is the epilogue (because I love epilogues). Can I already say how much I enjoyed the ride, how challenging it was, how exhilirating at times? Thank you all for reading, and reviewing, and favoriting. It has been a true pleasure writing for you and to you, too. Last exit: epilogue.


It was a beautiful sunny day in Storybrooke as many of its inhabitants assembled on the pier where the Jolly Roger was prepared to leave for different waters and probably some adventures. At least, that was what her captain hoped for. Adventures would be good to distract his attention from the woman he left behind but far from leaving - because she had been the one to leave him when she fell for another.

And that was who she was standing at the pier with now while he surveyed the crowd from his post by the rudder. There were other people milling around them, a certain blonde pixie who earlier had stored her belongings in one of the starboard cabins, the one she would share with another female passenger - the waitress-slash-werewolf he didn't remember inviting but who would come on this journey anyway. Neal was also still standing near his ex, his hand on his son's shoulder as he was talking to him.

Everybody was there, everybody seemed excited, or rather exhilarated for the first people to leave Storybrooke. They were the adventurers, those who would travel unknown lands while everyone else would go back to their hearths or central heating systems, depending on whether they would stay in this little town or go back to the Enchanted Forest or some other place that lacked the creature comforts of this realm.

Hook saw it all but he felt detached from it and them. He didn't want to feel any of the things that might grip him should he go down and say his goodbyes - and he still wasn't sure that he would. The nostalgia for feelings that were now unwelcome, the loss and the yearning he felt for the leggy blonde who kept smiling at her dark-haired lover... or even the notion that he would miss this town a little, some of its more friendly occupants, some of the heroism a couple of citizens had appointed him with.

But he wasn't a hero, he was a pirate and it was his destiny to return to sea.

He noticed Emma looking up at him, shielding her face from the sun. She had a knowing look on her face and he couldn't help but roll his eyes at her. She was a goddamned know-it-all but he would show her that she didn't know him that well. He descended the stairs to the deck and soon he pushed through the cluster of people on the pier to remind part of his crew that he wanted to leave that same day, and not when their improv farewell-party was over.

"Ay, mate. You about ready?" he asked Neal who looked up at him.

"Erm," Neal made and looked over at Emma like she was the answer to all of his questions, too. She was looking at them as well, her eyebrow raised at Killian.

"Damn that woman," he breathed barely audible.

"I'll just say goodbye," Neal said and pulled his son into a hug.

"Yeah, so will I, I guess."

Hook made his way over to where Snow and Charming stood. On his way, he made signs to Tinkerbell that she better got going.

Tinkerbell saw Hook motioning at her and tapped Ruby on her shoulder.

"It seems the captain is getting restless. You should probably say your goodbyes," she adviced the dark-haired woman. Ruby nodded but Tink had never seen anyone look more miserable to leave a place - or maybe a certain person.

Ruby's eyes went in search of Belle who was standing talking to Granny a few feet away. She walked over.

"It seems we're about to leave," she said and Granny smiled up at her. She handed her granddaughter a small basket.

"There are some of your favorites in here. You should probably share them with that whispy blond pixie or she might get blown overboard the first time a stiff breeze catches her," Granny adviced Ruby who tried a smile.

"I will, Granny," she promised and then they hugged. To Ruby's surprise her grandmother clung to her for longer and tighter than she had ever done before. When they parted the older woman looked away rubbing at her eyes.

"Be careful," she said quietly.

"I will," Ruby promised and turned toward Belle.

They looked at each other for a long moment, then Belle reached for Ruby's free hand. She held it in both of her own and looked up at her friend.

Ruby took a tentative step closer, her eyes swimming in tears.

"Belle," she started saying but her voice seemed to drown in emotions.

"I know, Ruby. I...," Belle sighed and tried a smile that wasn't convincing. "I wish you wouldn't go but... it's probably best. I'll miss you."

Ruby nodded.

"What I said to you... the other night, I... meant every word," Ruby said. "But I shouldn't have told you."

"I think I knew before you said it, I just... I think I was pretty selfish these last few months, leaning on you, depending on you, and refusing to see... I think if things would have been different, if Rumple wasn't alive," she started saying but Ruby interrupted her.

"He is, and I know you're happy about it. And I'm happy for you," she said.

"I love you, Ruby," Belle said and they both knew how she meant it.

"And I love you, Belle," the taller woman said and leaned in for a chaste kiss. They hugged, Belle clinging to Ruby even more desperately than her grandmother had before.

"Take care and come back to... Storybrooke," she whispered into Ruby's ear before they parted.

Ruby nodded.

"I will," she promised. Their eyes lingered on each other, not ready to let go but sure it would only be moments before they had to part.

"Ruby?" It was Emma who interrupted the moment and she looked apologetic about it. Ruby turned to her and they hugged.

"I'll miss you, Rubes. Take good care of yourself, okay?"

"I'll miss you, too, and I'll see you in just a year, less probably," Ruby said and watched Regina give something to Belle. It looked like a compact.

"This is how you communicate," she heard the mayor say as she opened the compact and then another just like it. "See?"

Ruby and Emma both watched curiously.

"You should probably take the other one. That way you can stay in touch and if Belle has something to report to Hook you can give it to him," she told Ruby and handed her the other compact.

As Ruby looked into it she could see Belle looking back at her. They both looked up and smiled at each other.

"It only works when both mirrors are open but when one is opened the stone that is embedded on the lid of the other will light up, see," Regina demonstrated and all the people watching seemed impressed by this piece of magic.

"Why don't we have something like those, they're neat," Emma said a little enviously.

"Because we have phones, savior," Regina said with a slight grin.

"But I can't see you with a phone," Emma argued and Regina rolled her eyes in mock annoyance.

"You see me every day anyway."

But Emma was still pouting until Regina gave her a kiss.

"I don't have time to prepare two more compacts now, love. You'll have to wait another year until the Jolly Roger returns with this," she said pulling the cube from her purse. "Tink, you take this and don't let it out of your sight," Regina said handing the cube to Tinkerbell.

"I will protect it with every man's life that sails on that ship," Tinkerbell promised with a grin.

"Now that's reassuring," Neal muttered.

"Well, it's the only way back home to your son once we've left," Tink told him. "And I'm the only one who knows how to use it," she added with emphasis.

"Until we find my papa," Neal told her with a good-natured smile.

"Most of us are just mere mortals," she gave back with a shrug and he looked puzzled.

"You take care of my friend here. She tends to get herself into trouble," Tinkerbell told Emma with a sidelong glance at Regina. She hugged the sheriff. "I expect to get my job back when we return."

"You will."

"And you...," she said to Regina and hugged her, too. "I'm happy for you," she whispered into her ear.

"Alright, I'm off. Ruby?" Ruby nodded but then turned to see Snow look up at her.

"Snow," she said.

"I know, it's okay. We'll see each other in about a year. Take care of yourself," the older woman told her friend and they hugged.

"Take care," David said as he lay his arms around both women.

When they parted, Tink took Ruby's hand and pulled her through the crowd. Ruby had tears in her eyes and wiped at them as she followed the determined small blonde, not seeing and not really caring where she went now that she was leaving.

Neal said his goodbyes to Henry and Belle. Then he turned to Emma.

"Take care of our son," he said.

"I will always take care of OUR son," Emma gave back as she slid her hand into Regina's.

The mayor simply looked at Neal with a cold expression.

"Take care, dad," Henry said. He deliberately ignored the tension and the drama around him and just smiled at Neal encouragingly. "I'll see you when you get back."

"Yeah, you will," he gave back then smiled at Belle. "Bye." He followed the way through the crowd the two women had taken before him as Hook took his place among those who would be staying.

"Well, I guess it's time then. I take it, Tinkerbell has the cube and knows how to use it?" he asked turning to Regina.

"She has and she does. Bon voyage, pirate," she told him with an easy smile.

He took the hand that Emma wasn't holding in his and placed a soft kiss on it.

"Until we meet again, my queen," he said with a mocking flourish of his arm. Then he looked at Regina's companion. "Emma," he said with a nod of his head.

"Take care, Killian," she answered him.

"I always do," he said as he took a few steps backward, his eyes steady on her face as if to memorize it. Then he turned and walked toward his ship. The people around parted for him and he walked confidently up the plank that lead to his ship, calling out orders to his crew.

The Jolly Roger cast off from the pier and out to sea. It was still in sight when a reflection on the water blinded everyone who was watching for a second and a moment later the ship was gone.


Regina woke from a light slumber reaching instantly for her lover but not finding her. She lifted her head from the pillow in drowsy confusion and found Emma standing at the window, her naked silhouette highlighted by moonlight.

"Hmmmm," Regina purred at the beautiful sight and Emma turned to her. "Are you trying to give the neighbors a heart-attack?"

Emma laughed lightly.

"I can't be seen by any of the neighbors, don't worry."

"Hm, then I guess you're trying to give me a heart-attack. The sight sure is breath-taking," Regina said as she rose from the bed - also naked - and joined her lover at the window.

Emma turned back to the darkness outside with a thoughtful expression and Regina put her hand to Emma's temple, carressing her face and then cupping her jaw.

"What are you thinking about?" the dark-haired woman asked.

Emma took a moment to think then she said:

"Ruby."

Regina lifted an eyebrow and turned her head so that Emma could see it.

"Was it something I did?" the mayor asked with a smile and Emma had to laugh.

"No."

"Did I growl a little when...," she started but Emma pulled her face to hers and kissed her as they both giggled. Then she kissed her again and again and they forgot for the moment what they had been talking about as hands started their renewed leasurely exploration over naked skin. They leaned into each other as their kiss deepened, their breathing became ragged and wanting.

"I know that you're trying to distract me," Emma whispered when they parted for more air.

Regina opened her eyes and looked at Emma through the semi-darkness.

"I know you've been sad for Ruby, that you're still sad."

Emma nodded.

"It's just so incredibly unfair that... everyone is getting what they want but Ruby... she loses everything. She couldn't even stay here or go back home. She helped me so much when I was falling in love with you and I couldn't do anything for her," she said.

"I think you helped her by listening and... advising her to leave for a while," Regina argued. "And she wasn't the only one who didn't get what they wanted. I think they might as well have renamed the Jolly Roger 'Ship of Broken Dreams,'" she added.

"Are you trying to point out the trail of broken hearts I've left behind?" Emma asked and her frown deepened.

"No, I just... I'm trying to tell you that you're not responsible for everyone's happiness, Emma. You can't be. I know that the title of savior puts you under that pressure but... you couldn't make Neal and Hook and me happy at the same time, sometimes the happiness of two people means unhappiness for others. We couldn't keep our knowledge of Rumple's situation to ourselves, it wouldn't have been fair."

"I know. But I still wish there would have been another way. I wish Ruby and Belle had had more time together. Maybe Belle would have... fallen for Ruby...," but she didn't sound convinced.

"Maybe she would have but that would have made it harder for her to decide... who she wanted in the end," Regina argued. She pulled Emma closer to her, embracing her naked cooling body and carressing her hair. "Ruby will have to find someone for herself, someone whose heart is unattached."

Emma nodded against Regina's neck and lay her head on her lover's shoulder.

"You know... I'm sorry for Neal and Hook, too. I mean... I'm not sorry that I love you, I couldn't be, but I'm sorry that I... I'm who they want and cannot have."

Regina didn't say anything to this and after a long moment Emma leaned back to look into her lover's eyes.

"You don't like me talking about them, I'm sorry."

"No, I... I know you feel bad for them but I can't. I know they wouldn't if places were reversed. If you hadn't fallen for me but for Hook, or had gotten back with Neal... they wouldn't spare me a thought," Regina said.

"You're right but... I probably would have... that is... if I knew that you had feelings for me. Does that make any sense?"

"Things would have been very different if I had developed feelings for you and you wouldn't have for me and had instead gotten together with Neal or Hook. But I'm fairly certain I wouldn't have told you how I felt."

Emma took Regina's face between her hands and kissed her lovingly.

"I would have guessed," she said confidently.

"Really?"

"Your sweet brown eyes are an open book for me, woman," Emma told Regina and kissed her again, her lips increasing the pressure this time, her tongue flicking over Regina's lips.

"Is that so?" the mayor murmured into Emma's mouth as their passions ignited and they deepened the kiss, their bodies coming together in a renewed need for heat and the sheer pleasure of touch.

Emma pulled Regina toward the bed.

"I love you, savior," Regina moaned into Emma's mouth as the blonde cupped one of her breasts, grazing her nipple with the nail of her thumb.

"I love you, woman," Emma gave back as she started kissing down the mayor's neck. Her legs touched against the bed and she sat down on it, pulling Regina on top of her so that the smaller woman straddled her.

They kissed ever deeper as their bodies moved against each other and hands found their ways between them, touching, carressing, gliding over heated flesh. They loved each other, body and soul. It was a love that would never have happened in a fairy tale but maybe that made it even better.