A/N: Okay so again apologies for the… (we won't count how long it's been)… delay. I hope everyone is keeping safe in these uncertain times.

I know this chapter is short and sweet but overall it closes it off nicely too I believe. I hope you all have enjoyed this fic and please review if you feel so inclined.

Chapter 24

Epilogue

The kiss seemed to go on for eternity to the point that some of the people that were gathered, once regaining their memories for, however many times now that they had been cursed, slowly left the scene not quite sure what to take from the Mayor and their now seemingly converted Saviour.

It was only because Snow tentatively interrupted with a 'heh hum' that caused them to break apart followed by her suggestion of dinner at Granny's.

At the mention of food, the brunette raised an eyebrow questioningly at her now completely blonde lover.

"It should be safe, though I am craving steak," Emma replied in a half-joking tone.

"Well, it's better than the dietary requirements you've had up until this point," Regina mused as long olive fingers combed through the younger woman's hair briefly before she pulled them both into a standing position.

"Excellent!" Snow squealed excitedly before grabbing her husband by his coat as she dragged him, with a slightly startled grunt, towards the diner without waiting for any form of response. "We'll let Granny know and make sure to reserve the table," she called back over her shoulder.

"Okay, we'll be there in a moment," Regina responded with a slight eye roll just as Henry made himself obvious in their peripheral vision.

"So… what happened with Mormo?" He asked hesitantly as he pulled at the end of his jacket, then stopped as soon as sepia orbs glanced at the ministration with a frown and instead, he shoved his hands deep in the pockets of his jacket.

This evoked a positive change in facial expression from the older woman who couldn't help but note in his stance a very inherited trait from his birth mother.

But then her thoughts returned to exactly what the boy had asked and the ramifications for Emma's return as the white marble of Pandora's sarcophagus surfaced in her mind.

"That's… a little more difficult to explain and something that we shouldn't talk about out in the open," The Saviour said softly before she nodded her head in the direction they needed to go. "There are other things we can discuss though…"

"Like?" Their son responded as they fell into step beside one another.

"How about family time later?" Emma countered.

Regina chuckled at the blonde's words leading to the fluttering of warmth in The Saviour's stomach at the brunette's response.

"You're on!" the boy declared and grinned lopsidedly at them both. "Mom?"

"Perhaps, we'll see," the older woman laughed softly once again, "We've had a long day, we'll discuss it later."

The onlookers all around were peering curiously as they walked and while they would have assumed at this point that most of them would have been people from Camelot, Henry spied Mr Clark with his mouth gaped as he watched them all from The Pharmacy door right before he turned away to sneeze. Along with him, a myriad of other Storybrooke counterparts wore rather bemused or baffled expressions as they noted The Mayor and Saviour hand in hand.

As luck would have it The Charmings had either cleared most of the diner themselves or in the aftermath of the curse-breaking had people rushing to complete any unfinished business, they didn't know and Emma wondered if it was such a good idea that the just sit down to dinner so publicly with not knowing the full extent of who and what they would face now.

Her thoughts stirred as she closed the door behind them all and they joined her parents in the closed-in corner stall that they usually all gathered in, Henry wedged firmly in the centre between both couples as her father called out for the usual's all-round to which Regina inserted the request of a steak that the blonde had mentioned previously. This had lead to a soft smile cast in Regina's direction and full lips curved into a smile in response.

There were still a lot of unanswered questioned, for example where was Hook? What about what remained of Arthur's men? But a part of her knew as green orbs shifted to her left once more where the brunette had taken the spot next to her, that everything would be okay as long as they faced things together. That life was too short and they needed to take those moments and enjoy them before they faced the next battle.

Just don't fuck it up, Swan.

After the curse had been broken most of Storybrooke, even those with their newfound memories, returned to life in an almost normative manner the exception being for those from Camelot who divided amongst themselves: those that enjoyed the modern advances and those that yearned to return home.

This had at first lead to several civil disputes which forced everyone to work closely together to write new laws for the town to maintain order but also fairly resolve issues.

Hook had completely disappeared, his ship included and while this should have made them all glad, it left an unsettled feeling in the blonde's gut, unsure of the pirate's motives that she had so clearly chosen the more regal brunette.

Arthur's men had appeared briefly if only to apologise and ask for places amongst the police force as the militaristic lifestyle was the only one they knew. At first, they had been hesitant to assign roles and had deployed them amongst Robin's men to gain order and to determine their trustworthiness.

Roland remained with The Merrymen being raised by the only other father figure he knew of, Little John and occasionally upon his request, he would spend days with Regina, Emma and Henry.

Zelena was the only one of them that remained locked up but it had been a slow and gradual process but it had finally gotten to the point that they could all be within the vicinity of one another without any unkind words being hurled between siblings, or Emma whenever she intervened between the pair.

They had discussed Pandora briefly on and off also and it had been both of them that had taken the time to tell Belle of her death since they had taken accounts that the pair had talked quite often and they didn't want her to hear from the wrong source.

She had understandably been upset and Gold had comforted his wife only to be shot down by The Mayor when he had questioned further on the subject of what had happened, Emma and Regina who had decided before they informed them of the news that the whereabouts of Pandora would remain solely between themselves.

Even when Belle had insisted that she needed to know in order to pay respects to her new friend, Regina had gently informed her that there were no remains for her to do so followed by Emma offering her sincere condolences. Though it had been far from the truth they knew that they couldn't risk the darkness being exposed and that itself meant it far outweighed the guilt they felt doing so to protect it.

They both knew it might not be over but for now, they were content being a family and getting used to their new dynamic especially around the town and maintaining the order that was needed still between the groups that were fighting, even if was albeit much less so.

Even if they didn't know what would happen, Emma knew one thing with certainty more than anything, for the first time in her entire life that she had ever felt so sure of, that they'd handle anything that would come their way. Together.