The final chapter is here. Thank you for all your support and for taking this ride with me.

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Chapter 8

"She's home! Mommy she's home! We gotta hide!" The little blonde yelled excitedly as she ran through the house.

Regina caught her and chuckled. "Okay, shh. Everyone hide." She said and dimmed the lights.

"Oh my, it sure is dark in here. That's odd considering all the cars parked out front of the house." Emma said loudly as she came in and took her boots off.

Regina rolled her eyes and turned the lights on, and everyone shouted. "Surprise!"

Emma, for her part, put on a surprised face. "What is all this about?" Though she knew people were over, she really didn't know why. It wasn't her birthday, it wasn't her and Regina's anniversary. Then it hit her and her eyes locked with Regina and she smiled. "Has it really been five years? What a dumb question, of course it has. We just had Chloe's fifth birthday. I don't know why I didn't put two and two together."

Regina nodded, unshed tears in her eyes as she made her way to her wife. "Five years, Emma and don't put yourself down. We were focused on making the day great for her." She made her way over and kissed her wife. "And today, we celebrate having you back."

Emma kissed her back and then remembered there were others there. "You and I will celebrate later." She said, wiggling her brows before turning to the crowd. "Wow, thank you all for coming here to celebrate."

"We wouldn't miss it, Emma." David said, smiling wide. "I'll never forget getting that call five years ago when they found you."

"You've come so far, baby girl." Snow said, going and hugging her daughter. "I'm so proud of you, Emma. What a survivor you are."

"She's right, Emma, so don't try to deny it." Archie said, seeing Emma about to do just that. "You put in the hard work and it paid off."

"Damn right!" Granny said. "I mean, you was a pretty good sheriff before girl, but the way you handle people when they're in crisis mode is just amazing. I hear so many stories of people who have said they've talked to you and you've talked them out of doing harm to themselves."

"It's not just me." Emma said, she couldn't not say it. "I have a team of amazing people who are there to help others."

"Yes, but you trained us, you organized the whole thing." Ruby said. "Emma, give yourself some credit."

"Okay, okay. Yes, I'm a survivor. I worked hard to get my life back and I work hard making sure others feel validated in their own lives. I'm a fighter and I'm strong. Okay? Can we move on now?" Emma asked with a chuckle.

"Okay, let's move on." Lily said and looked at Regina. "I was told there would be food here."

Everyone laughed and broke into smaller groups and Emma finally could breathe without being in the spotlight. She looked around and smiled at everyone there before going to answer the knock at the door.

"Hey Ma."

Emma's eyes were wide, and she smiled brightly. "Henry?! I thought you weren't going to be home for a few weeks yet." She threw her arms around him, standing on her toes to do so. "Gods you're a giant."

He laughed and hugged her back, picking her up a little. "I wouldn't miss today for anything. I was able to talk to my teachers and get my semester work done early so I could be here. The story may be a little different out in that world, but they still know about you and said that I had to be home for this celebration."

"Oh, Henry. This means so much to me." Emma said, kissing his cheek. "Come see your mother; she will be so excited to see you. Was she in on this surprise?"

"No, I was not. Henry! Get in here!" Regina said, pulling her son into the house. "I didn't think we'd see you until Christmas."

Henry explained to Regina how he got out of school early and she then fussed about how he wasn't eating enough and went to make him a plate. He looked over at Emma. "How are you doing, Ma? Really."

Emma looked at him and smiled. "I'm doing great, Henry. Honestly I am. Sure, I have nightmares now and then and I still can't stomach the thought of when Chloe will one day ask about all this, but otherwise, life is great. The Storybrooke Crisis Line is in full swing and as much as I hate that it's needed, I'm glad we did it because we get a lot of calls. Your mom and I are doing great to the point where sometimes we forget there were four years apart." She bit at her lip. "I miss you though. I know you're just at school and I'm so happy for you, but I won't lie, I miss you so much." She tried to blink her tears, but a few fell and he wiped them away.

"I'm sorry, Ma. I promise, once I graduate, I'll be back."

Emma shook her head. "Don't be sorry. It's a normal part of life, kid. I just…I just hate that I've only had about four years with you in your twenty-one years of life. I…I don't want you to ever resent that, you know?"

"Ma, I've told you this before and I'll keep telling you this; I don't resent it at all. You gave me up for my best chance when I was a baby and I had a wonderful childhood. I really and truly did. You didn't ask to be taken when I was twelve and I know you'd have been with me if you had the choice. It wasn't your fault. I could never resent you for that. I love you so much and I'm glad you're here with Chloe and you get to raise her because you deserve it. You deserve to be happy, Ma."

Emma took a deep breath and wiped her eyes. "Thank you, but so do you. If that means you don't come back after graduation, I will learn to be okay with it."

Henry's eyes looked to the side and then back to Emma. "Mom, I'll be back."

Emma casually looked over and saw Brent. Henry had never admitted anything, but Regina and Emma had their theories. "Henry, you know you can tell me anything."

Henry blushed and looked down. "Yes, we're dating. We're keeping it secret for now because of the distance, but we have futures planned here. He's grandpa's best deputy and wants to be sheriff one day and I think I can really do great things once mom retires and I run for mayor. In the meantime, I love being a lawyer and I can do that here."

"Well I'm happy for you, kid. It's a good thing your mother and I made up with Brooke then." She said with a chuckle.

"Yeah, that was kinda hard back then. I'm glad too because Mom has another friend that isn't because of marriage to you." He chuckled.

Emma mingled for a bit and then saw her daughter fighting to keep her eyes open on the sofa. She went to her and picked her up, looking for Regina. "Honey? I'm going to get her changed and in bed."

"I can do it, baby." Regina said, but Emma shook her head.

"I kinda need a break." She smiled and Regina nodded, understanding.

As Emma was tucking her now bathed and pajama clad daughter into bed, Chloe looked at her mom. "Mama? What was the party for? I asked mommy and all she said was it was to celebrate you coming home. But you come home every day."

Emma chuckled a little and laid in the bed next to her daughter. "It's to celebrate the day I came home five years ago after being held captive for four years."

"Held captive? What does that mean?"

Emma sighed, trying to keep this as kid friendly as she could, but also honest. "I was locked up, honey. A bad man took me to Oz and kept me locked up and hidden away. I was there for four years before he let me go."

Chloe's eyes were wide. "Oh, Mama! Were you so scared?"

Emma nodded. "I was very scared. But then I'd remember that your mommy was here and that she'd find me one day."

"And Henry, and Grampa, and Gramma, and other Gramma, and Zelena, and Lily, and everyone, and me!"

Emma chuckled. "Yes, all of them. They all helped me; you helped me, even if you were just a baby."

Chloe was quiet for a while. "Was the bad man my daddy?"

"What? Chloe, why would you ask that?"

"I…Mama, don't get mad, but I hearded mommy and Grampa talking one day. Grampa asked Mommy why you changed my middle name to Hope when it used to be Jack and she said it was because Jack was too close to 'his' name. Gramps said he didn't think about that and he didn't want me to ever think I was named after my father."

Emma was trying hard to swallow the lump in her throat, not sure if she was ready for this or not. However, she couldn't and wouldn't lie to her daughter. "I'm not mad." Emma said, her voice almost a whisper because of her tight throat. "He…he was your father, yes, but he was never your daddy. He was too evil to be a daddy." She held her daughter close. "But you are not bad, Chloe, you are not evil. I loved you from the moment I felt you inside me. Your mommy loves you and always has and always will."

Chloe felt safe in her mother's arms and was a bit young to understand all of this. "Can I just keep telling people I have two mommies and no daddy?"

Emma kissed Chloe's forehead. "You can because it's the truth. Mommy and I love you so much that you don't need a daddy."

"I don't want a mean daddy. Not a daddy who locked you up." She then looked at Emma. "I won't be mean like him when I'm older, right?"

"Oh, baby girl, no. No honey. You are going to be good like Mommy and Me. You're going to be strong, kind, brave, and caring, just like you are now. This will not change who you are."

Chloe just nodded and smiled. "I love you, Mama. Thank you for telling me the truth."

Emma peppered her face with kisses. "I love you too, sweetheart."

Emma came down once Chloe was asleep and sighed as she started cleaning empty glasses.

"Emma, I don't think Regina would want you doing that." Brooke said, coming over and taking the glasses from Emma. "This is your party."

Emma sighed. "I know I just…I just had a hard conversation with Chloe and while I love everyone here celebrating, I kind of wish they weren't here."

Brooke put the glasses down and gently touched Emma's arm. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Emma sighed and sat down. "She asked about her father. She apparently heard a conversation between Regina and my father when they were discussing her middle name and how it was changed. I couldn't lie to her, but I really wanted to."

"Oh, Emma, I'm sorry abut that. I didn't know she was around when your father and I had that conversation." Regina stated, coming into the room. "Is she okay?"

"I think so." Emma told her about their conversation and Regina assured Emma she would have a chat with the girl in the morning. "Thank you." Emma said and kissed Regina's cheek.

Emma went back out and mingled some more before bidding the guests good night. Once they were gone and Regina was cleaning, Emma slipped into the office. She slid the folder from between two books, filled a glass of whiskey, and sat on the sofa to open it. The blonde ran her fingers down the papers inside, reading the reports and then looking at the pictures. Her mind was instantly taken back to that cell and she could smell and taste the dank air.

"Emma. Honey, why do you look at that?" Regina asked, sitting next to her wife.

"Once a year, Regina, to remind myself of how far I've come."

"You've come so far, my love." Regina stated, slipping the folder from her wife and putting it on the table. She then slid into her wife's arms and the two held each other, each lost in their own thoughts.

After a bit, Emma let out a breath. "Let's go up to bed. We have some celebrating to do."

Christmas came and Emma enjoyed her time with her family. The night of, Chloe had fallen asleep on Regina's lap, who also happened to be asleep in the armchair. Henry fell asleep on the sofa and Emma sat in the other armchair sipping her hot cocoa. She looked around and smiled softly. "I won, Jackson. I fucking won."

~The End~