Misthaven, one month later

It was a month ago today that Emma had defeated the darkness and sacrificed herself. One month since Killian had brought her back with True Love's Kiss. It was funny how time worked. In some ways, it felt like it all happened just yesterday, but in others, it felt like they'd been living in the idyllic peace of Misthaven for all their lives.

It would be a massive understatement to say Misthaven was different from the life Emma used to know in the Land Without Magic–even she'd begun using the local terminology for her previous home–and yet Emma had never felt more at peace or more fulfilled than she did while she was here with her husband, her son, her family and her heritage.

That wasn't to say it had been a month free of any pain or hardships. There was bound to be a great deal of trauma that needed to be worked through for all of them after everything they'd been through. There was an elf in Misthaven named Archie who fulfilled the role that in the Land Without Magic might have been called a shrink. Emma, Killian and Henry had all been to see him multiple times–sometimes alone, and sometimes together as a family.

After a few days of settling in and adjusting to their new life, Emma and Killian had discussed what they would do moving forward. Did they want to remain in Misthaven or return to the Land Without Magic? They settled on a combination of the two. They would like to make their primary residence in Misthaven but make the occasional trip back to their previous home.

Of course all of that was merely theoretical at this point. With Excalibur destroyed, there was no known way to travel between realms, although there had been rumors of a distant land where portal-opening magic beans were being grown and harvested, so it was possible one day realm travel would again be possible.

Emma thought about her old life. What would Cleo and their friends think? One day the entire Jones family had simply vanished from the face of the earth without a trace. Emma knew Cleo would have all her best private investigators looking into the disappearance, but of course she had no hope of discovering the truth.

Thinking back over her (admittedly few) unsolved cases, Emma wondered if it was possible something similar had happened. Was it possible the skips she found NO trace of had crossed realms and literally disappeared from the face of the earth?

Beside her, Killian stirred, and Emma smiled, loving the way he burrowed his nose into her neck and held her that little bit tighter early in the morning as he started to wake up.

"Morning already, Love?" he murmured sleepily.

"This place doesn't exactly have a lot of clocks," Emma answered, turning over to face him and give him a quick, smacking kiss, "but judging by how dark it still is outside, I'd say no."

"Everything alright?" he asked with concern. "The little one isn't giving you trouble is she?"

Emma smiled, stroking his beloved face. Emma had only begun to suspect she was pregnant again the day before yesterday. At this point, it was merely a suspicion, especially given the fact that there were no pregnancy tests in this land, but from the moment she'd told Killian, he'd been ecstatic, thoroughly convinced that not only was there another little Jones on the way, but that this time they'd be having a little daughter.

She hoped her suspicions were correct; she really did. Not just because of Killian's excitement at the prospect of fatherhood for a second time, but because she realized she really and truly wanted this too. She hadn't known how much until she'd missed her period and started to feel the typical nausea and fatigue of early pregnancy.

"She–or he–is fine," Emma assured him. "And I'm fine too. I just…woke up."

"Another nightmare?" he asked sympathetically.

"Yeah," she admitted, resting her head on his chest. "Same one as always. I fail to stop the Dark One and he makes me watch him kill you and Henry before he kills me."

"Want to talk about it?" Killian asked.

She shook her head. "It wasn't real, and that dream no longer has any hold over me. No, after I was awake, I started thinking about all we have yet to do in the next day or two, and wondering how early my mom would be knocking on our door in the morning."

As soon as the dust had settled from the dramatic events of last month, Snow had decided Emma and Killian needed a proper Misthaven wedding. She had, as she put it, missed out on nearly every milestone in her daughter's life, and she would not miss out on this one–regardless of the fact that Emma and Killian were already married and any future ceremony would be more akin to a renewal of the vows.

"Don't be ridiculous, Emma," Snow had said, brushing off her objections. "The vows you and Killian took were til death do you part. Death parted you, so clearly you need to wed again."

Emma doubted that was truly how it worked–although she would guess there was no legal or religious, or whatever, precedent for a wife who dies and then comes back from the dead–and she'd never been one for a big fuss, but her mother was so excited, and there was something so utterly heart-warming about having a family who cared so much, that she put up no more than a token protest to all her mother's planning.

(Although Killian had very definitely put up a protest that one morning Snow had barged in, wedding planning binder in hand, just as they were about to engage in some activities they very definitely did not wish her mother to be present for. Luckily, Snow had taken the hint and very pointedly knocked before entering their chambers since that day.)

"I'd wager we still have a few hours, love," Killian laughed, wiggling his eyebrows outrageously. "I can think of a few ways to get your mind completely off of both nightmares and wedding planning."

Emma laughed at his antics, but quickly stopped when he surged forward and claimed her lips in a seering, passionate kiss. Her laughter turned to a moan of pure want as the banked fire between them flared to life again as it always did.

Their kisses turned longer, drugging them, making them feel a kind of ecstatic bliss that was always present when they were together as husband and wife. Killian reached for the hem of her nightdress, and then–

"Mom? Dad?" came the small, subdued voice from the doorway. "I had another bad dream."

Killian groaned softly, as Emma smiled commiseratingly up at him before he returned to his side of the bed. Emma loved her son beyond anything else in this realm or any other, but his timing could certainly be better.

Killian sat up and beckoned Henry forward. The lad ran forward, scampering onto the bed, and burying himself in his father's arms. Emma reached over and rubbed soothing circles over her son's back.

"It was just a dream, kid," she said genty. "Remember what Archie said. It's over. The Dark One can't hurt you anymore."

"I know," Henry said with a slightly wobbly voice. "But this time it wasn't about me. I dreamed that after the bad man hurt you until you died, you didn't come back. I dreamed I never got to see you again."

Beside her, Emma saw Killian stiffen and take in a quick, deep breath before holding his son even closer.

"But she did return to us, Lad," Killian said after a moment in a gentle voice. "We are all here, and we are all well, and there's nothing left to fear."

"Your father's right," Emma said. "I came back to you, and I always will. We're a family, and that means we will always find each other."

"Can…can I sleep with you guys?" Henry asked in a small voice.

"Of course you can," Emma said, settling him in between her and Killian and stroking the hair off his forehead until his breathing evened into sleep.

"Do you think he'll ever fully recover from all that happened, love?" Killian asked, settling in and wrapping his arm around his little family.

"Of course he will," Emma reassured. "We all will."

Killian yawned. "Perhaps we'd best get sleep while we can, Swan. As you said, your mother will be eager to get back to last minute wedding planning before we know it."

About that, Emma knew her husband was 100% correct.

Two Days later, Misthaven

Heart full to bursting, Killian dipped his bride, kissing her exuberantly to the cheers of their wedding attendees. Pulling back, he whispered "You did it, Swan. You got your happy ending."

"That's not what this is," she said, tilting her head and smiling blissfully up at him. "It's something else."

"What then?" he asked, holding her, gazing besottedly into her eyes.

"A happy beginning," she answered. "Tomorrow is uncertain; who knows what it will bring?"

"But one thing is for sure Love," he said, swaying with her, his forehead pressed to hers.. "With you, I have everything. A happily ever after is the way these stories go."

The rest of the forest clearing seemed to fade away for him. The queen would likely be displeased with them. She'd worked to script every moment of this wedding extravaganza, and by rights, he should be walking his bride back down the snow-bell strewn aisle. In this moment, though, nothing existed for him but this woman and the love he shared with her.

"Used to think that's what I wanted, " she replied, "but now I finally know. There's no storm we can't outrun."

"We will always find the sun," he agreed.

"Leave the past and all its scars."

"A happy beginning now is ours."

A throat cleared from somewhere in the congregation. If Killian didn't miss his guess, that was the former Evil Queen's way of (not so subtly) reminding them that there were, in fact, other people in the world.

Killian grinned, finally stepping back, offering Emma his arm, and escorting her down the aisle.

Killian knew that in all his days, he'd never forget the moment he got his first glimpse of his bride walking down the aisle on her father's arm toward him. She was radiant, angelic in her long, white dress, with its long belled sleeves, her hair curled and falling down her back in a golden wave, a circlet of snowbells and greenery atop in lieu of a veil.

If it were possible to die of happiness, he knew he'd expire right on the spot.

"Mom looks pretty, doesn't she?" Henry asked from beside him.

Killian smilled patting his son–and best man–on the back. "Absolutely gorgeous, my lad."

Their ceremony had been short and simple, a concession Queen Snow had begrudgingly made given Emma's unfamiliarity with the customs of Misthaven and her natural tendency to avoid pomp and circumstance. Within the span of a mere quarter of an hour, they'd renewed their vows and promised to love and honor each other through all eternity.

"You are happy, aren't you, Killian?" Emma asked as they slowly made their way down the remainder of the aisle and headed toward the tent beyond where their wedding feast had been carefully laid out.

"Of course, Swan. Never more so."

It was the truth; he was so happy here with her that he could scarcely contain it, but still there was a small pang deep in his heart.

He thought back to the other morning, when Henry had come to them after his nightmare. Yes, it was true, they'd defeated the Dark One, restored peace, and ushered in a new age of prosperity for their kingdom. There was little doubt they'd live many long, happy years together, surrounded by their children and grandchildren.

But in the end–whether it be five minutes from now or five decades from now–Swan would die; it was the fate of all mortals, and Killian would be left alone. Having already experienced her death once, he didn't know how he would bear it again.

"Are you sure?" she asked, turning him toward her as they took their seat at the center of the head table. "You seem, I don't know, almost sad."

Killian shoved aside his musings. There would be plenty of time to mourn for her when their final separation happened. For now, for today, they were celebrating. He offered her a sincere smile, cupping her head and giving her a soft kiss (to the sound of a wolf whistle from Ruby, if he didn't miss his guess). "I am quite certain, my love."

What followed had been a joyful celebration of life, of victory and of love. The cook of Misthaven Castle had truly outdone himself, providing a repast of unparalleled grandeur, and then the dancing and revelry had begun.

As night fell, Johanna had ushered Henry to bed, and then the wedding attendees had begun dispersing little by little until finally only the king and queen and Emma and Killian themselves had remained.

Killian was on the point of suggesting–with an overabundance of innuendo and meaning–that it was high time he and Swan adjourned to the bridal chamber, when suddenly there was a bright flash of light. He got to his feet, reaching in vain for the sword he'd neglected to don with his wedding attire. If someone dared to mar their wedding, they'd live to regret it!

But when their eyes adjusted to the light, they found themselves facing not a foe, but–

"Merlin" Emma breathed, eyes gone wide. "How…how are you here?"

"Technically speaking, I am not," Merlin said with his customary secretive smile. As though to demonstrate, he walked through a nearby tree. "I am more of what you might call a ghost."

"So it seems," King Charming said, "but why are you here? (Not that you're unwelcome at our celebration.)"

Merlin smiled again, stepping toward Emma and Killian. "I have been authorized to present one last wedding gift to the happy couple."

He raised his incorporeal hands and placed them on Emma's head. Light poured from them, surrounding and enveloping her. For a moment she glowed brightly, and then the light faded away. Merlin stepped back, smiling.

"What was that?" Emma asked. "I feel…different, somehow, I don't know, more than I was before."

"And so you are," Merlin said before turning toward Killian. "Lieutenant Killian Jones, Prince Consort of Misthaven, Zeus has heard your longings and has seen fit, given the invaluable service you and your wife have provided to all the realms, to offer you your heart's desire. Emma has been restored to her Elven heritage. As her ancestors before her, she is now imbued with the gift of immortality. You both will, indeed, be together for all eternity."

Killian felt the tears gather and spill over as he turned to Emma, seeing her love and incredible joy reflected back at him. Now, indeed, they both had achieved perfect happiness.

David sighed contentedly as his wife settled into his arms later that night in their bed. He was exhausted after the long day they'd had, but it was the happiest kind of exhaustion.

It had been a wonderful day.

"I think it all went well today, don't you?" Snow asked sleepily as she softly stroked his chest.

He smiled, bending to place a quick kiss on the top of her head. "It went perfectly," he agreed. "You really outdid yourself."

"You don't think it was too much, do you?" Snow asked, raising up on one elbow to look down at him with concern. "You don't think I scared Emma off with all my fussing over her wedding?"

David chuckled, shaking his head. "Snow, if our daughter can face down the Dark One himself and even find the courage to die for her kingdom, I hardly think a little maternal fussing is going to scare her off."

She gave him a look.

"No," he said, pulling her head back to his chest. "I think Emma's unused to mattering to anyone other than Killian and Henry, but I don't think she was displeased with your wedding preparations. She seemed so exquisitely happy today."

"Can you believe it?" Snow asked, the joy back in her voice. "Our daughter married to her true love and returned to her elven heritage all in one day! It's like a dream come true. Do you remember the night she was born? Do you remember how heartbroken and hopeless we felt? I'll always regret missing so much of Emma's life, but now all is finally right. Now we have the rest of our lives together."

David felt the tears spring to his eyes. It had been decades of strife, of pain, of forgetfulness. Decades where it felt like evil was too big and all-pervasive to overcome, but they had done it. They had fought for their happy ending, and they had won.

He looked up through the skylight in their bedroom to the clear, brilliant night sky up above. "Indeed," David answered, yawning as the fatigue fully caught up to him. "At long last, the stars are all alight."

The end The Happy Beginning!

Notes:

–Well, there you have it. After 3+ years, this epic tale is finally at an end! Thank you to all of you who have stuck with it throughout all the long pauses between chapters! Your support has helped me persevere through the times my muse abandoned me. I am absolutely terrible about responding to comments, but know that I have appreciated each and every one!

–I would like to give a big thank you, once again to my beta, blackwidownat2414 and to my artist, clockadile, for all their work and help on this project. Isn't the wedding portrait clockadile painted for Emma and Killian stunning?

–I don't know what's next for me in my fanfiction endeavors–other than the occasional update to fluffy Fridays, but I've got a few ideas floating around in my head, so stay tuned!