/Present Time/

After four days of planning and meetings it was finally here. The funeral would start in forty minutes. And for some reason Snow found herself unable to walk out the door.

Her husband was already outside the door but he turned around once she didn't follow. "Hey, what is it?" he asked softly after having reached her.

"I don't know, it's just-"

"I know," he said in understandingly as he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

No one should have to bury their child yet that's exactly what they were about to do. And neither of them were ready for that.

/

Henry stood in his room facing the full body mirror hanging on the wall. He was desperately trying to tie his black tie, but was failing and getting frustrated.

It hadn't occurred to him until now that he had never actually tied a tie before. He didn't usually where one, but one the very few occasions when he had two either one of his moms helped him. But now that he had to do it on his own, he was failing miserably.

After about a million tries he got way too frustrated and sighed heavily and was about to throw the tie on the bed when he was interrupted by knocking. It was Killian, the door was open but he still knocked on the door frame.

"Need some help with that?"

"Yeah," the boy responded sounding embarrassed

"Well tying a tie can be a very difficult task," Killian said making his way up to the teenager, "worry not lad, I may have been a pirate but I'm still quite familiar with the arts of tying a tie."

"Thanks," Henry said as the man started tying the black strip of fabric around his neck, "not just for this but for everything. You've really helped me a lot, so thanks."

"Any time lad." He replied while turning the boy around so he is facing the mirror once again, only this time the tie is tied perfectly. "I mean it, anything you need I'm here."

He could now see that the pirate really cared for him, that he was gonna stick around. And for that he was grateful, but with everything going on today and now this, he was afraid if he spoke his voice would crack with emotion. So he settled for giving him a small smile, to which Killian returned with a pat on the shoulder.

/

Slowly a crowd started to gather at the grave yard. Everyone wanted to pay their final respects to their sheriff and savior.

Snow and David stood at the front greeting those who were coming up to give their condolences. Behind them was a polished black wooden casket, and insode it lay Emma Swan.

She was wearing a little black dress and her usual red leather jacket, a detail added by Henry through Killian. The service was going to be mostly closed casket, but would be briefly opened so the family members and close friends could place a rose inside with her.

About everyone was already there when Killian showed up and sat near the very back of the group. He didn't want too many people noticing him, of course some still did and gave him sympathetic looks, but he was too busy looking for Henry to acknowledge them.

He and the boy had separated a few minutes prior. As they were reaching the site Henry said he would say hello to Violet and would join him again later. Only now that he was looking around he could see the young girl was already there, but Henry was nowhere in in sight.

"Greetings everyone," Archie started interrupting his train of thought, "I want to thank you all for joining us here today to honor the amazing person that was, Emma Swan."

Meanwhile, Henry was watching the service start from the forest in back.

Technically he didn't lie to Killian, he still met up with Violet, but instead of walking with her he took off into the forest.

He's a bit unsure as to why. He remembers reaching the grave yard and seeing a large group of people, some who were already bombarding him saying they were sorry.

'Yeah right,' he thought, 'all they care about is the fact that she saved their lives.'

Suddenly he got very overwhelmed and the next thing he knew he was surrounded by thick trees willing himself to move forward.

But for some reason he couldn't.

He knew he had to. He had to go and sit with his grandparents in the front, he had to place a rose in the casket, he had to thank everyone for coming, and most importantly he had to give the eulogy at the end. He had spent all night writing and perfecting it, plus everyone was counting on him to give it.

He couldn't miss it, he didn't want to miss it.

Yet for some reason his limbs weren't responding to the voice in his head. And no matter how loud he yelled and them to walk forwards towards the crowd, he couldn't.

/

David sat next to his wife, their almost one year old son sitting in her lap. He had no idea what was going on so he just babbled happily every once in a while, his innocence acting as a ray of hope in this dark situation.

It was his turn to walk up to the now open casket and place a single red rose inside. He was trying to remain strong for his family, but once he saw his little princess laying in the casket he couldn't stop a sob the escaped his lips.

He tried convincing himself she was only sleeping, but no matter how peaceful she looked he knew she was never waking up.

"Hey princess," he whispered, "I love you so much, and I'm so proud of you." He stopped to wipe some of his tears away before continuing. "You didn't deserve this, and I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you. I need you to know that I tried really hard to be the dad you deserved, I don't know if I ever achieved that but I really hope I did."

At this point he was struggling to get the words out through his tears, but he continued. "Even though I didn't really meet you until you were twenty-eight, you'll always be my little girl," he placed the rose on her stomach in between her hands and stoked her cheek before whispering, "Goodnight princess" then he walked away and sat back down.

Now it was Snow's turn, she stood up and gave her son to her husband before walking up to the casket.

"Hey honey," she too started whispering words only she would hear, "I miss you so much. You probably would have hated all of this, the cheesy lines and people all dressed up in black." She chuckled to herself a little but that was quickly replaced with a sob.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Emma. I'm sorry you had to grow up being alone and mistreated. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you, I should have been there for you. Now it's my turn to live without you in my life and I can't, I don't know how."

She took a deep breathe and placed the rose next to her husbands, "I love you so, so, much."

She kissed her cold forehead and a part of her expected her to wake up, but she never did. So instead she walked back and took her seat.

Regina, Granny, the dwarves, and some other townspeople stepped up to place a rose but all were silent. After a few moments there was a pretty large bouquet of beautiful red roses sitting ontop of Emma's stomach. Killian was the last to go up, he bent down so his lips were inches above hers. "I'm trying love" he whispered before softly kissing her dry cold lips.

Regina seemed to be the only one who noticed Henry didn't go up, but before she could act Archie continued with the service. "And now to give us a few concluding words, Emma's son, Henry"

Silence was the only thing heard for a few seconds, well that and some hushed murmuring. Back in the woods Henry could hear it was time for him to talk but he still could not move.

Noticing the boy was not coming, Killian stood up and walked towards the podium next the the casket.

"Umm," he started, "I know I'm not the person you were expecting but, er, something came up, so"

Even through the numbness he could feel the people's stares digging holes into him. 'So much for not being noticed' he thought.

"Let's see where to start," he knew he couldn't just give a mediocre speech, but was was he even supposed to say? He looked to the now closed casket, closed him eyes and cleared his thought before turning his attention back to the people watching him.

"Emma Swan, was many things," he started, keeping tears in was an easy task since he couldn't feel anything, "she was a daughter, a mother, this town's sheriff and savior, and she was my wife. She was the strongest person I have ever met, she was brilliant, resilient, and way too stubborn for her own good."

He chuckled to himself quietly before continuing. A few people were taken a back by the fact that he was giving this speech without much emotion, but he didn't care, this wasn't for them, it was for her.

"She had the kindest and forgiving heart I've ever come across. You see when I met her I was a horrible person, with a heart full of revenge and hatred. I had forgotten how to love, how to be happy. I killed and tortured people and enjoyed it, showing no remorse. But she, she changed all that. Gave me a reason to live, showed me how to love again, how to laugh. She changed the very foundation of my soul, I had sought out my revenge for 300 years, she made me abandon it within hours of meeting her. But most importantly, she forgave me and helped me forgive myself. She saw past what I was and what I had done, and she saw the man I could be. The man she made me want to be."

Saying all these words was slowly bringing through the numbness. He didn't like that, if he felt something he would feel everything. Yet still he carried on.

"Emma Swan was the most loyal person you'll ever come across. I know this because she stuck with me through thick and thin. Even when I had done horrible unforgivable things, she was always by my side."

It was becoming harder and harder to keep emotion away, and tears were now starting to pool in his eyes.

"Emma Swan was not one to love easily, but when she did she loved fiercely. She didn't trust easily, kept her walls up high, but once she let you in she would follow you to the ends of the earth."

The first emotion to finally break through was anger

"Emma Swan did not deserve this!" he yelled, "She had been through so much, and she deserved a happy ending! She deserved to spend time with the parents she didn't have growing up! She deserved to watch her son grow up! She deserved a future! A future full of happiness and peace!"

Then a strong wave of sadness

"But she sacrificed all of that," he said through the tears that were now finally free, falling down his cheeks, "Because that's who Emma Swan was"

Whatever last bit of numbness that was left in his body washed away immediately and every emotion came rushing thought him at once.

All the rage, all the grief, all the regret, most importantly all the pain.

Suddenly it all became too much and he fell down to his knees, let out a strangled cry, and started sobbing.

/

Once Killian had calmed down a bit Regina stepped up and ushered him to a seat next to her, then after the service was concluded to Granny's. Ruby had come after being informed of the news and both her and Granny insisted to host the wake there.

Now, everybody was gone and Henry finally found a way to move forward. He stood infront of the stone with his mothers name carved into it, the dirt below fresh.

He hated himself for missing it, how could he have been so weak.

"Guess I missed the service," a voice behind him said bringing him out of his thoughts. When the teenager turned around he saw a man standing holding a bouquet of flowers in his hands.

That man was August.

"Don't feel bad," Henry said, "So did I"

/

So yes, I'm bringing August in. I'm gonna do that with a few old characters who didn't necessary get killed off but just disappeared and I feel deserve a small tiny part in this story. We will only be seeing them in small parts, nothing big, unless you guys want other wise. We will be seeing some Red/Ruby in the next chapter and let me know what other characters you think should make a small appearance and if you want any of them to have a bigger role.

I know I said a lot was going down in this chapter, and not if you think not a lot did, wait till the next chapter. I promise more of the tea is going to go down there.

I really appreciate all of you guys who are reviewing, following, and just reading this story. Really big thank you!

Let me know what you guys think of this chapter. P.S: Reviews make me write faster

:) :) :)