A/N: Sorry for the delay - I was away last week and didn't have time to write. Anyway … onto the final chapter.


"Oh, we know dear."

Regina blinked at her mother's casual words. "You know?"

"We know," Henry nodded with a soft smile.

"But … how?" Regina's face showed utter confusion, trying to understand exactly what this reaction meant. Were her parents happy? Upset? Confused? Maybe they hadn't understood what she said. Maybe their English wasn't as good as she thought. Maybe … maybe she just needed to wait for them to explain.

Cora and Henry exchanged a look, a discrete nod from one to the other. "I suspect we've known longer than you, to be honest, princess," Henry offered. "Certainly since you were a young teenager. It was obvious to us from the moment you brought Danielle home from school."

"Who's Danielle?" Emma asked, unable to stop herself from interrupting.

"Um, a friend. From high school," Regina explained, forehead still creased. "But what does Danielle have to do with any of this?"

"It was just the way you looked at her, the way you talked about her. It was obvious that you were in love. Your relationship reminded me of how I felt when I met your father." Cora's eyes misted slightly in reminiscence.

"But Danielle and I were just friends. I didn't - I mean, we weren't …"

Regina trailed off, trying to gather her thoughts. Had she been in love with Danielle? She could't remember feeling towards her the way she felt towards Emma. Sure, their friendship had been close. Very close. Intense, even. They were best friends. Inseparable for years until they drifted apart towards the end of their time at school when Danielle got a boyfriend and Regina focused on her exams. But Regina hadn't been romantically attracted to her, had she?

"So … you guys are ok with us? I mean, Regina and I being together?" Emma asked when Regina didn't say anything else.

The blonde had many questions about this Danielle person whose name her girlfriend had neglected to mention. But she also wanted to be sure that she was reading the room correctly. Were Regina's parents really as accepting as they appeared to be?

Both Cora and Henry beamed at Emma. "Of course we're ok with the two of you. We've had years to process how we feel about Regina's sexuality. Longer than she has, it seems," Cora chuckled, seeing Regina still standing, confused, in the centre of the kitchen. "And even if we hadn't known before, the way she talks about you when she calls left us in no doubt how she feels about you. All we want is for our daughter to be happy and safe. Love is love, after all. Anyone could see how in love the two of you are. And from everything we've heard, you make her very happy, Emma. As for her safety, well, we'll forever be indebted to you for how you saved her from my -" Cora stopped abruptly as if words had suddenly failed her. Tears sprang to her eyes and the atmosphere shifted.

"From him," Henry offered. "Thank you, Emma. For saving our daughter."

Emma swallowed thickly. "You're welcome. I'm just sorry I couldn't have got to her sooner."

Cora shook her head. "You have nothing to be sorry for. You did what we didn't. You saw the danger. You realised something was wrong. Emma, you must understand that if I'd known, if I'd had any idea what he was doing, I'd never have let my daughter go. I would never have allowed him to take her. I regret every day that I believed him, that I didn't see him for what he is."

She dissolved into tears. Henry put his arm around his wife's shoulder and kissed her temple. Regina hurried forwards, wrapping herself around her mother and holding her tightly. Emma couldn't hear the muffled words but she was sure Regina was reassuring her mother that it wasn't her fault, that she wasn't to blame. The scene, along with the Mills' open-hearted acceptance of their daughter, made her own green orbs sting with emotion. But she didn't seek to join the little huddle. This was their moment.

When Regina eventually untangled herself from her parents, she offered a watery smile. "Well, that felt overdue."

Henry chuckled. "It's been a long time coming. Welcome home, princess. We missed you."

"I missed you too. Both of you. So much. But, you know, London is pretty amazing. You should come and visit one day. That's ok, right Emma?" Regina asked.

"Of course. You're welcome any time," Emma smiled.

"And you two are welcome here any time too. This is your home and always will be."

Regina hugged her mother again before the mood lightened when the oven timer beeped and the preparation for their meal recommenced. The table was already groaning with food but still more dishes appeared, with Regina and Emma helping Cora lay everything out while Henry disappeared to get a set of candles from the living room to add a finishing touch.

"Emma, shall I pop your bags into Regina's room now?" Henry asked as he emerged from the hallway, halfway down which her suitcases sat in the open door to the spare room.

"Um …"

Putting the blonde out of her misery, he continued. "Cora and I agreed to wait until Regina told us about the two of you herself. We didn't want to presume anything or let on that we had already figured out that you were together, hence the spare room. But we're all adults and I'm happy for the two of you to share her room, if that is something you both want."

"Thank you, Pappy," Regina said, kissing her father's cheek. "That's very sweet. And yes please, Emma can share with me."

Emma raised an eyebrow at the wink her girlfriend gave her, relieved that it wasn't caught by either parent. A few minutes later, they were all sitting around the feast, eager to dive in.

"So, Regina, tell us more about this promotion you're going to go for at work," Henry prompted as he started spooning out the food.


Later that night, eyes droopy from jet lag, Emma snuggled into Regina's warm body as the creak of the bed beneath her warned them both of engaging in any overenthusiastic sex over the coming days.

"Your parents are awesome," Emma murmured, kissing the dip of Regina's collarbone.

"They are," the brunette agreed. "I could never have imagined they'd have been so supportive. I was expecting to sleep without you every night. But you're here in my arms, and they know it, and they're happy for me, for us."

"They're awesome," Emma repeated, stifling a yawn. "Seems you must have been pretty smitten with Danielle."

Regina let out a low chuckle. She had been expecting this to come up. "Does it help you to know that I didn't realise how I felt about her until today? And even when Mamá spelled it out, I know it wasn't anything like what I feel for you. Nothing happened between us. I didn't even know I was gay then. She was pretty and nice. We were kids, friends. You've got nothing to be jealous of."

"Ok, good, because I'm really tired right now and I don't want to have to remind you how much you love me. I will do, if you're planning to sneak out and go and find Danielle and -"

Smirking lips covered Emma's. "Shut up and kiss me, you fool," Regina whispered. "I love you. Only you. Forever."


The days slipped by. Emma found herself feeling more and more at home, the welcoming atmosphere extending throughout the village who came together to welcome Regina back the following evening in a raucous celebration which lasted into the small hours.

The two women became a regular sight, strolling down the streets hand in hand or driving in Henry's old jeep, through the local area to explore Regina's favourite spots. She was thrilled to be able to show Emma her teenage stomping ground, and Emma loved hearing the stories of her youthful adventures. The island was beautiful, bursting with life and colour, and Emma felt rejuvenated by the endless sunshine and the incredible dishes which Cora prepared, day after day, often with Regina's help and occasionally with Emma attempts as a sous chef.

London faded from their minds. The pace and relentlessness of the city, their grey commutes. Their jobs, although they loved them, were demanding and the time away allowed true relaxation, pent up stress leeching out of every pore as the minutes ticked by.

They ticked by too soon, Emma mused, as she gazed up through the canopy of the mango tree above her, the hammock swinging gently as Regina lay beside her, reading.

"Can we stay here longer? I don't want to go home in two days," Emma admitted quietly as Regina turned a page.

"Me neither, in a way, but we need to. Our jobs, our lives. Plus Belle's about to have her baby. We can't miss that."

"She's got Ruby, she'll be fine," Emma sighed.

Regina folded the page of her book over and rested it on her stomach. "You want to be there, Emma. You just don't want to leave here. Belle and Ruby need us. Raising a baby is really hard and their relationship is so new. We can help with the baby, help share the load. Don't you want to do that?"

"I do, I do," Emma agreed. "I mean, I'm not thrilled about the mountain of nappy changing which is coming our way. I have to deal with shit enough at work." Regina pulled a face. "But you're right. They need us. And yes, nothing kills the romance of a new relationship like early morning feeds. At least, I'm guessing. Not that I've ever done them but they don't really feel sexy."

Chuckling, Regina kissed Emma softly. "No, they don't. And it's taken Belle long enough to realise how she feels about Ruby. The least we can do is try and help with the little one when it comes."

"Do you think they'll make it?" Emma asked. It was a question she'd been hesitant to voice since her friends announced they were together barely a month prior. She knew how Ruby felt about Belle. Hell, everyone knew how Ruby felt. But she had been nervous about Belle's feelings being true when it came to starting a relationship with their best friend. Was this really love? Or was this a woman facing the prospect of raising her child alone and seeing someone who was willing to help?

"Belle told me the day before we left that she's never felt as safe and as loved as when she's with Ruby," Regina offered her girlfriend, knowing that Emma was concerned about her friends. "She does love her, Emma. Maybe she's not quite where Ruby is yet but she knows that Ruby is in love with her and she's not going to do anything to hurt her. They're going to raise a kid together, and that's pretty amazing."

"Do you want kids?" Emma asked suddenly. "I mean, hypothetically. I jus realised, we've never talked about it."

"Oh, yeah, I suppose we haven't."

"And?" Emma prompted when Regina didn't say anything more.

"I do. One day. But I'm really young. We're really young. Maybe when we're older and married. I think that's important to me, the marriage bit. Do you want kids?"

"I do. But we're young, you're right. Although the marriage thing doesn't bother me. When I was growing up, I always figured I wouldn't be able to get married because I'm queer. Now the law's changed, so I can but it wasn't something I ever saw for myself. And it doesn't matter to me either way in terms of raising a child."

"I get that. Still, it would be nice, right?"

Emma grinned. "It would be nice. One day, I'd love to get married and raise a kid with you."

"Just one?"

Emma laughed. "Maybe two. I could be persuaded to three, depending on how the first two turn out."

"I love you. So much."

"I love you too."

Their lips met, filled with promises of their future, a life built together in which they'd face the world side by side, whatever it may throw at them. After everything they'd been through, whatever came next, they knew they could tackle, together.


The final night was just the four of them. A celebratory air, tinged with sadness at the women's imminent departure the following morning, hung over the table which once more was laden with local delicacies.

"Are you looking forward to seeing your parents, Emma?" Cora asked as they tucked into their desserts.

"I am, actually. I've missed them."

"They sound wonderful, from everything Regina's told us. And can you also send our thanks to your father, for everything he did for Regina."

Emma nodded solemnly. "I will but there's no need to thank him. He was doing his job."

"From what we've heard, he went above and beyond. The fact that he stopped … him, well, we'll never be able to repay your father for that," Henry finished.

"Me neither," Emma admitted. "And I will pass on your message, of course. But he was just following the evidence that Regina had given. Sooner or later, the police were going to catch up with your brother and -"

"No," Cora interrupted sharply. "He's not my brother. I don't have a brother any more. This is my family. Right here. No one else."

Henry placed his hand over his wife's where it lay, clenched on the table. "Right here," he repeated quietly. "Just us. Our daughter, and our daughter-in-law."

Blushing, Emma turned to Regina. "Something you're not telling me? Did I inadvertently get married in some subtle Puerto Rican ceremony this past week?"

Regina chuckled. "No, we're not married."

"Yet," Henry piped up, a teasing glint in his eye. "And when it happens, your mother and I will be right there at the front, the proudest parents in the world. We'll keep an eye on the mail for our invitation."

"Yes, and don't leave it too long now, ok?" Cora added. "I hear the fall colours in the UK are beautiful."


Her fingertips clenched the armrest as the plane dropped lower, emerging through the white clouds to reveal the patchwork of fields spread below them. It surprised her how rural, how lush, the country looked below her. Although, she reminded herself, Heathrow was outside of London. The plane banked sideways, widening her view onto the farmland and patches of spring-green woodland below.

"Nearly home," Emma murmured, peering past Regina to look out of the window too.

"Nearly home," Regina replied, turning to kiss Emma's cheek.

"Are you sure you're ok to go straight to the hospital?" Emma asked.

Regina nodded fervently. "Of course. I want to meet him as soon as possible. I can't believe he came a week early and we missed it."

"We missed pacing up and down in a waiting room," Emma reminded her. "We get the good bits. The newborn snuggles and the magical smell of his head. And Ruby was there with her. It might have been good that it was just the two of them. Gives them a time to bond with him."

"True. I hope Ruby's completely besotted. I know I will be."

Emma hesitated, watching a snake of cars below as they drew closer to landing. "Even with who his father is?"

It was a question she'd wanted to ask for a long time and had held off. She had been silently praying the baby was a girl, adding that extra degree of separation from the man who had made Belle pregnant. But if she was honest with herself, she knew from the most recent scan that Belle was carrying her son. She hoped he wouldn't grow up to bear any resemblance to his father.

"He's not responsible for why he exists. He's an innocent," Regina said simply, turning away from the window as the runway came into view moments before the bump which told them they'd landed safely back in the UK. "Gideon is Belle's baby, Belle's son. I can't wait to meet him for that reason alone. He doesn't have a father, beyond biological necessity. But he does have two amazing mothers, and two part time mums too, I suppose. Isn't that amazing? This baby is going to be so loved, despite the pain his conception caused. And it's our responsibility to make sure he never feels that pain. To make him feel adored and safe and loved. That's all."

Emma felt her heart swell as she listened to Regina's words. She couldn't wait, she realised, to see Regina with her own child, with their child. "I love you so damn much," she gasped, pressing a firm kiss to Regina's lips. "So much. You're incredible. You're the best person I know. And one day, not too long after you say 'I do' to me, you're going to be the best mother to our kids. I'm so happy, Regina. I'm so happy with you and I can't wait for our future together."

"You realise you'll have to ask me first before I can say 'I do', right? And I love you too. More than I ever thought I could love anyone. And you love me more than I ever thought I'd deserve."

"You deserve everything, Regina," Emma replied quickly. "Everything."

"And you give me everything," Regina assured her, a hand brushing Emma's cheek, the two of them unaware of the hubbub around them as the fasten seatbelt sign was switched off and their fellow passengers prepared to disembark. "You are my everything, Emma. Without you, I don't know if I'd even be alive. I owe you my life, my future, and I can't wait to find out what that future will bring."

"Marry me," Emma blurted out.

Regina's eyes blew wide. "What?"

"Marry me. Why wait? Let's get married. I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Let's do it. Let's start that life together."

"I … I didn't mean you had to propose right now." Regina glanced around, noticing that the passengers in the vicinity had all fallen silent and were watching this impromptu proposal, overhead lockers now half emptied, rucksacks dangling from shoulders, passports clutched in hands.

"Well, I didn't plan to," Emma reasoned. "I mean, I don't have a ring and this isn't exactly the most romantic of settings. You can … um, yeah, no, you're right. Not romantic, bad timing. Let's revisit this later. Like, when we're not on a plane and -"

"Yes."

"What?"

"Yes, I'll marry you. Of course I'll marry you. And no, that wasn't the most romantic proposal but I want to marry you, Emma. I don't care that you don't have a ring and you didn't get down on one knee. Wherever you asked, however you asked, I was always going to say yes. So, yes, I'll marry you."

The plane erupted with applause as Emma gathered Regina into her arms, the audience quite forgotten as their lips met, their first kiss as fiancees and one of a million more they would share together in their future which lay, spread before them, full of possibilities.


A/N: I know, it's sappy even by my standards. I will never not write a happy ending for these two. And this version of Regina felt like she deserved an extra big serving of sap. So, you're welcome. I've so loved writing this and I hope you've enjoyed reading it. I must admit I have no plans for any more SwanQueen stories. But I have plenty in my back catalogue for you to enjoy. I may be back, one day, but for now, goodbye!