Chapter Eleven - Epilogue

Zelena held her daughter close, draping the blanket over her face to shield her from the dust which swirled in the wind as they walked down the dirt road the portal had deposited them on.

Gradually the wind died down and as the dust cleared Zelena spotted a sign just ahead.

"Welcome to Kansas" it read.

00O00

Back in Storybrook the new town council adjourns its meeting. The docket was light after the election and everyone on the council agreed that Granny made a great mayor. Regina hasn't taken losing well at first, but her appointment to the council seemed to mollify her and she was clearly enjoying having a small child in the house again. Henry had gladly given Roland most of his toys and had even help hang shelves in his new brother's room which adjoined his own.

Charming and Emma shared the sheriff's office, while Snow too had a seat on the town council. Emma had moved back in with her parents for the time being, having decided that returning to the mansion she'd built with dark magic was probably a bad idea. Henry wanted to build a house out in the country that was big enough for as he put it, 'everyone'. Regina, Emma and his grandparents were not enthusiastic.

After the meeting Belle pulled her husband aside and whispered, "Rumple there's something I need to tell you."

"Oh?" he asked, expecting some trifle about the shop of the library.

"You see, I've been seeing Doc a lot lately...you know since he took over the hospital."

"Please don't bring that up again." Regina groaned, remembering the most recent council vote she'd lost, "My new medical plan is to NEVER GET SICK!" she shivered at the idea of Doc being in charge of a real hospital.

"He's trying to learn, Regina." said Snow defending her vote to give Doc Whale's old job, "He's in the library every day reading medical journals."

"Reading... right. That's the way every surgeon learns his craft."

Belle pulled Rumple away from the rest of the council as much to avoid hearing the same arguments hashed out again as for privacy. "Go on." Rumple prompted, "Tell me about your visits to Doc."

"Well you see they weren't really visits." Belle said, "More like... appointments."

The color drained out of Rumple's face, "Belle, you're not ill?!"

Belle giggled, "No Rumple, I've never been better."

"Then why were you... Belle... you don't mean... are you pregnant?!" he exclaimed, his face broke into a blissful grin as Belle nodded her confirmation.

"Ugh. I think I'm going to be sick." said Regina, as she watched husband and wife engage in a make-out session that was starting to slide out of the PG range. "Hey!" she yelled, "Congratulations. I'm glad you enjoyed your 2nd honeymoon. Now will you please get a room?"

Rumple and Belle giggled like children as they walked past Regina and Snow and exited to, as Regina put it 'get a room'. As the door closed they heard Regina say to Snow, "Speaking of honeymoons, I should tell you about mine someday." Regina shuddered at the memory. "Ewww." responded Snow, realizing that her friend was referring to her only honeymoon, which had of course been with Snow's father.

"Why are we friends again?" she asked.

"Because I make the best apple turnovers in town?" Regina offered after a brief think.

"That's as good an explanation as any." Snow shrugged and the two of them shared a parting hug as they hurried home to their families.

00O00

Filled with joy Rumple carried Belle over the threshold of their home, his leg long since healed by light magic, which came with considerably fewer strings attached than dark magic. On their way to the bedroom the happy couple passed a small glass display cabinet which contained a chipped teacup and a blank dagger.

THE END