Final chapter (for now)

III

Emma sighed as she walked by the shop. The lights were still out, the Closed sign on the door marking yet another day without chocolate in Storybrooke. Another day without seeing him.

It's been almost a week since she left him on the boat, the rain pouring down on her as fast as her tears, The next day, the shop was closed. And the next day. And the next.

Henry had been the first in calling her out on it.

"What did you say to him?"

"This doesn't concern you, Henry!"

"He really likes you, mom…"

"Henry, you are too young to understand…" She said but the sadness in her son's eyes stopped her.

"Not every guy is like my dad. Not every guy is going to leave us." He said slowly.

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Regina had been next.

"Whatever you've done, Miss Swan, it's costing us profitable business!"

"Please, Regina, that shop was never going to last." She said in a shaky voice. "I am sure you can get Evil Queens somewhere else."

"First of all, no, Evil Queens are not easy to procure, believe it or not. And especially those of such great quality." Regina spat. "But that little shop, as endearing at it is, was not what I was referring. I was talking about Jones Brothers Sailing CO. Mr. Jones, Liam that is, was considering moving the company's main headquarters and fleet here. Between his brother being here and the fact that he seems quite taken with our local waitress…" Regina looked at her with fury in her eyes. "Do I need to tell you what that would have meant for the town's growth?! And you had to go and ruin it!"

Emma looked at her with shock in her eyes and Regina sighed. "Emma, we all know that you've not had the easiest of lives. I – I know it was not easy at the beginning, with Henry, after everything you went through. And we – this town – we were there for you. Because in one way or another, this is what we do in Storybrooke… we welcome broken people and help them get back on their feet." Regina looked at her one more time, "Perhaps you should keep that in mind…" She said before leaving.

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So the days went by and still no sign of him and Emma's guilt piled up as she tried to bury herself in her work. But it was not enough, as her mind kept replaying his kisses, his touch, the sincerity in his eyes. She could close her eyes and lose herself in the memories of him. It was that feeling that finally drove her to Granny's, finding Liam and Ruby in a secluded booth. Liam looked at her with a sad accusation in his eyes and Emma felt a lump in her throat, barely able to keep the tears in check.

"I – I just need to know that he is ok." She pleaded.

Liam sighed. "I wish I knew…" He said, his hand running through his hair. "He took the boat and left this morning, saying he wanted to sail for a while to clear his mind."

"There's a storm coming." Emma said, fear invading her like a knife splitting her heart in two. Chills were running down her spine as she pictured him alone at sea, caught in the storm.

"You think I don't know that? That I pleaded with him not to go?" Liam spat at her and Ruby grabbed his arm, trying to calm him. He took a deep breath. "Let me tell you something, lass. For the past five years I have travelled all around the world to wherever my little brother was living. Every time I would find him alone, miserable, with only the small pleasure being driven by making chocolates. But there was always sadness in his eyes." Liam looked up and his eyes met Emma's. "Until I came here and I found him cornering you on the street, his eyes dancing with mischief. This place suits him. You suit him. I don't know what happened with you two, and I can only begin to guess what you are so afraid of... but he was happy here. He was planning a life here."

Emma's eyes filled with tears as she nodded. Ruby was quick on her feet and went to hug her. "I'm sure he'll be ok, Emma." She said softly.

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She couldn't sleep that night as the storm unleashed its force, thunder and lightning and rain. All she could do was hope against hope, making deals with a god she had stopped believing in long ago; everything, anything, for the chance to have him return safely.

The storm cleared out at some point in the wee hours of the morning, and her numb muscles were begging her to stretch. Henry had stayed at Robin's after his playdate with Roland and suddenly the apartment felt too silent and too suffocating. She hastily threw a sweater on top of her shirt, grabbed her leather jacket and left to find some peace in the quiet of the streets.

And then she spotted him as he made his way back to the shop, his dark hair disheveled and his shoulders slumped. Her heart beat furiously against her chest as she ran across the street and banged on his door.

He came to the door almost immediately, looking at her with shock and confusion.

"Swan? What are you doing here?" He asked and she could see the bags underneath his eyes, the sadness in his look.

"I wanted to see that you were ok." She said softly, fidgeting with her hands. "I knew you were sailing, and with the storm…"

He waved at her dismissively. "I am fine, sheriff. No need to call the Coast Guard or anything." He attempted to close the door, shutting her outside, but she placed her hand firmly on the wood to stop the movement. He stumbled back in confusion as she entered the shop and then faced him.

"Dark chocolate with rum." She said quickly.

"Uh?"

"Your favorite." She smiled shyly at him. "Dark chocolate filled with rum…"

"How did you know?"

She shrugged, biting her lower lip. "There's a tumbler right by the register and a bottle of rum hidden behind the counter. I've never seen you at The Rabbit Hole and that bottle is the only alcohol I've seen in there, other than the cherry liquor for Ruby's chocolates…"

"You've noticed all that?" He asked amazed.

She nodded. "You were right…"

"About what?"

"You knew exactly what I wanted…" She looked at him standing there, in the middle of his shop, his impossible blue eyes and disheveled hair. "And you tried to give it to me. I just –I was too afraid to admit it."

"And now?" He asked, his voice husky with emotion and hope as he looked at her from beneath his eyelashes, his eyebrow raised.

"I'm no longer afraid." She whispered and it took him less than a second to grab and pull her into his arms, kissing her. She pushed him against the door, and the force of his back hitting the wood panel closed the door. Her hands cradled his face before getting lost in his hair as she tilted her head, deepening the kiss and pressing her body even more against his. She reached out sloppily to lock the door before breaking the kiss, resting her forehead against his.

"Don't leave again." She demanded.

"Don't push me away again." He retorted.

She looked into his blue eyes, her hand caressing his hair and nuzzling her nose with his. "I won't push you away anymore." She promised.

"I won't leave." He promised before kissing her again, scooping her into his arms and carrying her into his apartment behind the back of shop.