Author's Note: Last ch! There will be an epilogue after this but officially this is the last ch.

I'm SO ready for the finale tomorrow yet also not. What am I supposed to do during the hiatus?

Chapter 37: A Chance To Be Happy

Mary Margaret watched as Emma listlessly sprinkled cinnamon into her mug for about the fifteenth time, chin resting on one hand, sighing heavily as she stirred, set down the canister, and repeated the same motions thirty seconds later. She knew that her daughter, just like her mother and Henry, had a thing for hot chocolate with cinnamon, but she didn't think that she liked that much of it.

The blonde had been moping around after the whole Hook debacle, and it was time to put a stop to it. It pained her to see her daughter so miserable. Though Mary Margaret had no idea how to comfort her daughter as a mother should, she did have some experience being Emma's friend.

"Emma?" Mary Margaret approached her daughter, balancing a basket full of laundry on her hip. "Is everything ok?"

"Hmm?" Emma murmured. "Yeah. Just making hot chocolate."

"With a pound of cinnamon? That's a little strong, even for you." She teased.

Emma's head jerked up, and noticed for the first time her overflowing mug. "Oh God." She took a small sip and made a face. "Nasty."

"You seem a little distracted there." Mary Margaret observed.

"Nah. Just tired." Emma said absently.

"You sure?" Mary Margaret shot a concerned look over her shoulder as she reached into the cupboard for a fresh mug.

"Yeah."

"Because it seems to me like something's bothering you."

"Just work stuff." Came the breezy reply.

"Really?" Mary Margaret turned around and cocked her head. "You're going to have to do better than that, Emma."

Emma looked away as a fresh mug of hot chocolate was set down on the table in front of her, her mother sliding into the chair across for hers. "That obvious, huh?"

Mary Margaret nodded. "Kinda."

Emma sighed deeply. "I kissed him. This morning. Henry locked us in the storeroom at the grocery store."

"Oh…um. Ok." Mary Margaret said, clearly taken aback. "Why?"

"Why what? Why did he lock us in? I don't know, he had some crazy plan to get us back together. Wouldn't let us out until we 'kissed and made up'" She quipped.

"No. Why did you kiss him? It wasn't like Henry forced you to. I'm sure two of you could've overpowered him and a locked door eventually."

Emma shrugged. "I-I don't know."

"I think you do." Mary Margaret placed her hand over her daughter's. "You're still in love with him."

"No." Emma immediately shook her head stubbornly.

"You said so yourself yesterday." Mary Margaret pointed out. "You can lie to me all you want, but you can't lie to yourself." She said gently.

"Ok, so maybe I do. So? What does that matter?"

"Well…you could give him another chance."

"No!" Emma snapped, slamming the mug down. "He was working for Cora. He placed Henry's life in danger. He…"

"He made up for all of that and you know it. Sacrificing his life to destroy Cora."

"That doesn't change the fact that he was working for her."

"Oh, Emma." Her mother sighed. "You're just telling yourself that as an excuse to keep him away. You know he's a good person at heart. Like I said before, your walls may keep out pain but they may just keep out love as well."

"Henry's all the love I need." Emma argued.

"You know that's not true. Give yourself a chance to be happy, Emma. You know you deserve that. Give him another chance." Mary Margaret urged.

"I can't!" Suddenly, her eyes were filled with tears. "You don't understand, do you? When I found out he was working for Cora, it was even worse than going to jail and having to give up Henry. He broke my heart. And I can never get over it."

"Yes, you can. I know you're scared, Emma, but if you never let anyone in you'll never be happy."

Just then, music started coming from outside, filling the apartment. "What the hell?" Emma muttered, wiping at her eyes as she pushed back her chair and strode towards the open window. "Is somebody playing the guitar on the street? I can understand in New York or something but who does that here?"

Mary Margaret hid a smile as she heard a loud gasp come from her daughter as she found out the source of the music. Earlier, she'd received a text from Henry informing her of their plan.

"Hook!" Emma called. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Playing the guitar, love." Came the cheeky reply. "Mighty fine day for it too."

"What are you wearing?" Emma's voice was filled with surprise, prompting Mary Margaret to stand up and join her daughter. Her jaw dropped as she took in the red tunic and large black hat that the pirate was currently sporting.

"Is that…"

"The Captain Hook costume, yeah." Despite herself, a brief smile crossed her face. "He looks ridiculous." But just as quickly as the smile came it was gone. "He's disturbing all the neighbors."

"I'm sure they're fine with it."

But Emma didn't listen as she strode past her mother, grabbing her jacket and slamming the door to the apartment.

Well, if anything this was going to be an amusing show, so Mary Margaret settled herself in front of the window to enjoy the sight of the pirate captain, dressed as his ridiculous looking alter ego, dancing and singing for all of Storybrooke to see.

Downstairs on the street, a small crowd was gathering in front of Hook, who continued to belt out a song that sounded like something from Pirates of the Caribbean.

"What do you think you're doing?" Emma pushed through the throngs of people until she stood directly in front of him.

"Playing the guitar and singing for these lovely people." He nodded at the crowd, who cheered in response.

"You're disturbing the peace." Emma crossed her arms.

"They don't seem disturbed to me." He responded. "Looks like you're the only one who's bothered."

"Well…" She trailed off, at a loss for words. "Why are you dressed like that? You look ridiculous."

"Oh, this old thing?" He looked down, continuing to strum, an impressive feat for someone with one hand. "Just pulled it on."

"Hook. What are you really doing? You know you hate the cartoon Hook."

"Trying to win you back, love." He said bluntly. "Henry said I should make a spectacle of myself. And I do believe this is a spectacle if I've ever seen one. But it'll all be worth it, even if this is a tad itchy."

"You do realize that you're embarrassing yourself, right? And since when do you take advice from an eleven year old?"

Hook lowered the guitar to the ground, walking slowly towards her. Suddenly, it was way too quiet. "Since I decided that I have to do anything to win you back."

She remained silent as she studied his earnest expression. He was even wearing the wig and a fake waxed mustache. Nobody had ever done that for her before, dressing up in a crazy costume and singing outside her window.

"Why would you do that?" She asked, though she already knew the answer.

"Because." He stepped in, closing the distance between them. She could feel his breath on her face. "I love you, Emma Swan. And I'll do whatever it takes to win your heart again. Even if means wearing this ridiculous outfit and making a complete fool out of myself."

"I…"

"I know I hurt you. And I don't deserve you. You took me in and gave me new clothes and a place to live even when I told you nothing. You gave me your heart when I was planning to break it. And for that, I know there is nothing I can do to make up for it. But I do know that every day without you hurts. Even more than having my hand cut off. I can't live without you, Emma Swan."

"I…"

He grabbed her hands in his. "You don't have to forgive me. I don't deserve that. But if you do, know that I will spend every day for all eternity treating you like the princess you deserve to be treated like. I will spend every waking moment trying to make it up to you. Because I love you. More than you can ever comprehend."

Tears began to spill down her cheeks, and in that moment, she forgave him for everything. "I love you too." She admitted, even though she was paralyzed with fear at the thought. At the thought that something loved her so deeply and that she loved them back as well.

A smile of pure relief crossed his face. "For a moment there, I was beginning to think you weren't going to say it."

"Kiss!" Someone called. It sounded oddly like Henry.

The rest of the crowd joined in. "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"

Emma looked at him sheepishly. "Looks like they're not gonna stop until we give them what they want."

"Aye." He agreed.

"Well, what are you waiting for then? Kiss me."

"As you wish." He smiled, happily obliging, scooping her up into his arms, lowering his lips onto hers.

Behind them, the crowd cheered loudly as the two were lost in their world, everything seemingly fading away.

Author's note: Awwwwwwww! Epilogue coming soon!