Chapter 29

Enchanted Forest, present day

Emma turned her head and swatted at the fly buzzing around her face. It followed her, determinedly tickling her cheek. She swatted again, finally opening her eyes.

Instead of an annoying insect, she found herself looking into the far too innocent blue eyes of her husband who was conspicuously holding a feather in his hand.

Emma sat up and glared at him, folding her arms grumpily. "You know, Hook, I know we're still newlyweds, but one day you're going to learn that waking me up is distinctly hazardous to your health."

He grinned irreverently. Giant idiot!

"Come now love," he said with a smirk, "it's a beautiful morning! The last we'll have in the Enchanted Forest for some time. Surely you don't want to waste it in sleep."

"One day, I'm going to teach you the pleasures of sleeping late," she grumbled.

One eyebrow came up in the way that never ceased to make the delightful shivers run up and down her spine. "Oh, darling," he drawled, "I can certainly think of one way you could convince me to while away the day within our bed."

She rolled her eyes, swatted his arm…and blushed. Seriously? How was he still able to make her blush?

"Shall I give you a demonstration of what I mean?" he asked huskily, gathering her into his arms.

"What about enjoying the beautiful morning and taking advantage of our last day in the Enchanted Forest?" she asked.

He kissed her, deeply, passionately, thoroughly. She returned the gesture.

"I think we can both agree that there's enjoying the Enchanted Forest and then there's enjoying the Enchanted Forest" he said, trailing wet kisses down her neck and going to work on the buttons of her ridiculously demure nightgown.

She grinned and then moaned. "Alright pirate," she said breathily, "show me how to enjoy the Enchanted Forest."

His lips claimed hers again in a kiss that seared her to her very toes.

And then there was a knock at the door.

"Seriously?" Emma asked. "Why the hell are we spending our honeymoon period with a castle full of the most annoying people in the world?!"

Killian sat up, and ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "I've no idea, love," he growled, "but right now whoever's out there is lucky my hook and sword are on the far side of this chamber."

"Emma? Killian?" Snow's voice came from the other side of their bedroom door. "Are you awake?"

With a sigh, Emma got to her feet and padded toward the door. "I'll see if I can get rid of her, Killian, then we can…pick things up where we left off."

Snow took in Emma's mussed hair and the several undone buttons of her nightgown. "Uh, sorry." she said with an uncomfortable look . "I didn't mean to…interrupt anything."

"It's okay mom," Emma said, hastily putting her hair and clothing to rights. "Is there something you needed?"

"Well, not me, exactly," Snow said looking away. "It's Blackbeard."

"Blackbeard?" Emma asked sharply. She heard Killian get out of bed and pad to her side. A moment later, his hand rested warm and comforting on her shoulder. "What about Blackbeard."

"Well," Snow said, looking back at them with discomfort. "He woke up early this morning. He's asking to see you. Both of you. But I understand if…I mean I know how difficult that would be. If you're not up to it…"

Emma drew in a deep breath. Was she ready to see him again, to confront him? How did you even deal with someone who was responsible for both your baby's death and for saving your life? Anger, pain, gratitude and a grudging respect all churned within Emma, and she didn't know how to handle it.

"Swan?" Killian said, turning her to face him. "Your mother's right. If conversing with Blackbeard would be too painful you needn't do it. I can speak to the man alone. I am perfectly capable of expressing our gratitude for the service he rendered us."

For a moment Emma considered taking Killian up on his offer. They'd be leaving the Enchanted Forest soon, and then she'd never have to see the pirate again. She could simply put him from her mind and move on with her life.

But the fact was, she knew she couldn't. All her life she'd run away. It was just what she did. The problem with running away, though, was that you never got closure; you never got to process your emotions and your reactions. The wounds you carried never healed, they just festered, spreading and infecting every other aspect of your life.

No. For her sake and for Killian's, far more than for Blackbeard's, she needed this conversation.

"It's okay Mom, Killian," she said finally. "This is something that I need to do."

She turned back to face Snow. "Just give us a few minutes to get dressed and then we'll go meet with him."

Snow leaned in and hugged her. "You're an amazing woman, honey," she said with tears in her eyes. "You really are. I know your loss is still fresh and the pain is still terrible, but you'll get through this. We're all here for you."

Snow turned and patted Killian. "We're all here for both of you."

….

Blackbeard laid back against his pillows praying for the pain killing potion to take effect quickly. He had no idea what magic that trident packed, but it was potent enough to make a hardened pirate cry. Slowly the pain began to recede, and he relaxed and heaved a sigh of relief. The healers told him it was a good thing he'd awoken early that morning, but from his vantage point, the blessed unconsciousness was far more merciful.

"Better?" a man asked from the far side of the room. Blackbeard peered in that direction. Friar Tuck, he believed the man had introduced himself as. Friar Tuck the healer and spiritual leader of the Merry Men.

"Aye," Blackbeard said in a voice far weaker than he would have liked. "I know not what that potion might have been, but it has eased the pain considerably."

"Secret formula," the man said with a jolly laugh. "I can't have any of my flock learn my secrets; they may decide they no longer need me around, and then where will I be?"

Blackbeard smiled and waved to the chair near the head of the bed. "I would welcome some company should you be so inclined."

"But of course," he said, folding his rotund frame into the chair—a chair which groaned under the weight.

The physical pain finally under control, the emotional pain made itself felt. What manner of man had he become? What manner of man pursues vengeance with such intensity he allows a pregnant woman to be seriously injured, and her unborn baby to be killed? Frankly, he was shocked when the Lady Snow told him Hook and his lady had agreed to meet with him. He certainly wouldn't have done the man the same courtesy just after Anne and her baby died.

"That was quite the sigh, you heaved, my lad," the friar said with an assessing look. "Anything bothering you…besides the obvious."

Edward gave him an assessing look. "You're a friar, a man of God, are you not?"

"Aye, that I am."

"I would wager you've heard a fair few confessions in your day?"

Friar Tuck chuckled and rubbed his hands together. "I am the spiritual adviser to a band of thieves and outlaws. Aye, I believe I've heard nearly every confession in the book."

"Would…would you be opposed to hearing one more?"

The man pasted on a gentle smile, and then laid a gentle hand on his arm. "If you've a need to unburden yourself, I'd be pleased to listen."

"You know who I am, what I've done, don't you?" Blackbeard asked.

"Aye," the man shrugged. "I know the stories I've heard. I know what happened to Captain and Mrs. Jones. What I haven't heard is what you have to say."

Blackbeard nodded. "My father was a swindler and a cheat. What's more he was sorely abusive to my mother and even on occasion to my young sister and me. He..he killed my mother on the day a mob lynched him."

The friar gasped. Aye it was a grisly tale indeed.

"My sister and I were left alone in the world, utterly destitute," Blackbeard continued. "I was barely able to put food on the table, but I swore to myself I would never resort to becoming my father…and yet here I've become that and more."

Blackbeard talked steadily on for a quarter of an hour or more. He told the kindly old man everything—his meeting with Hornigold, becoming a pirate, Anne's predicament, his vow of vengeance, becoming Ursula's prisoner, attempting to kill Hook.

"As I stood there and watched the water rise, watched what looked like his last breath, I expected to feel jubilant, released, justified, but I didn't."

"What did you feel, lad?"

"Nothing," Blackbeard said bleakly. "Nothing but an uncomfortable feeling that I had taken a step from which I could never return, from which I could never be forgiven. There was that woman I'd hit lying unconscious against the rotting wall, blood everywhere. I thought I'd killed her too, and suddenly it all became clear."

"What did?"

"I had become my father. I had become a monster. I had allowed my hate to fester to such an extent that it was a ravenous beast that was near to devouring every last shred of goodness within me."

"It was your moment of truth," Friar Tuck said sagely.

"Aye, that it was," Blackbeard said tiredly, "and now, Friar. What am I to do? How can I ever make amends for the evil I've done throughout my life? How can I ever make amends to the evil I did Mrs. Jones?"

"Snow White told me you requested an audience with the Joneses?"

"Aye, that I did."

"Tell them what you told me," Friar Tuck said. "Admit your fault and beg forgiveness. It's amazing how freeing such a simple act can be."

There was a knock at the infirmary door, and Killian and Emma Jones entered. The windowless room was dark, lit only by a handful of candles, but there was no disguising the pain on Mrs. Jones's face, the grim line of Hook's mouth. They were in pain…in pain because of him.

"I'll leave you to your guests, my son," Friar Tuck said, grasping Blackbeard's shoulder and giving it a slight squeeze.

"Thank you Father," he said quietly. "You've been quite a comfort."

Blackbeard watched as the old man made his way from the room and then turned toward his newest guests. "Please, have a seat."

Emma took the seat Friar Tuck had just vacated, and Hook pulled up a second one beside her. The man leaned over and draped his arm protectively around his wife's shoulders. She leaned in to him, accepting his comfort, giving her own.

"Thank you for coming to me this morning," Blackbeard said formally. "I believe it's time we finally cleared the air."

The couple sat still and silently for a moment, and finally Hook nodded. "Aye, I believe you are right."

Emma seemed unable to look at him. She kept her eyes resolutely averted as though he were something obscene she wished to avoid looking at. Guilt ripped through him.

"Mrs. Jones," he said softly. She finally turned to look at him, forcing herself with the greatest difficulty if he didn't miss his guess.

"Yeah?" she said in a hard voice.

"I know no words of mine can erase the pain, the agony I've caused," he said heavily, "but I must tell you how desperately sorry I am for striking you. My quarrel was never with you, and it was never my intention to harm you, and certainly not your baby."

The tears filled her eyes at the mention of the babe. "But you did," she said, still in a hard voice.

"Aye," he said, averting his own gaze. "I did, and I would do anything in the world to undo that act."

"You talked about regret about me, about the baby," Emma said, "but even if that was an accident, you deliberately tried to kill my husband."

Blackbeard looked at the man in question. Hook's face gave nothing away. "Aye," Blackbeard admitted. "I allowed my pain, my thirst for vengeance to rule me. Can you understand that?"

He watched as Hook lowered his eyes and faintly nodded. "Aye," Hook said. "I spent three hundred years trying to avenge the man who'd killed the woman I loved."

"Yes," Blackbeard said. "I had heard the stories of the heartbreak that drove the fearsome Captain Hook, of your daring exploits, of your ruthlessness."

Hook grimaced. "Like most such tales, they were greatly exaggerated."

"Indeed."

Hook took a deep breath and then met Blackbeard's gaze. "I in turn must beg your forgiveness."

Emma turned sharply to look at her husband. His words seemed to shock her.

"My actions toward your sister were deplorable," Hook said simply. "I once told my Emma that I'm always a gentleman, but my actions with your sister prove that statement to be a lie. I used her and discarded her as though she was an object for my pleasure rather than a woman worthy of respect."

The familiar pain and anger hit yet again, and Blackbeard sucked in a deep breath. A part of him wanted to lash out, wanted to punish, wanted to destroy, but he shoved the part aside. When he'd chosen to go to the Enchanted Forest people for help in defeating Ursula, he'd turned aside from his vengeance once and for all.

"Please know," Hook said in a pained voice, "that I had no idea your sister was turned out of her house; no idea there was a child. Had I known, I would have done all in my power to aid your sister and my child. I would have provided her anything she needed."

Blackbeard looked at him assessingly for a moment, and then nodded.

"I forgive you your actions against Anne," Blackbeard said.

"Thank you," Hook said sincerely.

They fell into an uncomfortable silence for a moment, and then Emma cleared her throat. "I've got something I need to say."

Blackbeard nodded, apprehensive at her tone, knowing he deserved anything she dished out to him.

Emma took a deep breath and then looked directly into his eyes. "I wanted to thank you for saving my life down in Ursula's castle. If you hadn't shoved me aside, I would be dead right now."

"I must second my wife's sentiments," Hook said earnestly. "I can never thank you enough for the service you rendered to us that day."

Blackbeard looked aside. "It was the least I could do after the harm I rendered you both. I beg of you. Please forgive me my actions terrible day."

Hook and Emma looked at each other, communicating as effectively through mere glances as most did through eloquent speeches. Hook reached down and laced his fingers with his wife's. A single tear made its way down her cheek. Finally she nodded silently.

"Aye," Hook said thickly. "We forgive you."

Blackbeard offered his hand, and Hook shook it firmly. "Thank you."

Friar Tuck was right. The freedom that came with confession and reconciliation was more profound than anything he'd ever experienced.

….

Regina stepped from the water and ran a hand down her aquamarine dress. Completely dry. Sometimes Rumple's magic positively amazed her. Aurora had complained about attending the wedding reception under the sea, concerned about the havoc the salt water would have on her bride's maids gown and perfectly coiffed hair.

Rumple merely rolled his eyes and waved his hands. A sudden glow of magic had descended upon the whole wedding party and it was as though the water simply couldn't touch them.

"My lady?" Robin called from behind her. "You left the celebration early. Is aught the matter?"

Regina turned and smiled, reaching her hand out to her true love. He caught it in his own hand and brought it to his lips, his eyes never leaving hers. The butterflies started fluttering madly in her stomach. There was something far more potent than even magic that drew her to this man.

"No," Regina said carefully. "Nothing's the matter, precisely. I've just been thinking."

He studied her face. "It would seem your thoughts are troubled."

How was she even to broach this subject? She thought she knew how he would react, but what if she were wrong?

"The reception will be breaking up before long," Regina said looking out over the sea, "and then Triton will create the portal back to Storybrooke."

"Is that a bad thing?" Robin asked looking at her carefully.

"No," she said drawing out the word. "It's just….Robin, I have to go back. My life is there now. I'm the mayor; my son is there. And…well, the Regina who belonged in the Enchanted Forest no longer exists. She's been gone for some time how."

Robin took her in his arms and kissed her gently. "Well, I know it. She's become the woman I love more than my own life."

Regina returned the kiss with relish. How she loved this man! And that was why she had to do what was best for him…him and Roland.

"But there is something else I know," she said, a slight wobble to her voice.
"What's that, my love?"

"Your whole life is here, in the Enchanted Forest, yours and Roland's. Your friends, your livelihood, everything."

Regina had turned away from him as she spoke, desperate to keep the tears at bay. He turned her gently back to her and spoke more fervently than she'd ever heard him speak before. "You're wrong, Regina. You are my everything. I know you must go back to your home, and that is why Roland and I must come to this Storybrooke as well."

"You'd…" she began and then cleared her throat. "You'd do that for me? Leave your home and everything you've ever known."

He smiled tenderly down to her. "Haven't you realized yet that I would do anything for you?"

Regina crushed him to her and kissed him with everything within her. When was the last time someone had loved her so completely? When was the last time someone had put her first? It was beautiful and terrifying and overwhelming and so achingly amazing that she thought her heart would burst with the wonder of it.

And with a burning flash of clarity, she knew she never wanted to be parted from this man again. She knew what she must do. She pulled from the kiss and took his hands within her own.

"Robin, I love you," she said, tears standing out in her eyes. "More than I knew it was even possible to love another person."

He smiled and cupped her face in one hand. "And I you, my darling."

She smiled and continued. "Those six months without you and Roland showed me that I can't live without you. I can exist, but I cannot live. Not really. And then coming back here and finding you, but not really finding you, being separated even while we were together. It was agony."

"I'm so sorry, love."

"No," she said with a vehement shake of her head. "You are not at fault. Besides, dwelling on the pain of the past wasn't my point anyway."

"What is your point then?"

"Ask you a question," she said, her heart beginning to hammer relentlessly.

"As I said, yes, I'll come to Storybrooke with you."
"That wasn't the question I meant to ask you."

"What then?"

"Robin," she began. "Robin, I don't want to be separated from you ever again. I want to share my life, my heart, my whole world with you. I want us to be a family, all three of us. I guess what I'm trying to ask is…will you marry me?"

He stared at her for a moment, and then crushed her to him. "Yes, of course I will!"

He kissed her for long moments, and Regina basked in the wonder of the moment.

"When?" he asked when they finally came up for air. "When will you become my wife?"

"Now," Regina said impulsively. "Today. This moment. I have no desire to wait another second."

"Now?!" he yelped.

"Yes," she said taking his hand and leading him toward the castle. "Friar Tuck is still at the castle, he can marry us, and there are plenty of merry men around to be our official witnesses."

"But…but Regina," he said caressing her face. "You've no dress, no attendants, no music, no flowers. You are deserving of the grandest wedding any realm has to offer."

Regina shook her head and covered his hand with her own. "I don't care about dresses or flowers or attendants or any of the trappings. I had all of that with my first marriage, and I was utterly miserable. All I need is you."

"You're sure?" he asked. "You're absolutely certain this is what you want?"

"Yes," she said with a tender smile. "I'm positive. You are my true love, what reason have we to wait? Besides, I saw how crazy Storybrooke got preparing for Hook and Emma's wedding. No way I want to subject myself to that."

"Very well," Robin said, leaning forward to plant a gentle kiss on her lips. "Let us return to the castle. I would like nothing better than to marry you today."

To say it was a simple wedding would be a massive understatement. It was nothing like the pomp and splendor of Ariel and Erik's wedding earlier that day. No one was present but Friar Tuck and Mulan and Little John who acted as official witnesses. The entire ceremony took no more than ten minutes, but Regina wouldn't have had it any other way. When Friar Tuck declared them husband and wife and they shared their first kiss as a married couple, Regina was utterly convinced that nothing could have been more perfect.

"Well, wife," Robin said five minutes later. "What say we find our son and tell him the news?"

Our son. Was it possible a heart could burst from happiness? "Well husband, I think that is an excellent idea."

….

Storybrooke, two hours later

Henry sat at the Charming's booth at Granny's listlessly sipping at his hot cocoa. Where were they? His whole family, aside from his dad, had left for the Enchanted Forest two months ago! How long could it possibly take to defeat whatever enemy they were up against? For heaven's sake! They'd defeated Peter freaking Pan in less than two weeks!

They needed him; he knew it. He had the heart of the truest believer. He'd managed to bring Emma to break the first curse. He could do something.

"Hey buddy," Neal said from his seat across the table, "what's on your mind? I know something's bothering you. "

Henry shrugged and looked out the window at the twilit street. "Seems like they should be home by now."

"You're missing your moms," Tinkerbelle said from Neal's side.

"Yeah," Henry said, turning back to them. He saw the hurt look on his dad's face and rushed to continue. "But I'm enjoying the time I've gotten to spend with the two of you. It's just…what if something…happened to them?"

"Even at seventeen, your mom was one of the toughest people I've ever known," Neal said, taking a bite of his burger. "Don't worry; she can take care of herself. And as for Regina…well, she didn't get to be the Evil Queen for nothing. I'm sure they're fine. This bad guys just taking a little longer to get rid of, that's all."

"Yeah, you're probably right," Henry said turning away again. His dad tried; he really did, but he just didn't get it. Something was wrong, he knew it. He had to find a way to get to the Enchanted Forest, but in order to do that, he couldn't let his dad or Tinkerbelle suspect anything."

"There's the spirit!" Neal said with enthusiasm. "Hey, if we're going to get to that movie on time, we've got to get going. Better finish up that hot chocolate."

"In a minute," Henry said, thinking hard. "Got to go to the bathroom first."

"Alright, go ahead," Neal said.

Alright? Go ahead? Henry shook his head as he headed toward the bathroom and then out the back door. His dad needed to work on this whole parenting thing. Either one of his moms would have seen through that excuse in a nanosecond.

Now, how was he going to get to the Enchanted Forest? He had to find some sort of magical item, but where could he find that? Gold's shop. Yeah! That was perfect. Surly his grandfather would have something that could help him.

Henry made it to the pawn shop door, looked both ways, and then pulled a hairpin from his coat. Just after returning to Storybrooke, Killian had taught him how to pick a lock—while making him swear up and down and sideways never to tell his mom about it. If he could just get that last gear to turn…

And then he heard it, a whooshing sound, like a giant whirlpool. Magic. Something magical was definitely happening. He turned back toward the street just as a portal opened and roughly deposited his moms, his step-dad, both sets of grandparents, Robin and Roland onto the main street of town.

"Henry!" Emma yelled in excitement.

"Mom!" he answered, running to the group as fast as his legs would carry him.

They were back! At long last they were all finally back!

Notes:

-So there you have it. Killian and Emma got interrupted yet again, Blackbeard, Killian and Emma had a nice little reconciliation, Robin and Regina eloped, and the whole gang got back to Storybrooke just as Henry was trying to find a way to get to the Enchanted Forest to find them.

-I knew I wanted Robin and Regina to end up together by the end of this story, but I hadn't originally planned on having them marry yet—maybe get engaged at the very end. However, the elopement just seemed to fit. I figure Regina probably has really bad memories of her first wedding—with all the pomp and splendor that no doubt accompanied that. That being the case, I find it totally reasonable that she wouldn't want to do the whole big white wedding thing again. And, as she said, they are a confirmed true love couple; true love's kiss restored the rest of Robin's memories. That being the case, was there really any reason for them to wait? It wasn't like they had to take time to make sure they really wanted to be together. I'm sure Roland was thrilled when he found out Regina was officially his new mom.

-Up next: the last chapter! The whole town has a big welcome home party at granny's to welcome everyone home. Regina and Robin find an interesting way to share their news, and Killian has a little surprise up his sleeve for Emma—in the form of a surprise honeymoon—alone this time. They don't have a whole lot of time with Snow and Charming's baby so close, but they plan to take full advantage of the time they have. I'll also tie up a few loose ends—like what became of Blackbeard and who's running the Enchanted Forest, and all of that.