I totally just dropped off the face of the earth there for awhile. My horse needed a lot of my attention. But I'm back! This is not the epilogue. I had to write this one last chapter to fit everything in smoothly. So surprise! There's one more update after this one :) please leave a review!

The epilogue will very likely be posted tomorrow :)

People were pouring in and out of the diner. Regina had never seen it so full and really that should have put her on alert for what was going to happen to her. But with Henry chattering endlessly beside her and the king and queen calling her to join them amongst the laughter and stories being told, she didn't exactly have a moment to think about the whereabouts of her beloved sheriff. So she walked around the front of her car to the sidewalk without a worry in her mind and laughed at Henry's enthusiasm as he bounced and continued with his tale from his time with the queen in the Enchanted Forest.

It was the going away party for the king and queen. The royal couple had insisted it was unnecessary but she and Henry insisted it was. If only just to have them stay one night more. But that was all beside the point as she walked alongside her polished black Mercedes while Henry walked backwards ahead of her. Her attention was pulled from Henry by the queen's laughter for something about it had Regina just knowing it was directed toward her. But she never got the chance to question it for the very moment she glanced the queen's way, her hand was taken in another's.

Her heart jumped in to her throat and as she was tugged back she hissed a quick and suddenly furious, "oh you bastard!" David merely laughed as he twirled her under his arm and pinned her to the side of her car with a thud that was just loud enough to catch everyone's attention. He kissed her before she could protest any further. Her inhale was sharp and her body was tense and she should have known better. She should have been driving there knowing he would try to do this. The volume of voices around them dropped to nothing at the sight and she swore she was going to kill him. But Henry's thrilled laughter paired with the royal couple's laughter and Hook's voice echoing in her head to ignore them all, she did find it in herself to relax enough to kiss him back.

With a stubborn sigh she softened her mouth and lifted her hands to hold his face between them while his stayed on her hips. She could have rolled her eyes when his grin grew wider. But instead she found herself smiling with him as she kissed him. She was expecting outcries of rage or confusion but the only sound before conversations resumed was Granny's gruff voice bellowing over the street and diner's patio.

"You never seen a kiss before?! Quit your gawking and mind your own damn business," she snapped and all at once, the townspeople went back to their conversations with one another and the mayor and sheriff were left to finish their kiss alone with Henry bouncing beside them.

"I am going to kill you for this," she whispered against his lips and hated that she was smiling as she did. It took all of the effect out of her words.

"You'll get over it," he grinned back and then kissed her again and was delighted to feel her relax even further against her pristine little car as her soft hands fell to his chest and throat. "I love you," he told her against her lips and she replied bluntly.

"You're an ass," she stated and he laughed as he tucked her hair behind her ear, softening her a little more than she would care to admit, "I am mad at you and I don't feel like telling you I love you."

"I am a patient man," he grinned and she tried her very best not to smile but it curved her tight lips regardless and lit up her eyes, "I will get it out of you sooner or later," he promised and she hummed doubtfully. With a quiet laugh he took her hand in his and gently pulled her away from her car as he stepped back and proceeded to seamlessly twirl her under his arm and hold her to his side with his arm around her shoulders. He was delighted by the fact she permitted such an act and allowed for their fingers to stay entwined by her shoulder. Even if it was begrudgingly, she did allow it and fell in step beside him.

"I am never going to let this go."

"It was your fault," he chuckled and she sighed.

"Which is particularly why I will never let it go. You also tricked me."

"Did not."

"Fine. You omitted a specific detail. Exploiting my lack of paying attention to detail."

"Would you have done it any differently if you had wanted something from me?" He teased with a wide grin as they neared the royal couple.

"No," she grumbled as she glared at those who dared look her way. He simply laughed quietly beside her.

"How does it feel to be known publicly?" The queen grinned and the mayor sat down beside her with her curled her lip back in tired distaste and her eyes narrowed. The queen only laughed.

"Oh shut up."

The Following Morning

Really they could have opened the portal anywhere but both the queen and mayor decided it best to simply open it where they had entered. In the place the mayor had previously deemed the easiest for portal travel. The well. So they all gathered there. The queen, the king, Regina, David, Henry, Emma, Red, and even Granny. All of them there to see off the royal couple. Snow had stayed behind for obvious reasons and of her own volition. She had been told by both Emma and Red when the royal couple were departing but Snow had decided to stay home.

Regina was actually rather surprised that Red was staying true to her word and seemed to be rather content to be in her company. It threw Regina off every time the werewolf stood beside her or offered a tentative smile in her direction. It was odd. Regina suspected that the wolf's close friendship with the queen was playing a factor. Because really, she and the queen were not all that different. Regardless of that fact though, Regina still hadn't the slightest clue how to interact with the wolf girl. She did find though that she quite enjoyed her new relationship with Granny.

Regina had always respected the gruff woman. Always. She liked that she had a brain. And now the pair of them were often caught in playful and sharp banter and Regina just simply loved being able to flip through the pages and pages of quick remarks and extensive vocabulary to match the old woman's. It was fun and it wasn't often anymore that she got to argue like she used to. She could happily spend hours arguing back and forth with that woman over various topics and the pair of them had on more than one occasion. It was therapeutic and Granny was always eager to initiate a new discussion.

Her relationship with Emma was the one she found most curious. The blonde was still trying so hard to be in her company and Regina found herself creating opportunities for the blonde to take advantage of. It was like they both enjoyed one another's company but both refused to admit to the other just how much. Which was odd for it wasn't as though either of them had given the other a reason to think it would be unacceptable to be friends. Perhaps it was pride. Or perhaps it was that neither of them were good at making friends. Or simply didn't know how to make friends. It was funny to think how only a short while ago she was quite prepared to kill the blonde and now she was seeking her company.

David though was adjusting better than she thought he would. He seemed happier than ever with the town turned against him. She made a point to be there for him and she liked to think that she was helping him but she couldn't say for sure. Everyone they came across that morning had something to scowl at or whisper behind their backs as they walked through the town that morning hand in hand. If David wanted their relationship public then it was going to be public. She didn't half ass it. She dove in head first and tried her very best to ignore the looks and whispers. That wasn't to say all of them were like that though.

She was genuinely surprised by the amount of people who were okay with the news. Most were a tentative acceptance but there was a good handful of people who even smiled at them and bid them good day. It was curious to her and she had found herself lost in thought with her weight pressed against David's on more than one occasion. She knew those instances had made him happy.

But that was all pushed aside as the king and queen said their goodbyes. The queen was with Red now, the pair of them caught in a tight hug while the king said farewell to Emma and Granny. They were dressed in the clothing they had traveled to Storybrooke in and the sight made the fact that they were leaving very real. It was going to be strange going home to an empty house. She had grown so used to having them there. They felt like a part of her family and it was hard to say goodbye after they had done so much for her.

"You'll come back and visit us though? Right?" Henry asked as he hugged the queen tight.

"Of course, Henry. We won't be able to stay away," she promised and kissed the side of his head.

"Good. Because I am going to miss you."

"Oh I am going to miss you more," she assured on a slow exhale as she furrowed her brow, "thank you, Henry. You have made such a difference. You are so important to me, don't you ever forget that."

"Only if you promise not to forget how important you are," he smiled against her chest and she laughed.

"Deal," she agreed and then held him tight like that in silence for a little while longer. She was going to miss this boy. He truly had saved her from a life of darkness and misery and she wasn't certain his young mind was even capable yet of understanding just how much he had done for her. So she closed her eyes and held on tight for as long as she could, "I love you, Henry."

"I love you too, mom," he told her and she laughed but he could hear the small quiver of her building tears.

Regina watched the exchange between her son and the queen with an empathetic heart. A sore heart. Unlike Henry, she understood exactly what the queen was letting go in leaving Henry here in Storybrooke. It made her sad and she couldn't watch but she couldn't look away either. She knew she was taking away the child the queen had accidentally adopted. She knew how much effort the queen was putting in to leaving Henry in Storybrooke and that was something Regina did not take for granted. She knew she didn't have to worry about the queen taking him, but she was not oblivious to her feelings on the topic of going home without Henry.

Perhaps she would allow Henry to visit on his own. After she took a trip to their forest first of course.

She was brought from her thoughts when the king stopped in front of her with a smile on his face. A smile that was tainted with farewell. She smiled back and slowly it grew a playful edge and when he gave a questioning tilt of his head, she lifted the backpack sitting at her feet and held it out for him.

Curious, the king took it from her and opened the zipper only to laugh at what he saw. "Marshmallows," he laughed in amusement and utter delight.

"Nine bags of them," she confirmed and he laughed some more as he zipped the backpack closed, "should last you a little while."

The king simply continued to laugh as he shook his head and stepped up to her so he could pull her in to a hug, "thank you."

"You're welcome," she laughed and their hug lasted past their faded laughter and she took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "I am going to miss you," she breathed softly against his neck and he hummed.

"I am going to miss you too. And I am very much going to miss your cooking," he added and she laughed. The sound had him smiling as he released her from his arms and leaned back just enough to look her in the eye. "Nothing worth waiting for ever comes early" he smiled and she smiled back with a tilt of her head, "chin up, little mayor. All will be well."

Regina hummed gently as she looked between his bright blue eyes that were so full of honesty and light, "I am going to miss being called that."

"Well this is far from the last time I will see you, I am certain," he assured and she nodded with a smile. And then he dipped down and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek and felt her smile beneath his lips at the gesture. "Goodbye, little mayor. For now."

"For now," she smiled and with a nod he moved to say goodbye to Henry and Emma and she watched curiously as the queen finished laughing with David and came up to her.

"You going to be okay?" The queen asked with a playful smile but her tone was sincere and the mayor smiled and nodded.

"I'll be fine," she smiled and the queen nodded, "thanks to you."

"I didn't do all that much," the queen shook her head with a smile and a shrug.

"You gave me the push I needed and you didn't let me run away. You supported me. You brought my son home. You did plenty worthy of thanks, dear," Regina insisted gently, humbly even.

"You would have figured it out," the queen assured her but she felt her chest warm with pride for she knew the mayor didn't give thanks unless she meant it.

"It would have been drawn out and messy had you not played a part. Oddly enough, you made things smoother."

"Well it isn't everyday we are told we caused things to go smoother," the queen teased and the mayor laughed lightly.

"Indeed it is not," Regina agreed as she lifted a small pouch from her blazer pocket. The queen watched curiously and carefully took it when it was offered with a questioning look, "we can always grow more here," Regina smiled and watched as the queen opened the pouch and smiled.

"Seven beans?" The queen questioned with a laugh.

"You never know," the mayor shrugged and the queen shook her head as she tied the pouch shut once more.

"We only need the one to go home."

"You'll need another to return to Storybrooke," Regina reasoned and the queen nodded, "you never know," she shrugged a shoulder and was surprised when the queen stepped closer. Regina found herself leaning away from the woman ever so slightly but she didn't get far. The queen wrapped her arms around her in a firm hug and Regina was pleasantly surprised by the fact she herself was relaxing against the younger woman. After a moment or two, her arms fell around the queen in return in a tentative hug that slowly grew more firm.

"Take care of yourself," the queen told her gently as she rested her chin in the mayor's shoulder.

"I will."

"Good."

"You take care of yourself too. And you take care of your baby," Regina smiled and the queen laughed a little as she slowly withdrew from the hug.

"I will."

"You will make an excellent mother. So long as you don't poison the poor thing with your cooking," she smirked and the queen scoffed.

"Yes, please don't cook for the baby," the king laughed as he pulled his wife in to his side, "you have improved rather impressively but you must practice far more before you handle such a delicate task," he teased and kissed her temple while she rolled her eyes with a smirk. "Shall we be on our way?"

"Yes, let's," the queen agreed and with one last look at the mayor and her sheriff, she looked to Red and Emma with a smile and then Henry to whom she waved at after he waved at her.

"We best be seeing you back here, girl," Granny stated with a nod and her arms folded over her chest.

"Absolutely," the queen nodded and intertwined her fingers with her husband's when he took her hand. Then they turned their backs to their friends and took a deep breath as David tossed the bean in to the well. Moments later the well's bottom was swirling with green magic and the royal couple squeezed the other's hand tightly in reassurance before they both climbed up on to the well's wall.

The wind pulled and blew the queen's hair and long coat and the call of her home had her inching to the very edge of the wall. But she didn't jump until she looked over her shoulder to look just one more time at the faces of the wolf and the blonde she called her friend, the old woman who she enjoyed to banter with, the sheriff she had grown to adore, the mayor she felt was her sister, and the boy she liked to call her son. There wasn't a chance in hell she was never going to see their faces again.

With a smirk and a wink that had them all smiling, the queen looked to her husband and with a shared nod they both jumped in to the well.

The mayor's heart sank a little when the king and queen disappeared but she felt at peace over the fact she was not alone. That fact was proven when David's arm slipped around her waist and pulled her in to his side and when Henry took her hand in his and grinned up at her. It was even enforced by Emma's encouraging smile and Red's pleasant one before she turned and followed her grandmother's lead.

With a quiet sigh she sunk in to David's side and ran her thumb over Henry's. She smiled the moment David pressed a kiss to the top of her head and that smile only curled higher when her other side grew warm with Henry's weight as he leaned against her side and rested his chin on her shoulder. He was grinning at her and David, pursing his lips together so his grin wouldn't spilt to show his teeth and it made her laugh, "what?"

"Nothing. I'm just super happy that you guys are together," he grinned and did his best to keep it from growing too wide. His mother and David simply laughed in reply and Henry was delighted to see them pull and lean a little more in to one another just to try and get closer. He was just thrilled and beyond excited to see how things would go now that his mother was happy and in love and there were no impending disasters lined up outside Storybrooke. Or inside it for that matter.

Everyone was happy and those who weren't would learn to be in time.

"Hey mom? Can we practice with the swords when we get home?"

"Yes, Henry," she laughed and he grinned even wider while David buried his nose in her hair and made her chest warm, "we can."

"Awesome!"