A/N: A massive thank you to all of you. I'm getting a little emotional. To be honest, I wouldn't have expected keeping up the enthusiasm to write 10 chapters of this, let alone almost 50. This is the first multi-chapter I've ever seen through to the end, and thank you very much to you for sticking with it as well. I love this ship and probably always will, and I can only hope I've left a small mark on this wonderful little world we've created for ourselves.

Another massive thank you to you all. I can't explain how thrilled I am at the response to this fanfiction.

My tumblr, if anyone wants to say hi (or perhaps leave me a prompt? Check my about page for other ships you can request) is "sarcastic-jazzhands". I don't bite, I'd love to hear from any/all of you.

Chapter 46: The End.

"She did what?!"

Ruby started slightly at Emma's raised voice, putting her cup down on the table and swinging back in her chair.

"She went back to him. How many time do I have to repeat it?"

Emma sat in stunned silence, mouth hanging open slightly as she tried to connect her thoughts.

"So we all nearly died escaping him, to release her from years of imprisonment, just for her to…go back to him?!"

Ruby nodded casually.

"Look Emma, I've spoken to her. We're kind of close now, actually, and she's a very smart, steady girl who knows what she wants and who knows what's right. It was her decision, and he was so surprised to see her again that I think he just let her do what she wanted. She isn't his prisoner anymore."

"Well is he gonna come for my son? Do I need to be worried?"

Ruby shook her head. "He has no idea where you are and according to Belle, he isn't looking. I'm telling you that girl is a positive influence on him. She's protecting you. Apparently he's not particularly fixated on ripping out Henry's heart anymore. He may have even let that whole thing go."

Emma frowned and crossed her arms, leaning back to avoid the sunlight streaming in through the window and directly into her eyes. "I wouldn't count on it, but as long as Belle gives us a bit of notice if he does start to re-enter that whole area, then I'm calm. How did her father take it?"

"He's not happy, as you can imagine, but he gets to see her regularly now, and it means his land and his court isn't under threat from Rumpelstiltskin anymore, so that's a plus."

Emma sighed deeply and processed what she'd heard. She still looked sceptical, but her grim expression softened considerably.

"Ah, who am I to judge? If she's happy there, then good for her. And as long as she's keeping him from running rampant and being evil, that's good for me too."

Ruby smiled a pointy smile.

"And how are you? How's Granny?"

"She's fine! And everything seems under control at the moment. I've missed her. I miss company if I'm honest. I'm waiting for a handsome prince to sweep me away, and then I remember that if he picks the wrong time of month, I could eat him, so I'm put off the idea. But no, I can't complain. It's so nice having her around and she helps me during that time. It was a good move, I think."

"I'm glad. You of all people don't suit solitude."

"And I always thought you did, but now…"

Ruby smirked and Emma rolled her eyes.

"I'm happy for you! You got everything you wanted!"

Emma laughed. "I don't think I knew that this is what I wanted."

"You wanted to be happy. You got that. Anyone could tell from a mile away."

Emma shook her head contemplatively, a small smile touching her lips.

"Have you seen Hook since, by the way?"

Emma raised her eyebrows.

"Once. Briefly. I wanted to make sure he'd recovered after the incident that I brought onto his ship."

"And has he?"

"Yeah pretty much. He wasn't too happy with the way things turned out for me though. I think he really regrets reiterating how beautiful Regina is in my presence."

Ruby giggled, eyebrows shooting up. "I knew he wouldn't be thrilled. Still, he can't exactly object."

"No, because that would mean I value his opinion on the matter, or indeed anyone's opinion. It's no one else's business."

Ruby's smile grew softer, and she looked at Emma like she's come out of hiding for the first time in years.

The door opened and the sunlight flooded Emma's eyes once more. She lifted a hand to shield them as two people entered the kitchen.

"Sorry! I couldn't get everything, it started to rain and I didn't think Henry's coat was sufficient –"

"Honestly, I give you one job and you can't even get ingredients without messing it up!" Emma berated, but there was not a trace of venom in her words.

Regina smiled brightly, brushing her hair over her shoulder and lifting the basket she had been carrying onto the kitchen table. Henry followed behind her, running through the door and straight into Regina's legs.

"Hey! I told you sugar was a bad idea. You've got to be careful in the kitchen! That's how accidents happen!"

"Sorry Ma! Hello Mama!" The child said as he climbed up onto one of the chairs next to Emma.

"You gave him sugar?!" The blonde asked incredulously.

Regina bit her lip and shrugged. "He'd been very good on the way and he was awfully quiet when I was shopping, and you know I can't resist those eyes."

Emma glanced at her son's green eyes, her eyes, and frowned at Regina.

"Hello Ruby. Has this woman offered you anything to drink or are her social skills as bad as ever?"

Ruby looked at Emma with a raised eyebrow and laughed. "She has, thank you. I've been here a while."

"Belle went back to the Dark One." Said Emma.

Regina halted where she stood on her toes putting away her shopping and looked incredulously over her shoulder at the blonde.

"What?"

"I know! It's insane, but apparently he doesn't treat her so badly anymore. I think she actually enjoys his company. And Ruby's as it happens; the two are apparently good friends now." Regina looked to Ruby and the werewolf nodded happily.

"Well that's…sweet…as long as that poor girl's happy now."

"She is." Ruby said, reaching into the basket and helping herself to some blackberries. "She gets to see her father regularly and she's changing Rumpelstiltskin for the better! He's gonna leave you three alone now."

Regina sighed. "Well that's a weight off. We've got enough to worry about with him running rampant."

Henry blushed under all the attention now focussed on him, his mouth coated in purple blackberry juice.

Emma pushed the basket away from him. "Ma was going to make jam with those!" Henry shrugged and leapt off the chair and darted off into his house.

"Sorry Mama!"

Ruby laughed as Emma opened her mouth to shout back at her son, before deciding against it and closing her mouth.

"I'd better be off. I have more errands to run. I'll tell you what, there was less to do when it was just me."

Emma got up to hug her and Regina, who was struggling with a new cooking pot called a goodbye over to her.

"I'll be checking up on you two soon, to check you haven't killed each other. It's a miracle you've lasted this long."

Emma laughed. "We just take each day as it comes."

Ruby smirked at the two of them in her traditional way, then swept out of the house, red cape flashing characteristically behind her.

Regina sighed heavily.

"After all that effort we went to to get her out, she just goes running back!"

Emma smiled. "Ah, well you can never guess these things I suppose."

Regina raised an eyebrow and returned the blonde's smile. Somewhere upstairs, a loud thud sounded. Emma marched into the hallway to shout up to the other inhabitant.

"Henry? What was that noise?"

A hesitant shout answered. "I…sort of fell off my bed. Sorry Mama."

Emma shook her head to herself. "How many times? Don't…jump…on your bed!"

A carefree apology was shouted back down and Emma moved back into the kitchen.

"So did you go to the Mayor about the job today?" Regina asked.

"Yes. I don't know if he'll give it to me, but I think I gave the impression that I was well suited to it."

"You didn't mention the past life of copious crime, right?"

"No, luckily I managed to keep quiet about that. I feel like that could have jeopardised my chances a little."

Regina rolled her eyes, but rounded the table and wrapped her arms around the blonde's waist, planting a soft kiss on the tip of her nose.

"I must say I'm proud of you. I know cold turkey's been tough, but five weeks without stealing anything is pretty impressive…for you anyway. You deserve the job…even if Sheriff is a bit ironic."

Emma frowned playfully, feigning offense. "I will be a wonderful enforcer of law. I know all the tricks. I'll catch 'em out!"

"And then you'll let them go if they're your friends…"

"Hey! That's like outlaw code!"

"You're not an outlaw any more."

"I'll always be an outlaw." Emma murmured as she leaned forward to kiss the other woman. Regina dodged playfully from her arms before she could.

"I asked at the school. Henry starts at the beginning of next month."

Emma sat down at the table. "I'm worried he'll be left out."

"Why's that?"

"I don't know, because he's never been to school before? Because all the other kids will already know each other? Because he's got two mothers and one of them used to be the queen?"

Regina laughed lightly. "I think if any of them are nasty to him, I will go in and deal with it like a reasonable adult. And if that doesn't work you can always go in and beat them up."

Emma feigned offence while Regina began crushing berries.

"Yeah, when are we going to explain the whole 'two mom' thing to him?"

Regina glanced over at her, confused. "What needs explaining?"

Emma thought for a minute, then shrugged. "I suppose you have a point."

"And besides, an ex-queen with dark magic and a famed outlaw whose father-in-law imprisoned him; what's difficult to understand about that?"

ooo

The sun set slowly and calmly. The summer had been warm and forgiving, and the land the queen and the outlaw found themselves in was bright and beautiful. Their home was reasonable and their income uneven but more than adequate. It had so far been a strangely steady part of their previously hectic lives.

Emma stood outside their cottage, looking into the forest, the soft breeze carrying her skirt around her slightly. She wore more dresses then than she'd used to, Regina on the other hand wore fewer. Emma heard the door open then close; the brunette was approaching, she knew.

"He's finally settled down. It took three different stories, though."

Emma smiled wistfully, without looking at Regina. "I heard they have a lot of energy at this age."

"It's only a matter of time before he's out all night."

"Not if I have anything to do with it. The forest is a dangerous place."

Regina glanced sideways at her, smirking in response, then following her gaze into the darkening trees.

"It's exciting."

"I agree with you there."

Emma sighed; heavily but contently. Regina took her hand and moved closer.

"Do you miss it?"

"My old life?"

"Yes."

"Sometimes. It was exciting and exhilarating, and I was free. This is a different kind of freedom though, one that's both comfortable and terrifying."

"You don't have to constantly worry about being arrested."

"That's a plus, I suppose. I won't even ask if you miss your old life."

Regina laughed bitterly, with utter relief. "Certainly not. All the comforts of royalty can't hold a candle to that creaky stool beside our son's bed."

Emma's smile grew by inches, and Regina swore she saw tears fill her eyes.

"I never saw this coming, princess."

Regina shook her head and laughed quietly again. "I don't think either of us did."

"I love the way you're so good with him, after everything you experienced in your childhood."

"That's probably why I love him so much; I want to be the mother my mother never was, never tried to be."

"Well I'm so grateful. I may miss the wilderness, but I would never take back everything we've been through. I'd do it all again, all the pain, if it meant I could end up here again. I love this life, don't ever forget that."

"I wouldn't."

"I love you. Don't ever forget that, more importantly."

Regina nudged the other woman with her shoulder. "I really wouldn't forget that."

There was a moment of silence while they both stared out into the wood, looking at nothing in particular, looking at trees and grass and darkness, looking at the past.

"It might get difficult at some point, you know?"

"In many ways, yes."

"Someone might come looking for us. He might come looking for Henry."

"He failed to keep us apart the first time, I have no intention of letting him have a second attempt, let alone succeeding at it."

"That makes two of us."

A wolf howled somewhere in the forest. The clouds shifted to let the moon pierce the night. The breeze made Regina shiver a little, so Emma shifted closer.

"This was inevitable, wasn't it?"

"Well, it was the only way it could have played out, if you really think about it."

"I guess it's True Love, right?"

"I suppose that's the only explanation for all the magic."

"You annoyed?"

Emma glanced at the ex-queen and smirked. "A little."

Regina swatted her arm and scoffed. Emma laughed.

"You have to learn to adapt. Even if we didn't have that label, I'd still have to learn to live with you, because there's no way I could live without you now. In too deep, I'm afraid."

"Wow, you're so romantic." Regina deadpanned.

Emma laughed, but squeezed her hand tightly.

The night wore on and the wind got colder, and they made their way back inside, Emma glancing over her shoulder at the foreboding, enticing darkness of the forest before decisively closing the door, then climbing into bed next to her queen.

They thought that perhaps after all this trouble and all this surviving, this was the only way to live.