Last Chapter! It's bittersweet! I loved writing this story, but I don't want to force it past it's natural progression. Hopefully you like how I ended things! It's the longest chapter yet because I didn't want to leave anything out!

Thank you so much for taking this journey with me and for all your kind words and support! When I first started writing this I had no idea it would basically be an outlet for me to address all of my SwanQueen theories and problems with plot holes.

Enjoy!

"Regina!" I distantly hear my name being called. At first I think it's part of my dream. A beautiful dream which stars a certain blonde princess.

Only when I hear pounding against wood that I open my eyes acknowledge that; one, it's morning and two, someone is at my front door.

I roll off the couch in my study where I must have fallen asleep and slip on my slippers. I walk right up to the door and open it. No other thought in my mind other than to get the incessant beating noise to stop.

I pull open the door to reveal the object of my (literal and figurative) dreams.

"Oh hey. I didn't think you were going to answer." Emma looks up at me sheepishly and I smile. I smile because as ridiculous as it is, I've missed her face. Her mild surprise at my presence quickly turns to concern. "You okay?"

It's only then that I catch site of my reflection in the glass. It certainly LOOKS like I spent a not-so-comfortable night on the couch. I flush and quickly cast a refreshing spell over me. It doesn't change my clothes from the yoga pants and sweater I fell asleep in, but it does smooth my hair, clean my makeup, and freshen my breath.

Ah, there is nothing like the innocent embarrassment of looking your worst when you unexpectedly see your crush.

"I fell asleep on the couch." I explain.

"You just woke up?" She asks, going back to being surprised.

"What time is it?" I answer her with my own question.

"11 am." She informs me. And wow, I guess I really needed sleep, because the sun ALWAYS wakes me up before 8:30 at the latest.

"Where is Henry?" He had (thankfully) planned to sleep over Emma's house last night because they were going to spend today together.

"He's with my mom." She informs me.

It's only then that I realize we are still talking in the doorway. I move out of the way as a silent invitation for her to enter the house. She does, but we still end up just facing each other in the hallway.

The silence stretches on until I can't take it.

"Why were you surprised I answered the door?" I ask more for something to say than to fulfill my mild curiosity.

She gives me a small smile. "Because you're avoiding me." She says knowingly. "I'm sorry I've made you feel uncomfortable or like I didn't want you around." She apologizes and before I can dismiss them as unnecessary she continues. "I've missed you. It's hasn't even been a week, and I know I sound melodramatic, but it felt like an eternity. I forgot what it was like to have you ignore me. It's kind of the worst." She smirks but there is a deep sadness beneath the surface.

I open my arms and we're standing close enough for her to simply fall into them.

"Oh sweetie." I whisper. I'm at a loss for words otherwise. I haven't even told her how I feel and yet I'm somehow already in way over my head. I didn't think she would be so hurt.

"I'm sorry." She says and pulls back. "It's just been a long day."

"It's not even noon yet." I point out.

"If you knew what my morning was like then you would understand." She smirks but it's so small it looks pathetic.

"Do you want to tell me about it?" I offer.

"Um…" She shifts in place. "Yeah I guess, but it's probably easier if I show you." She replies.

I tilt my head in confusion. She then magics a decent sized dreamcatcher into her hand.

"Ah." I respond in recognition. I turn and lead her into my study so that we can sit down. I'm honestly a little afraid of what she's going to show me. What could it be that she wants me to see it for myself?

She sits next to me; so close that ours knees bump together when hands me the dreamcatcher.

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Emma is sitting at her kitchen table. The rising sun is creeping in through the blinds. A mug of steaming coffee is placed in front of her. She is staring off into nothingness, seemingly lost in her thoughts.

"Ma?" Henry questions as he walks into the room.

She jumps at the intrusion but smiles at our son. "Hey, what are you doing up so early?" She asks and pulls out the chair next to her.

He sits down and slouches, still not fully awake. "I could ask you the same thing." He counters.

"Couldn't sleep." She responds to his implied question.

"Did you and Mom have a fight?" He asks and yawns.

She looks a little surprised by the assumption. But something in her face tells me that is exactly what she had been thinking about before he came down. "No we didn't… why would you think that?" She answers.

"I don't know. Everything on Christmas seemed good but then you guys haven't seen each other since and you've both been quiet." He gets up and gets pours himself a glass of juice.

"I've had a lot on my mind." She defends. "Although I think she's avoiding me. I tried contacting her a few times yesterday and didn't get an answer." She adds in a thoughtful tone.

"You should go talk to her in person then." He recommends. "We both know when it comes to you and mom, it's going to be up to you to break the stalemate."

She contemplates his words for a moment before answering. "I don't want to ruin our day together." She tells him, clearly trying to put off the awkward confrontation.

"I can just go to Gram and Gramps for a while and meet you guys later." He reasons. "Besides it's going to be no fun hanging out with you if you're in a mood all day."

She glares at him. "Fine. They should be awake soon so go get changed and I'll drive you over."

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"'Morning!" Emma says as she lets herself into her parent's apartment.

"Oh Emma!" Snow says as she sits at the kitchen island. "We didn't expect to see you two today." She says pleasantly but with a question in her tone.

Henry gives his grandma a side hug and walks over to television where Neal is watching a cartoon with rapt attention.

"Yeah, I was wondering if Henry could stay with you for a few hours this morning."

"Yes of course. Is everything okay?" She asks and pats the stool next to her.

Emma comes over and sits down. "I just have stuff to do." She says evasively.

"Regina stuff?" Her mother asks with a smirk. Emma looks away. "You know, you could have just said that."

"Stop Mom." She warns in whisper. "The last thing I need is for Henry to hear you teasing me about having a "crush" on his mother." Emma uses actual air quotes around the word crush.

Snow is still smiling but when she responds she lowers her voice into a whisper also. "I'm sorry Em…but really, you made her a mix tape! You talk about her constantly. What do you expect us to think?" She questions completely unapologetically "It's honestly adorable to watch." She obviously can't resist adding.

"Okay, I'm leaving." Emma says at a normal volume. "See you later kid." She shouts over to the television where neither boy even glances away.

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Emma leaves the apartment but doesn't go to Regina's.

Curiously enough, she paces up and down the main street sidewalk for a good 20 minutes before finally turning the corner and going into Gold's pawn shop.

"What can I do for you Miss Swan?" He asks with thinly veiled distain when she enters.

"I need you to tell me about the original dark curse." She says in much the same tone that Regina used with the Blue fairy the day before.

"May I ask the reason for your interest?"

She glares at him. (She seems to be doing that a lot this morning.)

"I was specifically wondering about the breaking of the curse. As I was destined to be responsible for that, you can see how it would be of my concern."

"What concern is it now? That curse was broken years ago?"

"When you originally had Regina cast the curse, how did you plan on me breaking it?" She asks, ignoring his inquires. "The "true love" potion you created from my parents could have done it, but my assumption is that you had always intended to use that to bring magic back. But bringing magic back wouldn't have brought everyone's memories back, correct?"

"That is correct." He confirms skeptically.

"So how did you expect me to break the curse? You didn't know Henry would exist? If you had then you wouldn't have been surprised to find out he was your son's." She reasons.

"Why Miss Swan. True love's kiss was always meant to break the curse."

"Why did it have to be me then? Why couldn't my parents kissing have broken the curse?"

"For someone who has been a dark one, you still don't know much about magic, especially dark magic, do you?"

"I would like to hear my information come directly from the source…wouldn't you?" She responds while leaning over the glass countertop.

"I suppose." He says and sighs. "To break the curse, both parties had to first BELIEVE in the curse. It just so happened that your son has the heart of the truest believer, and you had just seen proof in the form of a dragon with your own eyes."

"But like I said before, you didn't originally know Henry would exist." She points out.

"Your point Miss Swan? I'm a very busy man."

"How was I supposed to get to Storybrooke and break the curse if he didn't exist?" She finally demands. This is clearly the one question she came here to ask.

"Fate is funny. You should know that. Regina was always going to adopt a child. I planted that idea in her head. Maybe that child, no matter who they were related to, would have helped you break the curse? But maybe not. Regina and myself both also believed in the curse once you arrived. There is a multitude of ways it could have broken."

"So you're saying that if I had kissed you or her, I could have broken the curse?" She asks with a shake of her head and an uncertainty in her voice.

He laughs at the notion of breaking a curse with her. "Remember, only if there is love there first."

"Yes, I understood that. Thanks." She remarks sarcastically and turns to head towards the door.

"Don't mention it drearie." He says ominously before she leaves.

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My head is swimming with the memories I've seen so far. They are making me more and more confused.

She went to GOLD for a TRUE LOVE talk? I'm questioning her sanity.

I don't realize that I've commented aloud until she responds.

"I know it was stupid, but you weren't around to tell me that. I need you to inform me of when I'm being stupid remember?" She comments quietly in an attempt at humor.

"Evidently." I answer distractedly and reluctantly lift the dreamcatcher once more.

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Emma walks distractedly out of Gold's shop. With her head down and face contorted she doesn't see the person in front of her until she walks right into them.

"Oh shit sorry!" She says and looks up and grabs the arm of the other person to steady them both.

"No problem Sheriff." The teen says good-naturedly.

Because of course it's Trevor.

"Hey kid." Emma says once she recognizes him. She lets go of his arm and steps back.

"Where are you running off to?" He asks.

"Not running to" She corrects. "Running from."

He looks confused but then turns his head and sees the door to Gold's shop and nods in understanding.

"Where's your other half?" He asks casually.

"What?" She responds. I don't know if she's confused by the question or the way he phrased it.

"The Mayor." He explains like it's the most obvious thing in the world.

"You really think she's my other half?" She asks.

"Yeah isn't she? You guys are like the same person and I never see you apart." He laughs.

"I think most people would say we're exact opposite people." She comments.

"Nah. You guys seem to have a lot in common." He shrugs. "But what do I know. Maybe you're both."

"We're both opposites and exactly the same?" She clarifies.

"Yeah." He readily agrees.

"Are you high? That doesn't even make sense."

"Of course not Sheriff." He says and looks away. "It does make sense if you think it through." He says, and I have a feeling he's just trying to distract her at this point. "It's like your hands." He begins to explain and presses both his palms together in demonstration. "They are basically exact mirror replicas of each other, yet they're literally as opposite as left and right." He looks up to make sure she is following his line of thinking before her continues. "See my left hand has a scar on it from then I fell out of a tree. Life experiences change my hands in different ways, yet they are both still the same; they're both still my hands."

She stares at his hands for a few moments before responding. "I hate to admit it, but that was actually pretty profound kid."

"Thanks." He said, sounding proud of himself. "I'm thinking of becoming a philosophy major."

"So you'll be working at the movies forever?" she mumbles.

"What?" He asks because it was too low for him to hear.

"Of course you are." She answers louder this time. "So you think Regina and I are like hands?" She gets back on track with the conversation.

"Yeah. Isn't that like the ideal relationship? To have someone who complements you? He asks. He sounds confused by her unenthusiastic responses.

"We do…" Emma says thoughtfully. Then she snaps her head back up. "Nice talking to you kid, but I have to go." She says and gives the first real smile all morning.

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"Why did you show me this?" These are the first words out of my mouth. It's the only coherent statement that I could form. What does she mean to accomplish by showing me this? I'm trying desperately not to get my hopes up that she feels the same way I do, but it's becoming increasingly harder each second that she speaks to me.

"I showed you, because I wanted to let you know that this" she points to the dream catcher "doesn't scare me. Not like it would have in the past. I'm not running away. I can't run from the people I care about anymore. I've made that mistake too many times." She pauses and looks down at her hands in her lap. "My M.O has always been to not tell people I loved them until there was near death situation: Neal, Killian, my parents, even Henry. I don't want to wait for that with you. Well I guess technically I already did, but with you, it's different. Our relationship is different than all of those other ones. Each of those other people decided that they loved me and I just let them. Eventually I would get scared I would loose them and only then would completely give into loving them back. With you, for the first time in my life, I'm the pursuer. You wanted me gone from the first moment I got here, but I refused. And I'd like to think I stayed because of Henry, and in a roundabout way I did, but really I stayed because of you. If I had trusted you, I may have left when I said I would and tried my best never to think about that night or my son ever again. But I didn't, I stayed and I protected you. And I tried to get along with you. I actively pursued a friendship with you. When that finally worked, I initiated the biffl status. I should have known that if anything more were to happen with this" she points a finger between the two of us "then I would have to be the one to address it." She takes one of my hand and holds it between hers.

I have to bite my bottom lip to keep it from trembling. I'm sure my hand is shaking where she holds it. There is no mistaking her words now. They are building up to whatever she came here to tell me (although now I'm certain what that is.)

And I'm terrified.

I had not let myself think this far ahead. I had only envisioned futures where I would reveal my feelings; not the other way around. I'm not prepared for this. And I'm honestly terrified of these feelings and of the bigger implications of them.

Because if Emma is as invested in this as I am…then with my luck, the relationship is sure to end badly.

She is looking at me expectantly. She's nervous, but not as much as I would think she'd be in this situation. She exudes confidence in her statements.

"I'm glad you're not scared anymore…but I am." I admit. I'm trying desperately to keep my voice from shaking. "I've never had much luck when it comes to love."

She starts to smile. The biggest smile yet. "Well you know what they say, third times a charm…and maybe in your case, it's a Charming."

The hand she isn't holding flies to my mouth as if I could catch the laugh that erupts from my chest.

It obviously doesn't work.

Once I start laughing I can't stop. She starts chuckling at her bad joke too, which is just too much because her laughter is contagious. Leave it to Emma to make me laugh right when I'm starting to panic.

My lip is still trembling and I'm pretty sure my cheeks are damp but I don't stop. The incredulity of my life only keeps the tears and laughter coming. My hysterics diminish slightly enough for me to catch my breath and I shake my head forcefully while watching her. Her eyes are trained on me and she's looking at me like…like I'm everything.

"I love you." I affirm, while a laugh is still bubbling in my throat.

Her face lights up like turning on a Christmas tree. Like wonder and amazement and love and family.

"Really?" She asks. I nod a yes and sober up completely. A smile is still left on my face though.

"Good." She starts. "Because I'm more than a little in love with you and I'm pretty sure the universe is trying to force us together anyway."

Her words make my heart fell like it's physically growing too big to fit in my chest. It's almost uncomfortable but I'll gladly deal with it forever if I can continue to hear those words. After this, I know I'll agree to anything she says. That's all it took to convince me beyond a doubt that this is the future I want, no matter how resistant or scared I was.

Look at her, yet again convincing me to go along with whatever she says. I would wonder if she's actually using magic to constantly pull off such a feat. I don't have to wonder though, because I know she is. It's love that makes me agree to these things, and love is the most powerful magic of all.

I bring my hand up to her face and rub my thumb across her cheek. Her face is even softer than I'd imagined and it's amazing that I get the privilege to touch her like this. My heart is only continuing to expand and I don't know how I can handle any more of this feeling.

"For the first time ever, I will happily go along with the universe's plan." I delicately inform her.

Her eyes crinkle in happiness and she leans in. My eyes close right before she brushes her lips gently against mine. It's a tease and I can't handle it so I pull her in and press them firmly together.

And my heart explodes.

Not literally. But for half a second I question if it really had because I can HEAR small explosions going off that I'm more than sure aren't just in my head.

At the same time we both pull back and look up. There, near the ceiling of my study, small magical fireworks are slowing fading away.

"Did we do that?" Emma asks still looking at the ceiling, stunned by the accidental display.

"I believe so." I answer, just as amazed.

"Well it's a few days too early for fireworks, but I'm definitely not complaining." She looks down to my face and I can sense it so I meet her eyes. They are filled with adoration and I realize it is not a new look, but I never recognized it for what it was before.

I capture her lip again and lean over so that she is forced to lie back on the couch. I take the opportunity to straddle her. I haven't been this worked up over just kissing someone in decades. I feel like a typical teenager from this world. (But I really hope Henry isn't doing anything like this because my mind is in a very inappropriate place right now.)

I don't know how long we're like this for. Time and place evidently get away from us. We become so wrapped up in each other that we don't notice the world outside. We don't hear the beeping of the cell phones indicating messages. We don't hear the front door open or footsteps on the hardwood floor.

"Mom?" Henry calls as he walks into the room. "Oh god!"

I pull back but I know it's already too late for him not to have seen us making out with his other mother's hands up my shirt.

"Henry!" I exclaim. But he has already spun around and his back is facing us.

"Sorry" He says quickly. "I'll be in the kitchen."

Emma begins laughing as soon as he leaves the room.

"It's not funny." I tell her and whack her arm before extracting myself completely and standing up. My face is burning with embarrassment.

"Yes it is." She disagrees and stands up to face me. She straightens my shirt and takes both of my hands.

"Everything will be fine." She says seriously.

And just like that, I believe it will be.

"I love you." She assures me. "Everything that's happening is good. So what if our kid caught us making out? Yeah, it's not how we would have liked for him to find out, but plenty of kids see their parents in compromising positions. I know I have."

"Sorry to hear that." I deadpan.

"Yeah but I got over it. So, how about we go talk to Henry?" She suggests and lets go of my hands to open the door.

"Okay" I agree. I take a deep breath and walk through the door.

We find Henry in the kitchen where he said he'd be. He's currently sitting on a stool and furiously writing in a notebook.

He looks up when he hears us walks into the room. His embarrassment seems to have lessened if the smug grin on his face is any indication.

"So…do you guys have something you want to tell me?" He asks, grin still firmly in place.

I can feel myself blush again but Emma simply rolls her eyes at him and plops down next to her.

"Don't act so smug kid." She bumps his shoulder. I move about the kitchen getting hot cocoa for everyone just to give myself something to do other than stand there.

"How long has this been going on?" He shuts his notebook and looks between us.

"Well that's a hard question." She tells him. "But…this morning I guess?"

"I'm glad my advice helped then." He deduces.

"Yeah, thanks." She says with a laugh.

I set the hot chocolate and cinnamon on the counter and stand to face them.

"As an author, can I just point out that this is the perfect ending to my story?!" He finally says excitedly.

"What?" Any nerves I had been unconsciously harboring about him not being happy were instantly wiped away.

"I've been re-writing the Once Upon a Time book to be more accurate. This is the perfect ending. The White knight and the Evil Queen brought together by their son, and go from being enemies to falling in love." He takes a sip casually. "It practically writes itself."

"I think that's oversimplifying things." I point out. It's a nice story regardless.

"Well obviously I will add everything in between like you guys working together to save me." He defends.

"Don't forget to add how we became biffls before falling in love. Or at least admitting we're in love." She adds the last part while mumbling into her mug.

"Please don't add that atrocious word to your book." I plead. But my smile is belying my annoyance.

"I've heard you say it so you can't act like you hate it anymore!" She argues.

"Just because I've said it doesn't mean I want it forever immortalized in print."

"I'm glad to know some things will never change." Henry comments while watching us bicker.

I shut my mouth, but his comment doesn't deter his younger mother.

"I think we need a new word now anyway." She brushes off my protests. "Like bifals"

"Do I want to know what that stands for?" I have a feeling I don't but she's going to tell me anyway.

"Best friends and lovers." She says and gives me an exaggerated wink from across the table.

"Ew Ma!" Henry scrunches up his face in disgust.

"I agree, please stop." I add with the same amount of disgust. It's also not entirely accurate...yet.

"Fine, fine." She laughs at our expressions. "Maybe we'll have a different title soon anyway…" She jokes.

Girlfriends. True Loves. Partners. Wives. Any and all of those titles may only have been implied, but the unspoken words fill up the room and fill up my heart.

The implication of them hits me hard because I learned better than to disregard one of her jokes.

After all, a joke is what set events in motion that lead us here today.