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James counted his blessings as he saw three horses ride up to the castle. He was still thinking about that last conversation he had with his wife. She was free, resting finally. Emma was leading Henry and David up to James.

"We're okay." Emma hugged her father.

"And Regina?" James asked as he pulled away from his daughter.

"Dead. I killed her for Mom. I did it for her." David smiled and hugged James.

"Henry, are you going to be okay? I mean, somewhere inside you still loved her." Henry shook his head.

"That love died when Snow did." Henry stated eloquently. James nodded, and thought for a moment.

"I want to tell you all something that happened to me while you were gone."

Emma had tears in her eyes, as did Henry and David.

"She was here?" Emma asked. James nodded.

"Yes. She's finally home. She's free." James smiled, with tears in his eyes as well.

"I can't believe it." David shook his head, and smiled. Henry spoke up now.

"She's free…"

James lay in his bed, immobilized by pain. His old body was weakening by the moment. Three weeks had passed since Regina was killed, and Snow was freed. Emma opened the door to her father's room.

"How are you doing?" Emma held his hand with both of hers.

"It's almost time Emma. I'm about to see her." James closed his eyes.

"Tell her I love her for me, will you?" James gave a weak nod. Emma smiled through tears. Her father's last hours with her would be peaceful and calm, she could feel it.

"I will. I will for all of you." He meant Henry, David, and her.

"Dad?"

"Hmm?" He lifted one eyelid up slightly.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?" James was confused now.

"Back in Storybrooke, I treated you horribly. And when I found out you were my parents, it hardly changed. Before you die, I just want you to know; I love you, don't forget that. Tell Mom that I'm sorry, too. I was confused, you were my same age, but you were also my parents. Ever since Mom died, I've been feeling guilty that I never told her how I actually felt. Please forgive me." James sighed.

"It's okay. We love you, we always have. I'm sure she forgives you." Emma nodded, and blinked tears out of her eyes.

"I'm going to miss you when you're gone." Emma still held his hand.

"Don't worry. You're next to come join us." James joked, and they both laughed a little bit. There was a long silence, until James finally spoke up.

"Emma, it won't be much longer. I want you to do me a favor. Go get Henry and David, and come back here with them. I need to talk with all three of you." Emma nodded, and did what he asked.

About ten minutes later, all three of them were in the room with him.

"I want you to help me downstairs to the courtyard." Emma was a little confused. He was about to pass away, why did he need to go down there?

"What? Why?" David asked what they were all thinking.

"I want to die next to my wife." Emma smiled, along with David and Henry.

"Let's help him up." Henry walked over to one side of the bed, and all three of the helped him downstairs.

James sat on a bench next to his wife's grave. He had it built there not long ago, along with a tree planted behind it, offering some shade. But it was just as the peak of morning. Emma sat down next to James, and David sat down on the other side of him.

"I love you all. I don't have much time left. I want you to know that." James smiled. He held his daughter's hand, the ring still on it. The gemstone was still red, and it still amazed him at how it had changed.

"We love you too, James." Henry said. James stared at his wife's headstone.

"I want you to bury me next to her."

"We know." Emma laughed.

They talked for a while, and James knew it was time.

"Goodbye. I love you. I'm going home."

"Love you." Emma said softly.

"I love you too; bye Dad." David whispered through tears.

"I'm going to miss you." Henry choked back tears.

James closed his eyes, and everything went still. He was leaned against Emma, and she felt his breathing slowly cease.

"Goodbye." She whispered.

He was buried next to Snow, and they all knew he was finally happy. Emma wept for days, both of her parents now gone. She had searched for them her entire life, and now she's lost them again. But she knew they would be watching over her; she wasn't alone.

She would sit on the bench, and stare at the two headstones in the moonlight, every night after his death. The engraving on his headstone read;

KING JAMES

The most wonderful father, husband, and hero.

A greatest leader, and the bravest person you'll ever know.

We love you, Dad.

James found himself in a world of white; white grass, white sky, and a beautiful city. It was silver or gold, something sparkling, and gates made of gold, studded with pearls. He opened them into the city, and it was full of people. James looked around, because the only person on his mind was Snow. He knew he was dead, and he knew he was in the afterlife. He wanted to finally see his wife after 40 years. As he walked around, he noticed everyone looked about the same age; around their mid-twenties. He reached up and felt his own face. No wrinkles, and he felt somewhat rejuvenated. He was young again, thank goodness for that.

Then, he saw her.

"Snow!" She turned and faced him, with an ear-to-ear grin.

"James!" They pushed their way through the many people that walked the streets of the city. They almost hurt each other when they both threw their arms around each other.

"Charming," She sobbed into his shoulder, "I've been waiting for you."

"Me too." He wept.

"I love you." She said softly.

"I love you too, Snow." He hugged her tighter.

For many moments, they stood there, in silence, wanting to savor their reunion forever. Snow finally broke the silence.

"Come, I have a home here. Ruth is there, too." Snow grabbed his hand, and led him deeper into the shining city. He was eager to see his mother again, and catch up with his wife. She finally stopped at a house, and pushed the door open. The house was simple, and it was much like her apartment in Storybrooke. There, on the sofa, sat his mother.

"Son!" She stood up. He almost didn't recognize her. She was young, too.

"Mother." He was still crying. Snow smiled at their reunion.

"We've got a lot of catching up to do, don't we?" Snow asked. James nodded, and hugged his wife again. This time, their lips locked, neither of them not wanting to move away.

"I wonder what he's doing up there right now." Emma whispered to Henry and David.

"Probably happy with Snow." Henry said. Emma gave a happy nod.

"Not probably, definitively. He's up there with her right now." She looked up at the sky. She was once again sitting next to their graves.

"Snow, David's grown into a fine man. He's just like you." Snow giggled, and blushed a bit.

"Tell me something I don't know." She laughed.

"What do you mean?" He shot her a perplexed look, and Snow looked at Ruth. They both shared a laugh, and Snow stood up.

"Follow me." She took his hand and led him to another room. It was a very small room, no bigger than a supply closet. There was a floor length window, but it didn't show what was outside of their house. It was blacked out, and Snow turned to him. She took his hand, and placed it next to the window on the wall.

"Close your eyes." She said. He did as she asked.

"Now, think of someone still alive." He did this.

"Open your eyes." She smiled, and he looked at the glass. It showed Emma, and exactly what she was doing at the moment. She was looking at the sky, talking to David and Henry.

"I spent most of my time here before you came. I was with you, David, Emma, and Henry." She giggled.

"But how did you do all of that? Moving the flower?" Snow looked back at the window, and reached her hand towards it. Her hand went through the glass, and she looked at James.

"They won't be able to see us. Come on!" She laughed. He followed her into the glass.

Emma stood up, and looked at the two graves. Grass had grown over the mound the buried Snow, and the mound that buried James was still freshly turned dirt. The flower that once grew on Snow's grave was gone, but now there was another flower. This time, it was between the two graves. The sight brought a smile to Emma's face.

James followed her through, and they stood in the middle of the courtyard, behind the three people in front of them. James turned around, and saw the window, almost like a doorway, still there.

"Look at them. Look what we created." Snow pointed at David and Emma. James looped his arm around Snow's shoulder. They listened to what their children and grandchild were talking about, until Snow faced James. She looked back at Emma, and slowly approached her.

Something caught Emma's eye, and she looked down. Her mother's ring was gleaming, and she knew Snow was close.

"All of you, look." Emma held her hand up, and showed the ring to David and Henry.

"She's here. I wonder if Dad is with her too…" David wondered.

James wanted so badly to answer his son, so he turned to Snow.

"Just make physical contact. That's how you can talk to them." Snow had already known what he wanted, and then she nodded towards David. Slowly, James moved towards his son, and put his hand on his shoulder, just like Snow had done to him.

"I'm here." He whispered, and quickly took his hand away.

David whipped his head around, and looked to where he heard a whisper.

"Dad?" What he said startled the others.

"David? Who are you talking to?" Emma turned around to look where he was looking, and saw nothing.

"He… he just spoke to me. He's here." A smiled settled on David's lips.

"Really?" Emma was bewildered.

"Yeah. He said 'I'm here'. I swear, I didn't imagine it."

Snow let out a laugh, and watched her son tell Emma and Henry about what he had just experienced. James moved over to Snow, and embraced her.

"I'm glad to finally have you back." James said, as Snow happily sighed in his arms.

"Me too." She let go, and looked back at David, Henry, and Emma, and went back through the window, back to their home. James followed her, and took one last look at the three. The sun was setting, and everything was peaceful, once again.

Neither of them wanted to let go. Snow and James both gazed at the sunset in the beautiful city, and held each other in their arms. The sun reflected off of the shining buildings, adding a romantic ambiance.

"Charming?" Snow turned her head to look at James.

"Yes?" He stared deep into her eyes, and smiled.

"You found me." She smiled.

"I will always find you, and now I don't have to look anymore. I won't lose you ever again." He said when she put her head under his neck.

"Not unless you can't catch me." She broke their embrace, and ran off into the gleaming city. He laughed and chased after her.

"You can't hide from me!" He yelled.

"I will always find you!"

Message from the author

Looks like the Charming family has finally had their happy ending! I want to thank those of you who have stayed with the story from the start, and all of you who have read it! Your reviews have been so kind, so I may start writing more stories. But I hope you enjoyed the last chapter!

Thank you so much!