Well everyone, I know I said that there would be a few more chapters, but honestly, they would just be jumping all over the place. So, soon there will be two new stories up for this verse. One will be about the missing years for the family and I will take prompts for that, of course, called: Times Like These. The other will be the third installment, which will be titled: Where The Heart Is. This isn't an ending, merely…

Chapter Twenty-Two: A Happy Beginning

3 Months Later

Emma woke up to someone pulling on her leg. She groaned and rolled over, forgetting that she had crashed on the couch the night before. Luckily, she caught herself and looked down, finding Neal standing there. His blue eyes were lit up with mischief and he was grinning from ear to ear. Emma laughed groggily, shaking her head.

"Can I help you, little man?" She asked, pulling her into her arms and having him stand up on her stomach.

"Emmy!" He said, happily, bending down to kiss her nose. She returned the kiss.

"You are getting far too big mister, don't you know that? You're supposed to stay my baby brother forever."

David's voice came from the doorway. "Guess he missed the same message his big sister did."

Emma looked up, a smile on her face. "Guess so." She sat up, moving Neal onto her lap and adjusting her glasses. Her dad walked over, kissing the top of her head.

"I offered to carry you up last night, but your mom said you looked too cute."

"Just as well," she yawned. "I didn't mean to fall asleep, these midterms are just killing me."

"Well, you get a break today. It's a special one."

"That it is," Emma replied, grinning down at Neal. "I better go shower. Take the kid?"

"Yup. Come here, there's Daddy's little boy!"

Emma watched as her brother's face lit up upon being picked up by their dad. David tossed him in the air a couple of times, which only made both kids laugh uncontrollably.

"David Nolan, if you break my baby I am going to make you sleep on the couch for the next year," Mary threatened as she walked into the room.

Emma shook her head, still laughing. "Forever the overprotective one, Mama."

"Don't you forget it," Mary kissed her head. "You gonna go get ready?"

"Yup. I won't take too long."

Emma dashed up the stairs and took a shower before changing into her suit. She had wanted to try something a little different, as she really wasn't much of a dress person. In the end, hers was going to match David's, something that excited her to no end. After pulling her hair back in a ponytail, she headed downstairs. Her parents were all set too, Mary wearing a light green dress and holding Neal, who was also wearing a little suit (though his tie matched his mother's dress). David grinned over at Emma.

"Well, look at my mini-me."

"I don't see how that's possible," Emma teased. "I'm adopted."

David's eyes widened in mock-horror. "Who told you?" Mary and Emma started laughing (as did Neal, though he didn't get what was so funny). "We were gonna wait until you were older!"

Emma rolled her eyes as her laughter died down. She knew David had been waiting to use that line ever since he heard it in Easy A when they watched it a few weeks ago.

Not an hour later, the family sat in court, waiting for the family before them to finish up. Once they had, they stepped forward. Emma grinned when she realized it was the same judge that had presided over her own adoption.

"Well, it is very nice to see the Nolans back in my courtroom," he said. "Especially since it is to expand your little family. Neal is such a lucky little boy."

Emma nodded, stroking her brother's cheek. "He really is."

"Well, I see that there are no objections and I have the waiver for both biological parents' legal rights, so, Mary Margaret and David, if you would just sign the forms."

Mary put Neal into his big sister's arms while she and David practically fought over the pen to sign the documents in front of them. Emma giggled, nuzzling her face against Neal's. The judge was right, they were lucky. They had two dorky parents who loved them more than life itself. Sure, they could be overprotective and embarrassing, but Emma wouldn't have it any other way. Nearly a year ago when she found out about Neal's existence, she had been resistant. Would her parents still love her the same? Would they push her away simply because they had a baby to fuss over? They were all normal worries, but she didn't have them anymore. Her parents could love them both equally.

Like her, Neal didn't have the easiest start at life. However, thanks to Mary and David, he would have an amazing one going forward.

Finally, all the paperwork was filled out and the judge added his own, putting a big stamp of approval on it. "Well, it is with the greatest of pleasure, that on this day, in the town of Storybrooke, Maine, I have signed these final judgements of adoption. This makes it final, forever and all times."

Tears spilled down not just Mary and David's faces, but Emma's too. Mary pulled her son into her arms, hugging him tightly. David pulled Emma close, wrapping his arm around his wife. They all beamed happily down at their baby boy. Neal was giggling and trying to reach up for his mother's hair, oblivious to all going on.

The clerk took a picture of the four of them, one that would later hang in the living room. In the meantime, there was a celebration waiting for them at Granny's. The family they had built would all be there: Mal, Lily, Ruby, Granny, Baelfire, Ralph, Belle and Gideon. Emma still couldn't believe she had gone from having no family, to more than what she knew what to do with.

"A happy ending," the clerk announced as she looked at the picture.

"No," Emma looked from her brother to up at her confused parents. "A happy beginning."

Mary grinned and kissed her cheek. "That's exactly right, sweets."

Christmas came and passed, followed by New Year and Emma's 16th birthday. There was summer and the start of a new year. Seasons passed, one by one. Before anyone realized it, David and 3 ½ year old Neal were sitting in the center of a row of lawn chairs on the grass of Storybrooke High. Mal was on one side of them, Granny on the other.

"I can't see Emmy!" Neal whined.

David chuckled, ruffling his son's hair. "She's sitting with her class," he explained for about the tenth time.

"Why's Mommy up there?"

"She's the vice principal, she has to give out the diplomas."

It was a tradition for the school, but one that meant a lot to Mary this year. She was going to be able to give her baby girl her diploma. She hoped with all her might that she wouldn't burst into tears when she reached her. Jasmine stood behind the podium, reading off the names.

"Ruby Lucas," she called out.

Ruby headed up the steps, the top of her motor board decorated and her telltale red highlights could be seen underneath. She squeezed Mary tight as she looked out into the audience. Granny was sniffling and dabbing under her glasses with a tissue. David reached over, squeezing her hand. Mal was already a mess and searching for her tissues.

"Miss Mal sad," Neal pointed out.

Mal giggled a bit, kissing the sweet boy's cheek. "I'm not sad, just proud."

"I know the feeling," David told her, sharing a knowing smile.

As Jasmine went past the L's and was reaching the end of the M's, David started fumbling for his camera. Granny gently took it from him, along with Mal's.

"You two enjoy this, watch your babies graduate," she told them.

Emma lined up with her class, walking in a straight line towards the makeshift stage. She let out a deep breath, glancing back at her to Lily, who gave her a very enthusiastic thumbs up. A laugh escaped her lips, she was really going to miss her.

Each girl seemed to be doing something different. Ruby was taking a year off to do her own thing while Lily would be heading to Duke University in North Carolina for nursing. Emma had selected U of Maine, the place where her parents met. Bae had graduated a year prior and like Ruby, had taken a gap year. However, he had decided not to go in the upcoming semester and would be traveling the country. Belle and Ralph weren't too sure how to feel about that, but were supportive.

The years had been good to Emma. She had her struggles and she always would. Her PTSD and depression were apart of her, but manageable. Her sessions with Archie had been cut down and with medication, she felt confident that she'd be just fine to go off on her own. Of course, she would miss her family, that was going to be an adjustment, but it was a part of life.

"Emma Ruth Nolan," Jasmine said.

Emma smiled and stepped forward onto the stage. In the distance, she could hear David shouting "That's my baby!" Blush spread to her face, but she soon got distracted by the tears in her mother's eyes as she held out the diploma to her. Emma felt them in her own as she accepted it. Mary pulled her into a tight hug, kissing her cheek. Emma giggled, hugging her tighter.

"I am so proud of you, baby," she whispered.

"Thank you, Mama," she murmured back.

They had to pull apart so the ceremony could go on, but not before Mary gave her another kiss on the cheek. Emma headed down the stage, ready to take her official picture. In the distance, she could see her father, still standing and cheering. Neal was up on his shoulders, also clapping and trying to whistle. Emma giggled, shaking her head. Oh, how she loved her dorks.

Later that night, it seemed like almost everyone was gathered in the Nolan's backyard. Of course the affair had been catered by Granny, with Emma's favorite cake baked by Mary. Emma was dancing with Ruby and Lily to an upbeat pop song when Neal ran over to join them. He was obsessed with his big sister and her friends. To the toddler, they could do no wrong. Lucky for him, they found him adorable. Lily picked him up and started dancing with him. Mary, David and Mal watched on, smiling.

"How weird is it that you two have one kid starting pre-school and another starting college?" Mal teased.

"Really weird," Mary admitted. "Our babies are growing up."

"I can't believe Emma is 18," David sighed. "I still remember the day Helen gave me her profile."

"Our sweet little girl," Mary leaned into him and he wrapped his arm around her waist. "She was so lost."

"You two did a fantastic job with her," Mal told them.

"We made a few mistakes."

"All parents do. Remember, I'm the one that told you that?"

Mary remembered to the first time Emma had ever been angry with them. "You were right. I don't know how we would've gotten through any of this without you or Archie."

"You would've found a way, you're tough."

Suddenly, the music was cut off. David's head whipped around to the DJ booth that Leroy was running and found Emma standing there holding a mic. She was so grown up now. Almost overnight, she had shot up a couple of inches and was growing into her features. Her hair was still as curly though and she still loved to wear leather jackets (though she had to get a new one as she seemed to hit a bit of a late puberty a couple of years before).

"I just um, wanted to say something," Emma said. "I know I'm not one for sappy speeches and typically, I'd throw something at my parents for trying to do the same."

Mary and David laughed, the latter resting her head on David's shoulder.

"But this is important," Emma twirled the cord that came from the mic a bit. "5 years ago, I was…well I was a mess. I came here, to this town, thinking I'd be here a couple weeks tops. But a couple of weeks turned into four then a little more than that. Before I knew it, I was being adopted. I um, I never really had a home until I came here. I just…I wanted to thank you…all of you. They say DNA doesn't make a family and they're right. Ruby, Lily, you two were my first best friends, ever and I couldn't have asked for better dorks." Ruby and Lily laughed, hugging each other tight. Emma looked over at her parents. "Mom, Dad, I love you so much. Thank you…for everything."

David wiped the corner of his eye as the tears came down again and Mary did the same. In near synch, they mouthed back "Love you more."

Two Months Later

The back of the yellow bug Emma had received on her 16th birthday was filled to the brim with stuff, as was the back of David's truck. They were all ready to make the 2 hour trek to the U of Maine to drop Emma off. Well, physically ready that is.

Emma adjusted her purse over her shoulder as she looked around her room. Shutting her eyes, she allowed herself to drift back for a minute.

David lead her up the stairs. "That's mine and Mary's room, and this…" He opened the door directly across the hall. "Is your room."

It was a standard guest bedroom, white walls with a four poster bed in the middle with a brown bedspread. In the corner was a dresser, a desk and a T.V.

"Mary's going to take you shopping to make this place feel a little more like home."

Home.

The room had changed after that and now, it had once again. Most of her items had been packed up, leaving only her bed behind. Even her baby blanket had made its way into one of the many boxes. Most importantly, numerous scrapbooks of family pictures had been added as well. Even so, she drew in a deep breath, exhaling through her nose.

"Ready to go, sweets?" Mary's voice drifted towards her and she turned to face her, shrugging.

"This…this was my first home."

Mary nodded, smiling as she walked over. "I remember setting it all up with you."

"Our first shopping trip," Emma smiled in spite of her tears at the memory. "Should've known back then what a pain the ass that I was."

Mary laughed, shaking her head. "My lovable pain in the ass." She pushed a stray curl behind Emma's ear. "You know this will always be your home, right?"

Emma nodded. "I know. You can't get rid of me that easily."

"Would never want to."

Emma grinned and linked arms with her mom, heading downstairs. David was waiting with Neal, Belle and Gideon. Belle had agreed to host a playdate to make the transition easier on Neal. Even so, the 4-year-old was looking really sad.

"Emmy, do you have to go?" He asked.

Emma nodded, crouching in front of him. "Afraid so, kid."

"But I don't want you to."

"Hey, it's not forever. I'm just going to be a couple of hours away. I'm gonna visit lots. Mommy and Daddy will let you use their phones to Facetime me and I'll even write you letters so you can practice reading."

Neal sniffled a bit and walked away, returning a minute later with a piece of construction paper in his hands. "I made you a picture, for your new room." He handed it to her and Emma looked down at it. "It's our family. You, me, Mommy, Daddy and Ollie." He pointed to each member of the family, including the cat, in turn.

Emma smiled at him. "I love it, I'll hang it up as soon as I get there, okay?" Neal nodded. "Can I get a super big hug?" She opened her arms and he ran into them instantly. She cuddled him close for a bit, inhaling his head. He still had that sweet baby smell sometimes, had to be the shampoo. "I love you so much, baby bro."

"I love you too, Emmy."

Emma stood up and then hugged little Gideon too, she felt like she had watched him grow up over the years. Next was Belle, who gave her a very big squeeze.

"You call me if you need any help with your English classes, you hear?"

Emma grinned. "Yes, Belle. Thank you."

Belle pulled off, handing her a bag. "Some of my favorite novels, I read them my freshman year. I thought you might appreciate them."

"Of course, thank you," she gave her another hug. "Tell Bae to call me when he gets to Florida?"

"I will."

Emma let out one last breath and gave Neal a final hug before heading out the door with her parents. Her dad double checked that she had the right address in her GPS and enough gas to get there. This was going to be hard on him. Emma was his partner in crime, his buddy. He wasn't quite ready for her to be going off so soon. Emma just had to keep reminding him that it was so she could be his employee in a few years. David could still remember the day she told him just what she was majoring in.

David had walked in on her going over college applications. Without saying two words, he bopped around the kitchen, making her a big mug of hot chocolate. She smiled up at him gratefully. "Thanks, Dad."

"It's no problem," he settled in front of her. "Which one's that for."

"U of Maine."

David smirked. "Your old man's alma mater."

"And my mama's."

"Very true," he nodded. "Any idea in what you're going to major in."

"Actually," Emma set down her mug. "I do."

"Oh, what?"

"Criminal justice."

David raised an eyebrow. "Are you serious?"

"How else am I meant to become your deputy one day and then ultimately take your spot?"

David chuckled but then grew serious. "I mean, I know you've always been interested in what I did, but I didn't think you'd make a career of it."

"Why wouldn't I? You're my hero, Dad."

David blinked a few times, his mouth dropping open. Emma smiled and kissed his cheek before going back to her work. He wrapped his arm around her, kissing the top of her head.

There was no traffic and they got there with time to spare. Emma had ended up in a 3-person suite, in a dorm really close to the campus. She seemed to be the first girl to arrive and she found her room which she would be sharing with someone who also had the initials "E.N". The other girl, someone with the initials "R.M" had been gifted the single. Emma didn't mind, she was used to sharing from back in her foster care days.

Together, her parents helped her unpack everything. Pictures were put all over the walls, including the one that Neal had drawn her. Her sheets and blankets were red. Her baby blanket definitely didn't match, but she didn't care as she spread it across the top. David had set to work to build her desk chair.

"Need some help there, Dad?" She asked.

"Nah, I got it, Princess," he replied, determined.

Mary shook her head, laughing. She reached into one of the shopping bags she had brought and pulled out a few Tupperware containers. "So, I made your favorite treats, cookies, brownies, even some cakes. You can share them with your roommates and the other girls on your floor."

Emma smirked. "Mama, did you really make me baked goods to share like this is kindergarten?"

"I could just as easily take them back," Mary threatened, matching her smirk.

"Um, no thank you," Emma took them and opened up the top one, slipping a chocolate chip cookie in her mouth. She let out a groan. "How am I going to last months without these?"

Mary smiled. "I'll send you plenty of care packages. Plus, you'll visit, won't you?"

"As much as I can," Emma promised.

Soon, Emma could hear wheels in the common area. She headed out into it, finding a tall blonde, who's hair was off to the side in a braid. A big smile went across her face.

"I'm Elsa," she said, extending her hand. "Your new roommate."

"Emma," Emma replied, smiling just as wide and shaking it. She seemed nice, not at all like a serial killer like she had been worried about.

"My parents will be up any minute and I just want to apologize in advance. They're kinda over barring."

"Oh trust me, I can relate to that."

The door opened again and a shorter girl with raven hair entered. She was struggling to carry a bunch of boxes as she walked and nearly dropped them. Emma swooped in, grabbing them. The girl smiled, gratefully.

"Thanks, I just want to make as few trips as possible," she explained.

"You don't have any help?" Elsa asked.

The girl's smile faltered. "Uh, not really the family type. I'm Regina Mills, by the way. Your other roommate."

"I'm Emma, that's Elsa," Emma said. "If you want, I'm almost all unpacked. My parents and I could help you bring in your stuff?" Truthfully, Emma was coming to realize that their time there was almost up and she wasn't ready for that.

"Oh, I couldn't impose…"

David and Mary walked out of their daughter's room. "Oh, are these your roommates?" Mary asked.

"Yup, Mom, Dad, this is Elsa and Regina. Guys, these are my parents, David and Mary Margaret."

"So nice to meet you," Elsa said immediately, shaking their hands.

"Do either of you girls need any help?" David asked.

"My parents will be up shortly, but I think Regina does."

Regina looked from the smiling Nolans to back at Emma. "I um, don't want to impose."

"Oh, it's no trouble at all," Mary insisted, looping arms with her, once again catching the young woman off guard. "Lead the way!"

After helping Regina get her stuff settled and meeting Elsa's parents and little sister, things started to get more real. Mr. and Mrs. North bid their daughter a goodbye before leaving. Regina was phoning her boyfriend to let him know she had arrived safely and Elsa headed back into her room to unpack the last few things. Emma bit her lip as she walked with her parents down to David's truck.

"So, you sure you have everything?" David asked.

Emma nodded. "Laundry detergent, clothes, my books and everything for the semester. Not to mention Mom's insane amount of treats."

"But do you have money? I know you were working at Granny's this summer and you have a meal plan, but you may want to go out…" He pushed two fifties into her palm.

"Daddy…" Emma started to say.

"Hangers!" Mary interrupted. "Do you have enough hangers?"

Emma nodded. "Uh huh."

"And if your bug is having any trouble, I looked up the number of the nearest mechanic," David added. "I put it in your phone. You call him if you have any trouble, he'll take care of you."

"Thank you."

"Remember your seatbelt and no texting and driving…"

"I know, Dad," Emma replied, smiling a little.

David bit his lip, putting a hand on her cheek. "I love you, Princess."

"I love you more."

"That's not even possible."

He pulled her into a big hug, cradling the back of her head as he did. Emma let out a deep breath, resting her head on his shoulder. Little did he know, she had stolen a few of his flannel shirts to wear, just to have that familiar smell. There was no denying that she was a Daddy's girl. David wanted more than anything to stuff her into his truck and drive off, but he knew he couldn't. It was time for his little princess to have her own adventures.

When they pulled apart, she turned to Mary, who was doing her best not to cry. "Don't just eat sugar all the time, alright?"

Emma playfully rolled her eyes. "But then whatever is the point in college, Mother?"

Mary narrowed her eyes. "Vegetables and fruits, at two meals at least. Branching out from grilled cheese won't kill you."

"It might," she teased.

"Call me tonight and then tomorrow morning…after lunch too…"

"How about I just keep you on FaceTime 24 hours a day?"

"Would you?"

Emma giggled and wrapped her arms around her. Mary hugged her tighter, kissing the side of her head.

"I love you, sweets," she whispered.

"I love you too, Mama."

They didn't pull apart after the standard amount of time and David joined the hug once again, which made his girls smile. The little family stood in the hug for a minute, treasuring each and every moment of it.

"I need you to keep an open mind," David said.

"What kind of open mind?"

"Emma Swan, this is David and Mary Margaret Nolan. David, Mary, this is Emma."

"Adopt? You…you want to adopt me?"

"David, Mary Margaret, congratulations, it's a girl."

"It's official, Princess," David whispered happily in her ear. "You're ours, forever."

"Thank you guys," Emma whispered.

"We'd do it a million times over," Mary confirmed.

Eventually, they pulled away. They each kissed one of her cheeks before getting into David's truck. Slowly, they pulled away, tears falling down their cheeks. David kept one hand on the wheel, sliding the other into Mary's hand.

"I'm so proud of her," Mary said.

"Me too."

"All that time, hoping and wishing for our little girl…and she was out there the whole time."

"We'll always be a family. No matter how far apart we are."

Emma stood there, waiting until they were all the way out of the parking lot before she started to cry. She wiped her tears and took a deep breath. She felt a hand go on each of her shoulders. She looked up, seeing Regina and Elsa standing there.

"No tears," Regina said, bumping hips with her. "Come on, we've got some time before orientation."

"We were gonna go check out the cafeteria, get some hot chocolate."

Emma smiled a bit. "As long as there's cinnamon, I'm down."

Regina wrinkled her nose. "Cinnamon on hot chocolate? I've never heard of it."

Emma linked arms with her new roommates. "It's a family thing. Come on."

I so did not tear up while writing this. There's just…onions over there or something. Anyway, I hope to have the next installments up very soon. I want to thank all of you for reading and reviewing and always being so supportive. This story is my baby and it means so much that you all enjoy it so much. Emma, David, Mary and Neal's journey isn't close to be over yet, so I hope you'll stay tuned for what's to come.