Hi All,

As we come to the end of this flight, just a few things:

1. My mom passed away in 2009. Afterward, a lot of feelings including guilt stayed with me for a long time. It's gotten better. However, as I wrote this, I found more peace than I once had. My hope is that maybe for those of you who have lost someone, I can give you a little of the same. Even if just briefly. I think it's all about the person left behind believing that the person who is gone knows they were truly loved and valued. At least that was true for me. Maybe, like Emma, I just needed to find the words. Lastly, I task all of you with sharing a hug, a laugh or cookie with someone important in your life sometime soon.

2. Every story I ever write will seek to add hope to those that read it. I don't fool myself into thinking that what I write can change the world. However, I believe that it might make someone take a deep breath, or remember some section weeks from now and smile. Sometimes a little hope is a very powerful thing. One of the many reasons why I want to be published has to do with that same desire. If you're interested in coming with me on that journey (and I hope you are) find me on Twitter or Tumbler and say hi or follow me. It's encouraging and the support means a lot. Mariacomet there, same as here.

Thank you so much for coming on this journey with me. I hope you all have laughed, sighed happily and maybe gotten teary in a good way while reading this story. And now, back to Garden of Heroes.

Till next time, this is your captain speaking.

Apple Valley, Ma

The Present

Her mother's grave was marked by a shiny gray stone that lay flat on the ground, with an urn at the top for flowers. Her mother's name was in etched in gold letters, with the year she was born and the year she died. Janice Hopper had asked Emma if she wanted it to say more. Emma, always lacking words, didn't know what else to add.

The others formed a half circle near her with Regina breaking ranks to stand beside her.

"Do you want to be alone?" she asked.

Emma didn't. She dug a paper from her pocket, unfolded it and held it up. It shook a little, her hand unsteady as she read.

"Mom," she said, "there was all this stuff we had a hard time understanding about each other. You wanted all these things for me that I don't think would have made me happy. But, you wanted them because you hoped so much for my happiness. You didn't always know what to do with me. You did the best you knew how. You weren't perfect, but I never doubted that you loved me. Not ever."

Every word peeled back layers of pain. For once she wanted to keep digging, to excavate as much of it as she could. Regina's hand squeezed hers, sharing strength. "Just so you know, if I said 'I love you' every hour for the rest of my life, it wouldn't be enough. Or if I wrote 'thank you' ten thousand times."

She didn't know if she could carve all the words she wanted to say from herself with any skill. So for the next part, she'd leaned on what she thought her mother would always understand. "Edgar Allan Poe said, 'We loved with a love that was more than love'. I hope that's true. I want it to be because if it is, maybe when people die, they know how much they mean to those they left behind and nothing is ever really left unsaid."

She wiped at her eyes, smudging the tears on her cheeks. "I've been trying to make up for what I didn't say and do for a long time. I hope it's okay with you if I stop doing that. I need to carry your flame better but not by making promises or feeling guilty. I think that's the opposite of what you'd want. Instead, I want to try and honor you."

She drew in air. The peace and certainty she usually only found through moving nested in her heart. "I want to give, to open up to those around me, and be a good friend. I want to stop being too afraid to give all of my heart. Because I hold back, Mom. I want to stop tiptoeing around in my own life and start running hard. I want to fight. Win or lose."

She laughed, feeling sheepish, and lowered the paper in her hand. "That's the end of what I wrote. I guess I didn't really give it an ending. Um, Regina and I are dating by the way. I'm in love with her. Have been for a stupidly long time. So, just, FYI on that."

Emma wondered if behind her the Flames were holding their breath in shock or if they shared knowing looks.

Regina laughed quietly. "Hi, Mrs. Nolan. I love her too. FYI."

"And that's the first time we've told each other that because we're incapable of doing things the normal way. Ah, somehow I don't think you're surprised. And the Flames, we're all still here. We're still together." Hands touched her back, all of them silently testifying to the bond between them. "Thank you for them. For making sure we have each other."

She bent down till she could kiss the place above her mother's name. "I love you, Mom." She left that there, letting it spread between her and the sky. She lay her hand atop the marker. "I don't know that I'll come back here much cause I — I think maybe you're with me." She squeezed the cool stone. "I hope I make you proud."

She sorted through herself, and couldn't find anything else she wanted to say. The words so often didn't come when she needed them to, but today they paced themselves, ran a good race and rested afterwards.

She stood and took Regina's fingers with her own. Regina watched her, checking on her as always and making sure she seemed okay. Emma nodded to her.

They walked down the hill from the gravesite to a sidewalk that led to the parking lot. Jefferson waited till they could see the car before grabbing her in a headlock. "You secret-keeping romantic," he said.

Zelena, who likewise had held back as long as she could said, "About time." She pointed at her sister and mouthed, "Details, later."

Archie surveyed them all with a large, proud grin on his face. When Jefferson released Emma, he said. "Aren't you going to show them, Jefferson?"

"Oh," Jefferson rubbed at his chin with the back of his hand. "Now? I mean, this is Emma's thing. I didn't want to intrude or anything else with rude in it."

"I think it's okay," Archie said.

Emma turned to him. "What's up?"

Jefferson pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and unfolded it. "I improved it. I never liked your mom not being in it. I know she said this was our group but...she's part of it. She always was."

She expected a small change, but Jefferson had reimagined it entirely. A glass heart lay at the center now, with red oil inside it that fueled a burning wick atop it. Sparks fell from the wick toward the five candles surrounding the base of the heart.

Emma stared at it, struggling to loosen the lump in her throat so she could speak. "It's perfect. You know," she said with a watery smile. "We always talked about getting matching tattoos, and you guys do owe us a dare."

"Wait, there's an order to these things," Zelena objected. "It needs to be an official meeting, you need to present art."

"As president of Arts into Action, I'll allow it just this once," Regina said. "Especially given how you all tricked us into talking."

"Tyrant," Zelena said, winking.

Archie adjusted his glasses. "Well, it did work. But yes, we probably owe you one. I know nothing about tattoo parlors. Should we check Yelp or...?"

"That is the nerdiest question you have ever asked," Jefferson said, but patted his back.

When they reached their cars, Archie took Emma's arm. "You're okay?"

"I'm...home."

Archie reached up and ruffled her hair.

######################################

Apple Valley, Ma

3 months later

They all agreed to get the tattoos somewhere on their hands, a place they couldn't ignore, overlook or forget. They met weekly again.

With some chagrin, Jefferson told them that the tattoo place, impressed with his design for the Flames, suggested he consider becoming a tattoo artist. They offered him a trial apprenticeship, to give him time to decide if he might want to pursue it. His attempt to stifle his giddiness when he told them had them nudging each other.

Emma supposed dreams sometimes manifested themselves in weird ways.

Regina met with and won over two private investors. She picked out a space and the Flames invested serious sweat equity in it, trying to help her save money getting set up. It pissed off her mom, but then so did she and Emma moving in together. They both suspected Regina's mom wouldn't be talking to her daughter for awhile.

Emma settled into a training routine with her manager. He let her have exactly three months before booking her for a fight so she'd "cut the bullshit once and for all".

She tried to keep her energy up and her nerves controlled as she paced in the locker room. Regina watched for a bit then took her hands to stop her.

Regina still didn't think she could watch the actual fight, so they reached a compromise. She would wait for her here; Emma just needed her.

"Before you go, I was going to give you something but I didn't think you could wear it in the ring. It's something small. Well, technically I bought two. I thought we needed a more advanced way to pass notes." Regina backed away, went to her purse on the bench and withdrew a red, velvet box. Inside was a small silver locket and chain. "I thought we could occasionally leave one another messages. Do you want to see today's?"

Regina pressed a tiny button and it clicked, revealing a small folded paper no larger than a dime. The words written there were I believe in you.

Emma placed a hand on her chest and pushed forward till Regina's back pressed against a set of lockers. She branded Regina's mouth with hers, and it made Emma forget every fear she had. Emma's gloved hand coiled in her hair, seeking more fearlessness.

"Jesus, will you two knock it off?" Grumpy chomped on his unlit cigar. "There aren't any firehoses nearby and Emma has to go."

"They making out again?" Jefferson called from outside.

"Of course they are," Zelena's voice answered. "I swear to god, Emma's lucky she can't get Regina pregnant." Regina covered her face, which didn't hide her flushed cheeks.

"Guys, Emma's already nervous and has enough pressure."

Emma swore Archie sounded more nervous than she was.

"You will give me your solemn oath that you will do your best to keep safe."

Emma met her eyes and crossed her heart. Together, they walked to the doorway.

Regina pecked her cheek. "I'll see you soon."

"Hey Regina? I love you."

Regina's eyes traveled over her face, twinkling. "Right."

"Okay, that word really is annoying."

"See? It really is."

Emma laughed, brushed their mouths together one more time as Grumpy complained, then headed into the hallway.

She fist bumped her each of her friends' tattooed hands.

She connected with Jefferson's hand last and whispered, "So, I fight, and you tell him. That's the dare, right?"

He glanced at Archie to make sure he hadn't overheard and gave the weariest and most reluctant of nods.

"Aces," he said with no enthusiasm at all.

Emma pointed at him. "No forfeiting this time."

She moved to stand beside her manager in front of the closed double doors. She could hear the crowd inside the arena milling around and talking, a throng of noise.

"Who's the champ?" Grumpy asked her, beginning their usual psyching up litany.

"I'm the champ."

"Who's the champ?"

"I'm the champ," she said, assertive now.

"Well then, you show them." Outside the din of sound dropped in volume. "You ready for this, kid?"

Emma rolled her neck and banged her gloves together. "I'm ready."

Familiar words drifted into her mind, and she smiled as she heard, Amen and hallelujah.

The doors opened and her music started.