A/N:So, this is the last chapter! I hope you've all enjoyed reading this, as I've enjoyed writing it. I have a sequel planned, but it might take me a little bit to get it up and going since I need to kind of map out what the sequel is going to involve. Until then, I do have a short one-shot planned to write that's a little look into Nikolai's past.

James peered around the forest, as he tried to regain his barrings. He knew the general direction of the well, but he needed to pinpoint the direction down to more than just an assumption. They were running out of time. Emma could attempt to come through the portal at any time now, and God only knew what Regina and Gold had done or were doing to the portal at that moment.

"It's this way, Grandpa!" Henry called, when his impatience won out.

James shook his head, "Henry, wait up!" He called, as he chased after his grandson. Of course Henry would know where the wishing well was, the boy had grown up in this town, where as James had been in a coma for twenty-eight years.

"We're out of time, Grandpa. We don't have time to wait anymore. Emma needs us!" Henry called behind him, as he jogged forward faster.

James watched as Henry ducked and dodged out of the way of branches with relative ease. There was no doubting Henry's ability to be a great knight if he was given the chance to grow into his skill. James couldn't even remember how long it taken him to get the art of dodging swords, but it had definitely taken him a long time. James was pulled from his internal reverie when Henry skidded to stop ahead of him.

He jogged up to where Henry had stopped, and stood wide eyed, as the portal glowed a deep green color. They were too late. Regina and Gold had already closed off the portal. There was no saving Emma now.

"You promised!" Henry screamed. "You said that you would be better. This isn't better! You're going to kill her!"

Regina knelt in front of Henry, a serene calmness on her face. "This is what's best, not just for the town, but for you. We have no reason to believe that it will be Emma to come through that portal. We don't want Cora coming here to Storybrooke."

Henry shook his head, "I know it'll be Emma! I can feel it. Please, you can't let her die! You just can't. She's my mom too." Henry whimpered, tears in his eyes.

Regina sighed, "I'm sorry, Henry, but I will not face my mother again. I can't do it."

Henry sobbed loudly, "How can you do this to me? I thought you loved me."

James watched as Regina's carefully placed mask started to fall away. Slipping further and further down her face. Henry's words had hit a cord with Regina.

"She can't love you, Henry. Regina is incapable of loving anyone. Not even herself." James spoke softly, as he knelt down beside his grandson. He put his arms around the sobbing young boy and pulled him into his chest. "She's deceptive. She only made you think that she loved you."

"Stop." Regina whispered, her eyes black with anger. "Just stop! I do love Henry."

"Killing Emma is no way to prove that, Regina. If you love him, as you say you do, then you'll find a way to open the portal back up. You'll find a way to bring Emma back to us. It is, after all, your fault that she is stuck over there, with your mother."

Regina sighed, her hands pulling at the ends of her hair. "I can't do that. I won't. I'm sorry."

Graham stood up, tears were in his eyes as his hand balled into a tight fist. His throat felt like it was tightening up around the lump that had formed. He couldn't stop the tears that slid down his cheeks. How much more was going to be taken from him before it was enough? He knew that he hadn't led a good and decent life, but did he really deserve all of this? To finally find his parents, and have to watch them die right before his eyes? To watch his father jam a sword into his stomach, to see the light dim from his eyes as he took his last shallow breath?

"Graham." He knew her voice, could pinpoint it from a distance, but at that moment it sounded murky and far away. "Nikolai, something's wrong!" He heard her cry. Graham didn't want to hurt her, Emma and Nikolai were all he had left. It was more than he had to begin his life, but at the moment it felt like everything was being stripped from him. Like he was meant to suffer for his past crimes for the remainder of his life. If that was true, then he wished that he had truly died when Regina had crushed his heart.

Nikolai's head snapped up, and he saw his brother swaying on his feet. With one last mournful look at his pale father, Nikolai shoved himself into a standing position. He grabbed Graham by the shoulders and looked into his eyes. "It's like he's not even here." Nikolai mumbled. He didn't understand what was wrong with his brother, but he didn't like the look of it.

Emma swallowed thickly, tears drying on her cheeks. "He's in shock. You both have been through so much in such a short amount of time." Emma answered Nikolai's unasked question.

Nikolai turned to look at her, while keeping his hands tightly wrapped around Graham's shoulders. "You've been through a lot too, Emma. This place alone..." He sighed.

"We have to move."

Both heads snapped to look at Graham. It was like there was never a problem. Like he had never ceased to have disappeared from his own mind. He stood there, his eyes glassy with unshed tears, a frown etched onto his handsome face.

"If … Kristopher was right, and Cora was listening in then she knows that we're onto her. If she beats us to Lake Nostros then she'll have the upper hand. We can't afford to give her the upper hand. Not when she holds all the power."

Emma and Nikolai nodded softly, worry wrinkling both of their brows. "Are you sure that you're okay, Graham?" Emma asked, reaching up her hand, catching one trickling tear with her thumb.

"For now. I'll deal with everything once we're in Storybrooke. Once we have a minute to breathe. Right now, we need to get moving."

"You're right, brother." Nikolai spoke softly.

James knew by looking about both Regina and Gold that the battle was lost. The hopelessness in Regina's eyes though spoke more volumes than Gold's cold emotionless eyes. Regina could be persuaded or forced into opening the portal back up, all James had to do was stop Gold from talking Regina out of it.

"You want to do this, Regina. I can see it in your eyes. You've lost all hope of being the person that Henry asked you to be, but that's not true. One action. One good, selfless action would make you that person. You have reigned in terror and evil for long enough, Regina. Help us bring my daughter back to this land. Do something that you can be proud of."

Regina shook her head. "It's too late. There is no way to undo it."

James watched both of his enemies closely. He knew that pushing Regina toward the edge would accomplish one of two things. She would either do exactly what he wanted, or she would snap and attack. He needed to keep an eye on her just in case she went with option number two. Gold, however, was almost always in control of his emotions on the outside. James had never been able to peg what the imp had been thinking. Not back in the Enchanted Forest, and not here in Storybrooke. Watching Gold closely, he saw a small, impish grin curl around his lips.

"Oh, dearie, you know that's not true." Gold clicked his tongue at her. "Almost everything can be undone, you just have to know the correct loophole."

James growled lowly. One thing he couldn't stand was Gold and his word play. Especially when time was of the essence, and time was definitely in short supply at the moment. Emma could try to come through the portal at any moment and James needed that cap to be removed before she did. He would not see his daughter die on his watch, even if he had to sacrifice himself to see that happen. James made a move toward both of his enemies, his hands clenched into fists at his side, when he felt Henry tug on his jacket. Looking down, James sighed.

Henry shook his head, telling him threatening them wouldn't do any good. Of course James knew that. If he threatened them, they'd laugh before flinging him across the forest like he was dart and one of the numerous trees was the dartboard. No, he had to control that side of himself. He had to think of a way to entice both of them with something they wanted. It was the only way to get them to listen to him.

Henry took a step forward before James had a chance to realize what was happening. "You keep lying to me, mom." Henry said, his voice almost mocking in a way.

Anger flashed in Regina's eyes for a moment before it melted away into pain and hurt. "I don't mean to, Henry. I want to be better … for you."

Henry stood directly in front of Regina, a scowl on his face. "Then prove it. Save my mom. Let her come home. If you think this will make me choose you, then you're wrong. This will only drive me further away. I want Emma to come home. Please. Just save her."

Regina sighed, a defeated look on her face. James stared at her and Gold. In that instant he knew that all hope was lost. She wasn't going to give in, and he was going to lose his daughter. His face turned red, as anger flowed through every single pore in his body. With only one thought on his mind, James stalked forward. I have to save Emma.

Emma stalked forward, she knew that they were getting close to Lake Nostros. The forest was starting to thin out, and Nikolai had told her that they'd reach the lake by mid-afternoon. She really just wanted to talk to Graham before they made it to the lake, because she had no idea what was waiting for them and he hadn't uttered one word since they had left his father's lifeless body behind.

"Graham." She called out. He kept moving forward, not even affording her a backward glance to acknowledge that he had heard her. Growling lowly, Emma reached out her hand, snagging his arm in her grasp. She came to a quick halt, forcing Graham to stop as well.

"What?" He asked, his voice boomed, but it lacked anger.

When he turned toward her, she could see it. The haunted look on his face. The way he was blaming himself for everything that had happened since his mother had died. Emma sighed, and blinked her eyes. She couldn't stand seeing Graham look so … defeated.

"Talk to me." Emma prompted.

Graham sighed and shook his head. "No. We don't have time, we have to get to the lake before Cora if we want any chance to beat her."

Emma rolled her eyes, "Just for a minute, Graham. This is the first time you've spoken in hours!" Emma hissed, her voice low.

"Maybe I don't have anything to say, Emma." Graham pointed out.

"You've never had a problem talking before." Emma offered.

Graham chuckled mirthlessly, "Things change when you die, Emma."

Emma took a half-step backward, a look of shock on her face, like Graham had just slapped her. Her mouth hung open slightly, but after a shocked moment, she slammed her jaw shut. A thin line curved her lips, her jaw set so tight that her teeth grind together. Without another word, Emma pushed passed Graham, and continued moving forward.

"Emma, wait." Graham called, realizing that he had crossed a line. Running a hand over his face, he turned and jogged after her, trying to ignore the slightly amused look on Nikolai's face. "Emma!" He shouted.

"Shh!" Emma hissed, pressing a finger to her lips. "Do you hear that?"

All traces of anger had dropped from Emma's face and was replaced by something that Graham hadn't seen on Emma's face the entire time he's known her, fear.

"It sounds like water." Graham whispered. "We must be close." He grinned softly, as he pushed forward, cutting through the last of the foliage out into the clearing for the lake.

"No!" Emma roared, as she lurched forward, trying to wrench Graham backward. Her hand came up empty, cupping only air. A whoosh sound filled the air followed by a pained groan. "Graham!" Emma yelled, as she jumped through the clearing.

Her knees weakened at the sight. Graham lay in a heap in front of a tree, and Cora knelt over-top of him. "You stay the hell away from him! You've taken enough from him." Emma's voice was low and threatening.

Cora turned a delighted smile onto Emma. "He is not who I was seeking anyway, dear. What would I want with a lowly huntsman when I can have the embodiment of true love?" Cora questioned, her eyebrow lifted slightly.

Emma glanced around the clearing. She noticed that Nikolai hadn't come through yet, and she had to wonder if Cora was truly alone. If so, where in the hell was Nikolai?

"What in the hell are you talking about?" Emma's eyebrows drew up in confusion.

"Oh, silly girl." Cora chuckled. "You, of course. Your parents, they are true loves. Do you realize how rare of a find that is? Do you realize how even more rare it is that they would bare a child, especially one as special as you, savior."

Emma's nose wrinkled, "Yeah, I don't really like being called that. I'm also not that special. Just a normal, old, boring human being. No special powers. Nothing that would warrant such interest by someone like you."

Cora chuckled again, "So sad that you don't see your own potential. That's quite alright, dear, you'll get it by the time I'm finished with you."

"Don't you dare lay a finger on her." Nikolai's voice boomed from the opposite side of the lake.

Emma grinned when she realized his plan to take the Queen of Hearts by surprise. However, Emma watched in grim curiosity as Cora turned toward Nikolai and merely flicked her wrist. Nikolai flew sideways, his head hitting the ground. He groaned, but Emma could tell he was still conscious.

"You're just a bully. Using your magic to fling people about that get in your way. You're no better than your sadistic daughter."

Cora turned back toward Emma, her lips pulled back in a snarl. "You will watch how you talk about my daughter."

Emma snickered, "I will do no such thing, you evil bitch. I will talk about who I want, how I want whether you like it or not."

Cora stalked forward, "I had special plans for you, but if you're just going to be disrespectful then I can think of something far more enjoyable."

Emma glared at Cora as she continued her advance. Emma could feel the terror flowing over her body, she knew that Cora was dangerous and that the woman planned on killing her, but she couldn't stop herself. She had to do something to stop Cora before she made it to Storybrooke, even if it meant that Emma had to die to do it.

"Like what, take my heart? How original." Emma rolled her eyes.

It was at that moment that Emma noticed it. First, Graham was starting to stir, and Cora was far enough past him that she couldn't see him clearly enough to notice. Second, Cora's complete attention was on hurting Emma, she could tell by looking into the older woman's eyes. If Emma waited until the perfect moment, she could take Cora by surprise and maybe even get the upper hand.

"How do you think your lowly huntsman will feel when I make him watch the life drain from your eyes? Better yet, how will you feel when I retrieve your heart and command you to kill your huntsman and his brother?"

Emma set her feet, she wouldn't let Cora's threats deter her. Not when she had a semi-decent plan. Instead of speaking, Emma merely just locked her eyes onto Cora. It was like staring straight into the pits of hell. Dark and full of hatred and vengeance. While Emma stared at her enemy, she counted Cora's steps. Just a few more and it would be the optimum time to strike. Waiting, Emma fought off the grin that tugged at the edge of her lips as she took her offensive strike. A strong right hand to Cora's jaw.

Just as Emma had hoped, the attack had taken Cora completely by surprise. Crying out, Cora stumbled backward and sprawled out onto the ground. Taking advantage of the opportunity to keep her down, Emma knelt and drew her fist back again. Her punch was off target, and Emma cried out when her fist collided with the left-hand side of Cora's chest and went straight through. Yanking back quickly, after a moaned hiss escaped Cora's mouth, Emma cried out again. Sitting in her hand was Cora's now enchanted heart.

"Oh God. What did I just do?" Emma stammered as she rocked back on her heels, pulling herself to her full height.

Graham weaved over toward her, a glassy look in his eyes as he stared at Cora's heart. Nikolai merely moaned from his place on the other side of the lake.

"You – took her heart." Graham stuttered.

"What do I do? Do I put it back?"

"No." Graham spoke strongly. His glassy eyes burning with a deep hatred. "You do to her what she has done to numerous others before. You squeeze her heart until the life drains from her body."

Emma shook her head. "I … I can't do that, Graham."

He chuckled mirthlessly, "Well, I can." He said simply, as he took the heart from her hand.

"No, you foolish man!" Cora cried as she attempted to stand up.

"You've been heartless your entire life, Cora. Now, it's actually fitting. This is for my mother … my father … for Nikolai, myself, and for Emma. This is for everyone that you've hurt. You deserve far worse than this, but this is the only way." Graham spoke softly, his jaw set tightly as he focused on the glowing red heart. Slowly, Graham clutched the heart tighter and tighter in his hand. Cora cried out in pain, and he felt her heart crumbling to dust in his hand until dust was all that was left. Turning his palm upside down, he let the dust of her heart filter from his hand.

Emma and Graham watched Cora carefully. The light was gone from her eyes, her mouth stuck in a cry of torture and pain. Slowly her body turned an ashen gray and started to filter into the air. Emma cried out in surprise as Cora turned completely into dust and mixed into the ashy gray color of the sky.

"What in the hell just happened?" Emma asked.

"I'm not sure." Graham answered, before peeling his eyes away from the sky, "But she won't be able to hurt anyone else, ever again." He looked to Emma, and pulled her against his side, "Look, we can worry about this when we get home. Let's get out of here."

Emma faked a smile, as she nodded, "Let's go home."

Together they walked over toward Nikolai, and helped him up. "Do you think you can stand, brother?"

Nikolai nodded softly, before grabbing Emma's outstretched hand. She watched with interest as Graham threw the wardrobe dust into the lake and watched as it started to swirl into a purple mist. With the compass in her hand, Emma grabbed a hold of Graham's hand and leapt feet first into the swirling vortex that was pointing for home.