Disclaimer: Even though this is the last chapter, nothing you recognize from the show and any Disney movies that may have strongly influenced this story belongs to me.

A/N: There's a longer note at the end, so for now I'll just say three things:

1. As always, a huge thank you to everyone who has read, reviewed, favorited, followed, shared, etc. this story. You are the best and this story would not exist without you.

2. My patient, faithful, amazing, -insert superlative here- beta Melissa deserves major kudos for betaing this chapter, despite living through the hell that is airports.

3. I find it very fitting that this story will end during Gremma Appreciation Week which is taking place on tumblr (and organized by Kristy - thanks, Kristy!). Everyone should check it out because who doesn't need more Gremma in their lives?

She was running through a dark and cold corridor. Her footsteps echoed loudly, and she slowed down, not wanting to be overheard. The Evil Queen would be back any moment, and Emma didn't want to make it any easier to be found.

Suddenly, fire lit up the sky outside, an angry blaze of orange and red. For a moment, the corridor was illuminated, and then the window shattered. She covered her head with her hands, trying to shield herself from the shards of glass. She bit down on her lip, hard, to stop herself from crying out.

I'm right here. I'll protect you.

But where was her mother now?

A strangled cry echoed off the stone walls, and Emma froze. It was a cry she would have recognized anywhere, a shriek of pure agony that pierced her heart.

Graham.

She raced down the corridor, trying to find a way into the room with Graham's cries. But someone else was laughing, and her laughter was echoing off the walls. It was cold and cruel, the harshest sound she had ever heard. And all she could think was what would happen if she was too late; if she couldn't reach him in time.

If she never saw him again.

As quickly as it had started, the laughter stopped. Emma clamped her hand over her mouth, her ragged breathing suddenly too loud in the silence. The laughter had stopped, but so had Graham's cries. Did that mean – was he?

"NO!"

He was crumpled on the floor, curled into a ball like a wounded animal. His back was to her, and Emma darted forward, quickly rolling him onto his back. His eyes were closed, his face too still. She leaned over his mouth, but felt no breath against her cheek.

"No…no, please…"

But she'd seen this before. It hadn't been too late then, and it wasn't too late now. She caught sight of the heart lying several feet away. Regina must have dropped it before she'd disappeared. Emma scooped it up. The organ was cold and lifeless, but she knew what she had to do. She pulled Graham's head into her lap and pressed the heart over his chest.

"I love you. I love you, I love you, I love you. I've loved you since the day I met you."

But the heart refused to glow.

"I love you because you are kind, because you save complete strangers. I love you because you love animals, and you thank them for their sacrifice."

Tears filled her eyes. Why wasn't this working? The heart felt as cold as ever in her hand. Panic bubbled in her chest; what if this didn't work? What if she was too late?

She swallowed back her tears, refusing to let them fall. This had to work. She had to have faith. "I love you because you taught me how to defend myself, because you held me when I cried, and because you kept me safe." Her hand began to shake, and the heart nearly slipped from her fingers. Emma closed her eyes and whispered, "And I will still love you when you're gone, because you're the one who taught me how to love."

It had to work. If it didn't work, if the heart wouldn't glow…She couldn't feel any warmth under her fingers, but maybe she just had to wait. Maybe if she tried something else, if she loved him more, or if she just –

"Emma."

She looked up. Her mother was standing on Graham's other side.

"He's gone."

Emma shook her head. "No, he can't be." But Snow was kneeling down in front of her, trying to gently pull her away from Graham. From his body. "No, no, no!"

"Emma, it's all over. There's nothing you can do. Just come with me now. Come back to me, please."

But she couldn't come back. She couldn't let him go. Not when she could still save him. If she just tried again – why wasn't Snow letting her try again? Why wasn't she letting her save him? Didn't she understand? She loved him.

She wanted to scream at her mother, to beg her to let her stay. But when Emma opened her mouth, all that came out was a trembling, "No." She sucked in a breath, trying to steady her voice. She fixed her gaze on her mother. "Please. Don't make me leave him."

I love him.

"NO!"

Snow's eyes snapped open. Beside her, Charming began to stir. She gently touched his arm to still him. "I'll go."

There, there, sweetheart. You don't want to wake your father.

Snow pulled a robe over her nightgown as she hurried down the corridor to Emma's room. She could hear her daughter whimpering as she drew closer. Without knocking, Snow opened the door to Emma's room and headed over to the bed.

"Emma." She touched her daughter's shoulder, not wanting to startle her awake. When Emma didn't respond, Snow shook her gently.

"No, no, no!" Emma cried.

"Emma." Snow tried again, shaking her harder. "Wake up. It's all over, it's all okay. Come back to me, please. Just open your eyes, sweetheart."

Emma shuddered. Her sobs quieted, although she still hadn't opened her eyes. Snow sat down on the bed and pulled Emma toward her. Emma's nightgown was soaked through with sweat.

"Please." Emma's words were barely audible. "Don't make me leave him."

Snow pressed her lips together. The pain in Emma's voice was enough to bring tears to Snow's eyes.

"He will never leave you," Snow promised as she brushed Emma's sticky hair back from her face. "And you will never leave him." She paused. "And even if you did, he would always find you."

Emma snuggled into Snow's side, burying her head in Snow's stomach. Snow continued to stroke her daughter's back. It had been several months since Emma's last nightmare. They had been much more frequent right after Regina's defeat (Snow didn't like thinking about it as Regina's death). It had become part of the nightly routine for either herself or Charming to come into Emma's room and comfort her after nightmares. Sometimes they lit candles as well.

She was surprised but somewhat relieved that Emma hadn't woken up. She knew that Emma found the nightmares embarrassing. No matter how many times she and Charming assured Emma that they were happy to be there for her, Emma never seemed to be fully convinced. Snow hated that her daughter worried about being a burden. She had been careful not to ask Emma too many questions about what it had been like living with Regina – especially since Regina was gone – but it hurt, knowing that if she and Charming had raised Emma, her daughter would never have known what it was like to be unloved.

Emma began to shift and Snow held still, waiting to see if she would wake up. After a moment, Emma opened her eyes. She blinked several times, her eyes unfocused with confusion, and then she focused on Snow's face. There was a pause, and then Emma's lower lip began to tremble.

"Oh, sweetheart," Snow murmured, pulling Emma into her chest. Emma clung to her, sobbing into Snow's shoulder.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Emma cried.

"No, no," Snow said, rubbing Emma's back. "Don't be sorry. You don't ever have to apologize to me." She pressed her cheek to the top of Emma's head. "I'm here. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere."

Emma hiccupped. "I'm so – it was so real – so scary."

"It's all over now," Snow assured her.

But Emma shook her head. "It's never over. I always see her – and him – and I can't – it's too-"

Snow tightened her grip around her daughter. "You're safe, Emma. And he's safe." She hesitated before adding, "And she can't hurt you anymore."

Emma shuddered, and Snow saw a momentary flash of fear in her daughter's eyes, a ghost of the nightmare. "She could have killed him."

"I know," Snow said softly. "But she didn't."

"I don't – I don't know what I would have done," Emma whispered. "If I couldn't – if he hadn't-"

"He's fine, Emma," Snow said. "You don't ever have to worry about her killing him-"

"But I see it," Emma interrupted her. "I see it in my nightmares. I'm holding his heart and saying I love him, but nothing happens." Emma took a shaky breath. "And I say it again, and again and again, but he never wakes up. The heart doesn't glow."

"Oh, Emma," Snow sighed, pressing a kiss to her daughter's head. She felt Emma shudder again and pulled her closer. If it had been Charming whose heart had been ripped out, and Snow had been trying to make it glow again, knowing it was the only way to save him, she would have been terrified. And devastated if it didn't work. She wondered if that was how Charming had felt when he'd seen her in the glass coffin.

"You'll see him soon," Snow said finally. "And that will make it real. You're here, he's here, and you're both safe."

At last, Emma nodded. Snow smiled at her, and Emma gave a weak smile in return.

"You should try to get some sleep," Snow suggested, running her hand through Emma's hair. "It's a big day tomorrow."

Emma nodded again and closed her eyes, leaning back against the pillows. Snow kissed her on the forehead and was about to stand up when she felt Emma's fingers close around her wrist.

"Mama?" Emma whispered. "Will you stay with me?"

Snow felt her heart swell. "Of course."

When Emma woke again, sunlight was streaming in through the window. She rolled onto her side and saw Snow still asleep beside her. As carefully as she could, Emma rolled onto her other side and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. She crept over to her wardrobe and began looking for something to wear. Later, she knew, she would have to dress up. But for now, she just wanted to be comfortable. Royal fashion was one of the many things she still hadn't gotten used to, even though she'd been in the palace for almost a year.

Emma selected a loose shirt and pants and got dressed as quietly as she could. After she'd woken up her mother in the middle of the night, it was the least she could do to allow Snow to sleep in. Emma glanced out the window. Judging from the position of the sun, it couldn't be more than an hour after dawn. Breakfast probably wouldn't be for another hour at least. Emma picked up her book from her nightstand and made her way out to the balcony.

The valley was just beginning to come alive when she stepped outside. Looking down, Emma could see people emerging from the thousands of tents that had been set up in anticipation for tonight. Some people already had their lanterns glowing. Emma unwittingly wrapped her hand around the lantern pendant that she still wore around her neck.

She swallowed hard as she watched a few more lanterns light up, tiny specks of light in the distance. So much had changed in a year. This time last year, it would have been the Evil Queen standing on this balcony, leering over the peasants in the valley. Had she already put on her battle dress? Had she stared down at the families, her lips curling into a cruel smile as she watched them go on with their lives, contemplating their imminent deaths?

Emma shook her head, trying to clear her mind. Despite all the things that had changed in a year, the hurt, guilt, and betrayal she felt at Regina's lies still lingered.

"Emma?"

Emma turned around. Her parents were standing at the balcony door. She saw her father was holding a wrapped present in his hand.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart," Snow said, coming forward and pulling Emma into a hug. Emma tried to say thanks, but her throat was too dry to speak.

This was her birthday. Regina had only been off by a week, but that week made all the difference. Emma learned later that the day Regina called her birthday was actually the day that the Evil Queen had sieged the castle, forcing Snow and Charming into the valley. It was the day that Emma celebrated her birth, but her parents mourned her death. It made her sick to think about it. Regina could have chosen any day to make Emma's birthday, but she'd made it the very day that would hurt her parents the most.

She vividly remembered the night she found out. It was about a month after the war ended. She'd meant to ask an innocent question before bed, something she'd wondered her entire life. She hadn't been prepared for the answer, for the tears that welled in her parents' eyes when they told her, for the realization of what the lanterns truly meant.

The lanterns were for her.

"It's all right to be sad," her father murmured from what seemed like far away. Emma looked up. Charming had joined them without her realizing it.

Emma opened her mouth. She wanted to say that she was fine, that she wasn't sad, that she didn't want her parents to worry. But the words wouldn't come.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"You have nothing to apologize for," Snow insisted. "It's not your fault."

Emma shook her head, not trusting herself to speak. Her chest tightened; she could feel the tears coming. But she didn't want to cry again, not today, and not over this.

"You lost someone important to you today," Snow said gently. "It's all right to be sad."

"I don't want to be sad anymore," Emma replied, trying to keep her voice steady. "I don't want to feel this way. I don't want to feel sad that she's-" Emma's breath caught in her throat, and this time she couldn't keep the sobs at bay. "I don't want to miss her," Emma cried. "But I do. And I hate that I miss her, because I hate what she did to you, what she did to Graham…"

What she did to me.

"I'm sad, too," Snow offered quietly. "There was a time when Regina was kind to me. When I was a little girl, she saved me from a runaway horse. But then I made a mistake, and she never forgave me." Snow paused to brush the tears from Emma's cheek. "Maybe someday it won't hurt. But for now, it's all right to be sad."

The day of the funeral dawned gloomy and cold. She could hear a distant rumbling as she stepped outside the palace, and she hoped it wasn't thunder. The last thing this day needed was rain. Emma rubbed her hands against her itchy black dress, wishing it had pockets. The thin gloves Snow had given her were hardly enough to protect her hands from the icy blasts of wind.

Suddenly, she felt warmth. Emma looked up. Graham smiled back at her, interlacing his fingers with hers. She gave him a small smile in return.

Thank you.

As they continued down the road, the rumbling grew louder. She felt Graham's hand tighten, and she wondered if he could sense the rain. But then Emma saw the hundreds of people surrounding the carriages ahead. It wasn't thunder at all.

Up ahead, her parents continued to walk straight toward the carriages, completely ignoring the shouts and jeers from the crowd. Emma tried to copy them. She felt Graham squeeze her hand, and she knew he was trying, too.

"Let the witch burn!"

"It's more than she deserves!"

Emma closed her eyes, wishing she could block the sound, too. It had been like this every day for a week now, ever since her parents had made the announcement about Regina's funeral. She recalled her mother's speech about forgiveness and healing and closure, how relieved they would be to finally put this chapter of their lives to rest, but it appeared her words had fallen on deaf ears. No one wanted closure; they all wanted revenge.

Finally, they reached the carriages. A guard held open the door and Emma followed her parents inside. She deliberately averted her eyes from the carriage behind them, knowing it held the coffin.

Once they were safely inside, Emma heaved a sigh of relief. Across from her, Charming put his arm around Snow. Graham squeezed Emma's hand again. As the carriage began to move, the angry shouts were finally drowned out. Emma rested her hand on Graham's shoulder.

She understood their anger, their pain, their thirst for vengeance. After everything Regina had done to them, of course they would want to see her punished. A funeral was far from what they had in mind. And maybe Emma would have felt the same way, if she hadn't spent her entire life being cared for by the one person whom everyone hated.

Her mother had asked them to forgive Regina. Emma hoped one day they would be able to forgive her, too.

"Are we there yet?"

She heard Graham laugh, and even though she couldn't see him, she knew he was smiling. "Almost."

Emma tightened her grip on Graham's hand. He'd insisted on the blindfold, and she'd agreed only after he promised he wouldn't let her fall. Emma could hear dead leaves crunching beneath her feet, and she knew they were in the forest somewhere. She tried to focus the rest of her senses on her surroundings, trying to guess where they were, but she hadn't done much better than the forest.

Suddenly, the level of the ground changed. Emma cried out as she lost her balance. Strong arms closed around her waist.

"Told you I wouldn't let you fall," Graham whispered in her ear.

Emma rolled her eyes behind the blindfold. "Can I take this off now?"

"Not yet." Emma opened her mouth to protest, but then she felt Graham's hands on her shoulders, turning her around. "Now."

Emma pushed the blindfold up from her eyes. She blinked, taking in the forest. They were surrounded by entirely unremarkable trees. Then her eyes fell on the boulder. She raised her eyebrows.

"First a sword from my parents, and now a bow and arrow from you? Is this some kind of hint?"

Graham shook his head. "Just thought you'd want to have one of your own."

Emma smiled as she ran her finger along the smooth wood of the bow. She didn't have to ask; she already knew he must have made it himself. She walked over to him and threw her arms around him. "Thank you," she said sincerely. "I love it."

Graham smiled and kissed her. "Happy birthday, Emma."

Emma sighed and rested her head against Graham's chest. She could hear his strong heartbeat, the most calming sound in the world. Snow had been right; she did feel better now that she'd seen him. Now that she'd been able to physically reassure herself that Graham was still alive. That Regina had not murdered him. That his heart had glowed again –

Emma's eyes widened. She suddenly realized that this wasn't a random boulder. Glancing around, she could see the glow of lanterns between the trees. They were close to the valley. She wondered why she hadn't noticed the lanterns before, but then realized it must be because the sun hadn't set yet.

"Why here?" she whispered.

Graham led her over to the rock and they sat down together. "Because this would have been the last place we saw each other if you hadn't saved me."

Emma's breath caught in her throat. "I'm so sorry, Graham. I should never have – if I hadn't left you-"

"No," Graham interrupted her gently. "You don't have to apologize anymore." Emma looked away. All she wanted to do was apologize. The guilt she felt over leaving him, the fear she felt when she thought he was dead – the fear she still felt in every nightmare. Even though Regina was gone, it seemed like the fear that she could hurt someone Emma loved would never completely disappear.

Emma suddenly felt Graham's hand on hers. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked.

Emma glanced up. "Tell you what?"

"That you had the dream again."

Emma swallowed hard. She could ask how he had known, but she knew by now that Graham could always sense when something was wrong.

"You don't have to be afraid, Emma," Graham said quietly when she still hadn't responded. "My heart will always be safe."

"How can you be sure?" Emma whispered.

Graham smiled. "Because my heart is with you."

The valley was more beautiful than she had imagined. As she stepped outside, she was met by thousands of pinpricks of light below. Emma shivered with anticipation as she walked alongside her parents to the edge of the balcony where four lanterns were waiting.

This time last year, she had been that dead baby princess that launched the tradition. But now she was the one sending the first lanterns into the sky.

Everyone was silent. She could barely make out the faces of the people below, as their features were blinded by the glowing light in their hands. She was surprised so many people had come, seeing as the war was finally over.

But then again, Emma realized, the war would never be over. The battle might be won, but the pain and grief and loss would always remain. The lanterns had been the symbol of the resistance, but now they represented so much more. The victory of good over evil, of light over darkness.

The loss of so many lives and families at the hand of the Evil Queen.

I like to think that they represent the children who have died.

They reached the lanterns at last. Emma held her breath as she picked up the delicate lantern. She could feel the eyes of everyone in the valley on her and her family.

"Are you ready?" her mother murmured.

Emma nodded. Sweat dotted her fingers as she clenched the lantern tighter, not wanting to let it go too early. She watched as her parents raised their lanterns, their hands steady from years of practice. Out of the corner of her eye, Emma saw Graham raise his lantern, too.

And then they were gone. The four lanterns floated up over the valley, and Emma felt her heart rising with the lanterns as they climbed higher. This was what her parents had done every year for the last eighteen years.

Suddenly, a hundred other lights floated up from the valley. And then a hundred more, then another hundred, until all she could see was warm golden light. She wondered if her parents had ever grown tired of that sight, if the awe had ever worn off. She doubted it ever would for her.

Emma felt Graham slide his arm around her waist. By the light of the lanterns, she could see the tears in his eyes. She looked at him questioningly, but he simply shook his head and pulled her closer. Emma rested her head on his shoulder as the lanterns swirled around them. To her right, she could see her parents had tears in their eyes, too.

"For Emma," she heard Graham murmur.

Emma drew back slightly. "What?"

"They're saying 'For Emma,'" Graham explained. "That's what your parents are saying."

Emma glanced at her parents, smiling sadly. They had spent seventeen years in agony, thinking that she had died without reaching her first birthday. This was the first time they had ever launched the lanterns in celebration. But even this celebration was tempered by the losses everyone had suffered at the hands of the Evil Queen.

Maybe they represent everyone.

One of the lanterns was floating just above the balcony ledge. Emma noticed that its ribbons were tangled. She reached out and pulled it free. The lantern burned brightly in her hand as she offered it to him.

"For Graham."

"No." Graham smiled as he took the lantern from her. He stared at it a moment, then set it free. "For everyone."

Author's Note:

If I were to list out every person who has made this story what it is and/or without whom this story would not exist, we would be here for hours and I would most certainly miss the midnight deadline for Gremma Appreciation Week. And then I might leave someone out and feel awful about it. So in the interest of saving time and space (and your eyes from glazing over), let me just say this:

If you think you have influenced me writing this story, you have.

If you think/hope we are friends, don't worry, we are.

If you reviewed one chapter or all of them, if you penned my 20th review or my 200th, if you favorited or followed this story, if you recommended it on tumblr or twitter or by word of mouth, if you loved this story, if you're reading this note now,you are the reason I write.

Before anyone asks, there will not be a sequel. I hope that this last chapter has given you enough closure about what happens next, as well as what happened in the immediate aftermath of the previous chapter.

I do know what I'm writing next, but I do not know when it will be posted. If you are interested in reading more of my work, please visit my page and/or follow me so you can get the alerts.

Thank you, thank you, thank you,

~la lisboa