It certainly has been a journey, hasn't it? We've reached the end...and I'm kind of sad about that because I adore these characters and I loved writing this story. But at the same time it's kind of great because it's like HEY! SOMETHING OFF MY TO-DO LIST!

THE PREMIERE IS TOMORROW PEOPLE. AHHHHHH...

Anyways, I would like to thank each and every one of you. Thank you so much for sticking with me and this story, for all the favorites and follows. It means the world to me, it really does. As for where I'll go from here, I'm not really sure. I have a lot going on so I don't always have a ton of time to write, but there will certainly be shorts coming with the new season since I generally watch an episode and then have this insane urge to write a short, even if it has nothing to do with what happened. And let's be honest...there are things in this premiere that will kill us all, am I right? But NO SPOILERS for those who don't want to know! I know I'm trying really hard not to look anymore. In short, if you have a prompt or something you'd like to see in a short (or even longer work) send it to me! I'll do my best to write something because I love writing...obviously.

Wow, I'm really off topic today. Anyway...enjoy this final part of "Family." I hope you enjoy it. =)

Family

Epilogue

Parties with the Swan-Jones family were always crazy.

When Killian had gotten out of jail, they threw him a "Welcome Home" party, which ended with another broken arm…only this time it was Killian. He finally understood what his son had really been doing that fateful night all those months ago, and obviously didn't listen to Emma when she told him that jumping on the bed probably wasn't the best idea.

A couple of months later they celebrated Emma's birthday, only this time it was a bit of a quieter affair. They did go out for a meal with her friends, but it was lunch, not dinner, and instead of spending the evening alone in her apartment, Killian and Henry made a valiant attempt to bake her a birthday cake.

It turned out worse than the pancakes.

However, it had been the best birthday she could remember, warm on the couch with her boys, watching The Princess Bride as they ate Chinese food. And when Killian pulled out the cupcake he had bought just in case the cake failed, placing a blue star candle on top, she couldn't think of anything to wish for because she already had everything she could ever want.

She had a home, a family, someone who loved her, friends. Maybe she had had a rough past, but she learned to accept it because if one little thing had been different, even just the smallest hint of a moment, she wouldn't have met Killian, and she had no idea where she would be had she not walked into Neverland that night a year previous.

Thanksgiving was celebrated at the Nolan's, although it was much extended this time. Pretty much everyone was there, all gathered together to celebrate the holiday, and it came with not one, but two wonderful announcements. Victor, it turned out, had finally found the courage to propose to Ruby, and Mary Margaret and David would have to remodel the office because they were expecting another baby.

Christmas was much like her birthday, low-key and quiet, at least until Henry got his new video game. Killian and Emma spent the remainder of his Christmas break attempting to get him to stop playing and go to sleep, regardless of how close to level 23 he was.

And after that, they had a party in the spring, for no reason other than to celebrate the fact that they were all healthy and happy.

Robin and Regina were there, currently in a discussion with a fangirling Ruby and a nervous-looking Victor. After Emma began dating Killian long-term, Ruby made every attempt to talk with the lead singer of her favorite band, and much like Mary Margaret gave Emma credit for finding her David, Ruby gave Robin credit for bringing Emma and Killian together. Needless to say, she was thrilled with Robin and Regina not only accepted her wedding invitation, but offered for The Merry Men to play at the reception.

Alex, who was usually infatuated with Killian, following him around like a lost puppy, was off duty for the evening, instead fawning over a different Irish man: Graham. They had met at Killian's welcome home party and hit it off right away. Emma was happy, glad that Graham had finally found someone to love him as much as he should be loved. Plus, the fact that it was Alex that loved him made it worthwhile, knowing that her friend was adored in return.

In the corner of the room, Henry sat with Grace and his biological father. After the mess with the trial, the four of them had gone out to dinner, allowing Henry to meet his real father for the first time. Since then, Neal slowly regained Emma's trust, becoming a very real part of their family and finding his own place in Henry's very big heart. And Emma, Killian and Jefferson certainly couldn't miss the increasing presence of Henry and Grace, always together and almost never apart.

Mary Margaret and David sat on the couch, calmly talking to Jefferson while watching Roland play with James on the floor. James had grown considerably and was speaking fairly well, growing a little bit older every single day. Once and a while, on the weekends, he would spend a day with Emma and Killian in the city, when they would take the little boy to the zoo or the park, laughing and enjoying each other's company. Jefferson had recently written a book on dealing with the loss of his wife and having to raise his daughter on his own, which was extremely successful. At least, that's what he told them.

Killian, on the other hand, sat alone in a chair off to one side, watching the conversations and games throughout the room. Emma found him, settling herself in his lap as she wrapped her arms around his neck, "What are you thinking about?"

Lightly, he laughed, "You know, back when I was sitting in that jail cell, all I could keep thinking about was how I might not have a day like this again, where I could just sit and be surrounded by everyone that I love. Everything was so uncertain."

"Well you don't have to worry about that anymore. None of us are going anywhere" she assured him, "and neither are you."

Suddenly, James came running up, more solid on his feet than ever, and tugged on Killian's pant leg, repeating the same word over and over again, "Ask! Ask!"

"James?" Emma questioned, looking at her godson. "What are you talking about? Ask what?"

Helping her to stand up from her position in his lap, Killian grinned and cleared his throat. "Thank you m'boy" he commented to James, ruffling his hair a bit before gathering the attention of everyone in the room, all eyes going to him as Emma stood confused beside him.

"Since we're all here, I figured I would tell you a story. Once Upon a Time, a pirate, lost among the darkness, met a beautiful Princess" he began, and slowly Emma put the pieces together, tears springing to her eyes. "He didn't really deserve her, but she loved him anyway, and he loved her. One day, a crocodile attempted to separate them, tried to take the pirate down and ruin his life, but it was all just a charade. The princess knew the truth, and stuck with the pirate through thick and thin, and one day" he continued, dropping down to one knee, "the pirate asked the princess to marry him."

The room was silent as they stood there, waiting for something to happen, but when nothing did, Killian still on one knee, the ring held out to Emma, Ruby called out, "WHAT DID THE PRINCESS SAY?"

"Yes" Emma finally said, looking down at Killian as he held the ring out. "The Princess said yes."