AN:/ Here it is, the final chapter to my fav fic that I have written thus far. Its full of angst and quite a bit of tissues are required (at least on my part). So with that being said, please make sure to review and to subscribe/follow me for more updates. Thank you to Adam and Eddie for being such fabulous writers. Truly, they outdo themselves. (I MEAN DID YOU SEE THAT KISS HOLY HELL).
Disclaimer: that's funny, i'm not that creative. :)
Epilogue:
When all is said and done, the kingdom is not the same.
The trees are barren.
The Earth is scorched, the people lie dying in the streets.
He looks upon his beauty, tears washing against her skin.
Regina stands, looking at the girl, something akin to pity in her eyes.
"Let me take her to her mother at least," He begs.
He sets off the same night.
.
The people of Tabor awaken, just as she had.
What the Queen sees breaks her heart as she falls to her knees.
For the second time in their lives, the King and Queen saw their daughter in a glass coffin.
"She gave her life to save mine," Her former love says.
.
People mourn.
She lays in the throne room, which now serves as a resting place for the Princess (Queen really).
He comes to her one night, drunk.
.
He stares at her, his eyes glassy, watery even.
He takes a swig from the rum he's drowned himself in.
"You know, I loved you. God, this bloody kingdom knew it." He says, his voice angry.
"Why did I love you?" He asks.
"Why do I love women, when all they do is leave, huh?" He asks shaking his head.
He runs his hands through his hair.
"But your death hurts worse than hers, Emma. With Milah, I suppose revenge was hope. But for you…I can't even breathe. Do you know that? I can't think, speak or act because damn I miss you." He says.
"I miss your hair, and your smile. I miss the gentle slope of your back as it molded perfectly to my hand. I miss your laugh, your spirit. I miss your eyes and the way they would light up because you were mine, and I was yours the way it was always supposed to be. So, can I wake you up? Is it too late for you?" He asks.
But she doesn't move and he's sitting against a wall. "Because I love you!" He says shaking his head.
"You deserved better. I loved Milah too. When I came back from the sea I carried with me the stench of death and the anger of the lost, my brother, Liam." He says. He pictures his brothers smiling and oh so sure face. "What a bloody fool he'd think I'd be," He mutters to himself.
"I'll tell ya lass, I wasn't worth saving, that's for sure. She did so anyway. And I loved her so much. I loved her more than anyone or anything. Then her crocodile came and he took her away from me. And I became myself again. A self I never cared for, the one who killed. The Hook who hid in the deepest corners of my soul. Until you. See, you remind me of her. Her heart, her spirit. But now you, too, have gone. You both deserved better and I'm so sorry I failed you. I'm so sorry. " He says his eyes welling with tears.
It wasn't fair. He stands, to move over her still corpse.
He wonders if he stares long enough, if he'd join her in heaven.
But she's an angel and he's a monster and they all know where he'll end up.
He lets a tear fall, and he kisses her, one last time.
"Before I go, just know, you rest well up there my angel." He whispers.
.
Henry remembers everything and it almost shatters the boy.
Regina realizes her mistake.
But Hook doesn't care when Henry comes home, and Regina surrenders.
He doesn't care when she's put in the cell (same cell he locked Emma in years ago).
He doesn't care when the captain he traded the Jolly Roger for, offers it to him.
(He traded that for her).
Everywhere he looks, he sees something in her.
The sun is her spirit, the stars are her eyes, the moon is the gentle slope of her smile.
And he hates it.
He hates it.
.
Everynight, he stands by the glass coffin, containing her still body.
He likes to think she's taking a nap, and that she'll wake up, her sea eyes lit up with love and light, and she'll hug him, and kiss him, chastising him for being silly.
'Don't worry' she'd say.
But Emma can't speak, and she's certainly not waking up anytime soon, and her eyes are closed and dark and he's sitting by her cursed body.
Sometimes he thinks she moves.
Just a twitch of the finger, a finger that maybe would've had a ring on it.
Sometimes he thinks her eye lashes flutter, gently against her alabaster skin.
Her finger would never have a ring on it, her eyelashes shall never flutter and flick against her skin, and he needs to stop dreaming because it will never happen and he can't live like this any longer.
He dreams for her. Of sand and salty air and skin. Of weddings, and children.
He dreams of children often. (Henry isn't a child anymore, he's a shadow too).
He dreams of their children running, and sailing.
Of children who will never be birthed from their mother.
So many (living) children.
Children who were his and Emma's.
Adorable children who kiss and fondle their mothers.
Except, sometimes it's only pictures. He never is himself really, it's a fake image of him and her, living an unreal day at the beach with their children.
Dreams are the reality that will never happen.
Other nights, he dreams of her dying, not just sleeping.
Others, Emma is awake, but Neal has woken her. Night terrors that horrify him, to where he wakes up screaming.
He's stopped living. He waits for her.
.
He wakes up, to fingers running through his hair.
'It's another dream,' He thinks bitterly.
"It's not a dream, you silly man." Her sweet voice says.
"And you reek of rum, perhaps your liver would like a break, Killian." She teases.
This dream was a little too real for him.
"If you look up, you'll see me," She says.
"Only to watch you vanish my dear." He says.
He sounds worn.
"Killian, you did it," She whispers.
"Killian, look at me," She says angrily.
He doesn't move.
Perhaps he's been granted death.
"Killian, please," She says.
He's never been one to deny her anything.
So he looks up.
Her eye lashes flutter delicately against her alabaster skin.
Her mouth forms a smile with perfectly rounded diamond teeth.
Her eyes are alight like the sun rising above them.
She has a heartbeat.
"How-how did-" He's speechless.
She touches his cheek.
"Sometimes there's more powerful magic than true love, and well...I guess we just happen to have both. You gave me my heart." She whispers.
He kisses her, and a burst of white magic flows through the room.
.
There will be no more winters.
A family will be formed.
A new Queen + King.
Unconventional at best, loving, and truthful.
True Love prevailed.
.
Rumplestiltskin turned and looked to Regina.
"You promised me a happy ending," She snarls.
"That's why I placed that curse on her," She says.
The imp giggles childishly.
"Well, I woke her up..." he says.
"How?" She asks, her hands flying to the bars where she's been contained.
He giggles.
"So dearie, about that happy ending..."
AN:/ Oh wow, we did it. And this is done. Perhaps if I get good reviews, I may write a sequel. I am enjoying my other story HALO so please check it out. Please leave a review if you liked it and give it a smiley face. :) Thank you so much guys! AH! :) Xx