So here it is, the final epilogue. It's a bit different than the other one and has it's own unique tone but i hope it gives those of you who were searching for something different in the other ending what you were looking for. I'll do a final response to some comments at the bottom of this addressing any final questions/concerns. All and all I've been overwhelmed by your response to this story. It has inspired me to write more to live up to your praise and expectations. I know there were sections for everyone that maybe weren't exactly what they wanted, but I hope overall this story lived up to your expectations

Thank you so much for following the story as it moved out of cannon and into it's own storyline. Your support for my own (mostly) new material really helped me to continue on. Thank you to those who have been faithful throughout and for those who took the time to binge read the entire story. And a big thanks to those of you who review consistently. I hope you know your reviews were taken into account and if possible I tried to incorporate them.

Biggest shoutout for my beta andreacherrypie. You really helped me out with silly mistakes in this home-stretch and your opinions and honesty truly helped me either go back to the drawing board or truly fall in love with something and find a way to make it work so thank you.

I've loved writing these characters and I'll miss this story. A bit of self promotion - if you want to read more I have another story that is completely AU about Emma in the EF but I've really loved writing that so hopefully you might love it too. So without further ado - here's the final installment

Golden light spilled across the stone balcony as the sun peaked over the mountains, signaling so much more than just the dawning of a new day. Its rays reflected off the lake that stretched between the balcony and the mountains, sparkling as the light bounced across the crystal waters. The glow illuminated the broad-shouldered man that stood on the balcony, reveling in the quiet peace of the early morning. But for all the splendor of the beauty of dawn, it paled in comparison to the beauty he had set his gaze upon in his arms.

"Charming." Snow's soft voice rang through the room, causing the man on the balcony to break from his quiet trance and turn to face his wife.

"You're awake." The warm smile that seemed to have been permanently on David's face for the past day grew as his eyes fell on his wife.

"I'm not quite sure how I slept to tell you the truth." Snow returned his smile.

"Well you had quite the night." David pointed out. "It's no surprise that you finally succumbed to exhaustion."

Snow's gaze settled on the tiny bundle in her husband's arms. "How is she?"

David's own gaze returned to the object of his focus before his wife had awoken. The tiny being in his arm was fast asleep, contentedly nestled in her father's arms. It had been less than a day, but her presence had already brought enough joy to begin erasing the pain of loss. "She's slept soundly as long as her mother has. She's not one to fuss, but then again I suppose that is not much of a surprise." He made his way over to the bed, lowering his daughter into his wife's arms with more care and caution than he had ever before used. "She's even more beautiful than I remember."

"I know." Snow leaned into her husband's arms as both remained entranced with their daughter. "Do you think… she'll be happy, right? After everything we've been through, she deserves that."

"Of course she will." Charming slowly ran his hand over his daughter's head, feeling the softness of her fine hair beneath his palm. "She will be the most beloved little girl in all the land. And not only by us, but by her Aunt Red and Granny, and everyone who cared for her before."

"I just…" Snow hesitated. "I know we are to all forget, and that is for the best. It would not be fair if we kept our memories of that other reality, not to Emma. We would have unfair expectations of a girl shaped by a reality that no longer exists. And the pressure it would put on Emma to live up to such a heavy legacy… but to forget everything she's done, to forget her sacrifices, to forget how she saved us all, that somehow doesn't seem fair to her either."

"I know what you mean." Charming agreed, falling silent. His eyes were fixated on his daughter as she yawned, her mouth forming a tiny o as she shifted into a more comfortable position, settling easily in her mother's arms. He didn't know it was possible for a being to seem so utterly perfect. There was an innocence in her that he would do anything to protect, to make up for what he had been unable to do before. As he caught himself thinking about the girl he had held only the day before he knew his wife was right. They couldn't live trying to make up for that life, it wasn't fair to either version of their daughter. But they also couldn't forget, not entirely. "We will have someone write down her story." Charming ran his finger across his daughter's tiny cheek. "We will document the story of her bravery and her kindness, how she embodied both strength and selflessness. Her sacrifice will not be lost in the fading of memories, but live on in lore, in stories that children all across the land will hear as they grow. It will inspire them to be as brave and strong and selfless as she was, and it may even inspire her. But we will leave the names out, leaving in only details that will be unrecognizable by the time our memories have gone, that will pull only vaguely at our memories, connecting us to the story but not reminding us of its true origin. And when the time is right, after she has grown and built a legacy of her own, we will all learn the truth of her selfless bravery, so that her sacrifice may be honored after she has become her own woman, without the weight of this legacy hanging over her head."

Snow smiled up at her husband. "I think that is a wondrous idea."

Charming leaned down to place a gentle kiss on his wife's lips, feeling more at peace than he had in a very long while. A small sound pulled both their attention back to their daughter. Snow settled her easily as the bright green eyes blinked open, setting their gaze on her parents. "So what do we do now?"

"Now." Charming smiled as his daughter's fist captured his finger, leaning closer to his family. "Now we live."

Connor ran his hands over his face in frustration. He had been waiting for days but he couldn't do anything more. This was the only place he knew to look for his sister. The forest was massive and unfortunately they had been separated at the moment the curse hit. But their ever concerned father had made them always have a meeting spot in case they were ever separated and this was it. If she didn't return soon he would have to begin combing the woods for her. He hoped to avoid that near hopeless search. He had told the others to meet him at this spot and he needed to find them before their memories began to fade.

Connor sunk to the ground, sighing in defeat as he cast his eyes over the river rushing before him. He couldn't lose hope. This search was the only thing holding him together right now. If he didn't find Ava, if he couldn't reconnect with his friends, then for him at least, this would have all been for nothing. His heart would remain broken long beyond the fading of his memories if he couldn't find the silver lining of this cruel arrangement.

Suddenly he heard a voice floating in the distance. At first he wasn't sure if it was real or if he wanted to heart it so badly he imagined it. But then he heard it again, closer, and once more, ringing out clearly this time, calling for him.

"Ava?" Connor stood up, searching fervently for his sister. Finally he saw a shock of light brown locks through the trees and then, the face he never thought he would see again. "Ava!"

"Connor!" Ava flung herself into her brother's arms, wrapping her arms tightly around him as he did the same to her. After a minute she stepped back, looking completely bewildered. "My god. What is going on? Where are we? The last thing I remember we were in a battle and there was pain... So much pain... I remember thinking I was dying?"

Connor took a deep breath, knowing he had to breach the subject gently. Unlike the rest of them, Ava had no clue what had happened. "Ava, I don't know how to tell you this but… You did."

Ava's eyes widened in shock. "What?

"You … died Av." Connor repeated

"Then how...?" Ava shook her head in confusion, unable to reconcile how her brother's claim was even remotely possible."

"Ava?" A familiar voice called out.

Ava whipped around instantly at the voice, searching in earnest. "Ryan!"

"Thank god." Ryan swept Ava up into his arms, kissing her passionately. He set her back on the ground, holding her face as he looked upon it with relief. "I cannot tell you how it feels to see your face again, to kiss you after…" Ryan paused before he brought up the subject. He gave a gentle smile. "I missed you so much."

"Well I suppose it's good that my absence made you realize how much you loved me." Ava smiled. "Maybe it wasn't such a bad thing after all."

Ryan looked hesitantly over to Connor who shook his head, indicating he hadn't yet told Ava about the cost of her return. He looked back to Ava, giving an uncomfortable smile. "Yes I suppose so."

Ava immediately noticed the oddity of the exchange. "What's going on? What aren't you telling me?"

"Ava…." Connor began, casting an uneasy glance to Ryan. "Perhaps we should sit down."

"Now you're scaring me…" Ava stepped backward, looking nervously between the two. "As if I wasn't already scared enough at the claim that I've died and come back to life."

"Well." Ryan said hesitantly. "That's not entirely true."

"But Connor said…" Ava began.

"Ava?!" A shout rang out. "Connor?!"

"Kate?!" Connor called in surprise. "Is that really you?"

"Who else would it be?" Kate rolled her eyes, seeming as carefree as ever although her eyes told a different story. "You don't sound pleased to see me Connor. Honestly, I thought you liked me better than that."

"I do." Connor gave a small laugh. "It's just I didn't expect to find you out here so soon." Connor looked to Sam. "I expected it would take you a little longer to rescue our sarcastic princess from her tower."

"As did I." Sam nodded. "But I found her wandering the forest in search of me."

"Mother Gothel let me go." Kate explained.

"She what?!" Ryan asked in shock.

"The curse changed her." Kate shrugged, herself somewhat surprised by the behavior. "She wants to redeem herself, and that started with freeing me. We were on our way home when we remembered your instructions to the meeting place and realized we wanted to find you before it was too late."

"Too late for what?" Ava asked.

"Well before our memories faded of course." Kate answered as Connor and Ryan called out in protest. Kate glanced between the two. "Was I not supposed to say anything?"

Ava turned to face her brother. "What is she talking about?"

"Well." Connor began slowly. "The first thing you should know is that everything is over. We've all been saved. But as price for the return of those who were lost during the curse, we will lose all our memories of our lives during the curse. We can keep the relationship we formed during the curse, but only if we find each other before we lose our memories. That's why Kate was worried."

"I wonder how much longer I'll hear myself called by that name." Kate mused. "I mean with the loss of our memories I suppose we will all return to our given names rather than the names we assumed for the last sixteen years."

"I suppose it doesn't have to be that way." Ryan offered. "People may question why you changed your name and you may eventually be unable to give a reasonable answer but at the very least you are a princess so your people will do as you ask."

"Hm." Kate nodded as she pondered the fact. "How mother would react. I do think it might break her heart to hear me say it but I think I'd prefer to be called Kate. Rapunzel has such dark memories attached to it and honestly it's a bit of a mouthful."

"You've met your mother?" Ava asked in elated surprise.

"I have." Kate nodded happily. "She's wonderful."

"I'm so happy for you." Ava hugged her friend. "I think for once I'll follow your lead. I rather liked who I learned to be while using the name Ava. And truth be told I find it a bit more appealing than Gretel."

"I find you appealing regardless of your name." Ryan placed a gentle kiss on his girlfriend's lips.

"Well aren't you charming." Ava laughed. "And what of you, brother? What name will you choose?"

"I think I'll stick with Hansel." Connor admitted after a minute. "I know the memories will fade but they're still too painful. The life I had as Connor is over. I think I need a fresh start."

"What do you mean the life you had is over?" Ava asked in confusion. She looked around, as if suddenly realizing for the first time the most glaring absence of the group. "Where's Emma?"

The group shared nervous glances with once another, each unsure how to start. It was her brother who finally found the courage to speak. "It's… complicated Av."

Ava glanced between her friends, the feeling that something was wrong rushing over her body. "Complicated how?"

"Emma made a great sacrifice so that we all might live." Kate continued. "So that we might each have a shot at being happy."

Ava's breath shook, her voice fearful. "Is she dead?"

"No, no." Kate answered quickly, shaking her head. "Well… not technically anyway."

"What do you mean." Ava asked. "What are you all not telling me?"

"Emma's gone Ava. She sacrificed herself to save us all." Ryan took Ava's hands into his. "It's a really long story. But you should know that a big part of what she did was for you. She loved you and wanted you to have the best life possible."

Ava nodded slowly, trying desperately not to cry. "A long story?" Ava took a deep breath. "Well if it really is all over then we have all the time in the world now, don't we?" She looked between her friends, finding a smile. "I want to hear about it all."

"So." Killian leaned against the railing, staring out into the water. "What do we do now?"

"I don't know." Zach shrugged. "We've never really had a plan. We've always just gone whichever way the wind blew."

"That's why I'm asking you." Killian pointed out. "I've always made the decisions. I think it's about time you get to make one."

"That would be nice." Zach nodded. "If you hadn't already made your decision."

"What?" Killian glanced over at his brother in surprise.

"I know what I want to do." Zach said. "But it's not what you want."

"How do you know that kid?" Killian asked.

"Because I want to go back to Neverland." Zach replied.

"Neverland?" Killian's eyebrows shot up. "Why would you want to go back there?

Zach regarded him quietly before turning away. "Because time doesn't move there."

Killian's eyes widened, he nodded slowly. "I see."

"It doesn't have to be Neverland." Zach continued. "It can be any land where time doesn't move like it does here."

"I'm guessing you don't just want to get away from this land." Killian mused.

"No." Zach shook his head. "I don't." He paused, trying to find a way to explain things to his brother. "I can't stay here, not when she isn't."

"So you're going to wait?" Killian asked.

"I love her." Zach answered. "And in that reality she wasn't destined to be with me, she was destined to be with Connor, but that isn't a reality now. I can't imagine a life without her and honestly I don't want to."

"Zach you love the girl Emma was." Killian said gently. "Not the girl Emma is going to be. What happens when you come back in sixteen years and she's not the same girl you fell in love with? Because Zach, she won't be."

"I won't remember her anyway." Zach shrugged. "Remember what Rumplestiltskin said? We will all forget the cursed reality. It will take longer for those closer to her, but in time we will all forget. So I'll forget who she was."

"Then how will you remember to come back?" Killian asked. "How will you remember who she is, or that you love her?"

"The relationships that were made before the curse, they'll remain as long as they were strong, as long as they were true." Zach explained. "So I trust that the pull she held before, will bring me back again. I'll leave myself a reminder to return and when I do, if it's meant to be, we'll find our way back to one another. I know she won't be the same Killian, her experiences will be different, so she'll be different. But the things that make Emma, Emma? They'll always be there. They're innate. They're the things that make me love her."

"And what if they aren't?" Killian asked. "What if you come back and you don't love the person she is? What if she doesn't love you?"

"It's a risk I'm willing to take." Zach shrugged. "I believe she is the one Killian. I'd go to the end of the world for her, or time. And so I'll wait for her, because I believe this is fate."

"And if it's not?" Killian looked at Zach.

Zach stared out into the water silently. "She's worth the risk."

"Well I guess…" Killian took a deep breath. "I guess we can figure out where to go."

"No." Zach said firmly. "You can't come."

"Why not?" Killian asked.

"Because you want to stay here." Zach continued. "It's been so long since we've had a place to call home; since we've had something to center our worlds around. But you have that now, with her. Red won't leave with us, not after everything that's happened. Her family is here, her responsibility is here, her home is here… and so is yours."

"Zach…" Killian began to protest.

"No." Zach turned to Killian. "She won't leave Emma and I can't ask you to come with me. I can't ask you to give her up."

"I won't giver her up." Killian insisted. "I'll just wait."

"You'll wait sixteen years?" Zach raised his eyebrows. "What if she doesn't wait Killian?"

"She loves me Zach." Killian said.

"What if she forgets?" Zach asked. "What if she moves on before you come back? I can't ask you to live sixteen years without her, not when you've finally found her. This curse gave you a gift, it gave both of us a gift. I have to wait, but you don't. You have to stay with her Killian. She deserves that. You deserve that. We'll still be brothers when I come back, there will just be a little bit of an age gap. But that's never affected anything before."

"What if I have kids your age?" Killian asked.

Zach snorted. "You as a father? Now that ought to be interesting."

"They'd love me." Killian insisted.

"Yeah because you'd leave Red to enforce all the rules." Zach rolled his eyes. "The kids would be living nightmares."

"Just like us?" Killian asked.

"They'd be lucky to be like us." Zach joked.

"Well I guess you'll just have to see when you get back." Killian smirked. "They'll love me, and you."

Zach's eyes widened in surprise. "You're going to let me go."

"I'm taking you. And we'll find some place other than Neverland because there is no way in hell I'm letting you go back to that place." Killian insisted before his face softened. "But yes, I'm letting you go. I'm taking you, to find someplace where I know you'll be safe, and then I'll come back. Red will understand."

Zach smiled. "Thank you, so much."

"I understand love." Killian said. "True love isn't easy, but it must be fought for, because once it's found, it can never be replaced. I fought for mine, so I have to let you fight for yours."

The sea breeze ruffled through the dark hair of the statuesque young man standing on the gangplank of the ship that had just made port. Though his presence was quiet and his arrival far from grand, his appearance caught the eye of several young woman weaving through the crowds below. As unassuming as he attempted to remain, his brilliant blue eyes and charming looks could never remain unnoticed for long. He took one last deep breath of the sea air before he made his way into the crowded area before him.

Life in Tarkesh had never been this busy. There had been far less people on the whole isle it seemed than it seemed were bustling about before him, doing business with the merchants on the ships as they made port. The port on the island was a less populous and certainly less refined affair. His mind drifted back to the island. Outside the city it was wild and unruly, at times downright dangerous, but it had been his home for the past sixteen years and he had made a life there. But then came the note, a note of his own handwriting that he could not recall penning. It had told him that it was time to leave Tarkesh, and that he must, for reasons he could not disclose even to himself, return to Eirian in an attempt to make a new life. The land was a distant memory to him. He knew it was where his brother had settled with his wife and children and little else. When he had received word that his brother and wife were overjoyed at the prospect of having him as a houseguest he had booked passage as soon as he could, deciding to have faith in his instructions for the future.

He managed to navigate out of the area of heaviest traffic without much trouble. Though the port was busier, he found people were generally much kinder and understanding than in Tarkesh. He was beginning to see his brother's claims of a happy people and peaceful kingdom had at least some truth to them. His gaze was captivated by the many colors and smells of the market he had stumbled upon while looking for a ride when he collided with someone.

Keeping in mind this was not the ruthless black market he liked to frequent in Tarkesh he immediately rushed to apologize. "Oh I am so sorry for my carelessness." He looked down to find he had knocked over a girl, her face blocked by a curtain of blonde hair as she hurried to collect the contents of her basket before it got lost in the crowd. He offered his hand. "Here let me help, it's my fault after all." The girl tucked her blonde waves behind her ear, looking up to meet his gaze. His breath nearly caught in his chest as he caught sight of her face. She had the most stunning green eyes he had ever seen, her smile nearly knocking him off his feet.

"It's quite all right." The girl assured him. "It's a busy market. It's to be expected every once in a while."

"Even still." He held out his hand to help her up. The moment their hands touched an almost electric feeling coursed through his body. He stared in silent shock as he helped her to her feet, watching, almost mesmerized as she brushed the dust from her trousers. He noticed the oddity of her chosen clothing, trousers and a tunic, clothes that were traditionally considered male. But the ease with which she wore them with served only to magnify her beauty.

"Even still what?" The girl prompted after a moment of silence.

He shook his head, his cheeks flushing as he realized he had been staring. "I should have been watching where I was going. You'll have to excuse me, I'm new around here, I'm not used to such business."

"I thought that may have been the case." She nodded. "I didn't recognize your face."

"Do you recognize most people in this crowd?" The young man asked with a degree of amusement at the claim.

"I'm fairly good with faces." She shrugged as if it were the most normal thing in the world to at least have a degree of familiarity with this many people. "So where is it you come to Eirian from?"

"Tarkesh." His blue eyes sparkled as he revealed his previous home, hoping to earn the interest of the girl before him.

"Tarkesh?" The girl raised an eyebrow. "I cannot say the same for most but I have heard tales of it."

"You have?" He was pleased she was familiar with such a far off land.

"My godmother's husband is familiar with the island." She explained. "He had visited there on occasion, though not in recent years. He has settled here with his family leaving not as much time as he used to have for such adventures."

"So you've heard tales of the danger and mystery of the island?" He grinned ruefully.

A musical laugh escaped from the girl's lips, setting his heart on edge in a way he had never before felt. "Danger and mystery? Is that so?"

"It is." He nodded.

"Is that supposed to impress me?" She raised an eyebrow and looked at him skeptically, a sparkle of playfulness in her eye. "To make me swoon at the tales of your bravery in the face of danger and beg for tales of adventure I should never know?"

He was somewhat taken aback by her forwardness. Most girls were instantly entranced by such tales, but he found himself even more drawn to her cool, seemingly difficult to shake demeanor. He gave a simple shrug. "Maybe."

"Well I give you points for effort." She grinned, shaking her head at his attempt to flirt. "And extra points for the honesty. But you should know that I'm not so easily won over by magnificent tales of pirates and monsters and quests for the isle of eternal youth. I grew up with them, and with the men and women who told me those tales warning me not to let myself be easily enraptured by young men who might tell me them to win my favor."

He let out a laugh and nodded his head. "Fair enough. You have wise people looking out for you."

"I do." She agreed. "Maybe a little too wise at times."

"Do you have tales of your own daring adventures then?" He asked hopefully.

"Not as many as I would like." She admitted. "But I do hope that will change soon."

"So you've never faced down a dragon or a monster?" He raised his eyebrow.

"Have you?" She countered

He shrugged. "Depends on your definition of a monster."

"I have a little sister." She offered wryly. "Does that count?"

"I could not say." He answered "I've never had a sister."

"Well count yourself fortunate." She laughed and shook her head. "I do love her so but she can be quiet unrelenting and an absolute nightmare at times."

"I'll have to take your word for it." He grinned.

"Do." She nodded. "I believe dealing with her has prepared me for the worst this world can throw at me. Well close to the worst anyway. I suppose we shall see once my parents stop being quite so overprotective."

"So you love adventure then." His heart quickened at the thought.

"I do." She smiled. "I think life is quite dull without it. But while I wait for the chance to have more of my own, I have to settle for the tales of the youth of my parents and their friends. I dare not complain too much though, they are quite wondrous to hear. And they give me a standard to judge others by."

He couldn't help but be enamored with this girl already. She had a magnetic quality about her, something that made him want to know more. Though he had only known her for a few short minutes, he could tell she was different, he could feel that she was not like so many other girls who would swoon and giggle and play the part of a weak maiden whose heart was so readily given. She had a quiet confidence about her that he was finding he much preferred. "So I will have to work a little harder to win your approval then?"

She again raised an eyebrow, giving him a pointed look. "Isn't it a tad presumptuous to assume that we will see each other again and often enough for you to try to win my approval?"

He shrugged, proving he was just as unshakeable as she was. "I prefer the term hopeful."

"Well you are charming, I cannot take that away from you." She laughed again. "But I shall warn you that I am not so easily won over, and on that note that I am surely not a prize to be won."

"I do not doubt that." He readily agreed. "I have only known you a few moments and I can already tell you are no damsel in distress."

"You'd do well to remember that." She advised.

"So there is hope of another encounter." He didn't know why or how, but there was something about her, something he couldn't quite place, that drew him to her, that created a need in him to see her again.

"Perhaps." She nodded. "If fate wills it so."

"I'm Zach by the way." Realizing that most men in this land probably introduced themselves with a title or at the very least a family name he moved to clarify the statement. "Just Zach."

"Well, just Zach." A smile once again graced her lips. "It has been a pleasure getting to meet you, even if you did knock my basket to the ground."

"And your name?" Zach asked hopefully.

"Do you suppose you've earned it?" She asked, an amused look on her face.

"I would hope so." Zach admitted genuinely. Though he was hopeful, he did not want to appear too much so, prompting him to give a small shrug of the shoulders. "But I do not presume to."

"So there is a gentleman in you after all." She nodded in approval. "Perhaps we will see each other again."

"Well that is good news." Zach's smile reached his eyes, setting off a sparkle in the deep blue iris's. "I suppose I'll have to work a little harder then to earn your name."

She let out a small laugh, impressed by his restraint. "I do not pretend to be that self important." She tucked her hair behind her ear, smiling up at him. "Emma, my name is Emma."

IceTear1 - sorry about the choice - it was actually one of those plot points that had been storyboarded almost from the beginning so it was always building up to this point, but I really appreciate all your reviews as you read through! I hope the alternate epilogue was what you hoped for.

Guest who asked about the baby - I hope the little nugget tucked in here helped

Naleylover23xo - I hope this answered your question about the prophecy. Basically he was saying that Connor may not be her true love (in the case she made this choice). Mostly my goal in this ending was to point out that you can have true love more than once. It's not easy, but it's possible. For Emma, both Connor and Zach can be her true loves it just depended on her choice.

Sara K M - first of all thank you for so faithfully reviewing. You've been awesome. Your idea's especially have made their way into my story so thank you so much for all your support and and constructive criticism! Hope you don't hate this ending since i know what camp you were in in terms of which ending you wanted

For all of you who asked for Emma and Zach - I hope this makes you happy. And for the many of you who asked for another child... I finally caved and was inspired to write it.

Thank you all!