So, I've been battling with this chapter for almost a month since it is the last chapter (at least for now) and I wanted to make it the best I could. The ending will remain "open" and maybe someday I'll continue.

Thank you to everyone that read, commented, followed and favorited. It really meant a lot to me since I'm not a native speaker and all your support really encouraged me to keep going :)

Hugs,

M.

Emma's POV

I woke up completely rested, it felt as if I had slept for days. I stretched my arms with my eyes still closed, elongating every muscle in my upper limb and back. My lips pursed in a big smile. A nice warm, cozy environment surrounded me. I opened my eyes and saw how the sun's rays caressed my bedsheets. I had never felt so much peace in my life. It was as if I didn't have any problems nor worries.

Then the last thing I remembered came back to me: Cora dead.

Had I died as well? It would explain how relaxed and happy I felt.

No, I couldn't be dead. I had so many unfinished business, places see, people that I needed to tell that I loved them. I was not ready to move to the next life.

Trying not to panic, I looked around. I was alone in my room. Maybe I was dead. Maybe my eternal punishment will be to be in a place where I'd be alone with my memories, because there is nothing more painful that remembering someone that's not with you anymore.

I reminded my body to breath. In and out. In and out. When I calmed myself a little bit I decided to stand up and walk around, maybe I'd find some sort of angel -or devil- that could explain things to me. I needed to understand what was going on. I sat on the bed's edge and then pushed my body to a standing position, but my knees started trembling as soon I was on my feet. I felt the energy leaving my body and I almost fell to the ground.

"Careful," someone caught me.

Not someone: Regina. Regina caught me. She looked so beautiful, so radiant. Like an angel.

"Am I - " I gulped. "Dead?"

Regina laughed and it was music to my ears. "No, dear; you are not dead." She answered my question. "And if you would be, I don't think I'd be allowed into heaven."

She opened her mouth, probably to add what a horrible person she had been - but that was all in the past now. I knew Regina had changed, it had taken her sometime, but she was a different person than the Regina I met at dinner many nights ago. Now I could see the good, the hope and the love in her eyes. Her beautiful brown eyes.

"It wouldn't be heaven without you," I said as as she helped me to get back into my bed.

"Are you always this cheesy, or is it from the concussion?" Regina inquired, pretending to be serious but she couldn't hide her smile. "I bet you got your charm from your father, maybe I should call you Charming as well,"

"Princess Charming to you," I acted offended. Then I looked at my legs. "What happened to me?"

"Nothing serious," she placed a hand over one of my legs and caressed it with her thumb. "You just need to recover your stamina, that's all."

Recover your stamina. I had been tired before, but never to the extend that I couldn't stand on my feet. I wondered how much time would it take. Walking is good for both physical and mental freedom. I loved walking and I just couldn't bare the thought of being stuck in my bed any longer. It was as if all the happiness I had just experienced had abandoned me and left my body with nothing but a horrible back pain. I was not strong enough to stay seated.

"Can't you like - make it faster?" I hated magic, but I hated not walking more. Regina looked to the floor. "What's wrong?"

"I don't have my powers anymore," Regina looked at the floor. "I'm sorry,"

Right, we had made a deal with Rumpelstiltskin, and he always kept both sides of the deal. He always gave, and he always got in return. The 'getting in return' part was the one no one liked, but I thought he was fair man - he kept his word and he made sure that people kept theirs as well, of course sometimes his ways of making people keep their words was not very moral and ethical, but it was not his fault that some people promised something they were not willing to give up. If you wish upon something, you have to know that sacrifices have to be made.

"Hey," I said brushing her hair "You've got nothing to apologize for."

"I'm useless,"

I looked at her with empathy. For Regina using magic was like walking for me. It was a way for her to be free, to release all that anger that she carried within her, and she had given that up for me. Regina sacrificed her magic, pretty much the only thing she had left, to save me. That was more that I could have ever asked for.

"No, you are not." I replied, "You killed Cora and you saved us, you saved me."

"You saved yourself, Emma," Regina pointed out,

"That is not true,"

"Cora couldn't take your heart out because you are the product of true love," The Evil Queen replied. "It was the love that your father and your mother share what saved you,"

"Maybe," I admitted, "Or maybe it was the love that you and I share,"

Her eyes were filled with sparkle, I knew she wanted it to be true - that she wanted a love as pure as the one Snow and Charming had. And I honestly believed that our love was like that. We both laid down in my bed and I placed my head over her chest, finding security between her arms. She hugged me tightly and the warmth of her body made me feel at peace, for the first time in a long time. It was not long until I felt asleep, my head raising and failing at the pace of Regina's calmed respiration, she had fallen asleep too.

That was the first of the many nights to come, that Regina and I slept together.

I'm going to tell you what sucks. It sucks not being able to walk for a long time, leave alone to run.

I wanted to go to the woods, to chase Henry around. I miss the aching of my legs after a ball. Most of all, I hate how restricted I was. Without my legs working properly, the world felt like a series of barriers and obstacles. I've always considered myself a free spirit, but now I was jailed, in my own body. It was horrible.

At least I could use my hands, I'm able to play boardgames with Eva, to hold a book while I read a bedtime story to Henry, and most important I'm able to embrace Regina every night until we fall asleep. I don't know what I'd do with I wouldn't be able to move my arms.

Sixteen days had passed since I woke up after our battle with Cora. My stamina had improved, but I still got tired after walking for a few minutes. Everyday Regina would take me for a longer walk, she said my muscles had become a little bit atrophied and I needed to start stretching them. Today she had decided to take me to the small lake inside the castle grounds. I'll admit it, being with Regina and breathing the fresh air made me feel better, stronger. But the returning part was so tiring, specially climbing the stairs to our room. I'd hold tightly to Regina and press my body

I'd be so exhausted by the time we reach my bed that I'd just want to fall asleep, but Regina wouldn't let me sleep, not without bathing first. Which sucked, I would usually fell asleep on the bathtub, and I wouldn't wake up until after the water was cold and I was shivering. Sometimes Regina would come into the bathroom and help me get cleaned - I didn't actually mind that.

"So," I asked one when we were walking towards the lake, "Are you going to try and fulfil your vengeance?"

"No," she said looking at the lake. "While you were asleep I came across a philosophy book. On it I read "those who are weak seek for revenge, those who are strong learn how to forgive.","

"I don't think you are weak," I pointed out.

We stopped and sat on a bench. A willow tree protected us from the sun's hot rays.

"But I was not strong either," Regina replied, "Not until I met you, you are my strength, Emma. And with you by my side I found the way to make peace with my past and to forgive everyone,"

I smiled at her. At that moment, after hearing her words, I thought my chest would explode of happiness. I reached out for her hand and squished it. Even if we were sitting in the same bench, I had position my body in such a way that I was in front of her. I loved staring at her beautiful face, it instantaneously made my day better. Just one look and all my problems would fade away.

"I love you, Regina," I said realising it was the first time those words had rolled out of my mouth since I had lost my husband.

I never thought I would be able to love again after I saw John's dead body, later I came to terms with being alone for the rest of my life, the love I got from Henry and from my family had been more than enough. And then Regina had come into my life, messing things up. She had literally turned my world upside down, she had managed to piss me in ways no one ever could, and yet I couldn't help but to feel drawn towards her.

Regina brushed one of my locks away from my eyes. Her touch made me return to reality, she was smiling at me - I swear I could almost see joy sparkling in her eyes.

"What?"

"I never thought I'd hear those words again," she replied

"Well, I'm not certain about the future," I said pulling her close to me, placing my legs over her thighs, "But I promise you this. You'll hear those words everyday,"

She rested her hands on my thighs and looked into my eyes. "And I'll promise you there won't be a night in which you won't feel loved,"

I caressed one of her cheeks and then slid my hands towards her neck. We were in silence for a while, I was lost on her lips and on her eyes. I was lost on her, every mesmerising inch of her. I bit my lip before bringing her closer to me and I kissed her, like I had never kissed anyone before.

We broke the kiss to gasp for air. "I love when you are quiet and then you kiss me with so much passion, as if your life would depend on it," Regina whispered to my mouth.

"My life does depend on it," I replied with a cheesy line.

"So, it was not the concussion speaking: you are cocky," she said and I giggled.

I shifted my body a little bit to the side and leaned on Regina, she slid her arm around my shoulders and held me tightly.

"So, what are we going to do with Rumpelstiltskin?" I asked staring at the horizon. I left Regina's body tense a little bit.

I knew she didn't really want to speak about the man that had taken her powers and provided the way to kill her mother, but I had been giving it thoughts. He was the only powerful person on the real now. Everyone was practically defenceless against the dark one - not that Regina's power matched his, but at least it was something.

"What do you mean?"

"He is the stronger than ever," I pointed out. "Should we worry?"

"Not today," she replied and rested her chin on the top of my head. "And not tomorrow, and when finally the day comes, we'll face him, together."

Together, I liked how that sounded. As ridiculous as it may sound, sometimes all we need in life is to have someone to hold us before falling asleep, or to be the first thing we saw every morning. And I had found that someone, luckily enough I had found it twice. And I'd cherish and enjoy every second of this second chance I had been blessed with.

Regina had fixed parts I didn't even know I had broken or that could be repaired. But she had, in an odd and bizarre mean she had made her way into my life, into my heart and soul, and she had managed to put all the pieces back together. She had mended my heart, now it was hers to take care of and protect. And I couldn't think of anyone else capable of doing that job.