Chapter 70

Thanks so much for reading this guys, and for sticking with it all summer. I've loved all of your reviews and of course, I absolutely love this fandom and all things OUaT. Keep an eye our for more stories to come (hope some Sanctuary fans out there will enjoy my next one) and don't forget to check back with me next summer because I will no doubt be using fanfic to once again carry me through the dreaded hiatus. Enjoy the rest of the ride!

Reul looked around, tears in her eyes. She struggled against a tide of emotion the threatened to sweep her away from reality. It was not in her nature to be a killer, and yet she could feel the poison of hatred in her blood. "Let it go, Reul," she heard Astrid say quietly. "Reclaim your true purpose. Give the boy his happy ending."

Reul grew to her full size and tucked her wings behind her back as she approached Regina's body. Every stepped back, giving her room. She stared down at the face of the woman she hated so passionately and felt her insides twist unnaturally. She closed her eyes, and finally looked up at the boy. So full of hope, of love for this woman. 'There can still be love here, Reul,' she told herself. She looked up at Jamie, standing behind the boy. "I couldn't do it, could I?" she asked quietly.

"No," he said, shaking his head. "You said it yourself: you can't erase true love."

"I was naive in thinking it was anything less. I'm truly sorry."

"Give her back to us and you'll have no need to apologize." His voice shook slightly as he said the words.

Reul closed her eyes once more and, with a tremendous effort, placed her hand over Regina's heart. It was still beneath her palm. "I..." she swallowed, taking a deep breath. What would life be like as a human? What would it really be like to live in this world, in a life of her own choosing? What would it be like to live without magic? To grow old...to die? 'At the very least, no matter what happens, someday soon it will be over. There will be rest.' Reul took another deep breath and said, "I sacrifice my power so that she may live."

There was a blast of impossibly bright blue light that knocked everyone to the ground, blinding them, deafening them in a roar of magic. When at last it settled, Emma sat up to see Reul on her back, her luminescence gone. Everyone sat up, almost afraid to move. Henry and Jamie both held their breath. They, along with Emma and Snow, stared intently at Regina. For what seemed like eternity they stared at her still form, unchanged in the magical swell. Then, suddenly, there was a loud gasp and they all jumped to the feet, racing towards Regina as she gasped for air. "Relax. Relax, you're alright. Just take deep breaths," Emma said, trying not to sob.

"Mom!" Henry cried, wrapping his arms around Regina. Even as her lungs struggled for air she wrapped her arms around him tightly.

"What happened?" she breathed, looking around at everyone. Her eyes came to rest on Reul, who was now pulling herself weakly into a sitting position.

"It's a long story," Emma said. She looked up and saw Jamie standing a little away from them all, staring at Regina with an odd expression. Emma caught Snow's eye and the both stepped aside.

Henry noticed the movement and looked at Regina, who was now staring up at Jamie. "The Blue Fairy tried to erase his memory of you," Henry whispered.

Regina looked down at him and whispered, "She did?"

Henry nodded. "Yup." He beamed. "It didn't work." Jamie chuckled, having heard their whispered conversation. Regina smiled. "It's okay if you want to be with him. But you'll come back to visit, right?"

"Henry...I'm not going anywhere. Not without you, anyway. I promise." She kissed the top of his head.

"Even if it means being around Emma all the time?" he asked.

"Yeah, kid. She's stuck with me," Emma said, arms crossed over her chest, smiling at the reunion.

Henry nodded his approval and climbed out of Regina's lap. She got to her feet, feeling a little light-headed but otherwise fine, and made her way over to Jamie. "You weren't kidding about not looking any different," he said.

"Is there a word for a woman who's twenty years older than you but looks twenty years younger?"

"Genetically gifted?" He smiled. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Regina, breathing in her familiar, intoxicating scent. She held him tightly, relishing the warmth of him against her body. All she had to do was close her eyes and she could pretend the entire world ceased to exist around him.

That is, until she heard a certain someone clear his throat. Regina turned her head and Jamie looked up to see Rumple standing just a few feet away. He smiled. "Right, well, now that I have your attention..."

"Yes, thank you for everything you've done. The, uh...good stuff, anyway," Jamie said.

"How did a man born of this world come by magic?" Rumple blurted, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"You really don't know, Rumple?" Reul said, her voice weak after the incredible exertion. Rumple looked down at her, confused. "Jamie is the descendant of someone from our world. Someone you once knew quite well."

Rumple shook his head. "No. No, Bae is supposed to be here," Rumple said.

"Time runs very differently here, Rumplestiltskin. It runs much more quickly than you ever anticipated. Bae is long gone."

"You're lying," Rumple said fiercely.

"Jamie Young is your son's great great great grandson," Reul said. She looked up at Jamie. "You mentioned him to me earlier, remember? Bae Tiene, a family hero? He was a renowned physician, was he not?"

Jamie nodded slowly, eying Rumple. "Yes. But how can you be sure he's the boy you speak of?"

"Tiene means fire. And your ability to use magic could only have come from out world. Not to mention you bear a striking number of similar features."

Rumple gaped at Jamie. So did Emma. Regina was the first to notice her reaction and gave her a questioning look. "Your name is James Young?" she said.

"Yes. Why?"

Emma swallowed hard, her eyes flickering to Henry for a moment. "You son's name is Brian."

"You have a son?" Regina said, looking back at Jamie.

He sighed. "My first relationship after I left Storybrooke. I think I was just looking for a way to lose myself. One day she ran off and I...I'm sorry to say I wasn't all that torn up about it. It wasn't until Brian was in his teens that I even learned of his existence, and by then he wanted nothing to do with me. How do you know him?" he asked Emma.

"He's my dad, isn't he?" Henry said quietly. Emma nodded, a pained expression on her face. "And he didn't die in a fire."

"He did, I'm afraid," Jamie said. Regina rested her head on his shoulder comfortingly.

"Henry, he was a confused man. Abandoned by his mom, by the time he found James he was beyond reason. He felt like the world owed him something and when he didn't get it he just shut down. It's...hard to explain. He was so charismatic when we met, I just...I didn't see the darkness in him until it was too late. I found out about the fire after I went to jail. After he left me there. I'm so sorry, Henry, I just thought if he was already dead why not let you have a picture of him as a hero?"

Henry nodded, looking down at the ground. He knew he forgave Emma deep down, but it would be a while before he could acknowledge it. Reminding himself that at least he had his family back, and finally together, was at least some comfort. "You know, Reul is the only powerful one here," he said when he lifted his head.

"Yeah, that's true," Emma said, turning to Rumple. "What are you going to do to give up your magic?"

"Give up...what are you talking about?" Regina said. Henry briefly explained their decision to give up magic so they could leave Storybrooke without destroying this new world. Regina looked at Rumple, stunned.

"A travesty after all our hard work, wouldn't you say dear?" Rumple said with a smile.

"I know something that will work," Snow said. Everyone turned to her, curious. She looked at Regina and Jamie, then at Rumple. "Give Regina back the life you stole from her. Give her and Jamie back the years they should have had together."

"An excellent suggestion," Belle said, eying Rumple.

Regina and Jamie, still wrapped in each others' arms, stared at Rumple. He looked around and everyone, all looking at him expectantly. "We can't leave until all of our magic is gone, Rumple," James said.

"You can have a normal life. At last," Belle said, smiling.

Rumple nodded slowly. He stepped forward, his eyes locked on Belle. As long as he focused on her and her alone, he could drown out the fear, at least long enough to do what needed to be done. "I sacrifice...my power...so that you may reclaim the years you deserve together."

Another roaring wave and deafening magic, another blinding surge of light that at least everyone was prepared for this time. When it all cleared there were several gasps, and this time a hushed murmur traveled through the crowd.

Emma couldn't believe the change in Regina. She was certainly still recognizable, but there was a glow of youth about her now. Dressed down in jeans and a t-shirt, she had still managed to look like a politician; now she practically looked like a teenager. Her hair was once again long, but rather than matted and tangled it was shiny and tumbled down her back in thick, beautiful waves. Jamie, on the other hand, was completely transformed. The lines of age - and stress, no doubt - had vanished. His hair was dark chocolate brown once more, and he felt the aches of his years vanish. The couple, feeling cleansed of their troubled pasts, beamed at each other and kissed passionately. Everyone cheered and clapped and whistled.

Regina pulled away, flushing slightly in all the attention. She broke free of Jamie's grasp and walked over to Snow. To everyone's surprise - their very audible surprise as many of them gasped or whispered to their friends or even exclaimed aloud - Regina wrapped her arms tightly around Snow. In shock, it took Snow several moments to recover enough to reciprocate the gesture. "I missed you," Regina whispered, too low for anyone but Snow to hear.

"I missed you too," Snow whispered, fresh tears joining the one that had already dried on her cheeks. "I'm sorry."

Regina pulled back slightly to look into Snow's eyes. "I...I don't know if it'll ever go away. But..."

"It's okay, Regina. I know." They pulled each other close again.

Emma looked over to see Rumple, now looking much more like Mr. Gold, hugging Belle. He seemed strangely small as they stood engaged in their own whispered conversation. She felt a strange pang of emotion as she watched them that she couldn't quite identify. "Penny for you thoughts."

Emma whirled around to see August smiling at her. "Shouldn't you be with Mar...uh, Gepetto?"

"He's at the mausoleum. We've already had time to catch up a bit, this is nothing new for us. Shouldn't you be celebrating with your family?"

"It's not exactly a reunion for us, either."

"Ah," August said, nodding.

"Don't say 'ah' all knowing like that," Emma said, annoyed.

"Feeling left out of the festivities?" He teased.

"Ugh. You're such a child," she muttered.

"You know," August said, raising his voice, "we still have another magical powerhouse to deal with, don't we?"

Everyone looked pointedly at Regina. "It's gone," she said. "My magic must have vanished when I died. I don't feel anything anymore."

Emma walked slowly towards Regina. Their eyes locked. "I still have a sacrifice left to make."

"Do you...do you need to? Won't your magic just...stop, once we leave Storybrooke?" Regina looked at Rumple, who shrugged. Reul Ghorm gave the same response.

"Maybe it will. But I have an opportunity here and now and I want to take it." Emma took another step closer, Regina eyeing her with confusion, and placed both of her hands on Regina's waist. "I sacrifice my power...so that you can have the choice that was stolen from you so long ago."

Regina's eyes widened as she felt a tingling, warming sensation flood her abdomen. Emma felt as though warm air were being sucked from her body, leaving her cold and feeling empty, but she smiled as Regina blinked back tears. "Thank you," Regina whispered.

"You have a chance to live the life you were meant to live. As part of our family." Regina wrapped her arms around Emma, who returned the gesture, both women fighting back tears. It was amazing they had any left to shed.

"Henry, m'boy," Rumple said quietly as everyone began to talk animatedly with one another. Crowds surged forward to shake hands with the former Evil Queen, and to congratulate Snow and Charming on their triumph, and some even shook hands with Reul, showing their desire to let go of any feud.

Henry looked up at Rumple, now nothing more than an ordinary man. "You know, this makes you my great great great great...uh…grandpa. Kinda weird."

"Regina is your great grandmother," Rumple pointed out.

Henry's mouth fell open. "Oh my god," he breathed. "I forgot about that."

Rumple chuckled, ruffling Henry's hair. "I have a present for you. Grandson." He winked.

"Really? What is it?"

Rumple chuckled again. He reached into his pocket and pulled out an antique ring, now tied on a silver chain. "It's an old family heirloom. I don't much care now what happens to the contents of my shop, but I'd like that to stay in the family."

"Thanks!" Henry said. Rumple smiled and headed back to where Belle was waiting for him. Henry examined the ring closely, wondering just how old it really was. Hundreds of years at least. As he twirled it he noticed it catch the light of the rising sun, shining brilliantly for a moment. Finally he pulled the chain over his head and tucked the ring into his shirt, joining in the festivities again. He never noticed that despite the beauty of the cool morning air, the sky was completely overcast.

So Bae is long gone. Sorry guys, I just had to.