A couple days later. Night. at home.
I heard the front door open and walked downstairs.
Hook walked inside "Echo, are you home?"
I smiled "yeah"
Then i kissed him.
Hook "hey"
I smirked "i thought you were gonna take it slow on the rum"
Hook "i am afraid it wouldn't give me the courage that i need. you see, there's something in need to tell you."
I looked at him confused.
Hook sighed " it's just, what i have to say isn't exactly easy, and i am not entirely sure how you're gonna react. "
I sighed "Well, i know i know what you are talking about -what you wanna sk"
Hook asked confused "you sure?"
I nodded "Yes. And my answer would be yes"
He asked confused "yes? i-what was the question?"
I sighed and showed him the ring "i found something in your sea chest that i shouldn't have"
Hook sighed.
I asked worried "are you mad at me now ?"
He shook his head, smiling a little "no, i could never be mad at you, love"
I smiled "it's just you and me. now walls, no secrets. "
Then I put the ring in his hand "i know i definitely ruined the surprise now... but what do you say?"
Hook went down on one knee "Princess Echo, my love, my Queen, will you marry me?"
I nodded, smiling in tears "of course "
He put the ring on my finger and i pulled him in for a kiss.
A few days later. At Snow's.
Snow looked at my ring, smiling "Echo, it's beautiful. i am so happy for you. "
Henry smiled "me too, Echo"
Emma smiled and hugged me "i am so happy "
I smiled "thank you. I just never thought..."
Snow "well, if it makes you feel any better, i did"
I looked at her amused.
Henry "so, how did Hook pop the question? on board a romantic cruise on the Jolly Roger?"
Me "Well,.."
Henry "did he make Smee and the rest of his crew serenade you?"
Me "oh, thank god no. I mean, i would find that romantic but i've heard Smee sing....and that's not something you want to put someone else through. "
They looked at me confused.
I sighed "I found the ring and said yes before he had the chance to do all that romantic stuff"
They rolled their eyes.
Snow "of course you would do that. I mean, it's you after all"
I smiled at her, shrugging amused.
Snow smiled "i cannot wait to tell Charming that we have a wedding to plan"
I grimaced "about that, we're going to wait a little while before we start planning"
Snow asked worried "oh, why?"
Me "well, Gideon's still out there and even though i defeated him once, we don't know what he's up to. i don't feel i can focus on anything else until i've dealt with that"
Regina "actually, you're going to have to"
I turned to her.
Zelena was with her.
I asked annoyed d "what happened now?"
Regina "The Evil Queen"
Me "what about her?"
Zelena grabbed my hand, fascinated "is that an engagement ring?"
I nodded, smiling "oh, yeah. um...Hook proposed"
Regina's face lit up "no"
I nodded "yes"
She hugged me "i am so happy for you, Echo"
I smiled "thank you, Reg"
Snow "that just leaves the question, what happened to the Evil Queen? she's still a snake, right?"
Yeah, they had turned to Evil Queen into a snake and kept her in a cage.
Regina shook her head "no idea. she got loose. and if she has figured out a way to escape her mortal coil, there's no telling what evil she could be up to there is no telling on what could happen"
At Snow's place.
Snow looked at page of Regina and Robin and read what stood on there.
She froze "wait, isn't that...?"
Regina nodded "page 23. the page that magically appeared to me with what i thought could be an ending to my story with Robin. A happy ending, instead, it was just a cruel twist of fate showing me an ending that could never be "
I grabbed her hand to show her my support.
Henry "what does it mean?"
Regina "it means the Evil Queen has found him. The other Robin, that is, and she wants me to know that she'll hurt him unless i face her"
Snow looked at it confused " " One last time." how is that even possible? without Gideon's sword, she can't hurt you without hurting herself. "
Zelena "unless, of course, she figured out another way. "
I shook my head "Regina, you can't go. you'd be walking into a trap. "
Regina "Well, we can't just leave Robin. "
Me "We won't. I'll go. this is my fault. "
She looked at me confused.
Me "i am the one who suggested to bring him here. this is on me"
Regina "Echo, you don't have anything to make up for. you were just trying to help"
Henry "She's really gonna do this. Maybe i was wrong to think she could change."
Emma "i am sorry, kid"
I looked at Regina "Regina, what are you gonna do ?"
Regina "go alone. this is my battle to fight, it has been ever since i tried to destroy my dark side up on that rooftop in New York. "
Snow shook her head "you can't do this yourself. Echo's right""
Regina nodded "i have to. if i don't, this won't just end with Robin getting hurt. She'll hurt everyone i care about. All of you. And i can't let that happen. The Evil Queen is going to get what she wants. Our fight ends today"
At my place.
I froze when i saw Hook looking at a memory of him through a dreamcatcher. In the memory he was killing David's father .
My jaw dropped "oh my god"
Hook turned to me, shocked "love"
Me "it was you"
Hook took a step to me "Echo, let me explain"
I stepped back, shaking my head "i just saw what you did. what is there to explain?"
Hook "i swear to you i wanted to tell you. i tried. But then you found that ring, and i just couldn't bear to ruin that happiness."
I asked hurt "how could you do this?"
Hook "i've been asking myself the same question, all i can say is that i was a broken man for a very long time and i did horrendous things-"
I shook my head "i am not talking about that and you know that"
Then i grabbed the dreamcatcher from him "i am talking about this. you were about to burn your own memories. why would you do that? "
Hook "Because i was ashamed, Echo. i'm scared of losing you and everything that matters to me. "
Me "After everything we've been through you really think that this is the one thing that could make you lose me?"
Hook "you tell me how am i supposed to sit across from your sister and your brother in law at the table and look them in the eye after what i've done?"
Me "I've done just as bad things as you did. And they forgave me. No one said that forgiveness was easy but it happens. And you know that you would forgive me. They're Snow White and Prince Charming for hell's sake! That's who they are"
Hook shook his head "This isn't just about them. this is about me. i already destroyed my own family once, and that was hard enough, but knowing that i destroyed yours too, i just...i didn't know how i could live with that. "
Me "that's were you come to me. That's were you are supposed to trust me! you know i'd be last person to judge you! would i've been mad? yes. But that's nothing compared to what i am feeling now knowing you were just going to burn the truth. I thought we were in this together"
Hook "Echo-"
I shook my head, hurt "No. i love you, Hook, i do but...i was wrong when i thought that we were on the same page."
Then I took the ring off "but i can't do this...not like this"
then i put it in his hand before walking upstairs.
Night.
I was sitting on the couch, curled in a ball, covered in a blanket.
There was a knock on the door.
I used my magic to open the door.
Regina walked in and looked around confused before turning the lights on.
I grimaced at the lights and Regina walked over to me.
Regina "Echo?"
I nodded "why are you smiling?"
Regina sat down on the couch "The evil Queen is gone"
I looked at her surprised and sat up "what?"
She nodded, smiling "she's gone. "
Me "and Snow and Charming?"
Regina sighed "still cursed "
I nodded "okay"
She eyed me"have you been crying ? "
I looked at her in tears.
Regina then looked at my hand for ring but she couldn't find it.
She sighed and hugged me "come here. "
I hugged her crying.