A very Merry Christmas to you all! Just like last year I took part in Once Upon A Secret Santa and this is my fic for Mayormillstho. I'm hopeful about getting this updated more regularly but I have some uni work to do and other fics as well (because I apparently don't know my limits) so I'm trying to spread updates out between the 3 fics but keep an eye out because I won't leave you all hanging!
"Hey, sorry I'm late." Regina said leaning down to Mary Margaret's level and hugging her before turning to hug David. "I got some new clients today and we got a bit distracted talking about their ideas for the wedding."
"Don't worry about it, we ordered your usual." Mary Margaret poured a glass of wine for her friend as Regina shed her coat and sat down to join them. "So tell us about this couple."
"Belle French and Ruby Lucas. They are so in love it's adorable. They met in college 3 years ago and Ruby proposed last month." Regina sighed happily taking a sip of her wine.
"Wait I know Ruby, doesn't her Gran have that little diner? She works there sometimes, long brown hair? Very tall?" David asked.
Regina nodded as she swallowed her wine. "That's her, Belle owns that cute little book store we're always passing, she inherited it from her mother."
"Well? How did Ruby propose? When do they want the wedding?" Mary Margaret asked
"Honey let her breathe. She's not even been here 5 minutes!" David sighed, patting his wife's hand.
"Ruby bought a copy of Belle's favourite book, Pride and Prejudice, and cut out a small slot for the ring to fit into on the page where Elizabeth and Darcy admit their love for each other. She gave it to Belle on their 3 year anniversary when they went out for a meal. Once Belle accepted she had a go at Ruby for cutting into a book." Regina chuckled at this as she took another sip of her wine.
"They sound perfect for each other." Mary Margaret sighed. "So when do they want the wedding? How long have you got to work your magic?"
"Well they want a summer wedding so two months."
"Two months? Regina you can't possibly plan a wedding in two months!" Mary Margaret exclaimed quickly continuing when Regina shot her a look. "What I mean is, the stress will be the death of you. I thought you were going to crack doing our wedding and you had 6 months to plan that!"
"That may be but you insisted on having a proper fairy tale wedding, I think that would've been a challenge with 6 years!" Regina laughed.
"Haha, you might be right there but it was a wonderful day!" Mary Margaret said, gazing lovingly into David's eyes. "But still, have you considered getting an assistant? Or even an intern?" she added getting a brain wave. "I'm sure one of Marian's students would be happy for the work."
"I'll think about it. But enough about me, how are you guys?"
The rest of the lunch passed as most of their meals did: David and Mary Margaret being adorably sickening, Regina rolling her eyes but being jealous of the love and Mary Margaret saying how she hoped Regina would one day be as happy and in love.
Back at her office Regina looked at the notes she had made upon meeting Ruby and Belle. It looked to be a simple enough wedding, but most weddings started like that and ended up a majestic spectacle of wonder: exhibit A) Mary Margaret's wedding. Regina smiled at the memory. 3 years ago this September Regina had walked down the aisle as Mary Margaret's Maid of Honour, her dress a gorgeous sky blue floor length strapless number with 3D flowers ascending from the hem. The ceremony itself had been held in a beautiful church in the suburbs of New York (Regina had found it while out for a run), the reception in a grand hall just down the road. Despite the proximity Mary Margaret had insisted on a horse and carriage for transport.
Turning back to her desk Regina picked up her pen and started tapping it on her notebook, waiting for inspiration to strike. Ruby and Belle had said they wanted an outdoor wedding, which would of course mean Regina would need to find a backup venue to put on hold in case of rain. They wanted family and friends to be there, but weren't sure how many would approve of their choice, but Regina really needed to know how many people would be coming so she could find a venue, she also needed numbers to figure out who would cater. She needed to find a photographer and a band or DJ.
Regina noted all these points down and sighed. She had a couple of friends she used regularly so she put their names beside their various occupations but the majority of the jobs were yet to be filled. Regina hoped Ruby and Belle would be less of a strain on her nerves but maybe she should get an intern, just to be on the safe side. She picked up her phone and called Marian but it went straight to voicemail. Regina checked the time and realised that Marian would be teaching, she sighed and left a message. "Hi Marian it's me, sorry I forgot you'd be teaching at this time but I would appreciate it if you give me a call when you get out. Speak soon."
About an hour later Regina's phone rang, looking at the caller ID Regina smiled before picking up the phone. "You got my message then?"
"Yes I did is everything okay? You don't usually call when I'm teaching." Marian's voice sounded from the other end of the line, slightly worried.
"Oh yes everything's fine. Well, mostly. I got some new clients today and they want a summer wedding and Mary Margaret suggested I get an intern so I can share the stress or whatever. You remember what I was like with her and David's wedding. I wondered whether any of your students would be interested?" Regina bit her lip, wondering if she was asking too much of her friend.
"There are a few I can think of who might, I'll send them an email. Tell me more about the couple."
Regina and Marian remained on the phone for a further twenty minutes discussing various aspects of the Lucas/French wedding, reminiscing about Marian's own wedding and ending the call with the promise of a coffee catch up soon.
Deciding to call it a day, there wasn't much she could do until she knew roughly how many guests would be attending the wedding, Regina collected her things, shut off the light and headed down to her car. Ever since Regina had moved back to New York she had made weekly trips over to her parent's house for dinner, more for her mother than for herself. Her mother liked to be kept up to date on Regina's life, particularly her love life.
Much to her annoyance Regina found a space to park fairly quickly, stalling for a few moments she pulled out her hand mirror and checked her hair and makeup before taking a deep breath and climbing out of the car.
"Regina. You're early." Cora Mills surveyed her daughter before she held out her arm to welcome her in.
"Lovely to see you too mother." Regina said, gritting her teeth as she kissed her mom's cheek. "Where's dad?"
"He's out in the garden, go and get him will you dinner's nearly ready."
Regina followed Cora through to the kitchen and left her mother to pull the dishes out of the cupboard while she walked out into the garden. "Daddy? Mother says dinner's ready."
"Oh hello darling. How was your day?" Henry asked, holding out a hand to be helped up from his kneeling position by the flower beds before hugging his daughter.
"I got some new clients today. This adorable couple, they are so in love-" Regina was cut off as her mother sighed and interrupted her.
"Honestly Regina, when are you going to get a real job? How can you find your own happy ending when you're busy planning everyone else's? All the guys will be married."
Regina rolled her eyes at her father, this particular comment had no sting after the 50th time hearing it. "Actually mother these new clients are a lesbian couple, so there's no guy that you apparently think I am going to dazzle with my beauty and sweep off his feet."
There was silence throughout the room as Cora took in what her daughter had just said, Henry stifled a smile. "Regina Elizabeth Mills, would you like to rethink what you have just said to me?" Cora's voice was stern as she turned to face her daughter, who was struggling not to laugh.
"Mother I'm just saying, there's no guy I can 'woo'. And I resent the fact you can't see how happy I am, making everyone's wedding day special and just the way they want it." Regina sighed as she tried to explain yet again why she did what she did.
"Regina dear, I'm just trying to look out for your future. I just don't see how you'll be able to find a man if all the ones you meet are already engaged."
Regina took a deep breath, deciding it was time to tell her mother. "Mother, did it ever occur to you that I'm not actually looking for a man?"
"You've already met someone? Who is he? What does he do? When can we meet him?"
"No, that's not what I meant. I'm not looking for a man because I don't want a man."
"I don't understand."
"I'm gay Mother." Regina felt a huge weight lift off her chest..
Regina and Henry both held their breaths, waiting for Cora's reaction. "You just haven't found the right man yet dear. There's no need for you to resort to being gay."
Regina scowled, anger bubbling at the back of her mind. "Mother I'm not… I'm not resorting to being gay, I am gay." She stood abruptly, her chair scraping backwards, and took her dish over to the sink. Cora didn't speak. Regina could feel her heart thumping and her hands begin to tremble. Turning back to the table Cora was facing her, her mouth set in a thin line and disappointment clouding her features. Regina could feel tears prickling in her eyes but she refused to cry in front of Cora and give her mother the satisfaction. "If you can't accept me for who I am Mother, don't expect to see me again anytime soon. I have more important things going on in my life right now."
Regina picked up her coat and bag, bent to give her father a kiss on the cheek and walked from the house without a backwards glance.
As soon as the door slammed shut, Cora turned to her husband.
"How long have you known?"
"She told me after she graduated from college. She had had a girlfriend there but they broke up because she refused to tell us. The summer before she moved to the city I found her down by the lake. She told me everything."
"And you never thought to tell me?" Henry reached out to touch Cora's hand. She flinched but allowed him to grasp it softly.
"It wasn't mine to tell. She was waiting for the right moment."
Cora's face fell as tears leaked down her cheeks.
"It was just a shock, I never thought she'd be…gay. Or that she would keep it from me." Henry reached across and pulled his wife into a hug. After a couple of minutes Cora pulled back and composed herself. "Should I call her?" Henry shook his head.
"Give her space to breathe. This was a big moment for her too, perhaps call tomorrow and take her to lunch?" Cora nodded and turned back to her dessert.
Regina pushed open the front door to her apartment and dropped her keys on the dresser. Closing the door behind her she leant against it and finally let the tears fall. She could handle her mother not approving of her career choice, it was understandable for such a high flying lawyer like Cora Mills to be disappointed when your daughter wants to do such a 'frivolous and pointless job' but for her own mother to think her being gay was a phase or a lifestyle choice that she could just decide to change.
Deciding she needed a stiff drink Regina walked towards her study and pulled out the bottle of scotch she kept behind her books (just in case her mother came round unexpectedly) and a glass from her drawer. Pouring herself three fingers worth she sat back in her chair and gazed happily at all the photos of smiling couples on their wedding days. In the 4 years of being a wedding planner Regina had pulled together 6 amazing weddings. Sighing she drank half the scotch in her glass, wincing as the taste burned her throat.
Regina sat in her chair for another half an hour, sipping at the remainder of her glass and thinking about the Lucas/French wedding. Climbing to her feet she decided that she would take the morning off to spend with Ruby and get an idea of her personality and then spend the afternoon with Belle. That way she could create the perfect day for the pair of them and hopefully by then Marian would have found her an intern to help with the planning.
Waking promptly at 6am Regina began her usual routine. She pulled on her running gear, filled her water bottle and stuffed her keys into her pocket before leaving the apartment for the brisk May morning breeze. Jogging, Regina thought of what she had said the night before. She had finally come out to her mother. Her cold 'find a rich man' mother. She hadn't taken it very well. Her father had left her a message after she left saying that Cora had drunk at least half a bottle of wine to herself while she just sat staring out at nothing, trying to comprehend how she had reacted. Regina shook her head as she rounded the corner and started the journey back to her apartment. If her mother couldn't accept who she was that was her problem. She wouldn't tiptoe around the subject anymore.
Arriving back at her apartment on the dot of 7 as she did every day Regina headed for her shower, making a detour to the kitchen to put on some coffee. By the time Regina emerged from the bathroom and poured herself a cup of coffee she had an email from Marian with CV's attached from several of her students. 'Some eager beavers right here replied to my email within the hour, but I'll no doubt have more responses soon if these don't match your standards. Marian xo'
Regina rolled her eyes at her friend's teasing and opened up the CV's.
Elsa White: A Business Studies Major with a minor in Art, describes herself as 'resilient, hardworking, loyal, friendly and independent'.
Tina Greene: Lit Major with a minor in Business Studies, describes herself as 'natural leader, team player, logical and loyal'.
Emma Swan: Business Studies Major with a minor in social work, describes herself as 'determined, creative, problem solving, spirited and an optimist'.
Regina pondered this last one. She found it strange that this Emma Swan put 'spirited' and 'optimist' on her CV, it was almost as if she'd never written a CV before. Looking at her work experience however, it was unlikely that her many years of babysitting required an extensive CV. Compared to the other two though, Emma was the only person who sounded like she would be good at wedding planning. Sighing Regina picked up her phone and dialled in Miss Swan's number before she could talk herself out of it.
As it was only half past 7 Regina got Miss Swan's voicemail and left a brief message. "Good Morning Miss Swan, this is Regina Mills here. You submitted your CV to your Business Studies professor about a position as my intern. Would you please call me back on this number at your earliest convenience. Thank you."
Regina finished her coffee and caught up on current affairs before going to get dressed. She emerged from her room in a pair of black capri pants paired with a scarlet blouse, Regina picked up her black blazer and slipped on her pumps before grabbing her phone and bag and closing the door behind her.
Regina arrived at Granny's diner just as Ruby was opening up. "Ruby, hi. I was wondering if it would be all right if I saw you this morning? Just to get a feel of your personality for your wedding. I'll spend the afternoon with Belle if she'll let me. It helps me make your wedding perfect to fit your personalities and your needs."
Ruby was taken aback by Regina's request but remembered that Kathryn had said Regina liked to spend some time getting to know her clients. "Sure." Ruby grinned welcoming her into the diner and showing her to a booth, "I warn you though, it's likely to be a very busy morning."
"It'll be fine, just act like I'm not here." Regina shrugged off her jacket and sat down.
"Can I get you some coffee?"
Regina nodded and Ruby left her to look around the diner. She had been in a couple of times before with Mary Margaret and David, even once with Robin and Marian but they'd always been busy chatting and she had never taken the time to fully appreciate what a cute little diner it was. The walls were papered with a subtle forest design, that from a distance it just appeared stripy but now that she was looking closely Regina could make out the shape of the branches. The chairs were a retro 70s design, bright red seats and metallic legs, seated at glass topped tables. Laminated menus slotted between the salt and pepper shakers and sugar pots.
Ruby came back with a cup of piping hot coffee and asked if Regina would like anything to eat.
Regina hesitated and Ruby, looked at the door as a man walked in, "How about I put Leroy's order in and give you a minute to look through the menu?"
Regina nodded and smiled so Ruby walked away to talk to the man who had just entered.
When Regina left the diner after lunch she had a much better idea of how to tailor the wedding to Ruby's personality, now she just needed to see Belle and tomorrow she could start with the little details.
Belle's bookshop 'The Bookworm' was located at the opposite end of the street to Granny's Diner and as it was such a nice day Regina decided to walk, admiring the flowers just coming into bloom on the trees. The Bookworm was fairly quiet by the time Regina arrived, probably due to Schools and Colleges still being in the midst of their semesters. "Hello Belle."
"Hi Regina, Ruby called me on her lunch break. I brought a spare stool out of the store room so you can sit with me, if that works for you?" Belle walked out from behind the counter and embraced Regina as if they were old friends, Regina made a mental note to mark Belle down as 'super friendly'.
"That's wonderful thank you Belle. Have you been busy this morning?" Regina asked as she followed Belle back behind the counter
"Not really, there's a couple of students coming in this afternoon to pick up books they pre-ordered but it's usually fairly quiet during the week. How was Granny's?"
Regina and Belle spent the afternoon chatting about ideas for the wedding, favourite books and anything that really crossed their minds. Students started popping in just after 3 to collect books and mosey through the shelves, Regina's phone started to ring just as Belle was talking to a brunette student who was collecting her books so Regina excused herself and walked outside to take the call.
"Hello?"
"Yes hello I'm looking for Regina Mills, she left a message for me to call her back." Said the voice from the other end of the phone. "It's Emma Swan by the way, might be helpful if I gave my name."
Regina chuckled "Ah yes Emma, would you be free to meet in person to discuss this internship? I do hate doing interviews over the phone."
"I've just finished for the day so I am free now… unless you wanted to meet tomorrow or something." Emma suggested
"No today is fine for me. Do you know Granny's Diner? Along the street from The Bookworm?" Regina asked as she looked at her watch.
"Sure, what time?"
"Is 4 good?"
"4 is perfect."
"Great I'll see you then Miss Swan, I'll be sat in a booth in a red shirt." Regina said as she hung up and walked back into the store to collect her bag and say goodbye to Belle.
Ruby was surprised to see Regina back again but gladly showed her to a table and brought her some coffee. "You've missed the lunch menu and it'll be another hour before we start serving dinner, but I can bring you over a slice of Granny's famous chocolate fudge cake." Ruby suggested with a smile.
Regina's mouth watered at the thought of chocolate cake, "Oooh that sounds lovely, thank you Ruby."
Ruby nodded and retreated to the counter, returning with a large slice of cake. Regina ate in peace as she watched the customers interact with Ruby.
It was about 10 to 4 and Regina was watching the door absentmindedly, the bell above the door rang and a blonde woman walked through wearing a red leather jacket, "Hey Ruby, have you been busy today? How's Belle?" the blonde called out smiling at Ruby.
"Belle's good thanks for asking, did you pick up your books?"
"Not yet, I have an interview first but I'll try and pop in before she closes." It was at this point that the blonde noticed Regina sat in the corner, smiling again at Ruby she walked over to where Regina was sat.
"Ms Mills?" Regina nodded and the blonde held out her hand for Regina to shake as she introduced herself "I'm Emma. Emma Swan"
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