Hey, sorry I didn't update last week. I was really not in the right mood to write. But I'll make it up by posting the next chapter this weekend, maybe even today. This has two reasons: one, I feel guilty for not posting last week and two, I feel guilty, because there is no Outlaw Queen or Captain Swan in this chapter :-(
Easy to explain, a guest asked if I could do Wicked Cricket (Zelena/Archie). And I liked the idea. I have been looking for someone for Zelena and actually wanted to do Blue Cricket, but I liked this better. So I wrote this chapter and got a bit carried away. Sorry. I hope you like it.
So this chapter is basically just Grumpy/Nova and Wicked Cricket. And of course Regina piking her bridesmaids.
And a really great thanks to all the comments, favs and follows. Really makes me happy :-) (and feeds my muse, which is always hungry)
Chapter 2 – The bridesmaids
"Oh my goodness, have you already picked a date?", Snow asked with excitement a week later. She had just admired the sparkling ring on Regina's finger for what felt like the millionth time. Emma just rolled her eyes at her mothers.
"Yes, and if only to avoid you asking this question for the hundredth time. We are getting married the second Sunday in January. "
Snow gasped. "But that is just a bit more than a month!", she exclaimed in horror.
"Well, I might very soon regret this, but that is why I want you to be my maid of honor." Snow, Belle and Emma looked at Regina in shock. They all expected it to be a joke.
"No, I'm not joking. As sad as it might be, you know me the longest. And Robin said you would be the best choice to help me organize the wedding."
Snow practically threw herself at Regina who sat across her. "Oh my god, thank you! This will be so great!" Then she got up and said something about getting wedding magazines as she ran out.
Emma just laughed. "Oh Regina, you know, you will regret this within an hour. She will be out of her minds for weeks and will drive you crazy, more than ever before."
But Regina only shot her a grin. "Well, it is the other bridesmaids' job to prevent her from driving me crazy." "And who would that be?", Belle asked confused. "Well, you two and my sister. And don't even think about saying no. Maleficent already said no, but I have a weapon again you two that I don't have against her." Emma sighed in defeat. "Henry."
"And why, again, are we doing this?", Happy asked again. The other dwarfs growled in annoyance.
"Because, this wedding needs to be perfect! We need the pavilion ready soon. And you need to help Gepetto and August to build it. They can't do it alone. Because it's going to be big!", Snow explained with a stern look. She had everything planned out. The wedding was supposed to happen in only five weeks. So everyone needed to play their parts just the way Snow planned it.
The ceremony would be held outside in the park. If it would snow outside, it would be January after all, there would be enough magic to keep it warm and dry.
Snow had distributed the tasks between herself, Emma, Zelena and Belle.
As Belle's father owned the flower store "Game of Thorns", she was responsible for the flower arrangements.
Emma was responsible for the food. Granny had not taken it well that she wouldn't cater the wedding, but Snow insisted on getting fancy food, which she told Granny she couldn't make the way Snow wanted it.
Zelena would get a photographer and someone to perform the ceremony.
But of course everything needed an approval from Snow. Regina, who was the bride, wasn't really included in most of the details. But as she had had no saying in her first wedding she didn't really care. She had gotten to choose the most important thing, the groom, and that's all what really mattered.
"Who would have thought we would ever get to help preparing the Evil Queen's wedding.", Grumpy said to no one in particular during the work.
"Well, if you ask me, it is a really nice thing to do.", came a voice from behind him.
He did not need to turn to know who owned that voice, but he still did because he wanted nothing more than to see its owner.
"Nova, it is so great to see you. What are you doing here?", he asked as he stood up. He tried to act calm, but he really wasn't. He really wanted to be with her. Woman or fairy, didn't matter.
"Well, we need a new set of tables, but I see Gepetto is quite busy. I'll come back another time.", she said with a weak smile and turned to leave.
"Nova, wait!", Grumpy went after her. "You know, Snow actually wants all of us to go to this wedding, so I thought…" He paused and a slight blush crept on his face. "Maybe we could…you know…go together." He looked at her with hope. But her sad face made his hope break.
"Grumpy, I'm sorry, but nothing has changed. I would…you know I… but I can't. I'm not allowed to. Goodbye Grumpy." And with that he left. "Great, so the Evil Queen gets love, but what about me?", he mumbled before he got back to work.
Pongo barked and pulled at the leash. "I know, I know Pongo! We'll go soon. I just need to lock up.", Archie said to his impatient dog as he struggled with his keys. As he was just about to put the key in the lock, a redheaded woman came rushing to him.
"Oh thank god, I got you. I was afraid you were already gone.", Zelena said as she was catching up her breath. Pongo went straight to her and sniffed at her, wagging his tail.
"Well hello there, aren't you a cute on.", she said as she got down to pet the dog.
Archie watched the scene with amusement. Pongo was usually not that open to strangers. But he kind of liked the sight of the two of them.
"I guess you were looking for me? Or did Pongo not tell me he had a date?", he asked with a smile.
A bit embarrassed about losing her focus Zelena straightened up again and said: "Oh yes, I was here to ask you if you could perform my sister's wedding ceremony. I was asking around, but it seems you are the only one allowed to perform such a thing. So we really, really need your help. Could you please do that?", Zelena asked in her sweetest manner.
"Sure, it would be my pleasure. I have watched with awe the way your sister has come. From being the Evil Queen, who sacrificed her own beloved father's life for her own happiness to the woman who sacrifices everything for her family and friends she loves with all her heart.", Archie declared.
"Yeah, she really is great.", Zelena replied in a bit troubled tone.
"And so are you.", Archie continued. Zelena looked at him with big surprise. No one really seem to notice her and the things she has done to be good. "You have started with hating your sister and wanting to take away everything she has and now you are helping her plan her wedding. You even helped Robin proposing to her. That is really great."
"Well, it had never been Regina's fault that our mother abandoned me and Regina had so much. And our mother had made Regina's life quite painful. She has not been a good mother to either of us. And I always wanted a family who wants me. So once I admitted Regina took nothing from me and she let me in her life and her family, I had just that.", she declared with a blush. "But I have to admit it hurt a little bit that my little sister is getting married before I do."
As Pongo barked at Zelena to get her attention, Archie was brought back to the fact that he had been about to walk his dog. "Well, I think Pongo and I need to go. He has been waiting for his walk for hours." He locked the door to his office and practically had to pull Pongo from Zelena.
"Thank you for your help. I will give you the details soon.", she said as she patted Pongo for a goodbye.
"I'm looking forward to it. Oh, and Zelena." She looked up to him curious what he had to say.
"I'm sure such a beautiful and amazing woman as you will soon find a man." As soon as the words had come out he was fazed by them, so he turned around quickly and rushed away pulling his dog with him.
After the shock had faded she just grinned, still looking in the direction where Archie had run away. Maybe she just had found a man.
So, I hope you liked it. Let me know, what you thought about it. Next up will be a bit Captain Cobra and Outlaw Believer (don't know if that's what it's called). I try to get a bit Captain Swan, Snowing and Outlaw Queen in ;-)