The reception was in full swing the next time Regina caught sight of the bride. Henry was grooving away with his father, and the mother and father of the bride were doing…something. They were laughing with each other but Regina could feel the second hand embarrassment creeping up her spine.
In search of the punch, Regina watched the blonde as she quickly swirled the liquid like she was beating an egg. She stared as the woman took a sneaky look to see if anyone was watching as her hand crept towards the drink. It wasn't until the tips of her fingers were submerging in the punch that Regina made her presence known.
"Hello," Regina said, leaning slightly into the bride's personal space.
Emma jumped and turned, eyes wide in mortification at being caught.
"Hi."
"We haven't met yet. My name is Regina."
"Emma," her face softened into a small smile.
"I'm your florist."
"Oh! The flowers are beautiful. Thank you."
"You're very welcome," Regina smiled back before indicating at the punch behind Emma. "I just wanted to get a drink, if you don't mind."
Regina went to step closer to the bowl but was blocked by a swift sidestep. The blonde gave an awkward laugh and wrung her hands.
"I uh, I wouldn't."
"Do you have some sort of strange punch fetish?" A brazen eyebrow rose.
Emma's eyes went round in shock. Her mouth opened and closed a few times, the words failing to coming out. Regina gave a laugh at her expense.
"I saw you playing with it earlier," she mock whispered. Emma gave a short and stark laugh, but still did not move from her spot. "Is something wrong? I can help."
Emma gave Regina a good hard look, before deciding she was a worthy accomplice.
"My ring," Emma confided as she turned back to face the bowl, finally granting Regina access to the drink in the process. "I was getting some of this fruity crap and, well..."
Regina caught on to what was left unsaid. "Your wedding ring?"
"It fell off," Emma snickered, highly amused. "So now my wedding ring is somewhere in there, playing hooky with the lemon slices and tiny blueberries."
"Have you tried the ladle?"
"Well yeah," they shared a chuckle.
"Okay," Regina wracked at her brain. "We could empty – no wait that won't work..."
Emma laughed, "I was going to just stick my hand in there when you caught me."
"You can't do that!" Regina exclaimed, indignant. "You're wearing white, your wedding dress no less. That's asking for trouble."
"Well then, what do you suggest?" Emma's eyes glimmered as she watched the brunette's face.
Regina pursed her lips and studied the bowl of punch. Seemingly coming to a decision, she gave a decisive nod before shrugging out of the blazer and handed it off to Emma.
"There's only one thing left for me to do then," she quickly rolled up her right sleeve. "Cover me."
"What?" Emma laughed.
"Use the dress. I'm going in."
Regina grabbed Emma around the waist and pulled her so they were standing back to back, effectively hiding her from view. She plunged her arm into the iced drink as the blonde dissolved into uncontrollable laughter.
It wasn't long before, from the corner of her eye, Emma spied a tall and handsome man approach the table. Trying to squash her laughter and appear nonchalant, Emma repositioned herself further to the right, keeping the man from seeing Regina with her hand swishing around the beverage.
"Hi!" Emma exclaimed, a little too bright.
The man gave her a lecherous grin. "They say white is the colour of virgins. If I know Neal, I'd say the only thing virgin around here is the olive oil."
"Whatever gave you that idea? You know, apart the son that we just so happen to have together...of course."
The man tilted his head in amusement.
"I'm August," he held his hand out to her. "Neal works underneath me, but not in the biblical sense."
"You're just like he described," she quipped as they shook hands. Emma heard Regina give a quiet "yes" of victory behind her just as August reached over her to grab the ladle.
"Now, I need some booze. I've just met this hot as hell little number and I thought I'd grease the wheels, so to speak."
Emma placed her hands behind her back and took a large step back from August, forcing herself closer to Regina who quickly pulled the ring back on Emma's finger and peeped out from behind her.
"Hello," she pronounced, voice rather flustered.
August froze at her appeared. "Hi."
"This is Regina," Emma introduced, face red from her attempts to bite back laughter. "She's our florist."
"Name's August. But you can call me anything you'd like."
"Oh I'm sure I will."
Regina placed her still wet and sticky hand into his outstretched one and they shook. His face contorted into a confused frown while Regina pleasantly smirked back up at him.
Later that night, the majority of the guests were packed onto the dance floor. The inebriated guests made themselves known as they tried to dance along with the bridge and groom.
"Mac," Hook called, fighting against the funky tune so to grab the attention of the DJ. "Do me a favour and give me something a little more soft and smooth, yeah?"
Mac nodded in affirmation and Hook pointed at him as she smoothly gyrated away. He continued grooving along to the song as he made his way across the dance floor to Regina who was Henry. Together they jumped in time with the baseline.
"Hey Henry! Hen! Hen!" Hook tried to grab the small boy's attention. "Why don't you go and dance with your mates. They all miss you."
"'Kay!" Henry yelled before running off, abandoning Regina who subtly looked for a way out of the impending conversation.
Hook turned back around to face the brunette just as the music changed to his requested dulcet melody.
"Oh," he gave a soft fake-embarrassed chuckle. "Shall we dance, milady?"
Regina blinked and shot a furtive glance at the bride and groom watching on from the sidelines. Taking a steadying breath, she acquiesced. She was sure she heard smothered giggles from the newly married couple as Hook wrapped his arms around her and they swayed in slow circles.
"We fit nice together, don't you believe?" He sighed, happily.
Regina narrowed her eyes in disbelief before giving a curt reply.
"Yes." Her tone flew over his head as he pulled her in closer. She stiffened.
"You okay?" He questioned, not as blind as she had thought.
"Bit tight there, Hook." He kept his strong hold on her, continuing on as if she hadn't spoken.
"I lost my virginity to this song," he mused.
Regina's eyes shot daggers at the cackling bride. 'Save me,' she mouthed. Emma just laughed even harder, burying her face in Neal's shoulder. Regina's mouth dropped at the betrayal.
Thankfully, at that moment, a sharp burst of feedback rung from the microphone near the wedding party's table. Behind the table and holding the microphone stood Emma's father, David, with a shit-eating grin on his face.
"Hello everybody," he uttered into the mic. "Is this...is this thing...is this thing on?"
Mary Margaret rushed to Hook's side.
"Hook! There you are. Will you please get my intoxicated husband off the microphone and make a proper speech," she muttered as she walked past, straight to David. She smiled up at him before taking the microphone from him and placing it on the table. Than she grabbed him by his hand and lovingly pulled him away.
Hook gave Regina a handsome grin before sauntering over to take David's vacated spot. Picking up the microphone, he shot the crowd a sly grin before launching into his best man's speech, which was filled with as many innuendos and rude anecdotes as Regina had expected.
"Here we have before us two fools in love...which is dreadfully boring if you ask me. They've been in love for years. Years! Years that have seen untold amounts of narcotics and rum consumed, and meaningless relations thoroughly enjoyed...by me!" Hook winked and the crowd laughed at his crude joke, eating it all up.
"These two just stayed at home, as boring, in-love couples do. They've acted like a married couple for almost as long as I've known them, and have a beautiful little boy to show for it. But if I'm being honest, and if anyone repeats any of this I'll deny it to my dying breath, but it's a relief that they're finally married. So, before I do my duty as best man and take a bridesmaid home...and you know who you are...I would like to raise a toast. To Emma and Neal. May they grow old together, sharing the same pillow. Emma and Neal!"
"Emma and Neal!" The crowd cheered, returning his toast.
Once the guests had quieted back down, Hook continued. "Now, this is a very big deal. Many say that the reason it took him so long to pop the question was his fear of making this exact speech. But guess what, Neal m'boy? You're making it now. He's not sure he can do it, but I know he can do it. Ladies and gentlemen, Neal!"
The guests erupted into a booming cheer as Neal stood on jelly legs and accepted the mic.
Neal took a moment, clearing his throat and taking a good, long look at all the people watching him. A small pearl of sweat carved a path down the back of his neck.
"Neal!" Mary Margaret whisper-yelled from her spot on the table. He turned to look at her, eyes wide. "I know something that helps. Just imagine everybody naked." She smiled and gave him two thumbs up in encouragement. He returned her smile with a small grimace.
Taking pity on her poor husband, Emma stood abruptly and took the microphone from his wet hand.
"Hey everyone, I'm Neal and welcome to my wedding," Emma smiled wide at the loud laughter. "I'm glad you're all here looking at me because umm...because I just want to tell you all how much I love Emma. What an amazing, wonderful, and sexy person she is."
She looked up at Neal, pleased at the happy beam on his face. "Wanna keep going?"
"Oh no, you're doing perfect," he sat down with a smirk and signaled that she continue.
Narrowing her eyes at him in mock anger, Emma turned back to face their family and friends. "Uhh, okay. So it's Emma now. I can't say that I've been looking forward to this my whole life. I was never one of those girls who pictured their perfect wedding with their perfect man. Perfect this and perfect that. But, I'm glad that I've gotten to share today with so many people that I love...and a few people I've never met before."
More laughter ran through the seats. Among them stood Regina, smiling fondly up at the blonde. Sending her a silent bid of luck, she walked away. It was time to head home and to bed.
"I'm sure you're all great, though," Emma laughed with them. "I feel like I've known Neal my entire life. And I know that I'll know him for the rest of it. He's the father of my child...and he's my best friend. They say fairytales have happy endings, even though the journey can be hard. But Neal and I were friends, then partners. And other than one tiny bump, cough Henry cough," the laughter grew. "It's been smooth all the way. Maybe that's the better kind of fairytale."
"Hear, hear!" They murmured.
"Hear, hear. Sort of, I guess." She shook her head to clear it. "A toast-shmoast won't do all that but...if you could all just wish us luck, Neal and I would really appreciate it. Okay, ready? One. Two. Three."
"Good luck!"
Ok so I know there's been a fair bit of Swan Thief but now that we're done with the wedding that should settle down and the Swan Queen should pick up! Let me know what you think! :)
