11
~ You're The Inspiration ~
You know our love was meant to be
The kind of love to last forever
And I want you here with me
From tonight until the end of time
You should know
Everywhere I go
You're always on my mind, in my heart in my soul
Baby, you're the meaning in my life
You're the inspiration…
Chicago – You're the Inspiration (Archie and Marie's love theme)
All of Archie and Marie's friends and family did indeed band together to make the couple's dream wedding a reality. Mallory Raven and Tiana got to work making the costumes for the wedding party and the guests they knew were attending. The dwarves were put to work transforming Rumple's back lawn into an outside version of Mount Olympus, complete with statues of the gods and goddesses. Moe's shop Game of Thrones was providing all of the flowers.
The young Scorpion Mikey, finally released from the hospital and getting back on his feet thanks to Archie and Geppetto, who was now his foster father, agreed to be the DJ for the event. The former gang members recalled how during the good times he used to play all the music for their parties.
Bae's job, with a lot of help from Andi, in the three weeks prior to the wedding was to help his uncle learn how to dance. Archie confessed to Rumple the day after the aborted elopement that his fear of looking like a complete idiot during their first dance as a married couple was one of the reasons why he agreed to sneak off to Boston. The teenage pair taught him every dance they knew but he balked at learning some of the more modern ones except for the chicken dance that he did at Rumple and Belle's wedding.
"That stuff looks like it belongs in a bedroom!" he protested, blushing. "If I caught Gisella dancing like that with some boy I'd ground her for a month and he'd be missing a few limbs."
"Yeah but sooner or later, you'll want to dance with Aunt Marie like that," Bae teased.
"I doubt it."
"You have a song picked out?" Andi asked him.
"A song?"
"Every couple has a song….Rumple and Belle's is 'In Her Eyes' by Josh Groban. Is there a song the two of you listen to together that seems to fit you?"
He could think of a dozen that fit Marie. "Well…I think I mentioned before we listen to Chicago a lot…and….our favorite song is 'You're The Inspiration'…"
"That's perfect!" Andi cried.
"I'm surprised you know it considering how you kids make fun of our 'old people' music."
"Yeah I know it…and you're right…it does fit you. So when you and Marie have your first dance together, it should be to that song."
He could already see it now…her in his arms….his ring on her finger…finally his wife…and dancing together to their song.
"I'm afraid I'll be too nervous…and step on her feet…"
"Just relax…in a week or two we'll make you look like you born to do this," the former duchess assured him and put her arms around his shoulders. "Now….your hands go on my waist and off we go…one…two…"
He tried as best he could to keep up with the steps but on occasion he accidently stepped on her toes. "Oh my God I am so sorry about that!"
Andi smiled through the pain. "It's okay. We'll keep practicing until you're a natural on the dance floor."
"Maybe you should sit down…"
"Nah. C'mon Doc. This dance is the most important one of your life."
He felt terrible. The girl had to be in pain yet she insisted they continue practicing even when he stepped on her toes two more times. It looked so easy when other people did it but not him and he cursed himself and his parents for his lack of worldly experience. The curse had given him some of that education but not enough. He thanked his lucky starts his future-in-laws and close circle of family and friends was patient enough to help him learn what he needed to make his wedding day perfect.
Belle would stand with her sister as matron of honor in her Persephone costume but there had been some debate as to whom would be Archie's best man. The groom considered both men to be his best friends and did not want to slight either of them. Finally it was decided that Geppetto, who had been a lifelong friend of Archie's should be the one to stand with him. At first Archie was worried that Rumple WOULD feel slighted.
"Nonsense...after this you'll be my brother-in-law." He would be costumed as Hades which was no surprise to anyone.
Archie already felt like he was and had before he and Marie went on their first official date.
Geppetto was costumed as Hermes, the messenger of the gods. Emma and Jeff Hatter who were a bridesmaid and groomsman would be costumed as Artemis and Orion. Regina and Robin Hood were costumed as Athena and Ares.
Snow and Charming would portray Hestia and Dionysus and Maurice would walk his daughter down the aisle as the king of the gods, Zeus.
"You look beautiful, Marie," Belle said softly while her sister stood in her bedroom gazing at herself in the mirror.
"To think that we were going to miss out on all this..." Marie whispered.
Marie's fears that their wedding would be a small one, attended only by family were quickly put to rest after the invitations had gone out and though it had been on such short notice, so many in the town banded together to make it the perfect day for the couple.
Belle glanced over at the clock beside her bed and slowly rose to her feet. "Come on...this is the day you've been waiting for."
"My whole life..."
Maurice reached for Marie's hand. "I wish your mama was here to see this, poppet."
"So do I, Papa. She would've liked Archie."
"I'm ready too, Mommy!" exclaimed Gisella running to them in her little flower girl's costume.
Marie laughed.
"You remember what you're supposed to do...right...?"
"Uh-huh...I'm gonna throw flowers on you and Daddy when we're done too!"
Outside the groom was getting nervous.
"What's taking so long? Is she backing out? Oh God..." he cried.
"You know better than that!" Geppetto scolded. "Marie loves you...and she'll be here now stop panicking or you're going to pass out and have an angry bride on your hands."
"You need a little courage booster, Hopper?' Jeff said and pulled a whiskey flask from the pouch around his waist.
Emma smacked him. "Jeff! I swear to GOD if you get him drunk there is going to be a Greek tragedy here!"
"I can just give him a little sip..."
"No! Now put that damned thing away!"
"Fine..." he pouted.
"Geppetto…I can't help it…in the back of my mind I keep hearing this voice telling me something's going to go wrong and…"
"Stop listening here…" his friend said, first pointing to Archie's head. "And start listening there…" he finished, pointing to his chest near his heart. "Marie loves you as much as you love her. Even after all you've been through, you're still together and if that's not true love, I don't know what is."
The orchestra began playing the opening notes of the wedding march.
While they waited for Maurice and Marie, Rumple and Belle were escorted to two recliners set up in the front row as both of them were having a difficult day with pregnancy symptoms.
Finally the bride and her father stepped out onto the lawn, Marie dressed in a white satin and lace peplos similar to the one she wore the night they were reunited at the Foxtrot. On her left arm was a new bracelet in the shape of a cricket that Rumple made for her from his own spun gold.
My Aphrodite….Archie thought as he gazed at her.
"Who gives this woman in marriage?"
"I do...her father, Maurice Bordreaux," Maurice declared proudly.
He kissed her on the cheek and placed her hand in Archie's. "I love you, poppet."
"I love you too, Papa..."
The couple faced each other and as many couples did once they came to this new land, they would speak their own vows. Marie gazed into her groom's eyes as she began to speak.
"Archie...when I first saw you in our land...I made the mistake of thinking you were just an insect...something to smash with the broom. But in the time you were in Rumple's castle I got to see there was more to you but we didn't have enough time to find out if we could be more than that to each other. Then...the night you walked into the Foxtrot...and I saw the man behind the cricket I couldn't remember I felt drawn to you...though I didn't know why...
Before I met you, I thought true love was possible...for everyone else but me. I was a ruined woman…in both lands...but you knew that...and loved me anyway. And every time I gave you a reason to walk away, you came back. You came back because you didn't see me as a ruined woman...you saw me as someone who was given a bad hand in life and survived it and in its darkest moments you were there with me...giving me the strength I needed to pick myself back up after I'd been torn down…
You once told me that I teach the torches to burn bright but it's you that teaches them to burn bright for me…just when I think I'm lost in darkness…you light my way home…I love you Archie Hopper and I am going to spend the rest of my life making myself worthy of the love you've given me…"
Archie took a deep breath. "On our first actual date I told you I had a speech prepared for you…but for the life of me I still don't remember it now because I don't think it would've been what I wanted to say anyway." He gazed into her eyes before he continued. "You never thought true love was possible for you...and I didn't either...for me. I didn't think anyone could love me...first being the son of con artist parents...and then later as a cricket. And then a goddess walked into my life...
Even when the curses came and separated us...my mind may have forgotten you but my heart never did. I decided that night after we met at that damned club...scared as hell as I was...that if I didn't at least take a chance with you...I'd regret it for the rest of my life. And I still say it's you who teaches the torches to burn bright...for me.
When I start second guessing myself your light is all I need to see to restore my confidence that I can be the man I've always wanted to be. And now I am. I love you Marie Bordreaux...I always have...and I always will..."
"May I have the rings please..." the minister said, a bit choked up himself along with the rest of the congregation.
Made from his brother-in-law's spun gold, the band itself was in the shape of a Greek circlet with a diamond in the shape of a cricket holding a rose, the symbols of both the bride and the groom.
His eyes never leaving hers, he gently slid the ring onto her finger. Belle than handed her sister Archie's ring.
"With this ring I thee wed," they spoke in unison, wanting to use the traditional phrase in this land and faced the minister again.
"By the power vested in me by the state of Maine, I now pronounce you husband and wife."
Archie turned to the goddess that was at last his wife, his eyes shining with love. "I love you…with all my heart and soul…" he whispered and drew her to him.
"And I love you with all of mine…"
The moment their mouths met, a white light surrounded them was so bright people held their arms over their eyes to shield them from the glare. The light swept over the wedding guests like a tidal wave, restoring all their memories of those they loved, past and present restoring bonds that had been broken by one woman's madness and strengthening those that had already been reformed. Oblivious to it all, Archie held his wife tighter, deepening their kiss.
"A pure spirit that knows true love can break any curse…." Rumple murmured, squeezing his wife's hand. "It's over, Belle…they're free…we're all free…"
"Thank you, Archie…" Regina wept, feeling Robin reach out and take her hand in his.
The light pulsed through the town, seeking out all those lost and lonely and restoring their hopes that true love would someday be theirs…if they just believed and kept looking.
In Wonderland Cora screamed as she gazed into her crystal ball in time to see her ultimate failure. Then the crystal glowed white and shattered into pieces. All magic came with a price and now the price for casting the Curse of the Broken Hearted would at last be paid. Upon being broken the price to be paid was the life of the caster. The door to her vault blew open and the box containing her heart flew out. It fell on the floor and the lid opened, the enchanted organ rising in the air. White light surrounded the heart and it began to crack. Cora screamed again, clutching her hand to her chest. She fell to the floor dead as the heart shattered.
Will Scarlet, the Knave of Hearts smirked and walked down the hall to a room where his fiancée Anastasia was having tea with one of Cora's ladies in waiting. "The Queen of Hearts is dead!" he declared triumphantly.
The younger woman stood up, a small smile on her lips. "Long live the Red Queen and King," she murmured as she gazed into his eyes. Wonderland was theirs at last. All the members of Cora's court now kneeled before the new queen and her chosen consort.
Back in Storybrooke, the newly married couple reluctantly broke their kiss.
"People of Storybrooke, I give you Doctor and Mrs. Archibald Hopper!" the minster announced.
Belle threw her arms around her sister. "That was beautiful Marie, simply beautiful," she sobbed.
"I know..." Marie was in tears herself and had been from the moment her husband started speaking.
Archie allowed the two women a moment alone. The wedding was over...his greatest challenge was yet to come. He approached his brother-in-law.
"Did I...do all right?" he asked.
Rumple stood up. "You did fabulous, Archie!" He hugged the other man.
"I was kind of worried I'd get so damned nervous and sound like an idiot up there..."
"You didn't. You sounded perfect . . .honest and sincere, like your idol John Wayne," Rumple smirked.
"And I've got my Katie..."
"You do. And your daughter . . .but if you're gonna shoot her boyfriend, let me know, so I can help you hide the body," the pawnbroker joked.
Archie grinned. "Now THAT is one thing I would look forward to. Any boy who wants to date MY daughter is going to find out this cricket is no pushover. You run a gauntlet or I hand you your balls on a plate."
"And I'd be happy to help you," Rumple chuckled.
"Daddy!" Gisella screeched, hugging his knees.
"Easy there Princess...Daddy still needs to walk!" Archie chuckled.
"Yeah, you don't want to cripple him like Uncle Rumple, now do you?" Rumple laughed.
"Nooooo...but I wanna go see you dance with Mommy and smash cake on her face!"
"Oh I intend to…I owe her for that pie in my face. C'mon Princess..." Archie scooped up his daughter and took her over to where Belle and Marie stood.
"Darling, shall we?" Belle asked her husband.
Rumple took her hand. "Of course, Belle. For as long as we can stand, that is."
"My feet are killing me...I don't think I'll be able to dance today..."
His eyes twinkled as he took her in his arms. "You are my serene Mother Goddess, dearie. Come on, let's go and sit down over here." Even though she was vastly pregnant and he had a cane, both were the picture of sheer beauty, and drew glances as they walked across the lawn.
"Wonder if he's going to have the PAINS...like we do?" Snow mused.
"Oh yes...Archie told me he will...they had false labor ones a few weeks ago and they nearly drove him insane.." Regina said with a laugh.
"I think I'd want to see this...and record it," Emma said with a smirk.
"Just a little while longer sweetie," Belle said softly to the baby as she sat down.
But Baby Gold had other plans...
Bae came over to them and asked, "Would you guys like some water, it's hotter than hell out today?"
"Yes, that would be...ooooohhhhh!" Belle cried and clutched her belly. "Oh no! Not now!"
Rumple gasped. "Oh HELL no!"
"Mama, you can't be having the baby now!" Bae cried. "Go back to sleep, kid!"
"Rumple...I...don't think...oh...GOD...this is a false one this time!"
"I . . .don't . . .think . . .so . . . either . . .!"
"Belle, what's wrong...oh my God...!" Marie gasped as she and Archie ran over to them.
"You mean she's...NOW?" Archie asked, eyes wide.
"It's not like I...agggghhh planned it!"
Belle clasped Rumple's hand in hers.
"Okay...we'll drive you to the hospital..." Marie offered.
Rumple stood up. "Breathe, dearie . . ." His face was twisted.
"NO! This is your wedding reception...Dove can take…us...will call…you...when...we're...done!"
"Belle, are you sure..."
"MARIE HOPPER DON'T YOU DARE ARGUE WITH ME NOW!"
"All right...Bae, get that bird over here and tell him to haul ass!" Marie commanded her nephew.
"Okay! Alex!" he yelled at Dove.
"Rumple...don't think I...can stand...hurts too much…"
"You won't have to," Regina said from where she stood and conjured a set of wheelchairs.
"Okay . . ." he gasped too.
"Th...thank you...Regina..."
They helped Belle into a wheelchair.
Rumple got into his own, wincing every time he felt a contraction hit.
Marie hugged her sister. "It's going to be okay, Belle...Rumple's right there with you...whether he wants to be or not…" she added with a smirk.
"Will...call...you in...morning...want details!"
"Rumple...make them give you something...Gods I do NOT want to go through that," Archie said to his brother-in-law.
"Ohhhhhh...Baby...why couldn't you WAIT!" Belle groaned.
"Damn . . .kid . . .takes after . . .its . . .mother . . ." Rumple groaned.
Every man in the crowd winced.
"That has to SUCK!" exclaimed Jeff.
"You don't need to tell me that, Hatter!" the sorcerer snarled.
Dove and Bae put the couple in the car and Rumple's faithful assistant raced them to the hospital.
"Come on, poppet," Moe said softly. "Belle and Rumple will be fine. This is your special day too."
The rest of the wedding party lined up outside the archway and walked through while Mikey introduced them. "And now ladies and gentlemen…your bride and groom: Doctor and Mrs. Archibald Hopper!" Cameras flashed and the guests cheered as the couple stood under the archway and kissed passionately.
"I love you…" Marie whispered.
"You know I love you, my goddess…"
Her hand in his, Archie led his bride over to the wedding party's table. Before they had a chance to sit down people were tapping their wine glasses with their forks, requesting the couple to kiss. They wrapped their arms around each other and kissed again.
"Make sure to come up for air!" Jeff hooted. Emma kicked him under the table and some of the other guests laughed and some of the women were sighing dreamily. They'd never imagined the shy doctor could be so passionate. Unfortunately for them he only had eyes for the woman he held in his arms. They were still looking into each other's eyes when they broke their kiss.
When they sat down Geppetto stood up with his glass of wine in his hands and glanced down at the couple. "I've known Archie for a long time…and in that time he's been more than a friend to me…he's been the brother I never had, guiding me throughout my life….as he has with so many others but there's one thing I've always wanted him to do and that was was to find his own happiness. He did the day he met you, Marie. You've had a hard road to travel to but I think now things are only going to get better for you because of the love you have for each other. To Archie and Marie!" he shouted and held up his glass.
"To Archie and Marie!" the crowd called back and clinked their glasses together to drink a toast to the couple. Archie linked his arm through Marie's and they drank from each other's glasses, their eyes meeting over the rims.
The wedding banquet had been prepared by Rumple, Granny and several other women in town. The main course was chicken parmesan with a Caesar salad, Italian green beans with balsamic vinaigrette and roasted red potatoes with rosemary and olive oil, prepared by Rumple because his brother-in-law didn't trust any other cook in town to make it just the way he liked them. The adults were being served Moscato d'Oro, a favorite wine of the couple's as it was the one they drank together on their first official date while the kids were given fruit punch. The women made all of the desserts except for Rumple's Golden Delights. There were three kinds of cheesecake: marble, strawberry and cherry. Belle and Bae made Jello molds in the shape of a bride and groom. Elmira Gulch made blueberry and cherry pies. Granny made several batches of cookies, including raisin filled, chocolate chip and macademia nut as well as the wedding cake with little Aphrodite and Adonis figurines made by Geppetto standing underneath a small temple. Guests were given their last chance to take a picture of the cake before the actual cake cutting ceremony.
The golden ceremonial knife had been made by Rumple with the symbol of a cricket holding a rose. They picked it up and held it over the cake and cut two slices. Archie held out the first one and as Marie was about to take a bite he smashed it in her face.
"I owed you that for the pie…" he said with a grin.
"Oooh you….let's see how you like this, Doctor!" she giggled and grabbed the second one.
"Can't catch me darlin!'" he said in his best John Wayne imitation and took off running.
"Get him Marie!" the women cheered. Gisella jumped out of her chair with Roland and Jason behind her to try to find out where her father was hiding. She finally spotted him behind a tree. He was grinning and pressed his finger to his lips.
"He's back here, Mommy!" she shouted. As Archie was about to take off and find another hiding place Marie cut him off and smashed her piece of cake in his face. He laughed and pulled her into his arms for a kiss.
"That was hilarious Uncle Archie!" Bae laughed when he and Andi approached them. "Kinda like what you did during the pie throwing contest."
"Mommy and Daddy got that from some old movie they watch," Gisella said. "Only in it the guy chases the girl an gives her a spanking but Daddy doesn't do that to her."
"All right ladies and gentlemen it's time for some dancing. Would the bride and groom come to the dance floor please?"
Bae and Andi helped the couple clean themselves up and they walked over to the patio. Archie took Marie into his arms Chicago's You're The Inspiration began to play. They held each other close, gazing deeply into each other's eyes as their bodies swayed to the music. Marie closed her eyes and lay her head on his chest, wondering how a man so wonderful could love her while he wondered how he'd been so lucky to find a goddess to love him.
"I love you…I'll never get tired of saying it…" Archie whispered.
"I'll never get tired of hearing it…" she murmured. "And I love you…" She smiled. "And to think we started out as a broom wielding madwoman and a cricket but if you'd been human then…you probably would have tried to rob me blind."
"The only thing I would have wanted to steal was your heart…"
"And I would've let you have it…"
"After you smacked me a few times with the broom?"
"One look in your eyes and I would've been lost…"
"Had I met you back then I would've told my parents to go to hell and tried to make my own way in the world….I think."
"No, you would have," she insisted. "You're stronger than you think you are Archie. You stood up to a woman who nearly burned you alive; you protected our daughter from that gang boy in the park and how many times have you stood up for me…for us? More times than I can count."
"Why're you cryin, Granpappy?" Gisella asked her grandfather while he watched his daughter dancing with her husband.
"Your mommy and daddy look good out there sweetheart." Moe answered softly.
The couple kissed as the song ended.
"Now would the bride's father please come to the dance floor?"
Moe kissed his granddaughter and walked out to the dance floor. "You looked great out here…" he said and held out his hand for his daughter. Archie stood off to the side to watch them as Heartland's I Loved Her First began to play.
"But I loved her first and I held her first
And a place in my heart will always be hers
From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep
And I prayed that she'd find you someday
But it still hard to give her away
I loved her first…"
"I should've known the moment you were born you were mine," Moe said softly, caressing her cheek. "And had I not been such a coward and stood up to my father…I would've married your mama anyway."
"She loved you even without a ring on her finger, Papa…till the day she died…and even though you weren't married…you still had plenty of time together…"
"He sighed. "I wish those damned curses never would've come between you and Archie…I knew from the moment you came back from the Dark Castle that something was different. There was a light in your eyes I didn't see for years and then when you met him again here….that light was back."
"I really love him, Papa. He's been so amazing to Sella and me…and I don't even want to think about how empty my life was without him."
"I know you do, poppet. And maybe soon….you'll give me another grandchild to spoil?"
She laughed. "We'll work on it."
"I want to dance with you, Daddy," Gisella said softly as she tugged on Archie's hand.
"Princess, this is where Granpappy is supposed to dance with Mommy," he reminded her.
"So? She can dance with Grandpappy an I wanna dance with my daddy!" she declared stubbornly.
"Gisella, I….oh what the heck! Anything for my princess." Archie laughed and took her hand, leading her out onto the dance floor beside her mother and grandfather.
"Oh Papa…look," Marie sobbed joyfully, tilting her head to where her husband stood dancing with their daughter. Moe chuckled. "It's the little things like that that make me love him all the more…"
And the same adoration was in her daughter's eyes as she looked up at the man she'd wanted to be her father from the day she met him in the park. Then he picked the little girl up and held her to him as the final notes of the song faded away and both fathers kissed their daughters on their foreheads.
"I love you Poppet," Moe murmured to Marie.
"I love you, Papa."
"I love you, Daddy…"
"You know I'll love you forever, Princess…" Archie set Gisella back on her feet and she ran over and hugged her mother.
"All right folks the dance floor is open and we're going to start taking requests, starting with the bride and groom. Anything you want to hear?"
Archie smiled. "The song that's been in my head since we met again….Along Comes a Woman!" He pulled his wife into his arms as the song started and other couples got out of their seats to dance to the upbeat tune, a few of them in the couple's inner circle feeling that it fit their lives as well and the groom was in for the shock of his life when he saw his best friend pulling Granny out onto the dance floor with him, their body language suggesting they were more than friends.
"Looks like we're not the only ones who can keep our affair a secret," Marie chuckled.
"I'm going to whack him with my umbrella!" Archie cried. "Why the hell didn't he tell me he was interested in her?"
"That's something we'll have to ask him."
"Oh, I am. Right after I give him a whack….dammit. Holding out on me and he's known about you the whole time!"
"You know what he said….he's always wanted you to find your own happiness and I suppose he figured he'd share it with you once we finally got settled." She glanced over at Regina and Robin. "And I think you can stop worrying about Regina now…"
"I never stop worrying about her…or any of my friends," he confessed.
"Keep it up, Hopper."
"What?"
"Adding on to the list of reasons why I love you."
"Okay guys…who's ready to dance the Chicken!" Mikey shouted out.
Marie giggled. "Remember how silly we looked doing this at Rumple and Belle's wedding?"
"And we're going to look even worse dressed like this…oh what the hell!"
Unlike the last time, the couple was more relaxed now that they no longer had to keep their relationship a secret. Gisella was laughing at both of them and clucking.
"Now by request here's some Bee Gees and You Should be Dancin!"
Emma scowled. "Okay who the HELL requested the disco?"
"I did! C'mon, dancing queen!" Hatter called out and reached for her, imitating John Travolta's moves in the movie Saturday Night Fever while his girlfriend struggled to keep up.
"Go Hatter!" Archie cheered.
"I didn't know he could do that," Marie whispered to him.
"Neither could I but he's good."
"Look Sella, he's dancin like Gru in 'Spicable Me!" Roland said to her. Jason was clapping.
A crowd gathered around the two police officers, clapping and cheering them on. When the song was over, Hatter picked up his girlfriend and spun her around.
Regina walked up to Mikey and whispered in his ear. He grinned. "And by request of the Mayor for the ladies, here is Donna Summer and some HOT STUFF!"
"Now you're talking Regina!" Marie shouted and grabbed her husband with some of the other couples following suit. "And when I get you alone Archibald Hopper, that's exactly what you're gonna give me…" she purred.
He certainly hoped so…
Getting tired from dancing, Bae sat at the table with Gisella and his friends, checking his phone to see if he'd gotten any messages from his father.
"Did Aunt Belle have the baby yet?"
"Nope."
"I hope Mommy and Daddy have a baby soon."
Next was the bridal dance and Regina filled in for Belle holding the bridal purse while Geppetto held the tray of shots. The couple was going to donate the money they raised to programs supporting victims of rape and domestic violence. During the bridal dance they planned to recreate the ancient bride stealing custom. The ladies formed a tight circle around Marie while the men formed a line in front of Archie. "All right Adonis….let's see how long it takes you to get your Aphrodite!" Mikey shouted.
"Not long!" Archie said determinedly while the men tightened their line around him to keep him where he was.
"You think so, cricket! Keep it tight around him now!" ordered Jeff.
Sooner or later your opponent will leave an opening. Wait for it…then then use it to your advantage…he heard Mulan's voice reciting in his head. So he waited…and finally he saw a gap between where Bae stood and David. He ducked under them and strode toward the women. Emma stepped aside and let him pass. Then he swung his bride up into his arms and carried her off to the rose garden….where they could be alone at last. He sat down on the marble bench and kissed her.
"Archie," she whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck as he kissed her again.
"AHEM!" Bae cleared his throat. "I already went through this with Mama and Papa, not going through it with you two….now get over there and pay attention to your guests….rabbits!"
"Bae, they were just kissing," Gisella said. "They do that all the time."
"Yeah well that's what your wedding night's for."
"Among other things…" Marie whispered.
Archie blushed.
"We'll be along shortly, Bae," he said softly.
"You got two minutes Uncle Archie or I'm coming after ya," the teenager threatened. "C'mon Sella."
"Now where were we?" Archie his wife once they were alone again.
"Right here," she murmured and cupped his face in her hands, kissing him again.
"Would the bride and groom come to the dance floor please?" Mikey called out.
"Oh I cannot wait until we can be alone without interruptions!" Marie groaned.
"We're going to have the bouquet toss first. Would all the single ladies of Storybrooke please form up behind the bride?"
"And you better not chicken out Arista!" Marie shouted out to her friend. The older mermaid reluctantly made her way over to the line, her sister Ariel smirking at her. "You too, Granny!"
"What for?"
"Move it…or do you want me to get the Bordreaux broom?"
Archie chuckled.
The older woman shook her head at the bride and joined the others.
"All right, Marie, on the count of three, throw the bouquet!" Mikey called out and played Geri Halliwell's remake of "It's Raining Men."
She turned her back and tossed the bouquet in the air. She could hear the woman cheering as they struggled to get it and when she spun around she could see Granny holding it and smirked at her husband.
Bae brought a chair over and his aunt sat down.
"Now it's time for our groom to find the garter."
"Whoo hoo! Go get it, Archie!" Jeff hooted.
"If some of you recall the last time we had a wedding, Doctor and Mrs. Hopper were the ones who caught both the bouquet and the garter. This time we have Granny holding the bouquet. Let's see who the lucky guy is who catches the garter and if luck strikes twice and we have our next bride and groom!" Regina announced.
Archie's face was beet red as he kneeled beside his wife. He knew he would be doing more than this later on but he was still nervous. Mikey played The Stripper as he put his hand under her dress.
"A little higher, darling…" she whispered when he paused at her knee.
"That's it Marie, make him work for it!" Arista catcalled.
"You…didn't have it up that high the first time…" he said huskily, touching her in such an intimate manor making his body burn hotter than an oven.
"Because back then we were two fools who thought hiding the fact we were crazy about each other was such a good idea…when it wasn't. Now you've got it baby…" she murmured as she felt him slide the silk and lace scrap down her thigh. The men were cheering when he stood up with it dangling from his fingers.
"Now it's time for all the single men to get in line behind the groom. Any stragglers out there, Doctor?"
"Geppetto!"
"But I'm a bit too old…" his friend protested.
"Now…or do I have to get the umbrella?" the groom threatened. "And we need to talk when I get back from my honeymoon," Archie muttered to him when he passed. "Holding out on me, you sneak!"
"About what?"
Oh, you think this cricket got up on the wrong side of the tree trunk, don't you old friend? Well, let's see how you like this.
He took notice of where his friend was standing before he turned his back and let the garter fly. He heard the men scuffling behind him and smirked when he spun around and saw Geppetto holding the garter in his hand.
"You did that on purpose!" he cried.
Archie pressed his hand to his heart. "Now, would I do that?" he asked innocently.
"Yes! You've been taking lessons from that brother-in-law of yours!"
"Well…I guess you won't be holding out on me again, now will you? Now go put the garter on Granny. You know you want to."
"Oh, just like you wanted to put it on Marie at her sister's wedding and was doing a damned poor job of hiding it!" Geppetto retorted with a laugh.
"Mission accomplished," Archie said when he rejoined his wife while they watched his best friend put the garter on Granny, who was teasing him the entire time.
"Having a bit of trouble there, old man?"
"I wouldn't if you'd sit still!"
"Can you even SEE what you're doing?"
"I see better than you do, you bat!"
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Marie asked her husband.
"Oh, every minute."
He finally managed to get the garter on and stood back up.
Though they loved being with their family and friends, the couple was eager to be alone. They walked up to where Gisella sat with Bae.
"You be good for Bae, Sella." Marie said and hugged her daughter.
"I will, Mommy," she promised.
"We love you Princess and we'll pick you up in the morning, okay?" Archie kissed her forehead.
"Kay, Daddy!"
"Have a good time you two," Regina said with a smile. "You have that box I gave you…right, Marie?" she whispered to the bride.
"It's in the bedroom…" Marie whispered back.
"He's going to be speechless when he sees you in it…"
"About as speechless as I will be seeing him in his…"
Dove stood at the limousine waiting to take them to the cabin where they would spend the first two days of their honeymoon. "Congratulations Doctor Hopper, Missus Hopper," he said and opened the door for them.
"Thank you, Alex."
They climbed into the backseat and Marie rested her head on her husband's shoulder while he wrapped his arm around her waist.
Dove played a mix of their favorite Chicago songs for them during the ride to the cabin including You're The Inspiration, making them smile as they recalled their first dance together as husband and wife. They drifted off to sleep for a bit and Dove woke them when they arrived at the cabin and carried their bags in for them.
"Again, congratulations," he said and left.
"Remember the first time we came here?" Archie asked her softly, leading her into the kitchen where there were two glasses sitting out and wine chilling in the bucket along with a fruit and cheese tray.
She smiled. "One of the best nights of my life."
He opened the bottle and poured them each a glass of wine. "To us," he murmured and clinked his glass against hers. They gazed deeply into each other's eyes over their glasses as they sipped. They set their empty glasses down at the same time, neither of them speaking for a moment or two.
"Woud you…ahhh…like to go upstairs?" he asked.
"Yes I would."
He took her hand and they ascended the staircase slowly to one of the guest bedrooms. Dove had their suitcases sitting on the floor beside the bed and Marie had the box Regina had given her on the day of Belle's baby shower sitting on the bed.
"What's in there?" he inquired.
She opened it and handed him the set of pajamas. "This is our wedding gift from Regina. You can change in the bathroom and I'll change in here if that makes you more comfortable."
"It…would….for now…" he murmured.
After tonight you'd better get used to dressing and undressing in front of her. After all…she is your wife and you are her husband.
He took the pajamas from her and went into the bathroom. Marie thanked the gods she wasn't wearing layers like her sister did on her wedding night. She removed her gown and placed it in the garment bag she brought with her so that she could keep it if she wanted to wear it to a costume party at some point and put on the nightgown, her heart pounding in anticipation of seeing her husband in his wedding night attire.
"Archie? Are you all right in there?" she asked worriedly, glancing over at the clock. He'd been in the bathroom for half an hour.
"I'll be out in a minute…" he called out, took a deep breath and counted to ten to calm his nerves, wanting their first night together as husband and wife to be perfect. He wiped his sweating palms on his pajama pants and opened the door to find Marie sitting on the edge of the bed waiting for him wearing a forest green satin and lace negligee in the same color he was wearing and was at a loss for words for a moment or two.
"You look….stunning…" he whispered.
She smiled. "So do you."
"We…ahh….don't have to do this tonight if you're…not ready…"
She smiled softly. My Archie….always so tongue tied or babbles when he's nervous. She reached out and took his hands in hers. His palms were sweaty. "We don't have to if you're not ready baby."
"I feel so stupid," he confessed. "Here I am with the woman I love more than anything in the world and I'm nervous as hell about making love to you!"
She pulled him over to the bed and made him sit down beside her. "You aren't going to disappoint me tonight. I wish you'd stop thinking that. Do you think I enjoyed myself with those other men? I didn't. They didn't love me. They only used me and you know what Gaston did to me. If I had it all to do all over again, I would have wanted it to be you that night but you wouldn't have taken what you wanted from me…I would have given myself to you willingly whether we were married or not because you would have loved me as much as I loved you." She reached up and placed her hand on his shoulder. "Make tonight feel like my first time Archie….as it should've been." she pleaded.
He took her into his arms and kissed her softly, thinking back to that night weeks ago when they were alone in his bed and how close they'd come to taking this very step but they weren't married then and his fears had gotten the best of him.
Don't think about it…feel it.
Don't just tell her how you feel…show her.
She lay back on the bed and pulled him down to her, kissing him deeply while she unbuttoned his pajama top, her fears that he would think she was a whore fading banished as he pushed the skirt of her nightgown up around her waist and caressed her gently, her soft moans of pleasure all the encouragement he needed that he was pleasing her as much as she was pleasing him when she touched him.
Their nervousness returned briefly when they removed the last of their clothing and could see each other as they never dared to before, each fearing the other would prefer someone more physically attractive with less scars from painful times in their lives, fears that were put to rest as fingers lovingly caressed those patches of flawed skin, accepting them as part of the person they loved and the battles they fought to come to this moment in time.
Using all that they were, all that they were feeling, all that they knew of themselves and each other in the past and present, they created their own form of magic that night. It was a magic that would only grow stronger as the years went by for now they were no longer two people but one; body, heart and soul, sharing the same dreams and ideas. Marie felt like it truly was her first time again, the way it should have been, in the arms of the only man who loved her and made love to her so tenderly. It brought tears to her eyes, tears her husband gently kissed away and held her closer to him. Though they couldn't turn back the clock, they could make better memories to replace the painful ones and that night was just the beginning. They had the rest of their lives to work on it.
Marie awoke early the next morning believing it was all a dream until she felt her husband's chest rise and fall beneath her cheek with every breath he took while he slept. Her husband. She wanted to kiss him so much but didn't have the heart to wake him. Instead she was content to lie in his arms until he awoke on his own. Knowing him as well as she did, he wouldn't be sleeping much longer, even on their honeymoon.
An hour later Archie opened his eyes, smiling while he watched his wife sleep. His wife. It was all he wanted her to be for so long and there were a few times when he feared he would never be able to make his dream come true. Now that they were together, he wouldn't let anything separate them. It was almost a Herculean task to untangle himself from her arms without waking her and get out of bed to shower and start breakfast though part of him wanted to stay in bed with her. They would have plenty of time to make up for it later.
Marie awakened to the feel of Archie's lips on hers and opened her eyes to see him standing in front of the bed smiling down at her.
"Good morning, Mrs. Hopper," he said softly.
"Good morning, Mr. Hopper," she murmured. Mrs. Hopper. Oh how, she loved the sound of that! She sat up and caught the scent of eggs and bacon in the air. "I see you're already hard at work on breakfast."
"Already done." He held out his hand for her. "Shall we?"
"Lead the way Mr. Hopper."
When they entered the dining room, Archie set a vase of white roses in the center of the table and two long white candles in silver holders.
"Archie...it's beautiful..." she whispered.
He pulled her chair out for her and helped her sit down and then sat in his own across from her.
"You spoil me," Marie giggled.
"Every goddess deserves to be spoiled once in a while…"
He certainly made her feel like one and had from the moment they met only she'd been too blind to see it.
"I still don't understand how you could have loved me all this time when I was so awful to you when we met in the Dark Castle…and then when Gaston…"
"My mind might have forgotten you because of that damned curse Marie but my heart never did like I told you." He reached across the table and took her hand in his. "Now nothing can ever make me forget you and that bastard Gaston is rotting in jail where he belongs."
"I don't know what I did to deserve someone as wonderful as you..." Marie confessed.
"I think that about myself every day."
"You shouldn't. You're a good man Archie Hopper and I don't want you to think any different." she said firmly. "And before you start telling me about that business with Geppetto's parents, he's told you time and again since he's gotten his memories back that he doesn't blame you for what happened...YOUR parents were the ones who made them that way and they could've been changed back but Merri, bitch that she is, just wanted to see you suffer. Let's not think about the past anymore and focus on today...and the rest of our lives..."
He smiled. "I like the sound of that."
Breakfast was delicious as it always was but Marie could barely concentrate on eating it when all she wanted to do was admire the man sitting across from her. They'd been together for over a year, first as friends, then lovers and now husband and wife and in that time she discovered there was more to Archie Hopper than just a shy therapist and former cricket. He was truly one of a kind, a man who made her life magical in his own way.
Their wedding night was everything she dreamed of and more. He was nervous at first, they both were, but once they were in each other's arms in bed and allowed their emotions to guide them, their fears faded away. She still couldn't believe that of all the women in the realms, he chose HER to be his first and only lover. Her, a woman who already had a child and a damaged reputation thanks to Gaston. Oh, she knew some of the other women in the town thought he deserved better, even she did but she loved him so much and there was little joy in her life before he came along again.
He took their plates and silverware over to the sink to wash them. There was a dishwasher in the cabin and in their house but he rarely used them, believing they didn't get the dishes clean enough. She often teased him that he was as bad as Rumple when it came to having OCD about his kitchen.
"Here, let me do some of those…" she offered.
"No, no I've got it. You just relax."
While he was putting the last of the dishes away he heard his phone buzzing with a text message and glanced down to see one from Bae asking him if he would mind taking the new big brother to the hospital to see his sister.
"What is it? The answering service? Jack's on call," Marie said.
"No, it's Bae. He wants us to take him to the hospital and I know you want to see our niece."
"Yes I do and I can imagine Bae and Gisella are bouncing off the walls."
"Oh yes. And we don't want to keep them waiting."
"But later….we're coming back here…and continuing our honeymoon…" she purred.
"I'm looking forward to it," he murmured and kissed her.
They retreated to their bedroom so that Marie could shower and they could get dressed only they felt comfortable enough with each other now that there was no need for them to do so in separate locations.
They drove to Rumple's mansion to pick up their nephew and daughter and were eager to meet their new niece. They were thinking of waiting before they had their own child but Fate had a way of changing minds and making one's dreams come true when it knew the time was right.