Marriage day 176
When the door opened, Emma immediately woke up – greeted by Ruby who was carrying a cup of coffee for her and her mother who had a beaming smile for her.
"What time is it?" Emma asked sitting up and taking the coffee from Ruby.
"It's just before 8," Snow said.
"Eight, the wedding isn't until three, I am going back to bed for an hour," she said trying to hand the cup back to Ruby who laughed at her.
"Come on, get up," Ruby said. "You are getting married today and there is lots to do."
"I am putting on a dress and reciting vows with someone I am already married to, I don't think that involves seven hours of prep time."
"Thirty minutes," Snow said. "We will give you thirty minutes and then you need to be in the shower."
"What about breakfast?"
"Sleep or breakfast, you choose," her mom smiled.
She groaned and pulled her blanket aside, "fine, feed me first."
…
The alarm went off, but Regina was already awake. She turned it off and resumed standing there by the window looking out. She hadn't slept well. She didn't know if it was nerves or just not having Emma there beside her. Still she wasn't about to let it ruin her day.
She had wanted this ceremony to be perfect – her gift to Emma, and she had to admit that she couldn't have done it without Snow's assistance. Snow had thought of things she hadn't and kept her from stressing out too much. She didn't really care what the others thought of it. All that mattered was what Emma thought of it, and now the day had arrived and she was struck by a small case of second guessing the direction she took with this ceremony.
There was nothing she could do about it now but start her day.
…
Emma was grateful when Ruby snuck her a bear claw while she was getting her hair done. It was taking forever and she had gotten hungry. She was at one of stylists in town and wondered if Regina was at the other one. Snow had confiscated her phone the night before to keep her from texting or calling Regina, even though Emma pointed out that nothing in traditions stated she couldn't speak with her intended.
She was beginning to think she might be addicted to Regina as even these hours apart were driving her crazy. She just wanted to get to the church and see her wife.
"Do you think it's odd that Regina didn't insist on a rehearsal dinner?" she asked Ruby.
"Why is that odd?"
"You know she's kind of anal about things and I got to thinking last night that it was weird we didn't have one."
"Yes, but we all know what we are doing so why practice it?"
"I guess," Emma shrugged. The truth was she wasn't entirely sure what she was supposed to be doing. But since the goal was for them to both be standing there in front of the altar – at least she knew what side she was supposed to be on as they had gone and scoped it out – she supposed the rest of it didn't matter. She was suspicious though because she knew Regina was planning something and she clearly had Snow and Henry on her side for it.
As her hair was being done, others had worked on her nails. She was almost able to take a nap while they were doing it. She wouldn't even be going through all this trouble if she didn't think that this was what Regina would want.
….
Regina looked at herself in the floor length mirror. This was only the second time she had worn it and she couldn't help but circle around several times to be sure that it fit perfectly and moved perfectly with her body. A smile graced her lips as she thought about Emma seeing her wearing this for the first time. She was sure Emma would like it – especially the form fitting parts, but she since it played into the big part of the surprise she was still slightly unsure.
"You look beautiful."
She turned to see Henry standing in the doorway.
"Do you think Emma will like it?"
"I think she will love it," he said approaching her.
"Well you look quite handsome yourself," she said admiring her son all dressed up.
"I am thankful you didn't make me wear a tie."
"You are lucky it didn't quite match the attire or you would be wearing one. But I suppose tie wearing can wait until your first formal school dance." She smiled at him and they shared a hug. She pulled him in view of the mirror so she could see what they would like standing side by side as they would be at the wedding. After all, Henry was the best man.
…
Emma wanted to jump and down in celebration when they told her that her hair was finally done. She looked at herself in the mirror and had to admit that the curls made her look – she wasn't sure what the word was – not more feminine but definitely softer. She was still looking in the mirror when her mother returned from wherever she had been for the last 45 minutes.
"Stay seated," she said as Emma was half way out of the seat. "We have one more final addition for your hair."
She unwrapped something from a piece of cloth and handed it to the stylist who put it on her Emma's head, then fixing the hair all around it. Emma could only stare in the mirror.
"Do you like it?"
"Um, yeah," Emma said. She was transfixed by the crown that now encircled her head.
"It's a replica of the one I wore when I was princess," Snow said and Emma looked at her.
"It is?"
"Yes. You're a princess and it's only fitting that as royalty you wear a crown when you get married."
Emma reached up and touched it, almost afraid it would break as it looked so thin. It weighed next to nothing yet seemed to have a substance to it that she couldn't begin to describe. It almost looked like a spider had spun a web and it was frozen in crown form as she could make out fine lines etched throughout it even though to touch it, it was smooth.
"I don't want to see ungrateful, but you don't think Regina will be bothered by this do you? I mean she was queen."
Snow smiled, "She used her magic to fashion the crown after I had mentioned I would like to see my daughter wearing one. So yes, she will be more than fine with it."
Emma smiled her eyes still stuck on the crown. "Thank you mom," she said finally.
"You're welcome."
…
Regina arrived early. She had spent much of her time – and her magic – here last night and she needed to make sure it was all still set. It all seemed to be in order so she let herself relax momentarily. She walked up and took her position, standing there to picture how it would all look
…
Getting in the dress after having her hair done was a special little torture Emma was glad she would never have to do again. Once the dress was on though she had to admit she looked really good. She could almost feel Regina's eyes raking over the white dress, thinking about what was underneath it and how she would be enjoying it later. Emma was already thinking the same thing about seeing Regina's dress.
Emma's dress was strapless with a closed back, chapel train that only flowed about three feet behind her. The top was a chantilly lace whose web like pattern she realized closely matched her crown. Overall it was a simple dress, Emma not wanting to wear anything too frilly because it wasn't her style.
"You look amazing," her father said.
She turned to see him there. She had changed at her parents' home while Ruby and Snow went to go change at Ruby's. They had left not long after she was dressed fully. She had been waiting for perhaps 30 minutes just admiring herself in the mirror when James showed up. Looking at her father now, she wondered what kind of wedding she was attending. He noticed her attention and looked down at his own garment.
"Do you like it?" he asked.
She gave him a curious look. "You wouldn't find that kind of suit anywhere around here."
"No," he smiled. "Not short of a costume shop I suppose. In our world though, this would be very appropriate for a man to wear when attending a wedding, especially the father of the bride. It actually is very similar to what I wore when I married your mother."
"Why do I get the feeling that all Regina's talk about having a traditional wedding didn't mean so much tradition for this world?"
Charming smiled at her. "It's almost time go, are you ready?"
"Yes," she said.
He offered his arm to her, which she took with a smile on her face.
…
"Um, we just past by the church," Emma observed. She was sitting in the back of the limo with her father.
"Don't worry, the driver knows where to take us."
"You aren't kidnapping me are you? I mean if you had an issue with me marrying Regina it would have been better if you spoke up sooner."
He smiled at her, "Your mother and I just want you to be happy and Regina clearly makes you happy so we're not going to stand in the way of that. You know your mother has always wanted to have a special relationship with Regina – ever since Regina saved her life as a kid, and planning this wedding together I think they finally got there. Believe it or not, Snow has always been the one to convince me that Regina was possible of good. Have I had my doubts about that, certainly I have, but when I see her look at her you, I know she loves you."
"I love her," Emma said. "I know it seems crazy but she and I just fit together if you know what I mean."
"I do know what you mean," he said
She noticed they were driving out of the town proper and resisted the urge to ask where they were going, and almost did when she saw it.
"Holy shit," she said. "Is that real?"
James laughed, "Not entirely. It's an illusion."
She stared up as the castle as they got closer to it. It was one hell of an illusion she thought.
The limo parked outside of the drawbridge and her father got out moving around to let her out. Again he offered her his arm, which she took.
"Welcome to your fairy tale wedding Emma," he said.
She couldn't respond. She was too astounded at what she was seeing. He led her across the drawbridge and through a courtyard. She kept looking all around her. They entered the castle and there were two large doors looming before them. Two men dressed in formal wear reminiscent of the Enchanted Forest were there. Emma recognized them as two of the mechanics from Danny's Garage. Charming nodded to them and they pulled open the doors just as the wedding march began to play.
Charming led Emma in as the guests rose to their feet. It was as if all of Storybrooke was there, and they were all dressed as if they were back home. She almost tripped over her own feet staring at them. Her father led her down the aisle and as soon as she caught sight of Regina she almost did trip.
Regina wasn't wearing a dress.
She wore black pants with high healed boots, a white shirt that was cut low but had a short standing collar. There was a red vest just peaking out of the black jacket that tapered down in the back. It looked like a mixture of a tuxedo and what her father was wearing, yet nothing about it seemed manly. Emma thought she looked like pure sex and she wasn't sorry at all about thinking that.
Standing next to her was Henry wearing a similar version of what Regina was wearing, although more like what her father was wearing. Both were smiling at her.
They got to the front and Emma took Regina's hand as she stepped up to stand in front of her. "Wow," Emma said. She didn't care if she was supposed to stay quiet or not. She needed to stay that.
"I've always said black was my color," Regina smiled.
Now that she was close up, Emma could see that there was tracings of red thread throughout the black jacket – very subtle and not able to be seen except for close up. The pattern matched the web-like pattern of the lace on Emma's dress.
The collar on the jacket rose up just above the shirt's collar. She saw Henry's was the same, meaning he couldn't wear a tie. She knew he had complained about the idea of wearing a tie, and she thought this was a handsome alternative for him. For Regina it highlighted her neck in a way that made Emma want to clamp her mouth down on it.
She was so distracted in fact she missed that the minister had begun speaking already. She looked into Regina's eyes and saw nothing but love reflected back at her.
"It's my understanding the couple has written their own vows," the minister said. "Regina, you may begin."
Regina smiled at Emma. "I don't know how I got here. I honestly don't. I don't know how or why fate or some higher power let me stand here in front of you like this. And maybe it doesn't matter how or why. Maybe all that matters is that I am here standing before the woman I love. Emma Swan, I pledge my life to you from this day forward. I give you my life, my heart, my soul for you to do with what you wish because I have no use for them if I can't share them with you. This - you, me, Henry, this is what I want. And all I want in return is an eternity of this."
She turned and got the ring from Henry which she now slipped onto Emma's finger. She recognized what it was immediately – it was made of magic just like her crown. It was silver and it simple and it meant the world to her suddenly that she entirely missed the cue that it was her time to speak.
"Emma," the minister said urging her to speak.
"Yeah," she said smiling. "Um … I completely forgot what I was going to say. I realize that whatever it was, it wouldn't be adequate after the words you just said. I love you Regina. I don't know how to say it any better than that." She turned toward the guests, "You see this gorgeous woman right here? I love her," she said more loudly. "She is my wife, she is the mother of my son and she is the other half of my soul." She turned back to Regina. "I promise you an eternity of this, an eternity of my love. All I want it to be able to wake up beside you; comfort you when you are feeling down, share popcorn with you and Henry on movie nights. I want this – you, me and Henry – for an eternity."
She reached behind her and got the ring from Ruby, her maid of honor. She saw it was identical to hers and she placed it on Regina's finger.
"I love you," she whispered and she leaned forward and kissed her.
The minister cleared his throat. "We weren't quite there yet," he said. Emma merely shrugged and stepped back to let the minister finish. She never heard what else he said until he pronounced that they were married and she could kiss her bride.