"So I already know about the engagement. It's all anyone can talk about in this town right now. What's the big news you're going to tell me today?" Katherine asked as she followed Regina back to the kitchen.

"Who says I have to have big news to invite you over?" Regina countered.

"I do. It's what you do. Spill."

"No, you're not getting it out of me that quick. Did you see the video of Snow online?"

"Of course. I watched it several times. Emma is so good to you." Katherine smiled at her friend. "Happy looks good on you."

"Thank you. I am happy. I still wonder sometimes when it's all going to go wrong, but not as much as I used to." Regina confessed. There were still times that bits of insecurity would creep in. It was so hard to shut off after a lifetime of heartache.

"I would tell you not to look over your shoulder but I think we both know it wouldn't help. I'm just glad things are going well. So how did the proposal we planned go?" Katherine asked, excepting the glass of wine from Regina's outstretched hand.

"It didn't. I ended up throwing the ring at her and demanding she move in and told her the wedding was in 6 months." Regina smiled. She knew when she said it out loud it sounded like a ridiculous way to propose to someone, but Emma just made her crazy sometimes and for some reason it was fitting for them.

Once Katherine quieted down from her fit of laughter she said, "Oh god Regina! That is just so you. That's perfect."

"I'm glad that you're amused by it. I still plan to use the idea that we came up with but I'm going to wait."

"Until when?"

"If you must know, I assume that at some point during this wedding planning I may, at some point, become intolerable. I'm saving the proposal as my "get out of jail free card" as they say."

"Genius. Still scheming. I love it. So really, why did you invite me over for drinks?" Katherine asked curiously.

"I want to ask you a favor." The brunette was ringing her hands together, an outward sign to how nervous and uncomfortable she felt saying those words.

"Okay…"

"Will you be my maid of honor?" Regina rushed out.

"That's not a favor! That's, well, an honor! Of course I will. I know it's not a tradition we had in the Enchanted forest but I love that they do it here."

"I want to blend some of the things I'm familiar with and some things that Emma is familiar with into the ceremony."

"That's, wow Regina. You really do want this wedding don't you?" Katherine asked with a sigh. It was different talking to this more open version of Regina. Emma had opened Regina up in more ways than one and she hoped that the blonde never took advantage of that.

"Yes I do. Even knowing who my in-laws will be." Regina said with a roll of her eyes.

"You're family tree does have a few twisted branches. Since I'm the maid of honor does that mean I get to plan the bacholerette party?"

"Yes, I suppose so. I assume that Emma is going to ask Ruby to be her maid of honor so you might have some help with that. We would like to do a joint party. "

"Oh this is going to be great!" Katherine launched herself out of her seat and pulled Regina into a spontaneous hug. She knew Regina wasn't exactly a huggy person, but she figured if she kept trying she would eventually wear the woman down. When she felt the hug returned she was elated. "So enough sappiness. Let's hear about the sex."

"Katherine! I'm not discussing that with you." Regina said in a huff.

"Yes you are. Let me just pour you another glass of wine."

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Emma wanted to bang her head against something. Repeatedly. She had been over at her parents house for two hours and Snow was still not getting why she couldn't help with the wedding planning. Emma had tried explaining it nicely, she had tried to get David to help convince Snow, and she was about to lose it.

"Emma, you are the daughter of a King and Queen. You're a Princess! There will be certain things that we will have to do for this wedding and certain people that will have to be invited. We may even need to open the portal and bring some people back from the Enchanted Forest. Regina has to realize that. I mean when we had her first wedding her mother was very involved in the planning with me….Oh." Snow finally slowed her rant down enough and it dawned on her what the problem was. "I planned her first wedding."

"Yep. It only took you two hours to figure that out." Emma said rolling her eyes, she didn't know if that was the teenager in her coming out or if she'd been hanging around Regina too much lately.

"There's no need to talk back like that. I just didn't understand. Now I do. I'll stay out of the way." Snow said, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Ah, come on. No crying. I didn't say you couldn't be involved at all, but you can't be pushy about it. She'll let you help once she realizes this isn't a repeat of her first. Just remember that you will have to do whatever she tells you to and no arguing though."

"This is one of those times it's awkward we're the same age. I feel like you're lecturing me."

"That's because I am. This wedding is important to Regina. She's going to get exactly what she wants even if it doesn't fulfill all the princess wedding crap you want it to. I'm sure she'll keep some of the protocol in mind but the second you bring it up she'll nix whatever it is to spite you." Emma said, glad that her mother was finally paying attention.

"Understood. You remind me so much of your father right now. Defending your woman." Snow pulled her daughter in for a hug.

"Ugh, get off. I'm not feeling very lovey after going around in circles for two hours with you. And I'm not defending Regina, she doesn't need that. I'm just trying to make sure she gets the wedding she wants."

"So touchy, was this how you were as a teenager?" Snow pulled back from their hug but kept a hand on Emma's arm.

"Worse. You should send Regina a thank you card that you missed those years." Emma said smiling at her mother. She was glad that they had worked through their issues over the years and could joke about the curse now.

"Maybe I will. I'm happy for you, you know that right? I don't know why I fainted when I heard the news last night. I think sometimes I forget you're a grown adult."

"I know. I get it. And I'm glad that you're being supportive. If you weren't, well…" Emma didn't really know what to say, she was just glad that they were both there for her.

"We love you. Of course we'd support you."

"Thanks Mom. I better get going though. It's my turn to cook dinner tonight."

"Bullshit. There's no way Regina let's you anywhere near the kitchen. You just miss your girlfriend. It's fine honey, I get that."

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"Hello? Regina?" Emma yelled from the hallway. Katherine's car was still in the driveway but there was no sign of anyone in the study or the kitchen and that's usually where Regain would entertain. She heard giggling towards the back of the house and followed the noise. Regina didn't giggle. This was going to be interesting.

"Well hello you two. Having fun?" Emma asked when she found them sprawled out on the outdoor couch on the back patio.

"Yes! Can you give Frederick some lessons?" Katherine slurred.

"Hey baby, come give me a kiss. I showed Katherine the flowers that you had me plant back here." Regina said.

Emma obeyed and gave Regina a quick peck on the lips. She noticed that Regina's pupils were dilated, but she was putting on a very good show of trying not to act drunk. "What am I giving Frederick lessons for?" Emma asked Katherine. She never thought in a million years she would come home and find a drunk Regina hanging out with an even drunken friend at their house. Life was funny sometimes.

"You're so romantic. Regina told me all about it. I hear you're not so bad in bed either." Katherine tried to wiggle her eyebrows at Emma, but they just stayed up and she only ended up looking surprised. Regina immediately found the scenery much more fascinating than the conversation and wouldn't look at Emma.

"Oh really? And what else did Regina tell you?" Emma asked as she sat down in between the two woman and confiscated Regina's wine glass.

"She said that without a doubt you're the best at sexing. Ever. She thinks maybe you use magic when you do it." Katherine said dreamily.

Emma turned towards Regina. "She did, did she? The best at sexing?"

"She's drunk. I wouldn't listen to a word coming out of her mouth. We have just been out here discussing wedding plans and such. She tried to get me to tell her some very personal things but I wouldn't take the bait. I mean I just told her some basics to get her to stop asking." Regina responded. It would have been very convincing if her head hadn't slumped backwards during the speech and she had to right it before finishing.

"Regina, honey, I think the bait was the wine. And I think you fell for it. It's fine."

Regina scrunched up her face trying to figure out if Emma was upset. Or if the other Emma she was seeing was upset.

"Katherine I'm going to call Frederick to come pick you up. I'll tell him you're asleep back here. I'm going to get Regina up to bed." Emma said, deciding that as much fun as she could have interrogating the two drunk woman she probably needed to get Regina into bed before she wasn't conscious enough to help get herself there.

"Oh ok. I had more stuff I wanted Regina to tell me. Will you tell him to buy me some damn flowers when you call?" Katherine set her wine down and snuggled up into the corner of the sofa. "I mean he was a knight in shining armor. For real. Maybe I should be a lesbian."

"I don't think becoming a lesbian is such a great idea for you. I hear all the good ones in town are taken already anyway. I'll just tell him to get you some flowers. Ok?" Emma patted Katherine's leg and helped Regina stand up. "Come on babe, let's get you up to bed."

"Yes, let's do get me into bed Sheriff." Regina was more successful at the eyebrow wiggle, but she fell into Emma's arms as a result of concentrating so hard on it.

"Let's go Mills. You're going to have to focus when we start up the stairs."

"Why?"

"I don't know, because you're drunk?"

"No I'm not. She is." Regina pointed at the already snoring blonde on the couch.

"You're right. She is. Let's go." Emma said with a smile.

Emma managed to get them up the stairs successfully, despite Regina tripping and almost pulling her down several times. Getting Regina's clothes off proved to be much more difficult however, because the brunette insisted on trying to do a striptease for Emma.

"Babe, I hate to break it to you but nothing is happening tonight. I'm going to get you undressed and then you're going to get in bed and go to sleep." Emma was trying to be stern but the woman wasn't making it easy throwing herself at her like this.

Regina stopped fighting the process then and let Emma help her get the rest of the way undressed. Emma gently sat her down on the bed and told her she was going to go call Frederick real quick, grab some water for her, and she'd be right back.

When she walked back in the bedroom after talking to a very amused Frederick Regina had slumped over, but her feet were still on the floor in front of her. Emma thought that she'd passed out, but she heard a muffled voice. "Did you say something Reg?"

"I think I'm drunk." Regina said again a little more clearly.

"Yeah, you are. I got you some water and some Advil. Let's get you under the covers." Emma set the items down on the bedside table and then gently lifted Regina's legs up. She pulled the covers back up over her and kissed her forehead. "Go to sleep love."

"Will you do me a favor?" Regina asked into the pillow.

"What babe?"

"Can you read me one of the notes you sent me when we were first getting together? I just…" Regina tapered of and Emma thought she was out again. "I just talked about how great you were all night and I wanted to re-read one before I went to sleep. I just can't move right now."

Emma smiled down at the brunette. She wondered if she was going to remember being this open with her feelings in the morning. "Sure, any one of them in particular?"

"No, I love them all. I kept them, they're all in my beside table drawer." Regina pointed, only she ended up just pointing towards the door.

Emma dug through the pile of notes a little and then pulled one out from the middle, assuming the ones on top had already been re-read. "How about this one? It's one of the notes I just gave you instead of actually sending you flowers. Alyssum." Emma leaned down and kissed Regina's head again and brushed her hair off her face. She made her way around to her side of the bed and tucked herself in close to the woman.

Regina,

These are Alyssums. They mean "Worth beyond beauty." You are the most beautiful woman I have ever known. I just want you to know that it goes beyond your outside beauty for me though. I think that your spirit and your resilience and your protectiveness for those you love are some of your most beautiful qualities. I also think your wicked sense of humor, your intelligence, and your inability to give up once you set your mind to something are amazing. You have worth to me beyond just being a pretty face. If I were to go blind tomorrow you would continue to be the most beautiful woman in the world to me because of what's on the inside. I know that you've had to fight like hell to let some of the things from your past go in order to move forward and I want you to know that fight didn't go unnoticed. I've noticed Regina, I think that I've always seen you. The real you-even from the beginning. And she's always been beautiful to me.

Emma

PS-Do you remember the night we all went out for Ruby and Belle's bachelorette's party? I was insane, over the moon excited that you had actually said you would go out with us and I worked myself into a complete wreck by the time of the party. I wanted everything to go perfect and I treated it like a date, even though you had no idea. I had such a fantastic time with you and at the end of the night when I volunteered to drive you home I wanted to tell you so many things and I was going to ask you out. Every time you went to the bathroom I would grab Ruby and practice what I was going to say. "Hey, we should do this again sometime." Great stuff right? Almost as good as when I finally asked you out at the diner. Anyway, when we pulled up in front of your house you turned to me and I could swear I saw tears forming in your eyes. Then you said "Thank you for tonight. I know you are probably the reason I was invited but I've never been just one of the girls and tonight I finally felt that way, even if it was only for a little while. I had a good time." and I realized that the evening had a whole different meaning for you and I decided I didn't want to diminish it by asking you out. I just wanted you to keep that feeling of belonging. I know it wasn't a huge flame out like some of my other attempts but I wanted to tell you anyway, if anything just to let you know I really do see you Regina.

When Emma finished reading Regina reached her hand out and grabbed one of Emma's. "I always knew you saw me, that's why I always kept fighting." She said before she closed her eyes and drifted off.

"Even drunk she still knows how to make an exit." Emma said to the darkened room. She folded the note back up and set it on her nightstand before giving the brunette one last kiss before pulling her close and drifting off with her.

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The next morning Emma woke up alone. Confused she went in search of Regina, hoping that she didn't find her asleep in the bathroom. She didn't.

"Good morning dear. I was just bringing your coffee upstairs." Regina said when she heard Emma enter the kitchen. "You all right? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"What the hell? Why aren't you hungover? You look just as great as you do every morning." Emma said, not believing her eyes.

"I don't get hangovers." Regina answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Everyone does."

"No, not everyone because I don't. Don't try and figure it out dear just go get your shower done. We have a meeting at my office this morning." Regina said, changing the subject.

"Who are we meeting?" Emma asked taking the coffee cup out of Regina's hands.

"You're meeting me so that we can start wedding planning. We only have five and a half months left and I expect you to be involved."

"Yeah, ok. Too bad I had you take my magic away. If I still had it we could just magic up a wedding together." Emma said with a laugh.

Regina went very still and turned towards the sink to look out the window. Emma heard her take a deep breath.

"Reg? You ok?" Emma asked as she stepped closer to her and placed a hand on her back.

Regina slowly turned towards Emma with a pained look on her face. "About that…"