For my wife.

Chapter 37

The Big Day

Snow White was losing her mind with joy. She didn't want to miss a thing as she ran back and forth between her daughter and her once step-mother, now closest friend and soon to be daughter-in-law. She stopped midway in the hallway and she reflected on her thoughts.

Snow couldn't believe the turn and full circle their lives had taken. If someone had told her when she was young that she would first, ruin Regina's life, then Regina would ruin hers only to be mended by falling in love with her daughter she would have thought they were crazier than the curse Regina cast.

Snow remembers how she initially felt about Regina. Snow was drawn to her, awed by her even. She wasn't quite right to be her mother but Snow admired her as one would an older sister. That's what Regina always should have been, an older sister. Snow is trying not to allow the melancholy of those earlier days to set in. For as normal as it was then for a young woman to be married to an older king, Snow has known another world now. She cannot be more sorry for what Regina was made to do. As wonderful and loving as Snow felt her father was, under no circumstance should Regina have ever been betrothed to him. Alas, she was too young to understand any of this back then. The only thing she did know was that she felt a special bond with her young step-mother. Little did she realize that it was because that very woman was her future child's soulmate and true love. It was always meant to be.

All of it…Everything.

She told Regina as much when she walked into the room. She looked at a radiant Regina with tears in her eyes. Snow took her hands into her own.

"All the pain, all we've been through. I love you Regina. For me, it was all worth it for this very moment. For you to be with Emma. And for you both to have your happy ending. I have never seen her nor you happier than on this very day."

Regina smiled tightly as the tears came down, "Oh Snow! Thank you. I love her so much."

"It was always meant to be." Snow hugged Regina tightly as they both tried unsuccessfully to hold back their tears.

Henry walks in and interrupts them, "Wow! Mom you look absolutely beautiful!"

Regina smiles brightly at her son, "Thank you Henry."

"And you too grandma."

He comes over and offers his arm with an elated grin, "Are you ready to marry ma?"

"Other than adopting you, I've never been more ready for anything else."

Ten minutes before, David arrived to pick up his daughter. Originally Emma had planned to spend the night over her parent's house. Emma secretly loved surprises and she didn't want to see Regina's dress. When she proposed to Regina, they talked about it and decided to sell Emma's house to Ruby and Dorothy. Emma had all the home she would ever need in Regina, wherever it took them. But Snow couldn't compete with running between two homes. She felt she was needed by both Emma and Regina. So Emma settled with staying downstairs in the the guest room. She had a terrible time of not running upstairs to envelope Regina in her arms. She was so excited, she could simply jump out of her skin.

Regina originally just wanted to go to court and sign the necessary documents without a fuss. But Emma felt Regina deserved a wedding. For the first time in their lives they were getting married because they wanted to. Because they chose to and not because they were forced to do so. Emma knew she wanted to wait at the end of the aisle and watch as Regina walked towards her. Emma wasn't one for weddings. When she married Hook she did it for her parents and the town, not really caring for all the bells and whistles. Today she was only doing this for herself and for Regina.

They chose to have the ceremony in their place of engagement in the forest. The wedding party was small with only their closest friends and family. Although their friends and family occupied most of Storybrooke's small population. Henry would give Regina away and also be Emma's best man.

Both Zelena and Snow would be Regina's maids of honor but only Snow would occupy the alter as Zelena was to carry little Robin as the flower girl and tiny ring bearer.

Of course, David would give away his daughter and they were the first to walk down the aisle as the classical music began.

Emma looked beautiful in her own right. For this wedding, her real wedding, she dressed as she chose. She wore white, flowing, linen pants and a beautifully delicate white blouse that formed a V while revealing her cleavage and strong back. Her hair was lose and bouncing with it's natural curls. This was the only request Regina had, she wanted to see her as she met her. She didn't care what Emma wore as long as she was HER Emma. The blonde knew that meant her hair free of restraint as she had always been around Regina. Wild and passionate.

Ruby couldn't help but notice how Emma finally seemed herself again. She was full of life and her body had filled in again with her musculature. She was no longer that shadow of a woman walking around town that resembled the Sheriff and Savior.

David kissed his daughter on the forehead as she smiled brightly at him. He whispered, "I love you Emma," as his eyes watered and he took his place on the aisle.

Emma turned in anticipation. She was never one for show but she couldn't wait to see Regina as a bride. She tried to calm her nerves by taking long deep breaths but she felt as if she were flying on a cloud. 'I hope I'm not a fainter,' she thought to herself.

Just when she was fretting about her nervousness and excitement she saw the hint of brown hair from Henry's head turn the corner. In his arm was the most incredibly beautiful woman she had ever seen. Emma held her breath as Regina beamed at her. Her dark curls were elegantly up, her lips a crimson red…and her dress! She wore a simple but classic off-white v-neck gown down to her feet. The dress showed off some cleavage but tasteful as ever. She wore a pair of pearl earrings and nothing more. Regina was the picture of simple elegance and class. She carried a bouquet of white lion flowers but she wasn't sure if Emma would initially notice them. She did.

Regina felt her breath catch as she saw Emma standing there. She looked like an angel. Regina wondered if the last few months had taken place. 'Am I actually dead?' Emma was the most exquisite thing she had ever seen and she would be hers…all hers. Emma couldn't stand still and looked like she wanted to run to Regina; this only made the brunette smile wider.

The short walk of anticipation was killing them both.

Finally Regina reached her. Henry smiled at both his mothers as he hugged and kissed them. Emma's trembling hands took Regina's in hers, "You look like a goddess." Emma nervously whispered.

"And you an angel," replied Regina.

Emma blushed as they turned around nervously to face Archie.

Archie began, "We are gathered here today to celebrate and witness the union of two people that are long overdue."

That got a laugh out of everyone including the women, easing their tension.

"No really, Regina and Emma are two people that complete one another the way two beings were meant to. From the moment Emma walked into this town sparks flew between these two women. Albeit they were not initially romantic sparks."

The women smiled as everyone lightly laughed.

Archie continued, "None the less their passion was evident and their differences palpable."

Emma frowns but Archie holds up his hands and smiles, indicating he's not finished.

"They were, unbeknownst to themselves, the perfect ying and yang. Two sides of the same coin. We all could see it and already knew they were bound by fate. They were also bound by magic; for together they were stronger than alone. We could name it anything we wanted to: Savior and Evil Queen, The Light and the Dark, The White Knight and her Queen. Two mothers wanting the very best for their son."

The women looked at Henry lovingly as he grinned from ear to ear.

Archie explained, "There's a very thin line when such perfection is found and it is easy for anyone not to see what is right in front of their very eyes."

Regina looked into Emma's eyes as if to say, 'I see you now.'

Archie put his hand over their joined ones, "There is a story in Greek mythology. When humans were created we each had two heads, four arms and four legs. As a punishment we were split in two and set to wander the earth looking for our other half. So no human ever felt complete again until they found their soulmate. Regina, Emma… you two are the epitome of true love and soulmates. May you always be blessed with this eternal love and healthy life together.

Now, Emma would like to say a few words."

Emma nervously began, "I don't know where to start. Archie did a great job. But what he left out is that from the beginning everyone always called me the Savior. I was to save the town, break the curse and inadvertently I've been told I saved you. Even you told me this. What you don't realize and what maybe no one understands is that you saved me. You challenged me…yes…and pushed me…certainly. But you made me a better person right from the start. You taught me how to be a mother and showed me I wanted to be better. Maybe it was to best you but just maybe it was because I wanted to impress you and Henry. You brought out the best in me as my supposed enemy, then as a co-parent, then as my friend. You brought out the magic in me…literally. My world has only ever felt full when you are with me. Because of you I know true love. I promise to spend my life and all my lives, protecting you, loving you, defending you…I will be patient, kind, faithful and I will challenge you when you need me to. Regina, I will become always whatever you need. I love you. I didn't know how broken I was until you mended me. Thank you for saving me."

Regina's quivering lip made it difficult for her to say anything. She could barely see Emma until she blinked away the emotional tears.

"Emma, darling. From the moment you strolled into this town in that death trap, with our son I knew I was in trouble. I could feel it. You were a beautiful, independent woman from the city, sharp and witty and cool. I asked myself how I could I ever compete with you. I didn't know sometimes if I wanted to kiss you or pummel you. Then something happened, something I wasn't prepared for. You broke my curse after I had sunk lower than ever. I made it appear as though this angered me greatly but truly I was relieved. There was a part of me that hoped you were the Savior and that all of this could finally end. I wanted to hate you but I couldn't. Because at every turn, no matter what I did to you, there you were believing in me. Oh Emma, you have saved me. You've saved me in every way. I suppose we've saved each other. You gave me the courage to believe I could change…for Henry, myself and secretly, even for you. I never told you when I knew I loved you. The night you took the dark curse. The night you reached into the formidable darkness to save me. I couldn't hide it from myself anymore. You were the one for me. Emma, I promise and swear to you that I will be always what you need. In this life or any, I will love you, be loyal to you, defend you, protect you, challenge you and always be honest with you. Thank you for believing in me."

There wasn't a dry eye in the forest.

"May I have the rings please?" Archie asked.

Henry quickly reached into his pocket and handed Archie the wedding bands.

"Emma, do you take Regina to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in this world or any, until death do you part?"

"I do." Emma was lost in Regina as she felt the joyous tears slide down her cheek. Regina hadn't stopped silently crying.

"Regina, do you you take Emma to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in this world or any, until death do you part?"

"Forever…I do."

The women held tightly after putting on their rings.

"Then with the power vested in me from the old world to the new world, it is with great pride that I present thee wife and wife. Brides you may ki…"

Emma pulled Regina in, not letting Archie finish his statement. When the women kissed a surge of energy and light emerged from their lips enveloping them and rippling out.

Regina pulled back, "Emma, did you feel that?"

Emma smiled through happy tears, "We shared true love's kiss."