Chapter 37

Snow bounced out of bed and shot around the loft, softly humming a happy tune. It was Saturday. Finally! All the hard work and bear wrestling with Emma was going to shine like the sun today! David was awoken with eggs and bacon and the coffee was strong. Neal was happily drooling and cooing in his little swing and all was going to be perfect. The sunshine was finally coming through the windows and not a cloud in sight. It was going to be a perfect day.

…..

Emma groaned loudly as Regina repeatedly shook her to wake her up. "No. I don't want to. I won't do it."

Sighing, Regina stopped shaking her and instead cuddled up on her chest. "Okay, but you already agreed to it so now you have to do it."

Emma frowned, still refusing to open her eyes. "I agreed to it so I could marry you so we could have awesome sex."

Chuckling, Regina said "I see. So since we are already having awesome sex, no need to marry me?"

"That is not what I said."

"Well, if there is no intent to marry me, then you do not need to go through with the coronation."

Emma waited for more, but the brunette fell silent. "Sooo, I don't have to get crowned?"

Regina shrugged in an uncaring manner. "No. The only reason I would insist upon it is if you intend to marry me. But, not everyone gets married, it's not that big a deal I suppose."

"Marriage really isn't that big a deal, I mean, it doesn't change anything really."

"Right. So, don't get crowned and we won't get married." Regina managed to hid her wicked grin from the blonde.

Emma smiled broadly and snuggled against Regina tighter, feeling a bit lucky at the moment. She started to let her hands roam a bit lower than they had been and ducked in for a kiss that would hopefully lead to a celebration.

All at once Regina poofed to a standing position, fully dressed in a killer dress and was checking her hair in the mirror. "You still need to get up dear."

"But why? It's early and I don't have a coronation to be forced into."

Regina smirked at her and said, "I understand that, sheriff, but I intend to burn this town to the ground in a few moments and I would prefer you were among the casualties."

Eyes wide with shock Emma could only stutter out "What? Why?"

"Emma, if you're not going to marry me, then I have no reason to continue this relationship. If I lose you I will also lose my mind. If I lose my mind, I will simply have to let the Evil Queen out to play." She shrugged as if this were the most normal thing in the world.

Emma rolled her eyes and threw the blankets off, finally sitting up. "I see. So basically, it's my choice to not be crowned, but if I choose not to, you will kill everybody in town because you can't marry me?" Regina nodded and Emma stood up, making her way to the closet to get dressed. "This is bullshit."

Chuckling, Regina changed into a more appropriate dress for the coronation before heading downstairs to start the coffee. "That's perfect dear. Always the Savior."

Emma groaned loudly again and muttered, "this day is going to be the perfect hell."

….

Ruby stretched out as best she could on the stiff cot in the jail cell. She growled slightly at Lorelei who was in fact the reason she had to sleep on this ridiculous thing in a jail cell. She had been sleeping rather nicely before her phone started ringing the morning before. Of course, as soon as she woke up she knew someone was calling to tell her what this siren had done because her senses told her Lorelei wasn't in the room. Still, it was a bit shocking to learn she had concocted some sort of mind control potion in the little pharmacy. She found it impressive, unfortunately Emma did not. She hadn't even tried to get her out of jail, knowing about the coronation and how much everyone needed it to be perfect. Unfortunately, she also didn't have the heart to tell Lorelei no when she asked her to stay with her. She stood, stretching out the cramped muscles in her back. Behind her, Lorelei stretched out with a hand that snaked around Rubys stomach, which quickly attempted to move lower.

Smacking her hand, Ruby turned around to glare at the siren. "That isn't going to happen when you're in jail. If you keep trying like you did for three hours last night, you can sleep alone until they let you out."

The siren simply laid back down and closed her eyes. "This is ridiculous. Tell them to let me out and I promise not to attend the specialest hat party."

"Coronation, and they will not let you out so I won't waste my breath." Ruby motioned for the night watch to let her out, it was barely dawn, but she was angry enough to leave now.

Snapping to attention Lorelei called out as she walked out, "you're leaving me?! I thought you loved me?"

Ruby rolled her eyes and sighed before responding, "I do love you, my teeth can prove it again if you want to play the doubt game. I am going to get ready for todays events because I am not a rude ass who acts like a wild animal so I was invited. You need to consider ways to not go to jail, and then you won't have to worry about me leaving you alone." With the sirens face in a mock of indignation, Ruby left. Honestly, she did feel bad about Lorelei being in jail, and she did miss her. Honestly the only reason she said no for three hours was because of the night watch staring at them. But, in this case, honesty wasn't going to help Lorelei pull her head out of her ass. This was going to be a very long couple of days.

…

After struggling not to smack her mother all day long, Emma was finally standing in a private room for her to get dressed in, wearing a big, ridiculously voluminous gown thing. The bottom ring stuck out so far, Emma couldn't reach it with her foot. At least she wouldn't be able to trip over it, on the bright side. She was currently waiting to be told her appearance would be needed with a ten minute warning. She had been ready for about fifteen minutes, but was given reason to wait in this room until called for.

Without a knock, the door popped open and a cheery Snow clapped her hands and bounced a bit looking Emma up and down. "Oh! Emma! It's perfect!" She started to come towards Emma for a hug, but an unusually flushed Emma held a hand up and shouted "no!" Snow looked hurt and confused but Emma very quickly explained.

"Uhm, I love you mom, and I know you want a hug, but my dress is so pretty and stuff, I don't want to chance a last minute wrinkle…" Emma smiled big and gestured for Snow to go out the door again, "now, Mom, please, make sure everything is good to go." Emma nearly forced Snow out and leaned heavily on the door frame, biting her lip so hard she drew blood.

Finally, she let out a loud breath she had been holding and she took several deep breaths before she could stand upright again. She held onto the doorway to steady herself as Regina managed to remove herself from under the gown that had far too much room underneath of it.

Wiping her chin in a very regal manner, Regina looked Emma up and down before saying, (somewhat breathlessly), "Yes, I think everything fits perfectly. Good thing I checked, as it turns out, your underwear were completely out of place."

Emma sighed heavily and took a few more deep breaths before saying, "yes, thank you." They left the dressing room together, heading to the main hall, meeting Lily along the way. As they neared to doors, Regina slipped off to join the crowd and Emma and Lily waited for their time.

The hall was decorated in every royal thing Snow could think of. All the guests were dressed in the very best clothes. The entire town had been invited, and it seemed they had nearly all shown up. Everyone was so very focused on the two soon to be crowned princesses entering the hall, no one noticed the sun had been obscured by black billowing clouds…