One day, Hook showed up at the mansion and Robin took him to Regina. "Hook, what can I do for you?" she asked.
"Well, I was, um, wondering, if maybe I could, um, get your blessing to ask Emma to marry me?"
Regina was a bit shocked. She knew that Emma and Hook were living together, but she hadn't heard anything about marriage. "I appreciate you coming to me, but this has to be Emma's decision."
"Yeah, that's what Snow and David said."
"Wait, you already asked Snow and David?"
"Well, yeah," he said.
Regina was hurt. She may have not raised Emma, but it's not as if that was her choice. "I'm actually very tired."
"I'll show myself out," Hook had no idea what caused the shift in Regina's mood and demeanor. He left the house and Robin went to his wife.
"Everything okay?" he asked her.
"Hook wants to propose to Emma."
"That's great," Robin smiled.
"He asked Snow and David first."
Robin walked over to his wife, sat on the couch, and took her in his arms. He didn't say anything because he honestly had no idea how his wife felt.
A few days later, Emma showed up at Regina's. "Mom, are you here?"
Regina walked into the hallway, "shh, Desiree's asleep."
"Oh," Emma whispered, "sorry."
"That's alright, dear."
Emma held up her left hand, "Hook proposed, we're getting married." The young woman was thrilled, but her mother, not so much.
"That's wonderful, Emma. Congratulations," Regina hugged her daughter, but Emma could tell something was off.
"Mom, is everything alright?"
Regina pulled out of the hug and looked at her daughter, "of course. My daughter is getting married. Everything's great," Regina's balance faltered, but Emma caught her.
"Whoa, easy," she told her mother. "Let's go sit down."
"I'm fine, dear. I'm just tired. I have a newborn after all."
"Which is why you should sit down so you don't get hurt." Emma wrapped an arm around her mother's waist and took her hand. Once Regina was seated, Emma sat next to her, "are you gonna tell me why you're so upset?"
"What makes you think I'm upset?"
"That hug you gave me."
Regina sighed, "Emma, it's my problem and it's a stupid one."
"Just tell me."
"Fine, Hook asked me for my blessing."
"Wait, did you say 'no'?"
"Of course not. I told him it was entirely up to you. Before I could say anything else, he revealed that Snow and David said the same thing."
It finally clicked with Emma, "he asked them first?"
"Yes, and for some reason, it's been bothering me."
"Maybe it's bringing up a lot of feelings from back then?"
"I don't know why he asked me. It's not as if I raised you."
"You spent the first five years of my life with me. If you hadn't been so sick, you would have been a part of raising me after my parents woke up. You have always been my mom." Emma took her mother, who was now crying, in her arms. After a few minutes, Emma realized that her mother had fallen asleep. She laid her down on the couch and covered her up.
Emma had gone home and explained everything to Hook. The man genuinely felt bad for hurting Regina. He knew how much the woman meant to Emma. Later that day, Hook went over to apologize. Regina accepted and realized that he really was like Robin. He had changed his ways after falling in love just as Robin had done before. Snow was so excited about the wedding that she started helping Emma plan it without Regina. One day, Regina hobbled into her daughter's house. Emma tried to hide everything. "What are you doing?" Regina asked confused by her daughter's behavior.
"Nothing," Emma lied.
Regina slowly walked over to the table and felt her heart sink, "oh," she said softly.
"I'm so sorry, Regina," Snow said after realizing what she had done. "I was so excited that I just got carried away. Why don't you join us? From now on I'll make sure you're included in everything."
"Mom," Emma pulled out a chair and guided her mother to it. She helped Regina sit and then sat next to her. After that day, Regina was always included and started participating more. She was hesitant at first because she was upset, but she eventually got over that.
When Emma and Hook's wedding day arrived, Regina was very emotional. It had been decided that only David would walk Emma down the aisle. All three couldn't do it and they didn't feel right leaving Regina out unless Snow sat out too. Snow, Regina, Eva, and Cora helped Emma get ready. Neal and Roland were walked down the aisle together with the rings and throwing flowers. Eva walked down holding Desiree. Henry stood by Hook. Regina couldn't believe her daughter was getting married. She cried during the entire ceremony and after when the newlyweds left for their honeymoon.
It didn't take long for Emma to get pregnant. She went on to give birth to a baby girl. Regina was having a particularly difficult episode and couldn't visit the baby in the hospital. After being discharged, Emma went to her mother's. She walked into the master bedroom holding the baby. "Hey, nana," Emma said softly.
Regina turned and smiled at her daughter, "you look wonderful."
"I figured that if you couldn't go to your granddaughter then I'd bring your granddaughter to you." Emma carefully sat on the bed with the baby. "This is your granddaughter, Hope. Hope, this is your nana."
"She's beautiful," Regina said, "she looks just like you where you were a baby."
"Really?"
"Yeah, good luck," Regina joked.
"Do you think you can hold her?"
"If you help then maybe."
Emma helped her mother hold Hope, "this is surreal."
"I know what you mean."
"Thank you," Emma said.
"For what?"
"Everything," Emma answered, "yes, ma and dad spent more time with me, but you shaped me. I can't believe that I'm married and have a new baby. I don't know if I could have done that without you in my life."
"I think you're giving me too much credit."
"You love it."
"Yes, I really do," Regina chuckled. "I love you."
"I love you too, mom."
"I was right."
"About what?"
"Look at all you have because you tried."
Emma smiled and hugged her mother. The two were now closer than ever and life was wonderful for everyone because they tried to make it that way, and they did.