A/N: This one hasn't been updated in quite a while as I've found myself busy and updating other stories as well. BUT, it is time for this story to be finished. It will have a total of 18 chapters, so the next chapter will be written and uploaded later tonight. For now, enjoy this new and patiently awaited for update! :) Thank you all for falling in love with another one of my stories and I hope you enjoy. Happy reading!


The party preparations began. The Swan estate would find itself overly crowded sometimes with party planners, decorators, and cooks. And even if Mary Margaret would over crowd Emma on the planning, it surprised everyone that she allowed Regina to plan some of the decorations. Regina suspected that maybe it was to test her, to see if she was up for the task. Game on. She wasn't about to back down. This was after all a celebration in part for her and Emma's engagement.

Emma's mother wasn't very happy with the idea of Regina having any say in the food choices. But Emma went against her wishes and gave them to her future queen. Regina couldn't even say how many cakes her and Emma looked over and sampled on to make a final decision.

For the main course, the couple decided on salmon with steamed vegetables. Appetizers were various choices of finger foods that most of the guests would eat with forks anyway. The cake was a beautiful white pearl frosting color with edible white pearls on the edges and craftily made roses with the same frosting.

To Mary Margaret's displeasure, she would notice just what a perfect little family her daughter had made for herself in the middle of all of these preparations. Because not only did Regina get to decide on a few things for the party, but Henry did as well.

Even Ruby had a few say in little details, which would end with her flirting with Graham or pinching his butt cheek in front of everyone, only making the man turn crimson red.

On the last day of preparations, Emma neared Regina from behind, her arms wrapping around her figure as her lips found their home on the crook of her neck, which always made Regina giggle like she never thought she would.

"Emma, behave yourself. Your mother is right there." She whispered, grabbing onto her fiancee's arms, wishing they would ease up on the hugging- for the queen's sake.

"So?" Emma hummed with delight, placing a kiss against the woman's neck.

Regina's eyes couldn't help to look over at the queen, who was glaring their way at their behavior. "Emma," she whispered. "She's staring. Stop." She grabbed a sample of cake and shoved it into the princess' mouth, laughing as some of the frosting rested against the corner of her mouth.

Emma chewed on the piece of cake, her taste buds going crazy.

"Come here," Regina dabbed the corner of the blonde's mouth with a napkin. Something that didn't go unnoticed by the queen and even the king.

"You have to admit, she takes really good care of Emma." David's voice startled the queen, but she quickly regained her composure.

"It still seems too good to be true. She's a little too perfect for our daughter." Mary Margaret hummed.

David's eyes fell on his wife, glaring. "First you don't like her because she has no title, and now you're admitting that she may be a little too perfect?" He shook his head once his wife's eyes looked up at him.

"People have secrets they like to keep hidden, David. If she is to be Queen someday, and wishes to be by Emma's side, she can't have any."

"Everyone has secrets. It's called being human." David hissed, walking away before their conversation turned into another argument for the umpteenth time.

Mary Margaret turned her attention back to her daughter and Regina before walking away for good.

"Ugh, as delighted as I've been and a little overwhelmed with the preparations of this party. I have to say, I am bound to put on ten pounds after all the food we've tried. Plus the cake."

Emma smiled, her hands grabbing a hold of Regina's, fingers entwined. "Well, even if you add twenty pounds, I will still love you."

Regina chuckled, "I don't know about that, dear."

Sidney cleared his throat, making his presence known. He nodded once to Emma, who looked right back at Regina.

"Come with me." She told her, tightening her grip on her hand.

"Where are we going?" Asked Regina, walking past chattering party planners until they strolled out of the ball room, past the hallway and the living area. "Emma?" Her brow lifted in suspicion of the blonde's behavior.

"A surprise just arrived for you."

"Emma, no-" Regina was surprised as Emma pulled her close by her waist, only to place a quick kiss on her lips that automatically shut her up.

"Trust me. You'll want this surprise." Emma smiled, standing a few feet back from Regina.

"Emma… What on earth did you get me now?" Regina smiled, shaking her head. Emma beyond spoiled her- always. But ever since they've been on this summer vacation, she has gone overboard.

"Well. You can't have yourself an engagement party without the most important gift of all." Emma nodded at Sidney who then pulled open the front door.

"My God, that was the longest flight I think I've ever been on!" Cora exhaled, standing on the other side of the door frame, luggages in hand. "Oh, but so nice," she smiled over at the blonde. "Thank you, Emma, dear. That was kind of you."

"Mother?" Regina's lips stretched out into a huge smile. She rushed to hug the woman, her eyes watering.

"Oh, Gina, dear!" Cora smiled, hugging her daughter so tightly. "It's so good to see you."

Emma smiled and gave Sidney a curt nod, grateful for helping her out in surprising the woman she loved with one last gift. He was more than happy to do so, walking away with a satisfactory smile on his face.

"What on earth are you doing here?" Asked Regina, unable to believe that her mother was standing right before her.

"Well, you didn't think I was going to miss out on your big engagement party, did you? Honestly, dear, what kind of mother would I be?" Cora looked over at Emma with an appreciative smile. "Emma here phoned me and bought me a plane ticket. Now, where's-?"

"Grandma Cora!" Henry rushed over to the woman as fast as he could. Ruby right behind him.

"There he is!" Cora kneeled down, hugging her grandson as tight as she had hugged Regina. "Have you been a good boy?"

"Yes."

"You really did all that for me, Emma?" Regina asked, her eyes shining with glee as she looked into the blonde's.

"Of course. Your mother is family. Family has to be a part of our big event." Emma raised the brunette's hand, placing a kiss right on her knuckles.

"Emma, I can't thank you enough." Cora smiled, standing upright. Her arm was draped around her grandson's little form as he did not intend to leave her side. "You are a dear. But honestly, dear, flying coach would have been fine- you absolutely didn't have to fly me first class."

"We're just happy you can be here, Cora." She smiled.

Heads turned to the sight of David and Mary Margaret entering the room.

"Mother," Emma stood behind Cora, "Father. May I present to you, Mrs. Cora Mills. Regina's mother." Cora smiled at a smiling David and a not so amused Mary Margaret.

"How do you do?" She said with a nod.

"It's a true pleasure to finally meet you." David reached for the woman's hand, placing a kiss right on her knuckles.

"Oh, well, I believe the pleasure is all mine, your highness." she smiled, her cheeks a crimson color, which made Emma chuckle.

"Ah-ah-ah, not so fast Mrs. M. This charming guy is mine." Ruby winked right at David in a teasing manner, which earned her a glare from the queen. And if it was possible, it only made David turn even redder.

Emma's eyes moved toward her mother, who remained still as a statue. "Mother," she urged her, giving a slight nod toward Cora.

"Charmed." Mary Margaret gave the woman a nod, but didn't bother to extend her hand toward her. An action Regina took notice of and had to bite her cheek over.

Cora's eyes studied the petite woman, not liking her attitude one bit. But she didn't come here to make trouble. That was the last thing she wanted to cause. "Likewise." She muttered.

The doorbell rang and Sidney rushed toward the door, answering it and stepping aside.

"Is everybody ready?" Jefferson stepped inside with an army of women working for him. His black suit and sunglasses are an elegant match. His grin shined pearly white. "Ladies," he clapped his hands. "Let's get to work."

Cora's brow raised, her head turning to look questioningly at her daughter. "Just go with it, mother. You'll love him." Regina whispered, moving along to follow Jefferson, along with Ruby, and Henry.

"Oh, my luggage-" Cora glanced quickly over her shoulder, seeing Sidney reaching for them and heading upstairs right behind them.

"Sidney has them." Regina explained.

"Well, it seems as though now, you will just invite any stranger into our home." Emma looked over at her mother, whatever smile she had been sporting was gone.

"She's not a stranger, mother. She's Regina's mother, my future mother-in-law. That makes her family. She deserves to be here just as anyone else that's invited." Green eyes looked toward David, "Besides, I spoke to father about it and he approved. She will be staying in one of the guest rooms. Excuse me, I have some last minute preparations to look over with Graham."

Mary Margaret turned to David once their daughter was out of sight. If her eyes could beam out lasers, he was sure they would have burn right through him.


Regina had never seen so much movement and or madness inside a house. If this is how it was for a grand birthday/engagement ball, she couldn't imagine how it would be on her wedding day. Here she was, with her mother and Ruby, all sitting in three chairs while at least three women worked on applying their makeup and doing their hair. Each. All supervised by Jefferson himself. This was even more overwhelming than the day Emma took her to get a haircut.

"Is all this absolutely necessary, Regina?" Asked Cora, sitting super still while three women worked on her makeup.

"It is to, Emma, I'm afraid." Regina grinned.

"Really, dear, I could apply all this makeup on my own."

"You better get used to it, Mrs. M. Emma has been spoiling us since we arrived. You will just have to suffer the same fate as the rest of us." Ruby grinned, looking her ruby red lipstick over in the mirror in front of her as it was applied on her lips.

"They're here!" Jefferson came into the room with two dresses wrapped up and hanging on a rack cart. He pushed it further into the room before turning to the women. "Oh, sweetie, please," he frowned at the amount of tiny flowers Regina had in her hair, removing some of them while eyeing one of his girls. "Just three, darling. She's our future Queen, not part of the garden, alright?"

He smiled, moving over to Regina's dress and pulling it off the rack. "Now, this truly is my best work." He laid it on the bed, unzipping the leather bag that held the dress inside. "All silk, soft, long, elegant. Perfect for your figure and strong features." The tip of his finger caressed along Regina's jawline, his eyes watching her through the mirror before her.

"I'm sure it's beautiful." Regina smiled, excited to see the dress that Emma had made especially for her.

"Oh, it is, darling! It is. Fit for a queen such as yourself." He grinned, moving over to Ruby, standing behind her. "And Ruby… Yours is as red as your lipstick. Sparkles just like those in your eyes, sexy but still classy."

"I wouldn't have it any other way, Hollywood." Ruby grinned.

Jefferson chuckled, his hands delicately pulling a tiny curl to fall on the side of her face. He grinned, "That's more you."

"I can't wait to see the look on Graham's face." She said, her heart fluttering inside her chest.

"The best woman won," Jefferson sighed, moving over to Cora. "And for mother dearest-" His eyes raked over the woman's figure that made Cora a little uncomfortable at first. "Dress?"

"Don't trouble yourself, dear. I brought my own. I wasn't showing up to my own daughter's engagement party without one." Cora smiled.

"Oh," Jefferson grinned. "Well, may I?"

"It's hanging by the closet door," Regina's eyes moved over to the closet door which was behind her, watching Jefferson through the mirror as he headed over to it.

"Oh," He frowned upon seeing the poorly designed dress. It was a beautiful, simple dress, but this was a ball. It needed to be better. The mother of the future Queen could not be caught wearing this. "Anita," he called one of his girls, taking the dress off the door and handing it to her. "This simply will not do. Be a dear and quickly take this over to the emergency room. Tell Gloria she needs to work faster than Superman and bring it back to me ASAP."

"Right away," Anita nodded, rushing out with the dress.

"Now…" Jefferson smirked, taking in the beauty of all three women. "Let's work more of my magic."


"Your majesty," Sidney entered the ball room, his eyes on Emma. "The flowers have arrived."

"Great! You know where I want them, Sidney. Please." Emma smiled, brighter than Graham had ever seen her.

"Right away," the man nodded, exiting the room.

Graham turned to see the blonde princess' eyes sparkle. "You're nervous," he noted. "I can't recall any time I've ever seen you nervous about anything before."

"This is different, Graham. Special. Everything has to be absolutely perfect for once. And it will be." She smiled, her eyes taking sight of all the flower arrangements that decorated the stairs, the tables set up around an area, the dance floor shiny and polished, the food being brought in.

"Of course it will be." Heads turned to Jefferson who came into the ballroom with a proud smile to him. "I must say, your majesty- Regina has been my most proudest creation. Ravishing. Truly a beauty."

"Thank you, Jefferson," Emma smiled, patting the man on the back. "I appreciate you taking such great care of her and Ruby and her mother."

"But, of course. It's always a pleasure. Now," he glared at her in warning. "Don't you go up there to sneak a peek at her in that dress. Everything has to be a surprise."

"You have my word." The blonde nodded.

"Good. Now," Jefferson grinned, his eyes falling on Graham.

"What?" Graham's brows knitted, already feeling uncomfortable with the way Jefferson was eyeing him.

"As someone important to the princess and the Swan family, of course she had me work on your own suit for the ball. Which, I must say is perfect for your height and broad shoulders," he gave the man's bicep a squeeze. "But I will still need to make some last minute measurements. If you please?" He motioned toward the exit of the ballroom.

Graham cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably on the balls of his feet. "After you," he murmured.

"Oh, no I insist. I like to appreciate a forbidden view." said Jefferson, turning to Emma once the man was out of the room. "Thank you," he mouthed over to her, rolling his eyes and giving her a gentle squeeze on the shoulder before rushing off to catch up with Graham.

Emma chuckled, shaking her head, eyeing the preparations that were being done to the room.

"Everything's looking beautiful." Lily smiled once Emma turned to face her.

"Lily," Emma breathed out, noticing a luggage in her hand. "Are you…?"

"Leaving?" She nodded, glancing down at her luggage before looking back into green eyes. "Yeah, I think it's best that I do. I need to be as far away from my mother as possible. How sad is that?" She chuckled.

The corner to the blonde's lips tilted into a tiny smirk. "Well, if you are ever in New York… You have my number. Regina and I would love to have you over for some dinner."

"Not planning on sticking around here either, huh?" Lily chuckled. "I get it. Between your mother and mine- it's hard to want to be around them sometimes."

"I have hopes she is beginning to come around." Said Emma.

Lily grew quiet for a solid minute before she spoke again.

"Emma…" Her voice was as soft as her eyes. "Don't be so trusting. Of anyone. Especially my mother."

"Whatever do you mean?" The princess' brows knitted, her head tilted.

"Look, despite how I might've come off in the beginning since you've arrived with Regina- I'm not a horrible person."

"I know that, Lily." Emma smiled.

"But, I'm sorry to say that my mother is." There was no turning back now. She couldn't allow Emma's happy night to be ruined. "I not only wanted to say goodbye before I left, but I wanted to warn you."

"Warn me?"

"I'm not quite sure what my mother has up her sleeve, but she's definitely been up to something. Just watch your back tonight and Regina's." Lily took a few steps before the shocked blonde, her hand caressing away at her cheek before she placed a quick kiss to the corner of her mouth.

Regina walked in wearing regular clothes, a frown on her lips from seeing Lily place a kiss on Emma.

"Goodbye, Emma. If anyone deserves to be happy, it's you." Lily smiled, seeing a small smile stretch across the blonde's lips before she headed for the double doors, nodding respectfully at Regina before leaving.

"Problem?" Regina's brow lifted as she walked over toward Emma, her arms snaking around her form.

"She's just saying goodbye. Nothing for you to grow concerned about." Emma smiled, placing a kiss to the brunette's lips, pulling her closer so she wouldn't see the wondering look in her eye as to what could Mal possibly have up her sleeve for tonight.