Chapter 7

(At the Church)

The deed was done; she was a married woman now. The wedding rings were exchanged; their first kiss was shared in front of everyone. Everybody had a happy smile on his or her face; everyone except her. But of them all her mother was the happiest person that made her happy a little knowing finally she has done something to make her mother happy. Her mother had put everything in this marriage, the decorations were great, and now they were at reception; she was spending her last moments with the people she has grown up with.

There was music playing in the background to which couples were dancing. "Now Ladies and Gentleman, lets have the bride and the groom do their wedding dance," announced Cora with excitement.

At the announcement, Robin went up to Regina, who was standing by the drinks table; having a drink "May I have this dance, my dear wife?" proposed Robin with a gentle smile on his face and getting down on his knees in front of Regina; who could do nothing but blush then she stuttered a "Ye-Yes, please".

At one of the corners of the reception room someone else was blushing red but with anger. Marian couldn't believe Robin had got down on one knee for Regina, who he was going to dumb somewhere really soon. The only thing she has been feeling since she has come into the Mills house was anger and was starting to feel low self-esteem since all Robin has been doing is giving all his attention to Regina. She knew it was to be done that they decided it together but what she didn't know was that it was going to be this hard seeing them like this. She couldn't handle it but she knew she had to it was for their future.

"They look good together don't you think, Mrs. Nolan?" the question startled Marian out of her thoughts. So she turned her head to her right and saw Mr. Gold with a smirk on his face. By looking at this man she got a hint from the tone of his voice and they way he was looking at her and the wedding couple, who were now dancing a slow dance to "Take My Hand" by Emily Hackett and Will Anderson of Parachute, looking absolutely perfect as Mr. Gold had pointed out, she felt as if he knew something about her and they way his eyes fell on her and then slightly over Robin, she started to panic, getting a feeling that he might know the secret about them so she asked, "Wha-Wha-What do you mean Mr. Gold?"

"Oh don't worry dearie, I didn't mean anything bad by it unless you think maybe there was something I said wrong about my observation" he asked her with curious eyes.

But Marian knew she couldn't fall into his trickery because if she did everything would be lost. "No, No, No Mr. Gold I also thing they look perfect together and happy" she tried to say with confidence not letting her jealousy get in the way.

Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap! "Wow, what an incredible view that was" spoke Henry Mills on the speaker. "Now that the wedding couple had danced, lets everyone dance together." It was only family member and few people who were invited, which totaled out to 12 people, not many. They were now all dancing to "Come away with me" by Norah Jones.

(After few hours)

The reception was over, everything went perfect and now Cora was satisfied. Her daughter will be leaving in an hour to New York with her family. Cora had asked Regina and Robin to come meet her at her office, so here she was looking at her daughter with a wonderful man by her side who will now take care of Regina and provide her with everything she need and would treat her like a queen. After she learned about Robin's leaving she had worked with her family lawyer to have the money and property paperwork done immediately. "So, now that my daughter is married into your family Robin, she will be taking her family property and money with her to build her future with you together and all she need to do now is sign the papers and your will be added into to it" explained Cora with a sweet smile.

That's when Regina decided to speak up, "But mother shouldn't my money and property be under my name only why does Robin have to take part in it."

"Oh dear Regina, it's a tradition in our family, once your married your spouse shares everything with you and it is good way of building trust in each other and companionship" again Cora explained with a serious tone of voice leaving no argument.

"Its alright with me if Regina doesn't want to add my name, I just hope I can come to gain your daughter's trust soon, Mrs. Mills, I would wait for however long it will take and I won't ever let your daughter down in anything, I will take good care of her and love her with all my heart and will wait for years to have her love me in return" Robin sounded so sincere when he said that it gave Regina a warm feeling in her heart not only this but it impressed Cora, how much this man seemed to care.

"Oh Robin please call me mother now, and don't you worry about my daughter, she knows how she is suppose to treat you. You will sign these documents right here and now, Regina" demanded Cora as she looked at her daughter.

When Regina recognized the way her mother was looking at her, she quickly got off the chair and came to the table to sign the papers. When the papers were signed, Cora handed them to Robin instead of Regina.

When Robin received the papers, he felt as if he was the luckiest man alive. 'Now all of my problems will be solved, the only thing left for me do is take Regina to the hotel and get back to New York as soon as possible' he concluded his plan.

"Um…mother, can I have some alone time before I leave permanently?" Regina said in a distressed voice.

All Cora did was nod in giving permission for her to leave. As Regina walked out of her mother's office, she decided to visit her apple tree at front of the house. As went near it, she leaned into it, touching it with her palm, and feeling its texture. She was going to miss her apple tree. It was one of her favorite childhood memories with her beloved father with whom she planed it together when she was 7 years old. At thought of her father, she realized that her father hasn't talked to her since her marriage was decided, she didn't know why her father, the person she loves the most, was not with her at her weakest hours.

"Oh, how I wish you were here with me daddy, I would really like someone to help me through this" sobbed out Regina as she cried while looking up at the apple tree.

Suddenly, she felt a hand grab her at the right shoulder, when she looked behind her she saw it was her father. "Oh daddy, where have you been, I missed you so much!" cried out Regina.

Henry then came up to his daughter and wiped her tears away with his hands. "Don't cry my love, everything will be alright" Henry tried to give hope but failing as his own tears were now falling down his cheeks.

Regina saw this and hugged her father tightly, "I don't want to be away from you, daddy" she stated with a heavy heart. "You are not going to be away from me my baby girl, you will always find me in your heart, my love for you is endless. Even though I love you so much, I couldn't do anything against your mother's will to stop her madness, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me, Regina, I have failed you as a father" at this point Henry was full on crying; he felt so useless and hopeless.

"Oh daddy please don't cry" Regina wiped the tears on her father face, "I never blamed you for anything, the one who should apologize, should be mother but I know it won't happen" Regina confessed.

"I promise to you daddy, that I will try to stay happy and find love with Robin. So don't worry about me anymore, it is time for me to do things for myself now" Regina stated with a new enthusiasm. It seemed as if seeing and talking to her father gave her some sort of hope for her future. She just hoped everything would eventually be all right like her father said.

At that Henry had a small smile on his lips, she could see that her daughter had actually grown up and was ready to take control. "Well then I am glad to hear that Regina,…now lets get back in the mansion, you are about to leave soon", Henry reminded her.

"Thank you daddy! I love you so much" declared Regina with all the love she had for her father.

"I love you too, Regina" replied Henry as they started walking into the house.

Now Regina was ready to leave, even though it is going to be hard. She was happy enough that she got spend few minutes with her tree and her father for the last time.