A/N: Hi! I'm back! Sorry for the wait on this update. Wanted to work a couple of things out before posting. Hope you enjoy it!

The Black Fairy watched from the shadows. Her plan to destroy the savior was working better than expected. Not only had Emma lost all hope, so had the rest of the town.

"This is going to be too easy Gideon! She won't put up a single ounce of resistance when I take that sword and run her through! She's ready to die! And to think, she's doing a better job of killing her own hopes than I ever could. Then her power will be mine and all the realms will bow before me!"

Gideon grimaced. "And then what? Nobody will ever love you. You'll be all alone without a single person to share it with. Why is it so important for you to destroy Emma's hope? She has done nothing to provoke you."

"She was born! That's quite enough motivation. I don't care for love. I find it overrated in all honesty, but power is intoxicating. A Savior without hope, with nothing left to fight for is just ripe for the picking."

####

It was the morning of the wedding and the town was abuzz. Everyone was anxious for the royal wedding but none more so than the participants.

"What's wrong Snow? You should be completely overjoyed about today. Our daughter is getting married and we are here to witness it!"

"I don't agree with this David. I don't think she loves him. They don't have what we have and I want her to so much." Snow was washing dishes angrily and accidentally dropped a glass on the floor. It smashed and she started to cry.

"Hey! Stay calm ok. She's a grown woman and we have to accept that she can make her own choices. If she is happy with Hook, then we should be too." David bent down to pick up the broken shards around his wife's feet.

"She isn't though! She pretends to be. You know, she reminds me of when you were engaged to Abigail. It was duty, not love. She's making the same stupid mistakes that you almost made David. She's too honorable to put her own needs first. She takes after you!"

David thought about his wife's statement. He had seen that look in her eyes but hadn't wanted to admit it to himself. He always thought she could do better than a pirate and he didn't want to overstep anymore than he had done already but if Snow felt that this was true, he wouldn't stand by idly and let it happen.
"I'll talk to her."

####

Regina, Ruby and Tink were all sat in silence at the hair salon with Emma. Nobody dared say a word. The air was thick with hurt feelings and awkwardness. Ashley tried to clear the air in true hairdresser fashion. "So, nervous for the big day Emma?"

Emma smiled weakly and looked back down to the magazine in her lap. Ashley didn't have a clue what had happened since the last time they were all there but she felt extremely uncomfortable.

Emma had called Tink to assure her that she was fine with what had happened and begged her to still be her bridesmaid. Tink had agreed but was on alert in case it was a trick and the way that Ruby kept looking at her was making her feel like a dog's dinner.

Regina stared ahead into her own reflection. She couldn't help but notice how Emma kept glancing at her when she thought she wasn't looking. There was a deep sadness in her eyes. Regina felt her heart beating rapidly each time she caught the blonde's gaze and a tiny glimmer of hope registered somewhere inside her.

"Okay ladies, you are all done! Good luck for today and Emma, I wish you a long and happy marriage." Ashley dismissed the women.

Emma hugged the younger blonde and said, "Thank you Ashley. You've done an amazing job."

The women had arranged to get ready at Regina's mansion on the day of the wedding so they awkwardly stepped out onto the sidewalk and waited for the mayor to bring the car around. Tink and Ruby piled into the back seat and looked out of their respective windows and Emma got into the passenger seat. Ruby broke the silence.

"So is anyone gonna talk or all we all gonna pretend like we're good?"

Regina huffed. "Drop it Ruby. It's Emma's wedding day and I'm sure she doesn't want any more stress than there already is."

Emma spoke. "It's fine Ruby. I'm not mad at you or Tink."

Regina eyeballed her.

"Or you Regina. Look. I really appreciate you all being here today. I know things haven't been great between any of us but today is about fresh starts. A clean slate. I love you guys and I don't think I could live with myself if you all weren't a part of today." Emma directed her words at Regina. "It means a lot to me. More than you know."

They pulled up at the mansion all feeling slightly relieved for having broken the ice in the car. "Ruby, Tink, you know where the guest room is. Please don't kill each other. I really don't fancy cleaning fairy blood off my carpets today."

Tink's eyes widened and she looked at Ruby in fear. "Don't worry, Regina. I had pancakes for breakfast." Ruby winked at the mayor and went up stairs to change.

Emma looked at Regina again with the sad expression that had become so familiar lately. "Sorry to ask but, erm, would you mind helping me with the dress? If it's gonna make you uncomfortable I can ask Ruby."

Regina met the blonde's gaze. "That won't be necessary Emma. Of course I'll help you with anything you need."

The two women walked silently up the flight of stairs to the Mayors bedroom and closed the door. Emma looked around remembering the last time she was there and felt a blush creep to her cheeks. Regina seemed to sense where her mind was wandering and felt a warmth spread over her own chest. She looked down at her feet and cleared her throat. "I'll give you a minute to change. I'll be outside. Just call me when you need a hand."

Regina stood outside in the hall leaning against the wall. She saw something in Emma's eyes that she hadn't seen before. It was definately there. Her mind raced trying to figure out what it all meant. She didn't have long to dwell on it though as Emma called her back. Her heart almost stopped when she saw the full effect of the savior in her gown, bridal make up and perfectly styled hair. She looked like an angel. A tear pricked her eye but it didn't fall. Instead, she busied herself with the corseting laces and tried to concentrate on the task at hand.

Emma broke the silence. "Regina. If anything happens to me, I want you to promise me something. Promise me that you will take Henry somewhere safe and never look back. He needs at least one of us no matter how grown up he thinks he is."

Regina stopped lacing the dress, her hands resting against the small of the blonde's back. "Emma. Of course I will promise that. I'd do anything to protect our son. But you are not dying today!" She wanted to hug her but didn't trust herself to ever let go, so she continued lacing the dress.

Emma stared back at the reflection. The sight of the older woman behind her, helping her with the things that she found so hard was almost too much. "Thank you Regina. I wish I had your hope."

Just then, the doorbell sounded. Regina stepped back. There was more that she wanted to say about Emma's statement, something that worried her deeply. It rang again and Regina scowled. "I'm going to get that but, I want to talk to you about something important before we leave ok?"

Emma nodded and watched the brunette disappear from the room. She wondered what she could possibly say that was so important. As she was musing, David appeared in the doorway. "Are you decent Emma?"

"Dad? What are you doing here? You aren't supposed to pick me up for another hour."

He bounded over to his little princess smiling broadly. "Oh Emma! You look so beautiful! Truly!" She blushed and smiled under her father's approving gaze. This is what she lived for lately. Making her parents proud.

"Thanks Dad. Glad you approve."

David grabbed her hands and pulled her to sit on the edge of the Mayors bed. He say beside her and started his story.

"I wanted to talk to you before the ceremony. You may or may not remember my story but I was engaged before your Mother and I married. I knew I loved your Mother so much and I would have done anything to protect her. Even marry someone else." He looked pointedly at Emma. She gave him a confused look. "You are a hero, Emma. It's in your blood and sometimes, us Charmings can be a tad stubborn. Sometimes what we think is protecting the people we love, it's actually hurting them."

Emma looked at her father in shock. "Are you saying, you don't want me to marry Hook?"

"I'm saying, I don't want you to do something out of honor or fear. If you never take a chance on true love, you'll never find it."

Emma sterned her face and looked straight ahead. "Hook is my true love. We passed the test in the underworld and the flower reunited us."

David sighed. "I know. I just, I think you are capeable of shaping your own destiny. I don't see you as happy as your Mother and I were on our wedding day. It all seems a bit forced and honestly, it breaks my heart. I had to talk to you. I want nothing but the best for you Emma and yes, I'm your father and nobody will ever be good enough for my little girl, but I do know about true love and the power it holds over us. Without it, we are powerless."

Emma considered his words and felt her heart breaking. All she wanted was to give her parents some happy memories and she couldn't even do that. She hugged him. "I love you Dad."

"I love you too."