A/N: Hope you enjoy chapter 2! Chapter 3 will be posted a week from now instead of this Wednesday as both my SQACC pieces are also being released this week so I don't want to overwhelm people 😅

...SQ...

"Of course we're happy Emma. We're very happy," Kathryn says. "After the curse broke, Frederick and I found each other and we've been happy ever since. Why do you ask?"

"No. Just thought I'd check in. You know after the kidnapping and everything... we never did get the chance to speak and, you know..." Emma trails off.

Kathryn chuckles softly. "Emma that was a long time ago. Years even," she reminds, little Freddy Jr coming to sit on her lap. "I barely remember a time before this one came into my life," she says, fawning over the little blond haired blue-eyed boy.

Emma smiles at them, "I'm glad." Kathryn nods, smiling before having to rush off to meet Frederick.

So it can't be Kathryn then, Emma thinks, mentally crossing her off of the list in her head. She's been trying to figure out who it is that Regina's set to marry, but so far she's come up empty.

Of course Regina's been no help with that whatsoever. Only answering Emma's subtle prying questions with vague answers of 'It's a surprise Emma' and 'You'll find out on the day.' Well Emma doesn't want to find out on the day and she certainly doesn't want it to be a surprise. She'd rather know who it is in town she should be silently shooting daggers at thank you very much.

And fine yes, Emma's been a bit of a coward. She should have told Regina how she feels the minute she'd recognised these feelings for what they are. But how was she supposed to know Regina was into women? The only woman she seems to remotely even look at with doe eyes is Emma herself.

Dammit, Emma has clearly underestimated Regina's ability to mask her emotions.

She's going to have to try harder.

...SQ...

"I need you to help me with the dance," Regina says in a tone that brooks no argument.

Naturally Emma attempts to argue. Because of course she does.

"What? Why?"

"I need to practice," Regina says, moving to stand in front of Emma. So that's why the sofas have been moved back, making for more space in the centre of Regina's living room—it's a makeshift dance floor. Emma's stomach plummets. This is really happening.

"Regina please, I'm sure your to-be won't mind if you stepped on her toes a little. I mean come on look at you, you're tiny." Emma says, "It's not like you'll break them or anything," because she can't be close to Regina. Not like this. Not if she stands any chance of getting rid of these unrequited feelings.

Regina glares up at her, "You take that back Emma Swan!" She hasn't got her heels on right now and Emma's got a good couple inches on her. She can't help but think how cute Regina looks like this.

"What?" Emma asks, feigning innocence.

"I am not tiny!" Regina hisses, straightening her shoulders and attempting to make herself look taller.

"Yeah, you kinda are. It's cute," Emma says, folding her arms; tilting her chin up in defiance. She has to work hard to keep in her laughter at Regina's angry little pout. Emma loves teasing her.

"I am not cute! You take that back right this instant!" Regina growls, moving close enough that she's inches away from Emma's face.

"Or what?" Emma asks stepping closer and smirking. It takes her about half a second to realise that that was the wrong move. Being this close to Regina, she can practically feel her body heat. Her eyes are wild and dazzling and Emma feels herself drown in them, swaying closer to Regina, pulled in by an unstoppable force—

—before reality hits her in the face. Regina's getting married for God's sake.

Emma clears her throat and takes a step back. Looking anywhere but at Regina.

"It has to be perfect," Regina mumbles quietly. Emma raises an eyebrow at her, expectant. "She comes from royalty Emma. Her father's a prince," she says as though Emma should know that by now.

So not Mal then. Aurora perhaps? No, she's happily married with Philip and Mulan or whatever arrangement they have going on between them.

"Emma, are you even listening to me?" Emma breaks out of her thoughts, focuses on Regina. Regina's eyes are pleading with her and she gives in, unable to deny Regina anything.

"Okay," she says softly. "I gotta warn you though; I'm not the best dancer."

Regina looks at her like she knows something Emma doesn't, "That's okay. We'll practice together. We'll be perfect in no time." She moves to put her heels on before coming back.

Emma nods; moves closer. Settles one arm around Regina's waist and holds the other up. Regina steps forward, places one hand on Emma's shoulder and the other in her raised hand. Emma stiffens, holds her breath, too afraid to let it out.

"Emma," Regina whispers, breaths warm at Emma's lips "Relax."

Before long they're swaying together. Step forward, step back and around and twirl. This close Emma notices all the tiny little details in Regina's beautiful face. Can count individual eyelashes, peaks a faint smattering of freckles across her sun kissed skin, eyes the scar resting snugly above Regina's lip with envy – marvels at all the little brush strokes making up the work of art in front of her.

She gets lost in the moment, feels the warmth of Regina's body press against her, the softness of her skin as she cradles her hands, pulling Regina close and then shifting away. Back and forth and again and again. Regina laughs and Emma's fingers brush across her palm, down along her wrist and—

—Regina hisses then. "Sorry!" Emma cries, realising she's stepped on Regina's toes.

"It's okay," Regina reassures smiling up at Emma softly, "From the top. We have to be perfect."

And Emma doesn't question it.

...SQ...

"I just don't think it speaks you Regina," Emma says looking around the hall in distaste.

"Emma, you've said that about the last three halls we've seen. The wedding's at the end of the week," Regina says in exasperation. She pinches the bridge of her nose and Emma observes her for a few moments, tension around her eyes and mouth. Emma feels a pang in her chest at that. "What is it Emma? Please, what's the problem?"

And Emma wants to answer something else entirely.

But she doesn't.

She doesn't know why it's so important to Regina that Emma pick out the venue for her, just that it is. But—"It's just, something tells me you'd much rather have a small quiet wedding with close friends and family Regina. Not in a hall like any of the ones we've seen today."

Regina watches her, eyes curious, "And where would you suggest we have it exactly?"

Emma tries not to focus on the word 'we', on the implication that this is for Emma and Regina. No, this is only for Regina. "I don't know um, a small room in town hall?" Emma suggests, "No probably not. Ooh—"

"If you're about to say Granny's, let me stop you right there Ms. Swan," Regina cuts in. And ouch, Ms. Swan? Yep not a good idea then.

"I wasn't," Emma says sheepishly. Regina throws her a pointed look, "Fine, I was thinking it but I wasn't gonna say it sheesh." Emma folds her arms rolling her eyes.

"What were you going to say then?"

"I don't know, I was thinking maybe... your back garden?" Emma offers timidly, rubbing the back of her neck and shoving her hands in her back pockets.

It's a stupid idea. Something she's always imagined on the rare occasion she let herself think about that. Surrounded by their family and closest friends at the place where they'd first met. Of course that is no longer a possibility, but at least Regina should still have the option to have her own wedding there, right?

Regina stares at her meaningfully for a long minute, binder held tightly to her chest, perfectly manicured fingernails rapping against it lightly. And damn Emma's starting to worry she's got something on her face. Before she can ask what the problem is, Regina huffs out a sigh; shakes her head at Emma, "I guess the wedding's happening in my back garden then, isn't it?"

...SQ...

And that's how Emma finds herself in Regina's back garden later that evening, planning the decorations along with Henry and Zelena—she'd insisted she wanted to be a part of her sister's wedding and Regina had only agreed after Henry had promised he'd keep an eye on her.

The theme is white and purple. 'For symbolism Emma. The colours will symbolise the both of us. My intended is good and pure, she's the white and I'm the purple.' And Emma had nodded along, trying not to feel jealous at that. Regina had allowed them creative freedom but insisted there be more white than purple, using purple as more of an accent colour.

Emma hums to herself—it helps her focus okay?—as the three of them work together to get the job done. She's just finished placing the final decorations around the garden; adding the finishing touches. "There done," she says, looking up and catching sight of Zelena throwing daggers her way.

And that's a thing that's become quite evident lately, Emma notes, the amount of stink-eye Zelena has been giving her. You know what actually, Henry too.

She's confused and a little hurt too if she's honest. Unsure if it's something she's done or if it's some weird wedding jitters thing they're feeling on behalf of Regina.

Both Henry and Zelena finish up what they're doing and come to stand in front of her, arms crossed; matching scowls. Emma feels a bit cornered but she doesn't budge, hoping they'll let it out. Whatever it is.

A few moments pass and nothing. Emma's starting to get a little annoyed, "What?" she asks.

Zelena and Henry both share a look before Zelena resumes looking at her, or rather, glaring at her. "If you break my mom's heart, I will turn a blind eye to whatever Aunt Z has in store for you," Henry warns.

And—okay, morbid.

Emma raises an eyebrow, watching them both with confusion, "Guys, chill. I promised her I'd walk her down the aisle and I will. I'm not gonna break her heart, okay?"

They both share a look, matching raised eyebrows, silently communicating something—Emma kind of wishes she was a mind reader—before Henry nods and Zelena stops scowling.

Well then.

The trio then move to stand beside the patio door, observing their handiwork.

Emma's not going to lie; Regina's back garden was beautiful before. But now, it's been completely transformed. She feels a pinch inside, thinking perhaps she's a glutton for punishment given how she's decorating the wedding venue for the woman she loves who's marrying someone else. Typical.

They'd used magic for this, the only thing Regina has allowed magic to be used for in the whole of the wedding arrangements. There's a floral archway covered with white and purple flowers entwining one another, standing up against the back wall—that's where the vows will take place. The wedding's in the night so there are balls of warm white lights up in the air floating above the garden, held up by magic and lighting up the area beneath. Small white lanterns hover above the handful of white tables scattered around, bits of purple interwoven throughout.

Regina had wanted this to be a surprise so won't see it until the day of. Emma hopes she'll like it. It really is a gorgeous setup. And the only thing that will make it better is Regina's presence in a wedding gown, standing beneath the archway brimming with happiness and excitement as she recites her vows. Emma tries not to think of whomever it is that'll be standing opposite her.

...SQ...

I'd love to know your thoughts! Thank you for reading; the next chapter will be up on Monday 😁