A/N: Okie I've been absolutely bricking posting this chapter, there's quite a bit of dialogue but I hope it clears things up and does justice and I hope you guys like it 😅
...SQ...
Emma wakes up late the next day, her head is pounding and the events from the previous night aren't very clear.
Damn she shouldn't have drank so much.
She sighs a heavy sigh, staring at the suit hung up on the back of her room door—Snow must've gone to pick it up yesterday. Regina had made very clear that Emma was to wear the suit she'd tried on at the tailors since it was already tailored to her measurements and that they'd just order the exact same for her fiancée but in a different colour.
Emma eyes the clock, there's only a couple hours left till the wedding. She feels tears gather in her eyes and that familiar ache build in her throat again. She gulps it down, opting to swallow a couple painkillers and rolling over back under the duvet. She'll deal with everything in a couple hours, for now she's going back to sleep.
She's woken up by a hit on the arm.
"You promised!" it's Henry. Another hit.
"What are you—" another hit. "Ow, what are you doing Henry?" Another hit. "Stop!"
"You promised me you wouldn't break her heart!" and he looks like he's on the verge of tears.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"The wedding's in 45 minutes ma! You're not even—" and it's then that she notices what he's wearing.
And that it's dark outside.
Oh.
Oh crap.
She bolts up, making a mad dash for the shower. 20 minutes later she's washed and dried and just finishing up styling her hair. She opts for simple makeup, a bit of lip gloss and mascara, nothing fancy. It's Regina's day today. Not that she could ever outdo Regina.
She quickly grabs a band aid placing it on her cheek—she may have tripped in the shower in her haste and caught it on something—okay, fine maybe she's just clumsy whatever.
When the time comes to check herself in the mirror, she has to sit down for a minute. The rest have already left and she's home alone right now. If she didn't know any better, it looks like she could be dressed for her own wedding. But the truth is she's about to attend Regina's wedding, dressed in the exact same suit—bar the colour—as Regina's future wife and she's—she can't cry now, she'll ruin her makeup.
Emma exhales deeply, Regina is counting on her and she really doesn't have time to have a breakdown. After another 5 minutes of pulling herself together, she flies out of the house, speeding over to Regina's in what's probably the quickest drive known to man—she may have almost crashed a few times, possibly knocking over an old lady and killing a cat in the process. And realises just as she's about to walk inside that she could've poofed here. Dammit.
Okay, deep breaths. In, out, in, out.
This is it. This is the end.
...SQ...
Emma stands waiting at the bottom of the stairs. Her hands are clammy and the collar of her shirt is irritating her. Everyone is currently waiting out in the back garden and Emma could literally just slip away right now without anyone noticing and—
Regina finally steps out onto the landing and Emma gasps, standing awe-struck.
Regina is breathtaking.
It's not the same dress she'd been trying on at the bridal shop and Emma's glad because that one was nice but this one? God, this one's stunning. It's strapless and so white Emma thinks it might start glowing. The fabric looks soft like silk, and she wants to press and stroke her cheek against it. When she finally gets to Regina's face, she thinks the dress is nothing when compared to the beauty of the one who's currently adorning it.
Regina has always been a natural beauty but—okay, Emma's brain might be short circuiting a little. Regina's makeup is light, soft pink coloured lipstick, a dash of mascara. Her hair, a little longer than it was when they'd first met, is up in a bun. A few locks left free framing her face and making her look a vision.
Regina takes a step forward beginning her descent down the stairs and Emma's heart squeezes so painfully in her chest, she realises she can't do this and flees as fast as she can.
She makes it to the front porch outside before she hears, "Emma Swan!"
Damn.
She really shouldn't have eased up on her workout a few months back. At least she'd have been in better shape and more able to make a quicker getaway. Emma turns around feeling a little ashamed.
Regina watches her, a little taken aback before she says, "Y-you're Henry's birth mother?"
Emma's eyes widen before she plays along, "Hi," she says sheepishly.
Regina smiles softly. Moves towards her then and Emma waits, watches with baited breaths how beautiful she looks in this white gown, contrasting so perfectly with the darkness of the night surrounding them. "I can't do this without you Emma," Regina pleads quietly. "Please."
She moves her hand up to Emma's face, gently stroking against her cheek and Emma feels the small cut from before begin to heal. Regina moves to remove the band aid and smiles up at her with adoring eyes and—
Emma can't do this anymore. Is unable to watch the love of her life go and marry another. No. Holding back her tears she turns away from Regina and makes to take a step forward when,
"Please don't go," Regina cries and it's just so desperate. "Look, I know you have cold feet and it's perfectly normal but—"
"Wait what?" Emma asks, turning back around.
Regina watches her, eyebrows scrunching together, "You don't—" realisation dawns on her face then, eyes widening as something clicks into place and Emma wishes she would speak because nothing is making sense right now. "There is no other woman," Regina says quietly.
"What?"
"There is no other woman," Regina repeats. "There never has been. There never will be."
And remember those two times when Emma thought she was having a heart attack? Yeah they're nothing compared to what's going on in her heart right now.
"Emma?" Regina whispers. "Please say something."
"Just... gimme a minute," Emma says pinching the bridge of her nose. She's starting to feel lightheaded. Okay maybe she needs to sit down for a minute. She makes her way over to a little bench in front of Regina's lawn. Deep breaths. In, out, in, out. Regina follows, silently sitting down beside her.
Emma drags a hand down her face attempting to calm whatever the hell is going on inside. "What the hell are you talking about Regina?" she growls, because she doesn't know if she wants to cry or scream or do both.
"I—you're an idiot Emma Swan. And I will begrudgingly admit that you also turned me into an idiot. But I swear if you repeat that to anyone I won't hesitate to kill you with my bare hands," Regina's eyes are ablaze and her bottom lip is quivering in rage and damn, Emma is trying really hard not to be turned on right now.
"I thought that as soon as you hear I'm getting married it'll push you to do something about it and then I could call the whole fake thing off," Regina explains. "But I forgot how dense you can be—"
"Hey!"
"Well did I lie?" Regina says, throwing her a pointed look.
Emma huffs, standing back up, "So that night at the diner my parents, Henry; Zelena, they were all just playing along?"
"They were hoping the same as I," Regina says quietly, eyes following Emma as she begins to pace back and forth.
"And what, when that didn't work you were forced to plan an entire wedding?"
"Yes," Regina grumbles. She turns sombre then, "It wasn't the original plan."
"And you couldn't have just asked me?" Emma stops to look at Regina. She finds she's more hurt than anything else.
Regina watches her closely, tears gather in her eyes. "I—" she sighs, standing up and taking a step forward. "I was afraid. I didn't think you'd—"
"What? Say yes?"
"No. I mean yes. But more importantly I didn't think you'd stay. I didn't want to scare you away Emma. I'm absolutely petrified because you mean more to me than I ever thought was possible. You saying no I can deal with, but you leaving... I can't afford to lose you Emma," Regina says, voice breaking.
"I—"
"Please, let me explain," she offers, cutting Emma off.
"Okay."
Regina exhales; pausing to gather herself then takes another step closer. Hesitantly reaching out, she tentatively takes Emma's hands into her own before looking up into her eyes. "I'm sorry Emma. Truly. I didn't mean to hurt you. I went about this the wrong way, I know that now. We just... it's always been you Emma."
And Emma feels her heart begin to race at those words.
"After the jewellers I was quite sure that you'd figured it out," Regina continues. "That you were just playing along, and that you were onboard with it—with us getting married. So I kept playing along too, we all did. I continued the planning; making sure everything was perfect because that's what you deserve. I didn't realise until now that you... you still thought..." she trails off. "I suppose you can't help it really, Snow and Charming both passed on their idiot gene to you and—"
"Hey!" Emma whines. She feels a sting in her eyes and an ache build in her throat as Regina watches her so longingly, fresh tears gathering in her chocolate brown eyes.
Regina breathes out a soft chuckle. "We're such idiots," she says, shaking her head in fond amusement. "We never were the best with communication were we?"
Emma snorts in response, also shaking her head. Feels her own eyes tear up and the ache in her throat build further. She wants to laugh and cry at the nonsensicalness of it all.
Regina looks down at their still joined hands then, squeezing and smiling as if lost in thought. She gulps then looks back up at Emma, "I want nothing more than to build a home with you Emma. To wake up to you every morning and go to sleep beside you every night. Have late night conversations and inside jokes, snuggles on the couch and date nights under the moonlight... and more than anything, I would love to have more kids with you and have each of them turn out to be just as perfect as Henry."
"He is pretty perfect isn't he?" Emma muses. Regina hums, gently stroking her thumbs over smooth milky skin. "So what are you trying to say?" Emma asks, because she has to be sure.
"Oh for God's sake, do I have to spell it out for you Ms. Swan? I'm saying that I'm sick of waiting for you to do something about this thing between us and have decided to do something about it myself." Regina sighs, "Look around you Emma," she says, gesturing around them and to herself. "It's all yours if you want it. But if you don't, I understand. Just... please promise me nothing will change between us."
Emma exhales deeply, "And if I do? Want it that is?"
"Then will you do me the honour of becoming my idiot or not?" Regina asks, adorable pout at her lips.
Emma gasps, the realisation of what's happening finally dawning on her, before smirking at Regina, cheeky glint in her eyes. "I thought proposals were supposed to be romantic," she teases because she just can't help herself.
"I—this is all I have right now... I'm tired of dancing around Emma," Regina's arms fall to her sides, shoulders slump and she looks so defeated it makes Emma's chest twinge.
"Hey," Emma says, moving closer to cup Regina's cheek. "Hey look at me," Regina looks up at her and when she meets her gaze Emma knows she never stood a chance. "I love you, okay? And I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life being your idiot."
"Is that a yes?" Regina whispers hopeful. And it never ceases to amaze Emma how one second this larger than life woman can turn from a fierce lioness protecting her baby cub, into a baby cub herself.
Emma nods. Smiling before whispering, "Come on. Let's go get married." Regina beams at her, eyes lighting up and making something warm bloom inside Emma's chest. She takes Regina by the arm, leading her inside.
Regina gasps when she takes in the setup in the back garden. Turning to Emma with a loving smile and an awed, "It's perfect Emma. Just like you." Emma grins from ear to ear, swooning under the praise.
As they walk down the aisle arm in arm the guests whoop and cheer. Archie stands waiting for them beneath the archway and Emma can see her family up at the front. Zelena and David are watching with pride in their eyes. Henry is beaming and little baby Neal is gurgling with happiness. And Snow... well Snow, as expected, is sniffling into a tissue - a bubbling mess of happy tears. Emma chuckles softly before turning to Regina and smiling. Her heart thunders beneath her ribcage, unable to believe this is actually happening.
They get to the front and exchange vows—Regina had prepared Emma's for her beforehand thank God because she totally blanks. And then Henry comes forward with the rings and—
Emma gasps. The rings are identical, similar to the style of the trinket boxes, silver and diamond encrusted. A small swan rests at the centre of the band, the tail end of it delicately wrapping around the finger and meeting a tiny crown that rests atop the swans head.
Beautiful. Just like the woman standing before her.
She takes one and places it on Regina's ring finger, only now noticing the "engagement" ring is no longer there. After Regina places the other ring on Emma's finger Archie speaks up, "I now pronounce you, married. You may kiss the bride."
Emma leans in meeting Regina halfway. Regina smirks then, mirth lighting up her gorgeous eyes, "I almost forgot..." she says. And Emma wonders what it could be now. "I love you too, idiot." She moves forward, fingers threading into silky blonde tresses and palms Emma's cheek with so much care before kissing her soundly on the lips.
Emma melts into the kiss. Realising it's the first kiss of many she's sharing with her wife and thinks yeah, yeah she really is an idiot.
...SQ...
Thank you so much for reading. I hope you guys liked the final chapter and I'd love to know what you think. Until next time 😊