Time marches on. Eight years after the birth of two of his sisters, Henry Cassidy is getting married! And another eight years after that, and his sister Margot is too.
However, during her wedding, Robin receives a most unexpected visitor...
Storybrooke Chapel – Eight years on.
"Henry, keep still! How can I fix your damn bow tie, if you keep moving around? And for god's sake, stop twitching!"
"Sorry dad. I'm just-"
"Nervous? I get it. Stop worrying, your girl's going to turn up!"
Father and son stood in the side chapel, dressed in their morning suits. The bride wasn't due for a good fifteen minutes, but the groom was nervous beyond belief!
His father grabbed him by the shoulders. "Sit. Tink's keeping an eye on her, and she's gonna be here on time. What's got you so rattled?"
"I'm sorry, it's just…I'm worried she'll pull out. She's met all the guys. And mum and ma. There's loads of them out there! Dad, what if she gets frightened off at the last minute?"
"Not going to happen! Henry, Ella's fine. She loves you. And don't forget, she's a royal, remember? She's used to all this formal ceremony bullshit. So stop worrying, just relax, and try to enjoy it."
Henry looked down at his father, a good six inches shorter than him. Shorter, but in his eyes, a giant in so many other ways. "I'm being stupid, aren't I?"
"My son, stupid?" Neal sounded almost offended. "Henry Cassidy, youngest ever nominee for a Pulitzer Prize for Literature, stupid? You may be daft, son, but you're not stupid!" After Neal's return from the underworld, Henry had decided that, rather than take Robin's surname as his siblings and mothers had done, he wanted to honour his own father by taking his name.
"Thanks. You know, right up till I was ten, I'd always imagined what you would have been like. After that, I was told you were the hero who died in a fire. Then I went with grandpa and mum and we found you in New York, only to lose you again. I always missed you, even if I didn't know you. But now…I'm lucky to have you in my life, dad!" He pulled him into a tight hug, both feeling a little…emotional, quickly separating when they heard a loud crash in the hallway, followed by a clacking of heels on marble.
He grinned as Neal rolled his eyes. I'd know that sound anywhere!
"Henry?" Regina burst through the door, a small group running in after her. Taking one look at her son in his morning suit, she stopped gazing up at him. "Oh my! You look so…so…" she was almost too choked for words.
"Handsome?" said the Author, cheekily.
She rolled her eyes, slapping his arm lightly. "I was about to say, grown up! But yes, you do look handsome too," She bit back a tear threatening to betray her. "A grown man who perhaps no longer needs a doting mother" She gave Neal a polite nod, both stepping forward to kiss one another's cheek, politely.
Henry gathered her in his arms, pulling her against his chest. "Mum, I'll always need you! And ma, and dad."
She stepped back, looking him up and down as another voice came up behind. "You'd better have one of those for me too? I may not tear up like she does these days, but dammit Hen, you look good!" A long arm reached out, pulling her into the hug, joining her wife on the other side of his chest.
"None of this would have happened, if it hadn't been for you two! I should say it more often but…I love you both so much." He pressed a kiss brow on each as he held them together.
Sadly, their little moment didn't last long, before another yell came, this time from a lanky teenage girl bundling straight into him as his mothers stepped back, pushing between them to wrap her arms around him. "Henry!"
"Hi Margie. You look brilliant! I don't get to see you in a dress too often? Suits you..." He kissed the top of his stepsisters head, looking over to a seemingly shy, but seriously pretty blonde girl who hung back from them. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?"
"Oh yeah, sorry. This is my girlfriend, Kathy. Kat, this is my annoying big brother, Henry."
A year ago, to nobody's surprise, Margot announced to her family that she was gay. Even though she lived with bisexual stepmothers, who were in a polyamorous relationship with her father, she'd still been nervous to finally come out, only being persuaded in the end by her eldest brother. As expected, all her family had been immensely supportive, encouraging her to bring any new friends home whenever she wished. But her mother, who'd now settled in California, had been a little weird at first, although she did come around fairly quickly.
"Lovely to finally meet you Kat..." Henry shook her hand. "Marge always seems to be away when I come back to Storybrooke. Have you met my dad?" He introduced Neal, who shook her hand, warmly.
As the family gathered in the little annex to the chapel where the ceremony was due to be held, everyone caught up with the groom. Margot and Honour, now sixteen and fifteen-years-old, went to a recently opened high school in Storybrooke, one year apart. Hope and Faith, now bored-looking ten-year-olds and looking more like Emma and Regina every day, went to the local junior high.
"Locksleys!" yelled Roland, as he walked into the room with his father. "What's a' happenin'?"
Roland, now twenty-years-old and several inches taller than Robin, was in his second year studying Environmental Science at Stanford. Only flying back from San Francisco during the semesters and breaks, his family missed him terribly, as he was so much further away than Henry had been. So it was no surprise when his younger sisters rushed over to hug him, his mothers waiting patiently, before their turn.
Roland had, over the years, transformed into a seriously handsome man. Much more confident around women than Henry had been, he was adored by many of the students in his college, particularly because of his kindness and gentle nature. One thing hadn't changed though, was his wild, long curly hair, which Robin had frequently urged him to cut! He always cited 'Why Dad? Girls love it!' as his main reason not to.
After Emma and Regina finally released him from their bear hug, Roland slapped his brother on the back. "So, Big Bro, you doing anything much today?" The rest of the family chuckled, watching their silly exchange.
"Not a lot; how about you? Mind you, I was thinking of getting married today. Fancy being a Best Man?"
He huffed. "Well, I could, I suppose, seeing as I'm wearing this penguin outfit. Got a particular girl in mind?"
"Yeah, there's this tall brunette popping over. I've heard she'll be wearing white…" Regina's eyes almost rolled over her head, as Emma sighed. The pair had personally helped their imminent daughter-in-law find the most perfect wedding dress only two months earlier.
"I know her! Good, so you're not interested in that stunning tall blonde in the pink hat that just came in and sat at the back? Think I might be in with a shout?" Robin's brow arched as Henry chuckled.
"Roland, you old tart - you never change," Henry sniggered. "That's tall blonde's called Lisa, and she's a friend of Ella's. Well, you can try your luck, But frankly, I think Margot would have more of a chance, to be honest!" His sister sniggered back at him.
"What? Oh, she's not too, is she?"
"Yep. Card carrying! Never mind, plenty of single, straight women still out there…"
"Roland..." Robin draped an arm around him, "Isn't it time you thought about having a single, perhaps more serious relationship with a girl, for a change?"
"Says the guy with two wives? Heck dad, I'm only twenty-one! Plenty of time..."
"Roland's right," Regina nodded. "He's still young; there's no need to rush these things."
Emma took her arm. "You're just saying that, because you're dreading becoming a granny!" That earned a light slap on the arm.
"Well I don't mind being called grandpa," said Robin, "but it'd be nice if it didn't happen by accident, years earlier than intended? So do be careful Roland."
"Okay, okay! Can we not discuss my love life right now? We should be talking about Henry's instead!"
"Oy!" He sniggered. "This is my wedding day, and I'm not having you saying that kind of stuff in front of Ella! I'm a strictly one-woman guy – no offence, Robin!"
His stepfather was about to make a suitably barbed remark back, when the door opened again. A fiery red-headed woman appeared, dragged in by two equally flame-haired twin girls, all three wearing what looked like extremely expensive dresses, no doubt paid for by the twin's grandfather, for the special day.
"Isla, Maisie!" Hope yelled, suddenly no longer bored when she spotted Henry's twin half-sisters. Neal grinned, as the girls rushed over to them, Merida looking relieved to see her husband.
Eight years ago, after Merlin had found a way to overcome the magical block in DunBroch, so they could defeat the Black Knight. Thanks to Merlin and Neal, Merida was finally restored to her rightful throne, after they had overcome the enemy's armies. It'd had been a bloody campaign, with Hamish, one of her three brothers, killed in battle. Neal had been honoured by the new queen and, within weeks, as Neal believed he couldn't propose to a royal, she proposed marriage instead. He accepted immediately, though refused to accept the title of King. After much nagging from her mother, who insisted a queen's consort held some sort of title, a year later he acquiesced, becoming Prince Baelfire of DunBroch. Ten months later, Merida had given birth to twin girls!
"Okay Bae, your turn ta look after these little buggers! They've run me ragged…" groaned Merida, earning a knowing, sympathetic chuckle from the other parents in the room.
Neal dropped to his knees, gathering his girls to him, Emma looking on with mixed feelings. This was the man with whom she'd once had true love. Henry's magic all but confirmed it.
~oOo~
That afternoon, Henry Cassidy married Jacinda Vidrio (also known as Cinderella in the realm where he first met her), a beautiful olive-skinned former princess, in the small chapel, his entire family in attendance. His father's family came out in force to support him too, with Rumple, Belle and Ariel, uncle Gideon and aunty Melody, now an eight-year-old force of nature herself. It was decided a much larger, though informal, evening celebration party would be held a day later, in Sherwood, where the rest of their friends would be able to celebrate with them. A wise decision, as it seemed the entire two towns had turned out in force to celebrate the marriage of their local hero! It turned out to be a wonderful day. Finally, before Henry and Ella left for their second honeymoon night, the now thirty-year old celebrated author stood to address everyone, standing on the bar to be seen.
"Ladies and gentlemen! QUIET EVERYONE!" he yelled. "Can I just say a few words?"
The hubbub from the huge gathering finally calmed so he could be heard. "Okay. Can I first of all thank everyone for the fantastic reception you've given us! It's been great getting back and seeing so many friends!" The crowd of smiling faces beamed up at him. "Years ago, I felt alone. Really alone. I had my mum, and I loved her to bits - but I always knew something wasn't right! My teacher, who turned out to be my granny - one of the best grannies in the world, I should add..." He smiled across at Snow, who blushed, winking back, "...gave me a story book. A book that changed everything!" Virtually everyone in the village and town knew the story by now. "I'm not gonna bore you with all the details, but as a result of that book, I'm definitely not alone anymore! I've now got one brother, six sisters," Ella blew a kiss at Isla and Maisie. "Two astonishing mums, one awesome dad, one legendary stepdad and stepmum, plus the most brilliant collection of grandparents you could ever imagine!" the audience generally chuckled and sniggered. "I love my family so much, and sorry if I don't tell you enough!" As he spoke, Ella brought out two wrapped presents, which she walked over, giving one to Baelfire and the other to Regina and Emma, all three also receiving a short kiss on the cheek.
Emma watched her beautiful new daughter-in-law walk back, before jumping up to stand on the counter beside her husband, collecting her glass of orange juice. As her eyes looked at Ella's place setting, she noticed that her wine and champagne glasses were still full. Untouched.
"Ella and I wanted to thank all of you, but particularly to three very, very special people. My mums and my dad!" Emma looked across at Neal, who smiled back, as their son continued. "Guys, we got a little something for you. Could you open them now?"
Regina looked down at the gift wrapping, and started to gently tear it off. Inside was a rectangular box with a lid, which she carefully opened as Emma leaned over to look. Inside, there appeared to be the back of a black, ebony and silver photo frame, facing down. She lifted the frame out of the box, removing the tissue paper to reveal…a scanned image. A 3D scanned image. Of a…
Her breath hitched as she realised what she was seeing, exchanging an astonished look with Emma before looking up to her now slightly red-cheeked new daughter-in-law. "Ella? You're…you're pregnant?"
The tall brunette gave a short smile and a nod, before mouthing "thirteen weeks!" Regina instantly clicked her fingers and Ella disapparated from the counter, apparating a second later directly in front of them both. She and Emma instantly engulfed her in one huge, tearful hug, before finally subjecting Henry to the same treatment as his wife, as roars and cheers ran around the bar at the news.
"I thought you said you didn't want to be called 'granny' yet, mum?" he sniggered.
His maternal grandfather appeared from nowhere, slapping him on the back, a huge grin on his face. "'Granny'? That's nothing, Regina! You try being called 'great-grandpa' and see how you like it? Now that sounds seriously old!"
Six months later, Ella gave birth to Lucy, who turned out to be a bright, imaginative little poppet, who shared her mother's looks and her father's love of writing and books. Three years after that, Ella also gave birth to a son, Christopher, and the pair would be loved beyond measure by their paternal grandparents and great grandparents. The Author's little family would finally settle in New York, though as his fictional stories became more widely acclaimed. Wealth soon followed, and they travelled the world extensively. Though they always returned to Storybrooke whenever they could.
The Same Storybrooke Chapel – Eight years later
It was another eight years after Henry's wedding, that Margot Locksley, having travelled throughout the same realm as Henry had previously, returned to Storybrooke after a second trip, with the news that not only had she fallen in love with the daughter of another realm's version of Killian Jones, but she'd asked said girl to marry her.
Although initially surprised that their travel-obsessed daughter was ready to settle down, after meeting the bubbly, gregarious blonde beauty that was Alice Rodgers, all three parents were bowled over by her warm enthusiasm for life and everything, and soon embraced her within the family.
The wedding was held in the Earl of Locksley, only two months later. Meeting his new daughter-in-law's father, an apparent doppelganger of Killian Jones, was an odd experience for all her parents, but especially Emma. Though what was even more weird, was when the two Killians met for the first time (although one was now Killian Rogers)! Still, everything went smoothly enough. Toasts were made by both bride's fathers and Emma (oddly enough, this time Regina decided to not insist on speaking herself) and once the meal had finished and the wedding cake cut, Robin left the table to circulate with guests as the band prepared to start.
"Please be upstanding as our brides take to the floor for the Marriage Waltz!" bellowed a rather pompous MC. "Ladies and gentlemen, I give you – our brides, Mrs. Margot and Mrs. Alice Locksley!"
Robin smiled proudly, as his eldest daughter, his beloved Margot, took her wife's hand, leading her to the dance floor to applause from all around.
As they watched, he saw Regina, arm-in-arm with a tearful Zelena (her first visit in years) look on, equally proud. Emma stood nearby, talking to Elsa and John, his best friend. As he leaned against the wall, he hardly noticed the appearance of a tall, hooded figure next to him.
At least not until he spoke!
[THEY MAKE A BEAUTIFUL COUPLE, DON'T THEY?] said the deep voice under the cream-coloured cape and hood.
Robin immediately turned, stiffening, sensing something amiss. "Sorry – do I know you?"
[WE HAVE MET, LORD LOCKSLEY]
That voice! It was familiar!
"Then you have me at a disadvantage. You know, it could be considered bad form, impolite at the very least, to hide one's identity under a cloak at someone's wedding? Could you kindly reveal yourself…please?"
[I COULD. TRY NOT TO BE ALARMED]
Two hands came up to slowly pull back the cloak, revealing an instantly recognisable face from his past, making him gasp in astonishment.
"Zeus? It's really you?"
[YES, THOUGH YOU HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR. NOTHING'S WRONG, I JUST THOUGHT IT TIME TO PAY A VISIT. WE NEED TO HAVE A…CONVERSATION]
"Well it's certainly more than a surprise! It's not every day the Lord of the Gods pays a social call! I'm not sure of the form here. Should I introduce you to my family?"
Zeus chuckled, the sound deep and low. [YOU COULD TRY, BUT I SUGGEST NOT. YOU MAY GET SOME RATHER STRANGE LOOKS. YOU SEE, NO ONE ELSE CAN SEE OR HEAR US. AS FAR AS THEY'RE CONCERNED, YOU AND I AREN'T HERE]
Robin looked up as Alan-a-Dale seemed to walk right past them, within inches, without even noticing his forest leader. He shook his head, bewildered. "Well, while you're here, I suppose I should start by thanking you. For sending me back here? For allowing me to be with my children, and-"
[YOUR WIVES?] He grinned. [YOU'RE WELCOME. I'VE BEEN KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON YOU, LOCKSLEY. I ALREADY KNOW EVERYTHING YOU'VE BEEN DOING SINCE YOUR RETURN. YOU AND CAPTAIN JONES OVER THERE. YOU'VE USED YOUR TIME WELL. THIS VILLAGE IS RATHER IMPRESSIVE, AND CERTAINLY A LOT OF LIVES HAVE BEEN IMPROVED THANKS TO YOUR EFFORTS. AND I'M ALSO AWARE OF THE FATES OF KING GEORGE AND THE BLACK FAIRY]
"Not my finest hours. But I've certainly been blessed with the extra time you've given me. So are you taking me back?"
[TAKING YOU BACK? WHY ON EARTH WOULD I DO THAT?] He laughed as though the very notion was absurd. [NO. THOUGH I MAY BE ASKING A FEW FAVOURS OF YOU IN YEARS TO COME. BUT THAT 'S FOR THE FUTURE, WHICH IS WHY I'M HERE. I CAME TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT FUTURE]
Later that evening...
Regina and Emma certainly noticed the change in him. Margot definitely had! After watching their daughter and Alice take to the floor to begin the first dance of the evening, amid the cheers of their guests, Regina had looked around for Robin to share the moment, and a dance of her own. She'd asked Emma and others whether they'd seen him. Henry checked the men's bathrooms and Roland looked outside. But Robin seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth! When he finally appeared, he seemed to be…different. Glum. Later Margot, clearly upset, chided him for missing her father and bride dance, dragging him onto the dance floor for a quick waltz before the band finished, to be replaced by a DJ. He'd apologized, but didn't seem himself. His mind clearly occupied, he'd exchanged pleasantries with all the leaving guests, but it didn't seem to be…him!
As they finally settled after the long day, with the rest of the family retired to their rooms, Regina sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing moisturizer onto her legs as Emma, freshly showered and with a towel around her head, came out of the bathroom. Robin stepped into the room from the hallway, to questioning gazes from both wives.
"Well? Are you going to tell us what's up? Or do we have to drag it out of you?" said the frustrated blonde to her husband of eighteen years, her tone a little more caustic than intended.
He looked up, surprised, as though he hadn't even realized they were there! "Hmm, sorry?"
"Robin, what the hell is wrong with you today?" Regina growled. "You've had a face like a whipped puppy all evening! You upset Margot, on her wedding day! She's even wondering whether you don't like her being married to Alice!"
That finally made him take notice. "But that's stupid! Alice is lovely; she's perfect for Margot!"
"Well have you told HER that?" Emma jumped in. "Because you've been grumpy as sin ever since they started dancing! She thinks you've got something against her! And where did you even go? Henry and Ro looked for you everywhere!" They knew it was rare for their husband to be moody. "What's going on?"
As the pair scowled at him, clearly still annoyed, he sighed, a little more loudly than intended. They'd all vowed to be honest with one another, so he'd best get it off his chest.
"You're right. There is something wrong. I didn't go anywhere. I was in the room the entire time…"
Emma could sense he was telling the truth, but…
"Impossible, we looked! We would have seen you."
"Not if I was cloaked in an invisible, soundproofed bubble. I could see you, but you couldn't see me. I had a visitor…"
Both women arched brows, waiting. "Zeus. He came for a chat, as he put it"
"ZEUS?" Barked Emma. "As in Zeus, King of the Gods? 'Big Swinging Dick' Zeus?"
As Emma's jaw dropped in disbelief at the lame excuse, Regina's mind skirted the possibilities. He brought him back here, is he taking him away again? "How come I never felt his magic? How come he-" But she knew it was a foolish comment. There was magic in the heavens far greater than theirs!
"He didn't want anyone else to see us. Though judging by a look he gave someone, from where we were standing, I think Merlin saw him! He came to give me some information…"
His wives merely nodded, waiting for him to continue. "Merlin was right, all those years ago. Apparently, I am now an immortal." He moved over to sit on the bed, staring towards the floor, Emma sitting beside him and taking his hand.
"Well, you kinda guessed that might be the case, didn't you? So why are you-"
"Because I really hoped I wasn't, Emma!" His voice had an unusual wobble. "It means I have to see you two, all our children, little Lucy, and any future grandchildren, all grow old and die, while I just carry on! Do you know how many women Merlin married before Maleficent? Forty-five! And Lily is his one hundred and sixty sixth child. I don't want to outlive my children!" A couple of treacherous tears sprouted from the corner of his eyes, despite trying to stop them. "I don't want to carry on without you!"
Finally, they realised the enormity of what he was telling them! Regina pulled herself closer, resting a head on his left shoulder as her arm went around his back, as Emma did the same on his right side. Unnoticed by him, they entwined hands and fingers on his stomach as he just stayed staring ahead.
"I don't think I could bear saying goodbye to all of you..." Some tears fell freely now, as they clung to him a little tighter. They stayed like that for a good few minutes till he calmed.
Emma finally pulled away, turning to face him. "Do you remember when you came back from rescuing Gideon? When Merlin came over? When he said you might be immortal, he also said he visits the afterlife regularly, didn't he? He said he sees Anna and Rosie's mum, and all the other families that have passed on. I remember he said you can split yourself, sort of into 'multiple you's, like you've done with the doppelgangers. He said they can be with everyone without any rivalry or jealousy. Surely that's a good thing, isn't it? So...if he's right, we'll all get to keep seeing you, and you us, even when we've all died and moved on! Robin, how good is that? Everyone else has to grieve their loved ones when they die. But you don't! You'll be able to see us, whenever you want. Robin, I don't understand how it all works but, it doesn't sound so bad to me!"
"But it won't be the same, Emma! I can visit, but I can't stay there. It's not the same at all. When everyone dies, at least you know you'll be reunited! I'll just be a visitor. At least until Zeus lets me move on. Like Merlin and Mal…"
"Mal? What do you mean?" asked Regina. "Surely they're both immortal too?"
"Not any more. After they married, Merlin asked Zeus if he would release them from immortality. They're both over two millennia old, after all. Zeus agreed, provided he trains me in some final skills, and helps with a few tasks, to allow them both to grow old and eventually die. I haven't spoken to either of them yet about it. It seems Zeus does this every few millennia. Apparently, he always needs at least two immortals in the world at any one time, to ensure darkness never takes over."
"So there's a possibility that one day you'll be able to die, and move on too? Robin, that's better than forever! I know it's a lot to face but-"
"Next week, Merlin's going to teach me his last two 'reserved skills'" he interrupted her. "Time travel and…the ability to travel to the afterlife with my mind. He's going to take me there."
"So you'll be able to meet everyone you know who's died?" Regina looked amazed as he nodded. "You'll be able to see, and pass messages between the living and the dead? Robin, that's astonishing!"
"I guess," he gave a sad smile. "So, no doubt you'll want me to pass messages on to your father? And Daniel?" Cora was in the bowels of hell, so not her!
"Well yes…eventually. But first, I'd want you to give a message to someone far more important. Someone I know you'll want to see first!" He looked confused. "Marian? Your Marian? I want you to apologise for me, for my constant stupidity and weakness, and beg her forgiveness. And thank her for bringing Roland into the world. Tell her he's one of the people who saved my life, and she should be so proud of him!"
Robin smirked, turning to brush his lips on her cheek. "It's true, Marian would be the first person I want to see again. As they say these days, using that awful word, I never did have closure."
"In that case," Emma's mind went back to darker times, "You better apologise from me too! For clubbing her over the head, when Killian and I tried to bring her back? If it hadn't been for me, Zelena wouldn't have killed her the second time."
He nodded. "I'll go apologize to Margot and Alice in the morning. I didn't mean to be grumpy. I just-"
"Had a lot on your mind? Yeah, I get that..." Emma leant over to peck her lover o the lips. With a flick of magic, her two white bath towels disappeared, revealing her beautiful, still lean and athletic body, but naked as the day she was born.
That brought a bigger smile from Robin, quickly ending when more magic covered her in a blue silk dressing gown. "Shame! I was enjoying that!"
The woman beside him tittered. "So was I! Come on you two, bed! It's your turn in the middle, Locksley."
He happily complied, moving into the centre and opening his arms to gather his lovers to his chest, all settling quickly. But Emma frowned in thought, as she gave one of his nipples a quick nip, before settling back down. "One thing. You said Zeus always needs two immortals down here?"
"He did, though I have no idea why."
"And Mal and Merlin are now mortal, and you're not? So who else is immortal?"
"Baelfire, apparently."
"NEAL?" Emma almost choked. "You've got to be kidding me? Why him?"
~oOo~