The days were slowly passing by and both Emma and Regina were way too busy organising their magical wedding. Emma preferred a small ceremony between close friends and family only but Regina insisted on making that day special and important!

She wanted most of the citizens in town to attend even though she despised most of them. She always wanted her wedding day to be big, magical and important since getting married is usually a once in a lifetime experience... well not for all people considering many years ago she had gotten engaged to the love of her life and was willing to run away with him till her plans got ruined.

She never expected that after so many years of grief and unstoppable pain she would be able to smile and and love someone else so purely and unconditionally. Being with Emma, felt like a dream sometimes. A dream that you don't want to wake up from. You just prefer to keep dreaming for the rest of your life... it was way too good to be true.

But maybe what Henry said a couple of years ago was actually true. {If you're not happy, then it's not the end}. And indeed he was right for once again! She hadn't felt that happy for years! She hadn't felt that completed and fulfilled since... well forever!

The big day had finally arrived. After two weeks of unstoppable preparations and responsibilities they had to take care of, the big day finally arrived.

Emma had slept over her mother's house since Snow couldn't stop bubbling about Emma not being able to see Regina before the wedding! She didn't wanna jinx it. She woke up and found snow running around the house cleaning up followed by David holding a vast wooden box, painted in navy blue colours. The bottom part of it had curved golden royal shapes and a big lock in the middle. David placed it down on the floor and arched his back looking at his wife in grievance.

"What's that? Did you steal information from the FBI? Why is that thing so big?"

Emma raised her brows in surprise and rubbed her eyes sleepily. Snow just blushed and chuckled obviously overwhelmed. Emma could already sense that story time was approaching.

She sat upright on the couch fiddling the warm Greg blanket underneath her waist as she turned around looking at her mother.

"It's just something very important to me."

Snow smiled and drugged the box towards Emma as she took a small key outside of her pocket and handed it over her daughter.

"Open it."

"Me?"

Emma grabbed the key and looked at the box with curiosity.

"Just open it."

David repeated and sat down next to snow running his fingers through her hair. He couldn't help but smile as well.

Emma nodded her head in confusion and stuck the tiny key inside the padlock turning it to the left two times. The lock opened up and she removed it with her other hand carefully in order not to scratch the paint underneath it. She opened the box and her eyes widened open in surprise. A white mermaid dress was laying at the bottom of it surrounded by red rose petals.

"Mum?"

"Put it on."

Snow encouraged her daughter smiling as her eyes filled up with tears that wanted out. She whipped her nose with a tissue.

"Is that yours?"

She held the wedding dress in her arms smiling broadly as she examined the details on the soft silk fabric. It was beautiful! The kind of dress that she would have never imagined herself wearing.

"Yes. That's the dress I was wearing when I got married to your father."

David smiled proudly and rubbed Snow's shoulder placing a soft kiss on her cheek.

"And now it's your big day. We would love to see you wearing this dress. Means a lot."

David continued.

Emma bit her lips excitedly.

"I should better try it on then."

She winked and rushed in the bathroom. She put it on and the dress looked like it was made for her. It fitted perfectly on her body showing off her curves and a slight part of her breasts. It was beautiful.

Snow walked inside the bathroom and covered her mouth in astonishment. A sniff escaped her lips as she looked at her daughter amazed.

"You're so beautiful."

"You think?"

Emma hit her lips as she looked at herself in the mirror.

"Oh my goodness yes! Just like a princess."

Snow admitted and helped emma zip it up.

"Then why did you take me out for wedding dress shopping if you were planning to give me this?"

"I had no idea it still existed somewhere in my closet! I hadn't seen that dress for years and it just magically appeared today."

"Then I guess it's the perfect dress."

Emma admitted and smiled broadly.

"I'm pretty sure Regina is going to be shocked. It's not an easy task to impress the queen but when it comes to you... I'm pretty sure you own her heart and soul."

Snow chuckled and helped emma fix her hair into a long braid.

"Sometimes I doubt about that."

Emma chuckled trying to make it seem as an innocent joke.

"Oh come emma you can't possibly doubt that Regina is all over you."

"I just... sometimes I doubt that I'm the perfect match for her. She needs someone who can stand strong next to her. I... I'm just an orphan."

She hesitated but finally admitted and to be honest that felt good. She felt relieved to finally say that out loud but at the same time she regretted saying that the very second.

The look on her mother's face broke her heart. Snow lowered her sight looking down the floor embarrassed. All these years she kept regretting the very moment she gave emma away. Sometimes she considered herself as a coward for not daring to keep her daughter back then and take the chance.

From the other side it didn't seem like she could have another choice back then... there was only one way to save her daughter's life. If only she could have predicted that Emma would have gone through hell and back till she finally found them she would have never given her away.

"You're not an orphan emma... we are right here."

She mumbled in embarrassment.

"I know. And that's not what I meant! I... I just find it hard to fight my demons that keep coming back from the past. I find it hard to accept that I'm the saviour... look at me. How can I possibly be the hero here mum? I know nothing! I'm in constant pain and all I do is causing turmoil and then magically find a solution about how to solve things out. But you know how I manage to do that? Thanks to you guys. Without you I doubt I would ever be ever able to fight my problems alone."

Snow pressed her lips together as she removed a golden lock from Emma's face.

"That's why family is for. We are helping each other out through difficult situations and love each other unconditionally."

"Yeah... but am I really ready to do this?"

"What do you mean?"

Snow hesitated to ask and narrowed her eyes examining her daughter's face.

"I have no idea who I really am. All these years I was pretty occupied fighting curses, dark magic and trying to survive, that I never really noticed that I have no idea who I am without you guys. I don't want my parents or a storybook to shape who I am. I'm lost..."

She fiddled her fingers together as her muscles tensed. She felt embarrassed to express her deepest thoughts out loud for the first time. She wasn't used to have such deep conversations with her mother, that it felt odd and embarrassing this time.

She wouldn't admit those thoughts to herself all these years since she considered that speaking them out loud they would finally become true. And that's what just happened. She felt lost... a lost girl.

Her eyes teared up.

"Emma, your father and I might helped you deal with a couple of obstacles but you managed to survive for 28 years on your own! That's impressive and admirable."

Snow said smoothly and rubbed Emma's shoulder.

"How am I supposed to get married and look after another child though plus my wife who's not the easiest person to handle when I have no idea who I am?"

She lowered her sight and bowed down her head.

"Emma..."

"I need some air."

Emma interrupted snow and rubbed her temples.

"I need some air. I'll be back."

She rushed upstairs in her bedroom and laid down on the bed holding her head. Everything felt so blurry and weird. Her entire world was collapsing and she couldn't tell if it was just her having cold feet or her actually realising the truth about herself?

Sometimes admitting the truth can be terrifying for sure. Especially when you're realising the truth about yourself. She couldn't do it... she couldn't . She couldn't offer Regina her happy ending! She wasn't able to raise a child and look after a family when she felt so lost.

She run her fingers through her hair and grabbed a piece of paper an a pencil. She bit her lips as a couple of tears run down her cheeks. She couldn't think clearly. She was freaking out.

~Tell Regina I am sorry!~

She wrote down on the piece of paper and placed it on the bed carefully. She sniffed and approached the window across the bed. She carefully sneaked out and run away...

4 hours till the wedding:

Snow and David were finally dressed up and ready to help emma out with the rest of the preparations for the wedding. Snow was hurt... she was beyond hurt and worried to listen to Emma's words, and see Emma so sad and disappointed but she wouldn't allow herself to ruin the fun of the day.

She wasn't planning to tell David. At least not today. She wanted everything to be perfect and on point, after all her daughter and Regina deserved a perfect day in storybrooke so they can always remember and smile.

"Did you call granny? Is the food and the cake ready?"

She yelled from the kitchen as she neurotically cleaned up the kitchen counter preparing the decorations for the after party.

"Yes she said the cake is almost ready. The food is already served and well prepared don't worry."

He said and walked in the kitchen. He looked at snow and narrowed his eyes.

"What's going on?"

He asked and cleared his throat confused.

Snow just bit her lips and kept rubbing the juice stain harder and harder.

"Just nervous."

David started laughing.

"Honey it's not our wedding! It's Emma's and Regina's! There's no reason to stress over today! Everything will be perfect!"

He tried to encourage her and placed a kiss on the back of her neck.

"I know... I know you're right. I'll go get Emma. After all I need to go over the mansion and check on Regina and Ruby. I don't trust that girl with any responsibilities when it comes to plannings a wedding. Ruby can be a little absentminded sometimes.

"Okay! I'll go get the car ready."

He smiled and rushed outside. Snow walked upstairs and knocked on the door. Fingers crossed that Emma would feel better by now.

"Emma?"

She asked as she there was no response. She knocked again in confusion and stuck her ear on the back of the door to listen. No noises, no footsteps, no movement at all.

"Emma I'm coming in."

She opened the door and looked at the empty room confused.

"What th-... Emma?"

She walked around the room approaching the bathroom door. The bathroom door was open and there was clearly no sign of her daughter in the bathroom. Her heart beat increased.

She turned around and finally noticed the paper note laying in the middle of the bed.

"What's that..."

She whispered to herself and approached the bed. She held the piece of paper and her face turned immediately pale and white as a sheet. No! NO NO NO! What on earth was happening? Would emma really run away leaving everything and everyone behind?!?

No she didn't want to believe this! She blinked a couple of times astonished and frozen in her place when she calmed down her breathing and run downstairs like crazy. She run outside in the garden calling out David's name while shaking the piece of paper on her right hand.

"Relax relax! What happened?"

He asked alarmed as snow was trying to catch her breathing. He grabbed the piece of paper and froze.

"What... what the hell is going on?"

"She run away! She run away David!"

Tear run down her eyes as she thought that it was finally time she told him what was really happening.

"Wh- why?!"

He swallowed hard looking around in fear.

"We had a conversation before in the bathroom and she told me how lost she felt... she seemed very concerned and alarmed David but I just thought she was having cold feet! Turns out... there's more than cold feet!"

"Well why didn't you tell me?!?"

He demanded to know.

"I... I just thought it wasn't that big of a deal! I thought that we could handle that later on! Oh my goodness... how can we have a wedding without one of the brides?? What about Regina?! She's gonna get so devastated!"

David remained silent as he rubbed his chin trying to think. They didn't have much time to think, they should act now. David furrowed.

"I'll go find her now! Maybe I can reason her! You go over Regina's and play it cool. In case I won't find her... then we will have to tell Regina... but for now, let's just pretend everything's cool! Tell Ruby as well! Regina can't find out for now!"

He got in the car and started the engine driving away quickly. Snow took a deep breath.

"Another wonderful day in storybrooke."

She mumbled and run to Regina's house. She knocked on the door, when ruby finally answered in shock.

"IM GOING NUTS GET INSIDE! WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?"

She whispered obviously freaked out as she pulled Snow White inside the house by grabbing her shirt.

"What.. what the hell is going on?"

"Regina is freaking out! We are spending all day long trying on outfits and she won't pick one already! The wedding is in four hours and the entire bedroom is covered with dresses, shoes and accessories! She doesn't like anything! She even snapped on the hairdresser and kicked her out! Thank the god I managed to find her number and explain!"

She breathed out heavily and rubbed her forehead exhausted.

"Well... I guess you're not having much fun either."

She looked around the living-room making sure Regina was nowhere near.

"There's no way emma can be as bad as Regina!"

Ruby insisted.

"No no you don't understand..."

She looked at ruby with a worried look on her face as she lowered her voice.

"Snow what's going on?"

"Emma run away..."

She whispered and ruby froze in place looking at her dear friend with big wide eyes.

"No! Way!"

She spelled in shock.

"Wh-what do we do?"

"For now we just keep Regina occupied and play it cool! David is out there looking for her! He's gonna pick up Henry for extra help as well!"

Ruby sighted and covered her face with both hands.

"This is a disaster!"

"No it's not a disaster! We are just facing a couple difficulties but that's what we are experts on right? We deal with shit all the time! It can't be that bad this time!"

She said trying to convince herself as well and then straightened her back and breathing in deeply.

"I'm gonna get upstairs and talk to Regina! You come with me and you better keep your mouth shut!"

"Said snow..."

Ruby chuckled.

"Now it's not the time!"

Snow scolded her and rushed upstairs. She knocked on the mayoral bedroom door and opened it slightly staring inside. There was indeed clothes covering every single inch of the room. There was even a dress hanging from the lamp on the ceiling while Regina was standing in the middle of this mess holding a white slim dress and tearing it apart furious.

Snow rushed inside followed by ruby with an innocent smile on her face.

"NO NO NO! Regina what are you doing?"

"IT WON'T FIT!"

"Regina what are you talking about? It fitted perfectly five minutes ago!"

Regina growled angrily as threw the torn pieces over the nightstand.

"Have you seen my hips ruby? I can't go out there with these enormous hips! Look at me! I look like a fucking whale!"

Zelena suddenly showed up clapping behind Regina and laughing.

"Don't worry sis, you have been always a little over weight! I would gladly get all the dresses you're not willing to wear though!"

Regina turned around looking at Zelena with her eyebrow raised.

"Shut up!"

Ruby rolled her eyes as she looked over at snow concerned.

"Don't you like the wedding dress you bought yesterday? You said you loved it when we were at the store!"

Snow pointed out and forced a smile.

"Are you kidding me? I despise it!"

"Then why did you buy it and ruined it as well?"

Snow looked at her trying to hide her amusement.

"Honey that dress was already ruined! I bought it because I felt horrible! I tried on so many dresses and no dress would fit! Did you see the way that flogger looked at me?"

She rolled her eyes and put on her silk robe landing on her bed annoyed.

Zelena followed her laying down next to her as she grabbed an apple from the plate on the nightstand taking a strong bite.

"You should start buying the green ones. The bitter the better."

Zelena mentioned.

"Zelena... can we just head outside and talk?"

Ruby asked annoyed and narrowed her eyes looking at the witch. Zelena replied with another eye roll and decided to follow ruby outside of the bedroom.

Snow closed the door and looked at Regina with a broad smile on her face.

"Come on cheer up! We are going to figure this out!"

"Oh really? Three hours till the wedding snow and I haven't decided on what to wear yet and I keep peeing every ten minutes!"

She raged and cried out annoyed.

"Just give me the phone. I need to call Emma!"

"NO!"

Snow yelped without thinking and froze looking at Regina in terror.

"What the hell has gotten into you?"

Regina raised an eyebrow and said in low and threatening voice.

"She can't talk right now... she's doing... hot girl shit..."

Snow swallowed hard and put on a fake smile n her face.

Regina narrowed her brows confused.

"Excuse me?"

"She... she's getting ready! And doesn't have any time to talk now! Let me help you!"

"I'm pretty sure she can talk for two minutes snow! Just give me the phone!"

"No! Just let me! Let me help you!"

She held both Regina's hands in her hands.

"Why? Why? What's going on?"

"I... Regina I'm sorry... But Emma lost her hair clipper!"

"Her what?"

Regina looked at her step daughter lost.

"Yeah... I'm sorry! She didn't want you to find out and freak out but she lost her lucky hair clipper and David and Henry are helping her find it!"

"Three people looking for a hair clipper..."

"Yes... it's an important hair clipper!"

"Aha..."

Regina nodded and sat upright on the bed slowly standing up.

"Where are you going?"

Snow asked.

"What do you care?"

"Honey... let's just relax! Sit down take a deep breath and let's just concentrate on finding you a dress! I'm pretty sure I can fix the wedding dress you bought and turn it into the perfect dress. Just trust me okay? And for god's sake let the hairdresser do her job!"

"Well she obviously wasn't that good at doing her job! Even Henry can do a better low bun!"

She groaned and arched her back in discomfort. She was full term and the baby was coming any day now.. maybe she shouldn't have rushed to get married this period of time!

Worrying over so many things at once combined to her emotions and hormones was driving her insane.

As much bigger the baby got her discomfort was growing bigger and bigger as well making her struggle to walk straight and breathe properly. She was in constant physical pain and annoyance.

She just wanted to spend the entire day in bed and relax for once!

"I... can you fix the dress?"

Her face muscles relaxed.

"Yes! Yes just give me a sewing machine and an hour and I will be done! All you have to do is get your hair and makeup done!"

Regina huffed and sat down on the bed again rubbing her face exhausted.

"How is she dealing with the anticipation?"

She finally asked and run her fingers through her dark hair.

"She's okay Regina."

Snow grabbed the wedding dress and headed towards the table across the room to start working on the dress.

She hated lying at anyone, especially Regina, and especially right now.

"Well I'm not dealing well. I thought I had everything under control and here I am losing control for once again within a day!"

She admitted shyly.

"Oh come on come on relax! Having cold feet especially in your condition is normal. All women go through that face. I'm here though making sure everything is ready, so you won't have to worry over anything!"

She forced another guilty and gloomy smile.

"Thank you Snow. I appreciate your help..."

She mumbled and exited the room

Heading downstairs to apologise at the hair dresser and get ready...

To be continued️