When Emma was dressed, and all of them bundled up to brave the weather, they headed outside. It was still snowing, and Steveston looked like a perfectly magical place.
"Well, we'll definitely have a white wedding," Regina joked.
Henry groaned in that I'm-almost-a-teenager-now fashion he had been doing a lot lately. "That was a terrible joke, mom!"
Regina chuckled. Clearly satisfied with having made a bad joke.
But Emma had gone curious. She tilted her head. "Is that your way of saying that your wedding dress isn't white, beautiful?"
Regina chuckled again. "My darling, you know I can't tell you anything about my wedding dress. That's the rule. Zelena would have my head if I tried."
"But, babe..." Emma mock pouted and then laughed. She didn't want Regina to tell her anything about her wedding dress. Not really. That was the whole idea. It had to be a secret. Like Emma's own dress.
Ella had come over from Toronto and helped her pick one out. She and Ruby had cried buckets when Emma found the right one, and when Regina had come home from her own dress shopping with Zelena and Mal, she had looked like a seventeen year old girl. At least that was what Emma had teased her about. Regina had worn a dreamy smile all day long.
"Which way do you wanna go?" Emma asked. "Left or right?"
"I think left," Regina said and wrinkled her nose. "Definitely not anywhere near the Rabbit Hole."
Emma laughed heartedly at that and gave Regina's arm a little squeeze. Regina hadn't wanted a 'bachelor party'. That had been Zelena's idea. And Malena's. They had more or less insisted and then begged Regina to have one anyway. But Regina hadn't budged from her opinion until she discovered that Emma agreed with Zelena and Mal. She too thought that Regina should have a bachelor party. She deserved it. She deserved to experience everything wedding-esque. Regina had complained and said that a bachelor party sounded so tacky. Emma had solved that too. She had called it a bridal shower instead. And so Regina had finally caved and had a bridal shower. She, Zelena, Malena and a few of Regina's former professor-colleagues had headed over to the Rabbit Hole while Emma stayed in for the night. Emma's own bridal shower/bachelor party was taking place the weekend after. She'd had a cozy night in while Regina had been partying with her friends. She'd returned home at four in the morning, 'as tight as a boiled owl' and adorably giggly. And very much in love with her wife-to-be. It was safe to say that she and Emma had 'continued the party' in a more private setting, and when
Regina woke up the next morning with an aching head, she had zero regrets and kept smiling even though she was hungover.
"Yeah, that was quite the party, wasn't it, Mills?" Emma chuckled.
"Oh yes," Regina nodded, sharing Emma's amusement. "I was definitely quite... happy."
"You were adorable, Mills," Emma said and squeezed her fiancé's arm. Regina had been so cute. All bubbly and giggly and totally excited when she proudly declared that she was getting married 'real soon'. She had launched herself at Emma, had hugged her tightly because she wanted to make sure that she was real. And Emma had proven just how real she was. For several hours. Regina's voice had been thoroughly hoarse the next day, and for a few seconds Emma had freaked out about it because she suddenly became afraid that she had damaged Regina's precious vocal chords and implants. But then Regina had laughed loudly and maybe she had been a little drunk still, because she had called Emma 'a silly goose'. Which Emma had teased her about for the rest of that day. And Henry had gone along with it. Had even taken it a step further and called Regina 'mother Goose'. Regina had pretended to be insulted for five seconds. Then she had bursted out laughed. And called Henry a little rascal.
"Look at all that snow," Regina said and brought Emma out of her musings.
"Yeah," Emma replied and chuckled when a few of the white flake landed in Regina's dark hair. "It suits you."
Regina wrinkled her nose and tugged the red knitted hat a bit further down over her head.
"And that too." Emma smiled. Seriously, Regina looked adorable in that knitted hat.
"It'll be cold getting married outside tomorrow," Regina mused.
"Yeah. But romantic too with all the lanterns in the tree, right? A real fairy tale wedding," Emma gushed. A fairy tale wedding was exactly what Regina deserved.
"Oh yes, indeed," Regina smiled. "Let's just hope that none of our guests will turn into popsicles."
"Ice cweam!" Neal squealed and waved his little arms. He squirmed in the stroller.
"No, sweetie. No ice cream right now," Regina chuckled. "Do you want to walk instead of being pushed?"
"Walk!" Neal said firmly. "Wanna walk!"
"Okay then," Regina said warmly and crouched down to unbuckle his little 'seatbelt'. "So demanding. Definitely your mother's child."
"Hey, I am not that demanding!" Emma proclaimed.
Henry cackled.
"Be careful, kid. Or you might end up with a snowball right in the face," Emma warned.
That only made Henry laugh even more, and as soon as Neal had been sat down on the ground, he scraped some of the snow up in his mittens-clad little hands. He carefully formed the soft snow into a ball like Henry had taught him, and then he threw it. At Regina.
Emma gasped. "Neal! You can't do that! Don't throw snow at your mom! She's wearing her nice coat!"
But Regina just laughed and brushed the snow off her coat. Then she crouched down next to their two year old. "You little trickster!" she said warmly and wrapped her arms around him. "Come here!"
"No, mama, no!" Neal squealed and let out a gurgle-y laughter when he was picked up and spun around. He squealed again and wiggled in Regina's arms. "Mama-monster caught me! Mama-monster caught me!"
"You bet she did," Regina laughed and playfully placed a glob of the cold snow right on Neal's tiny little nose. "That's what you get for throwing snow at mama, little mister!"
"You guys," Emma said simply and silently gushed as Neal went cross eyed in an attempt to look at the glob of snow on his nose. She literally couldn't handle it when she saw Regina and Neal be so
adorable together. Every time Neal said 'mama', Emma's heart melted. Regina was born to be Neal's mom. Related by blood or not, it didn't matter. Regina was his mommy. She would always be his mommy.
"Argh!" Emma was roughly pulled out of her sappy moment when she received a snowball to the back of her neck. She turned around to find the guilty one, and was half-way expecting Henry to stand behind her with a sheepish smile and sorry excuse about having aimed for her back or something. But to her surprise, she was met by Regina who was smiling mischievously at her.
"You did not," Emma said flatly.
"I did," Regina said and smiled dazzlingly at her. "What are you gonna do about it?"
There was a hint of seduction in her voice, but Emma decided that it wasn't intentional on Regina's part. She cocked her head. "Well... What AM I gonna do about it, Mills?" then she glanced at Henry.
"What do you say, kid? Us against them?"
Henry grinned as he scooped up some of the snow and began shaping it into a ball. "You started the war, mom. Remember that."
"Bring it on," Regina laughed and gave Neal some of the snow. "Take aim, little owl."
The sheer adorableness of that could almost have thrown Emma off, but she was reminded that they were in the midst of an epic fight when Neal hurled a snowball right at her face. He didn't miss.
Regina's laughter filled her ears, and the wet snow dripping from her nose and into her mouth was completely worth it.
Henry threw the next snowball. Aiming at his mom. He was always so careful when it came to Neal, always making sure to throw the softer snowballs at him and never ever aiming for his little face. Emma loved him for it. She loved that he was such a considerate, caring big brother for Neal.
"Alright, kid!" Emma chuckled. "Let's take those two down!" she scooped up some snow and threw it at Regina. And missed.
But Regina did not. Her aim was perfect. Most likely because she had played baseball as a kid. Emma huffed when she was hit with a load of snow right on her stomach. "I'm gonna get ya!" she promised and scooped up some more of the snow. This time she 'sliced' the top of Regina's head with the snowball, and it exploded onto Regina's hair.
Regina laughed heartedly. "That was a good one, miss Swan. Let's see if you can handle this!" she threw a fresh snowball at Emma. She ducked, and it the snowball hit Henry instead. He let out a ferocious roar and charged towards Regina. But she quickly got the upper hand and Henry ended up on his back in the snow. Neal took advantage of that and began to 'wash' Henry's face in snow.
"Ma! Help me!" Henry laughed.
"I'm coming, kid! I'm coming!" Emma tried to keep her laughter at bay as she sprinted over there to help their son. She managed to peel Neal away from him, but instead of laying him down in the snow and potentially making him upset, she lifted him high in the air and spun him around like Regina had just done.
"Flying!" Neal squealed.
"You sure are, kiddo," Emma chuckled. She pressed a kiss to his cold little cheek and then sat him down on the ground. She made sure to adopt a low and threatening voice as she said: "now, Mills... I believe you threw a snowball at me!"
"I did," Regina confirmed and cackled. "What are you gonna do about it, Em-ma?"
"Oh just you wait and see!" Emma growled. She formed her hands as claws as she scooped up some snow, and then she charged at Regina.
Regina let out something between a squeal and a laughter and then she threw a fresh snowball at Emma. Perfect aim once again, and Emma was pretty sure she inhaled some of the snow, but she didn't care. She mock roared as she barreled towards Regina and pretty much tackled her. Regina managed to keep upright, and two seconds later, Emma squealed in protest when she felt ice cold snow being spread on the back of her neck. "You are playing dirty, Mills!"
"Yes," Regina simply laughed. "I am."
Meanwhile, Henry had gotten on his feet, and Emma briefly heard him and Neal team up before both she and Regina were bombarded with snowballs. Both of them turned to their kids and threw themselves into a regular 'Donald Duck' snowball fight. Emma laughed until her side hurt, and she actually felt pretty proud of herself when she managed to send a snowball straight at Henry's face. None of them aimed for Neal's face, god forbid it. That would only make him upset. And that was not the attention. The snowballs they threw at him were also significantly smaller and softer. And they always missed on purpose to insure that he would stand victorious by the end of it.
Emma wasn't completely sure how it happened. Perhaps because the snow was a bit slippery, or maybe it was because both kids were charging at them, but either way, Regina tripped and ended up flat on her back in the snow. Emma obviously would have done everything to help her fiancé, but clever little Neal chose that exact moment to give her quite the impressive shove considering how tiny he was.
Emma let out a gasp as she too tripped. And ended up falling on top of Regina. Regina made a slight 'oomph'-sound and then a very quiet 'ow'.
"Oh god!" Emma said, torn between amusement and horrification. "Are you alright?"
"Quite," Regina chuckled. "But I think I conquer."
"Seems reasonable enou- arrgh!" Emma interrupted herself and let out a squeal when Neal took advantage of the situation and began 'washing' the back of her neck with snow.
"Neal," Henry laughed. "That's unfair, buddy! Let them come up."
Emma chuckled as she gently rolled off Regina, because seriously this wasn't decent. No laying on top of Regina. At least not until tomorrow night.
"You need a hand, beautiful?" she asked as she stood up and brushed the worst snow off her coat. She extended a hand out towards Regina, but before Regina could get the chance to accept the gallant offer, Neal suddenly climbed on top of her and sat down on her belly, which prompted Regina to let out another 'oomph' sound and a: "My, my, I appear to have been conquered."
"Looks like it," Emma grinned. "Neal, buddy, why are you sitting on top of mama?"
"Mine," Neal said simply, and Emma bursted out laughing. The little fella had gotten jealous, and now he was taking back what was 'his'.
"I think I need help," Regina said simply. "It's very cold."
Emma laughed again as she gently peeled Neal off Regina. "Come on, little fella. Mama can't lie in the snow all day. She'll get cold."
"Mine," Neal said again and squirmed to get back to Regina.
Regina shook her head slightly as she stood up and brushed the snow off her coat.
"You look cold," Emma cleverly observed. "I think we better cut this snowball fight short, Mills. I don't want you to end up getting a cold."
"No, that would undoubtedly put a damper on the ceremony tomorrow," Regina quipped and smiled at Henry and Neal. "What do you say, guys? You ready to head inside?"
"Cocoa," Neal said simply.
Emma grinned. Yes, why not. Great idea, little owl!"
The little family headed back inside, and everyone got dried off and Emma got the hot cocoa going while Regina helped Neal getting some circulation back into his little hands. "That's it," she soothed as she gently rubbed his little hand.
Neal whimpered a bit. Feeling the warmth return to his hands was a painful business.
"Maybe we should have put the other mittens on him," Emma said. "The ones you made."
"Yes, that probably would have been good," Regina nodded.
"Yellow mit-tens?" Neal asked, referring to the mittens Regina so lovingly had made for him last winter.
"Yes, sweetie," Regina confirmed. "Next time you'll have to wear your yellow mittens."
"Itchy," Neal said simply and scrunched up his little nose.
Emma tried not to snicker, but a little sound still came out of her mouth.
Regina scowled at her and then turned her attention back to Neal. "No, sweetie. They're not itchy. They're nice and warm. There we go." she kissed his little palm. "All nice and warm again."
In return, Neal reached and grabbed Regina's hand. "Mama cold too." he gave Regina's palm a wet and sloppy kiss.
"Awww," Emma cooed. "That was very sweet of you, baby." seriously, seeing Regina and Neal together always melted her heart. And it immediately made her secret wish so much stronger. She was almost getting lost in a daydream when she remembered that she was in the middle of making cocoa.
"That was a fun snowball fight," Regina said with a smile as she lifted Neal up on her hip.
"Your hair is dripping, beautiful," Emma said and bared her teeth in a grin.
"Oh," Regina said and made a face. "Well, I suppose I better do something about that."
"Yeah. After we've had cocoa," Emma insisted. "It's done now. Come sit down." She turned her head and bellowed up the stairs: "Hen-ryyyyy! Cocoa! Better get your little butt away from the computer!"
"Cooooming!" Henry yelled back.
"Now," Emma quietly added and shook her head.
Regina read her mind. "Him and that computer."
"Yeah, I know," Emma nodded. "Hopefully, the new puppy will make him more... outdoorsy."
"My thoughts exactly," Regina said and placed Neal in his high chair. He hooted in excitement at the cocoa.
Regina admonished and told him to wait, and then she proceeded to fuss over her dripping hair. "I should do something about this. It's dripping all over the floor."
"It's not that bad, babe," Emma said.
Regina pursed her lips in doubt. "How do you think I would look with shorter hair?"
"Amazing," Emma said automatically and truthfully. "You considering to cut it?"
"I might," Regina replied. "Maybe when we're on the honeymoon."
"Well, you hair was fairly short when I first met you," Emma said, smiling at the memory of the by the time unfamiliar, beautiful brunette who had tapped her on the shoulder in the train. The train ride that literally changed her life.
"It was," Regina nodded. "But I'm older now, so..."
Emma spluttered. "You are not old. At all. Neal, tell her."
"Mama pretty," Neal said helpfully.
"That's my boy," Emma praised.
"That's sweet, but I found more grey hairs yesterday," Regina sighed. "They just... keep coming. I'll be grey-haired before I turn forty."
"No, you won't," Emma scoffed. "And even if you do, you'll be the most beautiful 'silver fox' there ever was."
Regina snorted. "Real helpful, Emma."
Emma poured her soon-to-be-wife a cup of cocoa. "I can't see any grey hairs at all, babe."
Regina didn't seem entirely convinced, but before she got the chance to say anything, Henry came down the stairs and gave words of approval when seeing the cocoa. "I was just telling Nick about the new puppy!" he said excited. "I think he got jealous!"
"Did you brag?" Regina asked and raised an eyebrow.
Henry flashed her his sweetest smile. "Maybe a little bit."
"Henry Swan-Mills, that is a not nice thing to do," Regina lightly scolded.
"But it's a puppy, mom!" Henry said as though that was explanation enough for everything.
Regina laughed. "That's neither here nor there, young man, and you know it." then she rose from the chair, walked over to fridge, and grabbed the milk. She poured some of it into Neal's cocoa to make sure it wouldn't be too warm for him to drink.
Neal eagerly grabbed for the cup, and both Emma and Regina made faces when they saw the cup tremble dangerously in his grip.
"Hey, buddy," Henry said to his little brother. "Be careful, okay?" then he demonstrated how Neal should slowly raise the cup up to his lips, and it didn't take long before Neal copied the motion.
Emma and Regina smiled. Henry was the perfect big brother...
Emma had always imagined that the day before your wedding would be this crazy, stressful day where you ran around in a frantic like a headless chicken trying to get everything ready for the big day, but she turned out to be completely wrong. Because everything was ready for tomorrow. The fairy-lights were already hanging in the trees in the backyard. The chairs had been arranged on the snow covered lawn. The food was ready (well, it would be, thanks to Eugenia), the rings, the dresses, and the vows ditto. All they needed to do, was wait for tomorrow. Which was a bit of a hard job when you were as impatient as Emma was, but nothing she couldn't handle.
In many ways, today was just like any other day. They had cocoa. They got cleaned up after the snowball fight. Henry challenged both of them for a game on the PlayStation. Regina won over both her son and Emma, and she was very triumphant about it. Later, they had lunch, and David called Emma. He just wanted to hear if she and Regina were ready for the big day tomorrow. He and Kathryn certainly was. Both of them were looking forward to the ceremony and the following celebration, and David asked if Emma felt nervous. Emma answered truthfully that she wasn't. Excited, definitely. But not nervous. Because there was absolutely nothing scary about marrying Regina.
But she did find it a little strange, how 'normal' their afternoon was. Like the calm before the storm or something. They were hanging out in the living room. Emma had lit the fireplace to make it nice and toasty in here. Neal had been put down for his afternoon nap. Henry was sitting almost folded together in the wing chair, book in his lap and mouth slightly agape. The book was clearly a good one.
Emma and Regina were sitting in the couch. Occupying each their end. Emma had her laptop placed in her lap. She was actually doing a little bit of work. A new story which had been in her head for a while. Her plan had been to not write anything before after the honeymoon, but the story had kept bouncing around in her head, so now she was doing the outline for the first chapter. Just to check if it was any good or not. She was quite excited about it, really. This was the first time she was writing paranormal stuff, and she couldn't wait to get started properly.
Regina had dried her hair and taken off her blazer. Now she was sitting in her black slacks and red silk blouse. Reading glasses perched on her nose and a most familiar book in her lap. The cover was relatively simple, a yellow post it note with the text: 'A Tap on The Shoulder' written across it. This was definitely not the first time she was reading Emma's book, and Emma suspected that it wouldn't be the last time either.
"You know, darling, you might have to write a sequel to this at some point," Regina said as she turned a page in the book.
"Maybe I will someday," Emma smiled.
"And maybe it's time to own up to the fact that 'Helena' exists," Regina continued.
Emma's smile widened. There had been so many speculations since 'A Tap on the Shoulder' had been published. The book had even trended on Twitter for a while. A rumor had been started that it wasn't a work of fiction, but actually a partial biography over Emma's life. The official hashtags had been #WhoIsHelena and #HelenaIsReal.
"Maybe," Emma chuckled. "But it is kinda fun keeping it a mystery too, isn't it?"
"You are bad," Regina said affectionately.
"I know," Emma grinned. "I'm terrible." She stretched a bit in the couch. "Do you realize that this is our last day as fiancées? As of tomorrow, I'll be your WIFE..."
"And I'll be yours," Regina hummed and flashed Emma a soft smile.
"I almost can't believe it," Emma said dreamily. "I'll be Mrs. Swan-Mills."
"So will I," Regina chuckled.
"Just think about it, though," Emma continued, now completely dopey. "If I meet someone I don't know and you join us, I get to say, 'and this is Regina, my wife'. Isn't that epic?"
"Definitely epic," Regina agreed.
"You guys are so lame," Henry teased from the chair.
"Don't be rude, kid," Emma laughed. "You looking forward to tomorrow?"
"Yeah," Henry admitted, returning the grin. "It's been forever since you guys got engaged!"
"Well, I still remember it like it was yesterday," Regina chirped in.
"Me, too," Emma agreed. "Including that fu- freaking dead drop the Ferris wheel made at the end! I thought we were going to die or something!"
"It was quite the dramatic ending," Regina nodded. "But it all turned out alright at the end." She twisted the engagement ring on her finger. She literally never took it off. It had been sitting on her finger ever since Emma had placed it there.
"It sure did. And now we're here. So. Wanna tell me about your wedding dress?" Emma teased, already knowing the answer.
"No," Regina said flatly. "You'll have to quell your curiosity until tomorrow, my love."
"Urrrrgh," Emma joked. "Darn it!"
"It'll be worth the wait," Regina said, and Emma was just about to tell her that her confidence was terribly sexy, but then she remembered that Henry was present, and let's be honest, he probably wouldn't appreciate seeing his two moms flirt. There would be more than enough of that tomorrow. Seriously, there would be so much kissing, the kid would be relieved by the time Emma and Regina left for the honeymoon...
The strange exactly-like-any-other-day day was dwindling. They'd had dinner together and now it was time. For Regina to leave for the night. Yes, they followed that tradition too, and yes, Emma was already regretting it.
But there was no way around it. Regina was supposed to stay with her sister and brother-in-law and niece for the night and get ready there tomorrow. Agonizing. So very agonizing! Emma didn't like it one bit. And the most ridiculous thing was that it had been her own stupid idea. Yep, that's right. Emma Swan had encouraged her fiancé to spend the night before the wedding at her sister's place.
Stupid, dumb Emma!
She groaned rather dramatically when Regina came down the stairs with an overnight bag slung over her shoulder. That bag contained a pajamas and some kind of sweatpants and tanktop outfit Regina was going to wear before putting on the dress for the big day.
"I've changed my mind," Emma said firmly. "I actually think this is a very, very bad idea."
Regina chuckled. "I figured you would. But it's too late to change it now. Zelena is expecting me. My dress is there. And so's... everything else."
"Oh? And what's 'everything else'?" Emma asked, immediately intrigued. "You bought other stuff too?"
"Let's just say, bridal stores has a lot of other things to offer besides the dress," Regina said nonchalantly. "There's a whole section dedicated to the honeymoon."
"Really?" Emma chuckled. She did in fact know that. Because she too had been shopping in that particular department. Much to Ruby and Ella's delight. Especially Ruby's. She had been full of good advises on what underwear to choose for the honeymoon, and Emma had left the store with a bag full of underwear. And what felt like a cracked rib from laughing so hard.
"This is a dumb tradition," Emma grumbled. "Why is it that we're supposed to spend the night before the wedding apart? I don't like it."
"It was your idea, genius," Regina chuckled. "And I believe it's something to do with making tomorrow more special. That absence makes the heart grow fonder. Or something."
Emma smiled a little as she looked at the bag slung across over Regina's shoulder. "This reminds me of before we lived together."
"Oh yes," Regina nodded. "There was a lot of driving back and forward, wasn't there?"
"Oh yeah." Emma sighed. "Can I at least kiss you before you leave?"
"Is that allowed?"
"Babe!"
Regina chuckled again. "I'm kidding, my darling. Give me a kiss."
Emma leaned in and pecked Regina's lips one, two, three times. But instead of pulling back right away, she hovered for a moment with her forehead resting against Regina's. "Why is it that I can't seem to wrap my head around the fact that by this time tomorrow night-"
"We're gonna be on a train," Regina finished the sentence and snickered. "On our honeymoon."
"Mmmm," Emma breathed. "I can't wait."
"The honeymoon is what you're most excited about," Regina teased good naturedly.
"No," Emma said softly. "What I'm most excited about is hearing you say, 'I do'. Placing the ring on your finger and know that it'll be you and me for the rest of our lives."
"The ultimate," Regina smiled, echoing what she had said on the morning after their engagement.
Emma grasped her hand and tangled their fingers together like so many times before. "The first of many ultimate's, babe."
"Not the first," Regina insisted. "As I recall, you've given me many already. The date. The first kiss. The first-" she tilted her head and lowered her voice a tad as she continued: "night together."
"Now that was memorable alright," Emma agreed. She could easily remember her first night with Regina. Every kiss, every caress was forever etched into her mind. Regina sighed a little, and Emma suspected that she was getting lost in pleasurable memories. The sweet blush in her cheeks certainly suggested so. Emma snickered softly and gave Regina's cheek a sweet caress.
Regina blinked and seemed to snap out of it. "You know, maybe I should stay here tonight. I mean, it's not like either of us are blushing virgins."
"I heard that, and now I want to cut off my ears," Henry stated as he just so happened to walk past them. He made a face. "Seriously, guys?"
"Sorry kid," Emma chuckled and ruffled his hair. "We're done being gross."
"Yeah, for now. But tomorrow you'll be even worse."
"You're right," Regina nodded, and her eyes sparkled. "Tomorrow will be dedicated to your Ma and I kissing nonstop."
"Urrrgh. I'm gonna need some bleach then!" Henry said dramatically, but he was smiling widely while doing so. He too was excited about the wedding. Had barely talked about anything for the past six months. To his mothers surprise and delight, he had immersed himself into the preparations. Had insisted on being a part of it all. It was thanks to him that Neal had gotten a tiny suit of his own, he had accompanied them to the jeweler store when they chose wedding rings, and he took his task as the ring bearer dead seriously.
"Weren't you supposed to leave, mom?" he asked and raised an eyebrow in perfect Regina-style.
"I'm on my way," Regina assured half-heartedly.
Emma snickered. Regina didn't look like someone who was on her way to go anywhere. She would have sassed her fiancé for it, but before she could, the doorbell rang. "Woops," Emma said with a grin.
"Looks like we're getting company."
"That's Ella!" Henry said excitedly and rushed over to the door to let her in. At the age of twelve years old, he actually had laid off the habit of answering the door, but when he got particularly excited, like tonight, he slipped back into old habits. Within the blink of an eye, he had opened the door, and Emma's best friend and tomorrow's bridesmaid stepped in. "Brr, it's cold outside tonight!" she proclaimed as she rubbed her hands together and shook her head, making snowflakes fall onto the carpet.
"Hi, Ella!" Henry grinned and gave her a hug.
"Hey, you," Ella greeted and returned the hug. "Got your suit out for tomorrow?"
"Yep!"
"Great. Oh," Ella lifted an eyebrow as she looked at Regina. "Looks like the other bride is still here, huh?"
"The other bride has some trouble with getting her as- butt out of the door," Henry snickered.
"Language," Emma immediately admonished as she gave her best friend a hug.
"He isn't wrong," Regina sighed. Now it was her turn to hug Ella, and Ella chuckled as she returned the embrace. "The other bride DOES have problems with getting her butt out of the door," Regina continued.
"Aww," Emma wrapped an arm around Regina and kissed her temple as soon as Regina was done hugging Ella. "Maybe you should sta-"
"No-no," Ella interrupted and wagged a finger at the soon brides-to-be. "We're sticking to traditions. You said so yourself. Which means bye-bye Regina!"
"They're a tough crowd, beautiful," Emma mock sighed.
"But they're also right," Regina chuckled and effortlessly wiggled out of Emma's embrace. "I better get going."
"Ooooookayyyy..."
"I'll see you tomorrow, my darling," Regina softly continued and gave Emma's cheek a light peck.
"All dressed in white," Emma said goofily.
Regina waggled an eyebrow and looked totally mysterious. "We'll see about that. Sleep well." She turned to Ella. "Take care of my fiancé."
"Will do. Sending her to bed early," Ella grinned.
"Sounds like a reasonable plan."
"Hey!"
Regina chuckled at Emma's protest and picked up Neal who had come into the hallway to see what was going on. She kissed his chubby cheeks twice, and Neal slung his little arms around her neck.
"How is mommy gonna survive without her boy for three weeks?" Regina half-joked as she rubbed the two year olds back. "Without both of her boys..."
"Mooo-oooom," Henry said in that tone that suggested he found Regina to be extremely embarrassing.
Regina ignored the cheek from her oldest son and looked at Emma. "Are you sure you don't want me to take the little guy with me for the night? I don't mind."
"I mind," Emma said simply and grinned at her fiancé. "Let him stay here. Tomorrow is your day. As much as I love our little owl, he'd be hawking your attention and distracting you."
"You're probably right," Regina acknowledged. Though without letting go of Neal. "But it's your day as much as it is mine."
"I've got Ella to help me out," Emma smilingly reminded her fiancé. "And Ruby. Plenty of nannies to entertain him."
"That is true," Regina nodded. "And I suppose it'll be confusing enough for him when Mal and Ursula comes to stay with him. No reason to move him from one place to the other."
"You're making some good points, Mills," Emma chuckled. "And yet you're not putting the kid down."
"Mom, he's gonna be fine," Henry assured.
"'Enry!" Neal squealed, wriggling in Regina's arms and outstretching his own little pudgy arms towards his big brother.
"See?" Henry said with a grin as he walked over to Regina and snatched Neal out of her arms. "He wanna hang with his big brother!"
"You're stalling, bride-to-be," Ella told Regina and chuckled.
"They're a tough crowd," Emma mock sighed and jutted out her bottom lip.
"But they're also right," Regina said. "I really do have to go. Otherwise Zelena will be disappointed."
"That's true. She will," Emma snickered as she walked over to Regina and gave her hug. "See you tomorrow. Get some sleep."
"Sleep?" Regina made a sound that could have been a snort. "How do you suppose that's gonna happen, my love? No. I won't be able to sleep tonight."
"Try," Emma said, kissing the top of her head. "And I'll do the same."
Regina leaned into her for a moment. Reluctant to go. Emma felt the same. She could not believe that she was the one who had come up with this unbelievably stupid idea. She felt tempted to text Zelena and tell her that Regina would be staying home instead, but she knew that Regina's sister would give them hell for 'breaking tradition'.
And Regina clearly had the same hunch. "Alright," she said as she stepped away from Emma. "I'm going."
"Really?" Emma teased.
"Mmm. When I've kissed you that is," Regina chuckled.
"Urrrgh," Henry interjected.
But Emma and Regina paid little attention to their boy's protest as they kissed each other sweetly. And a tad yearningly. As always, Emma felt everything at once when Regina kissed her. Longing. Lust. Anticipation. Happiness so fierce and strong it made her dizzy. And just a smidge of anxiety. Not about the wedding, no, not at all. The wedding wasn't a source for anxiety. It never had been, and it never would be either. It was the 'thing' she was planning on telling Regina afterwards. Once they were on the train on their honeymoon. She was nervous about that. Telling Regina the one thing she had been thinking about for months and months now. Suppose she and Regina for once wasn't on the same page? Regina could very well have a different mindset when it came to this. Emma felt a tingle of something that was a mixture of lust and anxiety in her belly. A small sigh escaped her as Regina gently and lovingly cupped her face with her warm, warm hands. The anxiety was definitely turning into nothing else than anticipation now. She couldn't wait to kiss Regina at the aisle tomorrow. Put a ring on her finger and know that it would be them for the rest of their lives. A new chapter as a married couple. Regina by her side as always, but now as her wife. WIFE. God. They were getting married tomorrow.
"Are you guys done?" Henry moaned. "I'm starting to feel icky!"
Oh. Emma broke the kiss and stepped away from her fiancé. Realizing that she and Regina most definitely had been kissing each other for longer than what was actually appropriate when their children were present. Ooops.
"Kissing-kissing-kissing!" Neal squealed from Henry's arms.
"And lots of it," Ella teased good naturedly and smirked at Emma.
"I'm going," Regina said firmly. And as to prove that, she grabbed her coat and the chunky, red scarf Emma had knitted for her. That had been Emma's little project, and even though the scarf definitely had some imperfections, Regina wore it proudly every time the weather was getting just a little bit colder.
"Text me when you get there so I know you arrived safely," Emma instructed. "And be careful, okay? The roads are all icy."
"I'll be careful," Regina vowed, tying the scarf around her neck. She glanced at Henry. "Don't stay up to late, okay? Big day tomorrow."
"Roger," Henry joked and sat Neal down.
The two year old wobbled over to Regina and hugged her knees tightly. "Mama!"
"Mama will be back tomorrow," Regina assured as she crouched down to be in eye level with him.
Neal didn't answer. Instead he flailed his little hands, wiggled his little fingers in a somewhat clumsy but still familiar manner.
"I love you too, baby," Regina chuckled as she wiggled her fingers and signed back to him.
Neal gave her a big, dimpled smile and a giggle when Regina kissed the top of his head and then his little nose.
Next, Regina walked over to Henry and kissed the top of his head. Henry protested as any twelve year old should do, but he was grinning at the same time.
And finally, Regina turned to Ella and said: "make sure my fiancé goes to bed early, will you?"
"You got it," Ella chuckled and patted the top of Emma's shoulder. "No staying up past midnight."
"Right." Emma snorted. "How am I supposed to get any sleep tonight? I'm wayyyy too jittery for that!"
"Think lovely thoughts, my darling," Regina said and jokingly blew her a kiss. "See you tomorrow. I can feel my phone vibrate in my pocket, and I have an inkling that it's my sister texting me and asking where I am, so I better get going."
"Yeah, I suppose so," Emma said and tried not to pout. "Don't forget to send me a text when you get there!"
"You got it. Have a nice evening," Regina smiled, and then after gently freeing herself from Neal who had been hugging her knees once again, she disappeared out of the door.
Emma stood and listened to the sound it made when Regina walked through the snow in her high heels. She listened to a car door being opened and then slammed shut. An engine being switched on. The
car pulling out of the driveway, and then... nothing. Emma's fiancé had officially left the house for the night. Emma felt how her bottom lip started to jut out. She didn't like when Regina left. Not even if it was only for the night.
"Well," Ella said and rubbed her hands together. "Just us left, then."
"Looks like it," Emma nodded. It was possible that she was still staring at the door Regina just walked through.
Ella laughed and gently put a hand on Emma's arm. "Come on, Swan. Let's head into the living room and crack open a bottle of wine. Like in the good old days."
"Yeah," Emma said halfheartedly and didn't protest when Ella gently but firmly lead her into the living room and made her sit down on the couch.
Henry and Neal followed suit. Neal settled down on the floor with his stuffed owl, and Henry asked: "can I have a soda or something?"
"You may," Emma allowed. "But bedtime in an hour, okay?"
"'Kay, Ma," Henry confirmed and smiled. No nonsense tonight. No attempts at negotiating his bedtime. Tonight he simply went with it, bless him.
Ella 'cracked open' a bottle of wine, Henry got his soda, and Neal was offered a cup of water to be included, and he seemed happy enough with that. Emma took a sip of her wine and felt a butterfly or two
settle somewhere in her belly. She wasn't nervous, though. Merely excited about tomorrow.
So was Henry. He chitchatted like a monkey, and when Emma told him that, he obviously had to imitate a monkey, and proceeded to give Neal the hiccups in the process.
"Cheers, bride-to-be," Ella smiled.
"Cheers," Emma said and clinked her glass with Ella's.
"I can't believe that my best friend is getting married tomorrow," Ella said.
"I know, it's insane," Emma replied, shaking her head slightly. Sometimes she couldn't believe it either. That she was in fact getting married tomorrow. That by this time tomorrow night, she and Regina would be on their honeymoon. Married.
"She was glowing," Ella chuckled, bringing Emma out of her musings. "Regina, I mean. She looked like a kid on Christmas eve. It was wonderful to witness. She is just so ready to get married, isn't she?"
"She is," Emma grinned. "We both are." Everything had been about the wedding ever since Emma had slipped the engagement ring on Regina's finger in the Ferris wheel. It had been a bit like living in a dream world made of cakes and flowers and dresses. Emma had reveled in all of it. But as of tomorrow, 'real life' was starting. She and Regina's married life. The greatest adventure was yet to come. Life as Regina's wife. Emma laughed. She couldn't help it. She was just so insanely happy. Here she was, thirty years old and about to get married to the love of her life. If someone had found her a few weeks before she won that train ticket and told her that it was gonna be the train ride of a lifetime. That she would find her entire future on that train... She would probably have laughed her head off. But that was exactly what had happened. She had stepped on a train and had met a beautiful, mysterious, silent woman. She had been given the greatest gift of all simply because she had won a train ticket.
Emma still had that train ticket. She would never throw it away. It was stored away with all the post it notes Regina had written to her...
Emma chuckled amused at the picture she had just received from Zelena. It was one of Regina with her arms spread wide in a ta-dah motion and a big, silly grin plastered to her face. Underneath the picture, Zelena had written: 'one happy bride-to-be with snowflakes in her hair just arrived safe and soundly. Have a nice evening, and get some sleep!'. Regina definitely had influenced the reprimand from the redhead, Emma thought to herself as she texted her soon-to-be sister-in-law back: 'Happy to see that she arrived safe and soundly, and even happier about the snow flakes in her hair 😉 Ella and I are having a glass of wine. Neal has just been put to bed, Henry is showering so he's all set for tomorrow. Tell Regina that everything is under control and that she has nothing to worry about whatsoever. The only thing she needs to think about is putting on the wedding dress and come back here in time for the ceremony!'
It didn't take long before Zelena replied to the message. With a picture of Regina smiling and flashing the camera not one but two thumbs up. Emma grinned. Regina's cheeks were all pink and her eyes were sparkling. Definitely one very happy bride-to-be. Exactly how Emma wanted it. She put her cellphone away and took another sip of her glass of wine. This would be the last glass of tonight. She had no interest in waking up with a hangover tomorrow. That would be the worst.
"What do you think Regina and Zelena are gonna do?" Ella asked.
"Maybe have a glass of wine?" Emma suggested. "Or tea." Regina had recently taken to drink tea late at night instead of coffee. And Zelena was British. Drinking tea was right up her street.
"So it won't be like the bachelorette party," Ella chuckled.
"Oh, god no," Emma said and wrinkled her nose. "Regina was barely alive the next day!"
"You were pretty drunk for your bachelorette party too, Swan," Ella teased.
"Yeah," Emma said, sighing happily. "Yeah, that was a good night."
Ella gave her hand a squeeze. "Tomorrow will be too."
"Tomorrow will be better," Emma said firmly. Undoubtedly, the best day of her life.
"Wanna rehearse your vows?" Ella asked.
"I probably should," Emma half-groaned. "But I'm not sure I can without bawling."
"Let's try it anyway," Ella smiled. "Just to make sure you'll nail it tomorrow."
And so Emma cleared her throat and practiced her wedding vows. And it didn't take long before the first few tears spilled onto her cheeks...
By the time she went to bed, Emma's stomach was full of butterflies. It wasn't late, but Emma feared that she wouldn't be able to sleep at all. Thankfully, Neal was asleep. His sleeping pattern was fairly good, and on this particular night, Emma praised the gods that was the case. If he was awake all night, he would have been cranky come morning, and Emma would have been completely squashed. And lets be honest, nobody wants to be completely squashed on their wedding day.
Wedding day. God, she was actually getting married tomorrow! Emma could barely believe it. Tomorrow night around this time, she and Regina would be on the train. On their honeymoon. Emma's
stomach somersaulted in expectation. She wondered what the other bride-to-be was doing. Was Regina asleep? Emma glanced at the clock radio. No, she doubted Regina was asleep already. It was still fairly early.
Emma rolled onto her side and grabbed her phone. Typed in her password and then send Regina a quick text. 'Hey, beautiful. You asleep?'
The response came almost immediately. 'No, not quite yet, but you should be, my love.'
'So should you ;)' Emma cheekily texted back.
'I can't sleep.'
'And why's that? You nervous?'. It would be perfectly natural if Regina was nervous. Emma wouldn't blame her for it at all.
'No, just excited. Very excited. Is Neal asleep? And Henry?'
'Yes and yes :P'
'Excellent.'
'What are you doing, miss I-can't-sleep?'
'I'm reading a book. And pretty soon, that's gonna be Mrs. I-can't-sleep to you.'
Emma grinned to herself. 'As of tomorrow, I'm officially renaming you in my phone. To 'Wifey' ;)'
'Will you indeed?'
'Yup!'
'You are so silly.'
'Yeah, about you!'
'I've heard that's the case, my love.'
Emma smiled. But then jutted her bottom lip out. 'I miss you! I know it's silly, but I can't help it! I'm not used to sleeping without you :('
'I know. It's tough, I think so too. But as of tomorrow, I'm not planning on spending my nights anywhere else.'
'That sounds perfect to me, Mills!'
'Swan-Mills.'
Emma chuckled. 'Not yet, babe. But soon.'
'Very soon indeed!'
Emma smiled again. 'So, are you planning on putting that book down and going to bed?'
'I am in bed. And I'm not reading anymore.'
'No? What are you doing then?'
'Oh, I'm just... Looking at my dress.'
Emma groaned loudly. 'Seriously?'
'Yes, indeed.'
'Gimme a hint!'. Emma didn't really know why she was asking. She already knew what the answer would be. It didn't take long before her cellphone vibrated against her palm again. Emma checked the message quickly.
'Not a chance.'
'Come on, Mills! Just a teeny, tiny hint!'
'Zelena would never forgive me if I were to let any information regarding the dress slip...'
Emma groaned again. Couldn't resist to push her fiancé just a little: 'Please? Just tell me one single thing! Then I'll stop asking, I promise ;).' She wasn't playing fair, and she knew it. She wasn't supposed to beg Regina to tell her something about the dress. But she couldn't help it. Regina's wedding dress had been quite the adventure for Regina. She had window shopped with Mal and Zelena, been on several shopping trips that lasted for hours before finally coming home and announcing that she had found the dress. And oh, how she had been glowing with excitement when she told it.
Emma's phone vibrated again, and Emma was quick to check the message: 'Okay, okay, I'll tell you one single thing... It's the most beautiful dress I've ever owned. Every time I think about it, I think about saying 'I do' to you. I think about tomorrow, and I think about how much I'm looking forward to the rest of our live together.'
Emma swallowed the massive lump in her throat. She thought about that too. A lot. 'That was more than one thing, Mills. And now I'm crying!'
'Oh dear! You're not supposed to cry on the night before your wedding!'
'No, you're a very naughty bride ;)'
'Emma Swan, what am I supposed to do with you when you write that kind of stuff to me in the middle of the night?'
Emma laughed. 'Well... You could marry me?'
'That I could do. Tomorrow. Now go to bed, please. It's getting late.'
'Are you gonna go to bed too?'
'Yes. I promise.'
'Okay. Goodnight. I love you!'
'I love you too, my darling. So very much.'
Emma concluded the conversation there and put her phone down on the nightstand. She knew that she could have continued to text Regina for hours and hours like they so often had done before, but tonight she would have to end it here. Otherwise Ella would probably kill her. She had already given Emma one long lecture on the importance of getting a good night's sleep and Emma wasn't particularly interested in getting another scolding.
She flopped back on the bed. Pulled the covers up to her chin. How was she supposed to just go to sleep tonight? She was way too excited about tomorrow. The wedding, the following party, and the wedding night, of course. Emma felt tingles low in her gut. She pushed them aside and forced herself to think about the thing she had been plucking up the courage to ask Regina about for months. How would Regina react when Emma told her? Would she be happy or apprehensive? Not angry. Emma already knew that. Regina never got angry at her. But maybe she would get upset. Maybe Emma's request would somehow remind her of something. Maybe it would make her sad. God, Emma hoped that wasn't the case! If there was something she did not want, it was to make Regina sad! Not ever! But at the same time, she knew she had to tell Regina about this. It was the whole foundation in their relationship. Communication. Once by post-it notes and messages, and now by words. Regina was actually quite the talker, Emma had learned. And she loved it. Loved the fact that Regina loved talking. And singing. God, she was quite the singer too! She often hummed in the morning. Hoarsely and off-key and yet utterly perfectly. She sang lullabies to Neal. Often a Spanish one Emma was still trying (and failing) to learn. One she had sung to Henry long ago. She was delighted at having gotten the opportunity to sing that lullaby once again, she had told Emma, and Emma was clinging on to that statement. Hoped that it would turn out to mean more.
Emma rolled onto her side. Curled up. The bed felt too big. Cold. Empty. Regina's absence was screaming to the high heavens. Emma didn't like this once bit. She didn't like sleeping without Regina, and she couldn't believe that this had been her own stupid idea. 'let's spend the night before the wedding apart, babe. It's romantic as hell! And it's tradition!'. My ass. Emma scoffed in the darkness. She literally got the worst ideas. Seriously, this was the last time she would open her big, fat mouth. At least when it came to spend nights apart. Emma refused to spend another night away from Regina. Neal snored loudly through the baby monitor, and Emma chuckled to herself. God, that kid had some funny sounds sometimes. It would be hard to be away from him. Him and Henry. But they would be in excellent hands. Mal and Ursula were more than capable, and Zelena would stop by often too.
Emma yawned and closed her eyes. She should probably get some sleep so she could be all sharp for the wedding tomorrow...
To Be Continued...