The next morning started with Henry coming barreling inside the bedroom and ripping the curtains open. And thereby dooming Emma's morning sensitive eyes to eternal suffering. But Henry paid little attention to that as he eagerly cried: "Ma, wake up! You're getting married!"
"Woo-hoo," Emma said a bit meekly. God, she had been in the middle of such a nice dream about Regina and how she had-
"Ma, COME on!" Henry said and gave her shoulder a slight shake. "Wake up!"
"I'm awake," Emma croaked, even though she totally was not.
Henry laughed far too loudly for what Emma assumed was early hours. "It's not snowing anymore," he reported. "But everything is completely frosted over. It's look real pretty, Ma! Like a fairytale!"
"Great," Emma said, still scratchily. The fogginess was slowly lifting from her brain, and she was starting to wrap her head around this. That she was getting married. To Regina. Today. "Holy shit!" she yelped and sat up in bed so fast, her head started spinning.
"And there it is," Henry laughed.
Emma paid no attention to his sass. She jumped out of bed and grabbed her son. Squeezed him tightly and then spun him around like he was a little boy and not a rapidly growing twelve year old boy.
"Ma!" he protested and laughed. "Put me down!"
Emma laughed too. "Oh my god, kid, I'm getting married today!" she squeezed him again.
"Yeah, you are," Henry squeaked. "Ma, I can't breathe!"
"Oh. Sorry." Emma chuckled as she let her son go.
Henry grinned and elbowed her. "Are you nervous?"
"No," Emma said truthfully. "I'm excited, but definitely not nervous."
"You think mom is?" Henry asked.
"I don't know, kid. But if she is, that's totally okay. She's allowed to be nervous," Emma said softly.
That was when the door to the bedroom was pushed ajar and one very happy toddler came trotting in. Neal was still in his owl sleeper, and he was grinning from ear to ear as he extended his pudgy little arms up towards Emma. "Marry!" he proudly proclaimed. "Mommy marry!"
"That's right, little fella," Emma grinned as she scooped her youngest son up and gave him a big, slobby kiss on the cheek exactly like Regina would have done if she was here.
And Neal reacted like he always did. With a happy and slight ear-piercing: "hooo-oooh!"
The door to the bedroom opened a third time. This time it was Ella. She was still wearing a robe, but she looked pretty awake and alert. "Morning, bride-to-be," she greeted. "Stomach full of butterflies?"
"The good kind of butterflies," Emma said and smiled widely. She carefully sat Neal on the floor, and he immediately attached himself to her knees like a little slot.
"I've made coffee," Ella revealed.
"Awesome. Yeah, I'm gonna need a lot of that," Emma said. She still felt a little bit groggy after the abrupt wakeup call.
"Henry would you mind helping me with the breakfast?" Ella asked. "I think Regina might has rearranged the cupboards since the last time I was here."
Henry chuckled. "She has. I'll help you find everything. Come on, Neal!" he carefully peeled Neal off of Emma's knees and tugged him up. Neal squealed happily and wrapped his little arms tightly around Henry. That still amazed Emma. Most two year olds flew into fits of rage if they were picked up just like that, but Neal was different. He could get cross if Emma or Regina picked him up, but if it was Henry, the toddler always reacted with joy. He adored his older brother.
Henry, Neal and Ella left the bedroom, and Emma grabbed the red bathrobe Regina had been wearing yesterday and put it on. She would lie if she claimed that she didn't miss Regina. Falling asleep without her last night had been rough. But they would soon see each other again. The butterflies in her stomach started flapping their wings when she thought about what would happen this afternoon.
She would be waiting by the apple tree, and Regina would come and join her. They would get married. For a moment, Emma stood spellbound by the window. She looked out at the winter wonderland that was their garden. The plastic covered chairs the guests were gonna sit on. The beautiful pavilion Malena had found for them god knows where. She had shown up with it one afternoon and declared that she wouldn't risk either of the brides being exposed to the elements. Now the beautiful, vintage-looking pavilion was standing underneath the apple tree and just waiting for Emma and Regina to come stand under it.
Emma was brought out of her little daydream when her stomach rumbled. Oh, right. Breakfast. Yeah. She was actually hungry. Yep. She ran a finger through her hair and cringed at how messy it felt. How was she even supposed to sort it out by this afternoon?! She couldn't. It would end up looking like a right mess-
Emma took a deep breath. No panicking. This was supposed to be a good day. The best day. Stressing was not allowed. She took a moment to scold herself and then she turned around and left the bedroom. She padded into the hallway, as pulled by a string. And the smell of coffee and bacon coming from the kitchen. Mmm. That was exactly what she needed to wake up. A bit of fuel.
When she came downstairs, Neal was already sitting in his chair with a bowl of oatmeal in front of him.
"Little man couldn't wait for the bride to arrive," Ella joked.
Emma chuckled as she ruffled Neal's blond locks. "The most important thing is that he's getting something to eat. Otherwise he'll get cranky."
"Ella made bacon and scrambled eggs!" Henry interjected with sparkling eyes.
"Ells," Emma scolded and shook her head. "You shouldn't have. I'm not even sure I can eat any-"
"Of course you can," Ella and Henry said in unison. Ella even clicked her tongue. "Do you think Regina would appreciate it if you fainted during the ceremony?"
"No," Emma chuckled. "She probably wouldn't."
"Sit," Ella said plainly and pointed to the chair Regina normally sat in.
Emma obediently sat down and the next second she was presented with a plate loaded with bacon and eggs. And a cup of coffee. Henry glared at her, so Emma hastily speared some bacon on her fork.
She stuffed it inside her mouth, chewed, swallowed and then squeaked: "look at me. I'm eating."
"You better," Henry grinned. "I'm watching you, Ma!"
"Me, too," Ella assured.
Neal happily slammed his spoon against the table and giggled in that particularly happy way he so often did in the morning.
Emma chuckled softly and took a sip of her coffee. Oh yeah. Exactly as life-giving as she had hoped.
Ella and Henry dug into their breakfast as well, and in many ways, this was a totally normal morning. Except for the fact that Regina wasn't there. That was highly unusual. And what was even more unusual, was the fact that the doorbell suddenly rang.
Emma, Henry and Ella looked at one another. "Uhhh..." Henry said.
"Mama!" Neal cried excitedly.
"I... hope not," Emma replied. "'Cause if that's your mom, something is really, really wrong, kiddo!"
"Do you want me to go and see who it is?" Ella offered.
"Nope, I'll do it," Emma said and stood from the chair. She didn't care that she was wearing a robe and that her hair was a bit messy. She was far too curious to let Ella handle this. "Back in a sec," she promised as she headed into the hallway. She took a second to calm her irrational fear. Of course it wasn't Regina. Of course nothing was wrong.
Emma opened the door and came face to face with... Moe French.
"Delivery for Emma Swan?" he asked with a grin as he held up an enormous bouquet of yellow tulips.
Emma accepted the bouquet a tad surprised. She knew who send the tulips, of course she did, but she hadn't expected this. At all. "T-thanks," she said to Moe.
"Don't thank me, I'm just the delivery guy," he chuckled. "I'll see you later." With that he turned around and walked back down the pathway. Emma watched until he disappeared and then she reminded herself that it was cold wearing a robe. She closed the door again and turned her attention towards the bouquet of tulips in her arms. She searched and soon found what she was looking for. A card.
'My darling Emma.
Today is our wedding day, something I can't quite believe. It feels like we've been planning this for ages, and at the same time, it feels like it was yesterday we got engaged. I guess time is a vague concept when I'm with you.
I love you so much, and I can't wait to say 'I do' later.
I know you are excited too, but please remember to breathe and enjoy this day. Enjoy the final preparations. This isn't just my day. It's ours.
And for the record, this is the last time I'm sleeping without you.
Yours,
Regina.'
The ceremony was still hours away, and Emma could already feel a lump forming in her throat. Regina wasn't even here, and she had successfully made Emma cry and laugh at the same time. Oh dear god.
Emma didn't dare think about how she would look at the ceremony. All puffy eyes and blotchy cheeks.
"I really gotta up my romantic game," she said to no one in particular as she turned around and walked back to the kitchen with the enormous bouquet of yellow tulips in her arms.
"Wow," Ella said and looked at the bouquet. "Got a secret admirer, Swan?"
"Mhmm, totally," Emma replied, going along on the joke.
"They're nice," Henry chirped in. But he had this typical teenage look on his face. One that suggested that he didn't quite understand why his mom would send his other mom flowers when they were seeing each other later today.
Emma offered no explanation. She just bowed her head and sniffed at the flowers...
Man, the day seemed to be dragging out forever! After breakfast, Emma did her best to fill the long hours with tasks she could perform. Like giving Neal his bath. That was very important. Or so it felt.
When it became lunchtime, Emma had gotten the idea that she should tidy the place, so everything looked good when Mal and Ursula came here to stay.
But unfortunately, not everyone felt that it was a good idea. "Would you stop running around like a headless chicken!" Ella said impatiently, snatching the broom right out of Emma's hand.
"But I-"
"No buts," Ella said sternly. "You need to sit down and take some deep breaths. Meditate or something."
"But I just wanted to-"
"Emma Swan, if you don't sit your ass down and relax, I'm going to call Regina and tell her that you're nervous," Ella threatened. "And that can't possibly be what you want, can it?"
"No, Ma'am," Emma said half-jokingly, but she nevertheless felt like she was a kid being scolded by a very strict mother.
"I didn't think so," Ella said triumphantly. "Now... I'm gonna bring this broom back where it belongs, and if you don't sit down when I come back, so help me god..." she went as far as pretending to bash
Emma over the head with the broom before she left.
And Emma didn't get a minute alone. "Hey, Ma, wanna come and play video games with me?" Henry asked from the living room, and honestly, how was Emma supposed to resist THAT? She willingly went into the living room where Henry was playing a game involving driving reckless on dirt roads. Perfect. Maybe a bit of aggressive driving could take the edge of things.
Emma sat down next to Henry on the floor and took the available joystick. "Let's do this!" she announced and chuckled when Neal came over to them and sat down. The toddler leaned into her shoulder.
He always did that whenever she and Henry were playing videogames. He loved watching them play videogames.
"Who are you rooting for, kid?" Emma asked her son.
"'Enry!"
"Figures." Emma sighed. "Little traitor."
Henry chuckled. "You nervous about later? About marrying mom?"
"No," Emma said immediately. She was nervous about having either gained or lost weight so her dress no longer fitted her. She was nervous about realizing that her veil had a tiny tear in it. She was
nervous about messing up her vows and saying nonsense. She was nervous about dropping the wedding ring instead of sliding it onto Regina's finger. She was nervous about tripping on her way down to the pavilion. But she was not nervous about marrying Regina. For all Emma cared, everything else could go to hell. As long as she got to marry Regina.
Emma immediately scolded herself. No-no, nothing was allowed to go to hell today. This was their wedding day. Regina's wedding day. Damn if things wasn't gonna be perfect. Regina deserved perfection. She had been looking forward to this day for so long. Had planned her wedding day ever since she was a little girl, and now it was finally coming true.
"Ma, you're losing the game!"
Oops, that was absolutely correct. Emma quickly pulled herself together and did her best to beat her oldest son's ass while her youngest son was leaning into her shoulder and traitorously cheering for
'Enry-'enry-'enry!'.
When Ella came into the living room, she smiled satisfied like a mother observing her children, and then she whipped out her phone and snapped a picture.
"Who are you sending that to?" Emma inquired without taking her eyes off the television screen.
"Your soon-to-be-wife," Ella chuckled. "I'm sure she'll appreciate it."
Emma snickered. She too had a feeling that Regina indeed would appreciate it.
It didn't take long before Ella's cellphone chimed, and Emma's attention was briefly taken away from the game. "Is that my fiancé texting you?"
"It is," Ella confirmed with a grin. "Shall I tell her what she wrote?"
"Yes, please do!" Emma missed Regina like crazy, so she was willing to take any little information she could get.
Ella cleared her throat before quoting: "'all three of them look positively adorable, but I have a feeling my fiancé might be losing. I can recognize the way she pouts.'"
Henry laughed and Emma groaned. Regina was right. She happened to be one whole lap behind Henry, and she had a feeling that she would not be able to rectify it now. She was indeed going to lose. "My fiancé is so damn clever," she muttered.
"One of the reasons why she's a former professor," Ella teased.
"True that. Maybe sure to tell her- oh, god damnit!" Emma interrupted herself and cursed unabashedly when Henry's car crossed the finish line.
Henry whooped in triumph and Neal happily repeated: "Damn-it! Damn-it!"
"Oh, no!" Emma exclaimed. "Honey, don't say that word, please!"
"Damn-it?"
"Shi- shoot," Emma grumbled as she put the joystick away and tugged Neal onto her lap. "You know what happens when you cuss?"
"Mommy, no!"
"Yes! Tickles!" Emma announced and laughed as she began 'attacking' his little belly with tickles. It didn't take long before Henry joined the party...
It Was Time.
Time to get ready. God, Emma struggled to believe it. Where had the day gone? It felt like it was five minutes ago since she had breakfast, and now she was sitting in a low chair in front of the vanity. She was wearing Regina's red bathrobe, and trying her best to breathe easily as Ruby and Ella applied various creams and products to her face. Emma was supposed to enjoy this. This was her time. It was all about her getting beautified for the 'big showdown' as Ruby called it.
"Hold still, Em," Ruby admonished. "And keep your eyes closed."
"Sorry, Rubes," Emma said and took a deep breath. Maybe her eyeballs had been fluttering under her eyelids or something.
"No fidgeting. Or I'm telling Regina," Ella half-chuckled.
"Oh no," Emma snickered, going along on the joke. "Please don't."
Her friends chuckled, and Ruby resumed applying makeup to her eyelids. Emma took another deep breath. She was totally trying to enjoy this, she really was.
"I can't believe Regina got you a dog for Christmas," Ruby half-huffed.
Emma grinned a little. "I can't believe that either. I can't wait to meet Lola when we get back from Paris!" but first, the honeymoon. No. No-no, first the WEDDING. Nothing was more important than the wedding.
"I think that's the eyes done for," Ella announced as Ruby gave an agreeing nod. "What do you think, Em?"
Emma looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. Her eye makeup was exactly like she had pictured it. Light and discreet but still visible. Her eyelashes were long and full, framing her eyes perfectly. Ruby
and Ella had done a very good job. "It's perfect," she smiled. "What's next? Lipstick?"
"Mhmm," Ruby said. "Not too red, right?"
"Right," Emma confirmed. "I was thinking something with a pink feel to it."
"That sounds perfect," Ella said, leaning forward and grabbing various lipsticks. All of them with some kind of pink flair to them. "Which one of them were you thinking?"
"Uhmm..." before Emma could decide on any of the lipsticks being displayed for her, her cellphone chimed once. When Emma stretched her neck, she could see that it was a text from Zelena. "Oops, I
gotta check this, guys," she said quickly and grabbed her phone. "It's from Zelena." She didn't go into detail, but her heart was hammering with a billion beats per second. She was immediately nervous that something had happened.
But fortunately enough, that was not the case.
Emma couldn't help but grin. Zelena had sent her a video. A video of what once had been Regina's bedroom back in Zelena's house. But Zelena wasn't only filming a bedroom. She was filming Regina, who much like Emma was sitting in a low chair in front of the vanity. She was wearing a white bathrobe, and Malena was standing behind her and brushing her hair. Regina's ebony dark hair had grown very long over the past year. Covering most of her shoulders. It suited her. Of course the shorter hair she had been sporting when Emma first met her had looked great too. Obviously. Regina was the type of woman who could rock any hairstyle.
"Hi, baby sis," Zelena said behind the camera and zoomed in on Regina's face.
"Hello, Zelena," Regina said a tad overbearingly as she turned her head, sporting an unpainted, beautiful face and an arched eyebrow. "Are you filming me?"
"Maybe," Zelena said airily, and the camera shook a little.
Regina clicked her tongue in that 'professor Mills' manner and Emma chuckled to herself. This was clearly just a fun video of Regina. Thank god. For a terrible moment, Emma thought that there was trouble at mill.
"How are you feeling?" Zelena queried and zoomed out again so the full image of Regina came into view.
"Better if you could get fuc- that PHONE out of my face."
Behind Regina, Malena chuckled. "Cussing, dear? Is that the wedding jitters talking?"
"I do not have wedding jitters," Regina denied.
"I'm sending this video to Emma," Zelena declared. "Do you have something to say to her?"
Regina's face immediately lit up in a smile as she looked directly into the camera. "Hello, my beautiful Emma. I hope Ruby and Ella are less annoying when they help you get ready-"
"How very dare you," Malena muttered.
"-And I hope that you're feeling okay," Regina continued, blatantly ignoring her friend's remark. "Better than okay. But remember that it's perfectly okay to be nervous. It doesn't mean that you're not
happy about today." She smiled again.
"Are YOU nervous about later?" Zelena asked.
"No," Regina said softly and shook her head. "I am not."
Emma believed her. Regina looked so perfectly calm as she sat there and smiled.
"I can't wait to meet you under the apple tree later," Regina softly continued. "I have a feeling that Malena and Zelena will laugh at me if I say something sentimental right now. They'll tell me to save it for the wedding, so instead I'll just do this..." she lifted her hands, pointed to herself with her index finger, then made fists with her hands and crossed them over her heart. Then she pointed to the camera. To Emma behind the camera.
The image of Regina signing froze, and Emma tried not to aww out loud even though she totally wanted to. This was quite possibly the cutest thing she had ever seen. And the most reassuring one too. Regina looking so calm and peaceful and excited for her wedding day. That was the only thing Emma had ever desired, really. That Regina was enjoying her big day.
"On that cute note, shall we continue?" Ruby asked a tad impatiently.
"Yep, let's," Emma said, putting her phone away and leaning back in the chair once more. "I think we should go with... that lipstick." She pointed to the pale pink one that looked most like the one she often wore, but still was a little bit different in shade.
Ella was given the task of applying Emma's lipstick whilst Ruby grabbed a hairbrush and began brushing Emma's thick, blonde locks. Regina wasn't the only one whose hair had grown. So had Emma's.
After the big 'chop-chop' where she had got it cut to chin-length, her golden locks were now almost back to their old length, and Emma had to admit that she had missed it. She had liked the shorter hair too, but this style was more... her. The golden hair was her trademark after all, and Emma was happy about her decision to let it grow before the wedding.
Being 'beautified' and pampered was actually quite soothing, really. Emma managed to nod off several times throughout the procedure and had to be nudged awake by Ella or Ruby. One time she had even started dreaming. About a train moving through Canada. About a sleep cabin made for two. About Regina laughing underneath her...
Later on, Emma would be grateful that Ella had woken her up. Lords knows what would have happened if she didn't. Perhaps Emma would have started to say... stuff. Oh god, that would have been so embarrassing. She would never have been able to live that one down.
While Ella and Ruby continued to brush hair and put things on her face, Emma busied herself with thinking about Regina and how extremely beautiful she had looked with her unpainted face. Her cheeks had been glowing, and her dark eyes shining. She had looked vibrant. Calm. At peace. A hundred percent ready to get married. So was Emma. More than ready. She had been for a while, and now the day was finally here. God. Despite being ready, Emma still struggled a little to fully believe it. That she was getting married. Today. She was going to be somebody's wife. Regina's wife. When she was younger,
Emma had never imagined herself to be getting married, but here she was, twenty nine years old, rapidly approaching thirty, mother of two boys, about to get married to the love of her life. Imagine if she had known how much of an important moment in time it was when she stepped onto that train to Vancouver. God, what if she never had won that ticket? Emma shook her head. That was fate and not just a coincidence. There had to have been some higher power involved...
"There," Ella smiled as she brushed imaginary dust off of Emma's bathrobe-clad shoulder. "Hair and makeup is done!"
"And you look awesome, Swan," Ruby added.
Emma looked at herself in the mirror. She had to agree with her friends. She looked stunning. Lips painted a discreet, natural shade of pink, eyes accentuated by thick lashes and a subtle, copper bronze shade on her eyelids. Her hair had been gathered in an elegant yet loose side braid in which Ruby and Ella carefully had inserted white flowers in between the strands of hair. Emma was not going to wear a veil, but the flowers in her hair was indeed very wedding-esque. And fairytale-esque. And that was exactly the effect Emma was going for.
"You guys did awesome," she said warmly and smiled at her friends.
"You made the job breezy," Ella joked and patted her shoulder. "And guess what? Now it's time for the dress!"
"Oh my god," Emma said and felt her stomach somersault. This was really happening.
But before it could be time for the dress, there was a knock on the bedroom door.
"Come in," Emma called.
Henry stepped into the bedroom, and Emma had to marvel at how grown up her almost thirteen year old son looked. His normally unruly mop of brown hair had been slicked back with gel and he was already in his suit. His shoes had been polished, and his black tie was sitting perfectly straight.
"Wow, kid," Emma smiled. "You look absolutely dashing!"
"Thanks, Ma. You look really nice too. Not sure about the dress, though..."
Emma laughed at the joke. "Yeah, let's get married in bathrobes. That could be a real kicker."
Henry chuckled. "Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that David and Kathryn are here to help with Neal. They're getting him dressed right now."
"Awesome," Emma said. God bless David and Kathryn for offering to step in and help with getting Neal dressed and ready.
"You look really beautiful, Ma," Henry said softly and flashed Emma a smile.
Emma returned the smile. She immediately saw the ten year old boy she had met on Vancouver station. The boy who was afraid to let go of his mother. "Thank you, Henry," she replied.
"Are you nervous?"
Emma shook her head. "No."
"Do you think mom is nervous?"
"No," Emma repeated, thinking back to the video of Regina. She had a feeling that Regina was still perfectly calm and content with what was happening.
"Your Ma needs to get her butt in gear and get the dress on," Ruby said firmly and chuckled.
"Which I'm guessing is my cue to get out?" Henry said good-naturedly and rolled his eyes.
"Yep, sure is," Ella sassed. "Off you go."
"Right. I'll see if David and Kathryn needs any help with Neal. We all know I'm better at getting him dressed than anybody else." With that Henry left the bedroom, and Emma laughed and called: "that's
true!" after him.
"Alright, miss Swan," Ruby said and adopted a mock-serious tone. "Are you ready to get the dress on?"
"I think so," Emma nodded. She was a little nervous about trying on the dress. Last time she had worn it had been at the store for adjustments, but thar was a while ago. She hoped that the size was still the right one. Anything else would be a tragedy.
"Up we go then," Ella half-quipped as she grabbed Emma's hand and pulled her out of the low chair. "It is time."
"Fuck," Emma joked and laughed. But she did feel a very real twinge of anxiety as Ruby carefully unzipped the white bag her wedding dress had been residing in until now.
"Robe open!" Ruby commanded whilst carefully pulling the dress out of the bag.
Emma obediently undid the knot in her borrowed red bathrobe. The robe fell open, and Emma caught a glimpse of the white lingerie she had spent far too much money on. But it was worth it. She hoped that Regina's jaw would drop when she saw her.
"Step in," Ruby said, commanding once again. She had unbuttoned the wedding dress, so it was wide open.
"Alrighty," Emma said and tried her best to sound like she didn't have a care in the world. Then she carefully stepped into the dress. The silky soft material greeted her bare legs, and once again, Emma congratulated herself with having chosen such a comfortable dress.
"And here we go," Ella said. "Ready?"
"Uh-huh," Emma nodded and closed her eyes as the wedding dress was pulled up in place. She wiggled her arms to make the open robe fall off her arms, but she didn't open her eyes as Ruby and Ella carefully buttoned her dress and gave mumbled ooh's and ahh's. Emma didn't want to open her eyes until they had finished. She wanted to savor this moment and drag out the excitement for a little. A few more buttons were buttoned, and Emma felt the dress getting tighter around her. Tight, yes, but not too tight. And not too loose either. The dress felt absolutely perfect and soft. Once again, Emma felt a flutter of excitement in her belly. She was in her wedding dress.
"There," Ella said softly. "You're all ready, Em. Open your eyes."
And so Emma did. She looked at her reflection in the mirror, and for a moment she couldn't believe her own eyes. The dress was exquisite. Ivory white and made of the purest silk. Sleeveless. Mermaid shape which meant that the dress hugged her upper body and clung to her hips in a most flattering manner and then fanned out to a small train behind her. The dress had a sweetheart neckline that was tight enough to make 'things' look really, really good, but still absolutely decent. As Emma had requested, there was no 'yippee-yay' on the bodice. No beadings or pearls or applications. It was plain and simple and exactly as Emma had envisioned it from the beginning. She felt like a million bucks in this dress. Like she had stepped out of a fairytale. Perfect.
"Regina is gonna loose her shit when she sees you," Ruby predicted with a chuckle.
"Regina never loses her shit," Emma scoffed, but nevertheless smiled. She could so easily imagine the warm smile Regina would flash her when she saw her.
"You look amazing," Ella said warmly and squeezed Emma's hand.
"You really do," Ruby agreed. "We just need a couple of things..." she opened a drawer and found the bottle of fruit scented perfume. "Something old," Ruby said as she gave Emma a spray of the perfume.
"Something new," Ella chuckled as she carefully clipped the bracelet from David around Emma's wrist.
"Something borrowed," Ruby continued the age old saying as she handed Emma the dangly earrings.
Emma chuckled as she put the earrings on.
"And last but not least," Ella and Ruby said in unison. Ella winked, and Ruby cackled as she held out the delicate, blue lace garter. "Something blue."
"Yup, that is very blue," Emma agreed. And very, uhh... lacy. She didn't say that out loud though.
"Do you need any help with putting it on?" Ruby joked.
"Want me to tell Dorothy you said that?" Emma nonchalantly shot back. "I can handle putting on a garter myself, thank you very much."
"Well, at least you'll get help with taking it off," Ruby sweetly continued.
"Ruby! Shut up!" Emma said, slightly mortified. Mostly because her mind once again was overflowing with images of Regina removing the garter. With her teeth. Fuck.
Ruby snickered shamelessly, and Emma huffed like an old lady as she sat down on the low chair. She extended her right leg out and let the dress fall away. Then she quickly slipped the lace garter up her
leg. "There," she said triumphantly as she stood up once more and straightened the wedding dress. "All done."
"Almost," Ella corrected. "One more thing missing, fairytale bride."
Emma chuckled. Ella had a point there.
Another white bag was unzipped, and Emma's breath hitched upon seeing the thing she so had been looking forward to putting on. Perhaps even more than the dress. Of course she loved her wedding dress too, very much so, but there was just something so special about this piece of clothing. Something that sang out to her fairytale loving heart and the romantic little girl who was buried deep in her.
It was a cloak. A beautiful, ivory white cloak. Made of the finest satin and lined with feathers around the hood and bottom. It was Granny who had made it for her. She had gotten the idea from Emma's collection of fairytales in which the 'ugly duckling', whom in Emma's story was a lost young woman searching for her real family, goes for a walk in the woods wearing a beautiful cloak. Emma had described the cloak exactly as how Granny had made it for her. The hood. The pleat detail on the back. The feathers adorning the hood and bottom of the cloak. Emma had been in tears when Granny had presented her with the beautiful gift, and Granny had patted her cheek, gruffly insisted that it was nothing.
It was everything. So beautiful fairytale-esque. And extremely appropriate for a winter wedding. Emma could feel herself well up now that she was looking at the cloak. She felt absolutely beautiful. The epitome of fairytale bride. This was just like she had pictured it and more.
"No crying!" Ruby said firmly. "No smudging your makeup until you see Regina, please."
"Sorry," Emma said without feeling very sorry.
"Here," Ella said gently. "Let's get this cloak on you and see how it looks." She lifted the cloak out of the bag.
Emma turned around and tried not to cry when she felt the cloak gently being laid over her shoulders and hooked at the front. She kept her eyes closed as Ruby and Ella fussed and smoothened out the back of the cloak and the hood to make sure her hair didn't 'disappear' in it. God forbid that the flowers in her hair shouldn't be visible.
"There," Ruby concluded. "Take a look at yourself, Em."
Emma opened her eyes and looked up. Looked in the mirror. Her breath hitched all over again. How could this possibly be her? This woman who was positively glowing with happiness. So many emotions rushed through her, and for a moment, Emma found herself thinking about Mary Margaret. She hadn't done that in a very long time, but here on her wedding day, about to marry the love of her life, she thought about her adoptive mother. And for a single, short moment, Emma wished that she could see her now. See the woman Emma had become. See what kind of woman Regina's love had made flourish where a lost, angry Emma Swan once had been.
Emma took a shuddering breath.
"I need a fucking tissue," Ruby announced and sniffled. "Shit!"
"No smudging your makeup," Emma chuckled and discreetly swiped underneath her eyes. This was everything she had ever wanted in a wedding dress. She turned her head and looked at her friends. They too looked beautiful. Ella in a simple, soft dress that had a certain golden shade, and Ruby in a tight, red number of a dress. Of course. Emma chuckled.
"Are you ready to get married?" Ella asked as she handed Ruby a tissue.
"Yes," Emma said firmly. "Absolutely." She had never been more ready for anything in her entire life.
"You look so beautiful," Ella continued as Ruby blew her nose. "And I'm so happy for you, Em!"
"Thanks, Ells," Emma said softly and squeezed her oldest friend's hand. She had just been a kid when she met Ella the first time. Seventeen years old, kicked out of her home for being gay, and in her most unhappy, angry place. Ella was the one who had found her half-asleep on a park bench. Ella was the one who had saved her. Given her a place to live. A safe place.
"Looks like the guests are arriving," Ruby reported as she lifted the curtain and peered out of the window.
Emma walked over to her friend and peered out of the window as well. Ruby was right. Emma could see several cars parked on the street, and party-clad people wearing coats and jackets over their party attire were coming into the garden. Emma saw them look around in awe at the transformed backyard.
Emma couldn't blame them.
Thanks to everyone in Steveston, the backyard looked like something taken out of a fairytale. White chairs had been set up for the guests to sit on. Next to each chair was a stump of tree, and standing on top of the stumps of tree, were lanterns with a flame flickering merrily inside it. The lanterns were for effect. To accentuated the fairytale vibe. But also to ensure that the wedding guests didn't freeze their asses off while witnessing the ceremony. Hopefully, the lanterns would ensure that. And the blankets placed on each chair. And the heating lamps placed discreetly around the garden. Emma chuckled and let her gaze wander to the apple tree. That was where she and Regina would be saying their 'I do's' very soon. The tree had been wrapped in fairy lights which gave a soft, golden light. And then of course there were all these little lamps and lanterns hanging magically in the trees. Leroy and his brothers had really outdone themselves. It had literally taken a village to prepare this wedding, and Emma was so grateful to have such good people around her.
Emma smiled as she looked out of the window. She saw several friendly faces. Elsa. Anna. Her husband, Kristoff. Robert and Belle and their little son Gideon. The little boy had made Robert Gold go completely soft. Fatherhood had changed him. But the Gold's weren't the only ones Emma could see among the wedding guests. Kitty Prim was there too. The woman who had helped Emma learn Sign Language and truly understand Regina. Emma's fellow 'classmates' from the Sign Language lessons. Regina's former professor-colleagues from the university. Her new colleagues at the women's shelter. Elizabeth, or Liz as she preferred was there. The woman who had been in charge of the 'no longer silent!' event where Regina spoke about her experiences. And of course Jennie was there too. The young girl who had lived in Emma and Regina's home for four months before continuing her journey. Today she was smiling beamingly, and a young man had his arm around her shoulder. Emma felt her heart swell. Jennie had gotten a new boyfriend. That was fantastic. Emma continued her scan of the crowd. There was Granny. Graham. Leroy and all of his brothers. Leroy was testily fixing his bow tie, and
Emma chuckled to herself. He would have to live with wearing a bow tie today. Her grin widened as she spotted August and Ivy and the rest of her former colleagues at Dragon Publishing. Sometimes Emma missed working there. It had been the best work place ever. No doubt about that.
"Looks like we're almost ready," Ruby said gruffly. Her eyes were still glistening.
"Yep, the guests are finding their seats," Emma nodded. "All there's missing is Regina."
"And what makes you think that she's not already here?" Ella said conspiratorially and waved her phone in Emma's face.
"She texted you?" Emma asked.
"Nope. But Zelena did," Ella chuckled. "She and Regina are hiding in plain sight."
"The hell does that even mean?" Emma groaned.
Ella chuckled again and winked at Emma. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
"God, you're so annoying," Emma joked and smiled when she saw David and Kathryn standing on the snow covered lawn. David had his arm around Kathryn, and she smiled up at him before turning her head and planting a light kiss on his lips. That sight warmed Emma's heart. David had found a way out of the darkness with Kathryn by his side. The two of them were made for each other, that much was obvious. They didn't live together. Yet. It was no secret that Kathryn was searching for a new job here in Vancouver. Close to Steveston where David lived in an old farmhouse near the woods. He was working at the animal shelter now. In many ways, a very quiet life, but that was exactly what he always had dreamed of. Living slowly. Emma was happy that he now was living the life he wanted with Kathryn and the rest of his family close by.
"You know, it's almost bridal time, Em," Ruby said softly.
"Really?" Emma felt a twinge of anxiety. Where had the time gone?
"Yep," Ella chuckled. "Even the minister is ready."
"And there's Malena and Ursula," Emma observed, peering out of the window. Malena and Ursula were indeed right there. Ursula was wearing a silver grey sequin dress, and Malena had chosen a red velvet suit for the occasion. Emma chuckled a little to herself. Trust Malena to always dress up for the occasion.
Ella gave Emma's hand a squeeze. "Shall we get this show rolling, Em?"
"Yeah," Emma said and took a deep breath. "Yes. Someone has to go downstairs and make that everything is ready and all that."
"Consider it done!" Ruby said briskly and gathered her skirt with one hand as she disappeared out the door and down the stairs.
"And while she does that..." Ella chuckled as she found the very last thing needed. "The blushing bride's shoes."
Emma grinned too as she looked at the beautiful, white shoes. She could honestly say that she never had worn anything quite as delicate as these shoes, and she was being exceptionally careful as she
wiggled her feet inside the shoes.
"There," Ella said once she had tied the delicate silk band that went up Emma's legs. "All done, miss Swan."
"I'm gonna be a Mrs. in a moment," Emma said and shook her head a little bit. She was still struggling to wrap her head around it!
"And one very happy Mrs. too," Ella chuckled as she smoothened the back of Emma's cloak. "How do you feel?"
"Excited. Happy. Nervous. Ready. Fuck!" Emma took another deep breath. "How do you think Regina is feeling?"
"Probably the same way," Ella said softly and gave Emma's hand another squeeze. "You look so beautiful, Em. Regina is a very lucky lady."
Emma shook her head. "I'm the lucky one."
"I'm pretty sure Regina would disagree with you," Ella said with a small grin.
"Yeah, that's the one thing we never can agree on," Emma murmured. Who was better for whom.
The door to the bedroom opened and Ruby stepped in. "We're ready to rumble," she announced. "The guests are seated, the minister is waiting, and Zelena just found her seat."
Emma's heart started pounding. If Zelena was here, so was Regina. She was hiding somewhere and waiting to make her entrance. Which she would be doing in a moment. After Emma. That was another thing they had 'argued' about. Who walked down the aisle first. Emma had been hellbent on being first. She wanted to wait for Regina by the apple tree. She wanted Regina to have a proper bridal moment, and even though she was nervous about being the first one to walk down the aisle, she was glad that she had insisted.
"Em?" Ella asked softly.
"Yup. Let's do this," Emma said and squared her shoulders which felt really awkward doing when she was wearing a wedding dress instead of her trademark leather jacket. She turned around, giving Ruby and Ella the chance to adjust her dress and cloak behind her, and then she walked out of the bedroom.
The staircase was tricky when wearing high heels and a cloak that dragged behind her, but Emma managed, and she was very relieved when she made it downstairs without any tragedies.
Downstairs in the living room, where all the curtains had been drawn to make sure none of the guests would sneak a peek before she came outside, Emma encountered the only person who was allowed to see her before anyone else. Even Regina.
Henry smiled warmly at her and even grew a bit misty eyed despite being a twelve year old boy who definitely was above tears and strong emotions. "Wow, Ma," he said softly. "You look so beautiful."
"Thank you, kid," Emma smiled and refrained from ruffling his neatly styled hair. Instead she drew him in for a hug and kissed the top of his head. This was no random encounter. She had asked Henry to be here when she came downstairs. She wanted Henry to see her before she walked out of the house. It was important that Henry was here to greet her and give her the last bit of reassurance before he went along and joined the other guests. He had accepted her from day one. From the very first time they rode the Ferris wheel together. From his first question about her fairytales. They had been a family long before this day. It didn't matter that they weren't related by blood. Henry was Emma's son. Her boy. Who was rapidly growing up. It wouldn't be long before he was towering above her. Emma was both fearing and looking forward to that day.
"I love you, Ma," Henry said and smiled at her.
"I love you too, kid. What do you think your mom will think about the dress?" Emma half-teased.
"She'll start crying," Henry predicted with a grin.
"Maybe," Emma chuckled. "Do you have the rings?"
"Yup, sure do," Henry said and patted his breast pocket reassuringly.
"Awesome. You should pop out to the other guests then. We're almost ready."
"Okay, Ma." Henry gave her one more hug and flashed her not one, but two thumbs up before leaving the room. Emma heard the front door open and close as he left. The guests started muttering excitedly. They knew it was almost time.
So did Emma. Her heart was thumping in her chest and her hands were shaking as she accepted the bouquet of white roses Ella was handing her. Like with her dress, Emma had chosen the lowkey way, and she was glad she had. Very glad.
On cue, music started playing in the garden. Soft piano music. Emma and Regina had hired no orchestra. Instead the music was coming from a record player. Henry's idea. Completely quirky. Completely perfect. Emma and Regina had instantaneously fallen head over heels with the idea even though Zelena claimed that they were crazy.
"That's the cue for the bridesmaids," Ruby said and looked at Emma. "You're up next, Em. Are you ready for this?"
"Yes," Emma said firmly. And meant it. She was a hundred percent ready to be Regina's wife. Had been for ages.
"See you in a bit, Swan," Ella said and kissed Emma's cheek lightly.
"Next time we talk, you'll be Mrs. Swan-Mills," Ruby added and snickered before kissing Emma's other cheek.
Emma smiled at her friends and did her best to remain calm as she watched her friends leave the room. The front door opened, and through the soft piano music playing, Emma heard the guests muttering as Ruby and Ella walked down the aisle to find their seats. In a moment it would be Emma's turn.
She took a deep breath. She was getting married. Right now.
To Be Continued...