Before Emma knew of it, it was time for her and Regina's first dance. The floor was cleared of guests, big and small ones, everyone gathered around to watch, and Regina elegantly removed her veil. Now Emma got the chance to really appreciate the sheer lace back of Regina's dress. And she absolutely did. Admittedly, whilst wondering what was hiding underneath that dress too, but she soon reminded herself that that was for later. Now was not the time to think about Regina's underwear. Definitely not.
Everyone applauded as Emma and Regina walked to the center of the room. Emma took Regina's hands in hers and gave a slight squeeze. "You ready, beautiful?"
"Always." Regina smiled reassuringly and squeezed back.
The music was put on. Emma and Regina started to move to the rhythm. Emma gently put a hand on Regina's lower back and could feel the warmth from her skin. Emma wouldn't be the least bit surprised if goosebumps erupted on her own skin. She couldn't help but smile as the first soft tunes from a guitar filled the room. And then she heard the familiar lyrics to their chosen song:
'Something in your eyes makes me wanna loose myself. Makes me wanna loose myself, in your arms.
There's something in your voice, makes my heart beat fast. Hope this feeling lasts, rest of my life.
If you knew, how lonely my life has been, and how long I've been so alone.
And if you knew, how I wanted, someone to come along, and change my life, the way you've done.
It feels like home to me. Feels like home to me. Feels like I'm all the way back, where I come from.
It feels like home to me, feels like home to me,
Feels like I'm all the way back where I belong...'
Once again, Emma was sure she could hear one or two of the guests getting tearful. And she couldn't blame it. Because this song was truly theirs. Hers and Regina's. So many parts of the lyrics appealed to them. Both of them had been lonely. Both of them had felt like something was missing. And then they had met each other.
Regina's arms were wrapped around her neck. Forehead resting against Emma's.
Emma could have melted right on the spot. She didn't though. Instead she wrapped her own arms loosely around Regina's neck. They were more swaying than dancing, really, but maybe that was completely fine. Maybe that was exactly how a first dance as a married couple should go. More focus on touch and looking into your partner's eyes and less focus on showing off dancing skills. They could do that later. Yes, they could definitely do that later.
'A window breaks, down a long, dark street, and a siren wails in the night.
But I'm alright, 'cause I have you here with me, and I can almost see, through the dark there is light...'
"Do you trust me?" Emma asked and chuckled because she already knew what the answer to that would be.
"With every fiber of my being," Regina said softly.
"Wanna try that whole dip thing again?"
"Sure, why not."
Emma smirked a little and felt all sorts of elegant as she dipped her new wife. Oh yes, those dance lessons she and Regina had taken had definitely paid off. Someone in the crowd went aww as Emma held the dip for a moment. She heard Regina chuckle lightly. Her body was loose in Emma's arms. Of course it was. She knew that Emma would never ever drop her. Not ever.
Emma brought Regina back to her original position. "There."
"There," Regina echoed. "Very good."
"I am nothing if not traditional, babe. A dip comes with the whole first dance thing."
Regina smiled tenderly as she leaned in and kissed Emma on the lips. It was a very soft kiss, but also one that lasted longer. Emma fully enjoyed that. For a moment focusing more on kissing her wife than actually dancing with her. But that was okay too. Kissing your partner in the flashing lights from cameras and cellphones was important too. Very, very important. And... so was spinning your partner around. Emma grinned as she took Regina's hand and did just that. Spun her around and marveled at how Regina's dress swished around her as she twirled around. Emma caught another glimpse of the sheer lace back of Regina's wedding dress and could definitely feel something stir low in her belly at the sight. The dress was sheer almost all the way down to Regina's lower back. Incredibly flattering and ridiculously sexy.
"That dress though," Emma said as she caught Regina in her arms and 'spun her in' so they were dancing chest to back for a moment.
"You like it?" Regina quipped.
"I do. A lot. Is it your something new?"
"No, actually, it's my something old. It's vintage."
"Seriously? Wow."
"These are my something new," Regina said, lifting one hand and tapping her little diamond stud earring in her right ear. "They belonged to my mother."
"They're beautiful," Emma said softly. "What's your something borrowed then?"
"The handkerchief," Regina replied. "Borrowed from Zelena and washed, dried and ironed."
"Handkerchief?" Emma echoed and frowned, spinning Regina around again and looking at her thoroughly. "I don't see any handkerchief, babe."
"No, you don't," Regina smirked, briefly glancing down the neckline on her gown. "But I assure you, it's there."
"Ah," Emma said, nodding knowingly and feeling herself going a little red. She had to distract herself. "So, that's something new, something old and something borrowed. What's your something blue?"
Regina's mischievous smile grew. "You'll see. Later."
"You wearing blue panties or something?" now Emma was definitely going red! Thinking about Regina's underwear was absolutely sinful.
Regina didn't provide her with an answer. She merely laughed and leaned in to kiss Emma again. And Emma of course returned the kiss. And tried to stop thinking about Regina's underwear.
'And if you knew, how much this moment means to me, and how long I've waited for your touch.
And if you knew, how happy you are making me, I never thought that I'd love anyone so much.
It feels like home to me, feels like home to me.
Feels like I'm all the way back where I come from.
It feels like home to me,
Feels like home to me.
Feels like I'm all the way back where I belong.
Feels like I'm all the way back where I... belong.'
"We're being photographed, darling," Regina murmured as the song dwindled.
"Yeah, I know. Isn't it cute," Emma snickered. "Zelena is probably creating an album in her mind or something."
"Probably," Regina agreed and laughed heartedly.
So did Emma. Everyone here knew that Zelena was very passionate about scrapbooking. She would definitely create a big, fat album of Emma and Regina's wedding. Emma hoped that she would. She couldn't wait to look at the pictures in ten or twenty years from now on. Imagine that. Twenty years of blissful marriage with Regina. She couldn't wait for that. Couldn't wait to grow old and grey with Regina by her side.
Regina's smile grew soft as the song was switched to 'Only You'. The wives shared a meaningful look. That was the first song they had ever danced to. Back at what used to be Emma's home but now was their home. In front of the fireplace. Emma could so vividly remember the first few delicate touches. The kisses. The melting ice cream in the kitchen. God, that had been a good night. Magical. Exactly like this one was.
Now the guests started dancing too. Mal with Ursula. Zelena with Chad. Ruby and Dorothy. Ella and Sean. Jennie with her boyfriend, and Kitty Prim with that delightful elderly chap from Emma's Sign Language lessons.
But Kathryn was dancing with Graham instead of dancing with David, and Emma soon discovered the reason why. David crossed the floor and soon he appeared in front of them. He smiled as he extended a hand out towards Emma and asked: "Father-daughter dance?"
Emma wanted to say yes, but at the same time she felt a slight twinge in her gut. Regina's father was not with them today. She would never get a father-daughter dance moment at her wedding.
But just as Emma was about to smilingly decline and say something about wanting another dance with her bride, Henry appeared a bit out of nowhere. He grinned widely at Regina as he outstretched a hand towards her in the same fashion David did. "Mother-son dance?" he asked and wiggled his fingers slightly at Regina.
"Why yes, that would be lovely, Henry!" Regina beamed as she took her son's hand.
Henry discreetly winked at Emma, and Emma realized that Henry most likely had seen David coming towards them and had figured out what was about to happen. And to prevent his mother from getting sad, he had swooped in. Like the little price he was.
Now Emma felt very good about accepting David's offer. "Thanks, dad," she smiled as they walked out on the dance floor. Henry and Regina twirled past them. Henry was actually doing a pretty good job at dancing. Perhaps he was trying to impress Violet or something.
"You look beautiful, Emma," David said softly.
"Thank you," she chuckled. "You clean up pretty good too. And Kathryn looks like she's having a good time."
"She is," David nodded. "She enjoys spending time with your friends and family."
"It's great having her here. Both of you."
"Thank you, Emma. That means a lot." David spun her around. "You know, I've actually been thinking..."
"About what?"
"Well..." his eyes flickered towards Kathryn once more. "If Kathryn and I maybe could... someday."
"Oh my god!" Emma tried not to yell in a room full of people. "You... you wanna ask Kathryn to marry you?!"
"Shh," David laughed. "I didn't say that. I just said 'maybe'."
"Dad, that's awesome!" Emma smiled so widely her cheeks started to hurt. "That's really, really a good idea!"
"Yes? You really think so?" he was clearly a bit taken aback. "I know it's a bit of a big step, but it just feels right, you know? Everything feels right with her."
"You deserve it," Emma said firmly, recognizing every word her dad said. That was exactly how she felt about Regina. "You deserve to be happy, dad. And Kathryn is brilliant." She really was. So kindhearted and gentle and a hundred percent attentive towards David. Their relationship was so meaningful. After all, Kathryn was the nurse who once had taken care of David after his suicide attempt.
"We'll see," David chuckled and twirled Emma around once more. "We're taking it slow. Just like you and Regina did."
"That's a good idea. Just know that I support the idea a hundred percent."
"Thank you, Emma. That really means a lot." David glanced at Regina who was now doing a kind of three way dance with Henry and Malena. "Do you think your new wife would fancy a dance with her father-in-law?"
"Yes, definitely! I think she would be really happy if you asked her to dance."
"Then that's what I'll do. Once I'm done dancing with you." Another twirl.
Emma laughed and for a second, she felt like a kid. And this felt like one of those stolen moments with her dad when Mary Margaret wasn't around. One of those rare, precious moments where Emma had not felt afraid or anxious. Where she had simply been allowed to be a kid for a few minutes.
Emma looked at her dad. He looked very thoughtful, and she wondered if they were thinking about the same thing. Or person. Mary Margaret. Emma would lie if she claimed that she hadn't been thinking at least a little bit about her adoptive mother tonight. If things had gone very differently, she could have been here tonight. She could have celebrated Emma and Regina's wedding. But that wasn't to be. Mary Margaret was gone, and it was too late for what if's. Emma chose to believe that Mary Margaret never would have changed her ways. Even if she had survived the operation, she would have remained bitter and controlling. And David would have remained trapped. He never would have met Kathryn. Instead they would have passed by each other like two ships in the night. That thought was not a pleasant one. Of course David should be with Kathryn.
Emma pushed away any last shred of negativity away and smiled at her father. He returned the smile. Gave her another twirl. Emma almost tripped in her train, and they laughed about it.
Once the song was done, David disappeared, and it didn't take long before Emma saw him dance with Regina. And soon Henry appeared by Emma's side and insisted upon getting the next dance.
"Well, since you as so nicely," Emma joked and chuckled as she took her son's hand in her own.
Henry elegantly put his free hand on the top of Emma's back, and as they began to move to the music, Emma couldn't be anything but impressed. "Woah, kid. Who taught you to dance?"
"Mr. Darcy."
"Come again?" Emma frowned.
Henry chuckled. "Back when I was five or six-ish, mom watched Pride and Prejudice a lot. I know how why, but for some reason, I was ridiculously fascinated by the dance scene. I guess some of it stuck."
"Huh," Emma chuckled as they spun around. "Well, Mr. Darcy did a good job."
"Thanks, Ma."
As they elegantly swayed to the music, Emma noticed that her son wasn't really looking at her. He was instead glancing at the far corner where Violet Morgan was standing. She was nursing a mug of cocoa and looked typically teenage insecure as she glanced at the dancing couples on the floor.
"You know, once you're done dancing with me, maybe you should test those dancing skills on someone else," Emma suggested with a soft chuckle.
"Ma. No," Henry said sternly, and a blush rose in his cheeks.
"Why not?" Emma asked, torn between thinking this was adorable, and thinking that this was wayyyyy to soon.
"She doesn't want to dance with me."
"Why not?"
"Because she doesn't," Henry insisted.
"How can you possibly know that?" Emma asked as she allowed her son to spin her around. "Have you asked her?"
"No."
"Well, then you can't just assume that she doesn't want to dance with you, can you? The only way to find out is by asking her."
"I can't do that," Henry mumbled, gaze flickering towards the floor.
"And why not?" Emma asked, voice soft now.
"Because I... don't know how. And... I dunno, I think I'm scared she'll say no or something."
Oh. This wasn't adorable. This was Henry growing up and dealing with very real teenage concerns and insecurities. "You know what?" Emma said.
"What?"
"When I first started seeing your mom, I was terrified."
Henry snorted. "Oh, come on."
"No, I WAS," Emma insisted. "I was constantly afraid of fuc- mucking up because she was so beautiful and perfect and-"
"Ma. Eww. I didn't ask you to dance just so you could gush over mom."
"My point it," Emma grinned. "That all changed when I started to get to know her. I realized that she wasn't scary or anything. I wasn't the only one who was nervous, and you know what?"
"Whaaaat?" Henry groaned a little bit now. Clearly, he didn't give much for Emma's wisdom.
"Violet's been looking over here every three seconds," Emma informed her son. "I think she wants to dance with you as much as you want to dance with her. She's just too scared to approach you. Like you are scared to approach her."
"Great..."
"Someone has to take the first step, kid," Emma continued. "And I'm brave enough to initiate a conversation with your mom, you're brave enough to ask Violet to dance."
"You really think so?"
"Yes, I do. Go on, kid." Emma cut the dance short and gave her son a little nudge. "You can do it."
"Okay..." Henry took a deep breath, smoothened his hair, fixed his tie and then walked over to Violet.
Emma's smile widened when she saw Violet smile in delight and surprise. She couldn't hear what the 'tweens' were saying to one another, but she was an expert in reading body language. And everything looked incredibly positive. She saw Violet set her mug of hot chocolate down and then walk out on the dance floor with Henry. Of course they were a little awkward. And just holding hands. No close slow dancing. Regina would probably have had a heart attack if that was the case.
But Henry and Violet looked mighty cute on the dancefloor. Maybe this wasn't the start of an epic romance that would last years, but it was wonderful watching her son grow up. His first crush.
Emma grinned as she locked eyes with her wife across the dancefloor. Regina had raised an eyebrow, and in return, Emma flashed her a thumbs up. Maybe it would take a little while before Regina acknowledged that her little prince wasn't so little anymore, you couldn't exactly stop time, but it would soothe her to know that Neal was still a tiny toddler. Emma felt something flutter in her chest like so often before. She wasn't supposed to think about that right now. Tonight was the night of her wedding. And that was the most important thing.
For a while, Emma danced with everyone. August. Billy. Graham. Even Robert Gold. He was actually a very good dancer, Emma noted, and Isabelle, whom at the time was dancing with David, chuckled and flashed her a thumbs up.
Next, Emma danced with Chad. He made her laugh with all his jokes. He congratulated her and jokingly welcomed her to the family.
"What about you and my sister-in-law?" Emma asked with a chuckle. "Are you guys ever gonna tie the knot?"
"Probably not," Chad chuckled. "We're pretty comfortable with where we're at. But who knows, maybe we will decide to get hitched someday. If we ever find a castle big enough to Zee, that is."
Emma grinned. Yeah, she could definitely imagine Zelena wanting to get married at some lavish castle somewhere. And probably wearing an enormous, poofy dress as well.
Chad elegantly spun her around, and once the dance was over, he jokingly bowed for her and thanked her for the dance, stating that he should probably go and check on Robin who was asleep upstairs in one of the rooms.
"Would you mind popping your head inside Neal's room as well?" Emma asked. "And just check and see if he's still asleep?"
"Sure can do," Chad nodded. "No worries."
"Thanks, Chad. You're the best."
"Of course I am," he chuckled as he walked off.
Emma didn't stand alone on the dancefloor for long. It didn't take long before Regina found her, took her in her arms and said: "the bride should not stand alone on the dancefloor."
"Good thing you came and found me then," Emma joked as she willingly let herself be spun around by Regina.
Regina snickered and caught Emma in her arms again. "Are you having a good time, darling?"
"Mmm, a really good time," Emma assured but still confided: "but I think I might be... fading a little bit, you know?"
"Yes, me too," Regina nodded. "I'm getting tired too."
Emma leaned a little closer so she could whisper in Regina's ear: "maybe it's time to... slip away quietly?"
"Could be," Regina murmured, voice growing a bit husky. "That IS a tradition, isn't it?"
"It sure is, beautiful. It sure is..."
But before the tradition of slipping away quietly could be turned into reality, there was another tradition that had to be fulfilled. The removal of the garter. Emma blushed profusely the whole time she was sitting on the fucking chair with her leg extended out and Regina kneeling in front of her.
But Regina was handling it like a pro. She was both quick and elegant. And grinning up at Emma. Actually grinning. That smile was more than enough to make Emma forget that their guests were watching and whooping and cheering.
Emma tried not to gasp too loudly as Regina with expert fingers removed the lace garter from her leg. Emma was currently grateful for two things: the fact that she had placed the garter just above her knee. And the fact that Regina was using her hands and not her teeth to remove the garter. She was well aware that she had been fantasizing about having Regina remove the garter with her teeth, but seriously, the guests were watching them. Minus Henry. He and Nick had slipped outside to get some air. Emma couldn't blame them for that. It was getting pretty warm in here.
"That was awkward," Emma said through her teeth all the while she kept smiling at the laughing, whooping guests.
"You were the one who wanted a traditional wedding, my love," Regina reminded her and gave her hand a squeeze. "And I'm keeping this, by the way." with her back to the guests, she elegantly stuffed the lace garter down her cleavage.
"Okay," Emma squeaked. Fuck, that was sexy! She took a breath and pulled herself together. "You wearing one of those stupid garters too, Mills?"
"Swan-Mills."
"Right. Are you?"
"I am," Regina chuckled.
"Well..." Emma took her wife's hand and guided her over to the chair. "Then I suppose it's my turn."
"Yes, dear. I suppose it is."
Once again, all the guests whooped and cheered as Regina sat down on the chair and pulled her skirt up, extending her leg out. Emma did the whole removal of garter thing (with her hands!) and followed Regina's example. Instead of tossing the garter out to the crowd, she discreetly stuffed it down her cleavage instead. Only Regina could see this, and she smirked a little. Leaned in and whispered in Emma's ear: "I'm wearing one on the other leg as well."
"Oh, are you?" Emma murmured back.
"Mmhmm. But it's sitting a bit higher, so I figured we could save it for later."
"That sounds like a brilliant idea, babe. When is later?"
Regina chuckled and patted Emma's cheek. "Soon, my love. Soon."
"It better be," Emma said and mock pouted. Which prompted Regina to kiss her.
And somehow, 'later' did in fact roll around. After one last tradition, of course. Emma threw her bridal bouquet. It landed right in Ruby's arms, and she grinned at Dorothy who shook her head and threw her hands in the air in 'no way'-manner.
Then it was Regina's turn for the traditional toss of the bridal bouquet. She was definitely not taking aim. As far as Emma could see, Regina just wanted it over with quickly. But despite that, the bouquet was still caught. By Malena. Who clearly not had expected it. She glanced at Ursula, and Ursula smirked back and bopped her shoulders in a 'sure, why not'-manner. Emma laughed at that, and Malena looked positively delighted albeit a bit surprised.
"You know what, I think it's time to disappear," Regina said.
"I agree," the newly arrived Zelena replied before Emma could. "Which means it's time for an outfit change. Come on, sis. I'll help you."
"I can do that," Emma offered without thinking.
Regina laughed while Zelena glared. "You will do nothing of the sort. I know exactly what'll happen if you help my sister change out of her dress-"
"Zelena." Regina warned.
"You'll end up missing your train, that's what's gonna happen," Zelena continued, ignoring Regina's comment. "And you don't want that, do you?"
"No, ma'am," Emma sassed and maturely poked her tongue out at Zelena.
"I figured," Zelena said and gave Regina's arm a little tug. "Come on, sis. Let's get you honeymoon ready."
Regina rolled her eyes but willingly followed her sister away from the crowd.
Emma barely got five minutes alone before Ruby and Ella appeared on either side of her like two gargoyles. "We heard it's honeymoon time," they said in unison.
"You guys remind me of the twins from The Shining."
Not Ruby nor Ella paid attention to that. "Let's get you ready too," Ruby said briskly. "You don't wanna wear that dress on the train, do you?"
"Uhmm, let's see..." Emma jokingly glanced down at her pretty, white dress. "Nah."
"Come along then, Mrs. Swan-Mills," Ella said with a grin and grabbed Emma's elbow in the same fashion Zelena had just done.
"Okay then," Emma chuckled as she willingly followed her two friends away from the festivities. She would very much have enjoyed stripping Regina out of the wedding dress, but they were supposed to hop on a train in a little while. Regina couldn't wear her wedding dress on the train, Emma understood that.
"Oh man, my ears are almost ringing," Emma joked as they made it upstairs to one of the quiet hotel rooms.
Ruby chuckled. "It's been one hell of a celebration, Swan."
"Exactly how I wanted it," Emma said softly and smiled. "Everything's been so great, and the room looks amazing. You and Granny really knocked it out of the park."
"Thanks. Maybe we should settle down as wedding planners instead," Ruby joked as she and Ella skillfully unbuttoned Emma's wedding dress and helped her out of it.
"Maybe," Emma chuckled. "Though I'm not sure I could live without Granny's burgers."
"How are you gonna survive in Paris, then?" Ella asked mock seriously.
"Oh, I'm sure I'll find a... a way," Emma mumbled. Now she was a bit distracted, thinking about Paris and all the awesome things she and Regina were gonna do once they arrived. Neither of them had been to Paris before. This was their first adventure as a married couple. Emma couldn't wait.
"Yes, I'm sure you will. Step in," Ella ordered.
Emma obediently stepped into the light blue slacks and grunted a little when she pulled them up and zipped them. Ahh. After having worn a dress for most of the day, it sure felt good to wear pants again. "You guys knows exactly what's good for me," she quipped.
"Sure we do. And we also know that you can't travel in your bra," Ruby said mischievously and dangled a light, white blouse in Emma's face.
Emma rolled her eyes as she took the long-sleeved blouse from her friend. It felt very soft. Silk, most likely. She slipped her arms through it, buttoned it and then her hands were pushed away by Ella who insisted upon being the one to tie the wide strings at the collar of the blouse. "There," she said satisfied after having tied a very neat bow. "Perfect and ready to go."
"Almost," Ruby corrected, and Emma had to laugh when she was pushed onto the bed. Ruby and Ella removed her pretty bridal shoes, and Emma felt nothing but relieved when her feet were greeted by her usual, black boots. The ones with no heels. That felt so good after having worn high heels for most of the day.
"I'm thinking we'll leave the hair as it is," Ruby said. "It goes well with the outfit."
"Great," Emma said, already looking forward to Regina undoing her braid and running her fingers through it again and again.
"NOW you're ready," Ella smiled. "You look positively grown up, Swan."
"Thanks... I guess?" Emma laughed and shifted. "It almost feels a bit anticlimactic, wearing normal clothes."
"I bet it does."
Emma glanced around in the room. "Wait, where's my suitcase?"
"You don't have to worry about that. It's been taken care of."
"But we're supposed to go to the station-"
"It's been taken care of," Ruby repeated. She and Ella exchanged knowing glances, and once again they reminded Emma of the creepy twins from The Shining.
"Okay then. I guess I'll go and find Regina then," Emma said.
"That sounds like a good plan, Mrs. Swan-Mills."
Emma laughed all the way into the hallway. God, she loved her new title!
Before finding Regina, though, she quickly nipped into the bathroom to make a final 'underwear change'. She had kept this particular pair of panties hidden in purse. She loved Ruby and Ella, but there were certain things she didn't want to share with her friends. This was one of them. This pair of panties was for Regina's eyes only, and even though they were uncomfortable to say the least, Emma had a feeling that it would all be worth it in the long run. Her stomach flipped slightly when she thought about what was to come.
Emma shifted a bit in front of the mirror and brushed a hand over her clothes. Now she was ready to go and find Regina.
She did not find Regina. Regina found her. As Emma was coming around the corner, Regina emerged from her own 'dressing room', and Emma stopped in her tracks, unabashedly admiring her wife. Regina's 'going away'-outfit could not have been better. A cream colored sheath dress with a slight V-neck. Sleeveless, elegant, reaching a good inch below her knees and with a little bow at Regina's right hip. Regina was currently slipping her arms through a matching short jacket, and as she did so, she turned around, and Emma thanked her lucky stars. Regina's dress had these tiny, delicate buttons all the way down to her lower back. Yes! Before the night was over, Emma would still get to unbutton her wife's dress.
Once Regina had put on the little jacket and zipped it, she turned around, and Emma flashed her a grin. "Hey, there."
"Hey," Regina parroted. "You look lovely."
"And you're stunning. Again." Emma was grateful for another thing. Regina's hair had been left in the bun, and if there was something she liked, it was to slowly roll Regina's long hair out. Remove bobby pin after bobby pin and watch it fall.
"Wait, does this mean that we're actually ready to go?" Emma asked and earned herself a chuckle from both Ruby and Ella as they emerged.
"Almost, I think. I've been told not to worry about the luggage."
"Yeah, I've been told the same," Emma nodded and frowned. "Mysterious, isn't it?"
"So very mysterious," Regina agreed and looped her arms around Emma.
Emma smiled. Was just about to lean in for a kiss when another door was opened, and Eugenia stepped out with Neal in her arms. "This young Sire refuses to sleep any longer," she proclaimed. "I suspect he heard his mothers' talking."
"He did, did he?" Regina cooed as she reached out and stroked Neal's back. "Well, of course he should be there to send us on our way."
"Indeed he should," Eugenia nodded. "And not to worry. I'll take care of the little cub once you've left."
"Mommy!" Neal interrupted the conversation, wiggling in Eugenia's arms and clearly reaching for Emma.
Emma chuckled as she willingly lifted her son out of Eugenia's arms and cradled him into her chest. "Hey, buddy. Did you have a nice nap?"
"Mmmph," Neal said sleepily, legs wrapping around Emma's middle and arms winding tightly around her neck as though he was a little monkey.
Regina let out a soft little hum as she rubbed his back and then brushed her hands through Neal's messy 'just slept'-curls. "Let's bring him downstairs, my love. I'm sure Eugenia can find a snack for him."
"Of course she can," Eugenia softly confirmed, and her eyes gleamed as she looked at Neal. "Milk and... cookies?"
"Cookies!" Neal squealed, sleepiness long forgotten.
"Cookies for the young Sire," Eugenia nodded and turned around. "Coming right up!" she disappeared down the stairs to make just that for Neal, and Emma and Regina followed her. Neal kept clinging to Emma. He could probably sense that his time with his two mommies were limited.
Downstairs at the festivities, Neal had his milk and cookies, but he looked a bit disgruntled. Maybe he wasn't in a party mood anymore.
"Are you grumpy, little owl?" Regina asked softly as she stroked his curls once again.
Neal nodded while munching on his cookie.
"What can mama do to make it better?" Regina asked.
Neal grabbed the cup of milk, and it wobbled dangerously in his grip as he brought it up to his mouth and took a gulp of the milk. He lowered the cup and Emma grinned a little at the 'milk-stache' the action had given him.
"What can mama do, sweetie?" Regina repeated.
"Song!" Neal said firmly.
"But it's not bedtime right now, little owl," Regina chuckled. "We only sing at bedtime, do we not?"
Neal ignored that and looked up at Regina in expectations with those big green eyes of his. "Song, mama, pwetty please?"
Emma suffocated a laugh. If there was one thing her wife couldn't resist it was blonde curls and green eyes.
"Okay then." Regina cleared her throat, glanced around, probably acknowledging that she had no choice but to sing in front of all their guests. She did a little 'oh well'-sigh and a chuckle and then began to sing in that velvet soft and smooth voice: "'Last Christmas, I gave you my heart, but the very next day, you gave it away. This year, to save me from tears, I'll give it to someone special...'"
"'Last Christmas, I gave you my heart,'" Emma fell into the rhythm and earned herself a surprised look and a happy laughter from both Regina and Neal. "But the very next day, you gave it away, gave it away, this year, to save me from tears, I'll give it to someone special...'"
"'Once bitten, and twice shy,'" it came from somewhere in the room, and it took Emma a second to realize that it was Zelena who had picked it up. The redhead emerged from the crowd, grinning and clearly putting on a show for her little nephew. "'I keep my distance, but you still catch my eye, tell me baby, do you recognize me, we'll it's been a year, it doesn't surprise me...'" she turned her head, looked expectantly at Chad, but he just lifted his hands and grinned. Clearly, he was not up for singing in public.
But someone else was. "'Merry Christmas! I wrapped it up and sent it, with a note saying 'I love you,' I meant it, now I know what a fool I've been, but if you kissed me now, I know you'd fool me again,'" David sang in a voice that clearly hadn't been used for singing in a very long time. But singing prettily was not what this was about. David earned himself a beaming smile from Kathryn and a slight slap on the shoulder from Zelena for being such a good sport.
"'Last Christmas, I gave you my heart, but the very next day, you gave it away, this year to save me from tears, I'll give to someone special,'" now Kathryn was singing, and Emma melted when she saw the look David gave her.
"'A crowded room, friends with tired eyes,'" a new voice fell into the rhythm, and Emma had to pick up her jaw from the floor when she saw that it was in fact Malena who had decided to join in. Emma turned her head and looked at Regina, but she just smiled beamingly. So did Emma. Malena had a very nice singing voice.
"'I'm hiding from you, and your soul of ice,'" Malena kept singing, eyes twinkling with amusement and just a hint of that sarcasm that was her trademark. "'My god, I thought you were someone to rely on, me? I guess I was a shoulder to cry on...'"
"'A face of a lover with a fire in his heart, a man under cover, but you tore him apart," Regina sang and looked like she was trying hard not to laugh.
When the song was over, it started over. This time, Henry was the one to sing the first verse, and then everyone started singing along with him. He came up and hugged Regina and then Emma, and Emma was laughing more than actually singing. This was amazing. All of them singing together for no apparent reason other than cheering up Neal. And cheery was exactly what the toddler was. He was giggling and clapping his hands, clearly thinking that all of this, the party and guests was because of him. He giggled when Leroy made his voice all deep, and so did Emma. She turned her head and looked at Regina. Regina who was singing and laughing and sort-of-dancing with her oldest son. Sensing a presence nearby, Emma turned her head, and made eye contact with Zelena. The redhead smiled briefly at her before looking at Regina. Emma followed her gaze, fixed her gaze on the happy, singing, dancing Regina, and she knew that she and Zelena were thinking the exact same thing. That this happy, confident woman who was radiant with joy was so very far from the silent, frightened woman Emma had met on the train. Regina was a completely different woman now. She had completely blossomed into someone who was stronger, someone who knew that she was beautiful and cherished and loved, and the sight brought tears to Emma's eyes. This beautiful, strong, kindhearted woman was her wife. And today was the first day of their new marriage.
Zelena gave Emma a hug and interrupted Emma's train of sentimental thoughts. "It's time for you guys to leave. Otherwise you'll miss your train."
"Yeah, I know," Emma nodded. Once Zelena had released her, she stretched her neck and made eye contact with Regina, mouthed 'it's time'.
Regina nodded and came over to them followed by Henry and with Neal in her arms.
"You guys are gonna miss your train if you don't leave now," Zelena said a tad wetly and hugged Regina despite the fact that Regina was still holding Neal.
"Right. Are you blubbering again?" Regina teased as she adjusted Neal on her hip.
"It's not every day you get to send your little sister away on her honeymoon," Zelena rasped.
"And on that honeymoon, you are absolutely forbidden to think of anything concerning home," Malena added as she appeared a bit out of nowhere and took Neal from Regina. "Rest assure that Ursula and I will be tending to their every need."
"Auntie Mal!" Henry protested. "I'm not a baby!"
"Of course you're not, dear," Malena said and patted his shoulder. "No one here thinks that you are. Perhaps I can teach you to drive."
"Malena!" Regina hissed.
"It's a joke, dearest. Calm down," Malena brushed her concerns aside and laughed as she patted Regina's shoulder.
Regina looked less than amused, but now Zelena was claiming everyone's attention by clapping her hands. "Everyone!" she called into the room, and the singing and laughing immediately stopped. "The newlyweds will be taking off in a moment, so if anyone want to give one last hug, this is your chance!"
Emma and Regina were immediately flooded by people. Everyone wanted to hug them. Everyone wanted to say goodbye. At once. Emma hugged her friends and family tightly. David even gave her a kiss on the cheek, and she laughed at the sweet gesture. Ella was 'blubbering' too as she hugged Emma, and Emma promised to send lots and lots of pictures from Paris.
"Bye, Ma," Henry said when it at last became his turn for a hug. "Have a nice trip to Paris!"
"Thanks, kid. Oh, man, I'm going to miss you so much!" Emma exclaimed as she hugged him tightly and dropped a kiss on his hair.
"Ma-aaaa," he groaned and tried to wiggle away. "I'm not a baby. And it's only two weeks. I won't even get the chance to miss you. And besides, I'm gonna have lots of fun with auntie Mal and auntie Ursula."
"That's right," Emma nodded, giving him an extra hug for good measurement. "Go hug your mom!"
Henry did just that, and he protested when Regina too engulfed him in a hug that seemed to be just a little bit too tight for his liking.
Emma quietly laughed to herself.
At last the crowd thinned, and Emma was able to grasp Regina's hand. She gave it a little squeeze. "You ready, babe?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," Regina smiled and returned the squeeze.
"Awesome. Let's get going then!" Emma said briskly and gave her wife a little tug towards the door.
"Yes, let's go and see if the car has been snowed in," Regina joked.
Emma grinned. "Good one, beautiful."
"Ah, about that," Malena said as she slinked up beside them. "You won't be requiring the car tonight."
"Uhm, what are you talking about?" Emma frowned. "Of course we will. How else are we gonna get to the station? Walk?"
"Wait and see," Malena said cryptically.
Emma shared a look with Regina. She too looked to be very much in the dark. She lifted her shoulders once to signalize that she had no idea what her oldest friend was talking about.
But Henry let out a little snicker that more than suggested that he knew EXACTLY what Malena was talking about, and Emma instantly fell over him: "you know something we don't, kid. What is it? Out with it!"
"Not in a billion years," Henry assured and tugged a little at his bowtie. "You'll just have to wait and see."
"See WHAT?!" Emma asked impatiently. What was Henry talking about?
"Why don't you go outside," Malena suggested with a smirk. "In fact, why don't we ALL go outside to give the newlyweds a proper goodbye?"
The guests were very much on board with that. Everyone followed Emma and Regina through the room. Coats were provided for the newlyweds, and Emma and Regina's confusion only grew.
"What the devil is going on?" Emma quietly asked her wife.
"I haven't the faintest," Regina replied. "But I do feel like I'm being schemed against."
"Yeah, me too," Emma said and chuckled lowly. Something was most definitely going on. Something both Henry and Malena knew about and refused to tell Emma and Regina about. That little trickster. Never missing an opportunity to scheme against his mothers'.
Emma and Regina made it outside along with the guests. Stood in the snow and froze their asses off and grew more and more confused.
Until Emma heard a soft sound in the snow. She informed Regina of this, and both women listened intensely as the clacking sound grew louder. But that wasn't the only sound they could hear. There was this sort of rumbling sound too.
"What the hell?" Emma muttered. She could hear something else too now. Bells. Sleighbells. Yep. Sleighbells. Was Santa Clause stopping by too or what?
"I truly do not know," Regina said with a headshake. "But I suspect that it's-"
"Huh?" Emma frowned. She didn't quite understand why Regina had stopped talking all the sudden, but then she followed her wife's gaze and her jaw dropped.
A carriage was coming around the corner in the wintery weather. A horse-drawn carriage. There were two horses. Majestic, white creatures that almost made the snow seem dirty. The carriage itself was pumpkin shaped. Had a glass roof and windows so Emma and Regina could be seen from the outside, but a cozy, velvet interior that would ensure that the newlyweds wouldn't get cold.
"Cinderwella!" Neal squealed from Eugenia's arms, and Emma thought to herself that that description wasn't very far off.
"Holy crap!" she exclaimed as all the guests exclaimed, and turned to Malena. "Did you...?"
"Of course I did," Malena said and flashed her a rather smug smile. "Getting married is something you'll only do once in your life, dear. And if you two don't deserve a proper sendoff, I don't know who does."
"My goodness," Regina whispered, and her brown eyes shone as she looked at the magnificent carriage.
"You once told me that if you ever were to get married, you wanted to be picked up by a horse drawn carriage," Malena chuckled. "And I chose to take your word for it, dear."
"This is wonderful, Mal!" Regina laughed as she hugged her oldest and best friend. "Thank you so much!"
"Yeah, thank you," Emma laughed. "This is ridiculous but absolutely perfect, and I wouldn't have it any other way!"
"Now off you pop," Malena said sternly. "Wouldn't want you to miss your train."
Emma suffocated her amusement and laughter. Malena was still not all that good with the touchy-feely stuff as she called it.
There were more warm hugs and well wishes and goodbyes. There were crying on Zelena's part, squealing and wiggling on Neal's, kisses on the forehead for Henry and the admonishment to behave while his mothers' were gone, and then finally, Emma and Regina went towards the carriage. The coachman smiled at both of them, and of course there were laughs and cheers as Emma opened the little gate for Regina and held a hand out to help her up with the words: "milady."
Regina smiled as she took the offered hand. With Emma's help, she climbed into the carriage, adjusted on the red velvet seat, and made sure to hold the gate open so Emma could climb up.
"Oops. There we go," Emma said as she elegantly closed the gate behind her. She adjusted on the very soft and comfortable velvet seat and wrapped an arm around Regina.
"Bye, mom! Bye, Ma!" Henry called as he waved like crazy.
It didn't take long before the rest of the guests followed his example and waved the newlyweds off.
"Bye, everyone!" Regina called back and chuckled. "Thank you for coming!"
"Don't forget to write!" Zelena said. "And that is not a joke, little sis!"
"And don't worry about the children," Malena added. "They will be well taken care of, isn't that right, Henry?"
"Popcorn and pizza every night!" Henry laughed.
"Henry Swan-Mills-"
But Regina's protests were easily drowned by the laughs and cheers from the guests when the coachman made a slight clicking sound and the carriage started moving.
"And we're off," Emma chuckled. "I've actually never ridden in a carriage before."
"Not have I," Regina said and leaned back in the velvet seat as the carriage took them farther and farther away from the diner. "But this is very..."
"Cinderella-esque?" Emma suggested with a grin.
"Yes. Exactly."
"This will turn a few heads at the station," Emma continued, grin spreading across her face once more upon imagining the look on people's faces.
"Well, no one will be in doubt that we just got married, that's for sure."
"What makes you think that? We're not wearing our dresses anymore."
"No," Regina agreed and rolled her dark eyes. "But didn't you see the enormous sign on the back of the carriage?"
"Nope. I was a little too busy looking at the horses and everything. Was there seriously a 'Just Married' sign on the carriage?"
"Oh yes, indeed. Come here, wife," Regina said warmly.
Emma obviously couldn't resist that. She wiggled closer to her wife, and said wife slipped an arm around her and squeezed gently. "We're married."
"Yes, we are," Emma said softly and reached up to cup Regina's beautiful face. "And we're on our way to the station."
"Mmm, honeymoon here we come," Regina said and wiggled an eyebrow.
Sure enough, the carriage did indeed draw some attention as they headed off to the station. Along the way, Emma saw several people stop and take a second glance. Many of them whipped out their phones and took a picture, and a few of them even said: "congratulations!"
"Thank you," Regina happily called back and waved at the people they passed, and Emma laughed quietly to herself when she saw an older lady elbow her husband whilst pointing towards the carriage. "Would you look at that, Stephen?"
"And I thought that romance was dead," Stephen said and clearly tried to be witty, but his wife didn't appreciate it. She kept looking at the carriage which prompted the elderly gentleman to quickly say: "Marjorie, honey, I love you, but I cannot afford a carriage for our anniversary!"
Emma laughed as their carriage passed the elderly couple. Bit of a shame, really. She would have loved to hear the ending of the conversation.
"We can't afford this either," Regina dully observed and leaned back in the lush, plushy seat. "I wonder how on earth Malena managed to swing this?"
"Maybe it's better that we don't ask," Emma suggested, grinning again. Malena had once said that she was willing to sell a kidney for Regina. Those were the exact words she had used at the time, and now Emma couldn't help but wonder whether Mal still had both of her kidneys.
"How does it feel to be married, my love?" Regina inquired and gave her a soft, gentle squeeze.
"It feels fan-bloody-tastic, Mills," Emma chuckled and stole one of Zelena's favorite sayings.
"Swan-Mills," Regina corrected mock sternly. "You really must remember that, darling."
"Sorry," Emma grinned. "I'll try my best. But I've called you Mills for a long time now. It's gonna be tricky adjusting."
Regina nodded. "It's gonna be tricky hearing you refer to me as 'Mrs.' too."
"Oh, that I'll have no problem with," Emma assured, grin growing bigger.
Regina leaned back in the carriage and observed: "it's still snowing. I think we're gonna have quite the romantic train ride, dear."
"We're gonna have that regardless of whether it's snowing or not," Emma said plainly. Travelling by train was oh so romantic. She knew that from experience. Knew how fucking awesome it was to travel by train with Regina. Her new wife. Wow, Emma was still adjusting to that! And to the fact that SHE was a wife too. She had never thought that would ever happen, but here she was, very newly married and on her way on her honeymoon with her wife.
Said wife flashed her a dazzling smile, and Emma felt impatient once again...
To Be Continued...