"Are you insane, Emma?" Regina berates her as they stand in the middle of the barn, their fingers interlocked and Emma's heart running rampant.
"No, I would say a hopeless romantic," she counters with a cheeky grin, stepping in front of her fiancé's bewildered face. "Come on, you said it yourself, this is our place," she urges as her eyes attempt to meet Regina's, which are frantically darting around the spacious barn.
"But Emma..." her words trail off as she shakes her head dumbfounded. "...it smells."
A hearty chuckle escapes Emma's mouth while she shakes her head and takes the only step forward. With her free hand, she curls those thick tresses behind Regina's ear and smiles a mile wide.
"God, I love you," Emma breathes heavily and captures those sexy, plump lips.
Regina doesn't hesitate, she instantly returns the passion and presses further against pale lips. She inhales deeply, like she's trying to consume all of the blonde, forcing a smile to spread across Emma's lips.
"Seriously, Em," her fiancé gasps, struggling to catch her breath. "The beach is romantic and a hell of a lot cleaner than this barn. We agreed we would be wed on the beach at sunset," she argues against Emma's unexpected idea, but Emma just knows in her heart that this is where they should declare their love for one another.
"Regina, the first moment I ever laid eyes on you was in this barn." Emma smiles as all those warm, familiar, tingling feelings swarm through her blood. "The second I knew I was safe, and you weren't going to beat me with a shovel," Regina's beautiful smile grows even wider as her eyes beat with tiny little hearts. "I fell hard for you. You stole all the air from my lungs with your beauty, along with my heart." She stretches forward and pecks those full lips delicately to seal her declaration with a kiss before she continues. "I knew in that moment, that my life was about to change, and that you had everything to do with that realization." She grips her fiancé's hand even tighter and squeezes some love into the embrace. "After we broke up, you found me again in this barn, pregnant and not once did you ever falter on your love for me. You accepted me once again into your heart, but more importantly, you accepted my son. You didn't even bat an eye when it came to loving him or the idea of raising him. That day I fell even more in love with you." She kisses her once more as the tears of love quickly fill those rich eyes. "Then, you proposed in this barn, promising me the love Henry and I deserved, to always be by our side and to never let us go again. So, please explain to me, how the hell, we aren't supposed to marry each other here?"
Regina's deep chuckle resonates between them as she sniffles and cups Emma's cheek. She pulls her into a searing kiss that's impossible for Emma to ever break away from. Luckily, Regina's the one who slowly backs away and rests her forehead against hers.
"Okay."
XXXXX
"Emma?" There's a soft, timid knock against the wooden door to the small addition, that was once hers. She instantly smiles from the sweet voice as a burst of energy floods her limbs. "May I come in, dear?"
"Of course, Cora," she happily complies with her eyes focusing on the door in front of her, waiting for her mother-in-law to be.
Slowly, the door knob turns, and Emma's mind takes her back to the first night her and Regina spent together, both terrified when Cora so rudely barged into the room, with Henry standing right behind her. The older woman's chestnut hair falls into the crack of the door, as her head peeks inside, inspiring Emma to laugh lightly at the shy disposition.
"Oh my," Cora gasps as she quickly straightens her posture and rushes across the threshold, forcefully shutting the door behind her. "Emma, my dear," she breathlessly whispers, her hand resting against her chest. Her big brown eyes, that resemble her daughter's so much, fill with tears immediately. "You are radiant," she chokes out and fights back her tears, provoking Emma's eyes to well up with a warm liquid as well.
"Thank you," she nervously chuckles, her eyes scanning over every inch of her own body.
Cora's inquisitive eyes start at the top, where the golden mane is braided along the right side and swoops down and over Emma's left shoulder, ending in a fish tail braid that Ivy so kindly styled for her. Dark eyes meet shimmering green, but only for a second because the emotions are far too much and causes a single tear to trickle down the older woman's cheek. Emma knows she's assessing the light makeup, because she has never been one to wear any at all, but today is different and she can't wait for Regina to notice as well.
Those warm eyes travel down toward the white dress. It may only be fifty-five degrees outside, but that doesn't matter, Emma couldn't wait to show off this little number. Since the original plan was to marry on the beach, the couple decided on casual, but still elegant dresses. Emma's wedding dress starts at the bottom of her throat, wrapping around her neck in white silk, before the lace begins and lays across her chest. Her arms and shoulders are bare, while the rest of the dress clings tightly to her every curve, ending mid-thigh.
"I'm so happy for you two," Cora gushes, stumbling forward to pull her into a warm, motherly hug.
Emma's arms instantly wrap around the tiny woman and hold onto her for dear life, because as happy as this day is supposed to be, it's also a moment she has been dreading since the day she found out her mother was sick. Tears instantly fill her eyes once again, but she fights against them with every ounce of energy she possesses.
"Your mother would be so proud," Cora vows even if she never has met her, it's as though she can feel a connection with Emma's mother through her.
"That she would," David gently agrees, his warm hand resting against his daughter's shoulder blade for comfort. "She loved you very much, Emma. I uh, I don't know how to go about this..."
"Emma dear, please sit down," Cora kindly urges as she pulls away from the blonde's death grip.
"What's wrong?" Emma quickly inquires, fear striking through her heart, that maybe Regina has cold feet, and David and Cora have decided to let her down gently together.
"Nothing, relax," her father encourages and gently rubs her back to soothe her irrational fears.
Cora guides Emma to sit at the edge of the bed, slowly peeling the bouquet from her vise like grip. She places the flowers down beside her and slips her hands in between Emma's clammy hands.
"I asked Cora here because I know how close you are with her and I know you lean on her for moral support now," her father begins as he stands tall in front of her, her eyelashes fluttering rapidly as she peers up at her hero and tries to see through his armor, protecting the emotions he's struggling to keep hidden. "Ems, this is really hard for me and you know I'm not very good at expressing my feelings or talking about your mother...god I miss her..." he chokes out as his tears finally stake their claim against his crystal blue eyes.
Her father hastily squeezes the bridge of his nose in an awful attempt to keep himself from crying, but it's too late. The dam has been damaged for far too long and it's about time it finally collapsed. His fingers rub aggressively against his eyelids as a few tears escape the prison they have been locked away in for almost two years now.
Emma's own eyes fill with tears again and she knows she's going to have to call Ivy back in there to fix her makeup because this is her dad crying. Her hero. Her protector. How can she sit by and watch him fall apart and not feel the same ache deep within her own heart?
"Dad," she gasps, releasing one of Cora's hands to slip it between her father's.
"I'm sorry," he croaks as he pulls a plain white envelope from the inside of his jacket pocket and just like that Emma's body immobilizes. Her breathing halts. Her heartbeat stills. Her limbs are numb. Her father bends down in front of her and she feels like a small child again, with bright golden pigtails, her feet kicking as he tries to explain something important to her. "Your mother...before she passed..." he hiccups and more tears stream down his face and if she wasn't so numb from the shock right now, she would probably notice her own tears. "...she wrote you this letter and made me promise that I would give this to you on your wedding day."
Her father holds up the envelope between them, creating a cold shiver to run viciously down her spine. Her muscles begin to tremble while her eyes focus on the letter as her dad begins to turn the envelope around, revealing her name in perfect cursive. Her mother's sweet, delicate handwriting...and then she gasps. Her heart takes off racing and suddenly there's just not enough air to fill her lungs.
She hastily reaches for the letter with a hand that's shaking violently. The room falls deathly silent as her finger rips through the sealed envelope. She doesn't dare risking another glance at her father or Cora, because there's no way she can handle that look of despair in their eyes. She quickly unfolds the letter and cries even harder when she sees her mother's perfect penmanship.
My beautiful Emma,
This is by far the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life, but I couldn't stand the thought of you marrying one day and thinking I wasn't there with you. I need you to trust me baby girl, that I am there with you right now. I'm never too far from your heart and I promise with each step you take down the aisle, I am right there beside you. I'm blubbering like a big baby right now, just imagining you in your stunning white dress, with your hair...probably in some type of braid, because I know you and ever since you were little, dress up time means braids of some sort. I bet you're terrified to walk down that aisle and give your heart away completely, knowing yours is still probably broken because of me, because I left you alone in this world. But, my sweet Emma, please love, with all your heart because I promise you this person who you chose for your future is well worth it. Don't be scared of what the future may hold, just enjoy the now, like I did every day. You are my greatest accomplishment in life and I don't regret one single day. You brought so much joy into my world and showed me the true meaning of unconditional love. You are my very best friend, my daughter, my future, my legacy, and I will live on forever in your heart. I am there with you, helping you slide into your dress, giggling as we zip up the back. I'm there with you, fixing the little fly aways near your temple before you walk down the aisle. I'm there with you, linking your arm with your father's before he walks you down toward your future. I'm there, smiling, crying and laughing as you chuckle nervously through your vows. I'm there, wiping my tears as you kiss the love of your life. I'm there every step of the way, even when you have beautiful babies, I'll be in that delivery room offering my support and watching as you hold your precious baby for the first time. I promise my baby girl that I will never leave your side, you're my daughter and I'm so terribly sorry that you can't see me or hear my voice again. Okay, I have to wrap this up because I'm a mess right now, but just remember I love you with all my heart and I owe all my happiness in this world to you.
Love,
Your mom
Her hands fall to her lap recklessly as she stares at the letter in pure shock. Her face feels sticky from her insistent tears and she knows she has indefinitely ruined her makeup.
"Emma," Cora softly whispers, but her eyes stay glued to the blue ink stained into the white paper. "My dear, are you alright?" Her hand methodically rubs against Emma's back to wake her from her stunned state.
"I am," she breathes heavily as though the last bit of uncertainty and heartache in her life has finally escaped the confines of her body. "She's here. She's with me," she hiccups and sniffles as her dad magically produces a soft tissue to dry her watery eyes.
"She is Ems, she's always with you," her dad confirms, his thumb sweeping across her cheek to wipe away the last of the warm liquid.
"Do you feel better now?" Cora tentatively asks while her hand continues to wash away the heartache and soothe her quivering muscles.
She nods and turns her head just far enough to meet worried eyes. "I do. I really do. She prepared for this moment. She was just as scared to miss it as I was, but I know she's here. One way or another, she's here," she whispers, her thumb caressing the paper in her lap, just needing to feel a connection with her mother once again.
"Good. Now, I'm going to grab Ivy and tell her she needs to fix your face," Cora quips to lighten the mood and pats her back gently before she sashays out the door.
XXXXX
"Are you ready?" Her dad whispers, his hand lightly patting her forearm that is intertwined with his.
"I am, more than ever," Emma breathes while a calming sensation of relief warms her body from head to toe. She smiles to herself, a joyful, giddy grin as she feels a warm breeze engulf around her skin, hugging her tight to remind her, she's there. Her mother has always been right there with her. "Take me to my future," she whispers, provoking a silly grin to slide across her father's lips and she swears he's never looked prouder.
Her father escorts her away from the small addition on the Mills' farm. The chilly air produces little goosebumps to spread like wildfire across her skin or maybe it's just anxious nerves, she'll never know. What she does know, is that when her father walks her through the barn door, her breath is stolen from the beauty of it all.
She had never expected much of anything when she suggested they get married in the barn because that's their special place, but it seems Cora and Henry have really outshined themselves. The barn is filled with candles, scented of course, to mask the smell of Rocinante. The warm, homey feeling of cinnamon apples fills the air and heats up Emma's beating heart. The scent reminds her so much of her mother and Cora when they bake, and she couldn't be more ecstatic.
There are stunning lights hanging all around, that illuminate the barn in a soft, yellow glow. With the flickering flames from the candles and the glow from the lights she feels like she's in some wonderful dream. There are only a few white chairs where their closest family and friends are waiting, watching her with tears already filling their eyes.
She swallows her anxious nerves as her eyes drift to Marco, the Mills' old family friend, who is ordained to perform the ceremony. He smiles, a warm, gentle, yet encouraging grin to persuade her feet to keep shuffling forward. She inhales one deep breath and nods, silently vowing to her father that she is now ready.
As they walk down the aisle, arms linked, a burst of adrenaline buzzes through her body and tickles her fingers and toes. All of a sudden, she's giddy, like a small child entering Disney World for the very first time. She cannot wait to see Regina because she knows her fiancé is going to be absolute perfection.
When they near the front, she locates Cora sitting next to the aisle with Henry in her arms. Regina had found him the cutest little outfit for the day, complete with black slacks, a baby blue button-down, a black pinstriped vest, and a matching clip on tie. Her eyes fill with tears again as she sees her green-eyed baby watching her carefully and clapping energetically as she passes him by. She bends down and kisses his tiny forehead before she claims her position next to Marco.
She sighs, a moment of contentment just before her eyes sweep over to the barn door and there she is. Heart stopping, jaw-dropping, perfection at its finest, Regina Maria Mills. Her long raven tresses are tumbling down her shoulders and laying beautifully over her chest. A strapless, sweetheart cut accentuates her breasts in a sexy, yet still classy manner. Her white, chiffon dress clings to her tight figure, kick starting Emma's heart into rapid palpitations. She bites down on both her lips to suppress the blubbering mess of tears just waiting to be released. Those enchanting brown irises meet green eyes and then Regina scrunches her nose in the most adorable way, purses out her thick lips, and shakes her head at Emma. And she cannot stop the giggle that bursts from her mouth as her soon to be wife silently scolds her for crying already.
Regina's father smiles happily as he too, pats his daughter's arm before they begin gliding down the aisle as though she's floating on air. Effortlessly, with the grace and composure of a queen. It's impossible to stop the happy tears from clinging to Emma's eyes and blurring her vision, but she tries her best. Her soon to be wife, also stops in front of Henry and kisses his cheek softly, leaving behind her mark of deep, red lips. Their son giggles and reaches for her face, but she's already on her way toward Emma, creating a pout upon their son's lips.
"Hi," Emma mutters as Regina comes to stand right in front of her, more beautiful than she could have ever dreamed of.
"Dammit Emma, you're going to ruin my makeup already," Regina chuckles, her free hand gently cupping a porcelain cheek to wipe away the tears Emma didn't even know had fallen.
Emma laughs and allows the brunette to dry her cheeks as she watches brown eyes gloss over and she listens to how Regina sniffles to suppress her own tears. Marco begins speaking with his heavy accent curling around his every word, but Emma finds herself lost in those beautiful eyes, yet again, trapping her under a spell, just as Regina always does.
"Emma, your vows," Marco urges as though he may have said this statement more than once.
She blinks and notices the way Regina's intently watching her with slight panic etching into her face. Emma rapidly shakes her head and laughs lightly.
"Right. Sorry," she sheepishly smiles when she realizes that Regina is probably petrified, she was about to bail. "Regina, you came crashing into my life, shovel in hand and all," they both laugh as they reminisce and Emma squeezes her hand lightly. "You entered my life at a time I needed someone most. I was broken, hurt, but most of all, utterly lost. You swooped in, stole half my bed that night, and all of my heart. You saved me. I thought I could never offer my heart again after my mother passed, but you devoted all your time and love to me, and waited patiently for me to heal, never leaving my side. We fell hard and fast and sometimes I still can't believe I ever tricked you into liking me." Regina laughs and rolls her eyes dramatically as thick tears slowly roll down her flushed cheeks and god is she breathtaking. "With you by my side, there's nothing to fear in this world. I vow to stick by you, I'm going to have your back no matter what. I vow to believe in you and keep encouraging you to be all that you can be. I vow to keep our relationship unique and special. I vow to give you the world and never stop loving you, because you are my everything. My partner in crime, the love of my life, my soulmate."
Regina's tears are now in full swing, tumbling hazardously down her cheeks and disappearing somewhere between their feet. She's hiccuping, nervously laughing and sniffling to control her emotions, but there's no point, Emma has plucked at her heartstrings and she's fully proud of herself. Her heart swells and she has to fight every instinct in her body not to pull the woman into her arms and kiss those tears away.
"Emma," Regina breathes and inhales sharply to regain her composure. "One week. That's all that I promised, one week of fun and time to heal my broken heart, but you weren't having any of that." Emma chuckles softly and focuses on the way her lover's eyes dance with pure amusement. "You not only mended my broken heart within that week, you stole it and I couldn't just walk away without my beating organ. You still hold my heart in the palm of your hand, and I have never felt more safe in my entire life. You taught me that there's so much more to life. You taught me to toss away the rule book and finally be free, to laugh, to be silly, to love, to accept my inner brat," with that, green eyes double in size and her heart hammers so much faster. She's falling, yet again, more love with this astonishing woman. "Not only did I fall hopelessly in love with you, but you gave me our son, the greatest gift I could have ever asked for. I vow to be there every day for you and Henry. I vow to trust you wholeheartedly. I vow to chase you anywhere. I vow to love and support you. And I vow to spend the rest of my life reminding you just how much you are loved."
Regina offers the most adorable smile as they both cry uncontrollably, but Marco begins speaking once again, reminding Emma that they are not alone.
"Do you, Emma Swan, take Regina Mills to be your wife?"
"I do," she proudly states because who wouldn't want to have this woman all to themselves?
"Do you, Regina Mills, take Emma Swan to be your wife?"
"I do," Regina seductively whispers causing Emma to shake her head at her lover's playfully side.
"Then, I now pronounce you, Mrs. and Mrs. Swan-Mills, you may kiss the bride," Marco excitedly squeals inspiring Emma and Regina's eyes to grow wide with excitement.
Regina slides her dainty fingers softly across Emma's cheeks. They both smile from ear to ear while Emma grips her hips and steadies herself for the most amazing kiss they will ever share, because no other kiss will top the one that seals their declaration, marriage, and love for one another.
"I love you," Emma whispers, her wife's lips drawing closer to hers like a magnet.
"I love you," Regina repeats as her delectable lips brush against Emma's.
They both cannot suppress the aching smiles embedded across their lips as they kiss for the first time as a married couple, vowing that there is no another person on this planet more suited than each other.
XXXXX
"I am going to need to steal you for a moment," Emma chuckles, stealing Regina's champagne flute from her clutches and placing it on the picnic table nearby.
"Oh, yeah?" Her wife laughs lightly as those rich eyes gaze upon Emma with pure excitement buzzing around her.
"Scusaci," she politely excuses them from Augusto and tugs Regina's warm hand to follow her lead. Their friend nods and smiles at Emma's attempt at Italian and watches them as they drift away. "Cora, I'm going to need this little man as well," Emma laughs as she gently steals her son from her mother-in-law's embrace.
Cora smiles with love shining through her warm eyes and watches as the family walks down to the shoreline.
Emma glances in Neal's direction for confirmation and he nods in return, preparing his speakers for the moment she planned with him. The thick, slow strumming of the acoustic guitar vibrates through the evening air. Regina whips her long raven locks around in utter shock while Emma smiles as far as her cheeks will allow.
"What song is this?" Regina whispers, her feet stalling near the edge of the ocean while the waves stretch, but never quite reach their feet.
"Our song, now," she cheekily answers while the soft, rich voice of the male lead singer swims through the air.
Emma rests Henry on her hip and with her free hand, she snakes around Regina's hip and presses her fingertips into the small of her back, encouraging her wife to take a few steps closer. She rests her forehead against Regina's and slowly begins to sway to the soft music while their son babbles happily between them.
"I'm not sure if I know this song," Regina shyly admits, following along with Emma's lead.
"I know, but the words to this song have never been more true," Emma whispers and stretches her lips to kiss the tip of her wife's nose.
"I've never been the one to admit that I was wrong, but for you I will. So hold on, hold on, this means a lot to me, 'cause I know, I know, you will always be, the one, the one. The one that I can count on for anything, anything, and I'll always be your biggest fan."
"Emma," Regina gasps just before her emotions bubble to the surface and she captures the blonde's lips because her brain cannot formulate words to express exactly how she's feeling in the moment.
"Listen," Emma whispers against her lips as their baby boy snuggles in closer to their embrace, absorbing the love that is swooning all around them.
"I've never had much use for these scars in me, but I love that you do. I've never had much hope for my insecurities, but I love that you do. But everything that I lack and could never be. The other half is you, it's always been you."
"I love you so much, Emma," her wife breathes into their intimate bubble as her fingers grip the nape of Emma's neck and hold on to steady herself.
"I love you."
"Hold on, hold on, this means a lot to me
Cause I know, I know that you will always be,
The one, the one, the one that I can count on for anything, anything. And I'll always be your biggest fan, and I'll always be your biggest fan. And I'll always be yours. I've never been down on one knee, for you I will."
The soft strumming of the acoustics vibrates and slowly dissipate into the evening air. Emma doesn't pay attention to the sniffling coming from somewhere behind them, she just focuses on those enchanting orbs that always trap her into her favorite place to be, lost in her.
Regina tenderly presses her lips to Emma's for a gentle kiss that ends far too quickly. She carefully pulls Henry from Emma's arms and kisses his forehead before she rests him on her hip instead. Green eyes watch with curiosity as Regina slowly rolls up his dress pants to above his knees before she cautiously steadies him upon the sand.
Henry's little forehead scrunches in confusion as his feet kiss the sand for the first time ever. They both laugh as he tries to understand the texture while he attempts to walk through it. Emma takes a few steps back to encourage their newly walking baby to follow her lead. Regina stands protectively behind him, her hands out and ready to catch him if he falls.
A gentle tide washes up the shore and tickles the bottom of their feet, causing Henry to squeal with joy and rush forward into Emma's arms. She swoops down and picks up their sweet, baby boy and peppers his face with loving kisses.
Her wife rushes to their side with her fingers already wiggling in the air to tickle their son. Henry giggles, that adorable baby sound when her fingertips gently tickle his sides while Emma stares at her beautiful wife and her lips move without her permission to capture those plump lips once again.
"I'll always be your biggest fan," Emma murmurs against the silky, soft lips.
"I'll always be your brat," Regina teases before stealing another passionate kiss.