2
A Rock n Roll Era Reception
For their reception, Archie and Lilly wanted to relive their first meeting at a 50s themed party in Boston, including music from all the popular artists of the era along with memorabilia borrowed from Gold's shop. The Charmings, the Golds and the dwarves decorated the hall the night before so that it would be ready when the guests of honor arrived.
Leroy who was acting as DJ for the evening grabbed the microphone and began to announce the names of the members of the wedding party as they passed under the archway, a cardboard cutout of a jukebox with Archie and Lilly's names and the date of the wedding.
"Bridesmaid Belle Gold, escorted by Rumple Gold!"
"Oh I hope Archie and Lilly like it Rumple," Belle whispered to him while they walked to the bridal party table.
"You were the one who suggested it dearie," he said with a smile. "I just provided a few odds and ends..."
"That you spent a fortune on Ebay and auction houses buying!"
"It was worth it."
He couldn't wait to inform the newly married couple that all of the memorabilia from the wedding reception would be his gift to them.
"Your flower girls, Miss Regina Nolan and Alina Gold!"
"Ooh Alina, what is all this cool stuff?"
"It's from a time called the 50s. Mama said Archie and Lilly met at a party like this and thought they should recreate it for their wedding."
Regina wanted to see what the light up machine in the corner did. It reminded her of an arcade machine. But Alina told her to stay put and watch the rest of the bridal party, so she did despite her raging curiosity. She didn't want people to think she was like Meredith.
"Our guests of honor: Mr and Mrs. Archie Hopper!"
The couple paused under the jukebox arch for their guests and the photographer to take pictures.
"I think Lilly looks really pretty "Regina said. "I need a dress like that."
Alina giggled. "When you get married you will."
"That boy keeps staring again."
"I think it's cause he likes your dress."
"Not me?"
"No cause you're ugly!" Meredith taunted.
She'd been waiting since the ceremony for her chance to settle the score with the Nolan girl and seized her opportunity once she noticed that Robin had taken an interest in HER when Meredith had been trying to get his attention for weeks.
"Ya know what...why don't you go down to the lake and kiss a frog. That's the kinda boyfriend you should have!"
"Don't listen to her,"Alina declared. "Meredith is jealous as a green skinned witch that Robin is paying attention to you and not Miss Sour Grapes."
Meredith laughed wickedly. "Oh yeah? Well, you wanna really talk ugly, look at your papa. What's your mama see in him anyway? His bank account?"
Alina glared at her. "Beauty is only skin deep. What counts is how you are inside. And my papa is as beautiful inside as any handsome prince. Which is why Mama chose him. Because she looked with her heart not her eyes. The heart never lies but eyes can be tricked."
"Then my gramma is blind as a bat!"
"Meredith Antonia Bergmann, that is enough!" Archie said sharply.
Alina shook her head. "No matter how pretty you are outside if you're dried up and bitter and filled with jealousy inside you'll never be happy. You'll always be miserable."
She glared up at him. "You can't tell me what to do, you dumb bug! You're not gonna be my grandpa no matter what Gramma says!"
"Oh yes I am young lady and I will not tolerate you insulting our guests like this!"
Regina elbowed Alina and hissed, "This is gonna be good."
"Alina, Regina, I am so sorry about this. Come on Meredith. You and I are going to have a little talk!"
She kicked him hard in the shin and run away only to be caught by Whale. "Go back to Lilly, Archie. I'll take care of this!"
"You ain't the boss of me!" his daughter yelled.
"We'll see about that!"
"I should have just locked her up!" moaned her mother.
Archie and Lilly glared at her.
"That wouldn't help. She'd just pick the lock." Regina stated.
"I never should've had her!"
"Cassie!" Archie barked.
"What an awful thing to say!" Belle exclaimed.
"I mean it! I mean every damn word!" Cassandra Bergmann shouted.
Rumple nodded tightly. "If that girl knows this it's no wonder she's a hellion. Being unwanted is the worst feeling in the world."
He recalled only too well how that felt.
"Cassie, I never want to hear you say that about my grandchild again!" Lilly cried.
"Mama you and I both know she's been nothing but a pain in the ass since she was born."
"That may be your opinion but it is not mine."
"Cassie, I think you;d better leave. Now," Archie said leaving no room for argument.
"You think she'll change living with you? Think again! And then don't come crying to me when your life is a living hell dealing with her!"
Bae whistled. "Wow...with a mother like that..."
Emma grimaced. "Some of my foster moms were like that."
"Thank God Whale took the kid somewhere else so she didn't have to hear that but Archie and Lilly have their hands full trying to get that kid's head straight."
"You're telling me. Maybe half her problem is she thinks nobody wants her and so she doesn't want any body. Not a good combination." Emma said safely. "Knew a few like that in the orphanage. "
"My mama was like that," Bae said darkly. "But I always knew Papa loved me. Even so I was mad for a long time after she left."
Whale returned a few minutes later with a still pouting Meredith and had her sit with him at a table across from from her grandparents.
"Alina, that Cassie reminds me of the scary lady. I know I saw her."
Regina tried to put the frightening encounter out of her mind but she sensed the woman from her nightmares was still out there, waiting.
"Remember what I told you? She can't hurt you. Papa will protect you," Alina reassured her.
"What if he can't?"
"He can. He protected you from her in your nightmares," Gold's daughter pointed out.
"I hope so. I don't want her coming to get me."
"If she tries she'll have to get past Papa and your parents," Alina predicted. "And Emma and Bae too."
Altogether, the Golds were a force to be reckoned with.
Someone tapped their glass at the bridal table.
"If we may have your attention please, the best man would like to make a toast!" Leroy announced.
"They're gonna make toast?" Regina asked.
"No, silly! It means the best man is gonna make a speech about Archie and Lilly and then we all drink the Moscato to show we support it." She indicated the small amount of bubbly sweet dessert wine in their glasses.
"Are we gonna get drunk? Mommy says if you drink too much wine you get drunk and act all stupid like Daddy did one night."
"No," the older girl coughed struggling to keep from laughing hysterically. "This isn't enough to do that. It's just a little."
"Okay cause I don't wanna act stupid."
The young enchantress wondered just what David had done to make such an impression on Regina. And how she had learned about it. Her papa never got drunk-at least she had never known about it.
Regina glanced over to where her parents were sitting. "Daddy came home from that Rabbit Hole place...I guess he went with Jeff and he was havin trouble standin up an stuff and he bumped into things. It woke me up."
"And Unca Rumple...I think he was drunk that time we went to New York and Daddy said he was just sick."
She recalled her uncle acting a bit silly once they got off the plane in New York for their first vacation. "Member Alina. He was singin about some Danny Boy?"
"Oh yeah! Now I remember!" Alina giggled.
She wondered how that had escaped her notice. Then again, she hadn't been paying attention she had been so excited to finally be in New York.
Geppetto rose from his seat with his glass in hand. "Archie, my old friend, you gave so much of your time and your life to making others happy but you never once realized that finding your own happy ending was what we wished for you. Lilly, you are a wonderful woman and I couldn't have asked for a better one to be the wife to my best friend. May you have many more years of happiness together!" He raised his glass high. "To Archie and Lilly!"
Alina clinked her glass against Regina's.
Regina sipped her Moscato. "The bubbles tickle my nose."
"They will a little bit."
The wine was sweet on her tongue and she drank till it was gone.
"I hope they gots mac n cheese to eat. I'm hungry."
"We'll have to wait and see," Alina said. "Look, here comes a server with some mini hot dogs in a blanket."
Another server brought over a large bowl. "Would you like white or yellow cheddar on your macaroni?"
Alina said, "I'd like the white cheddar, please."
He spooned some macaroni onto her plate and ladled white cheddar sauce over it. "And you Miss Nolan?"
"The yellow one," Regina said because it was what she always ate at home.
Another server held a tray of hamburgers. "I have medium patties, rare and well done."
"I'll take a medium, with some pickles and ketchup," Alina said. "My mama sure loves these."
Across the table, she saw Belle happily eating her hamburger and beside her plate was a large glass of iced tea.
"And extra pickles!" she cried.
"We didn't forget Belle," Archie chuckled. "Didn't want Rumple to sue me for negligence!"
Rumple had a n almost identical burger, with extra pickles, fried onions, lettuce and tomato with plenty of ketchup. "If my wife had starved, you'd be hearin' from me," he teased. Then he bit his own burger. "Perfect."
"It better be Rumple or I'm not cooking for you anymore!" Alice threatened.
Jeff nearly choked on his wine laughing.
"You know how I like my food, dearie," he returned. She had done most of the cooking for the wedding.
Another server came around with mini eggrolls and skewers of shrimp wrapped in carmelized bacon. Jimmy's eyes lit up. "My favorite!" he cheered. He loved seafood having grown up on an island eating it all the time.
"Gold you're gonna need a forklift to get me in the house after this!" Emma joked.
"Nah," Bae disagreed. "I'll just get out the wheelbarrow." He dipped an eggroll in some duck sauce and popped it in his mouth. "Mmm! Sweet and spicy!"
There were mini quiches, crab puffs, and small spareribs with Archie's special barbeque sauce.
"Dad you have GOT to have these ribs!" Henry exclaimed.
He'd already eaten half a dozen.
"Okay, tiger. Gimme a sec," Bae grinned. He took four,and finished eating his shrimp skewer, which also had pineapple grilled on it.
A look of bliss came over him after he ate a rib. "Jesus H Christ! Em, you have got to try these! We need to get the recipe."
"Ummm...the groom's a bit busy now," Emma giggled, pointing to Archie wiping barbeque sauce from Lilly's cheek.
"It's not polite to point Emma," Snow scolded playfully.
"Umm . . . I'll make sure I get it before they leave," her husband promised. Then he said to the server. "Hey, can you just bring a tray of ribs out and leave it in the middle of the table? Thanks!"
"Hey save some for me!" David protested.
"You snooze you lose," Jimmy said, licking some sauce off his fingers. "I bet I can eat more than you. Bae."
"You wish, little brother!" snorted the martial arts instructor.
"Okay, if you win I will sit through all those old comedy movies you've been trying to get me to watch and if I win you have to make a video for me singing that Bologna song."
"Aww not that again!" Bae groaned.
"Yep!" Jimmy smirked. "I heard all about it."
"Damn!"
"He got you good Dad! Better hope you beat him."
"I'm gonna try."
Emma rolled her eyes. "Boys will be boys."
Rumple chuckled. "And don't come crying to me after you stuffed yourself like a Christmas goose." Then he added, "I much prefer this contest than one where they puke from drinking too much. Or they end up hospitalized from beating each other."
"Oh give it time."
"Not here, dearie. You hear me, Baelfire and James?" He narrowed his eyes in warning.
"Yes Papa, we hear you!"
"I want in on this game too. You're not having all the ribs." David grabbed one off the tray.
"Fine. Then if you lose...you have to pay next time you double date with me and Emma," Bae challenged.
"You're on!"
David grinned, liking the idea of his son-in-law paying for one of their double dates at the most expensive place he could find.
Bae began eating, thinking he'd better not lose to either his younger brother or his father-in-law. Then again, he doubted he would. He used to be a champion at these contests back in college,
Emma made a mental note to stop by the pharmacy for some Pepto Bismol.
Regina had just finished eating when she felt someone tap her shoulder.
"Who..."
Splat! A piece of cherry pie had been mashed into her face.
"Meredith!" Whale growled.
"She deserves it! Awww...are you gonna cry now little baby?"
Archie threw down his fork in frustration. "Good God, Lilly, this has gone on long enough!"
LIlly rose from her chair and walked over to Regina's table, glaring down at her granddaughter. "Meredith Bergmann, you will help Regina clean up and then you will apologize to her!"
Little Robin Hood jumped out of her chair and ran over to the table, handing Regina his napkin. "Here you can use this," he offered.
"I'm not apologizing for nothing! Why's she gettin so much attention today huh? SHE's not your granddaughter!"
"And if you do anything like that to my daughter again so help me God I will turn you over my knee and spank the daylights out of you myself!' Snow snarled.
"M'not gonna cry 'cause I'm not gonna give you that sa...sasfaction!" Regina said angrily.
"Sa-TIS-faction dummy! Learn how to talk!"
Whale shook his head. He was going to wear out his hand at the rate he was going with constantly having to spank his unruly daughter.
"Victor...I'll take care of it..." Lilly began.
"No, you and Archie go back to the table. I'll deal with her."
"I gotta give Regina credit. She can sure hold her own against that brat," Emma praised.
Henry sighed. "But it wears on you, Mom."
"Yeah I know. They really need to get the kid straightened out or she's gonna be one of those ones I'm hauling in for disorderly all the time."
Rumple beckoned Victor over with a finger. "Might I suggest something, doctor?" He whispered something rapidly in Whale's ear.
"I believe that your daughter is acting out purely for attention. She feels unwanted by her mama, and so she does things to be noticed . . . and doesn't care if they are positive or negative. It's attention and any attention is better than none at all. So what I suggest is you do the opposite of what she wants-you pretend you don't see her for a time. In fact everyone ought to do this-and once she realizes her naughtiness doesn't get her attention, she will stop."
"It's much worse than that Rumple. I haven't told Archie and Lilly but...a few months ago...they went out of town to spend the weekend together alone...and Cassie still had custody of Meredith then. One night she brought her into the ER with bruises and said she fell somewhere."
He sighed. "I never took an interest in her before because I had my doubts she was mine. Cassie ran around a lot, her mother never knew of it and any one of us could have been Meredith's father but that night I took a sample of her blood and ran a DNA test. She is my daughter...and I think Cassie was abusing her."
"Do you want to sue for custody? If so stop by my office. Getting her away from her mama would be the best thing for her. I think much of her attitude was learned because Cassie rejected her and never let her forget it." Rumple murmured softly. "I would be happy to help you. No child deserves to be abused."
"Cassie signed custody of her over to Lilly a week ago but Lilly has been letting me see her."
"Good. I think you will find that if you take a more active role in her life she may stop acting out. Eventually she'll realize that pleasing you is better than having you discipline her. And you may also wish to tell her that you won't leave no matter what she behaves like-unlike her mama. But that also means giving her consequences she won't like. It's not going to be easy, dearie. Perhaps you might consider enrolling her in some kind of activity she likes after school? And using that as a bargaining chip for good behavior?"
"Those are some of the things Lilly's been trying and Meredith's resisted her at every turn."
"Because Lily's her grandmother. But you're her papa, Whale. It may have a different result coming from you. Take it from one who would have given anything to have his papa notice him, instead of treating him like he didn't exist."
"Maybe while Lilly and Archie are on their honeymoon she and I can make some progress. Lilly wants her to stay with me."
"Good. She needs to spend time with you on a regular basis at your home-where some routines and rules and security can be established. She will also have your undivided attention then-which is something she feels she lacks from both her mama and grandma since Lily started dating Archie."
Gold glanced at the sulking child then added, "She may feel she's a difficult child to love . . . but she needs you, Victor, whether or not she will admit it. And you need her. Show her you care for her and love her-even when you want to throttle her. And someday you'll be glad of it."
"I'm going to try like hell. And I'm hoping sooner or later she comes to think of Archie as her grandpa not a rival for Lilly's attention.
"Give it time. Once she's secure that she has a place in the family that no one will take away, I think she will see Archie is a great guy and someone she will like being around. After all-grandpas get to spoil their grandchildren."
Victor laughed. "Only he can't send her home to me...not yet anyway! I'm hoping eventually she'll want to live with me."
"I think once you win her over, dearie, she'll be your shadow. That was how it was with me and Bae after Milah left. Once he stopped being angry, that is."
"But for now...I have to do something...she deliberately attacked Regina."
He was hoping that he newest plan he had in mind would distract her from bothering Regina again. Were she still the Evil Queen he would have gladly turned his daughter loose on and called it day but Regina was now a child with a completely different personality.
Victor took Meredith's hand and led her outside to speak with her privately while Snow and Robin helped Regina clean up. The little girl was slightly nervous from all the attention she was getting from the older boy.
"Why you keep staring at me?"
Robin shuffled his feet nervously. "Ummm...ummmm...cause I think you're really pretty...an I like you."
"You do?"
"Uh-huh."
"But you don't know me."
"Ummm...well...I see you 'round all the time an you never talked to me...an I was too scared to talk to you."
"You coulda just said hi. That's what Mommy says you do when you wanna get to know somebody. Right Mommy?"
David grabbed his glass of wine and took a long drink. "Not the boys, not the boys...I'm not ready!" he moaned.
"Umm...yes, honey, that is what you do," Snow confirmed with a smile.
Jimmy grabbed his camera and snapped a picture of Robin taking one of the flowers out of the vase on the table and handing it to her. He would make a copy of it to give to Snow.
Alina was grateful for the boy for distracting Regina from her fears but she knew she would have to mention it to her father. She didn't want to believe it but her instincts were telling her that there was danger lurking in their quiet little town.
It was the same tingling creepy warning feeling she had back when Regina was the adult Evil Queen intent on stomping out all the happy endings. And she knew better than to ignore it. A sorceress's instincts were her best friend.
She went round the table and tapped Rumple on the arm. "Papa?"
"What's up, Alina? Don't let Meredith spoil your good time."
"I'm not. But . . . I'm having one of my feelings." She knew her father would understand what she meant.
Rumple frowned. "For how long?"
"Since Regina said she saw someone who reminded her of the lady in her nightmares."
"Regina said she saw Cora? Here?"
"Yes. We thought it was just a mistake but now . . ."
Rumple's eyes narrowed. "You need to stay close to me, you, Henry, and Regina tonight. Don't go anywhere alone or outside this building. If Cora has crossed over, I need to strengthen my wards. I also need to speak to your Aunt Rhea after the party. She was monitoring them back in Fairy Tale Land."
As he spoke his hands were weaving patterns of invisible magic, strengthening his protections. "But don't worry about it tonight, sweetie. You're safe here, so go and enjoy the party. I'll keep watch."
Alina hugged him, the eldritch warning fading and a feeling of peace replacing it. "Thanks, Papa. Save me a dance."
"Always, dearie." He returned the hug,thinking it would be a cold day in hell when he allowed harm to come to his family. He would search for any aberrations in the magical web later. For now, his wards would prevent any harm entering this place.
Alina returned to her seat, whispering to Henry.
Belle eyed her husband. "Rumple? Has Cora returned?"
"Possibly. But if so, she hasn't triggered one of my wards yet. Don't worry, dearie. That cold bitch won't be able to touch my family. You and the children are safe."
"I trust you, Rum. You know best about magic,"his wife said confidently.
His wife's unwavering belief bolstered his self confidence and Rumplestiltskin relaxed. He sensed that Cora would bide her time like a black widow spider. And he would be watching ready to stop her.
"Our bride and groom are now ready to share their first dance as Mr and Mrs. Archie Hopper, their song performed by the siren of Storybrooke, Mrs Granny Lucas!"
"At last...my love has come along..." Granny sang as Archie took his bride into his arms.
"Papa, I didn't know Granny could sing...and she's good!" Bae exclaimed.
"I love this song," Belle murmured.
"My heart was wrapped up clover the night I looked at you
I found a dream that I could speak to
A dream that I can call my own
I found a thrill to press my cheek to..."
Archie was also singing the lyrics to his bride while they danced, many of the guests taking videos of them with their phones and digital camera.
"I can't wait until we can dance," Belle whispered to her husband.
"And now Mr and Mrs Hopper would like to invite everyone to put on your dancing shoes!" Leroy announced.
"Ooooooh Elvis!" Emma cried, grabbing Bae's arm and practically dragging him out onto the dance floor.
"Didn't know you liked Elvis babe," Bae joked.
"A little. I was doing my impression of how girls used to go crazy over him back then."
Henry smirked. His mother's impersonation would be the highlight of his YouTube video that night.
"I'm not good at the shakin thing but I'll try!"
"Well, my hands are shaky and my knees are weak
I can't seem to stand on my own two feet
Who do you think of when you have such luck?
I'm in love
I'm all shook up
Mm mm mm, mm, yay, yay, yay..."
"Cmon Regina, let's dance!"
"Ummm...I dunno how!" Regina admitted.
"Guess you just move around an stuff." Robin said.
"Okay."
Soon everyone's attention was on the toddlers trying desperately to imitate the adults.
"See I toldja we can dance!" Robin cried happily.
"Yeah but Unca Archie and Auntie Lilly are really good. Look."
Regina pointed to the newlyweds as Archie picked up his bride and spun her around.
"I'd try to lift ya but I don't wanna drop you on your head or your butt."
Regina laughed. "You're funny!"
"One time I was drinkin my Kool-Aid an Little John said somethin funny an it came outta my nose!"
"Henry does that all the time."
"Take out the papers and the trash
Or you don't get no spendin' cash
If you don't scrub that kitchen floor
You ain't gonna rock and roll no more
Yakety yak (don't talk back)..."
Bae burst into laughter. "That's YOUR song Papa!"
"Just finish cleanin' up your room
Let's see that dust fly with that broom
Get all that garbage out of sight
Or you don't go out Friday night
Yakety yak (don't talk back)..."
"Hey Regina lookit, Meredith's back." Robin pointed to Meredith and her father dancing. The child seemed happier and Regina hoped she would be given a much needed reprieve from her nemesis for the rest of the night.
Rumple nodded in approval.
He'd cast an enchantment on his leg so that he could share a few dances with Belle and the rest of the group on the floor and he knew he would have to dance with Regina once.
"Robin you gotta 'scuse me but I wanna dance with Unca Rumple now."
"Okay..."
"But I'm comin right back."
He smiled.
"You ready to dance Unca Rumple?"
"I certainly am dearie."
"He rocks in the tree tops all day long
Hoppin' and a-boppin' and singing his song
All the little birdies on Jaybird Street
Love to hear the robin go tweet tweet tweet
Rockin' robin, rock rock
Rockin' robin'
rockin' robin..."
"Do robins really rock Unca Rumple?"
"Ummm...no," he chuckled. "Unless they're shapeshifters like Ruby."
Belle also laughed while she was dancing with Alina and Henry.
"I hope I get to see one. That would be really cool."
After the song ended he could feel something tugging on his pant leg and glanced down to see an eager Robin Hood standing behind him. "Can I dance with her now, please?"
"Okay dearie, She's all yours."
"Thanks!"
"I think our little queen has a boyfriend now," Belle whispered to him. "I have to admit, it is cute."
"And it will keep her occupied from worrying too much about Cora. If that witch dares to show her face here she's going to have a hell of a fight on her hands."
"Fly me to the moon and
Let me play among those stars
Let me see what spring is like on
Jupiter and Mars
In other words,
Hold my handin other words,
Darlin kiss me..."
"OOOOH FRANKIE!" Emma pressed her hand to her heart and pretended to swoon in Bae's arms.
"You got that off the old Looney Toons Mom!" Henry laughed.
Regina was puzzled. "I don't get it."
Snow and David were clutching their bellies laughing hysterically.
"She is too good at that!" Lilly giggled into Archie's shoulder.
"You should've seen her at Rumple's Halloween party two years ago. She did a valley girl impersonation."
"I think I want to hear that."
"I'll play it for you later."
"I'm glad Victor is spending more time with Meredith. It will keep her from acting out. I know I haven't spent as much time with her as I used to before we started dating but she needs her father too."
"Lilly, I think we should keep custody of her until she feels she's ready to live with him. As for Cassie, I know she's your daughter but we can't give Meredith back to her. I don't trust her with her."
"Archie, what are you saying? Do you think Cassie..."
"You and I both saw those bruises on her when we came back from Boston. I don't believe they came from a simple fall and you heard how she talked about her here. It would explain a lot of her behavior. We've both seen enough abused children in our jobs not to ignore the signs."
She nodded. "Then she's become like her father..."
"We can't let Meredith be alone with her."
"We won't."
After the music stopped Lilly walked out into the middle of the dance floor holding her bouquet.
"We'd like all the single ladies to come out to the dance floor for the bouquet toss!"
Jimmy found there were plenty of girls without partners he could dance with. One, Elena, seemed to like him and she sashayed out onto the floor in her pretty crimson dress with a toss of her curly dark hair that made his mouth go dry with longing.
She said she was from a small southern kingdom called Avalar, Jimmy wanted to ask Rumple about it but he was too distracted.
Alina joined Regina, Ruby, and Elena, along with other girls of various ages.
Meredith came out last, standing a few feet away from Regina and Alina.
Music began to play and Lilly wound up her arm. The guests counted backwards from five. The bride tossed the bouquet.
Regina looked up and the bouquet was coming straight at her. She opened her hands and it fell into them.
"I got it! Now what?"
"Now Daddy gets out his gun," David groaned. "It's too soon! I'm not ready!"
"Alright Archie, get that garter off your bride."
"Alina, what's that?"
"Some old fashioned lace thing women held up their stockings with before they invented elastic."
Granny brought out a chair for Lilly, her groom grinning as he kneeled beside her.
"So Unca Archie hasta put his hands under her dress?"
"Just a little. The garter is around her knee."
"How high can ya go Hopper!" Happy hooted.
"That's for me to know and you not to find out!"
He stood up with the small scrap of white lace and silk in his hand. "Alright boys, remember you're putting this on a little girl so keep it clean!"
"It's MINE!" Robin yelled.
Jimmy laughed. "Make sure you catch it, little buddy!"
"Oh I'm gonna so you git outta my way!"
"Shush! I like older women, kid." The teenager smirked.
"C'mon Mister Hopper throw it already!"
Archie chuckled and turned around, tossing the garter over his shoulder.
Jimmy winked at Elena. Perhaps he could entice her to dance again.
Robin darted in front of him and snatched the garter with nimble fingers. "Gotcha!"
"Mommy, what do I do now?" Regina asked.
Snow was at a loss. The garter wouldn't fit Regina. It was for an adult. Then she had an idea. "You go and exchange the bouquet for the garter. It's like a promise token. Like we did back in the Enchanted Forest. There's a little ring on the bouquet and another on the garter. You give Robin your ring and he gives you his."
"Okay!"
"Snow, promise tokens are for betrothals" David cried.
"It'll be okay, honey. It's not formal."
"So YOU say!" he grumbled.
Regina ran over to where Robin Hood stood and handed him the bouquet. "Okay Robin you take the ring off this and I take the ring off that," she explained to him.
"You mean like we're gettin married?"
"Ummm not yet 'cause we're too little but it's a promise."
"Okay!"
"Good going Snow!"
"Oh relax, will you! We have years to wait before they think about getting married."
"Rumple, thank you so much for everything," Archie said to him. "It was a great reception!"
"Where are you going on your honeymoon?" Belle asked them.
"There's a winter resort in Pennsylvania a colleague of ours told us about so we're going to stay there for a week."
"It's called Seven Springs. Check our Facebook. We'll be posting pictures." Lilly added.
Everyone clapped. Then the band began to play another song. Jimmy asked Elena if she wanted to dance.
The guests of honor had an early flight to catch but insisted everyone keep the party going as long as they wanted to.
Jimmy danced several fast sets then excused himself to go to the men's room. It was stuffy and he stepped out for a bit of fresh air in the fountained garden. As he allowed the night breeze to cool him off, taking off his jacket, he placed it on the lip of the marble fountain with it's statue of Venus.
It was then he saw the bottle floating in the water.
He scooped it up, shocked some idiot would throw it in the fountain. Then he saw it held a message in it.
His fingers trembling, he pulled the cork out and removed the message.
It read in the pirate code, We're here. Come to the docks. Jolly Roger under invisibility spell. Speak the word "Plunder" to get on board. See you soon,lad. Capt. K. J. Hook.
Jimmy swore colorfully. Then he crumpled the message in his fist. All of his newfound joy was shattered. He didn't want to meet his parents again. But he knew he needed to confront them and try to persuade them to give up their revenge. He owed it to the Golds.
His stomach in knots he went back inside to manufacture an excuse that he felt sick so he could leave early. Then he would rendezvous with the captain and his first mate.
He just hoped his silver tongue would be enough to turn the tide. Otherwise he would need to choose, and none of his choices were easy.