A/N: Chapter 2! Are you excited? I know I am!
Quick explanation time: As you know, when we last saw the Blue fairy, she was a shady hoe and tried to kill Amorie, and ended up as a not-so-magical version of fairy dust as a result (because our ladies are badass!)
Thus I bring in my second OC for this fic (Amorie being the first): If you recall, in WMC we briefly met a fairy named Isadora. She is now the 'High Fairy' (AKA mother superior, she basically took Blue's place.) She is known as the White fairy, so she will sometimes be called White, sometimes Izzy, sometimes Isadora. All three names refer to the same person though. The first few lines explain more of how she fits into the story.
I hope you enjoy the surprise this chapter has in store for you all ;)
Enjoy! please review!
It was Saturday morning, which was not inherently very special, after all they had one once a week. But not every Saturday morning found Emma and Regina hurrying to get to their appointment at the convent with mother superior, or…well…the new mother superior.
The White fairy had been the next in line in the hierarchy of fairies, only when Blue had infiltrated, decades ago if not more, she'd manipulated the information to gain her position of power.
That is, of course, until she made the mistake of going toe-to-toe with Emma and Regina. When the truth had come out about Blue and what she'd done, White stepped up, taking her place and cleaning up the mess that Blue had left in her wake. Which included a serious investigation into all the fairies in town to make sure Blue hadn't corrupted any of them or brought in minions.
When that was done, she got to work on making sure that the fairies did what they were actually supposed to do in the first place - help people.
But she was also, as a favor and a thank you, helping Emma and Regina with their wedding plans.
Which is why they were rushing into her office at 10:15AM on this particular Saturday.
"Sorry we're late." Regina spoke as she and Emma entered the room.
"Honestly Regina." Snow turned in her chair, both her and the White fairy giving the couple an amused smirk. "You need a new entry line."
"How about 'I'm not sorry at all because I had my tongue down your daughter's throat?'" Regina leveled the shorter brunette with a smirk and a quirk of her brow.
"Eh, kinda wordy." Emma chuckled as she moved over to Snow, who was now wearing a blush, and kissed her mother's cheek. "Hi mom. Hi…Mother Superior."
"Emma." The white fairy stood up, giving her another smile. "I keep telling you, you can call me White, or Isadora…or Izzy - which seems to be a hit with the kids."
"Izzy's cool." Emma nodded.
"Good, now come, you two. Sit, and let's begin." She gestured to the armchair and the spot on the couch next to Snow. Regina readily took her seat next to her soon to be mother-in-law, while Emma slouched on the arm chair.
"Sit up straight dear." Came the sound of three voices towards the blonde, who's eyes grew three sizes at all of them. The two brunettes and the fairy looked at each other before laughing, but Emma failed to see the humor.
"That's just weird." She said, adjusting her seating position.
"Moving along." Regina snickered, turning to White. "I think it's safe to assume that Snow has regaled you with all the details she has planned for my wedding."
"Yours, and my daughter's." Snow poked back verbally with a teasing smile.
"Who…is sitting right here." Emma raised her hand as if she were in class.
"Of course sweetie." Snow nodded to Emma. "Now, Izzy and I were discussing venues."
"The church is-" Izzy began.
"Pass." Emma and Regina both jumped in, surprising the fairy.
"Oh…uhm." She looked from one half of the couple to the other.
"As hilarious as it would be to have a gay wedding in a church." Emma began. "I have a…troubled history with anything linked to the Christian church. No offense."
"None taken, I'm not an actual nun." White chuckled. "Okay, so no church…are you going to stick to the civil ceremony of this world?"
"No." Regina shook her head, Emma gesturing to her fiancee to take the reins on this one. "Emma and I discussed this…We want to use the traditional ceremony style used back in the enchanted forest."
"Without the…you know…consummation thing." Emma jumped in. Regina rolled her eyes.
"That was a joke Emma." She reminded the blonde.
"Hey, I've seen enough TV shows and movies to not be surprised." Emma said, raising her hands in innocence. Regina rolled her eyes at her again.
"No one's going to watch us have sex, now stop it." She sighed, getting a wide-eyed look from Snow, and giving her a look back that said 'what?'
"Moving on." White said sternly, trying to get some control of the discussion. "In that case, you are aware that you'll need some kind of elder authority to officiate."
"Elder authority?" Emma asked.
"Like a high priest…or…well…the high fairy." Snow said, smiling and gesturing to White.
"Oh…so then you can do it." The sheriff said, looking to the fairy.
"Well if that's what you both want." White said, looking to Regina who nodded with a smile.
"I think it would be fitting." The former queen said.
"Well yes, seeing as it was you and the incident with Amorie that revealed the fact that we'd actually been without and actual high fairy for decades." White sighed.
"Shady bitch." Emma muttered under her breath.
"Yes, I always felt something off about Blue." White waved her hands as if she were shooing a bothersome fly. "Ah well, the past is behind us, and we move on in our present and embrace our future…your future, to be specific."
Emma and Regina smiled at each other and nodded, the blonde reaching out towards Regina who met her half way to join hands.
"So then, following a more traditional setting, usually a fairy officiated wedding is held in the woods, among nature and, to quote the ceremonial speech, 'in the light of the gods'" Izzy explained. "However, given that that was only really a rule in the Enchanted forest, and you two are a very special exception when it comes to just about anything traditional-"
"Hey!" Emma said defensively.
"She means because of who you are and what you've done for the town Emma." Snow said. "Put the pride flag away, being gay is nothing in the enchanted forest."
"It isn't?" Emma asked.
"In a land where unicorns are real, do you really think anyone gives a damn what's between your partner's legs?" White leveled her with a curious tilt of her head and Emma blushed a little.
"Sorry." She said, a little embarrassed. But Regina's thumb glided gently over the back of the hand that the brunette was still holding and all was right with the world again. "You were saying?"
"Yes, what I meant was that we would definitely make an exception for you if you were to choose a different venue…obvious limitations permitting." The high fairy finished.
"Obvious limitations." Emma repeated.
"Anything beyond the town line is out of the question." Regina stated.
"Unfortunately so, yes." White nodded.
"Well then, except for the woods, that leaves…" Snow began thinking. "City hall?"
"Gag." Emma jumped in.
"I concur." Regina smirked towards the blonde before she looked to Snow. "I'd rather not get married at my place of work."
"Should have thought of that before you made yourself mayor." Snow teased. Regina narrowed her eyes at her.
"Excuse me if I didn't implement weddings into my plan to destroy everyone's happiness." She retorted. But Snow just laughed, because as incredible as it was, they could actually laugh about all of that now that it was all in the past.
"Well then, city hall is out, you've already vetoed the church." White said, crossing some things off a list.
"And as much as we do love to hold family events there, I'm not getting married at Granny's." Regina shook her head.
"Aww but we could exchange french fries instead of rings!" Emma joked.
"Oh yes, or the rings could be made of onions, covered in batter and fried." Regina laughed.
"See, now we're talkin'" Emma said before she laughed along with her fiancee. Snow and Izzy just watched them with matching smiles.
"Alright you two." Snow said. "How about we be serious for a second here huh?"
"Sorry Snow." Regina said, composing herself easily, the light not leaving her eyes for even a second.
"It's alright." White said. "They don't call them happy endings for nothing."
"Ugh, too easy." Emma said, getting a smirk and a chastising look from Regina.
"So, barring all that we've discussed so far." White took the reins of the conversation again. "There is one place that we thought would be lovely for weddings but we never actually managed to use yet. It might be fitting to break it in for the town's most rejoiced couple."
"Most rejoiced?" Regina quirked her brow. "Snow and Charming are already married."
"While I mean absolutely no offense when I say this…" White began. "I have to say that ever since you two found each other, Snow and David…well…"
"We pale in comparison." Snow shrugged. "It's just a fact. You two are young, you're new, plus one half is the town sweetheart and the other half is the town…well…bombshell."
"Bo-Bombshell?" Regina looked from Emma to Snow, who both nodded.
"Have you looked in a mirror?" Emma shrugged.
"Yes, have you?" Snow asked. "This whole town is simultaneously jealous of both of you for having each other based on aesthetic alone."
"The added benefit of that, of course, is the fact that you're a beautiful couple." White said with a warm smile.
"So what you're both saying is…" Regina trailed off.
"…That everyone likes us because we're hot?" Emma said. Snow and the White fairy tittered a laugh and nodded.
"Well that and the fact that you saved this town from countless foes." White said.
"Countless times." Snow added.
"Okay." Regina gave a firm nod. "So we're the hot heroes of this town and everyone likes us as a result…I can live with that."
"Ditto." Emma nodded as well. "So what's this new place?"
"The author's mansion." White said. "It's got a beautiful ballroom and an absolutely gorgeous garden. Both are suitable for both the ceremony and the reception, and since no one's claimed it, it technically belongs to the town…and its council."
"And…I may have signed it over to the nuns back when I was mayor." Snow said, giving a sheepish smile to Regina who narrowed her eyes at the shorter brunette again.
"You neglected to notify me of that in our official hand-over." The mayor pointed out.
"It was less neglect and more…uhh…a favor to the fairies." Snow said again, her eyes glancing between Emma and White to plead for help.
"Well Snow, I would have never pegged you for a corrupt politician." Regina teased. "But I suppose since it does benefit me in some way, I can let it slide."
"You…can?" Snow asked.
"Well if I want to use the venue then it needs to be in the fairies' possession, and if I hand it over to them publicly just to have my wedding there months later, well then that'll hurt my reputation. But since you handed it over to them, the records being open to the public no matter what, well then it was out of my hands, and it would just be…well…rude of me to just take it away." Regina shrugged.
"And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why I don't trust a single politician." Emma said with finality.
"Trusted me just fine last night." Regina quipped. Emma blushed a little, so did Snow.
"Ahem." White said. "So…the mansion?"
"I like the idea." Emma shrugged.
"It is a lovely place." Snow said.
"And…we did have a moment there." Regina smiled to the blonde.
"Oh…right." Emma smiled back as the memory came back to her.
"I'm in."
"You are?"
"I made a promise I intend to keep. Everyone deserves their happy ending."
"Well." Regina smiled brightly at the blonde and squeezed her hand gently. "You certainly kept your promise."
"Let's have the wedding at the mansion." Emma said with finality.
"You can even have your honeymoon there, if you'd like…there's a charge for staying there of course but it's part of the wedding package." White offered.
"That sounds lovely." Regina nodded.
"Excellent." White said with a smile, jotting something down in her notebook, Snow doing the same.
"Now." The mother of one of the brides beamed. "We need to talk flowers."
Emma and Regina's eyes met, two sets of lips turned upwards, and two voices spoke unanimously.
"Orchids."
Regina made her way up to her front door, a smile on her face. The meeting had gone a lot more smoothly than she expected. Her experience with weddings not being a very happy one. But, with a happy sigh, she realised this one would be much different - and better.
A happiness she was more than willing to share with Emma, had the sheriff not needed to get to work because she promised her father the day off.
"I may also be behind on paperwork." The blonde had told her sheepishly. "And my boss is like, crazy strict, so if I don't step up I'm gonna be severely punished."
"I dare say you will be." Regina had teased back. "Shall we treat Henry and Amorie with dinner at Granny's then since we can't have the day together?"
"Sounds good." Emma nodded, kissing her cheek before she got out of the car and headed into the station.
Now she was entering her home, wondering how to spend her afternoon with her children while her fiancee was busy at work - or at least that's what she was thinking about, before she felt the presence of someone else's magic in the house. Magic that wasn't Amorie's.
"Henry?" she called warily.
"Upstairs." He said, his voice tense. Regina prickled immediately, dropping her purse and keys and climbing the stairs quickly - not running of course, but she was primed for a fight, her protective instincts kicking in.
"Nursery?"
"Yeah."
She marched, her heels clicking with purpose on the floorboards as she made her way through the hallway and to Amorie's room. The door was ajar, but not fully open. She pulled in a deep breath and pushed it open with one hand, her eyes going wide as she saw the image in front of her.
Henry was standing, his back towards her, with his hands in the pocket of his hoodie and looking straight towards Amorie, who was being held up in the arms of a red-headed woman dressed in green who's back was turned towards Regina as she stood in front of the crib.
"Zelena." The former queen's voice was dark.
"Hello sis!" the red-head turned, grinning at the brunette so brightly it nearly threw Regina off. Nearly.
"I'm going to say this once, greenie, and I promise you that failing to comply will hurt." The younger of the Mills woman warned. "Put. My. Daughter. Down. Now."
"Oh, don't be silly." Zelena said, rocking the sleeping toddler. "I'm not going to hurt her, I just wanted to hold her a little."
"Yes, because you have such a wonderful track record with babies." Regina sneered, summoning a fireball and holding it menacingly in the palm of her hand. Suddenly, Amorie cooed as she looked up, smiling brightly when she caught sight of her mother - probably awoken when she felt her magic come to life.
"Alright, let's all remain calm." Zelena said, carefully gesturing an innocent hand to try as calm her sister down. "Put the fire away."
"Put my daughter down first." Regina said through gritted teeth.
"I'm going to pass her to Henry." Zelena said calmly. Regina watched her like a hawk as she stepped slowly towards her son and carefully passed over his baby sister to him. He picked her up, cradling her gently and stepping back to his mother's side. Zelena stepped back, giving the family their space and holding her hands up in surrender.
"Is she hurt?" Regina asked her son.
"Seems to be fine." Henry said. "Does she…feel okay?"
"Seems so." Regina said, blowing out the fireball in her hand and silently focusing on Amorie to search for signs of distress. But she was fine, happy even. "What are you doing here, Zelena?"
"I heard you had a baby daughter and I wanted to meet my niece." The redhead smiled at her. "Is that so wrong?"
"Considering that the last baby you held in your arms was going to be your victim?" Regina leveled. "Yes, it is."
"Ah…right." Zelena sighed. "I don't suppose you'd be willing to look past that?"
"Hah." Regina scoffed. "Please tell me you're joking."
"Regina…let's talk, shall we? I think there's some things I need to explain." The older of the Mills women stepped forward. Regina watched her carefully, narrowing her eyes at her suspiciously for a moment.
"Henry, stay up here with your sister. Don't come down unless I ask you to do so." She instructed. "And do not take your eyes off of Amorie."
"Got it mom." Henry nodded, stepping away from the door. Regina stepped to the side and looked at Zelena, nodding towards the door. The redhead walked, calmly, out of the door and Regina followed her, matching her pace, only two steps behind, and watching her every move. She shut the door to the nursery as they left the room.
"Downstairs." She said in a commanding tone. Zelena didn't say a word, simply followed her sister's wishes and walked down the stairs. "Cross the foyer and into my office."
Again, the redhead simply listened to Regina's orders, and Regina didn't know whether to be relieved, or worried that she was walking herself into some kind of trap. But she figured, better her than her children.
She was too focused at this point to hear her phone buzzing violently in her purse by the door. So she just followed Zelena into the office and shut and locked the door without a word. Zelena turned around slowly, hands up in her sister's plain sight.
"I'm not here to hurt anyone, Regina." She said plainly.
"Prove it." Regina challenged. Zelena raised a brow at her.
"Well how do you want me to do that?" she asked. Regina thought for a moment before she waved her hand through the air, summoning the thick leather cuff that they had used multiple times.
"Stick out your wrist." She instructed. Zelena did so, letting her sister approach her and wrap the cuff around her wrist, feeling her magic drain away instantly.
"Magic blocker…smart." Zelena sighed. "Though, truly unnecessary."
"You don't get to talk about unnecessary, little miss flying broom and monkeys." Regina said. "Now sit down and tell me what the hell you're doing in my house."
Zelena sighed, taking a seat on the couch as Regina moved to her decanter and poured out some cider in two tumblers.
"You're not going to ask why I'm not dead?" Zelena began.
"You've clearly never met our mother." Regina sighed. "This family has a penchant for coming back from the dead."
"Good to know." Zelena shrugged. "But I never died. I simply used an illusion to make the way I transported out of that cell look like I died."
"Great." Regina said, setting a tumbler down in front of the redhead before she straightened up and took a sip of her own drink. She remained standing in front of the fireplace, back leaning slightly against the mantle with a hand casually in her blazer pocket. "Why exactly should I care?"
"I figured I'd better start my explanation from the beginning." The witch said, picking up the glass and sipping a little. "Mmm…you do make good cider."
"So, you transported out of here in the creepiest way possible. What happened after that?" Regina asked.
"Well, I left town, and found myself without magic. Which wasn't entirely ideal when I still wanted revenge." Zelena said. "So I went to the only person in this world who can use magic outside of this town."
"The dragon." Regina stated.
"Indeed." Zelena nodded. "And I demanded he teach me how to use magic outside of the boundaries of Storybrooke. Which he refused to do."
"Shocking." Regina deadpanned.
"But he helped me in ways I could have never imagined myself grateful for back then." Zelena said. "He showed me…that I was wrong."
"You needed a centuries old dragon to show you that?" Regina smirked. Zelena rolled her eyes.
"Make your fun, Regina, it's alright. But I am serious." She said. "He showed me that…Well…He showed me the truth."
"The truth?" Regina asked. "That green doesn't look as good on you as you think it does?"
"No, silly." Zelena chuckled. "He showed me…what I really missed out on by not being chosen by our mother like you had been…He showed me your life."
Regina's jaw clenched tightly, as did her hand around her glass.
"I know, it does seem incredibly unorthodox, and I can understand that you might see it as a violation of your privacy." Zelena said. "But the fact of the matter is that…he promised he would help me by showing me the truth. He said that compassion would be the only way to kill my envy for you…"
"I don't need your compassion Zelena. Or whatever other word you may use instead of pity. The truth is that I let go of that past two years ago, when my future came knocking." Regina said. "So if you're here to tell me you're sorry for how mother treated me, save it. The past is dead, along with her."
"Yes, it is." Zelena nodded. "And I could say that I was sorry for what happened to you…but even you aren't sorry for it because it lead to where you are now. That's not why I'm here."
"Indeed." Regina said. "Then why are you here?"
"Because I want to apologize for how I mistreated you…for how I let my own jealousy blind me to the truth. The truth is that we've both been burned by her, Regina, and we both need to heal from it and move on. You've already done it. And I have moved on from the pain she caused me. I'm here to make amends."
"You want to redeem yourself?" Regina asked.
"I wouldn't be the first one in our family to do so." Zelena smiled at her. "Amorie has Emma's eyes."
Regina rolled her eyes and threw back the rest of her drink. "So it took you two years to get through my life story?"
"Oh no." Zelena shook her head. "But after that, I realized that everything I thought was true was…well…a lie. And that my whole life had been so focused on that and my magic that I never really figured out who I really am. So I traveled, all over the world. Well, this one at least."
"Please tell me you didn't break into my house to try and convince me to join some crazy pyramid scheme to fund your travels." Regina sighed in exasperation, Zelena just laughed and shook her head.
"No, silly." She said. "Truth is I always figured I would come back, but I needed to be ready. And then I heard through a mutual friend on Emma's social media that…Regina, you're getting married!"
The redhead stood up a grin on her face. She came forward and, before Regina could stop her, wrapped her in a tight hug.
"If I take the cuff off will you please stop hugging me and try to kill me again?" the brunette said.
"Silly." Zelena chuckled. "Congratulations!"
"Well…thank you." Regina sighed. "You really came all this way to congratulate me?"
"Well partly." Zelena said. "I meant what I said, Regina, I want to make amends. I figured this was as good a chance as any."
"Well I suppose it makes sense…in the crazy sort of way that our lives can only ever make sense in." Regina said. She looked at the redhead, who gave her a hopeful smile, and let out a sigh.
"Okay…fine. You can try to redeem yourself…gods, if anyone knows what that's like-"
"It's you." Zelena nodded. "I know, sis."
"Please refrain from calling me that." Regina said.
"Okay…Regina." Zelena smiled at her. "I promise you won't be disappointed…and we can finally be sisters, real sisters."
"Yes well-" the brunette woman tried to say when suddenly she gasped, a feeling of external panic washing over her now that she wasn't so focused on Zelena. "Oh no."
"What is it?" the redhead asked, mild concern painted on her face.
A loud rattling and banging on the door interrupted them.
"Regina? Regina!"