~ The Kind of Love To Last Forever ~
You know our love was meant to be
The kind of love to last forever…
Chicago – You're The Inspiration (Archie and Marie's love theme)
Marie awoke early the next morning, a dreamy smile on her lips as she remembered that it was exactly five years ago on that very day that she officially became Mrs. Archibald Hopper. She turned onto her side and propped her head up on her arm to watch her husband sleep, still unable to believe even after all those years that such a wonderful man loved her, had given her three beautiful children of their own and Gisella was now as much his child as Jonny, AJ and Maureen were. Later on that afternoon they would renew their vows on the beach dressed as Aphrodite and Adonis like they had been on their wedding day and their friends would be wearing their costumes but Regina, Snow and Emma had to have theirs modified to fit more comfortably over their baby bumps. They would have a small reception in the ballroom of the hotel and the children would stay with Rumple and Belle to also celebrate Adriana's birthday while Archie and Marie had their second wedding night that would be as wonderful as their first.
Her mind took her back to the day of their first meeting back in the Enchanted Forest while he was still a cricket and she rode to Rumple's castle to visit with her sister before the curse stuck and took all of them away. She had been sitting with Belle sipping tea, discussing where Snow White's messenger was until he hopped in the window and flew into the face of a woman who'd despised insects her whole life. She screamed, as her son once said, like she was in a horror show.
"Ahhhh...insect!"
"Madam, if I may..."
"Get away from me you disgusting thing!"
"Madam! Control yourself!"
"Get out of here...oh gods, Belle, you know I HATE INSECTS!"
A terrified Archie had taken flight, wanting to get away from her before she injured him worse than Cora Miller had when she burned his wing.
"Oh no you don't!"
Marie took off after him with the infamous Bordreaux Broom in hand ready to turn the cricket that would become the love of her life into a splatter on the wall.
"Madwoman!"
"Marie...just open the door and let it out..."
"Disgusting things!"
Then she'd slipped and fallen on her back and he hopped onto her chest, pointing his umbrella in her face.
"You, Madam are insane. What have insects ever done to you?"
"It...it talks!"
"Of course I talk. You would've figured that out if you'd allowed me to instead of chasing me around here like a madwoman."
"A...a talking cricket!?"
"Marie, are you all right?" Belle asked, kneeling beside her.
"Is she all right? My lady, she assaulted me...with a broom!"
"You too, eh? The Bordreaux women like beating up men with brooms," chuckled Rumple, coming into the room. "Just ask Charming. Or Gaston. Or me, for that matter." He gave a rueful giggle.
"Get off me!" Marie yelled.
"Not until you apologize!"
"W...What?"
"You assaulted me and you owe me an apology," he said firmly. He sat down. "I'll wait."
Marie was incensed. There was a talking insect on her chest who had the nerve to ask an apology from her?
"I could just knock you off..." she said with a smirk.
"Are you going to apologize...or not?"
"Dearie, he wasn't always a cricket . . .once he used to be a human being. Right, Jiminy?"
"Yes."
"So what happened that you got turned into an insect...no don't tell me...you annoyed everyone."
"And you are annoying me!" He poked her gently with his umbrella.
"Quit that!"
"Is it really that difficult to say you're sorry?"
"I'm sorry, now would you please get off me."
"That's better."
They hadn't felt the connection forming between them but Belle and Rumple did and encouraged it as much as they could, first by inviting Archie to stay at the castle, thinking he would be exhausted after his long trip.
Archie stirred in the bed and turned to his side and on his back was the long scar from Cora's attack on him when he and Regina attempted to steal Daniel's heart back from the vault to release Cora's hold on her daughter and prevent the Dark Curse and the Curse of the Broken Hearted from being cast. The other heart that was needed was in Wonderland. Marie pressed her lips to the scarred patch of skin, recalling how horrified she'd been when Archie took the stand for the defense in Regina's trial and was asked to show it as evidence that Cora, not her daughter, had been the one most responsible for the misery all their lives had been during the curse.
"...Arista did you SEE that….she…she took off half his skin! Oh, Archie…" she sobbed. Arista embraced her.
"He's okay now, sweetie. Good gods, now you really should tell him how you feel because if this isn't a sure sign you're in love with him, I don't know what is."
"I can't…I can't…not now…"
Not ever…
"When?" the other dancer demanded. "He's perfect for you! He treats you a goddess, cares for your daughter like she's his own, cooks…and not all men do that. What more do you want?"
"I WANT to love him…but I CAN'T!"
"You've gotta try, Marie!"
"What if he…hurts me…like…like…"
"He's NOT like Gaston! Not all men are like that prick. You can't let him ruin this for you…"
"I know…."
"C'mon….let's get you back in there…he needs you. Didn't you notice he had his eyes on you most of the time?"
"Yes…but that doesn't mean he's in love with me…"
"Blind," Arista muttered. Keeping her arm around Marie's shoulders, she escorted the distraught women out of the bathroom and ran into Archie as he was walking down the hall.
"Marie! Are you all right?"
"She'll be fine now that you're here Doc," Arista said with a smile. Marie glared at her when she was certain he wasn't looking. "I'll meet you back in the courtroom, hon."
Archie fished a Kleenex out of his pocket and handed it to Marie to dry her eyes. "I…I can't believe she did that to you."
"I'm all right….Rumple healed most of the damage but I don't regret doing it."
She smiled through her tears. "Still trying to be a hero."
She recalled on their wedding night how they'd both seen each other's scars, his from his attack by Cora, hers from the surgeries she'd had to improve her body thinking it was only way a man could love her and to repair the damage done to her when she'd been nearly raped and beaten to death by Gaston Devereaux. It was Gaston who had taken her innocence with violence when she was nineteen and in the stables at her father's castle. He'd been obsessed with her, poisoning her finance before the curse. During the curse he'd killed Marie's godfather who had been supporting her and her young daughter financially and after the curse he threatened to kill Archie once he learned the two were dating. Marie broke off their relationship; not wanting Archie to become another victim of Gaston's madness and after learning Archie spent the night with her though they hadn't made love, Gaston stormed into her house to attack her again only this time she'd fought back and together they at last brought him to justice though Spencer had done a damned good job of putting her on trial, not Gaston, even going as far as accusing Archie of being the one who assaulted her.
"You've testified that you spent the night of July 22 at Miss Bordreaux's apartment and left the next day and that you did not share her bed, that's not true is it, Doctor?"
"On the contrary, sir, it is true. Due to her prior experiences with Gaston, Marie and I have never . . . had relations with one another. I . . . do not believe in sleeping with a woman until I am married to her."
"You expect us to believe you spent the entire night in an exotic dancer's home on the sofa?"
"Yes. I did. I would not dishonor her that way."
"You said you argued...it got of hand and YOU were the one who attempted to sexually assault Miss Bordreaux and frame my client, didn't you?"
"Excuse me? I did nothing of the kind! Yes, I argued with Marie, but I would NEVER harm her . . .or any woman!"
When that plan failed he'd changed tactics, even going as far as suggesting she'd been sleeping with Jonas Harris, her godfather so that he would leave her the bulk of his fortune. He had...to Gisella only he'd included a codicil that if Marie decided she did not want the inheritance, she could donate to breast cancer research...and she had...right after she and Archie were engaged because he wanted to support his daughter himself. Marie was terrified she would lose the man she loved and even considered begging Rumple to stop the trial before she took the stand but Archie wouldn't have it.
"You heard what I said in there. It's what I believe. I knew from the night we met that you only spent that much time with a man his age because he just needed someone to talk to but others in this town…." He frowned. "They're always quick to assume the worst. And why do I stay? How many times do I have to tell you it's because I love you for you to believe it…to believe in me?" He gripped her shoulders gently and turned her around so that they were facing each other and gazing deeply into each other's eyes. "We're going to finish this, Marie. Together. He's not going to hurt you anymore and neither is that viper defending him and I'll be right there with you when you go up on that stand and tell them everything he's done. Let them see the woman I do."
Now Gaston was dead, he'd been killed in prison shortly after Archie and Marie's wedding and without any other obstacles in their lives; they concentrated on raising their family and building up Archie's practice. During the curse Regina made it a point to remind him that he'd recieved his degree from a curse, a claim she could no longer make now that he'd passed the boards and was now certified in several fields and every year he he found something new to focus on.
He rolled over in bed again and took her in his arms, a loving smile on his lips. "Good morning my goddess," he murmured as he kissed her.
"Mmmm...the groom isn't supposed to see...or sleep with the bride before the wedding...not that I'm complaining...and I would stay in this bed with you all day..." She sighed longingly. "But I know damned well that sister of mine or our daughter will be coming along any minute now to wake us up."
"We have tonight, darling."
"And what surprises do you have in store for me?"
"That's for me to know...and you to find out." he teased. Marie yanked the pillow out from underneath his head and swatted him with it.
"Now are you gonna tell me, baby?" she cooed.
"Ohhh...I don't think so my goddess! You're not getting the upper hand this time!" He flipped them over and brought his mouth down on hers, forcing her to release her grip on his pillow. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back with equal passion. Being affectionate in public was not something they did often, there were still jealous, vicious tongues that continued to criticize their relationship even after five years of marriage and four beautiful children. In many eyes Marie Bordreaux Hopper was still that dancer at the Foxtrot who seduced and corrupted poor Archibald Hopper so that she could get her greedy hands on his money and give her bastard daughter a father. However, Archie was not afraid to show his devotion to his wife in public when the occasion called for it and one of of those times had been after Zelena turned him back into a cricket and Marie broke the spell with true love's kiss, prompting him to propose to her at last. The family was coming out of the sheriff's station to jealous and envious onlookers and Archie decided if they wanted something to see and talk about it, he would certainly give it to them and took Marie into his arms for a passionate kiss.
"...What does he see in her? She's one of those dancers!"
"Probably thinks he has money."
He lifted his mouth from hers and turned to face the two women speaking. "There are people in this town who've done far worse and you forget…I've heard about it but I'm not the type to air a person's dirty laundry in public. And you also tend to forget we were all cursed for the last twenty-eight years and we should not be judged for our actions during it. I don't give a damn what ANYONE in this town says, Marie is going to be my wife and Gisella is my daughter. And before you go about ruining someone else's life with your gossip you might want to concentrate on improving your own! Now if you'll all excuse me, we'll be going home."
All the battles we've fought...they've been worth it, she thought as he made love to her passionately, not just telling her how devoted he was to her, but showing her, taking her to the heights only he could until they drifted off into a blissful sleep.
"ARCHIE! MARIE! GIT UP YOU TWO. YE'RE GONNA BE LATE FOR YER OWN WEDDIN!" they heard Rumple bellowing from the other side of their bedroom door as he rapped on it with his cane. "And if ye're no' out here in five minutes, I'm comin' in and ye'd better be decent!"
"Oh gods," Archie groaned. "We're getting up!" he called back. "I don't know what's worse. Having him screaming at us...or the kids!"
"I don't know either but we'd better get up before he does come in here," Marie said and crawled out of bed. The couple met the Golds in the living room.
"You're not even dressed yet!" Belle cried, gesturing to their robes.
"And ye might want to cover those up dearies," Rumple said with a smirk, pointing to the blemishes on their necks.
"You can just magic them...until later!" Archie informed his brother-in-law.
"Oh all right!" Rumple gestured and the blemishes became invisible to all other eyes except for Archie and Marie. "But next time, you cover them up yourselves."
"Oh really? And just how many have you needed to cover up Rumplestitskin? Hmm?" Archie quizzed. "Shall I remind you?"
"No. Now git in that bedroom and get dressed, cricket!" Rumple gave him a small shove toward Johnny's bedroom where his father's Adonis costume was hanging in the closet while Belle took Marie back into the master bedroom to transform herself into Aphrodite, the goddess of love.
"I can still remember the day we saw each other again in that damned club...as if it were yesterday," Marie said dreamily while Belle brushed her hair. "And that damned Zelena...shoving her plastic rack in his face. Gods I wanted to strangle her and he was so nervous..."
"But you rescued him."
"I didn't understand it then...my cursed self was always attracted to the pretty boy types, except for Gaston but there was something about him..."
"He was your true love, Marie. Your mind didn't remember it but your heart did as Archie often says."
She'd taken him to the private room, making the others think she was going to give him a lap dance but she knew Archie Hopper wasn't the type to enjoy that sort of thing.
"So this is…uhhh…the private room?" he asked her as they sat down.
She nodded and dimmed the lights. "We use this room if a customer wants a private dance…well I use it for that…and just to talk if that's what they want to. Some of them actually do want to just talk."
"I…don't really want you to dance," he confessed. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to offend you…it's just that…"
"It's all right. I've been wanting to talk to you anyway. To thank you."
He was stunned. "T…Thank me? For what? We've never met."
She smiled. "No, but you've met my daughter. She plays with Pongo in the park. Her name is Gisella Bordreaux and my name is Marie though I go by Electra here."
They spent most of their time talking about her daughter, until they heard Spencer and Zelena having sex in the other room. Not wanting to embarass Archie any further, she moved them out to the patio and made him a cup of tea.
"When do you think they'll let you off the chain?" she called out.
"I don't know….soon I hope…I'm sorry…I didn't mean it like that…" he stammered.
"It's all right," she said softly, handing him a cup. "You're too good for a place like this."
"Well, ummm….it hasn't been that bad," he admitted. "I really don't get out much because of what I do…and I just never gave it a thought." He laughed. "I was planning on spending the evening at home watching a marathon on TV."
"Nothing wrong with that. I do that sometimes either alone or with Sella."
"Electra! You done in there yet! We got a show to put on!" demanded Merriweather Blue from the doorway. At the club her name was Aqua Mystique. When the schoolteacher saw Marie's companion she screeched and dashed back into the main room of the club. Archie was so shocked to see her that he nearly dropped his cup.
"M…Miss Blue?!" he gasped. "But…but she's a teacher!"
"Doing a little moonlighting. I'm not proud of what I do Doctor but I don't lie about it either," Marie said defensively.
"Marie, I didn't mean to upset you….I seem to be putting my foot in my mouth a lot tonight."
"It's all right."
"ELECTRA!" yelled Sly.
Marie sighed. "I'd better get going before he sends a posse for me and hopefully yours will take you home." She stood up.
"I may not have wanted to be here…but I did enjoy talking to you."
"Same here."
They stared at each other for several minutes. Finally Marie looked away. "Maybe we'll see each other in the park sometime," she blurted out before she thought about it.
He smiled. "You might. I'm there every day."
"Well, ummm…goodbye Doctor Hopper," she said and hurried into the main room before Sly came after her. He despised lateness to the shows.
"And our first kiss at your cabin...oh Belle I could hardly breathe! Not that I can now every time he kisses me...when he holds me and even when he makes love to me..."
"Rumple and I could feel the deep connection between you even when Archie was a cricket." Belle picked up her sister's jewelry box. "Now, what necklace do you want to wear? Good Gods, Marie! Did your husband buy out every jewelry store in Maine and Europe?"
"No, but he's always buying me one expensive gift after another even when I tell him he doesn't have to. It's not how much money he spends on me that makes me love him. Give me that one. He bought it in Athens on our honeymoon." She pointed to a heart shaped pendant that looked like strings of golden threads woven together. Belle fastenened the necklace around her sister's neck and started weaving her hair into an elegant twist that would be held up by a gold circlet of an olive branch. Her wedding dress was a white satin and lace peplos and on her feet she would wear a pair of brown leather sandals and on her arm she would wear her cricket shaped bracelet. Their wedding rings were also olive branch bands with a cricket holding a rose, the symbols of the bride and groom. They'd taken them off the night before and gave them to Rumple and Belle for safekeeping until they would exchange them again during the ceremony.
"You look beautiful sis...and I'm so glad we're actually going to get to be at the reception this time. You're going to miss Adriana's party afterwards...but she'll understand."
"I know. We get married the same day she's born and most of our kids have the same birthday!" Marie laughed. "Makes planning parties a bit easier."
She stood up. "Hopefully that husband of mine is ready."
In Jonny's room Archie stood in front of the mirror in his own costume. He was wearing a long white robe with a gold shawl, leather sandals and a gold olive branch circlet on his head. Rumple stood behind him dressed as Hades and would stand at his side as best man while Belle would be at Marie's side as Persephone. During their first wedding it had been Geppetto standing at his best friend's side as he should have but they were back home in Maine helping August recover from alcohol addiction and his rehab was progressing well according to the reports from Dr. Boyar.
"You look great Archie," Rumple praised.
"I'm five years older than I was when I wore this the last time." He chuckled. "But at least I don't have knots in my stomach!"
"No because now you know you were worried over nothing. You have your happy ending Archibald Hopper."
And I had to fight like hell to get it, he thought. "All right, Rumple. I'm ready."
On the beach an archway of white roses was set up for the couple to stand under while they exchanged their vows. Since it wasn't an actual wedding but a renewal of vows ceremony, there would be no minister presiding over the events and lounge chairs were set up in the sand for the guests. Henry and Gracie were recording the event for the family's travel diary as they would record Rumple and Belle's ceremony in Rome.
Rumple escorted his brother in law to the archway and the two of them stood there waiting patiently while Belle and Marie walked toward them and thier husbands were speechless when they gazed upon their goddesses in their finery. Belle placed her sister's hand in Archie's and the couple faced each other to begin speaking their vows.
"My darling Archie," Marie began softly, gazing into her husband's eyes. "Five years ago today, we stood before each other having gone through so much pain over the years we were apart and pledged ourselves to each other. Every day since then we've been replacing every unpleasant memory we ever had of our pasts with new ones, making our lives better than we could have hoped for. Every day, every little thing you do makes me love you more and you never have to spend a fortune on me to make it mean something. Just seeing your smiling face is enough to leave me breathless. There are so many things I could recite, some of them private, but the rest have been with the family we've made together. I see you at my side again as we brought three of them into the world and through the love we had for each other and for her, we've made Gisella our child and in many ways they are all the best of both of us. I love you so much Archibald Hopper for all that you are, and all that you've given me and I'll still love you until the end of time."
Archie raised her hand and placed it over his heart. "Marie, my goddess...when I turn around and look back at my life during the curse and even before, it feels like one long major highway, but as I was on it, it was a wild zigzag of experiences that seemingly at times had no relationship to each other, and I thought to myself, 'How the hell did I get here? What could have possibly brought me from that to this?' I have my answer when I look at you: I was on that road searching for you and the family I wanted us to have together. The best part of my day is waking up in the morning and seeing you there beside me then seeing the beautiful children we made together. The best part of my night are your faces being the last things I see when I close my eyes. Even if someone is foolish enough to try to take you away from me again, my heart will never forget you and I'll find you. I love you, Marie Bordreaux Hopper and I'll love you forever."
"Oh that was so romantic...I'm going to swoon," Sophia sobbed. "Why can't you be like that more often?" she demanded of her husband.
Thanks a LOT Archie, Alessandro thought jealously. Make the rest of us have to work for it.
"Your son-in-law is a wonderful man," Penelope said through her own tears.
"That he is," Moe declared proudly. "I couldn't have asked for better ones for both of my daughters."
After the Golds handed them back their rings, Archie took his wife into his his arms and kissed her under a bright sunny sky. Adriana waved her hand and a rainbow appeared over them that showered them with little paper hearts in different colors.
"Honey that was so sweet of you," Belle said to her.
"Papa, you do something now," Adriana demanded of her father.
"How do you like this, dearie?" The sorcerer gestured and a heart was drawn in the sand with the couples' names and the dates of their wedding and renewal ceremony with the phrase true love conquers all written inside it.
After the ceremony was over everyone else walked back to the hotel except for the newly remarried couple who was being taken to the reception in a chariot Rumple conjured.
"Why the hell didn't I think of this the first time?" he mumbled. "Enjoy the ride, dearies."
"Oh we will," Archie murmured, his arm around his wife.
They had originally planned to have the reception and Adriana's party at the Grand Bretagne but Alessandro had worked out an arrangement with the manager of the hotel in Vougliameni that they would host the reception while the Bretagne would host the convention the other hotel booked since its ballroom was large enough to accomodate those guests and also the families would be staying overnight in the town to avoid the long trip back to Athens.
The menu for both events was a combination of Greek, Italian and American dishes most of it prepared by the kitchen staff of both hotels with a few items made by Archie, Rumple and Belle including Rumple's Golden Delights cookies, Belle's cake and Archie's famous "Hotter Than Hell" chili with labels for the mild and extra hot versions.
After dinner Archie rose from his seat and walked onto the stage, whispering into Alessandro's ear. His friend smiled, nodded and when he was certain Marie wasn't looking, Alessandro wired him up with miniature microphone.
"What is that husband of mine up to now?" Marie murmured to her sister.
"You'll find out," Belle said with a smirk. She had no intentions of ruining this surprise.
Archie came down from the stage and stood in front of her, smiling softly, a miniature microphone clipped to his costume. As the opening notes to Chicago's "You're The Inspiration" began to play, Marie felt tears brimming in the corners of her eyes. Her husband had serenaded her many times over the years but never to their song.
"You know our love was meant to be
The kind of love to last forever
And I want you here with me
From tonight until the end of time
You should know
Everywhere I go
You're always on my mind, in my heart, in my soul
Baby, you're the meaning in my life
You're the inspiration..." he sang passionately and held out his arms to her. She went into them willingly and he led her out into the middle of the dance floor, still singing as he gazed into her eyes while they danced together. In those minutes all they could see was each other even though they were surrounded by family and friends. When the song was over Archie cupped his wife's face in his hands and kissed her.
"I love you, my goddess," he whispered.
"And I love you..."
"Oh Rumple, they looked so beautiful out there," Belle sobbed. "And we missed it the first time. But...they understood...we were having our little miracle."
"Aye mo chori and you'll finally have your sister at your side for our ceremony...like she should have been the first time." The couple walked over to the Hoppers and hugged them.
"Hey, let's get the REAL party started!" Jeff hooted.
"Not yet, Hatter!" Archie called out and motioned to Alessandro. He came down from the stage holding another microphone that he clipped to Marie's dress. She smiled, knowing exactly what her husband had in mind when the opening notes to Chicago's "Will You Still Love Me?" began to play, recalling a conversation they had about the song while they were dating, both agreeing that the song should have been a duet and if the band couldn't make it happen, they would.
"Take me as I am
Put your hand in mine
Now and forever..." Marie sang.
"Darling here I stand
Stand before you now
Deep inside I always knew..." Archie sang.
"It was you, you and me
Two hearts drawn together
Bound by destiny..." they sang together.
All of the guests were silent while the couple sang, many of them recording it on their phones, those of them who knew the original song thinking that it did indeed sound better as a duet. A large crowd of the hotel's guests had been lured to the ballroom hearing the couple singing and cheered loudly, asking them to do another song.
"Once In a Lifetime?" Archie asked Marie. She nodded and they began to sing another of Chicago's lesser songs as a duet.
"Once in a lifetime
Maybe the last time
Just the right time to fall in love," Marie sang.
"Once in a lifetime
For such a long time
I've been waiting for you..." Archie sang.
They got several more requests to sing. Archie sang "Along Comes a Woman" solo while Marie sang "No Tell Lover", changing the lyrics a bit for a woman singing it to a man and they finished by singing "We Can Last Forever" together.
Once they were finished, Henry saved the videos and uploaded them then opened his Twitter account. He knew the band had a Twitter account and some of the members had their own accounts. He copied links to the videos to all of the accounts with a message: Your biggest fans, Archie and Marie Hopper singing your songs on their fifth wedding anniversary! He hoped that at least one of the members would respond back. The family knew they'd gotten to see Chicago in concert only recently but never had the chance to actually meet them.
"I hope they answer back, Dad. That would be so cool." Henry said to his father.
"So do I."
"Okay Hatter...now you can boogie down!" Archie called over to him.
"Don't think I can do a lot of boogying when I'm almost the size of a house," Emma groaned.
"I know I can't," Snow complained.
"I'll wait for a slow one," Regina said.
"C'mon guys!" Jeff dragged a reluctant Robin and David out into the middle of the dance floor and had Alessandro play the Bee Gees' "You Should be Dancing."
"Yay! They're gonna do the 'Spicable Me" dance!" Neal cheered.
Robin and David tried to keep up with their friend but found themselves lagging behind a bit in the moves making Jeff wish he were out on the floor with Emma instead.
"Daddy, why's Jeff smackin' his own butt?" Jonny asked.
His parents looked at each other and burst into laughter. "Never mind honey, never mind." Marie giggled.
"Work that booty!" Emma catcalled to Jeff. He turned his back to her and shook his rear provocatively.
"Come on David, shake your pelvis like Elvis!" Snow hooted. Her husband sauntered over to her to do his Elivis impression, not quite as gracefully as the late King but enough to suit his wife.
"Ohhh Robin...give me some back, baby!" Regina purred, her outlaw more than happy to oblige.
Once their dance was over, Belle motioned to Marie, Emma, Snow and Regina. The women joined her in the corner while Sophia took the children out in the lobby.
"What is that wife of mine up to?" Rumple asked Archie. He shrugged.
"You ready?" Belle asked the group.
"Yeah, just don't ask me to sing. I'd break glass," Emma said.
"You're not singing dear...just move in when we do. You can handle that." Regina said to her.
Emma smirked. "Oh, I can do that."
"Which one are we doing? The Mamma Mia version or the original?" Snow asked Belle.
"The original."
"Got it. Okay, ladies let's go."
Sophia grabbed more microphones and clipped them to the womens' clothing when their husbands weren't looking then the women moved into the center of the dance floor and faced their men with seductive smiles on their lips as the opening notes of ABBA's Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight) started to play.
"There's not a soul out there
Noone to hear my prayer
Gimme, Gimme, Gimme a man after midnight
Won't somebody help me chase the shadows away
Gimme Gimme Gimme a man after midnight
Take me through the darkness to the break of the day!" they sang as they approached their targets and attacked, grabbing their husbands and kissing them senseless then pulled them onto the dance floor. Sophia brought the children back in when it was time for the Chicken Dance and everyone paired up, laughing and clucking at each other. Alessandro started playing more songs to give the kids a chance to dance. While the others paired up Ellie stood in the corner by herself watching the others trying to dance, laughing and enjoying themselves, her eyes downcast. Jonny glanced over at his father where he was dancing with Marie. Archie nodded. The little boy gulped nervously and started walking toward Ellie, his hat in his hands.
Nobody wants to dance with me. Nobody likes me, they think I'm a brat. M'tryin not to act like a brat but they don't care. They don't even pay 'ttention. Well I don't need em. I DON'T NEED ANYBODY so phooey on them! Ellie thought bitterly.
She turned around and started to walk away, not wanting the others to see her cry and make fun of her again but a hand on her shoulder stopped her in her tracks.
"Umm...Ellie...where ya goin?"
She spun around to face Jonny. The toddler was holding his Sheriff Woody hat in his hands, his fingers tracing patterns on the brim.
"Goin' outside," she said stiffly. "What's it to you?"
"Ummm...well...ahhh...I was wonderin' if ahh..."
"What?"
He looked away, his face reddening. "Ummm..."
"If you're gonna make fun of me, I don't wanna hear it so go 'way!" she snapped and gave him a slight shove.
"You wanna dance with me?" he blurted. "I mean...I really dunno how but Mommy an Daddy look like they're just movin their feet back an forth so...can't be that hard."
She gasped. "Huh?!"
"You wanna dance?" he asked again.
"This some kinda joke John Wayne Hopper?" she demanded. "You don't like me. You make fun of me a lot so why you askin' me to dance now? Don't want pity if that's what you're doin!"
"Well...I kinda get mad when you get all uppity...but you don't do it all the time..." He was blushing again and shuffled his feet. "And you are kinda cute when you're mad."
The little girl was stunned into silence. He was talking to her like a boyfriend not a sometimes friend, which was what she considered him to be when he didn't poke fun at her or defended her as he had at the restaurant the day before. The only times she remembered him doing it were as he said, when she was in one of her royal phases. "Ummm...Jonny...somebody hit you over the head with something?"
"Uh-uh. Ellie, c'mon! I hate seein you standing here by yourself and I don't wanna dance alone. I look stupid."
"Why don'cha ask Maggie? You like her more'n me."
"Yeah as a friend but not...like a girlfriend..."
"Y...You want me to be your...girlfriend?"
"Yup," he croaked nervously. "I'm the one who left ya the flower on your swing that day you was upset 'cause you fell off and cut your leg. Daddy said when he was a cricket he left Mommy a rose to make her smile and kinda tell her he wanted to be boyfriend and girlfriend. I was kinda scared you'd tell me to buzz off if I just gave it to ya so..."
"M...Mommy told me I had a secret 'mirer but I didn't believe her," Ellie said through her tears. "Thought she was just saying it to make me feel better...an nobody else knew 'bout that flower but me an Mommy cause you guys were 'sposed to be in the house. Where were ya?"
"Hidin' in the bushes," he confessed. "Was so scared I was gonna get caught cause Daddy came to pick me up then...so I hurried up an went in the house 'fore you saw me..."
She giggled happily and threw her arms around him.
"This mean you wanna dance?" he inquired with a smirk.
"You bet! C'mon!" She grabbed his arm and pulled him over to where their friends were dancing, or at least trying to imitate the adults. Their parents paused in their own dancing. Regina felt tears brimming in the corners of her own eyes while she watched her daughter dancing with Archie's son, having at last been given the answer to a question she'd had from the moment she and her daughter discovered the orchid sitting on her swing. Regina wanted to believe Ellie did indeed have a secret admirer and the orchid hadn't just blown in on the breeze. Ellie simply chose to ignore it.
"Did you know about this, Archie?" she sniffled.
"Jonny came to me a while back and told me that there was a girl he liked but he wasn't sure how to tell her. I told him how I'd given Marie a rose while I was still a cricket to get her to smile...and it was my way of trying to tell her how I felt...without actually saying it," he admitted. "I thought it was Maggie but afer I saw my son stand up for her yesterday I knew it was Ellie. She needs this and if our children are anything like us..."
"I think we're seeing the future here, dearies," Rumple said. "My astor has her mind made up she's marryin' Neal. Archie, it looks like you're going to be havin' Roland and Ellie for in-laws. As for Maggie..."
"She's our wild one," Emma chuckled. "She likes playing with Jason but I don't think it's anything but friendship. Don't wanna make the family tree any more complicated!"
"I think it's wonderful," Belle said dreamily. "Don't you, Marie?"
"Yes," Marie whispered softly, her eyes meeting her husband's as they recalled that day many years ago. "You didn't need to tell me you loved me Archie. You showed me. I was just too blind to see it then. The little things..."
"'Scuse me...I'll be right back!" Jeff said and hurried over to the DJ, whispering something in his ear. The other man nodded and flipped through his music collection until he found the track that had been requested.
"What the hell is that loon up to now?" Rumple muttered.
Emma shrugged. "Don't look at me. I have no clue."
"Emma he'd better not be planning something stupid or you know he's gonna get the broom," David cautioned.
"Dad, honestly, I don't know!"
"We'd like to dedicate this next song to all the young lovers out there!" Jeff said and winked at the other adults.
"Dammit, Hatter you'd better keep it clean or so help me God, my broom and Archie's umbrella have your name on them," Marie said through gritted teeth.
"They say we're young and we don't know
We won't find out until we're grown
Well I don't know if all that's true
'Cause you got me, and baby I got you
Babe
I got you babe
I got you babe..."
Out on the dance floor Jonny handed Ellie an orchid his father found for him in the flower shop, a bright smile on her lips as she took the flower and tucked it into her hair before she was hugged by an enthusiastic Adriana who was pleased to see that her friend was finally wearing a smile instead of a frownie.
"Ellie you not havin frownies anymore is the best birthday present ever!"
"It is?"
"Uh-huh."
"Well she's not gonna be havin' frownies anymore if I've got somethin to say about it," Jonny huffed as he put his arm around her shoulders.
"Ahh...great now you all got boyfriends so I'm gonna be bored!" Maggie complained.
"We can still do stuff, Mags," Jason offered.
"Kay but we're not gonna be boyfriend an girlfriend so forget it about askin!"
"Don't wanna be your friend with benefits neither! I'm not a manho!"
Regina and Robin dropped their glasses of wine. "Jason Robin Hood, where did you hear that?" Robin demanded.
"Ummm...ummm...my bad mommy had lotsa friends with benefits," he blurted. Regina groaned.
"What's friends with benefits?"
"Never you mind Margaret Eva Hatter!" Jeff said firmly.
"S'where a girl goes to bed with her friend...and they're not boyfriend and girlfriend an they do gross stuff," Jason answered before his parents could stop him. Both of them wanted to crawl in a hole.
"Anyone care for goat stew?" Robin hissed.
"I'll settle for roasted witch!" Regina snarled.
"Well...on that note...why don't we start the bridal dance," Belle giggled. "I think my sister is ready to call it a day."
Rumple and Belle took their places while Archie and Marie stood out in the middle of the dance floor, Rumple holding a tray of shot glasses, Belle a purse. The monies they made during the dance would be donated to many Greek charities and they also planned to reenact the bride stealing custom.
Archie and Marie danced with their children first, little Maureen protesting loudly when her father had to hand her back to her older sister while AJ went quietly into his little brother's arms. "We'll see you tomorrow morning, little crickets," Archie said and kissed their cheeks. As the line grew shorter, the women and girls formed a circle around Marie while the men formed a line in front of Archie.
"Don't think ye'll be getting past me easily, dearie!" Rumple challenged his brother-in-law.
"No magic, Rumple!"
Archie stood in front of the men, tapping his foot impatiently while he looked for an opening and in the circle Marie was getting frustrated, wanting to be alone with her husband.
"Gonna be here a while, Hopper!" Rumple giggled.
"Oh, no I'm not!" Archie said determinedly and winked at his small son. The boy crept up behind his uncle and started ticking him in the ribs and forcing him to back away.
"Ohhh cricket, that's cheating!"
"Nope, cooperation, right pardner!" Archie said, hi-fived his son and marched over to the circle. Belle and Andi stepped aside as he walked over to his wife, swung her up in his arms and kissed her hotly.
"Goodnight everyone! We'll see you in the morning," he called out while he carried her out of the ballroom. "Time for bed, my darling," he murmured.
And this wedding night would be even better than their first, since there were no longer any reasons for them to be shy around each other. They undressed each other slowly as they stood in front of the bed, wishing they'd both had enough courage to do so that first night while love songs from their favorite bands played on his phone and rose scented candles burned on the nightstand.
"My goddess," Archie murmured, his lips lingering on the side of her neck as he laid her down on the bed. "I do love you..."
Marie cupped his face in her hands and kissed him. "My Adonis..."
They didn't want to rush anything though they had both been waiting all day for the moment when they could be alone. They gazed deeply into each other's eyes while they held each other using all of their bodies, all of their emotions to express their deep devotion to each other until they could no longer hold back the need to become one. All through the night they celebrated another year of their life together knowing there were centuries more of them yet to come.
Author's Note: Some of Archie's wedding vows are inspired by actual quotes from Raphael Sbarge spoken during interviews or on his new show Murder In The First. If you ever get the chance to talk to him on twitter, do so. He is a sweetheart and truly cares about his fans: CJ Moliere