So everyone really liked the other chapter and I got people who mentioned that my Henry made the TV Henry see like less of a little shit and that David was actually likeable. That was all high praise folks so here's another chapter. This chapter is gonna be the last batch of traditional dances (daddy/daughter, couples first dance and a little surprise in there for Regina).
Regina and Emma had just gotten settled back into their seats when David got ahold of the microphone again.
"Alright everyone, now that the blushing brides have shared their gifts with each other it's time for the dance I have been looked forward to for months." David waved at the bandleader and handed the microphone to Snow as he went over to wait for Emma on the dance floor. Emma stood up and Regina stood with her.
"You're sure this is ok with you? I don't have to have this dance Regina, I mean nothing about us getting married is traditional."
"I told you a million times, it's fine. I took enough from your parents, I'll be damned if they get to add this to the list." Regina winked at Emma to show she was joking. "Go enjoy dancing with your father, you only get to do this once."
"Yes ma'am." Emma kissed Regina before walked over to where her father stood. Just as the music was getting set up and David was running over the last few steps with Emma, Snow made her way over and took Emma's empty seat next to Regina.
"You sure you're ok with this father-daughter dance…I mean all things considered." Regina held her head a little higher trying to give off the presence of a queen who truly didn't care. Instead Snow saw just the slightest of tears in Regina's eyes.
"Just because I don't get to dance with my father, doesn't mean I would ever stop Emma from dancing with her's. I kept them apart long enough, don't you think?"
"Regina…"
"Besides." Regina nodded to the bar where Henry was standing sipping sparking cider. "I have my Henry…and that's more than enough." As if he had heard his name called Henry looked up and smiled a toothy grin at Regina who returned the smile while that singular tear fell from her eye. Snow nodded her understanding and knew to leave well enough alone; today was not the day to push Regina on her father's death. The music started at that moment and the two women focused on David and Emma in the center of the dance floor. Emma had kicked off her shoe and appeared to be happier for it as the music picked up and the song began. For whatever reason Emma was balancing gently on David's shoes; like a small child would dance on their father's feet.
She spins and she sways to whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I'm sitting here wearing the weight of the world on my shoulders
It's been a long day and there's still work to do
She's pulling at me saying "Dad I need you!
There's a ball at the castle and I've been invited
and I need to practice my dancin'
Oh please, Daddy, please!"
Their dancing was barely more than moving side to side, but Regina was certain she had never seen David so in love with the sight of his daughter's smile.
So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone
When the music changed for the second verse Emma stepped off her father's feet and this time they were able to do the standard slow dancing that you commonly saw at high school dances where the kids didn't know any better.
She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of the dress
She says, "Dad, the prom is just one week away
And I need to practice my dancin'
Oh please, Daddy, please!"
So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone
While the bridge played out Regina leaned over to Snow, "they put a lot of thought into this."
"What do you mean?"
"The first verse was a child dancing with their father, that's why she was on his feet. Second verse was regular slow dancing like at the prom and the third verse I assume will be something to do with actually getting married."
"I doubt David knows how to dance THAT well, let alone put it together."
"I guess we'll see." The women turned back to their spouses and watched.
She will be gone
But she came home today with a ring on her hand
Just glowing and telling us all they had planned
As the music continued Emma separated from her father just enough to take a step back and curtsey.
She says, "Dad, the wedding's still six months away but I need to practice my dancin'
Oh please, Daddy, please!"
Regina watched in fascination as David bowed before taking Emma by the hand and bringing her back up to eye level and as the chorus set it…well Regina was right and those simple dance steps were fast replaced with David expertly spinning her wife around the dance floor, doing a perfect waltz.
So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone
When the music died down Emma let her father wrap his arms around her and hug her tightly, like all fathers do before that scared dance is officially over. Even with tears in both of their eyes, the smile they both had spread across their faces was undeniable. Regina and Snow were both understandably stunned at the dance moves father and daughter showcased, considering that on their best day they both had two left feet. When they both made their way back to the main table Regina could barely speak.
"Where did you learn to dance like that? When did you learn to dance like that?"
"You liked that huh, it took six months of practicing on lunch breaks before I wouldn't trip on my own shoes."
"I'm not sure how I feel being lied to so early in our marriage…here I am thinking my wife can't do more than move in small circles and you can do a perfect waltz."
"I'm full of surprises." Emma smiled at Regina.
"You're full of something, that much is true." They shared the briefest of kisses when they were interrupted by a familiar voice over the speaker system.
"Show of hands, who just lost money on that dance because my mom didn't fall down?" Henry joked and Emma almost laughed, that is until about a dozen guests raised their hands.
"Yeah, me too." Henry laughed at his own joke as he handed Ruby 10 bucks and Regina tried to stifle the laugh that escaped her throat. "Anyway, everyone I thought that dance was nice, but the fact remains that we have two brides and only one father of the bride. Now add that to the fact that I have been denied the honor of dancing with my mother and I'm positive that something should be done to fix this situation." Henry took the microphone with him as he moved to stand in front of where Emma and Regina were sitting.
"I was named after my mother's father and I'd like to think I share more than a name with him. We happen to love the same woman very much and in his absence from this celebration, it seems only right that I stand in for my namesake and dance with my mother. Besides, I understand that mother-son dances are very common at weddings, though it is usually the son getting married, but I say to hell with tradition because aside from walking her down the aisle, it would be the greatest honor I've had in my 14 years of life to dance with the woman who raised me on her own for the first ten of those years when I think we can all agree I was at my most annoying." Emma was sure that if Regina could see through the tears that were rolling down her face she would see that Henry had some in his eyes as well. They needed this; both of them needed this. Emma brushed away the tears and made sure Regina didn't have make up running down her face before Henry held out his hand to his mother.
"So, how about it mom?" Regina sniffled back her stray tears and took her son's outstretched hand.
"I'd love to Henry." Once they were securely on the dance floor Henry cued the music and smiled at Regina before they slowly started to move to a song Regina had never heard before.
She's the sky that holds the clouds
She's the lady of the house
A blind believer in all I dare to be
There's no safer place I've found
Than the shoulder of her white night gown
Oh I've got the best and the worst of her in me
I'd share her if I could
Oh the wars would all be over
'Cause she'd raise us all as friends
And no one would ever wonder if somebody wanted them (Regina held onto Henry tighter as if to communicate that he was everything she ever wanted)
We'd walk on grass that's greener
And our cares would all be freer
If the world had a mother like mine
She's my mother's one great love
She's the one she wanted most
She's the light in the window of the house I grew up in
She takes the midnight call
She's the bravest of us all
Still she sings in the garden that she let's her hair down in
Emma stopped trying not to cry because she knew it wasn't possible at that point. Watching Henry dance in small circles with Regina clinging tightly to him like he was going to run away if she let him go completely moved her to tears.
Oh the wars would all be over
'Cause she'd raise us all as friends
And no one would ever wonder if somebody wanted them
Tonight would be easier
And our dreams would all be deeper
If the world had a mother like mine
Don't go away
Don't go away from me
Oh I understand
She is a helping hand
Still I have to say
Regina had had her head resting against Henry's chest for most of this song, but in that moment she pulled back and looked at her son. He really had grown up, much to fast for her liking and here he was standing in for her own father, giving her the thing she wanted most in this world or any world for that matter: a family, he and Emma were her family officially now and no one could take that from her.
She's the sky that holds the clouds
She's the lady of our house
We all need her
But no one more than me
Henry looked right into Regina's eyes and the teenager could no longer pretend that the dance wasn't making him get teary eyed. In the moment of unspoken love Regina couldn't hold it together anymore and neither could the teenager. Not giving a damn about the music anymore Regina wrapped her arms around her son and Henry held onto the now sobbing woman in his arms. There was no more moving, the two of them stood perfectly still in the middle of the dance floor, completely content to come emotionally undone in each other arms as the music finished. Emma saw Ruby brush away a tear before she took the picture, a picture that Emma promised herself would get framed and hung in some special place in the house.
Oh the wars would all be over
'Cause she'd raise us all as friends
And no one would ever wonder just how much she wanted them
We'd walk on grass that's greener
And the dishes would all be cleaner
If the world had a mother like mine
Oh like mine
When the music had stopped completely Regina pulled away from her son just enough for Henry to brush some of the tears away from her face.
"If I had known you were cry that hard I would have picked a different song." No teenager likes to cry in front of his mother, but Henry was trying to put on a brave face, but he knew full well that he had tears in his eyes too.
"I assure you that they are very happy tears." Regina reached up and affectionately touched her son's face, "because I am a very lucky woman who has more goodness and love in her life than she deserves. Even before Emma showed up, you were always the best thing in my life Henry and you may not be little anymore, but damn it if you aren't still my little boy."
Henry smiled and cleared his throat, trying not to cry anymore. He leaned over and kissed his mother's forehead, "I'll always be your little boy, I think we both know that. And even when you thought I didn't, I always loved you." Henry let his mother hug him once more before he took a step back and let Emma take his place.
"You ok?" The blonde was still misty eyed herself, but Regina still had very fresh tears streaming down her face.
"I screwed up a lot of things in my life, but the one thing I did right is him." Regina said it like she was trying to convince herself and Emma had to smile.
"You absolutely did right by him, no one will ever question that Regina. Now if you think you can hold it together, I'd like to dance with my wife." Emma quickly waved her hand over Regina face and her make up was back to being perfect. Emma rarely used magic, for that matter no one in the family really used magic unless it was needed and Emma made an executive decision that the make up pouring down Regina's face needed to be fixed.
Once the brides were situated Emma nodded to Henry who took his seat at the piano and got the band ready to play. After a day full of over emotional songs Emma was glad they picked a more upbeat song to dance too. Henry led the band in and soon music filled the backyard.
She hails from Boston
She hates the sound that goodbyes make
She loves Sundays and champagne
She can't stand the winter, she can't stand anything she can't change, she can't change
She is whatever she wants to be, she is a little of everything, mixed up, so tough in a beautiful way
She's got the world at her fingertips, she makes beauty look effortless
And I want everything she is she is she is
Oh I want everything she is
Well we talk for hours but she wrote the book on hard to get
No it don't matter what I say
I could buy her flowers but that's just too cliché to impress a girl like her but you know I kinda like it that way
She is whatever she wants to be, she is a little of everything, mixed up, so tough in a beautiful way
She's got the world at her fingertips, she makes beauty look effortless
And I want everything she is, she is, she is, she is oh she is
And all I think about and I can't do without the good, the bad, the somewhere in between
Oh because I want everything she is.
Whatever she wants to be she's a little everything, mixed up so tough, in a beautiful way
She is whatever she wants to be, she is a little of everything, mixed up, so tough in a beautiful way
She's got the world at her fingertips, she makes beauty look effortless
And I want everything she is she is she is
Cause I want everything she is she is she is cause I want everything she is she is
Oh yeah
The music faded out and from his place at the piano Henry was certain he could see a bubble of white light surrounding his mothers. True love really was the most beautiful thing to witness.
Pretty sure I made myself tear up writing that. Hopefully it added to the story and you all liked it. I might do one more wedding chapter or I might leave it there an move on… thoughts? Reviews?