A/N: And we're at the last chapter. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have. I was thinking of doing a sequel but I don't know; let me know what you think. Thanks to all who have stuck with this story and put up with my sporadic updates. You guys are the best.
Signing off (for now),
~Ali
…
"Then love again…"
…
"Hey what's wrong," Emma asks, as she slides under the covers.
Regina smiles as she curls into her fiancés side and rests her head on the blonde's shoulder. "Nothing is wrong dear. I'm very content right now," she sighs tiredly as her eyes start slipping closed.
"I'm glad you are content," the blonde replies. Regina hums quietly in replace of an answer. "Goodnight, Regina," she says after a few minutes of silence. She places a kiss on the top of the brunette's head. "I love you." She falls quickly into sleep then, barely catching the words repeated back to her by her fiancé.
"I love you too."
…
"You don't want a big wedding," Emma asks, as the three sit for breakfast. She unceremoniously shovels a forkful of runny eggs into her mouth, yolk dripping a thin line down her chin. Brunette mother and son share a grimace to which Emma smirks. "They're delicious, leave me alone," she jokes, wiping the mess with the back of her hand.
"I'm not saying that," Regina says simply.
Emma rolls her eyes. "You literally just did."
"I merely said it would be more comfortable for everyone if we didn't invite the entire town to our wedding," the brunette continues with a glare.
The blonde raises her hands in defense. "I'm up for anything. When I was a kid, I never saw myself in some huge wedding or getting married at all so I'm cool with whatever you want." She pauses and then adds, "as long as there is lots of food I'm there."
Henry tries to smother his laughter by crunching on his toast but his mother still cuts him a glare. "I'm thrilled that the thought of our wedding day sums up to what food we will be eating Miss Swan."
"Oh, you are so in the dog house mom," Henry snickers.
This time Emma glares and tosses a hash brown at him. "I wouldn't say dog house Henry," Regina says, "but we do have a cat condo."
"Okay, okay," Emma tries, raising her hands once again in defeat. "Henry, why don't you bring the leftovers into the kitchen?"
Regina's brow furrows but she nods when their son looks to her for confirmation. "Okay," he replies, standing and doing as his blonde mother says.
When he's out of earshot Emma turns to Regina. "You do know I'm joking right? I wouldn't care if it was just me, you and Henry," the blonde says seriously.
"I know dear," the brunette says quietly, fingers playing a rhythm around her glass.
Emma gets up and moves until she is in front of Regina. She kneels down and grabs the brunette's hands, gently pulling Regina's chin until she meets blue eyes with her dark honey ones. "I'm not going anywhere Regina. I'm staying right here with you and Henry. Okay?"
Regina nods and gives Emma a smile. "Henry's probably waiting to come back in, we shouldn't keep him waiting," the brunette says quietly.
"Only if you mean that smile," Emma argues.
Regina shoots her a withering stare before the corners of her mouth turn up a little, giving her away. "I love you Emma," she replies earnestly.
Emma places a gentle kiss to Regina's palm before meeting her gaze. "I love you too Regina." She pauses before calling Henry back in, "Hey kid, bring dessert in would you?"
"'Kay," he calls back. Regina and Emma chuckle.
…
"You know, I don't like this whole, 'can't see my bride the night before my wedding', tradition," Emma admits in an exhaustion laced voice.
She's rewarded with a throaty chuckle from the other end of the phone. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder, dear."
"I hope you know what you're getting into Regina. Patience was never my strong suit."
Regina's voice lowers to a whisper, sending chills down Emma's spine, "you can when you want to be." Even from across the town Emma is surprised by the effect the mayor has on her.
"When it suits my needs," Emma purrs in response. To lighten, the ever darkening – in a good way – tone of conversation, Emma asks, "Henry in bed?"
"No, he passed out on the couch while we were watching a movie and I'm afraid that he has gotten too big for me to carry him up to his room," the dark-haired woman's voice has softened the same way it does every time they speak of their son. There's a pause and Emma can imagine that Regina must be running her fingers through his dark curls. "I wish you were here tonight, Emma," Regina whispers.
Emma smiles as she sinks lower into the blankets of her old bed at her parent's apartment, where she had been ordered for the night. "I wish I was too, Gina," the blonde's voice giving away how tired she was. "You should get some sleep before tomorrow." They both knew it probably wouldn't happen with Emma absent from their large bed.
Regina laughs softly. "I will see you at the ceremony tomorrow Miss Swan, don't be late," she hangs up before Emma can get another word in. She snorts in amusement before tossing her phone onto the nightstand.
It would come as no surprise that when both finally drifted off to the abyss that is sleep, they would be thinking of each other.
…
Mary-Margaret stifled the laugh that threatened to spill forth as she watched her daughter pace back and forth in the guest room of the mansion. "Emma, calm down. Everything is going to go smoothly, have you even met Regina?"
Emma shoots her a withering glare that would have made her fiancé proud. "I know things on her part will go off without a hitch but on mine it's an entirely different story. I'm going to trip or forget my vows or I don't even know. Something is going to go wrong."
The brunette mother rolls her eyes and comes to stand in front of her daughter, grasping her shoulder tightly with one hand and tilting her chin so they are looking each other in the eyes. "Emma, you are not as big of a screw up as you think you are," she starts. Catching the look her daughter gives her she continues with a smirk, "and as long as you don't take off running in the other direction and you walk down the aisle and wait for your soon-to-be wife and your son you will be fine. The woman in that other room loves you, she does. I have seen her look at another with the same expressions on her face that she has when she looks at you and doesn't think anybody notices. I have seen her in love before and she loves with all her soul. You know how long it took to get to this point. The measures it took for her to admit that she does love you. You died Emma. It took you dying for her to admit what she felt because she is so used to everyone that she cares about dying. She thinks it's because she loves them and you marrying her, you erasing the memories of her marriage to my father, because looking back I see now that she wasn't happy, is what it's going to take for her to see she truly can be happy. You need to love her with everything you have Emma, because if you don't plan to, you cannot go through with this and break her heart. I don't want that to happen to her again. I see that panic in your eyes Emma, I can see it setting in that this is getting real. You will be married to her in less than two hours and you will need to stay here, protecting her and Henry. I want you to promise me, before you go and make your promises to Regina, promise me you won't run away."
Emma takes a shuttering breath. The blonde curls framing her face swinging when she dips her head as everything her mother has said to her sinks in heavily. When she once again looks up there is a steely resolve in her eyes. She nods her head once, strongly. "I promise."
Mary-Margaret sighs with a small encouraging smile. She pulls Emma in for a tight hug. "Thank you," she whispers into blonde curls. "I love you."
"I love you too, mom."
The door creaks as it opens; both women's heads shoot towards it. "Everyone decent," David's low voice asks.
Emma wipes a stray tear from her cheek as she replies softly, "yeah, all good in here."
Two figures slide into the room: David and Henry.
"Ma, you look lovely," Henry declares, as he saunters into her open arms for a hug.
"Not too shabby yourself, kid," Emma replies as they pull away from one another. She takes in his crisp suit and straight tie. "Your mom help you with that," she asks when she sees him pulling at it and Mary-Margaret helping David with his own just off to the side.
He rubs at the back of his neck and a crooked grin, so similar to hers, makes its way onto his face. "Yeah," he admits. "It feels like its strangling me."
Emma chuckles and reaches up, yes up, to loosen it a tad. "There, she will never know the difference."
He lets out a short bark of laughter before concluding, "She probably will."
They share a grin as Emma's parents join them once more. "I think it's time," David says as he gazes fondly at his daughter. "I'd hoped to give you away one day Emma, but for a while there, I was worried it would never happen."
The blonde rolls her eyes and shoves her father's shoulder. "Let's get this show on the road," she quips with a clap of her hands.
Once they are out of the guest room that had served as a changing room for Emma, Henry heads in the opposite direction. "I'll see you guys out there. Hopefully with my mother on my arm," he claims, with a laugh.
Emma shares a nervous smile with her parents. "You ready," Mary-Margaret asks.
With a resolute nod Emma replies, "As I'll ever be."
…
"Mom, you dressed," Henry calls through the door, knocking lightly.
A few seconds pass before it is flung open and Henry leaps away to keep his balance. His brunette mother stands in the doorway, holding it open with one hand and pulling nervously at her dress with her other. "Whoa, mom, you look, wow," Henry stutters out.
A faint blush creeps up her cheeks as she ushers him in. "Thank you Henry," she replies.
They stand across from each other in silence. Henry, inheriting his patience from his birthmother is the one to break it, "you ready to marry my mother? Who would have thought she'd ever get married."
A spout of nervous laughter bubbles from Regina's lips. "Yeah, who would have thought? Who would have thought that we would go from hating each other to getting married?" Her shoulders sag as she breathes out, her mind whirling a mile a minute. With no further prompt, Henry wraps his mother up in his arms and he's startled when he realizes how small his mother actually is. She leans into him, her chin resting on his shoulder. "I love you, my little prince," she whispers.
He chuckles. "I love you too mom, but I'm not so little anymore."
"I know," she laughs. She pulls away and wipes a stray tear from her cheek. "Okay, I think I'm ready. What about you? Are you ready?"
"I've been ready for a long time, mom. So let go get you married," Henry announces. He holds his arm out to his mother. "Shall we?"
She takes it with a wide grin and replies, "we shall."
…
Everything is as the brides had wanted. It's a mixture of both classy and casual on this warm summer's day. The blue fairy, or as she prefers to go by, Mother Superior, stands waiting under an arched trellis that had been decorated with ambrosia and angrec flowers, which stands under the apple tree in Regina and Emma's backyard. Chairs are arranged around the carpeted walkway, where the brides will soon be making their entrance, draped with white coverings and dressed in red sashes. It looks fairytale perfect. The guests, consisting of close friends and family, maybe a few of the town folk here and there, are dressed for the event of the century in formal attire. The women wear dresses while the men wear dress pants and button up shirts.
Mary-Margaret enters the back yard and everyone turns to her, hoping nothing had gone astray with the flighty brides. "They're fine," she assures everyone, an easy smile on her face letting them know the statement is true.
Everyone settles in, finding their seats. Mary-Margaret takes a seat up front, an empty chair beside her for David. On her other side sits Ruby and Granny. Others are spread out along the chairs. Robin sits surrounded by his merry men. Kathryn and Tinker bell are chatting with a few of the dwarves and other fairies. the backyard is buzzing with talk of the wedding and easy conversation. All the guests fall silent as the back door opens and Roland and little Neal come strolling down the walkway, the older of the boys clutching Neal's pudgy hand with one of his and the other holing onto a pillow with two rings upon it. It grows silent, the anticipation building. No one makes a noise, which in itself is a huge feat for the normally rambunctious crowd. Their eyes turn to Blue for direction. She smiles.
"Everyone please stand," she commands gently. No one needs to be told twice a whisper falling over the crowd as their excitement grows. Emma stands in the doorway, clutching her father's arm as if for dear life. "You'll be fine," he whispers, breathe tickling her ear as he leans in. She stiffens when she walks into the open and all eyes turn to her. "You look beautiful," he continues as they start the slow walk down the aisle. His words ease her whirring brain and she offers a soft smile.
"I should be used to the attention, but without my jacket and jeans it all feels a little much," she whispers back.
He smiles his 'charming' smile and says quietly, "the dress is gorgeous and I'm sure your wife will appreciate you not wearing your normal outfits."
They share a chuckle and stop in front of Blue. David moves off to the side and Emma turns back to the entrance way to the house, waiting for her bride, her love, her son's mother and the person she was willing to spend eternity waiting for.
Well, not to long. She wasn't patient after all. "Please, remain standing," Mother Superior's voice floats over the crowd.
The crowd is stunned into silence as Regina appears on Henry's arm. The boy holds a candle, in honour of her father. His mother's hand shakes on his arm and he whispers, "you're doing great mom. Ma's waiting right there for you. You're doing great."
She smiles at him, the softened expression she only uses with him and his other mother.
She chuckles softly, "Operation wedding bells is almost complete."
They share a grin and when Regina's gaze turns to meets Emma's her heart seems to stop in her chest, causing her to stumble. She recovers quickly and admires the way the dress her soon-to-be wife hugs all her curves and gives her porcelain skin a glow. Emma stands, her jaw slack as she takes in the beauty of her Regina. The brunette had opted for an off-white dress that hugged her torso and flared out at her hips. Tears welled in the blonde's eyes as Regina drew nearer but she forced them back and shoved her shoulders even more straight than they had been. They were both ready to become Mrs. and Mrs. Swan-Mills.
They locked eyes and didn't look away. They would never look away again and that much was certain. When Regina and Henry reach where Emma and Blue are standing, he hands the candle off to Emma, who places it into a holder off to the side. While the blonde is occupied doing this very important task, Henry pulls Regina in for a tight embrace. "I love you mom, I don't tell you enough but I love you so much," he admits into her neck.
Tears well in her own eyes, "I love you too Henry."
He pulls away and sees his blonde mother waiting, albeit impatiently if the crinkle of her forehead is anything to go by. He smiles at her and the impatience fades. Henry, takes both his mother's hands and pulls them together, until they clasp hands tightly. a jolt runs up both their arms, their emotions amplifying their magic. Nothing else matters in this moment but the two of them. "Dearly beloved," Blue starts and everyone sits down. "We are gathered her today to witness the Saviour and the Mayor join together in holy matrimony. The brides would like to share a few words."
"Regina," Emma begins. She stops, clears her throat and continues, "It took us long enough, but we're finally here. WE made it and though the journey was long and strenuous and I was sure you were going to kill me at a point or two..." That draws a chuckle from the guests. "I have loved you more every day."
Regina smiles and her hand moves to wipe away the stray tears dripping down her cheeks. Emma's hand on her cheek stops her and she leans into it as the blonde's thumb sweeps away the tear gently. "I was married once, a long time ago, and it was not what I thought a marriage should be. Living with you these past few years gave me more than that marriage ever did and I'm hoping this will only be the beginning. I love you."
They exchange the official vows, each repeating after Mother Superior. By the end they are both crying.
"Roland, can we have the rings please." The little boy steps forward, a wide grin on his face and hands over the pillow. Emma and Regina chuckle as they take it from him and remove the rings. The rings are simple gold bands, as neither woman is the flashy sort and they slip the rings onto their partners ring fingers.
Blue smiles as she continues, "with the power invested in me, I now pronounce you Mrs. and Mrs. Swan-Mills. You may kiss your bride."
Everyone cheers when the newlywed couple leans in, placing a chaste kiss on the others lips. Ruby shouts, "lame," which causes the women and all present to laugh. Emma cups Regina's cheeks and pulls her in once more, deepening the kiss. Regina's hands grip her waist to keep her anchored and for the two, at least for a moment, everything else fades away.
…
It was their anniversary and like when she had first been kissed by Emma, the two were spending it with their family at Granny's. Well, an anniversary lunch anyways, seeing as how both women had to get back to work shortly.
"Wow, it's been a year already," David comments. "It seemed to fly right by."
Emma gazes at Regina, an enamored look on her face. She doesn't respond to her father, just reaches over to tuck a lock of hair behind the brunette's ear. Regina stills the hand that had started caressing her cheek by lacing their fingers together and resting it atop the table.
Mary-Margaret and David share a look before standing. "We'd better be off," the blonde's mother says as way of goodbye but neither woman is paying attention.
Emma offers a noncommittal hum as the two leave. As soon as they're gone she pulls Regina closer, possible since they are in one of the booths. "Emma," Regina chastises, as she shifts off the lap she had just been yanked onto.
"I love you," the blonde whispers, burying her nose into dark locks bunched at Regina's neck.
Regina sighs contentedly. "I love you too, dear, but I really do have to get back to work."
"You're the mayor," Emma whines. "You're the boss lady, can't you decide when or when you don't have to work."
"I have responsibilities, dear," Regina replies. "But I will make it up to you when I get home."
A dark gleam flashes in her eyes causing Emma to smirk. "Well, then we'd better get you off to work so we can celebrate our anniversary properly." She nudges the brunette from the booth, who complies with a laugh and they exit the diner hand in hand.
They walk to the street where they need to separate paths. The brunette needing to head in the direction of her car and the blonde needing to jog/walk back to the station.
They share a quick kiss with short, 'I'll see you when you get home's. Halfway down the street, Emma turns back with a smile.
It falters when she sees Regina being shoved roughly away from her car and the man pushing her, raising a weapon. As he brings it down fast Emma's scream of "Regina", does nothing to block out the brunette's own scream of pain when the knife buries itself above her heart.
Everything for Emma goes black as Regina crumples to the ground.
…
What happens is she more like stumbles into consciousness. First she becomes aware of her own breathing. Then, the sound of an insistent beeping noise and shuffling fills her ears. Next is the feel of cool sheets surrounding her achy body.
She groans as she tries to shift slightly to relieve the ache in her back. Gasp echo around the room. What room? She's not sure, but the voice she hears is her sons. It sounds much deeper than it had that morning but it was indeed deeper as he questions, "mom? Nurse!"
She tries to blink her eyes open but is bombarded by a blinding light. She tries again and finds it's a little better than last time, though still painful. She catches sight of Henry. Did he have a growth spurt within the few hours since she'd seen him? He was taller and looked more… mature. Was that stubble, growing? Her mouth opens to question the tears spilling down his cheeks but all that comes out is a hacking cough. He grabs for the cup on bedside table and holds it for her to sip from. It soothes her scratchy throat enough for her to ask, "What's going on?" Her brow furrows when it doesn't sound quite right to her own ears.
A woman in scrubs appears at the side of her bed and gasps. She turns to Henry and says, "I'll go get Dr. Whale." She disappears form Emma's line of sight.
The blonde turns back to her son who had his phone out and is whispering into it hurriedly. "Miss Swan," Whale says, as he appears by her side.
"Swan," Emma asks, confused. No Swan-Mills? Where was her wife? Where was Regina?
"Do you remember what happened, Emma," he asks, shining a light in her eyes and checking her vitals.
She pauses a moment, collecting her hazy thoughts, before she licks her lips and replies, "Regina was attacked in the street. We had been at Granny's celebrating our anniversary this morning and the man attacked her and I blacked out."
Henry and Whale share a look. Before either can say a word, David and Mary-Margaret burst into the room, the blonde's mother shouting, "Emma!"
The woman looks older to Emma. A previous smooth face is now wrinkled around her eyes and forehead. David too looks older, flecks of gray prominent in his blond hair. Her mother has tears in her eyes as she hugs her carefully. David turns to Whale. "Does she know what's going on?"
"Of course I know what's going on, where's Regina," Emma asks. "Is she okay?"
They all share a look. "Emma," the brunette woman starts, before her voice cracks. She clears it but tears well in her eyes. "You've been in a coma."
"What," Emma's voice is incredulously. "What are you talking about? Where's my wife? Where's Regina?" She turns to Henry. "Where's your mom, Henry, where is she?"
He shakes his head and swallows thickly. "Mom," he starts. "It's been ten years. You were protecting mom when she was attacked, she died. You were never married, you were never together. You've been in a coma this whole time."
The blonde shakes her head, tears welling in her eyes. "No," she chokes out, looking between the faces in the room. She waits for someone to shout "April fools" or "surprise", but it never comes. "Please no."
"I'm so sorry Emma," Mary-Margaret whispers, as the used-to-be strong-willed woman sobs with her eyes clenched shut.
"I never told her how I felt…"
The End