The Wedding
Today was the day that she had dreamt of. It had been nearly a year since she had proposed to Regina. They didn't want to wait a full one to be married especially because they knew they were ready for this. Fall was their favorite time of year. Opening up the windows feeling that wonderful autumn breeze pass through her hair Emma looked outside. The town was busy preparing for the wedding and Emma couldn't stop smiling.
Hearing a knock at her door Emma ran over to open it seeing her mother on the other side. "Mom." She gasped stepping aside to let her in. "We couldn't have planned this better since you're due in two months. Thank you for helping us with everything and being here for me." She helped Snow sit down.
"Emma, I wouldn't have missed any of this. I'm just happy you let me be a part of helping with the wedding. Ella will be over to help us with getting you into your dress. She just has to drop off Regina's and in just a couple of hours we'll be driving you over to walk the aisle." Snow clasped her hands together in awe and nearly in tears. "Oh Emma, I'm so happy for you."
Trying not to cry she sat down beside Snow embracing her. "I can't believe today is the day. Everything is perfect and as it should be. Soon we'll be a happy family which is all I ever wanted was a family. I have you and Dad and now so much more." Tears no longer able to be tamed rolled down her cheeks.
Knocking on the door a head poked inside with a dress sealed up in plastic in her hand overhead. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything but I do have a special delivery and a gift from the other bride." Ella smiled coming inside. "So, Emma, are you ready for the big day? I saw everything is coming together just lovely at the house. Granny's catering is going to amazing and the flowers play perfectly with everything." She handed Emma a card that was taped to a small box.
"Thanks, El. I appreciate it and I'm sure it is." Taking it from her she opened it up and read the car, standing up and pacing around in a circle. Smiling at the card,
'My beautiful Swan, I look forward to the moment we get to say our vows and I do. Because I do take you to be my loving wife for the rest of my life. It makes my heart soar to know that soon we will have our happily ever after. Thank you for choosing me. I made this headband to match my own to go with your viel. Ella will work it in. Let this be my first gift to you as your wife.'
Cupping her hand over her mouth with tears of joy Emma opened the box to find a nutmeg-colored laced headband with an elegant swan made with feathers for its wings on the side of it. Turning to face her mother and Ella. "It's perfect." She walked over and showed Snow and looked at Ella. "What does hers look like?"
Snow took it gently from Emma's hands looking at it, gasping in awe. "It's stunning and beyond perfect." She looked up at Emma handing her a tissue.
"What do you think?" Ella stood up going to unzip the bag containing the dress, her head cocked over her shoulders.
Smiling with a light laugh, "Red with an apple?" Emma questioned raising a brow. "If it isn't beaded or rhinestone for the apple I would be disappointed in her." She teased.
Both Ella and Snow laughed at Emma's comment. Ella nodded, "Yes it is red lace with an apple and yes Emma she didn't disappoint, the apple is made of rhinestones. Would you expect your queen to have anything but?" Ella pulled the dress out as Emma undressed and began slipping it on overhead. "Cora is making sure things are running smoothly before getting Regina ready."
Blinking confused, "Isn't that what our coordinator is for?" She looked at her when the dress came down. Straightening it out so the corset could be laced up. Ella was behind her humming lacing up the dress and straightening out the train. Placing the headband on top of her head with the veil.
"Where is that woman? She was supposed to be here directing everyone to their places. Why else would we have hired her?" Regina threw her hands up gritting her teeth, seething. "I want everything to be perfect and I'm not supposed to be stressing that things aren't going according to plan. I also can't be hovering over everything and everyone making sure it goes smooth when I'm supposed to be relaxing and enjoying the fact that this is the happiest day of my life!"
Cora rolled her eyes, "Calm down dear, it will be fine. I will check on everything and you know it will go perfectly. I have all the notes that you and Emma put together. Let's just get you in your dress. I made sure things so far are well and they are." She poured Regina a glass of scotch on the rocks passing it to her, "Calm the nerves. This will be everything you ever wanted. I promise you." She smiled at her before grabbing the dress. "You know we can just poof this on you and with a snap of our fingers just make everything exactly the way you want it. No coordinator necessary."
Raising a brow Regina took the drink and downed it, slamming the glass onto the table. "Mother, please, I want this to be no magic. So please, help me put it on so I can get more into the excitement than the stress I'm feeling knotted up in my stomach that this won't be perfect." She rushed her mother over and slipped off her silk red robe.
"Nothing will ever be perfect my dear, but we can get as close to it as possible." Cora assured her, "What will make it perfect is in the end you two are married. Everything else is just minor things to set the mood. No one will notice because all their eyes will be on you both." She stepped back smiling at her daughter after helping her get into her dress. "Do you need any help with your hair?"
Her heart melted at her mother's words. The first honest and most heartfelt things she could have ever said brought tears to Regina's eyes. "I have that under control thank you, Mother." She turned slowly in her dress and embraced Cora letting out the overwhelming tears. "Thank you for that," she whispered.
At first, she felt awkward, it had been an adjustment with her heart but it brought a smile to her face and a strange warm feeling to her chest at Regina's embrace. "Anything for you my pride and joy." She dabbed a cloth against the corners of her eyes before holding Regina's hands taking in the beauty of her daughter. "I'll be back to check in on you before we have to walk down. Your father would be in tears to see you like this."
"It's not like he hasn't seen me—" Regina began but was quick to be cut off by Cora's head shake.
"No, to see you this happy and in love dear. It's all he ever wanted for you. To find true love, I know you loved that stable boy but that was puppy love… This, with Emma, is the real deal I can tell." She patted her cheek wiping away some tears before exiting the room.
Regina glided over to her vanity, sitting down and making sure not to crinkle her gown. Touching up her makeup and slipping in some gold earrings that hung, cute apples at the tips. She pulled out her lipstick, a beautiful apple red, then rubbed her lips together. Brushing her hair she braided a section to the right side of her head as tightly as possible. Tying it off with a little rubberband. Pulling out the curling iron Regina began to curl the remainder of her hair to get a nice tight wave of curls. Applying a ton of hairspray to keep it held together. She took the tips of her fingers to prim it up while turning her head side to side to check the angles that looked good. "Perfect," she smiled reaching for her red laced headband with its rhinestone apple off to the side of it. Placing it on her head.
Her phone buzzed and Regina picked it up smiling to see a text message from Emma.
"My beloved Queen, I love the gift you made for me. It's perfect for today. The countdown is almost to zero. My heart is beating in my chest that soon you are about to be my wife and I am yours. I can't wait to say I do and seal it with true love's kiss. Because Miss Mills, you are my true love forever and always your Swan."
Regina dabbed her eyes with a tissue after reading the message. This woman, "How ever did I get so lucky?" She whispered under her breath setting down her phone. Reaching over to pour herself another drink Regina heard a knock at the door and Cora popped her head inside.
"It's time dear. Are you ready for true happiness?"
The sun was perfect with just enough clouds to keep some shade. That beautiful autumn breeze made the setting of their wedding. Just how Regina had always imagined it. A red and white bouquet in her hands as she walked down the satin sheet. Her mother linked arms with her making Regina thrilled she was handing her off to Emma. A smile stretched so high on her face to show how excited she was. All eyes were on her as she passed through the aisle toward the little wooden platform in front of her tree. A white arch covered in flowers and vines, she passed through before stepping onto the platform. Birds singing in the trees.
Sucking in a sharp breath she waited, anxious the louder the piano played their song. Just then her eyes locked onto the most beautiful woman in the world…
Trying not to cry Emma sucked in a deep breath while David walked her down the satin sheet. Gripping onto her bouquet to ignore the anxiety. This was it. But then it all faded away the moment she saw Regina standing in front of the apple tree. Her breath was taken from her seeing how beautiful she looked in her dress. Her lips tugged up in the corners slowly to then suddenly a giant smile painted her face. "Dad… she's beautiful." She wept tears of joy.
Standing on the platform beside Regina, her father to her other side and Cora to the opposite side of Regina. Rumple stood before them with his hands folded together. "Welcome dearly beloved. To a wedding of the century. Where these two women will join hands together in happily ever after." Rumple turned towards Regina and Cora, "And who might I ask gives this woman away?"
Cora stepped forward, "I do, her mother." She turns around to face Regina and lifts her veil from over her face. Planting a kiss on her cheek, "May you have everything you ever wanted in life dear." She patted her cheek, took the bouquet, and moved off the platform to stand in front of her chair.
Rumple then turns to David and Emma, "And who may I ask gives this woman away?"
David stepped forward, "I do, her father." Turning to face Emma he lifts her veil and holds her hands. Leaning in to kiss her cheek he pulls back and smiles. "Your mother and I are so proud of you to find your way to your happy ending like we did." David sidestepped to take Regina's hand and folded their hands together before standing beside Snow and holding her hand.
Regina and Emma faced each other smiling, their gazes deep as brown and green eyes locked together. Almost entranced by one another.
"Now, they have written their own vows so I will let them speak before I continue further." Rumple bowed his head towards them.
Clearing out her throat Regina held tightly onto both of Emma's hands, "Emma, I thought I would never find love again. When I was young I always believed that there was only one true love and that when he was taken from me I lost hope in ever finding happiness. So, I tormented others and blamed everyone for my misery. Then, one day, I met you. Meeting you was the greatest gift I could have ever asked for. You made my heart beat in a way I never thought it would again except this time it was different. Because I may have loved once but it was never true until I fell for you. I promise to love you forever and never to let you feel alone again."
Sniffling her vision blurring from the tears Emma reached out to take a tissue from Rumple to wipe her eyes, dabbing it to not mess up her makeup. "This is why I wore waterproof," she joked trying to lighten herself a little. Everyone laughed with her including Regina. Rubbing her thumbs over the top of Regina's knuckles Emma took in a quick breath before slowly exhaling, "Regina, I never thought anyone could ever understand me the way you have. I always thought I was alone in the world and no one wanted me. Turns out I was wrong." She looked over at her parents and Henry then back at Regina. "I at one point in my youth thought I found that one person, but it turned out he wasn't the one. But with that lesson and heartbreak, I was lost again until I made a wish for the first time ever on my birthday. I met Henry and then I met you. We didn't see eye to eye but once we both let down the walls that we built up we began to understand something important, each other." Trying not to choke on her own words as she teared up. "I am thankful every day that we have had together and I can't wait to have more with you for the rest of our lives. By marrying you it's not just me having a wife, but a best friend for life."
All their friends and family tearing up at their vows, even Rumple shedding a few of his own. Sucking a breath he shook himself of the feeling before continuing, "Such beautiful words and promises to each other. The journey was long and finally, this chapter is closing for the two of you to write a new one together. If anyone wishes to speak now, or forever hold their peace, I pronounce you both wife and wife. You may kiss the bride"
Regina and Emma leaned in, arms wrapped around the other as they gave a passionate kiss to seal their vows.
A cackling broke out through a green haze of smoke that filled the aisle. Out of the smoke, a green woman with red hair and ruby lips twirled about in her black gown. "Just how lovely, what beautiful brides. How does it feel to finally think your story is over?" She raised a brow and waltzed over towards Regina and Emma. "Reunited with our mother, beloved by those you tormented and marrying the daughter of the woman you sought revenge on. Why that is quite the twisted tale." She laughed mockingly, her hips swaying, fingers stroking over the chairs down the center aisle.
"Zelena?" They both gasped staring at the woman, "Your skin… it's green and… just what the hell is going on here?" Regina barked. "I demand to know what game you're playing here." Her eyes beamed over toward her mother.
Catching the gaze exchanged between her mother and sister Zelena waved her hands pulling them both towards her. "It doesn't surprise me in the least you never told her about me. Then again you gave me away in exchange for your chances at a better life, didn't you? Pitiful."
"Mother." Regina gasped and Cora just rolled her eyes.
"What do you want?" Cora replied caught in a bind of magic. "You want me to apologize for giving you up? Or apologize that I never came to take you back? I was young and ambitious."
Scoffing her bind on Regina grew tighter, "I could have been a far better daughter. More successful than her." Her eyes loomed up and down Regina then glanced over at Rumple who stood there in silence. "I would have been a better student, far more powerful than Regina. But no one cared to give me a chance. When I found you," she looked at Cora, "you looked at me as if I was a stranger and turned me away wanting nothing to do with me."
"You would have ruined everything I had worked for," Cora snapped at her trying to shake off the spell that held her there.
"Mother, she's telling the truth? I have a sister?" Regina gasps, "If I knew…"
"HA, if you knew then what? You'd have begged Mother to take me in? No, it's too late for any of that nonsense. No, I'll show you how revenge really works dear sister." She flung Regina back into the apple tree. Emma rushes to her side along with Henry. "Yes, in fact, it's already beginning. I'm about to reset this town into my own. Taking away your happily ever after. Ripping you away from those you love. It's my turn to have the life you had and now will never have." She laughed twirling about being swept away by green smoke. "Goodbye, Regina."