2 months later, the day before the wedding
Regina pov
"Are you sure you want to spend tonight apart? I know you have less nightmares when im here and i dont want you to not get any rest." I shake my head at her. "Yes, Emma, i will be fine. You have fun staying with Ruby tonight and Belle and i will be here. We can always call each other. We just cant see each other. I want something to be traditional about this. I know we are true loves and seeing each other wont actually curse us but its the anticipation. Because im marrying you tomorrow and i know i wouldnt be able to keep my hands off of you tonight. The next time i see you after dinner tonight, will be when im walking down the aisle to give myself to you for all eternity." Emma kisses me and i can feel all her emotion in it.
"My life would be meaningless without you by my side. You are the most amazing woman, Regina. So strong and beautiful and kind. I wish time could slow down after we are married. I want as much time with you as i can get. Wedding, reception, goodbyes and then we will be on our way to our honeymoon in California. 2 weeks where i have you all to myself. No interruptions." I sigh. "Yes. 2 weeks of romance and fun. Beaches and dancing at the beachside bar in our resort. Massages and mani pedis. And most importantly 2 weeks of me and you showing each other exactly how much we love each other. I cant wait to be your wife, Emma. One night and then we have forever. And our forever will be longer than most. People with magic tend to live far longer than those without."
Emma smiles and wraps her arms around me. She pulls me close and hugs me gently. I can feel her breathe on my neck and it makes me so content. "I love you Regina. Im going to miss you so much tonight. Lets eat before Ruby comes to drag me away from you." She says as she lets go and turns to the kitchen counter. She grabs both plates of tacos before she sets them on the table. I join her and we both sit. I take her hand across the table. And we eat in comfortable silence until we hear a hard knock at the door. Emma grips my hand tighter. "Let me in or ill huff and ill puff and blow your house down." I hear Ruby yell out. Belles tinkling laugh follows that statement and Emma grins wide. "I better go get the door before the big bad wolf tears our home apart." I chuckle out. I stand and walk calmly to the door.
When i open the door im immediately greeted by 4 arms wrapped around me. "Regina! Youre getting married tomorrow! Im so so so happy for you. I cant wait to see you walk down that aisle." Ruby bursts out. Belle just smiles and picks up her bag for the night. "Give me one second to set this down please and i need to run to the car to get my dress for tomorrow from the back." Belle walks to the living room and sets her bag down and when she returns from the car with her garment bag i can feel the anxiety kicking in. Emma will be gone tonight. As soon as i feel my hands start to shake i feel warm hands wrap around me from behind. "Baby, its going to be ok. You can do this i promise. If you cant im only a phone call and a quick poof away." Emma whispers in my ear before she kisses the side of my head. She rocks me gently in a side to side motion. Ruby comes in from the living room just then.
"Hey, is everything ok? I couldnt help but hear what you said. Wolf hearing. Whats wrong Regina?" I look up at her. Noone but Emma and doctor Hopper know what ive been through. But Ruby and Belle are my best friends. They deserve to know at least part of it. "Well, um… lets go in the living room and have a seat. Theres some things you all should know." Emma looks at me in question. "Regina are you sure you want to do this? Its alot to put yourself through." I just nod and respond. "Yes dear im sure. They are our best friends. They should know. Especially if something were to ever happen again." I hold onto Emmas hand as we walk into the living room.
We all sit around the room. Ruby and Belle across from Emma and me. Emma has her arm around my back and is holding my hand in her other for support. "So, its a long story about why that im not going to go into, at least not right now in depth. But being married to Leo wasnt a bed of roses like some would assume. There were alot of horrible things he did, some that almost killed me." Ruby interrupts. "Regina, did he… take advantage of you?" I swallow thickly. "The short answer is yes Ruby. But thats only part of it. After i killed him, i started having nightmares that were really just flashbacks. I didnt know how to deal with them and they caused such panic. I chose to take it out on myself. It helped for a very long time. But it made other things worse."
Belle interrupts this time. "What do you mean you took it out on yourself? None of that was your fault Regina." I nod again and roll up my sleeves. I show them my arms. "This is what i mean. My legs are much worse. I hadnt cut my arms since Henry was born except for a few months ago. Thats where the red scars are from. And its why ill have a glamour spell on my skin tomorrow at the wedding. Well, that and because my back is so scarred up from my mother. Im learning that it wasnt my fault. But when the memories come, it feels like it was. I always feel like i should have found a way out. But i didnt and i cant go back. And i wouldnt go back, because the things i did and the things i went through, brought me to now. To having a son and getting married to the love of my life. But i destroyed myself for over 30 years. I also found out i have bipolar depression and have been given medication to help with that. Things are getting better. Emma has helped so much with dealing with my past and my current struggles. Shes a Godsend if im being honest."
Both Belle and Ruby have tears in their eyes and Emma is rubbing my back with one hand and running her fingers up and down my wrist closest to her. She does this alot without realizing it. Its very soothing. I lean into Emmas side as Ruby stands. She comes over and gets on her knees. She takes my free hand and flips my wrist over. She studies what she sees there, where the deep red fresher scars are and the old faded white and silver scars. "Regina, im so sorry i never noticed. I should have. I should have seen it before. If im being honest i suspected for a while, but i dismissed the idea because you were you. Regal, refined, royal Regina. Always on your game no matter the situation. I smelled the blood on you often. Less so when you started dating Emma and then not at all. I just chalked it up as my nose being weird. I should have asked you. Im so sorry." Before i have a chance to respond to that, Belle speaks up.
"If its not too forward, can we see your legs Regina? I want to see how much we missed, how many times we could have helped had we known." I just shake my head as i stand. I magic booty shorts on instead of my pants. Both ladies gasp and Belle lets out a soft cry. "Thats why the blood smell was so potent all the time. God, Regina. These had to have been deep enough to need stitches every time." Ruby says. "Guys, none of this was your fault. If you had known you wouldnt have been able to stop it. I didnt want to stop even for Emma. As much as i hated myself for doing it, i craved it. I still crave it all the time. I just find better things to put my energy into instead. Please, dont blame yourselves for my lack of control."
Emma looks over at me and touches my chin so im looking into her eyes. "Are you going to be ok tonight? I know talking about this can bring up memories. We can all stay here and u and Belle can go sleep in our room while Ruby and i sleep in a guest room. We dont have to see each other. Ill text you in the morning to let you know when we've left to go get ready and you can come down to get yourself ready." I think about that for a moment. "Actually, thats a really good idea, Emma. Thank you. Just knowing you are home will help me sleep better. Ariel and Tink will be here at 9 to help me with my hair and makeup and get ready themselves. So you will have to be up and out before 9."
Emma nods and kisses my cheek. "Ok baby. I plan to be out before then anyway. Violet and Ella will be at Ruby and Belles house at 9 as well. We need to say goodbye for now though. You wanted to separate at 8 tonight and its already 10:30. We need to sleep." I pout at her for a moment, rethinking my choice but i know this is what i want. "Ok baby. I love you so much. I cant wait to be Regina Swan-Mills." Emma scoops me up as we stand and she actually lifts me. I wrap my legs around her hips and kiss her deeply with as much passion as i can. This is our last kiss until our wedding kiss. I release my legs and drop gently back to the floor. "I love you Regina. Far more than you can imagine. Dont cry, please. Goodnight baby. Sleep well." I smile a watery smile. I dont know when i teared up but i did. "Goodnight my love." I turn and grab Belles garment bag and her toiletries. She takes her other bag and we both head to mine and Emmas room.