((A/N :: I couldn't help myself but add more to this. It was too cute not to write. Hope you like it.))
Dress Shopping and Secrets || Emma's Experience
"What do you think of this one?" Emma pulled out a simple straight-laced dress with a long v-line down the center. Turning to her mother holding it up against her.
"Emma, pick anything you want to try on and we will see. But, if I'm honest with you I always imagined you in something more—"
"Princess-ey?" Emma laughed holding onto the dress until the woman helping her came by to take it. She continued to look through more of the simple styles. "I never was one to be flashy. I can try a ballgown style. I'm not a hundred percent against it. It's just that I like straight or mermaid silhouettes."
Giddy with excitement Snow began picking out a bunch of ball gown dresses. Ones with long trains, lace, and tulle. "As long as you aren't against trying them!" She exclaimed. "Now, tell me again why you and Regina aren't doing this together?"
Continuing to shuffle through the dresses. Being selective about what she was looking for. There were many she liked but not yet saying wear me. "Because we wanted to surprise each other and share these moments with our own mothers. Could you imagine doing this with Cora?"
Snow shuddered, "It wouldn't have been terrible but I do like not having her eyes rolling onto the ground at my excitement. But we could have invited Ruby or your dad or Henry…"
Laughing Emma finished looking through the dresses. "Okay, I think between the two of us we have enough selection. And we could have. But I am enjoying spending time with you. Plus Henry and Dad want to be surprised."
Setting up the changing room the woman came out and her eyes lit up. "Emma and Snow? How wonderful it is to see you both! Emma, you're getting married?" The woman gasped and nearly ran over to give them each a hug.
Awkwardly Emma returned the hug. "Yeah? I mean of course." Her hands rubbed up and down her sides. "I thought everyone in town knew by now. Especially since you're friends with my mom." Her eyes shifted over towards Snow.
Snow moved to embrace her friend, "Ella, thank you for booking our appointment. I thought I told you on the phone that we were here for Emma."
Running her hands over her face, Ella felt her cheeks turning a bright hue of red. "I am so sorry, it's just I've been so tired of trying to run the boutique and then juggle motherhood. Of course, yes, yes, I'm so sorry. Forgive me." Her hands rested on her chest over her heart.
"Of course we do, now, we desperately need your help—" Snow began after another quick embrace to her friend.
Being cut off mid-sentence, "I can tell. You have more than enough options but they seem all over the place. Well, actually in two separate directions, I might add. We will go ahead and try them on and see what it is you like about each dress. Then we will go from there and I'll help to find that dress that will complete your happily ever after! Your prince—ss— er— queen will be sure to cry?" She gave a light embraced laugh scratching the back of her head. "Come with me Emma, let's begin. Snow, please do take a seat over there," she gestured towards a chair that sat on the floor in front of the mirrors by the dressing room.
Happily, Snow went and took a seat and Emma was scootched into the dressing room with Ella behind her. "Thank you for this, Ella, really I do appreciate it." Emma gave a small smile as she undressed and Ella began helping her into the first dress. "I know it's been an adjustment to many with Regina's and I's relationship but it means a lot to have the support of everyone."
Slipping Emma into the first gown, clamping the back to fit her, and then fanning out the bottom of the dress Ella was silent as she focused. Smiling at her she opened the door, "Of course, I don't mind and I'd never ruin a bride's moment. This is all about you and your mom bonding. Given she will be occupied soon, it warms my heart you both are doing this now. The wedding is soon right?"
Her smile soon faded the moment she looked at her mother. The excitement faded as many thoughts had begin rolling through her head. "Mom, is there something you want to talk to me about?"
Before Snow could get any comments about the dress out of her mouth she was caught off guard. Her head tilted and she glanced between Emma and Ella, "I— don't understand, what are we talking about?" Her words stammered slightly.
Waving her hand over her head she flagged down Snow, "That would probably be my fault, I thought that she knew… about—" She made a gesture rubbing over her stomach.
Emma nearly gawked as she stumbled to the side lifting up her dress, "Are you pregnant?" Emotions flocked over her, unbeknownst to her how exactly to feel at that moment. Excited? Upset? Abandoned? Happy? Angry?
Choking on her saliva Snow cleared out her throat, her hand balled into a fist knocking against her chest. Her complexion was paler than normal and clammy even. Glancing away as she collected her thoughts she looked at Emma while she stood back to her feet. "Yes, Emma, I am. We just found out—"
"Just found out but Ella knows before me?" Emma barked insulted by those very words. She had been planning the proposal and now a wedding but she just recently found out that someone else knew before her. "When exactly were you planning on telling me, Snow?" her anger took over and the betrayal had officially kicked in.
"Emma, I was going to tell you first but it was hard. You were excited about the engagement and I didn't want the idea of my pregnancy to overshadow the wedding of your dreams with the woman you love. I wanted the attention on you. And I knew if you knew before everything that you'd be worried about me that you'd be afraid we couldn't do things together. I didn't want that. So I had to tell someone and I knew Ella would be making your dress and that she could make me my dress for the wedding and possibly hide the pregnancy if we could until afterward." Snow reached for her daughter's hands, holding them closely towards her. Looking deep into those sad green eyes. "I never meant to upset you."
"But you did." Emma held back her tears, "This— this was a mistake. I just wish you talked to me first about this and let me know. I am happy for you but at the same time, I'm so mad at you. I never would think it'd take away from me, I know how much you and Dad wanted to have a second chance with a kid. I get that, you missed out on me, this wedding and planning was—"
"Our last thing together Emma, aside from Henry having kids. But you out of anyone I know, understand what it is like to want the best for a child and realize later when they come back to you how much you missed. And I wanted this to be special for you. To make up for everything because you turned out so amazing." Snow cupped Emma's right cheek stroking her thumb over fallen tears. "Please, don't hate me."
She couldn't contain how overwhelmed she felt and fell into her mother for an embrace. Emma hated that Snow was right. She felt replaced and jealous that this sibling would have a life with their parents she never got to have. But, she understood. She was lucky enough to come into Henry's life when he was 10, not having missed as much as her parents had yet knew that it was already hard to know she never had firsts with him in those younger years. At least she still had more time than waiting 28 years like they had. Pulling away Emma took a tissue from Ella as she held out a box towards them, "Thank you, Ella. And Mom let's make the most of this then okay?"
Wiping her own tears and blowing her nose Snow gave Emma one last tight hug. "Yes, let's do that and start over. Now go towards the mirrors and twirl. I want to know what you think before I speak." She shooed her over towards the giant mirrors behind them while clasping her hands together in front of her.
Walking over Emma sucked in a long sharp deep breath, closed her eyes, and pulled herself back together before letting out that breath slowly. Looking at the dress she did a twirl and glanced over her shoulder before meeting Snow and Ella's gazes. "No, it doesn't feel right at all. Like, I like the top how simple it is but it's too simple. If that makes any sense."
"Oh good, because I am not a fan. It doesn't feel like you at all Emma." Snow gasped out, "Try another one!"
Emma walked back into the dressing room with Ella and changed into one her mom picked out. Laughing at how she looked shaking her head walking out holding up the skirt of the dress. "I look like a friggin' cupcake. No." She twirled for kicks hearing her mom and Ella laugh.
"Yeah, no, that one looked better on the hanger for sure." Snow snorted, "You're a wedding ornament."
Trying on another three dresses but not even leaving the dressing room, Emma finally came out in another one of her picks. A slender a-line that scooped down her breast with flower lacework around the bodes, tulle frilled out over her hips and down straight. "What do you think of this one?" She twirled in front of the mirror and ran her hands over the front of the dress.
Snow walked over crossing her arms, folding them over her chest. "It's nice a bit too revealing for my taste but… it's not the one." She rubbed her lips together and looked down at Ella who smiled before sneaking off.
"I don't know if it could be. I like it." Emma spoke softly but her eyes were dull and she seemed almost lifeless.
"It could but I think—" Emma was tugged away by Ella swiftly and pulled into the dressing room without a word. Snow waited with a smile on her face, having not moved from the mirrors. Excitement filled her with anticipation of Emma walking out in the dress that Snow hoped would be the one. That her friend knew exactly what to pull. And in moments she watched her daughter walk out of the dressing room with tears and a smile so wide as she lifted the bottom of the ballgown up and in front of the mirror. "Now that is the dress." Snow cried blowing into a tissue.
Emma felt so right staring into the mirror. This would be the dress that would make everyone else cry, especially Regina. She never saw herself in a ballgown before, it felt like a fairytale she never could have dreamed of. A sweetheart neckline fitted her perfectly and Emma loved the lace that covered over the corset and laced together with a satin bow that rested above her butt. Lace blended with the tulle ballgown making it feel like a whole dress and not like two separate pieces, even lace flowers at the bottom of the dress. It flowed out just over the shoes that Ella put her in and made Emma feel like the princess she was always meant to be. "Yes, this, this is my dress. It's perfect, absolutely perfect." Emma beamed with bright eyes.