Every Dog Has Its Day: Chapter Thirteen

I don't own Once Upon A Time.

Here we go: last chapter. It's short but good (I think). Please enjoy. (Oh and you have my apologies. This was the fluffiest chapter I could imagine and I had planned it from the start. Let me know what you thought.)

You Lucky Dog:

It was an autumn evening. The sun melted over the horizon, a golden light bathing everything from the last few leaves clinging to the trees to the glint of jewellery clasped over necks and wrists. The air was crisp and cool but was no deterrent to the festivities, which were sure to go on well into the night. Torches blazed fiercely around the tables and held the chill at bay.

There truly could not have been a more perfect sight, a more perfect story, than this. No matter which way a guest considered the union, it had the makings of an endless, timeless love. Two woman who became mothers to a son they loved very much – a pure love in its own right. That alone brought a tear to the eyes of many a guest. Some saw it as the union, peace, of two warriors. One warrior, strong and valiant and imbued with love. Raised in turmoil but eventually finding her way to the light. The other, dark. Raised under the hand of a tyrant and sent on her way to a dark, small heart. The idea that both were born under the same stars – pain and fear and uncertainty – and both fought for their right to freedom and to love made it a story worth telling. And absolutely worth seeing in its resolution. Some saw it in its aesthetics – light and dark, black and gold – and that was good too. And some saw it simply as two woman who had grown to love one another and there was not a dry eye beneath the wide expanse of the blue sky as the two exchanged their vows of unending love and forgiveness and understanding and their rings bound and their kisses sealed them together before witnesses and before their magic that shone golden and bright around them.

Eventually, the guests seated themselves and ate and drank and laughed. The night darkened and eventually a young man stood, dressed in his very best clothes, and cleared his throat. With his broad shoulders and impressive height, he cut a fine figure and demanded attention. When he spoke, it was with a voice soft to soothe and entrance and delighted to entertain.

"Thank you all for coming." He beamed out to the crowd. "This is probably one of the happiest days of my life," he confessed. "I mean, how could it not be? It's everything I've always wanted." Henry paused, gathering his thoughts. "As the best man, I have to give a really good speech. Or a really good story." He cleared his throat. "It starts like this. A long time ago, in a schoolhouse not far from here, my teacher gave me a book of stories. Stories of faraway places, magical creatures, and heroes as familiar to me as my own grandfather," he said with a cheeky grin. It roused a couple of groaning laughs. Henry knew it was a bad joke but he was in the company of friends and family and bad jokes were a given at such gatherings. "I didn't know why she gave me the stories; I was just grateful for them. I loved them dearly and over time I came to recognise some people. Archie, you were the first. Probably because I spent so much time around you." The man smiled sheepishly and nodded, pleased to have been addressed by his friend. "Mom," he said, looking over at Regina, "you were one of the last. I didn't want to believe that you were the Evil Queen they'd written about. And I'm not proud about how I acted back then but I have no regrets because if I hadn't, we wouldn't have ended up exactly where we are right now." Regina nodded and pretended like she wasn't crying.

Henry looked away and smoothed down the front of his tuxedo jacket, trying to recall where he was up to in his story. "Ah, right. I, ah, I figured out the curse eventually and I went to find the saviour – who happened to be my Ma. Super convenient, I know." Another wave of chuckles. "Back then, I was happy to have found her because I knew that she would free us. Now, I'm even happier that I found her because she was able to do stuff that I hadn't even considered. It's hard to describe but I'll give it a go. I thought my Ma was the saviour because of Snow White and Prince Charming and their True Love. And then I thought she was the saviour because she truly loved me and saved me – thanks for that by the way, Ma."

Emma grinned and nodded, mouthing the words "no problem" to her son.

Henry continued. "And don't get me wrong, I'm grateful that she broke the curse and saved my life but in the grand scheme of things, that isn't what we needed. Yes, we needed to be free from the curse but more than that, more than anything, we needed hope. I needed hope. That's why Snow gave me the book in the first place. Because even the possibility of a happy ending is a very powerful thing." Henry sent his mothers a tender smile. "Sometimes people get caught up in their lives too much. They make mistakes and they think it's the end of the world when really all it is…is a full stop. Or a turn of a page or the opportunity for a new character to be introduced into their lives." He grinned. "Or maybe it's the point where you get the opportunity to remember who you are and all you needed was a small catalyst to bring those memories rushing back about who you were when you were strong and brave."

Henry sucked in a deep breath. "This is the happiest day of my life because more than anything else, my moms have proven to me that nothing is ever lost forever. That when you think you've been beaten, maybe all you need is a little help. That people change and love is never as far away as you think it might be and that there is always hope." He let his words hang for a moment and the crowd was duly quiet as they waited for him to continue. When he did speak next, Henry's voice was soft. "Please raise your glasses to Emma and Regina, my mothers. May that always know happiness."

The crowd cheered and Henry was crushed on either side by his mothers for the next ten or so minutes as they discreetly pretended that they hadn't cried their way through his speech. He finally managed to wriggle away and take his place next to his very best friend Grace and his boyfriend, Nicholas.

Next up on the stage was Ruby. She flashed a wide, toothy grin and nodded in greeting. "I'll make my speech quick because as much as I love these women, I really want to get to the drinking and dancing part of tonight. Emma, I love you. You've been an awesome friend since the second you arrived. You've been my lemur and my confidence and a really easy-going boss especially on Monday mornings after a wicked weekend so thanks for that. Also, I'm just going to add this because Henry didn't – I still haven't forgiven you for leading me and Henry on and letting us think that you two didn't have a thing happening."

In the corner, Henry's smile drooped. They never had come up with a better name for Operation Wingman and he was peeved by that. But mostly he was peeved by the memory of his sneaky mothers and the way they had pretended nothing was going on and only when his plans became a little drastic did they step in and tell him the truth.

"Regina," Ruby paused. There was a lot she could say about the woman. "You changed. In a really, really good way. You're still a little scary but love is a good look on you. I'm happy for you." Ruby raised her glass, yelled "Emma and Regina!" and downed her drink. The guests followed suit.

Snow's speech, surprisingly, was even shorter than Ruby's. "Emma, I couldn't be happier that you have found someone to share your life with and someone who makes you as truly joyful as Regina. And Regina, it's about time that love worked in your favour."

"Damn right," the once Evil Queen murmured, pressing her lips to Emma's cheek.

The speeches wound to a close. Finally, only David was left. He scraped his chair back and stood, clearing his throat and smiling. His voice was one that all assembled enjoyed listening to. Despite years as a shepherd, it rung with all the authority and grace of a king and the crowd clung to every word.

"It is an honour to stand before you all today, before all of my family and all of the steadfast, noble and true friends that we have made throughout our journeys." He paused to nod and offer a smile. Regina rolled her eyes at the thought of the King getting misty-eyed. "I have made many speeches before, my wife has as well, and sometimes they have been in the face of great horror and despair. We have asked you to stand fast to the traits that we knew ran deep within all of you. Honour. Bravery. Courage. Friendship. Hope." He raised his glass. "True love."

The chorus of voices responded to that. "True Love!" and obediently drank from their glasses, mugs, and pitchers (Leroy).

"And today I make one more speech. This one, thankfully, for a happier reason. We do not face a fearsome foe and we do not need our courage bolstered in the face of fear or self-doubt. Today, I have only one request of you, of all my friends, and that is to witness with clear-eyes and a joyful heart the beginning of a journey blessed by True Love." He paused once more to allow everyone to cheer and drink. Then his lips grew in a cheeky, sly smile and his eyes glittered happily. "As I'm sure we all know, it was ruff for a while there in the beginning. We were sure that Emma was barking mad but it all paid off in the end. And I think we all know who holds the leash in this relationship," he added with a conspiratorial wink to the audience.

"Oh my god, Dad!" Emma hissed.

Regina smirked. "That's true though, dear."

"Mom!" Henry groaned. "I don't need to hear that."

"Sorry Henry."

"Anyway," David continued, ignoring the interruptions, "as we know, they have their ups and downs for a time and they had their very, very public fights. But that was all sorted out when Emma fell head over paws in love. Sure, she's been in the doghouse a few times with her bride but I like to think that she has a new leash on life because of her newfound happiness."

"Seriously? It's been like two years and you're all still with the dog puns. They are not funny." Emma grumbled her way though the speech, only silent when Regina rested her hand on top of her now-wife's hand and squeezed.

"All right, all right. Emma has requested we stop with all the dogs jokes so I'll hurry along and wrap this up so we can get to the photos and the dancing, shall I?" That was met with cheers so David nodded. "Okay. In all honesty, I'm glad that Emma has Regina. She was a stray when she got here—"

"DAD!"

"Okay, fine! I still think they're funny but I'll move on." He cleared his throat. "There is nothing more perfect, more revered in all the worlds than True Love. I was lucky enough to find it with my beautiful wife Snow, and we were lucky enough to be blessed with Emma. There comes a time in every fathers life when he must let his daughter go, when he must let her be taken care of by someone else, and that is her wedding day."

"Or when a Queen curses an entire realm," Leroy heckled from the back of the crowd.

David sighed. "Yes, well, ignoring that obviously. I would like you all to raise your glasses to Emma and Regina. I have never seen a love fought for as fiercely as they have fought for theirs." He lifted his glass to the sky and turned to them – his beautiful daughter and her wife – and he smiled as widely as he could without succumbing to tears. "I wish you all the best in the newest chapter of your story together. May it bring everlasting joy."

The crowd drank happily, yelling out their own congratulations and toasts. "To Emma and Regina!" "The Queen and her Saviour!" "Go Moms!" "Whoo, True Love!"

Emma dragged Regina down to the dance floor where they rolled out a small cake in the shape of a dog bone. "No," she growled. Regina laughed but motioned for the caterers to bring out the real cake, a beautiful creation three tiers tall, decorated with flowers, white and perfect. And, when Emma turned to glare at her father, Regina dipped her fingers into the side of the masterpiece and waited patiently for her wife to turn back so that she could smash the cake in her face.

Emma blinked through the icing and frowned. "I hate you," she said.

"I know." Regina pressed her lips to Emma's cheek, allowing her wife the opportunity to press cake against her face in retribution. She did. "And now we're married," she said with another kiss, "and you can hate me forever."

Emma's eyes sparkled at the thought. "Forever. Sounds good." Their eyes fluttered closed and, ignoring everything else, ignoring history and a crowd waiting for the brides' first dance and cake-covered cheeks, they kissed. "I don't really hate you," Emma whispered.

"Oh thank god," Regina laughed. "That would be incredibly awkward given that I love you."

Emma's smile stretched over her teeth, wide, goofy, and utterly adoring. "I love you too."

They lazily spun onto the dance floor, holding each other close and letting their noses brush occasionally between kisses. As the first dance drew to a close, a new beat took over the sound system and Emma froze.

"You've got to be kidding me." She pulled away. Who let the dogs out pumped out of the speakers and she ground her teeth. "No. I hate everyone." Emma scowled and cast her eyes around for the culprit.

"Even me?" Regina asked.

"Except you." Emma narrowed her eyes at a giggling David, who was spinning Snow around the dance floor. "Dad, you did this? You're such a bitch."

Regina nudged Emma, laughing. "That would be you, dear." Emma blinked. "Female dog, bitch?" Her wife groaned and Regina laughed again. "You really did walk into that one."

"I know that's how this thing started, my being a dog and all, but that is so not what we're about. So can this be the very last dog related thing that happens on our wedding day?" Emma pleaded. Regina nodded immediately, entranced by wide green eyes. "And then in the very first second that it's deemed socially acceptable, I'm going to whisk you away," Emma continued, voice husky, "and we are going home and I'm going to take off all of your clothes except for the garter I felt before and then I'm going to" she leant in to complete the rest of her sentence. Regina's eyes widened.

"Emma," she hissed. "Why did you tell me that now? It's all I'm going to be able to think about," she confessed.

"You called me a bitch. So I'm a bitch. And you get to think about that for about, oh, three hours or so while we have to do all the stupid niceties," she grinned, sure of her upper hand for once.

Emma's triumph didn't last long. Queen Regina had never cared much for social niceties and so it wasn't too much of a surprise for the crowd when a great purple cloud billowed up around the newly married couple and they disappeared. The guests decided to continue with the party though, given that the alcohol was paid for and the cake was delicious.

My friends, it pleases me very much to be able to tell you that the two women lived happily ever after, surrounded by family and friends, and they knew love to the end of their days.

The response to this little story has been so overwhelming, I'm so thrilled that you have enjoyed it and all your messages and reviews have been lovely. I am so lucky. Please, let me know what you thought and as always, happy reading, Readers :)