It's a Love Story

MackenzieW

Thanks to Chocapic31 for the suggestion to write a series of OQ one-shots based on Taylor Swift songs. Each will different, not connecting, so it'll cover a wide range—canon, alternate universe, canon divergence, Missing Year, etc. I hope everyone enjoys!

The church was a magnificent building inspired by the gothic cathedrals of Europe with tall spires reaching toward the sky. Flying buttresses lined the walls and she could see the outlines of the stained glass windows that lit the inside in a kaleidoscope of colors. Several stone steps led up to open wooden doors and people dressed in finery lingered on them, waiting.

Several columns held up the building inside, scattered amongst the rows of pews that lined the long marble aisle leading up to the opulent sanctuary and altar. White flowers overpopulated the area and it seemed like it would be difficult to move around them.

"Talk about overkill," Emma Swan muttered as she leaned against one of the columns. "You think they could fit any more flowers up there?"

"I can't really see," Regina Mills replied from her hiding spot behind the column.

"You can't hide behind there for the entire wedding."

"I'm not. I'll have to move so Zelena doesn't see me when she comes down the aisle."

Emma sighed. "We can hide you better in the pew. Though this is ridiculous."

"I can't be seen at all. Zelena uninvited me so I'm a party crasher."

"That only applies to the reception, not the church. Everyone knows the church is open to the public." Emma let out another sigh as she stepped around the column to look Regina in the eyes. "Besides, Robin wants you here."

Regina toyed her lower lip with her teeth. "I know but…"

"And what is Zelena really going to do? Stop the wedding to haul your ass out of here?"

"Emma! We're in church!"

She scoffed. "The word ass is in the Bible. I remember that from the Sunday school classes one of my foster families sent me to."

"Used as another word for donkey, not as a curse."

"Please. I suspect within the next few years, ass will be the anatomically correct term." Emma crossed her arms. "But nice attempt to change the subject. You get the 'I tried' gold star."

Regina's withering retort died on her tongue as the organ started up. Conversations died down as guests hurried by to their seats. Emma stayed by her side though as Regina hugged the column, watching as Robin walked down the aisle. The black tuxedo looked good on him as did the forest green cummerbund. She just wished her hadn't gelled his hair, remembering all the time she had teased him about looking like a Ken doll when he did that. His hair looked better product-free…but her opinion didn't matter anymore.

He took his spot in front of the altar with his best man, Will, tugging on his collar next to him. Robin had asked her to be his "best woman" but Zelena had balked at the idea. She had insisted on everything being traditional and so Robin had given Regina an apologetic grimace as he rescinded the offer. Her anger surged again as she thought about how it was yet another time Robin failed to see that Zelena was trying to push her out of his life. Why was he so blind when it came to that woman?

She knew the answer, though. Robin was so kind-hearted, he would never suspect anything nefarious from the woman he loved. Which, she reminded herself, was Zelena, not her. It was clear as he craned his neck, no doubt trying to get an early glimpse of his bride.

The rest of the wedding party started down the aisle as Robin's groomsmen escorted Zelena's bridesmaids down the aisle. She knew all the men and smiled to see how nicely they had cleaned up. But when she got a good look at the bridesmaids' dresses, she raised an eyebrow. "Is that…Is that puke green?"

"It doesn't deserve a name," Emma replied, looking horrified. "I guess Zelena subscribes to the 'make sure the bridesmaids look ugly compared to the bride' school of thought. Wait, are they wearing taffeta? Who the hell picks taffeta?"

The bridesmaid were wearing a pastel green taffeta gown that looked like it might've been the height of fashion during the 1980s. Though the dress had short sleeves, they were so large, it looked like most of the bridesmaids could fit another arm in there. Shoulder pads gave them the impression of being linebackers and the boxy style of the dress made it look like they had no waists. Wide skirts went down to their ankles and a large bow took up half their back. Most of them had their hair done up in elaborate curls but they were still sweating as they arrived at the altar.

"They definitely look uncomfortable," Regina agreed before blanching as the organ began the bridal march. "Emma! Zelena's going to see me!"

Emma shook her head, moving to stand in front of her. "She's not really going to be looking but I'll shield you just in…Oh dear god, what is she wearing?"

"What do you mean?" Regina asked, trying to see around Emma. The blonde shifted a bit, letting her friend glance over her shoulder as the bride started down the aisle.

Regina had heard many bridal gowns called "cream puff" but she never really knew what they meant…until now. Her skirt was so wide it almost took up the entire aisle, falling in several layers from her waist. It was paired with a bodice with a heart-shaped neckline and no straps. Like her bridesmaids, a large bow covered her back.

"Zelena always struck me as more sultry than…" Emma trailed off, trying to find the right word.

"Pageant queen?" Regina supplied. "From the eighties?"

Emma nodded. "That's it."

Regina shifted around the column, watching as Zelena arrived at the altar. The man who escorted her—who Regina had to assume was Zelena's father though she didn't know the woman's family—kissed her cheek before placing her hand in Robin's. He smiled at her while she beamed at him and Regina's heart broke more. As they walked up to the minister, Regina hurried toward the back of the church.

She heard Emma's heels clicking behind her and sighed. "Leave me alone, Emma, and let me go fix my heart somewhere in peace."

"Come on, you have to stay," Emma said. "Robin's looking for you."

Regina stopped, glancing at the altar. She noticed that while Robin was facing Zelena as the minister read from his little red book, he kept glancing out at the congregation. His blue eyes did seem to be searching for someone and her heart sped up at the thought he was looking for her. She clamped down on that hope.

"He's just glancing around, seeing who is there. You're just filling in what you want to happen for my sake." Regina stepped away from Emma, hand on the door handle. "I'm going to go. Please just let me."

Emma followed her out of the church though. "You can't do this. I won't let you."

"You won't…?" Regina whirled on the blonde woman, her short black skirt billowing out with the motion. "Why won't you let me just go home?"

"Because my best friend wouldn't just give up without a fight. She'd march down that aisle and tell Robin that he's marrying the wrong woman. She wouldn't just let herself fade from his life."

"I don't really have a choice," Regina said, fighting back tears. "He's not fighting it."

"Because he doesn't know he needs to! And he doesn't know he has another choice but Zelena."

"What do you want me to do? Stop the wedding, running in there to yell I object?"

Emma's eyes lit up. "It would be perfect. And I bet there are several people in there who want to do it."

"Then let them do it."

"But it'll mean more coming from you," Emma argued. "You're his best friend. And even if you don't think he really loves you like I think he does, you have to admit that carries more weight than if Mary Margaret objected."

It was tempting, Regina had to admit. She could storm down the aisle, tell Robin that Zelena was no good for him, that he was rushing into the worst mistake of his life and that nearly everyone on his side of the church agreed with her. But she could also see Zelena once again undermining her, telling Robin the right words in the right tone and no one backing her up against the bride.

So she shook her head, turning her back to Emma. "Let me go home," Regina said. "And leave me alone until I call you."

For a moment, she expected Emma to keep arguing and to follow her. But as Regina approached her car, she didn't hear the familiar thud of the blonde's boots or feel her presence over her shoulder. It seemed this time, Emma Swan finally respected her wishes even though she didn't agree with them.

Regina opened her car door and slid into the seat but didn't turn her car on. She just sat behind the wheel, wanting nothing more than to drive away. But Emma's words kept echoing around her head. She closed her eyes and leaned back, trying to figure out what she should do.

Robin was her best friend. He had been since he plopped down next to her and Emma at their first freshman get-together in college. The three of them became inseparable, though it was always clear that Robin and Regina were connected in a way neither was with Emma. He was easy to talk to and she found herself opening up to him more than she ever had in her life, not with a mother who would use anything against her.

They supported each other through difficult exams, worries about their futures and quite a few heartbreaks before they even graduated college. After, they remained inseparable and were mistaken for a couple many times. Most times, they would correct the misunderstanding though he was often willing to play her boyfriend if she was being pestered by someone she wasn't interested in.

She had finally admitted to her feelings for Robin one ladies night out when Emma and Ruby had gotten her good and liquored up. And they didn't let her backtrack when she sobered up the next morning. Regina didn't follow through though as Robin had been in another relationship and she had just started to date someone. But overall, she didn't want to chance losing him. She always chased away her boyfriends and she wouldn't survive losing Robin.

But she was losing him. It hurt so much she wanted to curl in a ball on her floor and just stay there until she stopped feeling all together. Yet Emma was right—that wasn't how she handled things. Regina Mills tackled things head on. Especially if they were important to her.

And Robin certainly was.

Opening her eyes, Regina got out of the car and walked back to the church as a woman with a purpose. Her heels clicked as she climbed the stone steps leading into the church and she pushed open the wooden door. As she approached the main aisle, she heard the minister say: "If anyone objects to this union, let them speak now or forever hold their peace."

"I object," Regina said, striding down the aisle. People began to murmur as their heads turned to follow her journey toward the altar.

Robin's hands slipped from Zelena's as he watched her. "Regina?" he asked.

"I knew it," Zelena said, shaking her head. "I knew you were going to pull a stunt like this. That's why I asked you not to come."

"What?" Robin turned back to her, confused. "She's my best friend."

Zelena sighed. "She doesn't have your best interests at heart. Look at her, she's interrupting your wedding to make it all about her."

"I'm not making it all about me," Regina said. "Believe it or not, I do have Robin's best interests at heart. And I don't think it's in his best interest to rush into a marriage with you."

The bride turned back to her groom, laying a hand on his cheek to guide Robin's eyes back to hers. "Don't listen to her. She doesn't want you to marry me because she's in love with you. She can't accept that you love me."

Something changed in his eyes. They got softer, almost like a child who had been told something that he wasn't sure he could believe. He glanced over at Regina. "She loves me?" he asked.

Regina stepped closer to him. "I only want you to be happy. I don't know if I'd make you happy but I don't think Zelena will. I think you need to slow down and get to know her a bit better. You two have known each other barely a year. So don't do this. Not for me, but for yourself."

"Regina," he breathed, starting to step down off the altar.

The man who had escorted Zelena down the aisle stepped between Robin and Regina, taking her arm. "I think you've done enough. Time to leave."

Regina pulled her arm from his grip. "I can leave on my own. Thank you very much."

She headed back down the aisle, pretending her heart wasn't breaking with every step. Part of her had hoped Robin would've stopped her but the realistic part of her knew her words wouldn't stop the wedding. All they probably did was cost her her best friend.

"Regina, wait!" Robin's voice grew louder and she stopped, turning to find him running down the aisle after her. Her heart rose up into her throat as he skidded to a stop in front of her, panting. "Is it true? Do you love me?"

"I do," she admitted softly. "I have for a long time. I just…I just couldn't risk losing you if you didn't feel the same or if we gave this a try and I screwed it up. I always screw it up, you know that."

Robin wrapped his arms around her, one hand cupping the back of her head. "You don't always screw up. And I wouldn't let either of us screw this up."

"Robin? Robin, what are you doing?" Zelena had come down the aisle, her maid of honor carrying her train. "We're supposed to be getting married."

He pulled away from Regina, though he kept his arm around her waist. "I'm sorry, Zelena. I can't. Not when we both know my heart belongs to another. That's why you rushed me to the aisle and why you've slowly been removing Regina from my life, isn't it?"

"What?" Zelena stuttered, looking taken aback. "I have no clue what you're talking about, darling."

"Enough, Zelena," Robin replied, sounding tired. "I wasn't blind to how you would 'accidentally' forget to invite Regina to our dinners. How something would suddenly come up whenever Regina and I had plan. And then you wouldn't let me put her in the wedding party in any capacity I should've stopped you the moment I realized what you were doing. That's on me."

Zelena let out a frustrated yell as she stomped her foot. "I knew this would happen. We should've just eloped."

"Would it have changed anything?" Robin asked. "Zelena, I'm sorry. You don't deserve this humiliation but I think we both know this marriage would be a huge mistake."

Her blue eyes glanced between Regina and Robin before Zelena threw her bouquet at Regina. She hiked up her skirts and stormed past them, her parents and bridal party following after her. Robin pulled Regina closer, hiding her from the glares they were getting.

Once they had passed, Regina stepped out as she rolled the bouquet in her hand. She held it up. "Does this count as catching it?"

Those on Robin's side laughed as he held her closer, leading her back toward the front as Zelena's wedding guests started to stroll out, realizing there would be no wedding. Or if there was, it wouldn't be the one they came for.

Not that Regina was going to rush down the aisle. She was far more practical than that, which helped balance out some of Robin's more romantic notions. Like proposing and marrying a woman before knowing her twelve months. But there were a few she let him sweep her away in and she looked forward to many more.

Will led the groomsmen from the altar. "Thank god you did that, Regina, or else we would've had to go through with our elaborate kidnapping attempt," he said, kissing her cheek.

She laughed, rolling her eyes until one by one, they pulled out various items to be used in the kidnapping. Rope to tie Robin's hands and a bag to throw over his head were just a few items. David looked a bit sheepish. "Killian's waiting in the alley for you. I think we should let him know the getaway vehicle's not needed," he explained.

"Don't bother. I figured it out." Killian walked down the aisle, heading away from the people streaming out of the church. He smiled at Robin. "Glad to see you came to your senses."

Robin glanced around at his groomsmen, frowning. "None of you actually supported this wedding?"

They shook their heads and he blew out in exasperation. "And you didn't tell me because…?"

"We did," Will said. "Multiple times. All of us."

Robin looked again at his groomsmen, watching as they nodded. Killian, Emma and Mary Margaret joined in. "We told you it was going too fast, mate," Killian replied. "You were just too stubborn to listen."

"So, now what?" David asked, wrapping his arm around Mary Margaret's waist.

Emma shrugged. "Well, it would be a shame to let that catering hall go unused."

"You're suggesting we have the wedding reception anyway?" Regina raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that kind of tacky?"

"Maybe, but do we really care? It can be a party to celebrate the fact Robin didn't make the worst decision of his life," Will said.

Robin let an indignant noise as Regina pressed her face into his shoulder to hide her laughter. Everyone agreed to head over to the reception and he kissed the top of her head. "I heard you," he whispered.

"Sorry," she whispered back. "But it was the truth."

Pulling away from him, Regina smiled. "Well, it seems I have a fancy party to get ready for. I'll see you there?"

Robin nodded and she kissed his cheek before walking out with Emma and Killian. They walked down the stone stairs as Emma nudged Regina. "So, is there anything you want to say to me?"

Heaving a sigh, Regina turned to Emma. "You were right. And thank you for convincing me to crash the wedding."

"I thank you as well." Robin kissed Emma's cheek as he passed her, hurrying down the stairs to grab Regina's hands. "Now I hope you don't mind if I steal Regina?"

Emma looked ready to protest when Killian slung his arm around her shoulders. "Sure. I can give this one a ride."

"Thank you," Robin said, tugging on Regina's hand. "We'll see you at the reception hall!"

They stumbled to her car, laughing as they climbed in. Regina once again sat behind the steering wheel and took a deep breath. "I actually stopped your wedding."

"Yes, you did," Robin confirmed.

She burst out laughing, clutching the wheel to steady herself as she began to wheeze. Robin rubbed her back, waiting for her fit to die down.

"Sorry," she said, still trying to catch her breath. "That was just the craziest thing I've ever done."

"I know." Robin smiled, taking her hand. "And I'm glad you did it."

"Do you think the guys would've gone through with the kidnapping plot if I hadn't?"

"Gone through with it? Yes. Succeeded? Probably not. But they wouldn't have had to done it. I was about to stop the wedding myself because there was someone missing."

Her heart beat faster and she struggled to keep her voice even. "Emma thought you were looking for me."

"I was," he confirmed. "I kept thinking I couldn't get married without my best friend. And as I sat there thinking about it, I realized I didn't want to do a lot unless you were by my side. Then you were objecting and Zelena was telling me you loved me and I realized I should've been choosing you all along."

She leaned forward and he met her, pressing their lips together. He brought his hand up to cup her cheek and she curled her fingers around it as their kiss deepened. For years, she had imagined what it would be like to kiss him and she was glad that it was everything she wanted—and more. His lips were warm and welcoming, feeling like they were made to kiss hers.

They broke the kiss but didn't pull back, their breaths sharing the same space as they pressed their foreheads together. "What time is the reception again?" she asked him.

"Cocktail hour starts at six but we could be late," Robin replied. "I think we're the guests of honor at this point."

She smiled as she finally started the car, driving back to the apartment she shared with Emma.

Regina and Robin ended up getting to the reception closer to seven, mostly because he insisted on stopping at a nearby florist to get her a corsage. "It's a wedding reception without a wedding, not the prom," Regina said.

"So?" He kissed her cheek before hopping out of the car. Before he closed the door, he told her: "I'll be right back."

She leaned back, smiling still. It hadn't gone away since the moment she got her apartment door open and Robin's lips latched onto her neck. He had tugged on her zipper but she insisted on taking off his tuxedo carefully. "We don't want people talking," she said.

"People are already talking, lovely," Robin told her. But he let her strip him one article at a time and watched as she hung it up.

He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her onto the bed with him. She laughed as she writhed under him, his fingers finding every sensitive spot on her body. By the time he finished with her feet, she was struggling for air again and had tears pooling in her eyes. He let her recover her breath as he kissed his way up her leg.

She sighed in contentment as she recalled the next hour of bliss she and Robin spent together. If kissing him had been everything she thought it would be, making love to him had exceeded every one of her fantasies. They had laid side by side after, staring at her ceiling as their heart rates came down.

"We could've been doing that years ago," Robin said.

Regina hummed in agreement. "We were fools."

"Well, I plan to make up for lost time." He rolled over, hovering over her with each arm on either side of her.

She stopped him, though. "If you keep it up, then we'll never make it to the reception. Then people will really be talking."

"Let them," he said, though rolling next to her. He propped himself up with his elbow. "I don't care what they say. I'm not ashamed to love you."

"I'm not ashamed but…don't you think we should feel a little bad for having sex only hours after you left Zelena at the altar?"

Robin lowered his eyes as his smile faltered. "Don't feel any shame. It's on me that I let it get that far rather than calling it off earlier."

"Don't punish yourself," she said, laying her hand against his cheek. "Zelena knew your true feelings and still tried to rush you to the altar."

He smiled, kissing the underside of her wrist. "Thank you for the reminder, love."

"Any time." She slid out of bed, gathering her underwear and bra. "Time to get ready, though."

"You really want to go, don't you?"

"Free food, free booze and the chance to slow dance with you?" Regina asked. "Hell, yes."

Robin laughed, climbing out of bed himself. "Well, when you put it that way…"

Now, he climbed back into her car and held out the corsage made of red roses and baby's breath. "For you, milady."

She let him slide it on her wrist before she took off toward the hall again. They were the last to arrive and Regina had no choice but to let the valet try to find a spot for her car. "Don't scratch it," she warned the boy barely out of high school as she dropped her keys in his open hand.

Robin escorted her in and they were greeted by Emma, who already seemed to have hit the open bar a few times in the cocktail hour alone. "About time you two showed up! We were just about to start taking bets on it," she said, handing them shots. "Drink up!"

"Might as well," Robin said, clinking his glass with Regina's. They down whatever Emma had gotten them—fireball whiskey was definitely involved—before they headed over to the rest of their friends. More teasing followed but Regina didn't mind. Not with how Robin was pressing her to his side and smiling so bright, she thought she needed sunglasses to look at him.

The DJ Robin and Zelena had hired seemed surprised to find out there had been no wedding but went with the flow pretty well. He stayed away from some of the usual wedding reception things, though Robin still insisted on having his mother-son dance. Regina stood on the edge of the dancefloor with Emma and Mary Margaret, watching as Robin twirled his mother around.

"Regina?" She turned her head to find Robin's father standing next to her, hand outstretched. "May I have this dance?"

Even before her own father had died, Michael Locksley had treated Regina like his own daughter. So had Catherine Locksley, with the two sending her care packages from England and they had as many video calls with her as they did with their son. And so she readily took his hand and let him sweep her onto the dancefloor.

"I wanted to thank you, on behalf of Catherine and myself," he said as they moved in time to the music. "You finally got through to Robin about how wrong his wedding was."

"He was particularly stubborn about this," Regina agreed.

Michael chuckled. "You've been stubborn too."

"I know."

"Catherine and I have been rooting for you two to get together. You two belong with each other."

Regina smiled, ducking her head. "Thank you. That means a lot."

"I imagine next year, we'll be dancing at your wedding. And no one is going to interrupt that." He winked at her and she laughed.

The music changed as Robin spun his mother closer to his father and Regina. "Shall we swap partners?" he asked.

Michael nodded, taking Catherine's hand as Robin drew Regina closer. "Enjoy your dance with my father?"

"I did." She looked up at him. "Did you really even ignore your parents' warnings about Zelena?"

He grimaced and Regina rolled her eyes. "Robin Locksley, whatever am I going to do with you?"

"I can think of a few things," he said, pulling her close. "But I hope above all, you'll continue to love me."

She smiled. "I've tried to stop doing that for years. It's never worked so I don't think that will be a problem."

He kissed her as the DJ lowered the music. "We have a request from Emma, dedicated to Regina. It's a bit unusual, but she said everyone here will understand. So, Regina, this is Taylor Swift's 'Speak Now,' just for you."

The music started up as Regina glanced over at Emma, who raised a shot in salute before downing it. Shaking her head, she turned to Robin. "I'm going to get her a shot when this is song is over."

"And I'm getting you a drink," he said. "To thank you for being around when it came time to speak now."

She rolled her eyes and gave his arm a light punch but the silly smile on her face didn't fade away. Instead, she let him pull her toward the rest of their friends as they continued dancing the night away.

A/N: I hope everyone enjoyed this! If you have any Taylor Swift songs you want to see me tackle, let me know. And I don't mind repeating songs, if you have a specific scenario in mind. For example, you'll see "Speak Now" again—with an Outlaw Bandit twist!