So this is the final chapter of this tale and it took me a while to write it. Writing this story and these characters has been such an amazing journey for me (and I hope for you too, dear readers). I'm definitely going to write more. I honestly kind of just wanted to see if I could do it. I think I did alright ;) Anyway, thank you so much to everyone who's read this and enjoyed the lives of these characters with me. It's truly been an honor for this lifelong and proud member of the Swen Nation.

"Dude, I'm not gonna lie. I'm still kinda surprised that you're not wearing a white tux right now," Ruby commented.

"I know right! But I only get to do this once. So I thought why not go for it in a pretty white dress," Emma replied with a small smile as she stood in front of a mirror swaying gently while admiring her dress.

"Well you look amazing, Swan," Jane added.

"Thanks. And you guys do too!"

"We know," the two best women replied in unison. They looked at each other both wearing matching arrogant grins.

Just then they all turned their heads towards the door as they heard a knock. Ingrid walked in before any of them could even respond and gasped out loud. "I almost can't believe how beautiful you look today, sweetie," she said softly as she walked over to her daughter.

"Mom, don't cry. You'll mess up your make-up," Emma responded as she turned away from the mirror to give her mother a tight hug. "And you were literally there to help me pick out my dress," she stated with a chuckle.

"I know, I know. But now with all of the final touches completed you look even more stunning. That Regina is a very lucky woman to be marrying you, sweetie," Ingrid said as she dabbed at her eyes with the tissue that Jane had stealthily handed to her.

"Thanks, Mom. But I think I'm the lucky one. I can't imagine how gorgeous she's going to look coming down the aisle. I feel like I might actually pass out or something," Emma said.

"Wow. Dramatic much, Em. We all know how pretty Gina is but give yourself a little credit. You're pretty hot yourself there," Ruby stated as she winked and shot finger guns at her best friend.

"Thanks, Rubes," Emma chuckled. "Can you two go and check to see if we're on time? We should be about ready to start."

"Sure, yeah, we're on it!" Ruby said as she stood up from the small couch where she and Jane were sitting. Jane stood up and followed her out of the room giving Emma a firm nod and a smile as she passed the bride to be.

"Okay, in all seriousness though, we've got to be ready to catch her if she does faint," Jane said to Ruby as soon as she closed the door behind her. "Have you seen Regina yet? Like I was seriously tempted to divorce my wife and ask Gina to marry me."

"Oh my God, I know! She is beyond breathtaking. Like I physically couldn't breathe for a few seconds when I saw her earlier."

"Well so do you think we should warn Emma? It'd be super embarrassing for her to pass out during her ceremony, right?" Jane asked.

"Of course it would. But I don't think I've seen her faint since I've known her. You've known her for way longer than me. Have you ever seen her do that?" Ruby asked back.

"Nah. Good point. Plus we don't want to take any of the surprise away from her."

"Yeah and I kind of can't wait to see her face when she sees her."

"Right?! It's going to be so priceless!" Jane exclaimed as they continued to make their way down the hallway to see if everything was on schedule.

"Oh mija, you look absolutely gorgeous!" Henry exclaimed as he walked into Regina's old bedroom and saw his daughter for the first time that day.

"Thank you, Daddy. I can't wait to see Emma though."

"I can't wait to see your face when you do see her," Cora stated with a smirk.

"What does that mean, Mom?"

"Nothing! Just that- I'm just glad that your father and I will be walking you down the aisle together so that if you feel faint we'll be there to hold you up," she responded with a playful smile and a wink.

"Where is Kat, mija?"

"Oh she went to go let Ruby, Jane and Emma know that I'm ready," Regina answered.

"Okay, well then I'll meet you girls by the backdoor," Henry stated as he turned to leave the room.

"Okay," Regina said before taking a large breath and smoothing out her dress as she turned to follow him. Cora stopped her before she could leave though. "What is it, Mom? C'mon, let's go! I wanna go marry the love of my life."

"I know, baby. I just want to stop and remember this moment," Cora said quietly as she took hold of Regina's forearms. She looked lovingly into her eyes before she said, "And also I think I'm finally allowed to say 'I told you so' dear." Cora turned toward the door and stood there with a wicked smirk as she waited for her daughter to walk thru it.

Regina couldn't help but to laugh at her. "I'll give you that one, Mom," she stated as she walked out of the door shaking her head and chuckling.

The brides to be had agreed that Emma and Ingrid would walk down the aisle before Regina and after the rest of the bridal party. So that Emma could then witness the entrance of her future wife just as everyone else would. For some reason, Regina got nervous right before she was about to be led down the aisle and given away by both of her parents. Henry and Cora could feel her physically shaking as they stood at the doorway to begin their walk. Regina took a deep breath and shook her head quickly before she looked at her parents to reassure them. "I'm okay. I don't think I've ever been this excited for anything before in my life," she stated softly. "Don't worry. I'll be fine. Just-get me to my wife," she said with one final deep breath.

As Emma looked up to see her future wife walking towards her, she had to will herself to keep breathing. Ruby and Jane exchanged knowing grins and glances, each physically prepared to respond if Emma needed them to. They knew that their friend would be fine though as they heard her breath out, "Oh my God. I'm marrying a goddess."

"That's right," Kathryn agreed. "And you better not break her heart in any way, shape or form or I will use all of my resources to come at you, Swan!" she whisper-shouted.

"Really, Kat?" Emma whispered out of the side of her mouth. "Now is the time you're choosing to give me the protective best friend speech. You couldn't've at least waited until the reception."

"Yeah...I'm sorry, Em. It just kind of came out. But hey, now that that's done good luck with your vows," she whispered back, giving Emma two thumbs up. Ruby and Jane could hardly contain their laughter at the exchange.

"Whatever, dude. You're not going to ruin this moment of me," Emma responded noncommittally. She had not once taken her eyes off of Regina who was mere steps away from her now. She reached down to take the brunette's hands as Henry and Cora released her and took their seats. The two women stood facing each other, hardly able to control their smiles as they lightly held hands between themselves.

"We've gathered here today, in the presence of family and friends to join Regina Teresa Mills and Emma Allison Swan in matrimony. We celebrate the coming together in love of these two women. We remember that marriage is a time when growing love is made public, when two people share mutual promises. We join in our support of them as they offer themselves to each other. We celebrate their joy, their love and their expectations," Zelena finished, wearing a huge smile on her face. She had found a way to still be a part of her little sister's wedding even though she couldn't be her maid of honor. Regina looked over to her big sister and gave her a small smile. She'd agreed to allow Zelena to officiate their wedding as soon as she had brought the idea to her, knowing how important it was to her. She was both proud and happy to have her sister there with her at that moment, one of the most important in her adult life. "And now Regina and Emma have agreed to exchange personal vows instead of reciting the usual, and let's be honest, boring ones," Zelena stated to a rolling responding chuckle from the crowd.

Emma went first. "Regina. I began calling you Gina on our children's first playdate and a little while later you let me call you my girlfriend. You have the distinction of being one of only two women on this planet who can say that I have loved them. From the moment I laid my eyes on you sitting on that park bench and realized who you were and that I could possibly be so lucky as to have such a gorgeous woman enter into my life, until now you've shown me each and every day that we're together that you love me back just as much as I know I love you. Not only that but you've given me even more family. It was just me and my mom for awhile there and then it's been just me and her and Henry for so long that being able to add to that dynamic was not something that I was actively searching for. But now I have a beautiful daughter-" Emma had to stop to take a breath and collect herself before she could continue. "And a second mom, and a first real dad. Two brothers, a sister and a niece and a nephew. That all love me as much as you do. I don't know if I've ever told you how much that means to this once orphaned little girl. But it does. It means the world to me, Gina. And I'm so so glad that we found each other and can now make a life together."

Emma had stopped speaking kind of suddenly but audible sniffles could be heard throughout the gathering and Ruby, Jane and Kathryn were all now trying to surreptitiously dab their eyes with tissues.

It was then Regina's turn. "I've done this once before. But I know that this will be the last time that I say vows to anyone. Emma, you had me at 'hey.'" A few chuckles could be heard from the audience before Regina continued. "From the moment that you shook my hand at that park I immediately knew that I wanted to get to know you better. Even if it was just as friends. Although I had to admit that I thought you were one of the most beautiful women that I had ever laid my eyes on. After I lost Daniel, I knew that I wanted to find a woman to spend the rest of my days with. With me and my daughter. But none of the women that I met before you were ever even close to being good enough to meet Luce. So I think it was fate that it was thru her that I was introduced to you. And that you would quickly, almost instantly, become the love of my life. I cannot and do not ever want to imagine my life without you and Henry in it. And I will love you until the end of my days. I've never been happier and I'm beyond excited that I'll get to call you my wife from today until the end of our days on this earth. I love you so much!"

And with that statement the two women could no longer hold back from each other and simultaneously decided to skip straight to the kissing part.

Okay…" Zelena uttered as they broke apart from each other to cheering from their guests. "Well I'm still going to say this next part because I practiced it and even though you two just said it all to each other, I'd still like to do my part," she stated with a confident nod of her head. Emma and Regina stood with their arms around each other's waists both facing Zelena as she finished her pronouncement. "May you always need one another, not so much to fill the emptiness as to help each other know your fullness. May you want one another, but not out of lack. May you embrace one another, but not encircle one another. May you succeed in all important ways with each other, and not fail in the little graces. Look for things to praise, often say 'I love you' and take no notice of small faults. May you have happiness, and may you find it making one another happy. May you have love and may you find it in loving one another. But I'm sure you two will have no problems doing any of that. Now which best woman has the rings?" Zelena asked as she looked in their direction. Both women each pulled a ring from their pockets. They handed both of them to Emma who gave hers to Regina. They put their rings on each others fingers and turned back towards Zelena. "You've already kissed the bride….but I guess you can do it again for prosperity's sake," Zelena said with a faux dramatic roll of the eyes.

They did amongst even louder cheers this time. They hugged each other for a little while when they broke their kiss. "This is the happiest day of my life," Emma said softly into Regina's ear.

"Me too, love. I'm so happy to call myself Swan-Mills," Regina responded.

Emma laughed as they turned to face everyone holding hands. And then proceeded to make their way back down the aisle together finally and officially able to call each other wife.

"And now, for the first time, Mrs. and Mrs. Swan-Mills!" Robin announced as the two mothers made their way to the dance floor.

"It's such a gorgeous day today, babe," Emma stated as they glided across the floor perfectly in step.

"Yeah. We're so lucky it didn't rain today. Although I'm pretty sure my mom would've had a contingency plan for that."

"Yup! That's a fact. And there's so many people here who I feel like I haven't seen in forever."

"If you mean, Mary Margaret and David, I've got you beat there. I haven't seen those two since they graduated high school."

"Well, yeah, them and Killian too. I really miss not working with him sometimes…"

Everyone had joined them by then and the couple smiled and managed to hold small conversations with the different couples and dance partners as they spun gracefully around the dance floor.

Since most of their guests knew each other in some way, the couple had decided to not be strict and assign anyone seats at the reception. After serving themselves from the buffet, the guests were free to gather and dine together at their discretion. It was then that Regina and Emma had to decided to split up in order to better greet their guests.

"Hey tell your husband thank you again for DJing," Emma said to Zelena.

"No problem, Ems. He's loves getting to do it for someone other than our unsuspecting neighbors," Zelena replied, holding her drink up towards her new sister-in-law.

"Em, your vows were beautiful. You really killed it, sis," Jefferson said with a smile.

"Thanks, Jeff. The hardest part was keeping them so short."

"Dude, that was the short version?"

"Yeah the first draft was like five minutes longer than that," Emma responded. "It took me like a week to get down to that final version."

"Well they were amazing," Zelena chimed in. "So sweet and honest."

"Yeah and thanks for the shout out, by the way," Jefferson added.

"Well. That's how I feel. You guys knew that already didn't you?" Emma asked a little apprehensively.

The two siblings could sense the doubt in Emma's question and both immediately stood up to give her a small group hug.

"Never doubt how much we love you, Emma," Zelena stated as they parted.

"Ditto," Jefferson said. "And also if you ever even think about hurting Gina I'll be on you like white on rice," he stated with a predatory grin.

"Okay, Jeff," Emma chuckled as she turned to walk away.

"No seriously," Zelena said as she lightly grabbed Emma's arm. "We mean it," she stated with an even scarier grin.

"Okay...guys. I hear ya. But you really have nothing to worry about there," Emma replied.

"Good," they said together, their faces relaxing into their more natural smiles.

"Jeez. First Kat, now them," Emma muttered to herself as she walked to the next table. "They really couldn't have done this before my wedding day."

"No way! He's your informant," Emma exclaimed. She had made her way over to the next table that included the couples of Kathryn and Frederick and Killian and Tink.

"A good beat cop always has his ears to the ground. You could learn a thing a two from him, Swan," Killian responded.

"Actually, Frederick is looking into joining your unit soon, Em," Kathryn stated.

"What do you mean my unit… OH! Fred, you're gonna become a Deputy with Mulan, August, and me? Dude that's awesome! With all of us working there together, we're so going to be running that place once Graham is gone!"

"Whoa there. Slow down, Swan. I'm not retiring anytime soon," Graham said as he had just so happened to walk past and overhear that part of their conversation.

"Sorry, boss. Just kidding!" Emma called out after him. "Hope that doesn't come back to bite me in the ass anytime soon," Emma said with a grimace.

David and Mary Margaret were also sitting at the table. As Emma suddenly felt arms encircle her from behind, she instinctively closed her eyes and leaned back into the embrace. Regina kissed her cheek before she said, "Hello again, my wife."

"And hello to you, wifey," Emma responded.

"I distinctly remember telling you that you were not allowed to call me that in public," Regina whispered into her ear.

"Okay, I'll save it for tonight then," Emma said with a grin. She finally reopened her eyes. "Oh hey have you seen David and Mary Margaret yet?"

"No actually I haven't. Hey you two! Thanks so much for coming. I literally don't think I've seen you since-"

"Zelena's graduation. Also David's graduation. Hi Regina!" Mary Margaret shot up from her chair and ran over to give Regina a quick hug. Regina barely had time to react and let go of Emma before she was being squeezed by the small brunette.

"I still cannot get over one of the best employees I've ever had being married to Zelena's little sister," David mused as he had also stood up to give both brides hugs.

"And I might never get over you only knowing her as Zelena's little sister," Emma chuckled in response.

"You two look so beautiful today!" Mary Margaret said happily.

"Well you've never not looked beautiful, Regina," David then stated.

"Okay…." Mary Margaret replied, giving her husband a cautionary look.

"So...have you seen our children yet, dear?" Regina asked Emma, trying to change the subject.

"Yeah," Emma chuckled. "I think they're where those two are headed," Emma said, pointing past David, who was being pulled to the dance floor and simultaneously reprimanded by Mary Margaret.

"Okay. Wanna join me for another dance then?" Regina asked, taking Emma's hand and leading her in that direction before she even answered. "Thanks for coming, Tink. Killian. Fred," Regina called back over her shoulder.

As the newlyweds made their way back to the dance floor, they noticed that a small circle had formed around something that was happening in the middle. They squeezed thru the crowd just in time to see Belle screaming, "Yes!" and Ruby rising up from one knee to hug her before pulling back to place a ring on the librarian's finger. They had just finished their short celebratory kiss when Emma said, "Really, dude?! You trying to upstage me at my own wedding? What kind of a best woman are you?" Emma asked with a grin. She walked over to the newly minted fiancés and gave each of them a hug. Regina followed suit.

"I'm sorry, Ems. I couldn't wait any longer. It just seemed like the right time and-"

"I was actually going to ask you tonight, Red," Belle interrupted her with a shy grin.

"Really? When?"

"Pretty much as soon as we got home. I had everything already all set up."

"Oh, so that's why you didn't want me to come home to grab my wallet in between my leaving this morning and you coming to the ceremony," Ruby replied with a grin.

"Home?" Emma asked. "When did you two move in together?"

"I gave up my place about a month ago. But since I had a normal amount of stuff in my apartment," Ruby said, giving Emma a pointed look, "I was able to move in with only Belle and Jane's help."

"Wait. So Jane knew you two were moving in together but you neglected to tell me?" Emma then asked.

"Yeah….sorry about that. We were gonna have a housewarming when you two got back from your honeymoon. We just didn't want to ruin your wedding with our news, that's all."

"Well thank you for being so considerate, Ruby, but you know we would have been happy to hear your news. And it wouldn't have ruined anything for us," Regina stated calmly.

"I told you you should've told her, Rubes," Jane said, stepping towards them and into the conversation. "You know how whiny she can be when she knows she's being left out of something."

"That's not true!" Emma responded childishly.

"Emma did you just stomp your foot when trying to prove your point?" Maura asked with a chuckle.

"No," she responded in a still whiny voice.

"It's going to be okay, love," Regina said, hugging Emma close to her. "I'll make it all better later," she said as she rubbed up and down Emma's back and kissed her forehead.

"Wow. Now that's love," Jane stated with a chuckle.

"I can't believe it's their first day of school already," Emma stated as she stood with Regina and they watched their children run hand in hand into the building.

"The day that we've dreaded for so long is finally here," Regina replied.

"At least they have each other. I'm sure they'll be fine though. Right?" Emma asked, turning to face Regina.

"Yes, love," Regina chuckled in response. "They'll be fine. I think it's us who are going to take a little bit longer to adjust."

"They're officially in school now. Before we know it they're gonna be teenagers and dating and then off to college and having kids and we'll be grandmothers. Oh my god, Gina, we're gonna be grandmas someday!" Emma finally finished her mad rant.

"Hey, hey, calm down, dear. It's only their first day of kindergarten. You don't have to map out the rest of their lives for them so soon," Regina chuckled. "Come on, let's go," she said, taking Emma's hand and leading her down the street but in the opposite direction from where they had parked.

"Where are we going?"

The couple stood on the edge of the park where they first met.

"I still can't believe I never once saw you at the library before that day," Emma stated.

"Em, you still only come in to pick me up from work sometimes," Regina replied with a sceptical raise of her eyebrow.

"And to have lunch sometimes too," Emma responded. "Hey what can I say? Even a hot librarian can't get me to use our library more. I don't know what to tell you there, babe." Regina laughed and playfully swatted her arm. "Who would've guessed that I'd be married to the gorgeous mother of my son's best friend who I said hi to on that park bench almost a year ago," Emma mused.

"We should make that date our anniversary," Regina stated softly.

"Really? Not the day of the first playdate?"

"No. The day that a beautiful though not too well dressed mother introduced herself to me while I was enjoying a book on a park bench where my son played with his best friend. That's the day that we first started this thing," Regina acknowledged, nodding her head firmly.

"Agreed," Emma responded enthusiastically. "So you noticed the crappy clothes I was wearing that day, huh?"

"Yes, dear," Regina chuckled. "They were kind of hard to miss. I didn't judge you though. You were still gorgeous even in your laundry day clothes," she said as she walked away from Emma towards their bench with a grin.

"I almost didn't talk to you because of them actually," Emma said as she caught up to her wife. "That and I wasn't expecting you to be so damn gorgeous. Your stupid hotness really threw me off."

"Thank you. And please make sure you tell me about my stupid hotness as often as possible, dear."

"Oh, I plan on it. I'll do it almost every day for the rest of our lives if you want me to," Emma said as she sat down and immediately wrapped her arm around her wife's waist, bringing her closer to her.

"It's cold," Emma said after a few minutes of them sitting there and cuddling.

"Yeah, but it good."

"Yeah, it's nice. Sitting here with you. Apparently quoting Imagine Me & You.

"What do you mean? What's that?" Regina asked innocently.

"NO. Do not tell me that I married a woman who has not seen one of the cutest, if not the cutest, lesbian romantic comedies of all time!" Emma said, sitting up straighter but still holding Regina against her.

Regina couldn't continue to hold in her laughter. "Of course, I've seen that movie, Em. I just wanted to see your reaction."

"Yeah, well…. I still love you."

"I would hope so," Regina responded with a grin. "So what do want to do with the rest of our day now?"

"I don't know. It was your idea to take the day off so we could send them off to school. I thought we both could've just gone in a little late."

"Well we have to be there to pick them up after school too," Regina replied in an uncharacteristically whiny voice. "How about we head over to Granny's for a second breakfast?"

"Babe, what are you a hobbit now?"

"Now those movies I haven't seen. Although I do get the reference since I've read all of those books."

"All of his books. Really?"

"Yes, really."

"The Hobbit, understandable. That one's short. I still don't get how they made three movies out of that book. But like The Silmarillion? You've read that one too?"

"I've actually never heard of it," Regina responded airily.

"Really."

"No, not really, Em. I'm a librarian. Of course I know about J.R.R. Tolkien's posthumous works."

"How do I ever forget how much of a dork I've married?"

"I've told you before and I'll tell you again, I prefer to be called a nerd," Regina stated as she stood up and Emma followed her.

"Okay, but after Granny's I know what we're going to do with the rest of our day now."

"And what's that, dear?"

"Lord the Rings movie marathon! We just might be able to finish it before we have to pick up Henry and Luce. Wait, hold on. Let me do the math on that… Nope. I lied. We won't have time to finish it. The Return of the King is over three hours long."

"What?! No! How did people sit in theaters for that long without a break?" Regina exclaimed.

"Babe, trust me, it's because it doesn't even feel like it's that long once you get into it."

"Okay, well, I guess I'll trust you," Regina replied as she put her arm around Emma's waist and they began to walk back to their car.

"Good to know," Emma responded with a chuckle as she pulled Regina closer and placed a kiss to her temple. She turned to look over her shoulder once more at the bench where she first saw her now wife. And she still couldn't believe how lucky she was.

Regina looked up at Emma as she looked back and easily read her thoughts, knowing that she too was the luckiest woman she knew at having found the woman that became her wife.

And they lived happily ever after... (Sorry I just couldn't resist ;)