Not alone anymore

Chapter 27

Little time jump - 2 weeks

I begin to wake up and stretch as I open my eyes. Looking at the clock I see it's almost 9:30 in the morning. Why the hell and I up so early on my day off? I think to myself. I move a bit and feel Regina still next to me. I look at her beautiful face and she's still sound asleep. I lean over and gently kiss her forehead then I slowly get out of bed. I get a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt and head into the bathroom to do the morning routine. She's still sleeping when I come out so I go downstairs to the kitchen where I find Zelena sitting at the kitchen island working as usual on her sketches. "Morning Z".  "Good morning Emma. Regina still sleeping?"   "Yeah. She's been tired a lot lately. I think her not working is really getting to her. She usually does summer school classes and she would be getting ready for a new school year but she still hasn't heard anything yet. I'll talk to her. Maybe she can give her lawyer a call or maybe find a new school. This really sucks though".   "Yes I know how much she loves being a teacher".  I nod and go open up the closet door that we have in the kitchen. We keep some extra cooking stuff in there. I pull a lid off one of the big pots, I reach in and take out a box of cereal. I put the lid back on and close the door. Zelena asks with a laugh. "Emma why do you keep your cereal in there?"   "Because I'd prefer that Regina didn't know I have it". I go get a bowl, spoon and milk.  "You don't want her to know you have a box of mini shredded wheat?"   I pour my cereal into the bowl and show her. "It's really Captain Crunch.  (Cap'n Crunch).  She doesn't like me having sugary cereals. So I took one of her empty boxes and switched it out and keep it in here".  I get up and put it back then start eating as Zelena laughs at me.  "Your funny Emma".  I just smile with a closed mouth because my mouth is full.  I was happy when I was done because Regina still hadn't gotten up yet.  I put my bowl in the sink, put the milk away and grab a bottle of water. "Hey Emma can I talk to you about something?"  "Well it depends on what you want to talk about. Will I like the subject of this conversation?"   "I hope that you will. A few days ago Regina and I were talking about you and what you'd like to wear for the wedding. She said so far you haven't been able to find anything. She told me what you were looking for and I did something I've never done before.  I'd like you to look at these sketches".  She passes me her book and I look at the sketches.  "Zelena what is this?"  "Well if you'd like this could be your suit for the wedding. We can make it any color that you want. All white, or black pants and jacket or a white jacket.  What do you think?"   "You did this for me?"   "Yes I did. I know this wedding is important to both of you. As a gift I designed Regina's wedding dress and I would love to do the same for you, and hopefully it may help us on the road to being friends again".  I smile at her and say.  "Wow these are great. Thank you Zelena. I think I would really like to wear something that Zelena Mills has never designed before".   "Thank you Emma I would really love to do this.  All we have to figure out are the colors and measurements  for you. Your off today right?"   "Yeah".  "Ok great. Maybe we can finalize everything and I can send it off to my assistant who can relay everything to everyone else.  Does that sound ok?"   "That's great Zelena. Thanks again. May I ask how much this will be?"   "Emma it's not going to cost anything. This is my gift to you just like Regina's wedding dress is a gift to her".   "Really?"   "Yes Emma really.  It's a gift. I know I said some really hurtful words to you the last time I was here and I'm sorry for that but I've honestly never seen my sister more happy, ever in her life as she has been with you. Thank you for that Emma. Mother really treated her badly. She couldn't have friends unless mother approved and she could never date. The only date I remember her having was one that mother set her up on and she said it was so bad, she was actually scared to death that this guy was going to rape her. She came home with some bruises on her wrists and a bloody lip. Mother didn't believe what she had told us but daddy wanted to kill him, but mother made him think that Regina did that all to herself. Ok anyway. Let's get off that, I'll just say that I believe you would never harm my sister in anyway similar to that. She loves you and you love her and that's all that matters".   "Thank you Zelena and I could never harm Regina like that. You know I grew up in the foster system right?"   She nods. "Well I've had many horrible and unspeakable things happen to me and I could never do anything like that to anyone especially Regina. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love her. I want to spend my whole life with her as long as she allows me to".   "As long as I allow you to what my love?"  "Good morning babe. I was just telling Zelena that as long as you allow me to I want to spend my whole life with you".   "Well I think I would be fine with that".  She smiles and comes over to give me a morning kiss. Then she starts to make a cup of coffee.  When she's done she walks over and stands by me. I get up and offer her to sit where I was but she said she was fine. "Babe please just sit. My ass was starting to get numb anyway".  We all laugh and Regina decides to sit. "Thank you dear. Have either of you had breakfast yet?"   Zelena says she hasn't eaten anything yet and I say.  "I just had a little cereal babe".   "The mini shredded wheat that you love?"   "You know it".  I look at Zelena with a look that says 'If you say anything I will  fillet you like a fish'. She looks at me and understands.  "I could make us all some eggs or something if you both want?"  "I'm fine babe".   "So am I sis".  Regina starts to stand up but I stop her.  "Babe I'll make you something if you'd like. I know you've been tired a lot lately so let me help you. What would you like?"   "Oh my love you don't have to make me anything. I can do it just fine. I'll probably just have a grilled English muffin with some jam on it and some orange juice with ice".  "Oh ice. Just like me babe. I like that".  I give her a kiss and ask.  "How dark do you want the muffin babe?"  "We'll not burnt but not to doughy either. Maybe a little on the darker side please".   "You got it babe". I start to make her English muffin and I get her a glass for her orange juice. I put ice cubes in the glass and fill it with the juice. I give her the glass and check the muffins. They seem like a perfect shade of brown. I shut off the burner and move the pan off of it. I put the muffins on the plate, I get a butter knife and put those in front of Regina. I get the jam out of the fridge and give that to her. "Thank you so much sweetheart".  "Ok well if you two don't mind, I think I'll go upstairs and take a shower and then start packing. I have to be at the airport by 10am tomorrow".   I smile and Regina says.  "Have fun sis. I know how much packing sucks".  She says with a little chuckle.  Z leaves the kitchen and it's just Regina and me.  She finishes her bite and asks.  "So how have you and my sister been getting along?"   "Well we've been very civil with each other. When I came in here this morning she offered to make my wedding suit for me. I asked her how much it would be and she actually said it was a gift and she hoped to start repairing our friendship".   "Oh Emma that's wonderful sweetheart. Sounds like Zelena is really trying".  "Yeah I guess she is. She said she was ok with it that I ask your opinion on the suit that she designed. Could you look at this please and tell me what you think?"   "Of course my love, I'd be happy to look at it but in the end it's really your decision".   "Regina you know I don't want to embarrass you at our wedding so please tell me honestly if you like the designs or not".  I'm really starting to get a little overwhelmed by this conversation because I'm scared that I'm totally gonna blow this wedding.  "I gotta go outside and get some air. I love you. I'll be back".  I kiss her quickly and leave the kitchen as I hear her speaking to me but I don't stop. I go out into the backyard and enjoy the fresh air.  I sit underneath her favorite apple tree and close my eyes. I hear the back door open and look to the left and see Gina walking out slowly. She walks to me and asks. "Darling may I sit next to you?"  I nod yes and she sits not to far away from me. A few minutes go by and she asks.  "Emma are you ok?"   "Yeah I think so. I'm sorry babe. I'm just scared that at our wedding your gonna hate me. Your probably gonna invite all these wealthy people who are used to the best and when I walk out everything will turn to shit.  I don't want that. I swear on my life that I do love you".   "Sweetheart please just take a few deep breaths and relax. First of all I don't plan on inviting any wealthy people to this, especially my mother. So none of her wealthy friends will be attending either. It'll just be you and I and our closest friends sweetheart. Is that ok?"   "Shit yeah. It's definitely ok. Regina. Thank you for putting my mind at ease".   "Emma my love you don't have to thank me because I don't want some stuck up rich people at our wedding.  This is our day not theirs. We aren't getting married to make sure everyone sees how nice they look".  I actually laugh a little at that and she moves closer to me. "Are you ok now sweetheart?"   "Well do you still love me?"    "With everything that I am".   "Then I'm ok babe. Thank you for being patient with me".  "I always will be my love. That's my promise to you".  We kiss and hug each other tightly.  A little while later we both get up and go back into the house. We go into the kitchen and we both look at Zelena's sketches again. "Emma these are really great. You will look absolutely gorgeous in this sweetheart. Have you decided yet on this for the wedding?"   "Well since you said I'd look gorgeous I think I'm definitely gonna wear the suit. It's so nice of your sister to do this for me. She said she's never designed anything like this before".  "I never have blondie. That is the first pant suit I've ever done and it's just for you. As long as you want it that is?  Zelena asks as she walks into the kitchen.  "Yes Z. I really would love to wear this. So what do we need to do?"  She gets a piece of paper and a pen. "First what color would you like the pants to be?"  "Black?"  I question as I look at Regina. She gives a sweet smile. "Ok yes I want the black".  "Alright and the shirt, did you want a tuxedo style with the lines down the front or just a plain shirt?"   "I think the tuxedo style would look nice".  She writes that down.  "White shirt?"   She asks. "Yes please".   "And the buttons on the shirt. Do you want plain white or we could do black. I personally would go with the black. I think it really brings out the shirt".  "Fine with me Z".   "Great and for the jacket".   "Definitely black".  "Excellent. And finally the tie, bow tie or neck tie and what color?"   "Hmm. Color black and I think neck tie".   "Ok marvelous all that's left are the measurements. So unless your to shy we can meet upstairs. Get into what you'd normally wear under dress pants and put on a sports bra or something. Those will work best. I'll go up and get my tape. Let me know when you ready".    She leaves the room and I start to get uncomfortable again. Regina notices quickly and asks. "What's wrong my love?"  "She's gonna wanna measure my inseam Regina ".  "Yes dear that's how it's normally done".   "My inseam Regina". I walk around to stand next to her. I grab hold of myself below my waist.   "Does your sister even know about me Regina as far as this?"   I motion to my lower half.  "Oh I understand now and no I never told her. What do you want to do my love?"  "I don't know. What's the right thing to do?"   "If you feel comfortable with this I could talk to my sister and tell her unless you wanted to do it".   "Would I sound like a coward if I asked you to do it. I trust you and I honestly don't think I could handle the rejection from someone close like Zelena".   "I understand dear. I will make sure Zelena knows that this is something you are very uncomfortable about and to be very discrete about it".  I lean in and kiss her then we hold hands as we walk upstairs. I go into our bedroom and sit on the bed and wait for what happens next.