[Step] Mother and [Step] Daughter

[marymargaret]

Although Snow had known her for only a short while the young princess was sure that no one else could make a more wonderful queen aside from her mother than Regina.  She was beautiful, kind, and graceful.  What else could a king look for in a queen?  The young girl watched in delight as her mother-to-be was laced into the wedding gown that was to be fitted to her frame.  

"You look beautiful, Regina," she commented, her lips turned up into a smile.  "You'll make the most exquisite bride on your wedding day."  Initially she'd been upset with her father's idea to remarry but had come to terms with the decision.  He was looking for someone to help her through adolescence and into adulthood, not replace her mother.  She was grateful that he didn't wish to erase Eva's lasting presence.  

"It shall be the most wonderful wedding anyone has ever attended!"

[regina]

Regina wasn't sure how she was going to go through with this wedding. She understood that her mother, Cora, wanted her to, and that she would be very displeased if she pulled out now. Plus, Snow, the child that she had saved from that runaway horse was nice enough that she didn't want to hurt her either.

Regina was almost ready to be married now, and Snow had come in to see her. She complimented her on the dress and it caused the older woman to look down at it. "You think so?" She blushed at the words.

Looking at Snow, Regina smiled, acting like she was
happy to be marrying the king. "Until the next wedding occurs, I'm sure."

[marymargaret]

"I do!" Snow assured her soon to be step-mother.  "I'm sure Father will find you quite beautiful; moreso than usual."  She smiled with the assurance of a child.  She took for granted the fickleness and gravity of love.  Her mother and father had loved each other, so why couldn't her father and Regina?  It made sense to her.  Of course, she did not know that her father was still grieving for his deceased wife and was not looking for another love match.  

She grinned as Regina spoke of the next wedding: Snow's.  "I hope to look as beautiful as you on my wedding day," she said earnestly.  "Surely you'll be there with father, as you're to be my new mother.  I'll need your guidance in the future."  She was excited to have a female figure to turn to advice.  She loved her father but she had questions and concerns that she feared bringing up to him.  It helped, she suppose, that Regina wasn't that much older than her.  Had she been older herself she might have realized the issue with the age gap.

[regina]

Regina smiled warmly at Snow White, grateful that she was there. It definitely calmed the butterflies that were in her stomach currently, and she looked down at her hands. "Thank you, Snow. That means a lot to me that you say that."When Snow mentioned about her wedding being as beautiful as hers, Regina glanced over at her. "Of course, your wedding may very well be even more beautiful. And of course I'll be there for you. You can come to me whenever you need anything. Day or night." It was true, and Regina was glad to at least have Snow White in her life.

Even though Regina was still seeing Daniel behind everyone's back, she found herself wanting to open up to Snow White about the affair. She didn't yet, because she was focused on the wedding. But Snow had to know that they weren't marrying each other out of love; it was out of the fact that Regina had saved Snow from a runaway horse, and this was to repay her for the great thing that she's done.

[marymargaret]

Snow knew nothing of her soon to be step-mother's dalliance with her family's stable boy.  She'd be heart broken if she found out, truly believing that Regina and her father had fallen in love. She supposed love at first sight was real, having known nothing of the contrary.  Her smile widened at Regina's assurances.  "Thank you, Regina," she spoke, her tone grateful.  "I most appreciate that."

She couldn't wait for her to become her step-mother.  She planned on being at the young woman's side as much as she could.  She wasn't much older than herself, if one studied their ages.  She knew Regina couldn't replace her mother, and neither did she want her to, but she could be the older sister she never had.

[regina]

Regina stepped off of the stool that she had been standing on, straightening out the dress once she did. Her thoughts were running around in her head, thinking up excuses that she could possibly use to postpone this wedding; none of them were going to work, this she knew. So she gave up.

Turning to Snow, Regina smiled. "Did I mention that you look beautiful, too?" She laughed a little nervously, the butterflies in her stomach going a mile a minute. She felt a little nauseous, but she pushed that back, not wanting to ruin a perfectly good wedding because she had gotten nerves and thus, got sick.

"Well, I suppose it's time for the wedding to start, isn't it?"

[marymargaret]

Snow blushed slightly under Regina's praise.  She supposed she looked well in her ivory dress though not nearly as lovely as her step-mother.  "Thank you," she said, remembering her courtesies.  Her mother had instilled manners in her befitting a princess.   She briefly wondered if she was to have any siblings in the best future.  She would very much like to have a younger brother or sister.  Sometimes it was lonely being the only child in the family.  She wished to ask Regina about the possibility but was unsure if it was appropriate.  


"Are you nervous?" Snow asked, imagining she would be if she was to be married.  "I am a little," she admitted. She'd be walking ahead of her step-mother before the nobles of the kingdom.  It was a little nerve wracking. 

[regina]

Regina smiled at the younger woman, appreciating the fact that she had manners. The immature of a lot of people Snow's age had annoyed Regina, but she was grateful to see that Snow wasn't like that. "You're welcome, dear."

At the mention of being nervous, Regina had to glance down at her feet before looking up at Snow, laughing a little. "Now that you mention it, I am a little. Why are you nervous? You will be perfect out there!" Regina's thoughts raced to Daniel, wondering if he was going to be watching the wedding, and she felt a pang of guilt at that very thought. It wasn't fair to him to stand there and watch a wedding, but he would understand. At least, she hoped so. Her eyes looked toward the door before returning her gaze to Snow, the smile back on her face. "Shall we?"

[marymargaret]

"It's difficult, when everyone is looking at you," she spoke her fear.  "Though I suppose as soon as you walk out they'll all be looking at you instead."  She smiled, glad that she had such a beautiful step-mother.  After her mother passed Snow had become first lady of the kingdom.  Where she would always trail her mother at court events, she was now premier lady of the court and would walk in first to events.  She wouldn't mind trailing after her new step-mother; Regina was beautiful, kind, and gracious.  The princess didn't doubt that the young woman would be a wonderful addition to their court.

She nodded at Regina's suggestion.  "You'll be wonderful," she assured her, a smile brightening her features. 

[regina]

Regina felt a little more at ease now and she glanced at the door for a moment. She did have to agree with her soon to be stepdaughter, it was a lot more difficult when everyone was looking at you. The nerves came crawling back once again, but she kept her composure, not willing to let anyone see her discomfort.

Snow assured Regina that she would be wonderful and she turned and smiled, her features straightening as she heard the music. She let out a breath that she hadn't even realized she was holding and she walked to the door. "Here we go," Regina said, attempting to sound confident in her own words. She walked out and moving her eyes she looked to see if Daniel was there, and he was in the back. She smiled at him and gave him a small wink before walking down the hall.

[marymargaret]

(Should we skip to after the ceremony?  And I believe I said I would take on Daniel if we needed him.)

Snow slipped her hand into the young woman's, hoping that the gesture wasn't too forward of her. She beamed at her before bending to grab the basket she'd placed at her feet.  The petals were of the first blooms of the season.  She walked alongside her soon to be mother to the hall where the ceremony was to be held.  She squeezed the woman's hand in encouragement before letting go.

Taking a deep breath and pushing her shoulders back, Snow set off down the aisle ahead of Regina.  She distributed her flowers carefully, having planned in her mind how she would throw them in order to ensure that she had enough to last her entire walk.  She'd been terribly nervous about running short much to her father's amusement.  Upon reaching the end of the aisle she took a seat next to Regina's mother, wondering how it would be to have a step-grandmother. 

[regina]

(Yeah we can go ahead and skip to after the ceremony and yes I believe you did)

It was over. The ceremony that Regina had been dreading was complete. Part of her had a hard time believing that it had actually occurred but a glance down at her hand confirmed that it had. She took a deep breath as the congratulations started being thrown at the couple left and right. She felt awkward standing there, but she had put on a smile on her face.

Naturally, Regina had to act like this was natural. As if she had practiced it in her head multiple times, but it didn't help that Daniel had distracted her most of the time she had slipped away to "be alone." Her lover would often surprise her in the middle of her practice, offering to help with it, and they'd go completely off-course.

Of course, those thoughts in her mind had to be shaken off, and Regina was quickly brought back into the present when the king squeezed her hand gently to inform her that someone else was attempting to talk to them. Her smile widened and she shook hands with the other person, who then proceeded to bow. She actually blushed a bit at that; that would definitely take some getting used to now that she herself was Queen. Queen Regina Mills. Now that was replaying in her head, and she knew that she had to get her mind back on track to what they were doing. She cast a glance around the area, seeing who was still there.

[marymargaret]

( )

Snow was quite proud of her new step-mother. She believed Regina to have carried herself with the proper amount of grace and decorum fit for a queen.  She stood at her father's elbow, smiling upon the guests that greeted the newly enhanced royal family.  Briefly the young girl wondered when it would be suitable to ask if she was to have any half-siblings in the near future.  She imagined that perhaps it was just a bit too early to ask.  

Her eyes roamed the hall, settling upon one of the servants lingering near the back.  She recognized him from the stables, having seen him when she rode the day after being run away with by her horse.  Her gaze narrowed slightly as the young man openly stared at her new step-mother.  As Leopold stepped away to make his rounds about the room, Snow moved closer to Regina.  "That stable boy is eyeing you," she warned her, hoping that the woman wouldn't be too offended.  "Shall I tell father to send him away?"

[regina]

Regina felt many eyes on her as she lingered around the area, and her nerves were affecting her; she was just trying very hard to not let it show. Being by her...husband's side was very nerve-wracking, but as Queen, she could no longer show just how nervous she was. She had to conceal it, and it did take quite a bit of effort on her part to remain in control.

When King Leopold stepped away from her, Regina felt her nerves calm quite a bit. She wasn't sure what was going to happen after tonight, but she wasn't looking forward to whatever it was. She was snapped out of her thoughts when Snow came by and informed her that a stable boy had been eying her for quite some time. Daniel! She asked  her if she should tell King Leopold, and Regina shook her head. "As Queen, I should have the same jurisdiction to ask him to leave. I can handle it, Snow. Thank you," she smiled at the other woman.

Walking over to Daniel with her posture straightened, Regina cast a glance to be sure no one was watching then she spoke, low. "People are starting to get suspicious, the way you're looking at me."

[marymargaret]

Snow was assured by her step-mother's words.  She nodded as she watched the young woman approach the stable boy.  The princess was distracted by the sight of her mother's former maid, Johanna, approaching her.  The older woman had become one of her own attendants upon the passing of the queen, causing Snow to grow quite attached to her.

Daniel felt his heart beat harder against his chest as Regina approached him.  He tried to keep his gaze aloof, not wanting to meet her eyes just yet as he was unsure if he'd be able to keep the look of adoration from being expressed.  His hands trembled slightly at his sides as he longed to take the woman into his embrace.  "Everyone has been looking at you," he reminded her softly, finally feeling he was composed enough to chance a look at her.  His gaze shifted to her, chest tightening at the sight.  He felt he would never be whole again now that she was married to someone else. 

"I can't be faulted for looking at the most beautiful woman in the room."  He was aware that he was looking at her for other reasons, which he was certain she knew of.