Comfort Food

I Do

Mr. and Dr. Henry Mills request the honor of your presence

at the wedding of their daughter

Regina Mary Mills

to

Robin Michael Andrew Locksley

Thursday, June 8, 2017

108 Mifflin Street

Storybrooke, Maine

Three o'clock in the afternoon

Reception to follow at

Enchanted Forest Pavilion

815 Pavilion Road

Storybrooke, Maine

Cocktail hour beginning at 6 o'clock in the evening

Semi-formal attire

Women may wear fancy hats to the wedding ceremony if they so choose

*****

Sunlight woke Regina as it warmed her face. She stretched under the covers as she laid in her childhood bed, remnants of her past surrounding her. Her pile of stuffed animals, dolls lining shelves of her wall, pictures, awards and a few posters leftover from her teen years all stared back at her as she stirred.

Hanging from her closet door, however, was the sign of her future—the dress she would wear later that day when she became Mrs. Robin Locksley.

She sat up, smiling as she wrapped her arms around her knees. The day had finally arrived and she was overwhelmed with excitement, feeling her body hum with it. Robin was everything she had ever wanted—kind, intelligent, supportive, funny and charming. When she was with him, she felt she was her real self for he accepted her completely. Even after she had told him about her inability to have children. His response, she realized now, had really sealed it for her. Robin hadn't viewed her as damaged nor her condition as a dead end to their dreams for a family, making her realize the same truth as well. For the first time since she had received her diagnosis, Regina had finally accepted that she could be a mother and could have the family of her dreams.

Her door creaked as it opened right before her father poked his head in. Henry smiled. "Good morning, sweetheart. Do you want pancakes?"

"Pancakes sound wonderful," she replied, smiling at him. "They can't affect me fitting into my dress now, right?"

"Exactly. And you won't be doing much eating later," Henry said. "Come on. It'll be like old times."

She pushed back her blankets and followed her father down the stairs and into the kitchen for breakfast. As he pulled down bowls and retrieved the ingredients, Regina took a seat at the table. She reached for the unity candle she and Robin would light later that day, admiring it once again. Little pearls created a heart that surrounded a quote written in gold lettering: Love never fails.

"Excited, sweetheart?" Henry asked, mixing the batter.

"I am," she said. "Though it must seem strange. Nothing is really changing after all. Robin and I have been living together for a year now. We've been acting like we're married."