So this is my new holiday story I mentioned in my latest chapter of No Greater Loss. It is set in that universe after Emma has returned but before she learns of most of the things that drive the plot. This isn't really plot driven, just family fluff. There may be slight references to the greater plot but nothing too major. It's just a fun, holiday driven way to learn more about the characters.
You don't necessarily need to be a reader of NGL to read this. You just need to know the basics. Emma disappeared on her sixth birthday. She was taken to a magical land (Altair) where she was raised and trained until her sixteenth year when she learned of her family and returned to them but she has no memory of her life in the Enchanted Forest. She has a younger brother Will (eleven) and her best friend Daniel came with her from Altair. If any other AU characters are mentioned I'll introduce them in the header of subsequent chapters.
Anyway, enjoy, and let me know what you think!
Emma groaned as banging and the sound of movement roused her from her sleep. For a brief moment she worried she had overslept but one glance at the sun's position out the window let her know it was ungodly early, just as she had suspected. She put her hand over her head, knowing there was no earthly way she would get back to sleep with the sound around her.
She slipped on a pair of loose cotton pants she had brought along from a trip to another realm and paired them with a navy blue long sleeved tunic. She knew she would have to change into something more proper later but the last thing she wanted was to be laced up in a corset on her quest to discover what the commotion that had woken her was.
Bleary eyed she stepped into the hallway to discover all the castle help hard at work hanging decorations. Garlands interwoven with pinecones and berries ran the length of the hallway. Deep crimson bows were placed intermittently and clusters of beautifully decorated balls adorned the fir strands, shimmering as they caught the light from the candles lighting the hallway.
"What in the world?" Emma murmured under her breath as she continued to explore the hallways in wonder. The smell of pine filled the hallways, drawing her attention to the small fir tree's adorned with tinsel and more decorated balls were strategically placed throughout castle. She finally made her way into the great hall where she was met with even grander decorations than those that had decorated the hallways. A massive tree stood in off to the side of the room with many of the castle workers decorating it.
"Emma, you're up!" Emma turned to find her mother leaving a group of her ladies to make her way over to her daughter.
"Of course I am." Emma glanced around the room, in awe of the beauty of the decorations. "How could anyone sleep through all of this?"
"Oh I'm so sorry, your brother never wakes up during this sort of thing. I guess I forgot." Snow apologized. A brief pang of guilt filled her for not considering her daughter, yet another reminder of the many things that had changed during her ten-year absence, of the occasions and traditions she had missed. "I thought Daniel said you could sleep through anything."
"I thought you said I was a light sleeper." Emma reminded her mother with a grin. "Maybe being back here has changed that. I have to ask though, what in the world is going on here?"
"We're decorating for Christmas of course." Snow said as if it were obvious.
"Christmas…?" Emma looked around the great hall, attempting to search her recollection for something she had learned about the distantly familiar word.
"You have had Christmas where you've been living?" Snow asked slowly. "Haven't you?"
"No." Emma shook her head, returning her gaze to her mother. "Altair doesn't have many holidays. We celebrate great victories, great figures of the past, and one day a year we're allowed to celebrate our magic, but for the most part our world finds holidays frivolous."
"Of course they do." Snow sounded less than pleased at her daughter's admission.
"But we learn about the holidays of other cultures. And some times sneak off to experience them" Emma offered. "I do vaguely remember hearing something about this holiday. As Daniel would say maybe if I had paid more attention in our classes I would be more familiar with the holiday." Emma crossed her arms against the cold, her eyes settling on the beautifully decorated tree. "I assume I celebrated this holiday as a child."
"Oh yes." Snow smiled at the memory of the beautiful Christmas's they had spent together as a family. Emma's smile as she danced around, captivating all those in attendance of their annual Christmas eve ball; The joy in her voice as she woke them up on Christmas morning; The sparkle in her eyes as she ran to the Christmas tree. "It was your favorite holiday. You loved it so very much. We would put you to bed on Christmas Eve and every year from the time you could walk, without fail we'd come down later to find you asleep under the tree after having snuck out of your room. Eventually we grew to expect it but we told the guards to allow it because we knew how happy it made you. I think your father secretly loved carrying you back to bed every year."
"It sounds nice" Emma smiled at her mother, a thought sparking in her mind. "If you want, you can tell me all the traditions we used to have and we can do them together. I mean I probably won't be sneaking out and falling asleep under the tree but…"
"That would be lovely." Snow whispered, taking her daughter's hand into her own. Emma saw tears shining in her mother's eyes. "I would…. I would very much like that Emma."
Emma squeezed her mother's hand. "This whole castle looks beautiful."
"They've just begun." Snow turned her attention to the workers. "This place is just magical when it is finished. I cannot wait for you to see it. And to breathe new life into our Christmas traditions. But none of that can be done if you are not properly dressed."
Emma groaned. "I assume this holiday comes with a dress code, one that you have already tended to on my account."
"You assume correctly." Snow gave a small smile. "Your garments will be brought to your chambers each morning. I don't want to spoil the surprise."
"Or give me a chance to get out of wearing them." Emma teased.
"Don't make that face at me." Snow warned lightly, a smile playing at her lips.
"What face?" Emma asked innocently, her eyes going wide. "I would never make a face about wearing a custom made dress every day of the holiday season."
"Take heart it's not always a dress." Snow laughed, shooing her daughter away. "Now go change so we can all have breakfast. And wake your brother."
"Are you trying to get me killed?" Emma quirked an eyebrow at her mother's request.
"Tell a guard." Snow sighed. She earned a nod from her daughter who promptly turned and hurried back up the stairs. Snow chuckled at her daughter, her heart feeling warm and full that her entire family was together once again for such a special season.