A/N: Merry Christmas Eve peeps! Enjoy this cute SwanQueen three shot I wrote for you all. There will be one chapter uploaded tomorrow and the 26th.
Basically consider Hook's death the end of that crappy storyline and imagine it's 2016.
First chapter will be K, the second will be T, and the last will be M - just warning you now!
Regina glanced up at the clock on the mantelpiece before taking another sip of her red wine. It was quarter to eleven in the evening and Henry was due home in fifteen minutes. He had been spending Christmas Eve with Emma and the Charmings before returning to the mansion on Mifflin Street where he'd spend Christmas Day with his other mother. His stocking was already prepared, hidden in her closet, but Regina was most excited to see how Henry would receive the complete set of Grimm Fairytales she had bought for him. Ever since the curse had broken, the two of them had become fascinated with the differences between the truth of events in the Enchanted Forest and how they were portrayed in the modern world. It was something they had bonded over and Regina couldn't wait to see his face when he unwrapped the leather-bound volume she had placed under the tree for him.
The sound of the key in the front door lock startled the brunette who had become lost in thought. Marking her place in her novel, she slid out from under the blanket and stood from the couch, walking into the hall to greet her son who was pulling off his boots, small mounds of snow littering the floor. Emma Swan stood in the open doorway, hand stuffed in the pockets of her thick winter jacket and unruly curls tumbling over her shoulders from beneath a woollen hat.
"Did you have a good evening, dear?" Regina asked as Henry shucked off his coat and hung it up.
"Great!" he enthused. "We ate so much food and then Mom let me have even more ice cream because Neal knocked the last of mine on the floor. And I won charades with Grandpa because Grandma couldn't work out how to mime Snow White!"
Regina laughed at his recollection. "Sounds like you have all been busy. I'm glad you had a good time, Henry."
It was true. After everything their family had been through, Regina was pleased they were now at a place where Henry was spending time with both his mothers as well as his grandparents. Even if it did sting a bit to know she hadn't been invited to join in the Christmas Eve festivities.
"Well, I'd better go," Emma said from the doorway. "I'll see you tomorrow evening, kid."
"Thanks, Mom," Henry said, padding back through the now puddled hallway to give his mother a hug. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas, Henry," Emma said, pulling a small box out of her pocket as she spoke.
"I thought we were doing presents tomorrow evening," Henry frowned as she held the gift out for him to take.
"We are," she confirmed, "but I wanted you to have something to open in the morning as well. Unless you want to wait?" she teased, pretending to put the present back in her pocket.
"No, no!" Henry laughed, reaching out and stopping the retreating wrist.
Regina chuckled too as Henry clutched the gift in his hand and gave his blonde mother one more kiss on the cheek before heading back into the house and up the stairs. Turning back to face Emma, the Mayor smiled slightly.
"Merry Christmas, Emma," she said.
"Merry Christmas," the Sheriff replied. "I've got something for you too actually."
"You got me a present?" Regina asked, surprised.
"Of course," Emma nodded, pulling another small box from her other pocket. "I mean, I wasn't exactly sure what to get the other mother of my son who saved me from the darkness and helped me through the loss of a loved one but I think I did OK considering."
The blonde extended her hand towards the older woman who faltered slightly before reaching out to accept the gift.
"Thank you," Regina said, a slight blush on her cheeks. "I've got something for you too. Wait here."
Emma nodded and stepped inside, closing the heavy door to the mansion to keep the welcoming heat inside. Regina returned within seconds, a soft, beautifully wrapped parcel in her hands which she passed to Emma.
"Again, what do you get the other mother to your son who used to be the Dark One but then helped you when your boyfriend ran off with your sister?" Regina said.
"I can't believe it's been over a year since we managed to destroy the darkness in me," Emma said, thinking back to how Christmas had almost passed Storybook by the year before when the residents were reeling from the events of November and Hook's death.
"It's been a terrible year," Regina sighed, her thoughts straying to Robin and Zelena who had fled over the town line with their new baby the previous spring. "But I think things are beginning to look up now."
"I'm glad," Emma said, a genuine smile on her face as she looked at Regina. "And thank you for this by the way," she added, indicating the present with a little wave of her hand.
"You're welcome," Regina said.
There was an awkward pause, neither woman knowing exactly what to say next. The two of them had spent a lot of time together over the past few years but Regina had never quite been able to forget how she had behaved towards Emma when they first met. Although the blonde appeared to have forgiven the abhorrent, aggressive behaviour the Mayor had displayed, Regina couldn't quite forgive herself. Emma on the other hand, was cautiously keeping her distance, knowing Regina was still coming to terms with Robin's betrayal. The Sheriff didn't want to push too fast by letting her heart rule her head. Not yet anyway.
"Well, I'd better get back. Mom and Dad said something about needing to be in bed before midnight if I wanted any presents from Santa," Emma said.
Regina rolled her eyes. "Seriously? They're still trying to make up for putting you in a wardrobe as a baby by giving you your childhood Christmases even though we didn't celebrate this holiday in the Enchanted Forest?"
"Hey, as long as I get presents, I'm not complaining," Emma grinned.
"Of course you're not," Regina laughed. "You're just like Henry."
"I think he's more like you," Emma mused.
"How so?"
"He's polite, well mannered, smart, compassionate, thoughtful. You've done a great job raising him, Regina. Thank you."
The brunette was stunned, unsure how to answer the unexpected compliment.
"Erm you're welcome, I suppose," she stuttered eventually.
"Any time," Emma said, reaching for the latch on the door. "Well, enjoy your Christmas Day. I'll come and pick Henry up around five, assuming you'll be finished with Christmas dinner by then."
"Why don't you join us?" Regina said before she could stop herself.
"Join you?" Emma asked, a slight frown on her forehead.
Yes," Regina nodded. "It seems unfair on Henry for him to have to split his time between two households and I'm sure you'd like to be there when he opens his stocking too. Plus, no offence to your mother but I don't think you'll be missing anything if you avoid her Christmas meal."
Emma couldn't help but laugh at that when she thought back over the burned, dried, and undercooked turkeys Mary Margaret had presented to the family over the years.
"Are you sure?" Emma asked.
"Positive," Regina nodded. "We'd love to have you."
"Great, I'd love to spent Christmas with both of you," Emma beamed. "Shall I come over around ten. Even the hormonal fifteen year old will surely be awake by then."
"Sounds perfect," Regina nodded.
"In that case, why not leave my present under your tree and I can open it tomorrow," Emma suggested, handing the gift back to Regina.
The brunette took it and nodded her agreement. Then Emma opened the door and after a brief wave and a flurry of snowflakes, the hallway was still once more.
A/N: tomorrow's chapter will be the Christmas Day itself!