The town square was bustling as the citizens of Storybrooke congregated there, putting up the town's Christmas tree. This Christmas felt more magical than usual, not just because Mr. Gold had literally brought magic back to the town. It was their first Christmas with their memories returned, and there was a lot to celebrate. Families were reunited, lost loves were found, and friendships were rediscovered. It had been a little stressful at first, realizing that they had lived for twenty-eight years as someone else would be a shock to anyone, and soon after the curse Emma and Snow White were sucked into a mysterious portal as the town was thrown into chaos. Luckily, they had managed to get back to the town, and things were slowly getting back to normal. Well, except for Mulan and Aurora who had climbed through the portal with Emma and Snow and were struggling to adjust to their new world.
Snow and David walked around the tree helping those that were decorating. Leroy and the dwarves were giving out hot chocolate while Leroy kept glancing over to where the fairies were gathered. Mulan and Aurora were watching in awe as Ruby and her girlfriend Belle were stringing the last lights on the tree and lighting them up.
"Is it magic?" Mulan asked for the tenth time.
"It's better than magic," Belle replied, smiling over at her.
When all the lights were on and working, the Blue Fairy used her magic to place the star on top of the tree and the citizens all cheered.
"Good job everyone," Snow addressed the crowd, "Don't forget to come to my party on Christmas Eve." The citizens excitedly talked among themselves and they started to sit back and admire their work.
Emma and Henry were sitting on a bench marveling at the tree. Emma was very nervous, since this was her very first Christmas with her family. Before coming here, she had spent every Christmas on her own, drinking a bottle of scotch and waking up with a massive hangover. It was so weird that she now had a mother, a father, a son, never mind the fact that they were all fairy tale characters.
"What are you thinking about?" Henry brought her out of her thoughts.
Emma glanced down at him. Despite everything that had happened, he still had his usual grin plastered on his face.
"Just about how I'm looking forward to spending the holidays with you and Mary Margaret, and David, even if I have to share you with Regina," she leaned back against the cool bench, "What are you going to ask Santa for this year?"
Henry laughed, "Everyone knows that Santa isn't real." Emma stared at him in disbelief. The boy who had convinced the entire town that they were fairy tale characters and was right about it didn't believe in Santa Claus.
At that moment, Regina walked up to the town square. Those that had already seen her backed away in fear and soon the square was deadly quiet. She looked around at the townspeople and smirked.
"Sorry I'm late," she said without malice, but a huge dose of irony.
Snow and Charming stepped forward. The other townspeople walked up behind them.
"What do you want Regina?" Snow wasn't interested in playing any games today.
"I just want to see my son," she glanced over at the bench where Henry and Emma were sitting, "I was going to tell him what I was planning for Christmas." Charming stepped forward, a fist replacing his usual sword.
"He's not spending Christmas with you." Regina just smiled at him.
"Even though he is your grandson, he is still my son." Charming looked over at Snow, who stepped forward to join her husband. Henry ran over and stood in between his mother and grandparents, Emma trailing behind him.
"It's okay, Mom. I'll see you at Snow's party and we'll meet for lunch on Christmas Day." He glanced over at Emma who nodded in agreement at those terms. Snow, however, was not in agreement.
"You are not invited to my house and Henry will be spending Christmas with his biological family." Henry tried to speak up, but Snow interrupted him. "You may have raised him, but he is not your son."
The words seemed to hit Regina pretty hard, but she smiled to mask her pain. "Very well then. Enjoy your awful party, but do know that I raised Henry for ten years and no matter what you say I am still his mother. Goodbye Snow." With that, she turned around and strutted away. Though as soon as she had left the area, she started to cry.
Emma turned to her mother. "Was that really necessary?"
"We're going to spend Christmas as a family and it's going to be perfect."
The rest of the townspeople soon shifted their attention away from the scene went back to their homes. Ruby, Belle, Mulan, and Aurora looked at each other.
"Is Christmas always this crazy?" Belle looked at Ruby.
"It can be," her girlfriend replied.
"I still don't quite understand what the big deal is about this 'Christmas,'" Aurora looked confused.
"You'll see, all of you," said Ruby beaming.