A little Christmas story for you all! I will post another chapter maybe even two, depends :) the FTL story will start soon as well so keep your eyes open if you're interested :)
Regina sat on the stairs in her home with her elbows rested on her thighs as she examined her perfectly manicured nails. This was going to be the first Christmas she would be spending alone. She had never been a huge fan of any holiday really but that didn't mean she didn't care that Henry was spending Christmas with James instead of her.
She listened to Henry rummaging through his room, packing any presents he had kept hidden in there and began to wonder what she was going to do alone to keep herself distracted from the holiday. She was brought out of her thoughts by a knock at the door, it took her a moment to register what it was before she stood up. She cleared her throat gently and ran her fingers through her hair as she made her way to the door, black stilettos echoing through the decorated home.
She opened the door with a forced smile, "hello James," she stepped aside to allow him to walk in.
James nodded as he walked past her, "hello Regina. Henry ready?" He shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans and scanned the foyer of the mayoral mansion. Everything was decorated beautifully, garland was wrapped around the banister, the center piece on the table was meticulously crafted, he caught glimpse of the large tree in her living room as he walked up the entry way stairs and couldn't help but wonder how on earth she had gotten it in there herself. He should have expected that Regina of all people would have gone above and beyond but it still surprised him.
"Almost, he's just upstairs," she flattened the skirt of her red dress and walked past James making her way to the bottom of the stairs. Where he stood had not left her much room to maneuver and their arms grazed each others as she walked by, she made a point not to look at him and ignore the warmth that grew in her stomach but she did not miss the way he shot his eyes her way. Not threateningly, just startled and analyzing the sudden contact.
She stood at the bottom of the stairs with a hand on the railing and turned so she faced the top, "Henry," she called and listened for the muffled reply that he was coming before she let go of the railing and turned to face James. He was staring at her, his eyes moving over her figure as though he was trying to solve an internal puzzle, "what?" she smirked at how his head snapped up and he blinked his thoughts away.
"Nothing," he shook his head simply and then found her eyes again, "you look good," she looked amazing. She wore a simple red v-neck dress with short sleeves and the skirt cut off a few inches above the knee, her smooth legs lengthened by the black heels she wore. Her make up was simple, natural, save for the red that was painted flawlessly over her lips and he could have sworn he saw her cheeks flush at his comment.
Regina hummed a small laugh, "why thank you. You don't look too bad yourself."
"Gramps! I'm ready to go!" Henry scurried past his mother and stood next to James. He almost missed the flicker of hurt that flew over his mother's eyes. He offered her a warm smile and she returned it gratefully but it didn't take away from the fact that she was spending Christmas alone. He would have invited her to go with him and James but he didn't think James would be too keen on that.
"Great," he ruffled the boy's hair and smiled at Regina before making his way back down to the front door with Regina trailing behind him. He pulled the door open wide to let Henry through and then turned to face Regina to voice his goodbyes and was surprised to see her so close. She had her eyes down and hadn't noticed that he had stopped until she was only inches from him, she snapped her head up and looked at him through deep brown eyes, neither of them backing up to increase the small distance between them.
Her features were strikingly sharp and yet beautifully soft causing his breath to hitch, "merry Christmas," his eyes were pulled down to her lips as they formed a smile.
"Merry Christmas," she was never one to back down and she saw no reason to start now despite the way her chest and stomach were suddenly tightening with warmth. She didn't know when these feelings for the prince had arose in her but she kept them well masked and swore never to act on them. He was the husband of Snow White and while it would cause great harm to the girl if she did in fact act on these new feelings and pursue the prince, she told her son that she was trying to redeem herself and going after the husband of her enemy would not be considered redemption by anyone's standards.
He stood there longer than he needed to, he knew that, but he was mesmerized by how she could keep her expression so entirely unreadable. He gave her a quick and friendly nod before he turned and left the house, holding Henry's shoulder as they walked down the path.
Midway down the path Henry looked over his shoulder. His mother stood tall and straight in the open doorway holding her hands gently in front of her as she watched him go. She ducked her head down and cocked it slightly as she smiled, he could see right through the warmth and love in her face down to the loneliness that was growing with every step he took away from her.
James looked down at Henry when he felt him start to lag behind. He found him with his head turned and a smile as he waved over his shoulder, he lifted his eyes from Henry to Regina who remained in the doorway with her hand raised slightly as she bent her fingers slowly in a small wave.
"Go on Henry, I'll meet you in the truck," he pushed the boy forward and turned back to walk up to Regina. She watched him curiously, cocking her head to the other side as he came closer, "Regina," he continued until he was a close but friendly distance from her, "why don't you join Henry and me for Christmas?"
She lifted her chin and squinted her eyes slightly, "what?"
"Come on, it's Christmas Eve, no one, not even an evil queen," the corner of his mouth pulled into a smile at the gentle glare she shot him, "should be alone." He found himself wishing she would agree, wanting her to come with him, it was strange considering in all the time he had known her he was always trying to get away from her.
Regina fidgeted with her fingers as she hung them below her waist. She wanted to go, to spend time with her son but she didn't know how well she'd fare spending so much time alone with James and she most certainly did not want his pity. She took a deep breath, mostly just for show, "and why, all of a sudden, are you taking pity on me?" She raised her eye brows, "guilty conscience?"
He chuckled lightly, "it's not pity Regina, perhaps a little bit of a guilty conscience but come on, you can't tell me you want to stay alone in this big house trying to come up with ways to distract yourself from the fact that Henry isn't there." He feared he may have pushed too far when she pursed her lips together, her tell of irritation.
She let out a frustrated huff through her nose and looked at him critically, "alright," it was hard to ignore the relief on his face, "let me grab my keys."
"Don't worry about it, just come with us."
"In your truck," she raised an eyebrow and looked at him over her shoulder.
"Yes, why not?"
Regina took her keys and her coat from beside the front door, "you trying to keep me from taking my son back home when your sleeping?" she flicked her hair from her eyes and grinned, "keeping me prisoner in your house?"
"Aren't you just hilarious," although he couldn't help but laugh at the way she said it, mocking him and topping it all off with a wide grin. He watched her wrap a scarf around her neck and pull on her coat and button it shut over her small frame, it hugged her close and accentuated the curves of her body, he couldn't pull his eyes away.
She made a point to avoid his eyes, not wanting to catch him staring, slightly nervous about what would happen if she did. He wasn't very subtle. Closing the last button she sorted through the keys in her hand and stepped out of her home causing James to step back and she pulled the door behind her.
"I told you, you're not driving," he shook his head, almost teasing her. She only looked up smugly and clicked the door behind her.
"I have to lock the door. You're sheriff, I'm sure you can think of many reasons why I should do so," she rocked her head mockingly trying without much success to force down a smile.
James breathed out a laugh and walked down the single step to her front path and waited for her. With the door locked she pushed the keys in her pocket and pulled out a pair of black leather gloves, the December air was cold and already her nose and cheeks were turning a soft shade of red. He offered his hand to her as she reached the step and it took all his effort to hold back a laugh at the slow eye roll and the scoff she gave him as she finished pulling on her gloves and walked right past him down the step, not taking a second look his way.
He stood with his hand out for a moment longer, shaking his head and laughing quietly to himself. He shouldn't have expected anything less from her, she was a proud woman and she would never accept such offers especially from him. When he straightened his posture and turned to follow her he found her waiting patiently, turned slightly toward him with her hands in her pockets. It was going to be a long Christmas if she kept looking at him like that.
...
"Wow, James, well done," she looked around the apartment as she pushed her gloves in her pockets and began unbuttoning her coat. The decorations were not at all as carefully and methodically laid out as they were in her own home but everything fit nicely.
"Is that a compliment?" He teased her and walked up behind her while she unwrapped her scarf so it hung evenly on both sides of her neck.
"Maybe," she grinned over her shoulder and then turned her attention back to the apartment, "you've been in a coma for the past twenty eight years however did you manage to put this all together? Surely you didn't have memories of how the holiday went about," she nearly jumped when his fingers grazed the back of her neck. She went tense but relaxed when he began pulling her coat and scarf down from her shoulders and she slid her arms out, "thank you," she spoke quietly, slightly baffled by the action as she turned and looked at him quizzically.
He felt her tense at his touch but was not entirely sure as to what it was connected to, "no I had no memories of Christmas," he hung her coat and scarf on a hook and turned back to face her, "Henry helped me. Well technically I helped Henry."
Regina looked down at Henry who was giggling beside her, "did you now?" the question was directed at James but her eyes were on a rather proud son of hers.
"Yup! He still doesn't understand why we had to bring a tree inside and hang things on it," he laughed quietly as he remembered the look on his grandfather's face when he tried to explain it. He didn't get it at all.
James shrugged his shoulders, "I still don't! It smells nice though," the smile on her face lit up the room. He didn't think he had ever seen her really smile before and her laugh, while it was quiet, was enough to make his heart jump in his chest.
She walked over to the tree standing in the living room area, the sound of her heels echoing through the apartment, "it is a beautiful tree," she examined it and found very little faults, "it is a little bare though."
"That is what Henry said, which is why on the way here we stopped to get these," he pulled boxes of various ornaments from the plastic bags he had placed on the table.
Regina nodded in approval, "yes I did wonder why the two of you had me sit in the car for so long," she took the box from James and set it on the table to open it.
"Mom?"
She didn't look over to him, she kept her eyes watching her hands as she pulled out an ornament, "yes Henry?" The air was suddenly pushed out of her and she nearly toppled over backwards when Henry collided in to her, wrapping his arms tightly around her middle. Her eyes widened at the contact and she gently put the ornament back on the table before she carefully placed her arms around her son, having not hugged him in too long. It was almost as though she didn't remember how.
"Thank you for coming," he tilted his head back so he could see her face, "this is going to be the best Christmas ever."
Regina watched him bury his face back in to her before she looked up at James, she wasn't sure why she did, maybe to make sure that it was really happening. He stood with his arms folded over his chest and a bright smile as he looked at her, she returned a smile and dropped her head to look at the mess of brown hair that belonged to her son. She tightened her hold on him and rested her head against his with closed eyes as she savored the affection he had starved her of for so long. She could have cried when she felt him squeeze her tighter but instead she breathed out a soft laughter to keep the tears at bay, "thank you Henry," she whispered it so only he could hear and kissed the top of his head before resting against it again.
...
He hadn't been unable to peel his eyes away from her the entire time she helped with the tree. The way her calf muscle would flex when she balanced on one foot, reaching up on her toes lifting the tall heel of her shoe over the floor as she stretched to hang an ornament higher on the tree. The way her delicate fingers would play with the hook on the ornament as she contemplated where to hang it and the way she would smile and laugh as she and Henry would tease each other or when she would come up behind him and grab his sides, tickling him as a rich laughter rang from both of them. He had never once seen Regina happy until then. It was truly a heartwarming sight.
With the last ornament in hand she sent Henry to get his pajamas on and watched him run off before turning to the tree, looking for a place to hang it. He watched her quietly as she stepped around the tree, effortlessly gliding on her steep stilettos. It was wrong, he shouldn't be looking at her in such a way, he was with Snow and just because she was stuck in their world didn't mean he could betray her in such a way. But she was so tempting.
Regina stepped forward and carefully hung the last red ball on the tree, "there," she took several steps backward to view the whole tree, "all finished."
"Beautiful."
She pivoted and looked at him with a smile but it faded slightly when she realized that he wasn't talking about the tree. He was looking at her in a way that assured her his comment was was meant for her and her alone. She felt her cheeks flush and she couldn't stop the smile pulling at her mouth so she averted her eyes to the floor and shook her head gently before silently turning to face the tree again.
With one word he had her acting like a young child, she didn't want to think about what he could have her doing if he continued like that. She was trying to better herself which meant she couldn't do this, not with him and especially not with Henry just around the corner. She was enjoying the game though, she hadn't played in a very long time.
...
He emerged from Henry's bedroom to find Regina right where he had left her, sitting on the couch with her knees tucked up by her chest with a blanket draped over her legs and her hands in her lap. Silently he filled a mug with hot chocolate and walked to her side. He laughed quietly at the black heels she had removed and placed beside the couch on the floor, "why do you wear those things?"
Regina looked up at him, took the mug from his hands and followed his gaze to her shoes and smirked, "why do you stare at me when I wear them?" she countered with an overly innocent voice before she lifted her mug to her lips and took a sip.
He was at a loss for words, he didn't expect to be called out on it just yet. He went stiff for a second but the playfulness of her eyes peaking above her mug allowed him to relax, "fair enough," he laughed and sat down on the opposite side of the couch. It was not a large couch so in their current positions they were only a few feet apart.
She swallowed her drink and hummed a knowing laugh, the hot chocolate warmed her throat nicely and left a sweet taste on her tongue, "this is good, thank you," she took another sip of the hot liquid, careful not to burn her mouth.
"You're very welcome," he hated how his body was acting against his will while he was around her. His voice was low and thick, his chest tightened and his eyes were stubbornly glued to a woman he should not want.
She held his gaze steadily, enjoying the way he was looking at her. No one had admired her in a long time, "Henry asleep?"
"Pretty close to it," he smiled at her, she looked comfortable which was something he had never seen from her either, "you've done a great job raising him you know."
Never had she heard those words before, "he turned out pretty well didn't he," she smiled and looked over her shoulder toward Henry's room, "especially considering he had an evil queen as a mother," she drifted off and stared into her mug.
"Could have been worse," he shrugged but she kept her eyes down on her drink even when she answered.
"How?"
She sounded defeated, as if nothing could have been worse, "he could have had a mother that didn't love him and didn't care for his wellbeing," he watched curiously as she raised her eyebrows and cocked her head in agreement as though she knew precisely what that felt like. He'd ask her about it another time, "despite what you have done and despite what you may think, you are a wonderful mother Regina, no one can deny that."
The softness in his tone brought her eyes out of her drink to meet his. Their bright blue could be seen even in the dark apartment lit up by only the white lights on the tree. She found it hard to accept his words, she wanted to, but Henry's past behavior toward her made her doubtful, "yeah?"
James nodded and smiled, "yeah. It's not your fault Henry couldn't see it until now. Besides, judging by what Snow has let slip about your mother," the way her face instantly hardened into a mess of discomfort on the topic was concerning, "you had very little to go on."
"Yes, well, thank you James," she forced the memories of her childhood back down and replaced them withe a small smile, "that means a lot. Means even more that it's coming from you, you're supposed to hate me," she took another drink from her mug, never removing her eyes from his.
"I don't hate you," he half stifled a laugh when she raised a doubtful eyebrow over her mug, "I've never actually hated you, I came pretty close with the whole poisoned apple and dark curse thing," he smiled when she started laughing in her mug, "but you're actually starting to grow on me," he shot her a smug grin but it had no affect on her.
"Uh oh," she traced the rim of her mug and kept her eyes moving with her finger, "seems I have to fix that, can't have people starting to like me now can I?" She cocked her head and laughed happily through her grin.
James only laughed with her, enjoying the sound he had never gotten to hear until earlier that evening. He didn't know exactly when these feelings for her had developed but he could pin when she changed under his eyes and he viewed her differently ever since. It was in the stables when they went to go find Daniel. It was the desperation and panic in her voice after he pulled out his gun and pushed her away. It shook him right to the bone seeing a woman he thought of as cold and dark become so painfully desperate and hopeful. It made him see her as human for the first time. When she referred to him as her fiancé so tenderly he could not see her as anything but a woman who just wanted to be loved.
"It really is quite the tree."
The sound of her voice brought him back from the vivid memory. She had her head turned and was admiring the tree, its lights making her skin glow softly and her dark eyes glint their reflection. He didn't look at the tree, he was lost in her, "yes it is isn't it." she smiled at it but as she turned her head back to him the smile faded and she watched him carefully in quiet confusion.
He sat a moment longer before he shifted his weight so he could get up a move toward her. She sat still, expression unchanging as he leaned over her and braced himself with one hand on the arm rest she was leaning her back against. Her eyes only flickered down when his free hand took her mug and softly touched her fingers as he did. He kept his eyes on hers even though her gaze followed her mug in his hand as he placed it carefully on the coffee table.
She was much smaller than him making her knees nothing but a slight inconvenience for him. She kept her hands in her lap, unsure of what exactly to do with them as he moved in closer. She was unsure of what to do at all really so she sat still and tried to stay relaxed as she flicked her eyes almost nervously between his bold and unwavering blue eyes.
He paused when he hovered over her and her eyes focused on his mouth and her lips parted slightly as though to stop him. Whatever it may have been she must have decided against voicing it and he softly captured her top lip between his. Her lips were soft as they closed around his, soft and hesitant. Slowly he began to try and coax her to kiss him back, she was accepting his kiss but she wasn't truly kissing him back.
She was fighting a battle within herself, this was wrong but it felt so right. Her mind was screaming at her to run away and run fast but her tired heart ached for her to stay and let herself go in to the hands of such a kind and loving man and relish in what was denied from her for so long. Her heart won out in the end and she lifted her hands and hesitantly held them over his jaw and relaxed into his mouth.
Her body tingled with a flood of warmth and her heart beat madly in her chest as she was finally granted the love she had never gotten since Daniel, even if it was for only one night. She savors his weight on top of her and the care he takes in kissing her, she savors everything because she knows she isn't going to get it again.
He had almost hoped that if he were ever able to kiss her that he would feel nothing and she would pass through his system only to both his disappointment and his relief he felt so much more than nothing. He slid his hand down the side of her thigh and held her waist while continuing to brace himself against the armrest and deepened the kiss, skillfully and boldly opening her mouth with his to slip his tongue past her lips. She moaned into his mouth at the change and to his pleasure she didn't fight it. He could taste the hot chocolate she had drank only minutes before.
Her head spun from the rush of emotions that came with his kiss, each positive paired with a heartbreaking negative. The pain of knowing that she could never have him was nearly overwhelming the joy that she was still capable of feeling this way and that someone could return those feelings. With one last long kiss the pair slowly pulled apart, breathing hard against each others skin.
She tilted her chin up a fraction but then changed her mind, "I should go," she shook her head still a little flustered by how he remained above her, "this is a really bad idea," she swiveled and placed her bare feet on the floor and stood up, easily getting out from under him. The blanket fell to the floor which only caused her to become colder than when she left the heat of his body.
He watched her curiously as she stood with her back to him, he got up slowly and walked over to her, "you don't have your car."
Regina only laughed, "yes I was just remembering that now actually," she smiled up at him. She was relaxed, content with how he had made her feel but not wanting to let it go any further so as not to hurt herself even though she desperately wanted to.
He was relieved that she wasn't angry or set in a downward spiral, "stay the night," he offered and she laughed as if he was insane.
"Uh no," she shook her head and laughed, "I am not staying the night with you, not after what just happened," she continued to laugh at the absurdity of his suggestion. Her breathing became shaky as he stepped closer.
"Come on you don't have your car, neither of us want to wake Henry to take you home and neither of us want to leave him here alone either and I'm not letting you walk, just stay the night," he gave her his sweetest smile, "I'll sleep on the couch, you take my bed upstairs."
She had to suppress an eye roll but unfortunately for her, his charming smile and gentleman behavior had gotten to her, "fine," she knew he could tell she was trying not to smile, "but what am I supposed to wear? I am not about to wear this," she motioned to her dress and then breathed out a laugh, "and I am most certainly not just taking it off!" Her breath caught in her throat when his large hands rested above her hips and he pulled her into him, pressing their bodies together.
All he would need to do would be to kiss her again and she would give in. He could see she was teetering on the edge, trying desperately to keep her footing and stay strong in her decision. He would just need to lean down and close the distance between them and he could have her. He ran his hands up and down her sides slowly and she leaned the weight of her body in to him but he respected her wishes, "I can get you something to wear."
She relaxed, likely grateful that he agreed not to push it any further and he smiled gently, reassuring her that it was alright, "would you prefer something of mine? Or Snow's?"
She was not quick to answer. She didn't particularly want either, "Snow's I suppose."
"Alright, I'll be right back."
"Thank you," she whispered, unable to find her voice while his hands ran over her. She felt instantly cold when he let her go and walked to the room where Henry was sleeping. The second he disappeared around the corner she released the breath she didn't know she was holding and ran her fingers through her hair. She turned around to face the tree and held her fingers over her mouth as she whispered to herself, "what," she shook her head and steadied her shaky voice, "what just happened?"
He stood in the doorway with the folded pajamas in his hands and let her have a minute to herself. She was truly stunning. He hated how she filled his mind instead of Snow, his wife. Quietly he walked up behind her, "here you are," he smiled and she spun around, startled. Even surprised she was beautiful, dark wides eyes staring at him with strands of equally dark soft curls shook loose over her fair skin from the spin and red lips slightly parted.
"Yes," she timidly took the clothing from him and her fingers grazed his accidentally, "thank you," she looked at the soft fabric in her hands, acquainting herself with what she was going to be wearing. A white v-neck t-shirt and a pair of red cotton pajama bottoms, "this will do fine," she smiled up at him, her feet seemingly stuck on the floor.
He stepped aside and motioned to the stairs, his hand meeting with the small of her back as she stepped forward, "it's just right up there," he glanced up in to the dark, "light switch is at the top," he looked back down next to him to see her nod.
"Alright," she nodded and smiled sweetly at him, "goodnight James."
"Goodnight Regina, I'll see you in the morning."