"Can you tell me again why we're doing this?"
The quiet wind carried Elsa's light voice to Emma's slightly frozen ears. She turned her body towards Elsa's, carefully side-stepping over tree roots. "We're getting a Christmas tree."
Elsa gave her a smile with a tiny roll of eyes. "Yes, Emma, I know that. But why are we here?" She gestured at the forest surrounding them. "I've seen them for sale around Storeybrooke. Why come all the way out here?"
"Because, Elsa," David's voice came from in front of them, where he and Mary-Margaret were fighting through large snow drifts. "Those trees are artificial. There's nothing like an old-fashioned real tree that you cut down with your own hands."
"Or, axe." Mary- Margaret pointed to the tool he held in his hands, a small smirk on her face.
Elsa glanced at Emma, confusion still apparent on the young women's face.
David stopped, and slung an arm around her shoulders. "It's a tradition." He gazed out into the trees, a far-away look in his blue eyes. "Reminds me of my childhood."
Emma let out a very unladylike snort at her father's remark. "You mean your fake childhood? You didn't exactly have Christmas back in the Enchanted Forest."
David gave Emma hard look. "We are Both, Emma. Remember that." A grin quickly flashed across his face. "Now, come on. I think I see the perfect tree."
He strode forward into the thicket of trees, snow soaking through his jeans. His wife, along with the baby strapped to her chest, followed him at a slighty less enthusiastic pace.
Emma and Elsa glanced at each other, and burst into giggles. The latter attempted to stifle the laughter with a hand covering her mouth, but Emma let her laughter ring free, earning a reproachful look from her mother. The two blondes quickly sobered up.
Elsa tilted her head to catch sight of the tall trees around them. "It's nice out here. Though, I think snow is coming."
Emma looked up at the crisp, blue sky. "How can you tell? It's sunny."
Elsa shrugged. "Magic, I suppose. I can see it. Feel it."
Emma smiled. "Can you also feel how freezing it is?"
Elsa's eyes studied her companion's face. The blonde's cheeks were a rosy color, along with the tips of her ears.
It was unseasonably colder than usual, though Emma wasn't sure if it was the Earth or just the proximity of the other blonde's body. No matter how in control Elsa was of her powers, she still brought the temperature down a couple of degrees.
Though you couldn't tell by the way the Queen was dressed. She was wearing her customary blue dress, with just a simple cloak around her shoulders. It was quite a contrast compared to Emma's bulky down jacket and wool hat.
"You know me, Emma. The cold's never bothered me." Elsa grabbed Emma's hands between her own and blew gently. The former Ice Queen had been practicing her magic skills, and had recently learnt how to get rid of cold air, replacing it with warm.
Instantly, feeling returned to Emma's fingers, flooding her with warmth.
"Thanks, Elsa," Emma said softly. Every time Elsa displayed her new-found magic, a burst of pride came to Emma. The confident young lady in front of her was a far cry from the scared, confused girl she met in an ice cavern of her own making.
But Emma wasn't the only proud one of the pair. Elsa smiled whenever she saw Emma embrace her magic. Even simple things, like summoning a mug of cocoa brought Elsa tremendous joy.
"You could do this yourself, you know," Elsa commented with a raised eyebrow.
"But what would be the fun in that?" Emma smirked, and bumped her hip against Elsa's.
The pair resumed walking through the forest. Here, thankfully, the trees were thicker, so there was less snow to walk through.
"What's a Christmas tree for, anyways?" Elsa asked Emma.
Emma chewed her bottom lip in thought. "To honor the Christmas Gods?" She shrugged. "I don't know. It's pretty I guess."
Elsa tilted her head to the side. "I suppose." She sighed. "You know, in Arendelle, we would also put up trees in the winter. But it was to scare away evil spirits and bring good luck in the spring."
"Well, we have plenty of evil in Storeybrooke, so I don't think a tree will do the job," Emma said wryly.
Elsa smiled, and continued, "As children, Anna and I loved decorating the trees. I was hoping when we were finally reunited after my Coronation that we decorate the trees together again."
"Hey, we'll find her. Have faith." Emma grabbed Elsa's hand, warmth shooting throughout her body. Their intertwined hands glowed faintly.
Elsa smiled. "I trust you."
"Good," Emma whispered.
The couple stared at each other silently for a few moments.
"But for what it's worth," Emma said. "I'm glad you're here."
"Me too," Elsa said softly. Snow began to fall gently on their faces, which were gradually growing closer. Green eyes met blue. The wind blew Emma's hair onto Elsa's cheeks, tickling them gently. Snow began to swirl faster along with their heartbeats.
"Hey, we found one!"
The blondes sprung apart at the sound of David's voice. Emma cleared her throat and blinked rapidly. A delicate blush appeared on Elsa's cheeks, and she shook her head.
"Just in time, too," Mary- Margaret said, peering up at the snowflakes.
Elsa laughed nervously. "Sorry, that's me." She waved her hand, clearing the snowflakes instantly.
David and Mary- Margaret exchanged looks. Mary- Margaret opened her mouth to say something but Emma quickly cut her off. "Got the tree? Good. Let's go." She hiked her thumb over her shoulder. "Henry's coming over soon to help decorate."
Mary- Margaret's eyes flickered between her daughter and Elsa. Emma bit the inside of her cheek, praying that her stubborn mother would let it go, and not say anything.
Thankfully, the raven-haired mayor just nodded. "And I think this little guy is getting hungry." She readjusted the baby on her chest, who blinked sleepily at his mother. Neal's father shrugged, and started dragging an over sized tree back the way they came.
Emma and Elsa trailed after the couple, leaving plenty of space between them. They awkwardly avoided eye contact and didn't exchange a word the whole way back to David's truck.
Something had almost happened, mused Elsa. Something special. She felt it as deeply as she felt about Anna being alive. She just knew.
And she hoped Emma did too.