Dear Mom,

Ever since Regina received your letter, she's been so happy, like always smiling happy. She misses you. A lot. I know something is going on, mom. I know you, and I know her. Mom never smiles as much as she is today.

Not much has happened in the month you've been away. Everyone's still getting used to the feeling of you not being around. Grandma still cries often, but her and mom have started spending time together...I don't know why. Ma seems to be opening up to more people, and it's because of you. You changed the lives of everyone here, you're the saviour and you've given mom her happy ending.

I have a girlfriend. Her name is Violet. Mom doesn't really agree with her, and I'm sure you won't, but she's really kind and I love her. She's in my class, and she loves horses...mom says its fate that my first love is just like hers – without the heart crushing, of course. That's if you decided to not actually crush her heart, that's another story.

I don't have much to write, and I just hope that I get to see you again soon. Regina says that you don't know when you'll be able to come home yet, but I really hope it is soon.

Love,

Henry.

As Henry folded the letter ready to be posted, he looked at Regina from across the Room. "She has it again," Henry thought. Regina was, in fact, reading Emma's first letter. She had been doing that quite often, and it made Henry quite happy. Happy that his moms were finally getting along. He couldn't help but notice something was going on between the two women, and Henry knew. He knew that somehow his mothers had fallen in love. Quite crazy, but he knew. What they had - Emma and Regina - was much more than just a friendship. In a way, Henry thought it was coincidence, like they are meant to be. Things like this don't happen regularly. It was like fate - fate that Regina adopted the saviour's son, fate that hate turned into love.

Emma finished yet another day of drill, much to her disliking. Drill wasn't her favourite thing, but she was glad it was over. It was now December, the bitter cold nipping at Emma's face. Snow had yet to fall, but the milky colour of the sky suggested that it was going to happen soon. "Okay Troops, listen up!" Commander Cameron said, or rather, shouted. "Christmas is soon approaching, and you are entitled to time off over this period. You will leave here on the 20th and return on the 3rd January! I suggest you let your friends and families know. You're all dismissed." Emma came to attention before doing a right turn and marching forward. She had gotten quite used to this by now. It took her some time to get used too many of the technical terms the army used, but she was a fast learner.

Emma went back to her room, kicking off her boots and sitting cross legged on her bed. From under the bed she pulled out a small, but very long book 'Les Misérables' by Victor Hugo. It was one of her favourites. Emma loved to read, and since being in the army she had nothing else to do apart from read.

Emma had just started Part three when Leah walked in. "Swan, you have mail!" Leah said, chucking an envelope at Emma. She recognised the handwriting immediately...Henry. "Is it from Regina" Leah said as Emma pulled the letter out of the envelope.

"No, it's from my son," Emma smiled, unfolding the envelope and starting to read his very neat and impressive cursive.

"Your son? Oh, I remember you telling us about him! How old is he?" Emma looked up from the letter and smiled at Leah.

"He's thirteen, and in big trouble...He has a girlfriend! No wonder Regina doesn't approve! He says he loves her, oh I hope Regina has given him the talk." Emma felt worried, but also proud of Henry. He was quite a lonely child, and that was obvious to anyone.

"Emma, calm down! It's just a girl. I'm sure they're fine!" Leah laughed, looking at her own mail.

"Henry, my son, he knows something is happening between Regina and I. He's a smart kid, very smart. Honestly, I don't know what is going on between me and Regina...I guess I'll see over Christmas break."

"Oh yeah! So are you going to tell your family you're coming home, or are you going to leave it as a surprise?" Leah finished reading the last of her letter, placing it back in the envelope. "Personally, I would leave it a surprise, it makes the holidays feel so special...but that's up to you."

"I don't know, I haven't really thought about that. Anyway, what's your letter about? It's quite odd because you know a lot about me, but I hardly know anything about you!" The two chuckled together, Emma placing the letter under her pillow with all the others she had gathered over the last few months.

"That was my boyfriend, Zack. Honestly, I don't think he wants to be with me for much longer. I don't know, he just seems so annoyed with me...it might just be me." Leah's eyes glistened with tears but she refused to let them fall. She had learned as a child that showing emotion was weakness. She had to stay strong.

"Oh, I'm so sorry." Emma gave a small, reassuring smile, patting Leah on the shoulder.

"I'll be okay...anyway, what are you going to send back to Henry? Do you think Regina's spoke to him already?"

"I have no clue. Henry's life has been hard, and I don't want to be tough on him, if you get me?" Leah nodded before she continued. "After I gave birth to him, I wanted nothing to do with him, I wanted Henry to have his best chance - and that wasn't with me. Regina adopted him, and then three years ago, Henry found me." Emma laughed at the memory of Henry turning up on her birthday and brining her to Storybrooke.

"What was Regina like?" Leah loved to listen to Emma's stories, and Emma would happily tell them.

"She hated me," Emma chucked. "When I took Henry back home, I knew that we wouldn't get along...I mean it looked like I had just walked into our son's life for me to take him away. It took a long time to get Regina to open up and settle our differences, but we got there. We became friends. I started to feel things, emotions that I wouldn't just feel with a friend, but I never actually had the courage to tell her because I just knew she didn't feel the same way for me. Gosh, I didn't even tell her I was bisexual...my parents don't even know that! But, I guess she did feel the same way and I hope we can make something out of it." Emma smiled. She had never been open to someone other than her parents and Regina.

"Sounds like one hella long roller coaster." Leah laughed, standing up. "I'm gonna write back to Zack, maybe you should send Regina a message." Leah winked at Emma, she almost throwing a pillow at her roommate.

"Fine!" Emma laughed, walking over to the desk and pulling out a piece of paper and a pen.

Dear Regina and Henry,

I'll be coming home soon...I don't know when, but it's going to be soon. I'm excited to see everyone, including you. It's been almost six months, but it's felt like forever.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I miss my moms food, I miss granny's, I miss my hot coco with cinnamon, gosh I even miss apple cider.

As for you, Henry, a girlfriend!? We are going to have to have a very serious conversation if Regina hasn't already.

Not much new has happened since I last wrote a letter. It's gotten colder, a sign winter is really here. I hope you're all well.

See you soon.

Emma.

"I wonder when Emma will be home, it seems like forever." Snow Said as Her and Regina sipped on some tea. "I can't believe it, my girl is away training for the army." Snow had finally accepted that Emma was doing what she wanted, being brave just like her father.

As it was almost Christmas, David and Henry had gone to get a Christmas tree. Regina refused to even touch any other tree that wasn't her beloved apple tree that stood proudly in the middle of her garden showing off the crisp, red fruit. "It's been a while since I heard from her." Regina said, cutting a slice of apple turnover and placing it on a plate for Snow.

"I'm sure she's fine. She's probably busy." Regina nodded, taking a bite of her cake. Honestly, she was impressed by her own cooking skills.

As the door slammed open, both women looked towards the doorway too see Charming and Henry, both sporting rosy red cheeks. Charming was attempting to pull a middle sized tree into the house, Henry helping him. "Hi Mom, Hi grandma!" Henry smiled at both women. Henry was holding a pile of letters, no doubt the post.

The pair managed to get the tree into the house, Regina and Snow laughing at their attempt. As Henry finished he walked to Regina, giving her a hug and then handing her the stack of letters. "I got the Mail on the way in!" Henry headed to the living room, probably going on his phone to play some games or text one of his friends.

Regina looked at the first few letters - junk. The last letter, Regina recognised the handwriting to easily, Emma. "It's from Emma." Regina carefully opened the envelope, pulling out the letter and unfolding it.

Moments later, Regina gasped, followed by a wide grin. Snow looked at her, a confused expression formed on her face. "What is it? What's happened?" Snow started to panic, Regina placing her hands upon Snow's shoulders.

"She's coming home." Regina smiled, making snow smile, tears forming in her eyes. Regina couldn't believe it, she would actually see Emma. She could actually tell her in person.

"She's coming home! This isn't a joke, right?" Regina shook her head, handing now the letter. "Oh my, my baby girl is coming home!" Charming and Henry both came into the kitchen, looking at both confused.

"What is it?" Charming walked over to snow, giving her a once over, making sure nothing had happened.

"Nothing, nothing." Snow laughed, wiping the few tears that had fell during her and Regina's little moment.

"Emma's coming home." Regina smiled. Charming's eyes went wide as he realised what this meant.

"Did she say when? For how long?" He, too, was smiling, finally happy that he would get to see his daughter.

"No, she doesn't know when, or for how long, but she said soon." Snow looked up at her husband, chuckling. "She's finally coming home."

Regina was excited, even if she didn't know the date she would come back to Storybrooke but that one sentence made her day so much better, a sentence that meant so much to everyone in the Mill's household right now:

Emma is coming home.