Chapter Four.

Regina left her office in a hurry and drove to the mansion as fast as she could, in hope that she could do everything she had intended to do before Emma and Henry got home. She swung her car into the drive and gracefully rushed into the house and picked up the phone.

"Hi, it's Mayor Mills, could I order two large cheese pizzas to 108 Mifflin Street? Oh, and could you make sure that they're here at 4pm on the dot? Thank you."

She knew how much Emma and Henry loved sharing pizzas on a Friday night, so she caved and decided that they could eat their pizza whilst decorating the house ready for Christmas. Now that their food was sorted, Regina trekked into the garage to traipse the Christmas tree the three of them chose into the house.

Pulling it on her own was not as amusing as it had been when the three of them had done it, but she didn't care, she simply couldn't wait to see both Emma and Henry.

When it had just been Regina and Henry, the two of them would decorate the tree together, bake some gingerbread and watch a Christmas movie until Henry fell asleep. But of course, this year would be different. This year, Emma would be here and the three of them would be a proper family.

Once Regina had hauled the tree and the rest of the decorations into the living room, she looked at the clock which read 3:05pm. A beaming smile grew on her face as she sauntered into the kitchen to grab a bottle of wine and two glasses. She knew it would really be a little to early to be drinking, but just one glass wouldn't hurt, would it?

Before she could finish placing both glasses and the wine bottle on the coffee table, the rattling noise of Emma's bug pulling onto the drive filled her ears. In an attempt to control her facial expressions, Regina bit her lip and completely failed to hide the growing smile on her face. She rushed to the front door and opened it before both Emma and Henry got out of the car.

The look of befuddlement on Emma's face made Regina laugh as she gave a tiny wave from the porch. Rather than brining her shopping into the house, Emma left it on the backseat and locked the car - which was something she never did.

"Hey, mom!" Henry said as he ran up the garden path to his mother. "Ma said you were working late..."

"I changed my mind, honey." She smiled and kissed the top of his head. "How was school?"

"It was okay, I guess." He muttered and ran into the house.

"Hmm... Did you change your mind or did you just trick me so you would get home first?" Emma approached Regina with a grin and grabbed the brunette around the waist.

"Well, would it be a crime if it was a little bit of both?" Regina winked and held out her hand in front of Emma, magically transporting a piece of mistletoe onto her palm. "Induldge me? I love a little Christmas cliché."

Regina raised the mistletoe above their heads, making Emma grin like an over excited child. With a quick nod of her head, Emma pulled Regina even closed and plunged her lips straight onto Regina's. The feeling of Regina's lips against her own made Emma's knees feel weak, making her moan a little into the brunette's mouth and hold her tighter.

The six little words Regina had uttered began to ring throughout Emma's mind; 'I love a little Christmas cliqué'. Did she know what Emma had intended? Or was it just coincidental that Regina did actually like the idea of Christmas clichés? Either way, a glimmer of hope shone throughout Emma's body.

Regina pulled away slowly, keeping her eyes closed and let a huge smile appear on her face. No one, other than Henry, had ever made her this happy. It was a feeling she wanted to hold onto forever and never let go. As she opened her eyes, she found Emma staring at her with a grin on her face that only a schoolgirl in love could possess.

"I love you," Emma whispered and lightly kissed the brunette in her grasp once again. "But if we stay out in the cold for any longer, we're going to freeze to death, them I'm sure I won't love you as much."

Regina faked a shocked gasp and gave Emma a teasing jab to the ribs, making the blonde squeal and giggle.

"Come on then, I just brought out a bottle of wine." Regina said and grabbed Emma by the hand, pulling her into the warm manor.

Once they were inside, Regina let Emma's hand go to allow the blonde to take off her boots and her many layers of clothing.

"I'm pretty sure you left here wearing your grubby white tank top, a sweater, your bobble hat, jeans and your Sheriff's jacket..." Regina said as she watched the blonde attempt to strip.

"Well, after a quick chat with my mom, she thought I was going to catch pneumonia and refused to let me leave the apartment unless I agreed to put on two more pairs of pants, another five sweaters and two pairs of gloves." Emma muttered as she fought to pull the first sweater over her head. "Babe, could you help me?"

Regina chuckled and agreed completely. She tugged the sweater over the blonde's head and threw it straight onto the floor before starting on the next layer.

"Don't get too excited, it's barely even 4pm." Emma laughed as Regina pulled the second sweater over her head.

"That's not the point, Miss Swan," Regina began and pulled Emma closer by the bottom of her third layer. "It just that I would much rather be the one keeping you warm than your mothers tatty old Christmas sweaters."

"Well then, what are we waiting for?"

Regina smiled and tore the third layer over Emma's head as quick as she could. Before she knew it, all six sweaters had been removed and Emma stood shivering in her white tank top and three pairs of jeans.

"If you take your extra jeans off, I'll start the fire in the living room and pour us some wine." Regina gave Emma a light kiss and wandered into the living room.