That Sunday, Emma found herself and Henry decorating a little tree with lovely decorations from a box.

Emma looks up at the twinkle lights and found herself thinking about the Email, that she had read that morning, which read

"This is such an odd Christmas. I find myself missing my mother, who's been dead for 7 years. Boston at Christmas is so loaded with all the things we used to do, we used to go ice skating, where I got knocked out by teenage maniac once. I always miss my mother at Christmas, but somehow it's worse this year, since I need some advice from her"

Some time later, Emma sat at her desk, she began to type

"My mother took me ice skating too, although she did not skate, it was left to my father to teach me, I became pretty good at it" she gets distracted by a pop on her screen

"you've got mail" she clicks on it, it's another note from imtheboss

"It was a car accident, and I don't know where she was going, or who she was with, and I assume what I owe her is my tendency to cover almost any emotion with a joke. A useful gift, unless you want to know what you're feeling. She was very beautiful. People toss that word around a lot, but my mother was. Anyway, Ancient history. Do you need any advice? Can I help?"

As Emma comes to the last few words of the Email, there's a beep and an Instant Message flashes on-screen.

From Imtheboss

Emma freezes.

"I had a gut feeling you would be on-line now." Regina is leaning over the keyboard, on her desk.

"I can give you advice. I'm great at advice."

"I don't think you can help." Emma types.

"Is it about love?"

"No, Where I work, its going to be closed down" she sighs.

"My mother would have something wise to say. I'm a brilliant businesswoman. It's what I do best. What's your business?"

"No specifics, remember?"

"Without specifics, it's hard to help. Except to say, Don't give up, get your views across to however whats to close the place" You're at war. "It's not personal, it's business. Recite that to yourself every time you feel you're losing your nerve. I know you worry about being brave, this is your chance. Fight. Fight to the death"

Emma considers the advice.

Meanwhile Graham walks in on Regina, she quickly types "Gotta go" and signs off.

"Look what i brought" Graham smirks.

He was holding a talking santa, Regina rolls her eyes.

"You know i don't really like celebrating this time of year?" she says.

"Yeah, I don't know what came over me"


Emma POV

As Emma logs off, Neal walks in.

"Neal, I've decided to go to do something about my mothers store. Do you think it would be a conflict of interest, if you wrote something about us?"

"No, course not"

It's now January and the store is more crowded than it's ever been. Neal is there with several copies of the Independent. The phone is ringing off the hook. Emma and Ruby rushing round. Mary Margaret is reading Neal's article.

"Mary Margaret and her mother have raised your children. If this precious store is closed, it will not only be the end of Western civilization as we know it, but the end of something even dearer: our neighborhood as we know it. Save Once Upon A Time and you will save your own soul."

"Neal, that's charming."

"You think it's a little over the top?" he asks.

"Just say thank-you" Emma says.

"thank-you"

Boston's local news channel pulls up outside the store.

Emma takes a breath and goes outside, with Mary Margaret.

"Mary Margaret?" The reporter asks and she nods.

"Are you both ready?"

"Yes"


Regina's POV

Regina is standing in her office with Archie, the televisions on in the background, the news is on.

"We're here in front of the Store, Once Upon Time, the famous children's bookstore now on the verge of having to close its doors because the local authorities down at town hall, want to build another complex that can be found on many a street" He turns to Mary Margaret and Emma.

"They have lost their minds, most of them don't even know what a seven-day week is" Emma snaps.

Regina suddenly looks at the tv, she instantly recognised, the voice of the woman speaking.

"She's not as nice as she seems on television" she tells Archie.

"You've met her?"

"She's annoying" she huffs.

"She's probably not as attractive as she seems on television either" he laughs.

"No, she's beautiful. But annoying" she replies confidently.

"So you don't feel bad about basically destroying her livelihood, not to mention her legacy"

"It's not personal"

Both stare at the television, suddenly it cuts to a conversation that Regina had with a reporter, that morning.

"I'm the mayor, it's up to me to make decisions, so sue me"

Archie immediately looks to Regina, who stands there slack-jawed.

"That's what you said?"

She gets angry.

That's not all I said. I said - I can't believe those bastards, Shit. It's just inevitable, isn't it? People are going to want to turn her into some sort of savior"

They both look back to the Tv, to see Emma back on the screen.

"And I have to say, I have met Mayor Mills and I have heard her compare her work colleagues, to a bunch of tools"

Regina's mouth drops to the floor, outraged.