Thank you all for reading and commenting and all sorts of things you guys do :)

Hugs,

M.


Emma had been excited about the reunion for the entire week, and even with all the things going on between Neal, Regina and her, planning this meeting had made her week much better.

She had invited Belle, Ashley and Mary Margaret to meet up with Ruby and her at Granny's to tell them an idea she had had. Ruby was the only one who knew up till now what the idea was about, and she had agreed without giving it a second thought.

It had not been hard to convince the shewolf, Ruby always gave the 'go' to all the fun and games, or anything that would keep her away from her job. Ruby and Emma set the group-date at a time when there were not many clients at Granny's. That way Ruby could participate freely without her grandmother bossing her around.

Ashley was the first one to arrive. She was excited to meet with the girls, with whom she hadn't met since her second wedding, and there was so much to be told. Mary Margaret appeared with Belle, having met in front the library.

"Ok, Emma," Belle said when the five girls sat around a table, hot cocoa mugs in hand. "Tell us, what is this great idea of yours?"

Emma looked at them excitedly. "Let's play Secret Santa!"

Ruby let out a cheer, before quietening down with an incredulous look at the others who had clearly never heard of the game.

"How do you play this Secret Santa?" Mary Margaret asked her daughter, ignoring Ruby's excitement.

"Well, we write our names in a paper - already did that." She showed them the pieces of paper with their names on. "Then we fold them and put them into a bowl." Ruby helped Emma shove them into a plastic bowl on the worktop.

"And now," Ruby continued with the explanation. "Each of us draws a name, and you will be that person's Secret Santa."

"Also, as its name suggests: it's a secret," Emma added. "So you can't tell anyone who your person is."

"Oh!" Mary Margaret commented as if she had just remembered something, "We did that back at the Enchanted Forest," she added. "It was called Secret Friend, though."

"Oh my god!" Belle, who had begun to cotton on, exclaimed. "You are right! We did it at the castle, with all the people who worked there."

"So did we!" Mary Margaret said happily. "Once I was the Chef's secret friend, and I had fresh cupcakes every morning before breakfast!"

Emma stared at Ruby who shrugged and didn't say a word. Both princesses continued remembering their childhood memories.

"That is so nice," Belle gushed. "I once had the tailor, so every evening, when I went back to my chambers I had a new bow for my hair."

They both turned at Emma and Ruby, to hear their stories.

"Oh, sorry. I wasn't a princess," Ruby said after a moment of awkward silence. "Christmas was just Granny and me, no cupcakes and no bows."

"That's so sad." Belle placed her hand over Ruby's. Ruby exchanged looks with Emma, asking the blonde girl if everything was ok with the librarian.

"Ok, what about the present?" Mary Margaret asked after Ruby said she was ok. "It has to be something in particular or..."

"Um - not really." Emma said. "But it'd be nice if we get each other something meaningful, not just a pair of socks."

"Yeah, for example: if you get me, please don't get me a book." Ruby spoke to the bookworm. "Unless you want it to end up in my chimney on a cold winter night."

Belle rolled her eyes.

"Ok," Mary Margaret said. "Let's do this."

Emma nodded and moved the bowl, mixing the papers inside. "Ashley, you first." The blonde reached in and pinched a piece of paper between two fingers.

"Yay!" Ashley clapped her hands. "I got myself! Does this mean I won?"

Ruby started laughing uncontrollably, making fun of her friend. Ashley understood she had said something wrong, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Emma rolled her eyes at Ruby and tapped her friend on the shoulder.

"No, Ashley. Put your name back in the bowl and take another one."

Ashley did as Emma said and picked another folded piece of paper. Belle and Mary Margaret followed Ashley's actions, with Ruby picking up the last one.

"Ok, girls," Emma said once they all had read the names of the person they were supposed to get a gift. "The presents exchange will be on the 20th of December."