Oh, I forgot to thank Wolfergirl, who corrected yesterday's chapter and this one as well :) - if you're a Castle and RandI fan, go and check her stories! They are awesome

M.


"Move, Mom!" Henry yelled from the street where he and Mary Margaret were waiting for her. "We'll be late."

The city hall had hired David to dress as Santa Claus so that kids could take pictures with him. It had not been Regina's idea, who surprisingly was reasonably old school and wanted to keep the traditions they had at the Enchanted Forest. But the people of the town had spoken, and the mayor had to take their opinions into account if she wanted to be re-elected. Plus, Henry had asked her since all his friends wanted to meet Santa, and who could say no to the younger Mills?

Besides, ever since Regina had almost incinerated Neal for his suggestion of taking Henry away, she and Emma had decided to at least pretend to tolerate each other. They had also agreed that one would celebrated Christmas Eve with him, and the other one Christmas day.

Emma rode the bug to Storybrooke's school, where she found dozens of kids excited to take a picture with Santa. David, who was dressed as the man from the North Pole sat on a big chair, with his two elf assistants Dopey and Happy. He had chosen the right dwarves, thought Emma, giggling at the thought of Leroy dressed in green and helping David with the kids.

Henry ran off to meet with Paige and the Zimmer siblings, who were already at the line and waved at him.

"I'll go and see if Blue needs something," Mary Margaret said and left Emma alone leaning on the yellow bug.

She watched the people of Storybrooke from afar, a smile appearing on her face.

"You are smiling," someone said.

The blonde turned her face to meet with the mayor staring at her. "Regina," she greeted.

Regina didn't say anything else but leaned on Emma's car next to her, and watched their kid talking to his friends.

"He seems happy," the brunette observed.

"Yes," Emma said sincerely, "And it's all thanks to you,"

Regina turned to face a smiling Emma. There were few moments like these, moments when they were not trying to annoy the hell out of each other, when Regina actually enjoyed being around Emma, and especially when Emma pointed out that she was doing something right. Emma was the only one in Storybrooke who didn't hate her for being the Evil Queen, but for being Regina - her kid's control-freak adoptive mother. And that was actually kind of refreshing.

"Well," the mayor said standing up straight, "Let's keep it like this and I can spare Neal's life." Regina hadn't been quite honestly with Emma regarding on how she had solved the Neal-Problem, and she wouldn't tell her either, somethings were better to be kept as secret.

Emma chuckled at Regina's comment and followed her towards the crowded line, where Henry was waiting for them with a big grin on his face. Had he just seen an illusion, or had his mothers really had a conversation without ending it in a fight?