Chapter 9: Emma- Age 29


Of all that I could ask for, well, there's just one thing I need
All I really want for Christmas is a family


In the new three bedroom, two bathroom apartment that she shared with her son and parents, Emma stood at the counter with a cup of hot cocoa as she watched Mary Margaret and David decorate the Christmas tree with their grandson in the living room. In the background Christmas music played on the radio. It was Christmas Eve again.

Mary Margaret hummed some of the lyrics and Henry laughed at some lame joke that David had made.

Watching this moment unfold felt strange to Emma but in a good way. Despite the struggles in her life and despite the changes of the past year, watching this moment seemed normal. Normal wasn't something she was used to.

She had been so used to avoiding the holidays all together for the most part until last year when she moved in with Mary Margaret who had insisted they celebrate the holiday. Last Christmas Eve she had decorated the tree with her, then friend and come Christmas day they had exchanged gifts and even Henry had been allowed by Regina to spend some of the day with them.

Life was constantly changing but still, Emma couldn't help but be surprised at how things had finally gotten better; funny how her luck had turned around when her son re-entered her life. It was more than just the curse and more than just prophecy fulfilling itself. According to conversations she'd had with Gold, Henry hadn't been part of the prophecy at all. Knowing that only confirmed what Gold had said to her upon her return to Storybrooke, that everything she had ever done she'd done herself.


Emma continued to stay, watching her family for a little while longer when Henry called out.

"Mom, did you want to help?"

She smiled and placed her cup on the counter, making her way over to her son.

"Sure kid, what do you got for me?"

Henry handed Emma an ornament. Emma looked down at the ornament in her hand. It was a blue glass unicorn.

"I recognize this from Gold's shop," she said to no one in particular.

She saw as her mother looked up at her father and the two smiled at each other.

"It belonged to you," said David.

Emma looked up at them a little confused.

Snow took one of Emma's hands. "It was part of the mobile that hung above your crib. There were so many of them that I thought we could put them to use some other way."

Emma smiled at her mother. It was so like Snow to take something of value and make it new again. Emma looked down at the small unicorn again. Now knowing the truth, the little object held a deeper meaning as she found a spot for it on the tree.

Reaching down in the box Emma pulled out a clear glass unicorn.

"Okay kid, your turn," she said handing the ornament to Henry.

The boy smiled as he went to go place it on the tree as well.


Snow smiled as her daughter made her way down the stairs later that evening. She and David were sitting on the couch together in the living room.

"Is he out," David asked Emma.

Emma smiled, "He's trying. He's too restless."

"Well," said Snow, "It's Christmas Eve, what kid isn't it?"

Emma let out a small laugh and smiled until her eyes settled on the silver lock box that she had brought out earlier and left on the coffee table.

"You okay," Snow asked.

"Um…yeah," Emma said retreating to the kitchen.


She returned with a tray of hot chocolate for herself and her parents, which she placed on the table.

Emma looked at her parents and took a deep breath. "Earlier you shared something personal with me, the keepsake mobile. And having seen my nursery I know how much it means to you. Now I thought I'd share something personal with you."

Taking her chocolate Emma sat on the single love seat that was on the right side of the couch. She reached for the key in her pocket and opened the box. Taking a breath Emma revealed the wooden swan carved box and moved the silver one aside.

After twenty six letters the box had just about reached its limit. Emma knew that she was one letter shy before she should consider adding a lock to the box so the lid wouldn't pop open from the overflow of letters.

She placed the letters in row along the table and reached for the one at the far left. Some of the letters had the address of Santa Claus and others were left blank but always at top left corner, Emma had written her age. Emma sat holding the letter that had 'age 3' written on it.

"When I was a kid I used to write letters to Santa," Emma began. "It ended up turning into my own little Christmas tradition even after I outgrew believing. For a long time there was always one thing I asked for." Emma looked into her parents eyes, "You."

She reached down for her 'Age 16' letter, her hands slightly trembling. "By the time I was sixteen I kind of stopped asking. Since every year passed without results I decided that I was done waiting and that I would look for you myself. I was determined to prove that I didn't need anyone's help and that I could do it without some kind of magical help."

Emma handed a stack of letters over to Snow beginning with the 'Age 3' letter. "I've never shared these with anyone until now."

Snow looked at the letters in her hands. Snow ran her fingers over the child hand writing. She then looked up at her daughter. "You're sure about this," Snow asked hesitantly. "I mean if they're personal-,"

Emma smiled. "We all missed out on a lot. I missed out on having parents and you missed out on raising me." She then shrugged, "I don't know I just thought this would give you an insight to my past."

Snow placed a hand on top of Emma's. "Thank you."


Over the next several hours Emma's parents sat reading her letters. They took their time with them, memorizing the paper that was used, everything from construction paper, white computer paper, and lined paper and the change in hand writing over the years. As they finished each one they would pass them off to Emma who would re-read the letters; remembering the exact moment she wrote them. She would tell her parents about that. Her past still pained her but now having parents to actually talk to it got easier for her. She could see the pain in their eyes but Emma understood as it was the same pain reflected in her eyes.


Emma held the next letter close.

"This one I didn't write for myself," she said to her parents. "I wrote it for Henry."

She hesitated but let Snow take the letter. Out of all the letters she had written, this letter had always felt more personal than the rest.

After taking the time to read it, Snow reached over and took Emma's hand. With tears in her eyes she clutched Emma's hand tightly. Words did not need to be said in order to know what the other was feeling. The silence conveyed it all.


The family of three spent another few hours getting through the rest of the letters.

In that time Emma had gotten up, refilled their drinks, and began to put Christmas presents under the tree.

She found a sweet pleasure in this common task. Common because it was something all parents did for their children this time of year but for Emma it was her first; her first chance at playing 'Santa Claus' in the middle of the night.

David had also helped as there were presents he needed to place as well. Emma imagined he was feeling the same things as she. Though Emma was old enough and didn't need a 'Santa Claus' of her own, she was warmed by the fact that David was still doing it.

Not long after the round of cocoa was done as was the reading of all the letters, Emma gathered them up and placed them right where they belonged.

The three of them got up and stood for a while.

Snow then took a few steps forward and embraced her daughter. Emma gripped Snow tight, the both of them with tears in their eyes. At this very moment, Emma had finally been released from the weight of her past. David came in and hugged his daughter as well, the three of them standing there in momentary harmony.

"We love you," David whispered in her ear.

"I love you too," Emma replied.

Once released Snow reached up and wiped away some of Emma's tears and then held her daughter's hand. Emma smiled.

"That was the best Christmas present you could've given us," said David. "Thank you."

Emma had no words so she only nodded.

Snow smiled, "You'll never have to be alone like that again."

"I know," Emma said with one final smile.

She walked over to the table and gathered the box.

"Goodnight," Emma said to her parents.

"Good night, Emma," Snow replied.

David smiled, "Night."

As Emma walked to her room, David held his wife close and she clung to him.


The night was not quite over however. Emma placed the box on her desk, taking out the wooden box one more time. She reached in her desk and found some pink construction paper and some crayons. She pulled out the green one and began to compose her final letter.

'Dear Santa,' she wrote.

I did it.

You did it.

We did it.

We found my parents.

After years of searching we finally found them.

Turns out you were right all along.

There is magic in this world.

Without it I probably would have never found them.

And it turns out the child in me was right too,

there is such thing as saviors and superheroes and princes and princesses.

I'm one of them, my parents are some of them.

I am the daughter, the product of true love which is the most powerful magic of all.

I have my son. I have my parents. We finally made it happen.

I have no more to ask for

as my Christmas wish has finally been granted.

What more can I ask for when I have everything I've ever wanted…

On second thought, I can think of one thing, one person rather,

that after everything I still want.

I'll keep that one to myself for now.

In the end you know what's in my heart so

if it's meant to be I have faith it will happen.

Thank you for making this the best Christmas a child could ever ask for.

Love,

Emma.


Emma casually rubbed her swan pendant as she looked at the letter, having written it a second time as part of her tradition, placed them in the envelopes, and into the box.

She got ready for bed and turned out the light. Christmas morning would be here soon and it was a Christmas she was looking forward to since she would be spending it with her family. She couldn't remember the last time she felt excited over this holiday. She never really had. She felt like a child, she felt like Henry, anxious for the morning and what it would bring.

Emma smiled as she let herself drift off into a peaceful slumber.


~END~