Emma rapped her fingers nervously against the kitchen counter the next morning. "Come on, Regina," she pleaded, silently willing the woman to answer her phone.

"Hello?" came a reply and Emma jumped up off the stool nervously.

"Hi, Regina!" her voice cracked and Emma cursed herself and took a deep breath forcing herself to calm down.

"Miss Swan..." the less-than-pleased tone to Regina's voice made Emma's hopes sink. She knew Regina was hurt from how she'd left the night before. "What did you want?"

"Regina," Emma knew she was almost begging. Begging the woman to not push her away. "I just... wanted to see how you were doing," Emma finished lamely. Well, she had to have some way to lead into asking her out. Otherwise it would just seem too desperate. She ignored the voice in her head telling her that this wasn't any less desperate. "And also... I'm sorry for last night." She sighed, "I shouldn't have gotten upset and left like that. It was stupid of me. I just... I really want..."

"Emma," Regina interrupted her and Emma felt a slight relief that at least Regina had used her first name. That must mean she was getting somewhere, right? " I know what you are trying to do. Just...don't."

Emma's heart sank again. She heard something in the background and then heard Henry's voice. "Is Emma coming too?!" her son's voice made her long to be back with them - to be a family once again.

"No, Henry, Emma's busy today," she heard Regina tell him and Emma felt like crying. Then Regina was back on the phone. "Henry and I are going skating today, I have to go," and then, as an afterthought, "I'm sorry, Emma." And the line went dead.

Emma clenched her jaw and slumped back down on the stool, glaring down at her cell phone as though it was to blame for all this mess.

Just then a hand rested on her shoulder. Emma yelped and almost fell off the stool. She spun around to find her mother behind her, looking at her worriedly. "Emma, are you okay?"

Emma put a hand on her chest. "How long have you been there! You almost just gave me a heart attack!"

"I'm sorry, you just seemed upset about something," Snow sat on the stool next to her and looked at her carefully. An unintelligible look crossed her face and Emma suddenly felt very uncomfortable beneath the other woman's knowing gaze.

"It's nothing...Just Regina," Emma said reluctantly.

Snow frowned and nodded as if she knew just what Emma was talking about. Which Emma sincerely doubted. If she knew that her only daughter was drooling after the Evil Queen and couldn't stop thinking about kissing her and doing other things to her - things that Emma was not even going to think about in her mother's presence, then she knew her mother would not be sitting there so calmly.

"Emma, don't let her get to you. I know it's hard - she has a talent for pushing people to their breaking point,"

You have no idea, Emma thought to herself as Snow continued, "but trust me, it's just her way of protecting herself. I've known her a long time and I know that by pushing everyone away she is trying to keep them from hurting her but really she is only just hurting herself and hurting everyone else around her in the process."

Emma looked at her mother in shock, amazed by how insightful she could be even when she wasn't aware of Emma's current dilemma.

Snow looked at her, a tender look on her face and Emma was afraid for a moment that the other woman might burst into tears. Then Snow leaned in and hugged her tightly, almost squeezing the air right from her lungs.

Emma raised a brow in shock and patted Snow's back lightly. "Um..." she didn't even know what to say.

Snow released her and leaned back, still keeping her arms on Emma's shoulders. Emma just looked back at her, confused at this random display of emotion from the other woman. After a moment Snow let her go and got up, quickly walking around the counter to the fridge. "Did you want some pancakes?" she asked cheerily, as if trying to hide her previous emotional outburst.

Pancakes made Emma think of Regina. "Um, no thanks. Actually I was going to head out. I have something I have to take care of..." she noticed Snow's face fall slightly. "But I was wondering if you would help me get ready for the ball this evening?" she added quickly and her heart swelled when Snow's face lit up again, overjoyed that Emma wanted to spend time with her and wanted her help. It was almost as though she was making up for all the missed balls she should have had as a teenager had she grown up a princess in the Enchanted forest instead of a lonely orphan in the foster system.

"I would love to," Snow smiled and Emma smiled back.

"Great!" Emma really was looking forward to the ball. As long as she could convince Regina to come with her that is.

Emma hopped off the stool and shrugged into her winter jacket, zipping it up to her chin. "I should be back by 3 at the latest!" she said to Mary Margaret and then pulled on her gloves, grabbed the keys to her bug, and made for the door. She paused, "You don't happen to have any ice skates, do you?"

"No," her mother crunched her brow, "Why?"

"Just wondering," Emma turned again to go, but just as she was turning the doorknob Mary Margaret called out behind her.

"Don't forget your hat!" she came hurrying over with the monkey monstrosity.

Emma grimaced. She really needed to lose that thing somewhere. "Err, thanks," grabbing it, she quickly hurried out the door. She had a skating rink to get to.

xxxxxxx

Henry clutched on to Regina's hand tightly, Tinkerbell skating easily on his other side. Skating seemed to come naturally to the fairy, but not so much for Regina. Regina may have used a tiny bit of magic in order to keep herself upright. Henry had been a little hesitant at first but was quickly becoming more confident on the ice.

The sound of children laughing came to them from farther down the skating rink. They looked up to see a group of Henry's classmates, including Grace, whom Regina had a suspicion that Henry may be a little fond of. "Mom, can I go hang out with them! Please!" he begged.

Regina smiled at him. "Alright, Tinkerbell and I will be right over here if you need us," she bent down and gave him a kiss on the head. Excited, Henry let go of Regina's hand and picked up speed, skating ahead of the two women toward his friends.

"Be careful, Henry!" Regina called after him.

"He'll be fine, Regina." Tinkerbell assured her. Then Tinkerbell grabbed her hand. "Come on, I think it's time you had a little fun!" the fairy pulled Regina along with her as they picked up speed.

Regina tried to keep up the best she could, grateful for the spell keeping her from falling on her ass. She let Tinkebell lead her around the rink and slowly, Regina felt herself relax, her moves growing more graceful and less rigid as the cold air blew past her.

They made multiple laps, and by the time they came to a stop Regina found herself smiling and at ease. Tinkerbell had always been good at being able to break through her walls and get her to open up, Regina remembered. No one else had ever been able to do that so easily. Until Emma. The thought made Regina remember Emma's invitation the evening before and her call this morning. Her smile faded.

Tinkerbell noticed Regina's sudden change of demeanor. "Regina, what's wrong?" she asked, genuinely worried.

"It's nothing. Just that stupid Christmas Eve ball tonight," she said trying to keep her voice light.

"Oh, yes! Are you going?!" Tinkerbell asked excitedly.

Regina furrowed her brow. "Of course not! Are you?" she wasn't sure why she was so surprised that the fairy would have gotten an invitation.

Tinkerbell gave her a disapproving look. "I am. You should go too Regina, live a little, have some fun." Tinkerbell studied Regina closely. "I know for a fact there is a certain someone who would love to see you there..." Tink teased, raising her eyebrows suggestively.

Tinkerbell's comment hit home. Regina shot Tinkerbell a glare. "You know my history with Snow White and her prince. I don't think my being there would be a great idea. And besides, you're the only one who would want me there," she felt a pang, knowing that it wasn't completely true, "and I don't think it would be a good idea for us to go together," she pointed between them.

"I wasn't talking about me, Regina," Tink laughed. "I have a date, actually!" Tinkerbell sounded proud. Regina marveled again at just how quickly Tinkerbell had integrated herself into this town where Regina had spent 28 years and yet still remained an outcast. She'd created the damn town and still she could never fit in.

Tinkerbell continued. "Anyway, I think we both know that I am talking about..."

"Emma?!" Regina interrupted her by calling out, surprise evident in her tone.

Tinkebell noticed Regina's glance and followed it. Sure enough, Emma was skating - or, more accurately, stumbling - towards them. "What's with the hat?" Tink whispered to Regina as they both continued watching the woman approach.

Regina felt a wave of annoyance creep up, even as her heart lifted at the sight of the other woman. "What are you doing here?" she demanded as Emma clumsily halted to a stop before them.

"Looking for you," Emma wasn't daunted by Regina's tone. Emma glanced at Tinkerbell and Regina could almost hear her mind trying to come up with an explanation as to why the other woman was there.

"Miss Swan, I told you..." Regina began

"I know, but Regina I don't accept that," Emma said firmly, her skates tried to slide out from under her and Regina instinctively reached out a hand to steady her. The contact sent a flush of heat through her system. Regina quickly let go and Emma held her gaze. "I can't give up that easily. This means too much to me to just let it go. I know you felt it too, Regina. You can't tell me you didn't?"

Tinkerbell looked back and forth between the two.

"Well, I am sorry, but you will just have to accept it," Regina responded, not thrilled to be having this conversation in front of Tinkerbell. "No matter what I felt while we were snowed in... It doesn't matter. I told you nothing can ever happen between us. I should not have let it get so far. I'm sorry." Regina tried to sound like she meant it.

"Wait, snowed in?" Tink interrupted. "Why didn't you just use magic to get rid of the snow?" she looked at Regina. "That's what I did."

Regina felt her face flame red and she glared at the curly-haired fairy. Emma meanwhile had a 'gotcha' grin on her face.

"I'm trying not to use magic," Regina said between her teeth but it was obvious none of the three women believed that.

Tinkerbell raised her eyebrows in a mock-awkward expression. "I'm just going to be over here..." she pointed to no particular spot. "See you at the ball, Emma," she winked at the blonde as she skated away.

Regina remembered now how trying the fairy could be. She turned back to Emma. "My answer still stands. From last night, and from this morning. I can't be anything more to you than a friend, Emma. You're parents, this whole town," Regina swept a hand to indicate everyone around her, "Everyone has a reason to hate me. No one will ever accept us together. This is for your own good. You should be thanking me."

Emma inched closer and used a gloved hand to brush Regina's cheek. "Regina, I really care about you. I am not going to take no for an answer. I'll keep trying," she promised.

Regina opened her mouth to respond but before she could get a sound out Emma's eyes went wide and her feet slipped out from under her. She fell hard on the ice.

"Emma, are you okay?!" Regina crouched down to help the blonde woman up.

Emma got to her feet stiffly. "Yeah, I'm fine." she looked at Regina again once she was on her feet. "Just please, Regina. Please reconsider. I would love to have you there. Henry would love to have you there." Emma grabbed Regina's hand with her own. "I promise that no one would give you a hard time."

Regina shook her head sadly. "I already told you, this isn't about me."

"Regina, I don't care what anyone thinks!" Emma interrupted.

"That's not it either," Regina said looking at Emma, willing her to understand. "Emma, they all have a reason to hate me. I destroy everything I care about. And everyone I care about. And I can't do that to you."

"Regina, you've changed. You aren't that person anymore."

"I am stuck being the Evil Queen just as much as you are stuck being the Savior. You didn't ask for it, didn't even want it. In fact, you did everything you could to deny it but, in the end you weren't able to escape your destiny, were you?" it wasn't a question. Regina looked at her with a hard gaze tinged with sadness. "No matter what I do, I will always be the Evil Queen."

Emma was quiet and Regina knew she had broken through - that Emma had seen the truth in her words.

"We may not be able to escape our destinies," Emma said, "but one thing I do know is that our destinies aren't always as clear-cut as we think. Believe me, I thought I knew where my life was headed and all it took is one night to change all of that. A couple of years ago, if you would have told me that I was some sort of fairy-tale savior who would be falling in love with an Evil Queen," Regina's breath caught in her throat at the word love, " I would have told you that you were insane." Emma looked at Regina earnestly. "So I know that just because we think we know what fate has in store for us doesn't mean we really do. Maybe it's your turn to finally be happy. We all know you deserve it, Regina."

They were quiet for a moment. Regina saw Henry approaching with Tinkerbell. "Maybe, but that's not going to change today."

Henry and Tinkerbell caught up to them and Henry skated right into Emma, giving her a hug. "Are you going to skate with us?" he asked, looking up at Emma hopefully?

Emma ruffled his hair. She looked back at Regina. "I would love to, but I just came here to talk to your mom. I have to get home so I can get ready for the ball tonight." Henry looked disappointed. "I'll see you there though, okay?" she ruffled his hair. Emma noticed Tinkerbell giving her a sad look.

"Okay," Henry agreed reluctantly. "I miss having you living with us," he said honestly.

Regina felt a pang and looked away from Emma and her son.

"Yeah, I miss it too, kid." Emma's voice was low.

Regina placed a hand on Henry's shoulder as they watched Emma stumble her way off of the ice.