Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Once Upon a Time.

On the tenth day of Christmas my True Love gave to me...

December 23:

Regina took a last look at herself in the mirror, applying a coat of cherry chapstick over her bright red lips. Her deep green dress was warm, made of the softest wool, and was paired with a thin black belt. The Christmas spirit of a certain blonde was clearly rubbing off on her.

She pulled on her coat and settled her new hat on her head. She hadn't protested since the first day, because like Emma said, it kept her warm and so did the knitted mittens.

Deciding that it was Emma's day to start their day off with warm drinks, she hurried straight to the mayor's office. Sure enough, she found the other woman lounging in the chair in front of her desk, a soft smile playing across her face when she caught sight of the brunette.

"Hey gorgeous, nice hat."

Regina quickly tugged it off, patting her hair into place as she approached.

"You're cute. " Emma stood up and pulled her into her arms, the smile on her face only growing. "Hey, look up"

She did.

"You didn't..."

Regina didn't have a chance to finish her sentence before Emma covered her mouth in a sweet good morning kiss.

"Mmmm you taste like cherries." The blonde tugged her in again, meeting in a heated embrace.

"Thank you for the lip balm," Regina murmured against her upturned lips.

"You're welcome." She kissed her again quickly, "I have to run but I'll see you later."

The brunette snaked a hand beneath her jacket, fingers dancing across the inch of bared skin of her back., "Can't you stay a little longer?"

"Sorry, I have work to do, wouldn't want a reason for the mayor to fire me." Emma stood on the chair and took the mistletoe down, "Just so that no one gets any ideas"

"They wouldn't dare." She called after the blonde as she settled her desk, her lips pleasantly swollen, tasting of cherries and vanilla.

At lunch time, after another slow morning, Regina stopped in at Granny's to order hearty stew and fresh rolls to go.

They no longer questioned when either the Sherriff or the Mayor came in ordering for two.

"Thanks granny." She bustled out the door and was seated in Emma's desk chair when the blonde walked in from her patrol a few moments later.

Her cheeks were rosy from the brisk wind and that same wind had tossed her curls into a wild tangle, only amplifying her natural beauty. "Hey, this is a nice surprise."

"I brought you lunch."

"Thanks," The blonde stepped forward eagerly to open the bags.

It was then that Regina stood up and pointed up at the sprig of mistletoe hanging from the light fixture.

Emma grinned and stepped into her arms, allowing Regina to tug her down for a searing kiss.

"Your nose is cold," The older woman practically giggled.

"Thanks," Emma breathed, burying her nose in her hair. When she'd warmed up, she peeked up at the mistletoe, then back to Regina. "You do know you can kiss me any time you like."

"I know," The brunette purred, "But this is much more fun."

it was more fun, to see the brunette reaching out to her. It filled her heart with such warmth, something that to her greatest fear and greatest hope, felt a lot like love.

She opened the hot container of stew and dunked a corner of bread in it, sighing at the heavenly rich warm smell and the savoury taste. "God I shovelled so many walkways today, I so need this, I'm exhausted. But," She swallowed and continued, "At least I'm getting paid more than five bucks an hour."

"My hero, my Emma Swan, saving the citizens of Storybrooke one shovelful at a time."

"Your Emma Swan?"

The brunette nodded, "Do you want to be?"

"I'm all yours."

With one last kiss, Regina stepped up on a chair and took down the mistletoe. She echoed Emma's words, "I don't want anyone getting any ideas."

Emma grinned stupidly, "See you later."

Emma and Henry tore into her office that evening, dripping snow over the sleek marble floors.

"Mom, we're starving."

"We thought we'd go to Granny's tonight, she's making spaghetti and meatballs."

Henry smiled widely, "It'll save you from cooking , please mom."

"I can't say no to spaghetti and meatballs."

Once on the street, she took Emma's hand while Henry bounded ahead in the snow, aiming snowballs at fire hydrants as he passed. They tinkled though the door and Henry rushing to claim their booth, he wasn't about to take any chances on losing his spaghetti and meatballs. The two women followed more slowly, stomping their boots at the door and pulling off their knitted caps.

Ruby sauntered by, snickering, "Look up ladies."

They complied, only to be greeted with the site of waxy green leaves and white berries.

Emma lifted her hands defensively, "It wasn't me I swear." But, following tradition, she leaned forward to place a quick kiss on Regina's cheek.

"You call that a kiss?" The brunette chastised. She captured her lips with her own, plying her mouth with a soft kiss.

The diner whistled and whooped as the two women pulled apart and moved quickly to their table. They sat together on one side of the bench, Emma's hand resting comfortably on the other woman's thigh.

Henry occupied the other side, giving him space to use the condiments on the table to help act out the story he was telling.

"I guess were out," Emma whispered, the surprise at the other woman's public display of affection evident in her voice.

"We've been out for some time dear."

Her hand stilled their slow, lazy caresses, "Are you ok with that?"

"I wasn't given much of a choice."

"But..."

Emma was drowned out by the pulsing beat of I kissed a Girl, prompting Regina to roll her eyes, "I'm most definitely alright with everything, except for this music. Ruby!"

They arrived home and trudged to the living room, Henry still singing Ruby's song.

The two women paused in the doorway, Emma nudging the brunette to look up at the ceiling.

"I did that," Emma admitted, blushing and pulling Regina in close to kiss her softly.

Henry backed out of the room, "I'm gonna do my homework upstairs."

"Hey kid," Emma called after him.

He safely covered his eyes before he looked back, "What?"

"Wanna watch a Christmas movie if you finish early?

"Sure."

Emma gulped and turned to Regina, "If that's ok with you?"

"It 's fine."

When they were alone, Emma pleaded , "I'm sorry , if I overstepped."

"No don't be, he's our son, you have as much say as I do." Regina tugged her over to the couch, hooking her index finger through her belt loop.

"It's your house though," Emma insisted, absentmindedly playing with the other woman's hair.

"For now," She nodded.

"Yeah? What?"

"Yes dear, he and I will have to get used to you making decisions around here."

"I won't let you down."

"I know."

They curled together on the couch, watching the tree lights blink on and off.

Not too much later, Henry called from the doorway, "Can I come in?"

"Of course dear."

She barely finished her sentence when he came barrelling into the room to squish between his two mothers and turn on the TV in one smooth move.

"Bed time is still at nine," Emma reminded him.

"Ok," He found the recorded movie and Burl Ives began to sing Silver Bells, welcoming them to the North Pole.

Regina squeezed Emma's hand appreciatively, warmly, lovingly.

And so, after a wild night, the Swan-Mills family settled in to watch the little reindeer save his friends from the abominable snowman.

A/N: I guess I'm not aaas excited as Emma for this gift because she is the lucky one locking lips with Regina Mills ;)Thank you for reading!

P.S. To the reviewer snowwalking, I added in a tiny mention of Katy Perry for you to avoid a disappointment this close before Christmas :P