Ok, this chapter features Henry's essay (the one Mary Margaret asked as Homework). Please keep in mind that his in like 5th grade :P

Also, I apologise if I make any grammar mistake - I'm too sleep deprived because I went to The Hobbit midnight premier (I regret nothing) and I had to be in classes by 8 A.M. so I'm literally a zombie today. BUT GO AND WATCH THE MOVIE BECAUSE IT IS EPIC.

Sending you Zombie-Love!

M.

No one hated doing Christmas shopping more than Regina. To buy all those presents for everyone, it just was not for her. It was for a person that actually gives a damn for other people - Like Mary Margaret and Belle, she bet that they were that kind of people that loved shopping presents for others. Sadly, Henry also loved giving presents to the people he knew, to every single person he knew.

"Mary Margaret, David, you, Emma," Henry read his list. "Neal, Belle, Mr. Gold, Paige, Artie, Granny, Ruby, Blue - "

"We can't buy presents for everyone in Storybrooke, Henry" Regina interrupted him.

"Why not?" he asked confused, "Is not like we are poor,"

"Well, we are not poor because we don't go spending money on stupid stuff," as soon as she let the words out she regret it. Not because it made Henry feel bad - because it was not the case- but because her son started explaining how christmas presents where not something stupid, because they showed other people that we cared about them and that they are on our thoughts. "If you love someone, and that person loves you, a present shouldn't be necessary to reassure that," she pointed out. And he knew it was true.

"But a present never hurts," Henry said with a big smile that warmed even a cold heart like Regina's. "Ok, I'll shorten the list," he gave in after a while. "How about, Mary Margaret and David, Belle and Mr. Gold, Neal, Emma and you?"

"Still too many people," she pointed out. Then when her kid lowered his gaze she added. "Fine, those will do - but just because they are your ... family," Regina had problems with the last word rolling down her tongue, she still hadn't come to terms with Henry's biological family.

Henry hugged his mother tightly, and it make all the christmas shopping worth it.

"Is your homework done, Henry?" Regina asked as she placed all the shopping bags over the kitchen's table.

"Yup!" the kid replied running towards the TV.

"Not so fast, young man," his mother's voice made him stop and walk towards her. "First you'll wash your hands and show me your homework,"

"Mom!" he began to protest, "Don't you think I'm a bit too old to have my homework checked?"

Regina didn't reply to him, she just stared with her arms crossed, waiting for Henry to give her his homework.

"Fine," he muttered as he took a piece of paper out from his backpack.

A Christmas Carroll,

My favourite christmas book is 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens. It tells us the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a cold-hearted and greedy man that hates Christmas. On the night of Christmas Eve, Scrooge's dead partner Jacob Marley visits him in the form of a ghost and tells him Three Spirits will come stop by to meet up with him. The first ghost to visit Scrooge is the Ghost of Christmas Past, then the Ghost of Christmas Present and the third and last ghost is the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come, each of the ghosts shows him about values and remind him about what is really Christmas about. Scrooge wakes up on Christmas day having learned his lessons and trying to become a better person.

With his story, Dickens hopes to illustrate how self-serving, insensitive people can be converted into charitable and caring members of society. Warmth and generosity overcome Scrooge's bitter apathy. This is the reason why I love this story is because it shows that we all deserve a second chance, it doesn't matter how you acted in the past, you can always turn into a better person. And I'm a true believer that anyone can change.

Henry Mills.

The essay I had touched her heart. Storybrooke's mayor didn't know exactly why this story was Henry's favourite one. Maybe it was because it talked about redemption and second chances? Henry had always told Regina that she could be a better person, and that he believed in her. She liked to think that Henry had chosen the book because of her - she wanted to believe that she was still so important to him that he liked a book just because he identified his mother with the main character.

Regina corrected the few grammar mistakes that she found on Henry's homework before putting it back inside his backpack. Then she walked over the living room, where Henry was playing video games. She stared at him for a moment and remembered the last part of her son's essay: you can always turn into a better person. A better person, a forgiving and caring person, a person that let go of her past to enjoy the present and have a better future.

She knew what she needed to do, she knew she had to let go of her hate towards Mary Margaret. They wouldn't be best friends, but at least she could stop trying to make her life miserable. She also remembered what Emma had told her yesterday before Henry's performance at the Living Nativity. The brunette walked back to the kitchen and grabbing her phone, she dialled the Sheriff's phone.

"Not in the mood for a fight, Regina," Emma said as soon as she picked up the phone, it sounded as if she was fighting with someone or something.

Af if Emma not being in the mood for a fight would stop Regina from starting one. She shook her head and breathed in. "I was calling to let you know that Henry and I will spend Christmas with you and ... your parents," she said, Regina still couldn't bring herself to say Mary Margaret's name without hate painting her voice tone so she decided she'd avoid it. Baby steps.

Regina heard how something crashed against the floor at the other side of the call. "Shit," Emma said in an almost inaudible tone. Then she seemed to remember about the phone call "Henry... you... Forrealsies?"

Ladies and Gentlemen: Emma Swan, always so eloquent.

"Yes, Miss Swan," Regina tried to hide the annoyance on her voice, "We'll spend christmas with you, for real,"

"Great - I'll tell Mary Margaret," the other woman said, she seemed more at ease now, "And Regina," Emma added before the brunette could hang up the phone "Thank you,"

Regina raised an eyebrow, not really knowing why was Emma thanking her for. She said goodbye and proceeded to hang up. Before she pressed the button to end the call she heard more crashing and Emma screaming 'God Dammit, you stupid oven'. The mayor smiled to herself, it would be an interesting christmas after all.