Thank you everyone for reading this fics and leaving reviews! Few more chapters to go before the end of this saga!
Chapter 21: Christmas
December 25th 2015
David was looking at his daughter, who had come early to prepare Christmas brunch for the family. Regina and Olivia were still sleeping upstairs and he was grateful to Emma to give them the much needed rest. Of course, Regina had insisted on cooking breakfast and although Emma hadn't argued with the brunette, she had made plans to be the one doing most of the work.
Leaning against the island, David was nursing a cup of coffee while Emma was preparing the pancake batter. "Penny for your thoughts?" She asked.
David looked up at his daughter. "Greg."
Emma stopped with her task, leaving the whisk in the bowl as she cleaned her hands on her apron. "We won't let anything happen to Regina or Olivia."
David gave his daughter a soft smile. "What if Rumple is right? What if whoever Greg's employer is had known about Regina for hundreds of years?"
"Rumple doesn't think it's that simple. He probably knew about the magic but not who would wield it."
"That's just it, Emma! Back in the Enchanted Forest, Regina's magic was as dark as they came! She didn't have access to that primordial magic Blue and Rumple are so fascinated about! If I had succeeded then, the talisman would have been full of dark magic!"
Emma chewed the inside of her cheek. She had already come to the same conclusion: although the man knew Regina was the vessel, he had no idea about where her powers came from. "There is one thing about Regina that has always been different from anyone else who's using black magic."
"Her ability to love." David whispered.
Emma nodded. "Maybe that's what he sensed."
The two were interrupted by the front door opening, followed by hurried steps and the click-clack of Brownie's claws on the floor. "How many gifts did Regina buy?" Emma asked in amusement. Henry and Neal had spent the last thirty minutes moving bags of gifts from their hiding place in the garage to the tree.
David chuckled. "Let's just say that Regina might bankrupt Amazon over the free shipping deal that came with the membership." He took a gulp of his black coffee before heading toward the living room. "Need some help?" He asked.
"NO!" Henry and Neal yelled in unison.
David was taken aback by their reaction. "Ok, then…" He said, bringing his hands up in the air and taking a few steps backwards.
"Can you organize the presents?" Henry asked, "Before Mom wakes?"
David smiled at his grandson. "I'm afraid you're too late." He could feel Regina wake through their bond.
"Then you need to keep her upstairs while we finish!" The kid pushed his grandfather toward the staircase.
David complied, laughing all the way to the second floor. His laughter fell into a soft smile when he entered his bedroom. Regina was propped up against pillows, feeding their daughter. The look of pure adoration on her face made his heart melt. "Merry Christmas," she greeted, her eyes never leaving her newborn daughter who was suckling avidly on her right breast.
David climbed onto the bed to lie down on his side next to Regina. "Merry Christmas," he wished in return. He caressed his daughter's hand with his index finger before putting his head on Regina's bare left shoulder. "Good morning, little one." He said softly, mesmerized by the tiny baby Regina was holding to her breast. Everything his daughter did was a source of amazement.
"Someone's hungry this morning." Regina spoke softly to her daughter. "With all that food, you're going to let mommy prepare brunch for the rest of the family." David chuckled at the statement, prompting Regina to finally look at her husband. "What?" She asked upon seeing the amused gleam in his eyes. She recognized it all too well: Henry had the same when he was up to something.
David shrugged. "Brunch is almost ready. Emma took care of it."
Regina cocked her head in feigned annoyance. "I told all of you I was going to prepare it."
"And we decided on an early Christmas gift: a couple more hours of sleep."
"What time is it?" Regina asked with a frown. Olivia had woken her up and in her haste to assess her baby's needs, the new mother hadn't even spared a glance at the alarm clock.
"Almost eleven."
Regina gasped. "I... I'm sorry. I didn't realize she let me sleep this long."
"Don't apologize, honey. You need the rest. Besides, I was sent here to stall you so they can finish up downstairs."
Regina chuckled. "So you're telling me your plans instead of enacting them?"
David kissed her under her jaw. "I know of only two ways to keep you in bed. One is unavailable at the moment." He smirked mischievously at the suggestion. "And the other would have made you suspicious."
"But I wouldn't say no to a long back massage if you need to keep me up here for a while." Regina looked at her daughter still happily suckling on her breakfast. "Assuming this little one ever gets full. Definitely a Charming."
Olivia opened her beautiful blue eyes to look up at her parents. She could still feel the magic between them and Regina wondered if it shifted when they talked about her and whether her little girl could recognize that shift. "Yes, I'm talking about you." She caressed the infant's cheek, who closed her eyes, intent on continuing with her breakfast.
She let go of Regina's nipple a few minutes later, finally satiated. Regina wiped her mouth before handing the baby over to her husband for the burp. "Divide and conquer?" She offered as she put her nightgown back on. "Get her ready while I shower?"
David smiled at his wife. "I feel a diaper change in my future."
"I smell one too." Regina joked before getting up. She leaned to kiss her husband before heading toward their bathroom. She was looking forward to a hot shower; a long one to allow time for the Charmings to get everything ready.
Olivia started fussing on David's shoulder. "Let's get you out of this wet diaper." He said soothingly, rubbing circles on his daughter's back. "And what would you like to wear?" He continued as he walked toward the nursery. "Or rather what do you think Mommy wants you to wear?" David smiled when he saw the Christmas outfit that Regina had selected for dinner at Granny's tonight. It was a red velvet dress with a bow around the waist. "You're going to look gorgeous in that." He told his daughter. "But I think we need to find you something for the next few hours first."
When Regina had told him they needed onesies, he had agreed without much thought. He even had gifted some to Regina with his own designs. But when Regina had bought two drawers full of them, he hadn't been able to resist the urge to make fun of her. After one week with a newborn, he wished Regina had bought a third one.
David rummaged through the drawer in which Regina had kept the holidays-themed outfits. He smirked when he saw the one Henry had bought a couple of days ago before asking permission to stay at Emma's for his winter vacation. It was white with green and red writing: Silent night? Yeah right!
"I think we have a winner!" He announced as he grabbed the onesie before delicately placing Olivia on the changing table. The baby squealed and squirmed, making Charming's job much harder. Once he finally managed to put the diaper on, he blew a kiss on her daughter's bare stomach. "Here we go, little monster!"
The baby squirmed and giggled in response and David couldn't suppress the amused laugh. "Just like your mother!"
"What's just like me?" Regina asked as she walked closer to David. She was wearing black maternity pants and a Christmas sweater depicting Rudolph. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail and she was makeup-free. To David's eyes, she was perfect and he was happy she didn't feel the need to put her armor on -mayoral clothes and makeup- around her family.
The Prince's eyes narrowed before he tickled Regina's side. The Queen jumped back. "David!" She shrieked from betrayal.
The Prince chuckled and shrugged. "You asked!" He winked at Olivia. "Someone here is also very ticklish."
Regina shook her head. "So you're taking advantage?" She slapped David's arm. "Shame on you."
David returned to the task of dressing their baby for the celebrations. "I'm not but weren't you the one complaining that she tickled you using magic every time she felt like it? The one accusing her of being just like her dad?" He swaddled Olivia up with the baby blanket Granny had knitted for her. "Well, she's more like you than you think." David wrapped his free arm around Regina and kissed her deeply.
"I love you." The brunette whispered against her Prince's lips. Regina was happy. She had everything she had ever wished for. She felt at peace in the world, surrounded by a loving family.
"I love you too." David cupped the back of her head and kissed her forehead, inhaling the scent of her apple shampoo. "Should we join the rest of our family?" He offered his arm to Regina.
"We shall." She wrapped her own arm around her husband's, laughing all the way down to the living room.
"Merry Christmas!" Henry hugged his mother's side as soon as she climbed down the last step.
"Merry Christmas, my little Prince." Regina rubbed Henry's shoulders before running her fingers through his hair, holding her son close to her.
"Merry Christmas!" Emma wished Regina before turning her attention toward the sleeping baby. "Someone looks like she needs another nap."
"After all the food she's just ingested, she needs to sleep it off." Regina shook her head in amusement.
"We have everything ready!" The excitement in the teenager's eyes reassured Regina: Henry was still a kid at heart. Her kid.
"I'm sorry we didn't get to make our fruit cake." She had started this tradition when Henry was a year old. Since then, they had spent each Christmas morning baking before opening the presents.
"I made one!" The kid announced proudly. "I knew you wouldn't have time with Olivia so I made one for our family. And when she's old enough, we can start making one together."
Regina's eyes filled up with tears. "Oh, Henry!" She let go of David to hug her son tight against her chest.
"Dad and I also brought all the gifts from the garage and Mom made brunch! So all we have to do now is eat!"
"And open our presents…" Regina finished for her son.
"That too," Henry conceded.
"I've made bacon and eggs, roasted potatoes, and pancakes!" The blonde was proud of her culinary prowess.
"And I made the hot chocolate and squeezed the oranges," Henry finished.
"There is also some coffee in the kitchen for whoever needs it." Emma added.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's eat!" David looked down at the infant in his arm, wondering if Olivia would wake when placed in her bassinet. She loved to be held, especially by her parents. Regina had explained to him that she could feel the magic and it was soothing her.
Henry led his mother toward the dining room while Emma went to get the potatoes she had kept warm in the oven. Once the family was seated around the table, she and Neal exchanged a quick look that went unnoticed by the rest of their family. "We'd like to make an announcement," Neal said as he and Emma rose from their seat. He took her hand and looked at David and Henry as he continued. "I asked Emma to marry me this morning."
"And I accepted." Emma added, blushing.
David's jaw dropped open in shock, unable to respond. Meanwhile, Henry leapt to his feet and ran around the table to hug his parents excitedly. A sharp kick to David's shin brought him back to the present. Regina motioned with her head toward the couple, who were still waiting on David's reaction. "Congratulations," the Prince mumbled. "I'm happy for you." He finally stood to hug his daughter and shake hands with his too-soon-to-be son-in-law. He had known this moment would come eventually and he had made his peace with Neal. He'd just never imagined that it would be so soon.
"Have you set the date?" Regina asked to save her husband from further embarrassment.
"Not really, but we would like for it to be in the spring." Emma looked up at Neal with a smile as she answered.
"I've kept all of my wedding's info. If you want them, they're yours," Regina offered.
"Thanks, Regina." The blonde played nervously with her hands. "I know that we agreed to never have this kind of relationship but," Emma looked at Regina directly in the eyes, "I would like for you to be my mother for that day. If it's too much to ask, I'll understand."
"Emma," Regina interrupted, "I'm flattered and I'll be there for you."
The blonde sighed in relief. "Thanks, Regina."
After a few more congratulatory remarks, the family helped themselves with food. The conversation centered back around Christmas and the new traditions they were starting as a family. David leaned toward Regina. "You know that the mother of the bride has to dance with the father of the groom?" He whispered to her.
Regina rolled her eyes. "I've made my peace with having Rumple as part of the family. After all, we all need that one family member…" David chuckled. He would have to remind Regina as the planning went on.
"Can we open our presents now?" Henry asked excitedly. The adults chuckled but nodded in agreement. While Henry rushed to the living room and Emma cleaned the table with the help of Neal and David, Regina took her sleeping baby in her arms.
"Want to see what Santa brought you?" She whispered to her child, rocking her gently. "I'm sure your family spoiled you rotten."
David joined them soon after and Regina settled herself on her husband, their baby sound asleep against her. They watched fondly as Emma, Neal, and Henry opened the various presents, including the ones for their baby girl.
Regina had been right. Neal and Emma had bought every baby items they thought Olivia must have, including toys she wouldn't be able to appreciate until her second Christmas. Of course, Henry had received the most gifts ranging from the latest comic books and Nike shoes to a new Apple computer.
The kid took a haphazardly wrapped package and handed it to Regina and David. "It's for you. And Olivia," he added quickly.
"Thank you, my little prince." Regina let David handle the unwrapping. "It's beautiful, Henry!" Regina exclaimed as she ran her hand over the cover of a storybook nearly identical to the one that had narrated the events in the Enchanted Forest.
David opened the book and read the first couple sentences. "Once upon a time there was a Queen that everyone called evil. Except she wasn't…" He flipped through the book looking at the illustrations Henry had made by hand. It told their story. "Henry, this is amazing! Thank you!"
Henry climbed on the couch next to his mother. "I left blank pages. For the rest of the story." David and Regina noticed that about half the book was blank, reminding her that this wasn't her happy ending but her happy beginning.
"Henry, thank you. It's perfect!" She kissed her son before turning her attention back to Emma.
Regina exchanged a quick look with the sheriff, signaling it was time for David's present. She transferred her baby to the blonde's arms before giving a small box to David. "Merry Christmas."
The Prince opened it with a smile that turned into a questioning frown as soon as he saw the black cloth at the bottom. Regina picked it up and tied it around David's face. "You're gonna have to trust me. No peeking!"
David wrapped his arms around his wife and kissed her. "Always…" He murmured to her.
With laughters, the family guided the blindfolded man toward the garage. "Watch out for the steps!" Regina warned him. But her warning was unnecessary. He knew his home like the back of his hand. Besides, with their strengthened bond, he could feel Regina's warning before she had to utter it. He could also feel her almost childlike excitement.
As soon as they entered the garage, Regina removed David's blindfold. The Prince's jaw dropped open in shock, to the amusement of his family. "Merry Christmas!" Regina pecked his cheek. Wrapped in a red bow was his beloved truck. David advanced toward the vehicle and caressed the shiny side of the bed. Regina must have spent a small fortune to have it repainted, detailed, and reupholstered. He had no doubt that she also had the engine tuned up.
The Queen placed her hand on the small of her husband's back. "Do you like it?" She could feel the conflicting emotions through their bond.
David turned to her and kissed her. "I love it." He placed his forehead against hers and cupped her cheeks with both hands. "Thank you." He couldn't understand why Regina had spent so much effort to get his battered truck back. She had insulted the vehicle every chance she had.
"I love it too, David." She whispered to him, trying to sort through his emotions. "Don't get me wrong. For the safety of our child, I'm glad you bought the SUV but your truck is a part of our family." She caressed his cheek with the pad of her thumb. "That truck took me home after Daniel died. It took us to our carefree afternoons at the stables. The first time you held me and told me you'd never abandoned me was in this truck. It took me home after," Regina swallowed hard, "after my miscarriage," she continued with a slight tremble in her voice. "It took us to our first date. We had a picnic for the fourth of July in the bed… and a few more dates after that," she added with a blush. "I love it because it is a part of you."
David wrapped his arms around Regina and held her close. "Regina, you have no idea how much I love you." Regina closed her eyes; she had a fair idea. She could feel it through her very essence.