Here is part one of my christmas chapter. Basically just fluff and some funny/awkward moments.
"Emma." Mary Margaret called. "Come on."
"What are you going on about?" Emma came bounding down the stairs. She stopped suddenly when she saw the boxes covering the apartment. "What is this?"
"We're decorating." Mary Margaret smiled. "For Christmas."
"Oh, wow." Emma slowly took in everything. "Isn't part of my recovery not being overwhelmed?"
Mary Margaret put an ornament on the tree. "I think this will be good for you.
"Did I do something wrong that I don't know about?" Emma was only half joking. "Am I being punished because I thought we agreed I couldn't be held responsible for my actions while in my current state?"
"Ha ha, very funny." Mary Margaret held out an ornament to Emma. "Come on."
"Ok." Emma reluctantly took the ornament and looked at the old-fashioned wooden Santa. "What is this?"
"It's cute." Mary Margaret said.
"Yea." Emma mused as she put the ornament on the tree. "In a creepy way."
"Oh Em." Mary Margaret handed Emma a cup of hot chocolate. "Where's your Christmas spirit?"
"I don't know." Emma shrugged as she sat on the couch. "I've just never really had a Christmas worth celebrating."
"Oh." Mary Margaret took a breath as the conversation took a more serious turn. She knew Emma didn't want to get into a deep conversation and besides they were supposed to be celebrating. "Well now you do. And I for one love Christmas so there will be a lot of festive spirit this holiday."
Emma looked up at Mary Margaret. "I would expect nothing less of you."
"Then get into the spirit." Mary Margaret handed Emma another ornament. "This tree isn't going to decorate itself."
"Mary Margaret this place looks straight out of a Martha Stewart catalogue." Emma gazed around in wonder.
"Who?" Mary Margaret looked confused.
Emma shook her head. "Yet another reminder that this town is so strange."
"That's why you love it here." Mary Margaret turned up the Christmas music and pulled Emma around the living room dancing. Finally Emma cracked a smile, laughing along as Mary Margaret twirled her.
"Is your head ok?" Mary Margaret asked as she spun around.
"Just enjoy this while I'm letting you." Emma smiled.
"Oh I will." Mary Margaret spun Emma again.
After a while of dancing and decorating Emma picked up her mug of hot cocoa and retired to the couch. She watched Mary Margaret continue to put finishing touches on the apartment, turning it into Christmas Emma could have only dreamed of as a child. Maybe Mary Margaret was right, maybe this would be a Christmas worth celebrating, finally.
"I still don't understand why we have to go." Emma muttered as she and Mary Margaret walked up the drive to the mayor's house. "She doesn't even like us."
Mary Margaret guided Emma carefully over the ice, wary of the site of Emma's accident. "Because we were invited and it would be rude to turn down the invitation."
"Yea but our evening would be a lot more pleasant if we weren't here." Emma said. "And I could be at Ryan Hoodman's party."
"You wouldn't be going to that party even if we weren't here." Mary Margaret looked at Emma, receiving an eye roll in return. "Plus we had an agreement, if you come tonight you can go to Isabelle's tomorrow."
"So you're ok with me going to Isabelle's, but I can't go to Ryan's." Emma clarified.
"Keep going and you won't be attending Isabelle's eithers." Mary Margaret warned.
"Fine." Emma grumbled as Mary Margaret rang the doorbell.
Regina opened the door wearing a fake smile. "Emma, Mary Margaret, how nice to see you. I'm so glad you could make it."
"We're happy to be here." Mary Margaret allowed an attendant to take her coat.
"Emma I'm glad to see you're back on your feet." Regina smiled at Emma.
"Yea well it was your place that took me off them." Emma raised her eyebrows. "Just thankful that I didn't wipe out this time around."
"Yes aren't we all." Regina said through gritted teeth.
"You look very nice tonight." Mary Margaret tried to place nice. "That's a beautiful dress."
"It's a Calvin Klein original." Regina ran her hands over the structured fabric.
"Really? I thought the Devil wore Prada." Emma muttered receiving a jab from Mary Margaret.
"Well I need to go check on the hors d'oeuvres." Regina's eyes narrowed. "Emma I trust you can show Mary Margaret around? You've made yourself at home here before."
"Yea." Emma shifted uncomfortably as Regina turned to leave. She glanced around. "This is so intense. Decorations straight out of a magazine, coat attendants, I'm surprised she doesn't have valet parking."
"Be nice." Mary Margaret warned.
"I know, I know." Emma grumbled. "Come on, lets get food."
"If you're pleasant, this evening will be more enjoyable." Mary Margaret advised.
"An act of God couldn't make this more enjoyable." Emma muttered.
Mary Margaret couldn't help but laugh at Emma. "You're positive spirit is infectious."
"I've been told that." Emma nodded, smiling.
"Em's." Connor snuck up behind Emma, wrapping his arms around her waist. "I'm so glad you could make it."
"PDA alert." Ava covered her eyes jokingly as she walked up to the two of them. "Seriously you two. Get a room."
"Ava's just irked because Ryan hasn't asked her out yet." Connor teased. "But maybe at his party tonight…"
"You're going?" Emma asked.
"Of course." Ava shook her head. "You'd be crazy to turn an invite to one of his parties down."
"Call me crazy." Emma glared at Mary Margaret who shrugged unapologetically. "Av's what are you doing here? I thought Connor said his mom didn't invite his friends."
"She doesn't for the most part." Connor explained. "Ava's the only friend of mine she actually tolerates."
"It's like she feels guilt or something. She sends me a dress for it every year." Ava motioned to her gorgeous red dress. It looked like it cost a small fortune.
"Well you look stunning Av's." Emma complimented her friend. "Ryan would be crazy to turn you down tonight."
"You think?" Ava blushed.
"I know." Emma smiled.
"Well I'm going to go find Regina and thank her for this. It was nice to see you again Mary Margaret." Ava waved.
"Always a pleasure Ava." Mary Margaret nodded.
"Why don't you two come into the living room?" Connor led Mary Margaret and Emma into the next room. He looked at Emma's simple black dress with an open back which she had paired plain silver heels. Even with her hair left in it's natural curls and no jewelry outside her signature golden E she looked incredible. Somehow Emma managed to outshine everyone else in the room without even trying. "You look absolutely stunning."
"Thanks." Emma averted her eyes from Mary Margaret's smile.
"Connor." Regina called. "Come say hi to the Davidson's."
"Duty calls." Connor sighed. "I'll see you later."
"He likes you so much." Mary Margaret looked at Emma.
"Yea." Emma watched as Connor talked to his mother's friends. "A little more than like."
"What?" Mary Margaret raised her eyebrows.
"He uh…" Emma tucked her hair behind her ear. "That night that you went out with Ruby and Ashley. After a long conversation." Emma shook her head. "He told me he loved me."
"He what?" Mary Margaret's eyes grew wide.
"Yea." Emma whispered.
"Emma, this is huge!" Mary Margaret grabbed Emma's hands.
"I know." Emma said awkwardly.
"And you're not sure how you feel about it." Mary Margaret finished.
"It's a lot to take in." Emma admitted. "I've definitely never had anyone say that to me before, like ever, from anyone. So I'm not sure how to react."
"How did you react?" Mary Margaret asked.
Emma sighed. "He told me he knew I wasn't ready to say it back yet and that was ok. That he would wait for me. I told him that I was trying, that I'm getting there. But I honestly just don't know how to feel."
"He's a great guy for you." Mary Margaret smiled.
"Yea he is." Emma nodded.
"Don't worry about it Em." Mary Margaret put her hand on Emma's shoulder. "When the time is right, you'll know what to say."
"Emma." Emma turned around to see Graham walking up to her.
"Graham." Emma shouldn't have been so surprised to see him there. After all it was the mayor's party. "Did you accept the overnight invitation?"
"Emma." Mary Margaret warned.
"Sorry." Emma whispered.
"I'll give you two a minute." Mary Margaret slipped off.
"How have you been lately?" Emma asked.
"Pretty good." Graham nodded. "I've been working pretty hard over the holidays. For some reason crime always escalates this time of year."
"The holiday's have a habit of making people want to kill one another." Emma pointed out.
"I guess." Graham shook his head. "So how have you been? You know, since your accident."
"Pretty good considering." Emma shrugged. "I'm feeling better lately. There are more and more days where my head doesn't hurt so that's an improvement."
"That's really great Emma." Graham smiled. "Look I know this may be a bit awkward but I sort of got you something for Christmas."
"What?" Emma's eyebrows shot up.
"It's really nothing." Graham pulled out a little white box wrapped with black ribbon.
"Ok." Emma pulled the ribbon and the bow fell off the box. She lifted the lid to find a piece of paper. Emma looked at Graham, confused.
"Read it." Graham prodded.
Emma opened the paper. 'You're record is clear.' "Graham." Emma looked up, smiling. "This is really great. Thank you."
"Regina didn't make it easy." Graham shrugged. "But with you're recent accident she backed off. I think she felt bad for you."
"Really Graham you have no clue how much this means." Emma held the paper. "To have even the slightest record in the foster system; It's yet another card in the deck that's stacked against us. Even for something as stupid as trespassing it can have big consequences. It's like they expect us to be screw-ups and failures and something like this just proves every assumption right. "
"Em." Graham said.
"This is the best Christmas present I've ever gotten." Emma smiled.
"Well I owed you." Graham shrugged.
"No you didn't." Emma shook her head. "But thank you."
"You're very welcome." Graham gave a slight nod. "Well, enjoy the party."
"You too." Emma gave a small wave as he walked off.
"What was that about?" Mary Margaret returned from where Emma assumed she had been watching.
"You are no longer living with an ex-con." Emma held the paper up for Mary Margaret to see.
"Em that's great." Mary Margaret smiled.
"If everyone would take a seat." Regina grabbed the attention of everyone in room. Everyone quickly found a seat in the living room. Emma and Mary Margaret claimed a spot on the couch. "Now I know all you know we usually do a gift exchange. Thank you all for bringing gifts again this year. I'm sure they are as amazing as always but this year, thanks to some encouragement by my son." Regina glanced at Connor who smiled encouragingly. "I have decided to do something a little different. Instead of giving presents to each other when we each already have so much. I have decided, with your permission of course, to donate all these presents to the less fortunate. Everyone deserves a good Christmas and I hope that these presents provided by all you incredible individuals, will make their holidays just a little brighter.
"And her heart grew three sizes that day." Emma whispered to Mary Margaret.
"Very funny Emma." Mary Margaret's eyes narrowed playfully.
"It's a Christmas miracle." Emma teased.
"You're going to get yourself slapped again." Mary Margaret warned. "And I'm not going to stop it."
"You're supposed to be on my side." Emma crossed her arms.
"I am." Mary Margaret said. "This is why I'm warning you."
"She's got you on her side with her wiccan powers hasn't she." Emma somehow managed to keep a straight face.
"You're horrible." Mary Margaret stifled a laugh.
"I make these things enjoyable." Emma pointed out.
"This is very true." Mary Margaret smiled.
"Some party." Emma marveled as she sat down next to Connor who immediately wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. Emma kicked off her heels and tucked one foot underneath her, leaning back into his embrace.
"My mom does know how to go all out." Connor agreed.
"It was a really nice party." Emma looked at Connor. "And that thing she did with the presents? It was really generous."
"She has her moments." Connor rested his chin on Emma's shoulder. "I love how amazing she always makes Christmas. No matter what was going on, she always made it special and dream like."
"That tree is amazing." Emma marveled at the gorgeous fir. It was exquisitely decorated with bows and ornaments matching perfectly. It looked as if it had been professionally decorated but knowing Regina she had done it all on her own. There were a few ornaments that looked out of place amongst the sparkling lights but the beauty of the tree was undeniable.
"So." Connor glanced at Emma, a mischievous look on his face. "How would you feel about opening your Christmas present?"
"Connor you didn't have to get me anything." Emma protested.
"I wanted to." Connor shrugged. "Besides if 've learned anything from my mother it's that whenever woman say they don't want a present, they really do."
Emma laughed, unable to contain her smile. "All right. Well where is it?"
"Patience dear Emma." Connor laughed. "Look on the tree."
Emma looked at Connor quizzically but she got up anyway. She started from the side and began to glance through the ornaments. Her gaze stopped on a homemade ornament. "Ohhh." Emma's mouth formed a slight pout as she looked at Connor, her eyes smiling. "This is so cute."
Connor's face went ashen as he saw the ornament Emma was referring to. It was a painted silhouette of a house with a five-year-old picture of himself pasted in the middle. "Ok that's not supposed to be on there." He got up, trying to take the ornament from Emma, but Emma held it away from him.
"Is this my present?" Emma laughed. "Because it's perfect. I absolutely love it."
"Very funny. Give it back." Connor made another grab for the ornament.
"You're so cute." Emma hid the ornament behind her back.
"Emma." Connor warned.
"No way." Emma refused.
Suddenly Connor stopped reaching for the ornament and pulled Emma close, kissing her. He had wanted to all night but he knew it wasn't safe with his mother around. With Emma distracted, Connor made another grab for the ornament and successful grabbed it.
"No fair." Emma fake pouted.
"Women are so easy." Connor teased, receiving a punch from Emma.
"I thought you said your mother didn't keep anything from your childhood." Emma nodded at the ornament.
"She hasn't really." Connor stared at it. "I haven't seen this in years."
"Well this does seem to by the day of melting the ice queen's heart." Emma quipped.
"Well to prevent any more awkward ornament moments I'll give you a hint." Connor ignored the comment. "Look for the Santa with the stack of presents. One of them opens."
"Stack of presents." Emma mused. She carefully looked through the trees ornaments. "Oh I found it!" Emma knelt down and pulled out the side off of one of the presents. Inside there was a small slip of paper. She opened it and red it out loud. "Look up." Emma glanced up, near the top of the tree the saw a golden chain glinting in the light. Emma stood up slowly. She gently pulled the necklace off the tree, gasping at how beautiful it was. The green stones glinted in the light, enhancing the pieces beauty. "Connor this is…"
"Not even close to as beautiful as you are." Connor finished. "But I did the best I could."
"It's perfect." Emma breathed. "Put it on me?"
"Of course." Connor took the necklace as Emma turned around, pulling her blonde hair out of the way. He nervously fiddled with the clasp, trying to get the necklace around Emma. "There you go."
Emma turned around letting her hair fall. "How does it look?"
"Stunning." Connor breathed as he stared at Emma.
"I was talking about the necklace." Emma whispered.
"I wasn't." Connor leaned in to kiss her. The two lost all sense of time and place until someone coughed, signaling their presence.
"Oh." Emma and Connor jumped apart. Emma glanced at the ground awkwardly as Connor looked at his mother, ashamed.
"Hi Mom." Connor shifted uncomfortably.
"Emma I think Mary Margaret is waiting for you." Regina said, glaring at the two teenagers.
"Right." Emma nodded awkwardly. She looked at Connor. "Thanks again. It's incredible."
"You're welcome." Connor squeezed her hand gently.
Regina cleared her throat again. Emma quickly grabbed her shoes and hurried past Regina. "Thank you for inviting us."
"Merry Christmas Emma." Regina avoided looking at the girl who had just been making out with her son. "Mary Margaret." Regina reminded.
"Right." Emma nodded awkwardly. "Bye Connor." She hurried to the front door where Mary Margaret was waiting.
"Where have you been?" Mary Margaret handed Emma her coat.
"Uh, making Regina hate me even more." Emma put her shoes on.
"Is that even possible?" Mary Margaret teased.
Emma glanced back at Regina who was glaring at her from the entryway to the living room. "Yup. Let's go."
"That's a really nice necklace." Mary Margaret noticed Emma's present.
"Connor gave it to me." Emma explained as they left. "And then Regina caught us kissing."
"Now I understand." Mary Margaret nodded.
"Yea." Emma shook her head as she got into Mary Margaret's car. It had been some night.