AN: Finally here at the end. I just want to thank everyone for reading and reviewing and following. I really appreciate your support in the last two years. I've enjoyed writing this and I was surely miss writing Emma and Regina in this setting. I hope you've enjoyed it as well.
Even with the show ending, my inspiration has not faltered. I've had dozens of ideas come to mind since the finale and maybe someday I'll present them here as long as there are still readers.
Without further ado...
"Every time I see her she looks more like her father."
"Remind me why you're stalking her again?" Ruby asked, taking a drink from her coffee. She looked down at the worn photo and turned it over to look at the name on the back, Regina's handwriting too distinctive and obvious to ignore. "And why we're up so early doing it?"
"Riley said she comes to read her book of the week under that tree every other morning," Regina answered.
She looked down into her own cup and wished it wasn't empty. She'd found that she wasn't always up for the taste of blood everyday now. Some days she'd crave it and other days her stomach repelled the thought. But that hadn't changed the fact that she didn't like coffee, so she switched over to hot cocoa like Henry and Emma. Too sweet at times but it was filling enough.
"Why are you here instead of over there?" Ruby asked.
"I don't think I'm ready to meet her."
"Why? I think you've had time to process."
"How do you know if I've had enough time to process?"
"Let me give you a timeline, babe." Ruby sat down her cup and put the picture in her coat pocket. "Riley told you that she was your daughter's girlfriend and wanted to find you because of how much she missed you, along with her father …"
"Ruby-"
She raised her hand and said, "I'm not anywhere close to finish." Regina rolled her eyes and slumped against the bench letting her eyes drift back to the young woman seated under a tree with a book in her hands.
"A week after that you burned Henry's birthday cake twice because you were so distracted." Regina sighed but Ruby continued on. "Two months later you drove Emma to the wrong restaurant on her birthday-"
"That was an accident. I had been considering them both."
"But you messed up because you were distracted. You were depressed through Thanksgiving and you wouldn't go Black Friday shopping with me. And now, here we are on December 5th …twenty days away. Are you going to talk to her and invite her to spend Christmas with her family?"
"She has a family."
"Her grandparents? I'm sure those folks would rather be on a cruise, Regina," Ruby said. When Regina didn't seem to be taking her argument seriously, she held back a groan of frustration. "What's her name?"
"You know her name."
"Just say it."
"Avalon. Avalon Colter."
They all had noticed Regina was reluctant to say her name out loud. Ruby had known it for years but had never actually met Daniel or Avalon all those years ago. She wasn't sure how much longer any of this could go on. She really wanted to meet her niece and Regina should be relieved that for once in nearly 16 years she could actually give her daughter a gift face to face rather than sending it anonymously like she had been doing all this time.
"Go over there and talk to her …Avalon. Your daughter." Regina didn't move an inch. "You've sent money and gifts every birthday and every Christmas. Let her finally meet the woman who has made sure that she's never wanted for anything for 19 years."
Her words kickstarted something. Regina sprung up from the bench and started to walk which surprised Ruby completely. She wasn't really expecting her to listen since she wouldn't listen to Emma on the subject – and Emma normally got her way with most things.
Ruby didn't say anything and just watched as it seemed Regina was going for it. After so long of trying to get Regina to take the initiative, all their attempts looked to be a lost cause. But Regina was doing it. Finally.
Regina marched determinedly towards the bench, words jumbling around in her head. She wasn't sure what to say. How did one start a conversation with a daughter they hadn't seen since she was a baby? That's where she went wrong in her thoughts. Avalon had been a toddler. She probably didn't even really remember her. Regina was sure she didn't. Riley could've interpreted Avalon's words incorrectly. What if there was resentment? What if Regina was taking blame for her father's death in her mind? What if she didn't want to know her at all?
She stopped moving only a few feet away from the bench and Avalon. The young woman hadn't noticed her and Regina took the little time she had to appreciate the person before her. Beautiful woman, reminding her of all the best parts of Daniel. Barely untainted by her mistakes.
Her eyes met with Ruby's across the courtyard and the other woman stood up from her seat, recognizing the hesitance. She shook her head but Regina was already gone, using her still present vampire speed to make a clean getaway before Avalon noticed her.
Although she did look up in time to see Ruby animatedly flailing her arms in frustration, muttering curses to wind.
Emma lifted her hand to knock on the door but dropped her hand at the last second. She let out a tired sigh, raking her hands through her hair.
After Ruby and Regina had returned from their trip to New York last weekend, things seemed to be even worse. Ruby was incoherent and frustrated, and Regina was even more guilty looking and dejected than before they left. Emma felt she had to do something eventually. Regina was bottling up the confrontation like she had with her vampire secret. And even though avoiding it wouldn't lead to anyone being kidnapped, at some point it may really be too late for Regina to reunite with her daughter.
Sure 'better late than never' had a point but this very moment was late – really late. So, waiting for Regina to find her courage wasn't an option.
Regina needed this just as much as Avalon did.
"You got this, Swan," she murmured.
Her hand curled into a fist and she brought her knuckles to the blue door. She knocked twice and waited.
The door opened, and Emma breathed out a sigh of relief at the sight of Riley on the other side.
"What are you doing here, Emma?" Riley asked with a frown, but not unkindly.
"I'm doing some very deserving people a favor."
"Are you sure?"
"Nope, but I have to do it."
"If you say so," Riley said. Emma grimaced watching Riley reach for her coat. So, she was going to be alone with her girlfriend's kid and no idea how to explain the situation – or even how to start the conversation. "Lonnie. Door for you."
"Coming," Avalon called from inside.
She appeared in the hallway in sweats and a t-shirt with her hair pulled up into a messy bun. It took Emma's breath away how much she reminded her of Regina even though they didn't share blood.
Riley gave her a parting kiss before she headed out the door giving Emma an encouraging smile. And then Riley wasn't there to help anymore, and it was just them. Avalon sat down the book in her hand marked heavily with highlights and tucked the yellow marker behind her ear.
"I'm Emma." She stuck her hand out before the odd silence would settle in and she was just the stranger standing in the doorway. Avalon straightened her glasses on her nose and took her hand.
"Avalon. But I guess you knew that." Her eyes flickered to a space beyond Emma's head for a moment. "You know Riley?"
"Yeah, I do. I'm the Sheriff."
"Oh, you're from Maine?"
"Actually, I'm from Chicago, but yeah I'm coming from Storybrooke …on vacation with family."
Emma reached into her inside pocket. It was like they were all playing pass around with the photo Riley had given Regina but it was for a good cause. Hopefully, after today it could be kept tuck into whoever's wallet again.
"I'm here to talk to you about …" She showed Avalon the picture of Regina and Henry on her lockscreen. She let Avalon take her phone to get a closer look and the younger woman gestured for her to come in. "This woman."
"Who is she?" The younger woman asked as she closed the door behind them.
"My girlfriend. The Mayor of Storybrooke."
"Lucky you. She's beautiful."
"Yeah, she is." Emma stepped a bit closer. "Do you know her, Avalon?"
She didn't look back down again and handed the phone back as she shook her head, "No, I don't."
"Are you sure?" Emma asked, putting the picture in front of her eyes.
A hint of a frown started to form on her face. She reached up for the picture and looked at the woman in the photo a little harder than she probably ever had before. "This is mine. Where did you …"
"Regina Mills is my girlfriend. Riley gave that to Regina a couple months ago."
"You're saying …"
Emma nodded, watching the realization slowly start to trickle in. She wouldn't blame her for any reaction she had after all the pieces fell together. Especially, fainting. Emma was quick to steady Avalon's wobble as she held on to wall.
"It's okay," Emma assured, "Why don't we sit?"
She led her to the couch in the living room and eased her into the cushions. Emma sat down in front of her on the coffee table.
"Are you okay?" Emma asked.
"I don't know. I thought …I don't know."
"Your mom loves you and she misses you. And I know she's wanted to see you for very long time."
"The gifts and the money …My tuition is pay for." Avalon took a deep breath, taking her glasses from her face. "I thought she was in prison or in the mafia or something."
"Depending on your stance on vampires, the mafia could have been a better scenario." Emma chuckled, okay with the fact that the vampire thing skipped Avalon's mind. "You've been on her mind every day."
"Is that why you're here?" She asked. "Just to …tell me."
"No, of course not. I'm here to finally get you both back together. And I'm also here to invite you to spend Christmas with us, if you're up for it?"
Christmas
Emma took a seat on the couch and Henry – even in his teenage years – sat close to the tree, ready for the best part of the morning. Regina was beside her a moment later with three mugs in her hand. She passed the Pac-Man mug filled with coffee to Emma and a Star Wars mug to Henry.
"Don't be …" Emma yawned and took a drink of her coffee. "Don't forget your manners."
"Good morning. Merry Christmas," Henry said. He sipped some of the cocoa and then sat the mug on the table making grabby hands for the first gift in his sights.
"Merry Christmas, Henry." Regina grinned and kissed the top of his head before she sat down on the couch beside Emma.
"Go for it, Hen," Emma said.
"Sweet." He dug through, pushing aside any that had Graham or Ruby's name on it. "Here's one with your name on it, Mom."
He tossed it to her and she barely caught it. "And one for you, Regina."
"I can still catch," Regina said and he tossed it, the gift sailing to her far left. Her reflexes were still fast enough to pull it from the air before it went hurling into the hallway.
"Geez, kid. Are you sure you're supposed to be playing baseball this spring?"
Henry stuck his tongue out at her and she returned the gesture. The trio unwrapped their first gifts – now with Silver Bells on the speakers. Emma was first to unveil hers. She lifted the lid of the white box and smiled down at the gift inside.
"Thank you, Regina."
"How do know it's from me?" Regina frowned.
Emma held up the box with a smirk. "Henry would definitely get me a gold bracelet. One that is probably 10 times more expensive than my car. My girlfriend bought it." She leaned over and kissed Regina's cheek as the other woman opened the gift in her lap.
At the same time Regina revealed a Tiffany blue box, Henry ripped open his gift. Emma looked between the two of them curious about the 'oh my' that slipped from Regina's lips and the exclamation from Henry.
"Definitely from Henry," Emma teased, seeing perfume she'd bought a month ago – and had been hiding in the bottom drawer of her desk. Regina smacked her arm lightly.
"This is awesome," Henry said, catching their attention again. Emma's eyes widened in shock seeing the big tech riddled box with a clear plastic reveal only part of the drone inside.
"Regina!" Emma clenched her fist for a moment.
"I asked if there were things that would be inappropriate to give him. This wasn't one of them," Regina said with a small frown.
"Well, it's not inappropriate but you're going to spoil him rotten."
"I thought that was the point."
"Our grandkids, sure."
"Our?"
"Well …I mean …you know, if-"
"I'm joking, Emma," Regina said, biting her lip in amusement. Emma elbowed her but accepted the kiss Regina placed behind her ear.
"Fly that into a tree and it's game over, kid," Emma said.
"Yeah, yeah I know," Henry said, reluctantly putting it aside. It was the first time, she'd seen him ready to forget about his other gifts for just one.
An hour came and went, the living room littered with ruined wrapping paper. The last of the Christmas parade was playing on the TV. Henry was less and less interested in it every year, but he also refused to let go of their tradition of opening gifts while the parade played on the screen.
He was switching the channel to play one of his new games on his new Xbox with his new headset. Regina and Henry found it amusing that Emma insisted left and right about him being spoiled even though all of those things were from her. But, of course, he thanked her a dozen times for every gift.
Meanwhile, Emma was completely tired out. She was wearing the Morse code necklace Henry had gotten her on one wrist and a fitbit on the other. One foot was inside of a new converse shoe – the other forgotten under the couch – and her lap covered in Captain Marvel comic books – also from Henry. And she was sleeping hard with her cheek pressed into a pillow.
Just as the game console booted up, Regina walked inside. She was out of her pajamas and exchanged them for a light green sweater and a pair of black jeans. Henry was quick to sprint upstairs to shower and change as she asked while Emma finally got her hours in of sleep.
"How's your Christmas so far, Henry?" She asked, beginning to sort through the gifts all over the room. Henry's unboxed drone was sitting on top of the piano on its charging pad. Clothes consumed the coffee table and most of her own gifts were taking up what space Emma wasn't occupying.
"Awesome," he said turning away from the screen. He sat the controller down on the TV stand and started to collect the gift wrap. "And not just because of the gifts – which were amazing – but I think this might be my mom's favorite Christmas ever. She'd be really happy right now if she wasn't sleeping."
Regina chuckled at that, reaching for the new leather jacket from her that Emma loved but fell asleep before she could try it on. "I'm glad I could help. You both mean a great deal to me. I want you both to be happy."
"We want you to be happy too …" Regina looked up when he stopped talking. He looked a bit uncertain about something.
"Is everything okay?" She asked.
"Everything is perfect. Literally. I was just thinking, like if you wanted …you could call me your son."
"Oh, I-"
"I mean, you know, I never thought about having another mom until we met you but it's going to happen eventually. I just thought-"
"You're an author, Henry. I know you're much more articulate than that. Have you talked to your mother about this?"
"I did and she told me not to force it but sometimes people a little push in the right direction."
"As true as that is, this sounds similar to an Operation, Mr. Swan." He shrugged, unconvincingly as laid a few folded articles on the cleared space on the coffee table. "An operation which should end in your mother being proposed to?"
"Or you being proposed to …"
"We'll get there. I promise." Regina smiled at Emma's sleeping form and then turned back to him. They both felt the moment coming, Henry ready to accept a hug from the woman he really did start to see as another mother. "But, regardless, I'd be honored. Thank you, Henry."
"I love you, too," he said in return.
Although, when they pulled away he turned back into a teenage boy, pretending he wasn't sappy like his mom and went back to his Xbox.
"Under the mistletoe again, Mayor Mills," Emma said with a bright smile, and suggestively raised eyebrow. After her nap, she felt great and enjoy her gifts a little more now that she was alert. She hadn't taken her new jacket off since she woke up to actually get showered and dressed.
"Curse Ruby for hanging them up all around the house," Regina said, grinning contently herself. She leaned forward and pressed her lips against Emma's before smacking her ass because she was in the way of the kitchen. Emma yelped in surprise.
"Regina!" She hissed. A wink was given in return just as Henry's drone zoomed by and a crashed into the glass door to the backyard. The moment was lost. "Henry!"
"It wasn't me!" the teen shouted back.
Then Graham's guilty face appeared from in the living room. "Sorry," he said, sneaking by them to retrieve it.
"Is that what it's been like for you all these years?" Emma asked once he disappeared.
"This is quite tame. Just how I like it."
Emma followed her into the kitchen, inspecting all the food that was going to be their Christmas dinner. Right then her stomach growled against her wishes, inciting a laugh from Regina who could already see the longing looks her lover was giving the stuffing.
"See something you like?"
"This house is always full of stuff I like." She flashed her best puppy eyes but, even though it was easy to get Regina with it, the woman didn't seem to be affected that time. Regina pulled something out of the oven. "Pie?"
"You can try one thing. No dessert."
Emma rolled her eyes, grabbing her spoon and heading straight for the stuffing. The spoon was halfway in the dish before she was interrupted.
"Hey, Em. Merry Christmas," Ruby said. Emma jumped, losing the spoon.
"You scared the shit out of me."
"Sorry." She handed her a gold box wrapped in a bow. Emma took it, mesmerized by the packaging and tempted because she was still starving. "From your best friend and her idiot fiancé. Dark Chocolate Champagne Bears."
"Chocolate?" Emma pulled Ruby in for a hug. "Thank you, Ruby."
"You're welcome. If I knew you two were going to get me Hamilton tickets, I would've gotten you a chocolate fountain instead."
"Regina would have a heart attack. But this is good. I like this."
Before anyone could continue the conversation on, the doorbell rang. Both Ruby and Emma were expecting it but Regina frowned, confused on who could be at the door on Christmas. Some part of her always expected it to be the Nolans. When the doorbell rang on Thanksgiving Regina was had been expecting it to be them – unable to respect the boundaries Emma had set.
"Just couldn't stay away," Regina muttered.
Emma watched her wipe her hands with the dish towel before throwing it roughly onto the counter. She'd known about the Nolan theory since Regina's discharge from the hospital so long ago. So, she moved in the doorway preventing Regina from leaving.
"What are you doing?"
"You know, speaking of surprises …gifts. I have one more for you."
"Oh, Emma." Regina chuckled lightly. "I told you, I loved my gifts. I don't need more. What poor soul do you have delivering a gift on Christmas day?"
"A willing …soul," Emma answered.
She turned and hurried to get to the front door. Regina glanced at Ruby with a raised eyebrow. The wolf just shrugged in response, looking as guilty as ever.
"What's going on?" Regina asked as she left the kitchen in time to watch Emma open the door and step aside as if she already was sure who was on the other side.
Regina's feet stopped, leaving her rooted in her between the foyer and the dining room. Across from her, familiar eyes on a reminding face. Avalon stepped forward and removed the beanie on her head, a bit of snow falling off the shoulders of her coat. Regina's eyes watched her every movement before she glanced around. Ruby smiled gently as she stood beside her and Henry and Graham were looking on curiously – but knowingly – from the doorway of the living room.
"What have you done, Emma?" Regina asked. She hated sounding so winded by the surprise but Emma always found a way to have her nearly speechless.
"I thought we agreed to have Christmas as a family." Emma took the items from Avalon's hands and stepped away. Regina's eyes darted between the pair and then settled on Avalon, looking at her in uncertainty. Uncertain but moving until there was no space between them.
"Avalon-" Regina froze.
The younger woman's arms wrapped around her, a cheek resting on her shoulder and hands splayed against her back as if just assure that Regina wasn't an illusion that would disappear. But Regina was completely frozen, stunned by contact. By the fact that her daughter was so close again after so many years.
"Regina," Ruby whispered, taking her out of her surprise.
Her arms raised from her sides, forcing Avalon to readjust to the hug being returned. Regina's right hand fell to the middle of her back and her other hand cradling the back of her head. A rebellious tear slipped down her cheek and Emma easily spotted it gesturing for everyone to give them some space as she walked Avalon's stuff up to the guest room.
"Not a day went by where I didn't think about you." Regina held on just a little tighter, appreciating that Avalon had no urge to let go. "I missed you so much."
"I missed you, too, Mom," Avalon said as Regina pulled away to touch her cheek. Regina slowly removed her glasses from her face and smiled at her eyes.
"You look so much like him. He was a handsome man. He made a beautiful daughter." Regina tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her smile fading. "I'm so sorry."
Avalon reached for her arm with a small frown. "For what?"
"I don't deserve you. You call me your mother."
"I always have."
"I'm sorry for what I did. Your father-"
"No …" Avalon shook her head, putting her glasses back on her nose and pulling Regina in close. "No, I've never blamed you for that. Ever."
"You don't know truth. What I've done …who I am …"
"Riley and Emma told me the story. I could never blame you for loving us or for loving me enough to let me go."
Avalon watched the space between Regina's eyebrows crease as she remained silent and seemingly surprised by her words. Unfortunately, she didn't know her mother very well. She had no clue what was going through her head. Although considering the hero complex she heard so much about from Emma, it was nothing good.
"Mom?"
The title struck her for the first time. They had just met and she was 'mom' already? In all her years she'd never think she would have the chance to see Avalon again, let alone have her willingly to let her hold her again. Because before she was sure Avalon had grown up thinking she had abandoned her, but now she knew every dark secret. And she was still here. Still calling her mom and unable to break a physical connection between them.
But her doubt almost cost her Emma more times than even she was aware of. There was no room for any doubt now.
"Mom? Are you okay?" Avalon asked. Regina came back to the present reality at the gentle hand that touched her cheek and slowly pulled away. "Is this too much? Too soon?"
"Never."
"Are you sure? I can stop calling you-"
"No. I would never ask that. I'm glad you're here. I should introduce you to …" She wasn't sure what to call these people. Of course, they were her family but –
"My family?"
"Where are your grandparents?" Regina asked.
"Turns out they were too happy to get rid of me this year," Avalon said with a grin. "They were really happy to hear that you found me again. Told me to tell you not be such a stranger anymore if everything is cool now."
"Everything is very …cool." Regina nodded, and her heart warmed a little more at Avalon's laugh. "Emma is the cool one."
"I'm sure you are too."
Regina found everyone in the study whispering and she immediately realized there may have not been a need to introduce anyone. They all looked guilty, especially one Emma Swan. She looked both guilty and hopeful.
"I'm guessing you all have met before," Regina said as the whispers died down.
"Briefly," Graham said. "It was Emma's idea."
Emma grinned sheepishly and averting her eyes away from Regina's. Regina let her hand slip out of Avalon's and walked up to her girlfriend and hugged her tight. It seemed to surprise her at first but then she melted into it as Regina whispered her appreciation into her ear. Regina pulled back to kiss her causing Emma's cheeks to color pink.
"You're welcome, Gina."
"For formalities sake …" Regina turned against Emma's hands and gestured to the others in the room. "Avalon this is Ruby-"
"Ah, screw that," Ruby said, hopping up from her perch on the arm of the couch. She walked over and pulled Avalon into a hug, which the younger woman accepted easily. "I've been impatiently waiting to meet my niece for years."
"Warm," Avalon murmured, falling victim to Ruby's impossibly comforting embrace.
"Whoa. Sorry." Ruby held her away. "I can't turn it off."
"A wolf?"
"Yeah. Weird?"
"It makes me more interesting."
"That's Graham," Regina said. He could come off as intimidating from his height alone, but Avalon relaxed at his smile just before she was pulled into another hug. Something about the interaction reminded her of Daniel. He always shadowed over Avalon. "Not usually a man of many words."
"Uncle?" Avalon questioned, making sure she correctly remembered everything Emma had told her.
"Whatever you like," Graham said with a soft smile.
"And you must know the Swans, my troublemakers." Regina took a step back, presenting Henry and Emma to her.
"I do."
"Bring it in here, kid," Emma said, and she and Henry pulled Avalon in for another hug that, unlike Regina sometimes, she was happy to receive.
"You did all the cooking?" Avalon asked, carrying dishes into the kitchen. Regina was wrapping up the leftovers, preparing to start the dish washing as everyone else started to crash from their approaching food comas. Emma was starting to look sleepy before she finished her first slice of pie.
"Most of it, yes. Emma wanted to help, though," she answered. She glanced over her shoulder just when Avalon sat down the last of the dishes from the dining table. "Thank you, dear."
"You're welcome. How can I help?"
"Oh, no. I wouldn't ask that."
"I want to help. It's a way to spend time with you."
"Technically, I promised Emma I'd leave everything alone for now but I couldn't help myself."
"Then I want to help."
"I suppose my stubbornness stuck on you in your early years."
"That among other things, I'm sure," Avalon said, leaning against the sink.
Regina stared at her for a moment. She removed her fingers from the edges of the container under her hand and raised a finger to her. "I have something for you," she said. Avalon wanted to protest but Regina was already gone. She figured Regina might've gotten the same idea she had just before dinner.
She'd made a visit up to the guest room to find her stuff. Emma had laid it all on the bed and she easily retrieved the black shoe box wrapped in a gold ribbon. She tucked it in a hidden spot by the piano and used the quiet time to go get it before Regina returned.
By the time she left the box on the back counter, Regina was coming down the stairs with Emma's voice following with her. But it was still just Regina who reappeared holding a marble box with a nervous expression.
"I was going to send this to you but I opted for that other thing instead," Regina said.
"I liked the food subscription. I'm college student so thank you for that."
"Of course. I added something to this one." She outstretched her arms, offering the box to her. Avalon took it, caught off-guard by the weight of it. "It's an Eduardo Garza Crystal box. It's real crystal."
"It's beautiful. But, honestly, mom, I don't think you should be getting me more gifts. You bought me my first car and paid for my college, no doubt in cash."
"I owe you this. Your father would've liked for you to have this."
Regina came to stand beside her as she sat it down on the counter, carefully lifting the lid. There was a stack of polaroid photos inside. Avalon put the lid to the side and reached for the first photo, of Regina's same face, unchanged. And her much younger self.
Avalon and Regina smiled down at the photo. They were laying on the hardwood floor staring at each other. Avalon's toothy grin flashed back at Regina.
"I remember that like it was yesterday. You could almost say your father loved that camera more than you." Regina chuckled as she picked up the one under it.
It was of Daniel and Avalon. He was busy with a book until Avalon had crawled on his back, mischievous as ever, and grabbed a handful of his short hair. His face was mid yelp with a happy baby interrupting his peace and quiet - on Regina's orders.
That's all they were, pictures of a family. Happy before tragedy.
Regina snorted quietly at pictures of her former lover covered in paint along with their daughter. Her amusement faded when she spotted a tear hit the counter beside one of the pictures. She put down the photo and put her arm around Avalon, pressing her lips to her temple.
"Thank you," Avalon said. She wiped the tears from her face and turned to her gift on the opposite counter. "I have something for you too. It's not as fancy."
Regina accepted the black box with a grin and a raised eyebrow. "A pair of Jimmy Choos?"
"No. I just wanted to keep it like I found it. It's more a gift from my grandparents than me."
The younger woman watched as Regina gently tugged the ribbon free and took the top off. She was met with dozens and dozens of assorted pictures. Polariods, developed photos, and printed pictures.
"Everything you missed."
What looked to be the most recent on top was of Riley and Avalon outside a high school building. Avalon was in a red cap and gown with seven graduation cords over her shoulders and a medallion around her neck.
"What do they mean?" Regina asked.
"Success with certain departments. English, Honors, Science … Basically, I'm an overachiever."
"There's nothing wrong with that. I'm so proud of you."
"I hoped so."
"Yes," Regina said, nodding as she blinked the tears from the corner of her eyes. "So you and Riley?"
"It's been nice." Avalon blushed. "They weren't too happy that she was older than me, but she grows on everyone pretty fast …Do you approve?"
"Riley is …wonderful and not just what she did for you. As long as you're happy."
"I am."
Their moment of silence was cut short by Ruby showing up in the doorway. "Hey, um, can I steal you both away?"
They both followed her into the living room where Graham was grumbling and fidgeting with his cufflinks in front of the Christmas tree. Emma was trying to fix Henry's hair because though he was sure it was style, she wasn't having it sticking up all over the place.
"Mom, my hair is fine," Henry said, swatting her hands away. She left it alone but focused on his shirt, finishing the rest of the buttons. "Mom!"
"Okay. Fine." Emma pulled her hands away and finally spotted Regina in the doorway. "Gina."
"What's going on?" Regina asked.
"It's gift for you two. A family photo for …the start of something new. For the mantle, maybe?"
Curiosity turned to an relaxed smile and Regina nodded. Ruby set up the camera and put on a timer before she sprinted over to join them. "30 seconds. Kids in the middle." Avalon and Henry stood next to each other with Emma and Regina flanking them on either side. Ruby slipped next to Regina and Graham put his arm around Emma.
They'd have to take another, though. And Regina would want it framed regardless of Ruby's protests because Regina wasn't smiling. But her eyes were on Emma, only a look of love visible there.
Emma Swan brought her a lot of things in their months together, but she never imagined this much love in her future. This much happiness. Why wouldn't she frame that?
Not quite the end? I have a thing for epilogues...if you're interested.
