**** A/N: Just so you people know and don't whine to me about it later, there is some Regina/Jax lovin'. But it is really light and it is at the very end. You can just skip through if ya like. ****
CHAPTER 49
Emma got home and made her usual beeline straight for her girls. She found them out back playing with the other kids. They ran to her and into her arms. She hugged and kissed them tight and then lowered them back to the ground.
"I'm not sure this weather is good for you Granny," she told the older woman who was bundled up and sipping at hot chocolate while she watched the kids.
Granny shooed her away. "I've lived this long and survived a lot more than these cool breezes. This is nothing. It keeps the blood pumping."
Emma began to make her way back inside, "Don't freeze out here." Granny waved her away and she went off in search of Regina.
Regina was stirring something that smelled really great for dinner. Emma was really going to have to locate a gym. With Regina's cooking she was sure to gain 10 pounds by the end of the week.
"Hey," Emma leaned over the kitchen island.
Regina took her in with a raised eyebrow. Emma was grinning from ear to ear, "Hey yourself. Today's a good day I see."
Emma grinned even wider and was about to tell her about her day when her girls ran into the house. "Now Mummy?"
Regina watched her girls bouncing around and knew they couldn't hold back any longer. She glanced over at Emma and nodded her head. "Now."
The girls grinned and ran from the room. They came back carrying a backpack and an artist sketch case. Zoe was dragging the backpack on the floor. It was the kind that had a handle and wheels attached to it and Emma could see that it was already brimming with supplies. "Happy Birthday Mommy," they sang together. "And Merry Christmas too."
She looked at Regina stunned. Regina had always been really generous during their relationship and she had pampered her with tokens here and there. But she still wasn't used to getting presents. Well since finding her family she did get Christmas and birthday presents. They usually just did cake and holiday stuff at home. But aside from the time she spent with Regina no one really gave her any gifts.
She laughed, "It's not my birthday or Christmas."
Zoe nodded, "We know Mommy. This is for all the ones we didn't get to give you."
Emma became choked up and tears came to her eyes. She wiped at them and laughed aloud, "They're happy tears babies," she said at their confused expressions. "Not sad ones. I'm just so happy. Come here," she held out her arms to her girls.
They jumped in her arms and kissed her. "Now you have to open the other presents Mommy," Xisi told her pointing to the overflowing backpack. "But you don't get the other present until you eat all your dinner."
"Well you've given her the biggest ones. Why don't we wait until later to let Emma open the rest of them? Now, dinner's ready. Go get your brother and sister and get washed up please."
"Grrrrr," Zoe tossed her head back and splayed her hand across her face. "Fine!" She jogged outside with her sister following behind her.
Emma laughed. She definitely got her flare from the dramatics from her Mummy. Emma went around to Regina and wrapped her arms around her. "Thank you."
Regina hugged her back. "You're welcome." She looked pensive for a moment then she gave Emma a small smile. "I know this doesn't make up for the past 8 years. But hopefully it's a start."
"It's more than a start. You've given me back something I thought was gone forever." At Regina's questioning look she leaned down into her face until they were on the same eye level. "Hope." She kissed Regina's nose and followed her girls to wash up.
She knew Regina didn't understand right now. And that was fine with Emma. The rest, she knew, would come in time.
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Emma's day just got better. After dinner she opened up the gifts that were in the backpack. It was a collection of artist material. Pencils, charcoal, papers, paints, and brushes. It was everything any young artist could ever want. Except more. She knew these supplies weren't cheap. Regina had gone all out as she always tended to do. There was at least $50,000 worth of merchandise in there.
Her parents had sat and took pictures while all the kids helped Emma unwrap everything. It really did feel like Christmas and her birthday rolled into one.
It didn't make up for the ones she'd missed out on with her girls. But it was definitely a start.
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Regina tracked down Jax in her study. He was working overtime to make up for all the work he'd missed out on when he'd agreed to them going back to Storybrooke. The man really was a saint.
She fixed him a drink and began to massage his shoulders. He looked up at her gratefully. She bent and gave him a quick peck on the nose.
She frowned down at his paperwork, "I hope you're not too far behind."
He gave her his usual loving smile. "I'm just about to knock it off for the night. I should be caught up by the end of next week. Don't you worry."
"I still do. You've had to deal with all of this, pure insanity." Regina brought her hands to her head. Then she pulled her fingers through her hair down to the tips. She rounded him and sat on the desk beside his papers. "I never could've imagined that things would get this far out of control."
Jax reached out his arm and placed it on her lap. She began to play with his fingers lovingly running hers across his reveling in the feel of his touch, "It's not your fault babe. You didn't cause this."
Regina gave him a pensive frown. "In a way I did. So many things got muddled by me just taking off instead of at least having some closure. And Emma really did deserve to know the girls. I feel so bad about that. I knew it was something that she punished herself for with Henry. And I made her miss out on the girls all over again."
Jax pulled her down into his lap and kissed her. "Babe, her son tried to kill you. The boy is obviously not right. I think you did the right thing. You kept yourself and our girls safe. And that is what your priority should've been. Emma and Henry can take care of themselves."
Regina looped her arms around his neck. She pressed her lips against his forehead and just held him close to her. "I really do love you, ya know."
"I know. And you know I love you." He stood and wrapped his arms around her. They stayed like that for a few minutes longer. Then they made their way up to bed together.
