A/N: I wrote half of this next chapter late last night and finished the other half today. This is a slightly longer chapter, because really there was no better stopping point for it than what I decided to go with. And, I wanted to give you all a purely romantic one filled with a lot of smiles and heart felt moments between our lovely ladies. I hope you enjoy it! :) Anxiously await your reviews... and don't worry. A kiss will happen! Soon...
Everyone sat scattered out along the hallway, waiting for news on Henry's check up. Jefferson and Robin passed around hot cups of coffee while they waited.
"Ms. Mills?" A doctor came out, instantly over crowded by everyone around him. A smile tugging at his lips.
"How is he?" Asked Regina, "Is he going to be alright?"
Dr. Whale, as read on his lab coat, nodded, "He's going to be fine." He continued as everyone sighed with relief, "I checked up on his lungs, which appeared in good health, his breathing is normal. He just needs to get plenty of rest tonight. Henry is very very lucky. He's a tough boy." He provided her with a gentle squeeze to her shoulder, "I'll go fetch his paperwork to discharge him."
"Thank you, doctor." Regina nodded.
"Thanks, doc." Jefferson patted him on the back, moving in on Regina in a hug.
Everyone shared a hug among each other, one by one hugging Emma.
"We should really thank Emma. You guys should have seen how she jumped in to save Henry." Said Jefferson, wrapping his arm around her form, "It was truly heroic."
"It was nothing." Emma smiled, her jacket back on her body.
"Are you kidding?" Said Zelena, "Not everyone would have had the guts to jump in the freezing water to save him." She hugged the blonde.
Emma's green eyes focused on Regina's, who stood right behind Zelena.
Robin walked up to his wife, pulling her off of Emma, "Sweetheart, why don't we give them both a moment, hm?" His eyes looked at everyone, "Everyone." He nodded, walking away with the family, providing both women with a bit of privacy.
Once they were alone, Regina launched into the blond's arms without warning, causing her to puff out a breath in an umph! Sound. Her arms not hesitating to wrap around the brunette's form.
Emma's eyes slightly opened back up again, "Regina…" She whispered out, taking a moment to continue, "Not that I don't love hugs, but… you're suffocating me a little."
"Oh." Regina quickly pulled away, her hand resting on the blonde's arm, "I'm sorry. I just…"
Emma chuckled, "I get it. You don't have to say it."
"But, I do." Her brown eyes looked up into Emma's, "I really, really do. If it weren't for you…" She shook her head, "I don't even want to think what would have happened-"
"Regina- hey." Her brows furrowed, watching the brunette's eyes water again. Her arms not hesitating to wrap her into a hug again. Even with her sweater still a little damp from the water. "It's alright. You heard what the doctor said, Henry is fine." She smiled, slightly pulling away to get a good look at her, "He's going to be dancing his little socks off come tomorrow night."
Regina released a small chuckle, her head nodding, "Knowing him, he will." She sighed, "I was just so worried, I couldn't help but think of the worst for a split second.. And then, when you didn't come up. It felt eternal." Her hand caressed away at the blonde's bicep, her eyes locking with green colored ones, "I was so worried for the both of you."
"Well, we're both okay." She smiled, her hand brushing away at a lock of jet black hair, the tip of her fingers caressing her cheek, "I'm okay. I'm here."
Regina wrapped her arms around the blonde's form, her eyes closing for a short moment, hearing the sound of her heart beating inside her chest. It was calm but accelerated all at once. Just like hers was in that very moment.
"Ms. Mills." Dr. Whale smiled at her, apologetically for interrupting an obvious moment. "Here are the discharge papers. You are free to take Henry home anytime."
Regina parted from Emma, reaching for the discharge papers, "Thank you so much. For everything."
"My pleasure." Lastly he nodded at the blonde and walked away, leaving them alone once again.
Regina glanced over at Emma with an apologetic look of her own. "I guess I probably should… go get Henry."
Emma nodded, throwing a smile her way, "Yeah. Go, I'll be waiting right here." She watched Regina walk away, giving her one last glance before turning the corner of the hallway. Her own heart feeling like it wanted to jump out of her chest.
Into the night, Henry was down like a log, fast asleep. Everyone checking on him completely wiping him out. He had whined a bit, due to him not being able to work on his gingerbread house as the doctor had only ordered him to get plenty of rest. But, he certainly felt a lot better after he was told he could Emma's gingerbread house. While everyone was downstairs, chatting about their day tomorrow and the festival, working on their gingerbread houses, Regina remained upstairs, cuddled next to the sleeping form of her son. Really, she was still too frightened by it all, she didn't want to leave his side. She just wanted to watch him all night.
It wasn't until a soft knock outside her door made her head lift up a tiny bit.
"Come in." She softly said, hoping it was loud enough for whoever was outside her door to hear.
That's when Regina sat up, after seeing a familiar silhouette of Emma's blonde hair. It was wet since she had taken a shower, and combed, but it was her.
"Sorry, were you sleeping?" Emma asked in a whisper, seeing Henry's sleeping form, "I didn't mean to wake you, I'll just go."
"I wasn't sleeping." Regina quickly sat up, her eyes on the blonde's form which turned back into the bedroom, shutting the door behind her.
She softly smiled, standing beside the bed.
"Truth is," Regina sighed, her voice still soft, her eyes glancing down at her son, watching his breathing with ease, "I just find myself watching him. Like, I could lose him at any moment."
Emma slowly moved to the foot of the bed, sitting on its edge, her eyes focused on the worried brunette, "You won't." She smiled, glancing down at Henry, "He's a tough kid. And it's all thanks to you. He'll get through this."
Regina smiled, lightly brushing back Henry's hair, away from his eyes. Her eyes looking back up at Emma, "I want to thank you for what you did for him out there."
"You did." The blonde smiled.
"No. I mean…" Regina sighed, her hand reaching for the blonde's own hand, "Thank you, Emma. You've been… such a blessing, not just for me but for everyone."
Emma shook her head, "I don't know about being a blessing, but it sure has been fun pretending to be a part of your family."
"Why do you sell yourself short?" She asked, her head tilting, "You are amazing. I mean, ever since you came into my life, you've been nothing but terrific."
"You're only saying that because you've never had a girlfriend before." Emma teased.
Regina chuckled, "Well, I'll admit I never have. And I know this whole thing is an act between us, but…" Her brows furrowed, her hand coming up to brush away at Emma's hair, "You're hurt."
"What?" Emma's brows furrowed.
Regina quickly moved to the foot of the bed, scooting closer to Emma, her thumb brushing away at the strands of wet hair. How did she miss it before? A very noticeable cut just above her hairline.
"Why didn't you say something?" Regina asked.
Emma looked up, trying to see her cut, even though it was impossible, "I honestly didn't even notice it." She chuckled, grabbing a hold of the brunette's hand, "Regina, it's alright. It's just a small cut."
"Just a small cut?" Regina stood from the bed, concern written all over her features, "Emma, you might need stitches."
The blonde couldn't help but laugh a little, low so Henry wouldn't wake up, "If that were true, Gina, I would be bleeding, which I'm not. It's fine. I promise you I don't need stitches."
Regina sighed again, "I'm sorry, I'm just tired and worried, and-"
"Don't be sorry." Emma grinned, "I actually think it's quite adorable of you. To be honest with you, I can't remember the last time someone worried so much for me."
"Well, at least let me tend to that cut for you." She grabbed the blonde's hand, not giving her a chance to protest against being cared for. She walked into the bathroom, searching inside the wall cabinet for a first aid kit her parents kept. "Sit down." She instructed her, which Emma sat right on the toilet without any protest.
Actually, she would be lying if she said she didn't quite like this nurturing side to Regina. She couldn't even remember the last time someone tended to her when she suffered a scraped knee, or elbow or simply got a bruise from a bad fall.
Emma watched her carefully, expertly taking out a cotton ball, dabbing it with some rubbing alcohol.
"Alright, this might sting a little." Said Regina, placing the soaked cotton right on her cut.
"Ooh!" Her head withdrew back quickly, feeling a small sting from the liquid.
"Sorry." Regina chuckled, dabbing the cut a little more lightly, "I did warn you."
Emma chuckled, "Yes, you did." She paused, her eyes instinctively looking up, "You're actually good at this sort of thing. You have a very good touch. If you don't mind my saying so."
"Well, I have been a mother for a good amount of years. It's safe to say I have enough experience." She teased, leaning in a little closer, her lips pursing while blowing a light brush of air onto the cut for it to dry up quickly.
The blonde's heart was beating faster than ever towards her gesture. She couldn't think of anything but to sit still.
Lastly she placed a bit of cream on her cut, very lightly, before placing on a band-aid.
"All finished." Regina smiled, her eyes connecting with the green pair staring back at her.
"Thank you." Emma spoke softly, feeling herself get a little lost in the pair of brown eyes before her.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Whoever is in there better hurry up! I desperately have to pee!" Zelena's voice was heard on the other side of the door, leaving both women inside the bathroom chuckling to each other.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Hello in there! Come on!"
The brunette rolled her eyes, pulling the door open in annoyance, "Don't shout. My son is sleeping."
"Oh!" Zelena smirked, eyeing both women suspiciously, "Well, had I known you two were in here fooling around, I would have just gone outside."
Regina groaned, "We weren't-"
"Oh, you weren't fooling around, I know, I know," The redhead rolled her eyes, grinning at Emma, "She never really was the adventurous type."
Emma wrapped a sudden arm around the brunette's form, a grin tugging at the corners of her lips, "Oh, now Gina. Let's be honest. After all, what's wrong with a little fooling around?" She eyed the brunette, who was too shocked to even speak or protest on the blonde's behalf. Green eyes looked over at Zelena again, "Excuse us. We need to check on Henry."
"Why did you say that?" Regina whispered over to Emma, feeling Zelena's eyes still on them as they headed towards the brunette's bedroom.
"To give her something to talk about, which, knowing her she will." Emma pulled her closer.
Regina groaned, rolling her eyes, "I'm never going to hear the end of this."
Emma's grin simply grew as they made their way into the bedroom.
By 7pm, all had left into town for the Christmas festival. Henry was doing much better, already running around in circles around Jefferson's form, hyper as can be on candy canes and cookies. Zelena and Robin carried their gingerbread house in hand, same as Cora and Henry Sr, as well as Kathryn and Graham, who had paired up.
"You two need to quit it," Spoke Jefferson, carrying the gingerbread house in hand, "You'll get dizzy and throw up all that candy."
"Why don't you kids go on ahead of us?" Cora suggested, nudging them lightly, "Go on."
"Not too far, Henry. Stay where we can see you." Warned Regina.
"Okay, mom!"
Kathryn moved alongside her best friend, a grin from ear to ear, "So…" She paused, her eyes finding brown orbs as they looked over at her suspiciously, "What's this I hear about you and Emma being in a lip lock in the upstairs bathroom?"
The brunette turned away her gaze, her cheeks a shade of pink. "It was nothing." She replied.
"So, it did happen?" Kathryn asked, excitedly.
Regina threw a glare her way, her voice a whisper, "Of course not. My sister just likes to gossip."
"But, you wanted to, didn't you?" Kathryn grinned, seeing Regina's own sudden grin appear on her lips. "Ugh! Regina, why didn't you?"
"No-!" She scoffed, looking ahead at Emma, who was walking a few feet up front. Hoping she couldn't hear, she talked even lower, leaning more into Kathryn, "Yes, I wanted to, but- can we just talk about this later, please?"
"But what?" Kathryn whispered, nudging the brunette playfully, "You two are as single as can be, you're already putting up this fake relationship for your entire family…"
"Shhh…" Brown eyes looked around, making sure no one heard her best friend, who evidently wasn't about to drop the subject.
"What's wrong with sharing a kiss or two? She obviously likes you and I've seen the way you look at her. You're falling for her." Kathryn grinned.
Regina's eyes grew wide, her head turning towards her best friend, "I am not!"
Everyone suddenly stopped walking, heads turned towards the brunette who spoke a little louder than she anticipated. Including Emma's.
Kathryn's grin grew impossibly wider.
Everyone left their gingerbread houses in place. The contest wasn't going to start until much later, therefore everyone went their separate ways for a while, until they gathered together again within the crowd that surrounded a stage where a live band was performing Christmas songs all night. The area was decorated with millions of colored lights. A giant tree illuminating right behind the stage with colored lights and different colored spheres and ornament figures. Everyone
"Mom!" Henry ran up to Regina, carrying a box with a slot on the lid, "Look what I got!"
The brunette's brows furrowed, "What is that?"
"It's a wishing box!" Henry beamed, "Uncle Robin said, we all write down what we wish for this Christmas and whatever we wish for will come true."
Regina smiled, loving her son's childhood innocence, "That's a great thing to have. We'll all write our wishes down tonight and place them inside once we get home."
"I'm going to show it to grandma and grandpa!" He ran off.
Regina sighed happily, love seeing her son so happy and well. She stood around the crowd, off to the side, watching everyone happily dancing. Her mother and father, Zelena and Robin, Jefferson with Grace, even Kathryn and Graham. Who everyday seemed to be hitting it off more and more. Her smile grew, watching Henry dancing along with Emma, being picked up and spun around by the blonde in a playful manner, which filled his little insides with pure joy, enough to make him turn into a fit of giggles.
And boy, could she dance.
Once the mood in the song changed to a much slow paced one, the male singer on stage began to the lyrics to Michael Buble's You Don't Know Me, everyone kept up their dancing. Regina could see Emma's green eyes looking her way from afar, then leaning down to whisper something to Henry, which the boy happily nodded. Her lips parted once she began to approach her, holding out an outstretched hand before her.
"What?" Regina asked her.
"Come on, let's dance." Said Emma.
Regina shook her head, "Oh, no." A chuckle escaping her, "No, thank you. I'll just step all over your feet, so trust me, you don't want me dancing with you."
Emma's smile grew, "Come on, you can't be that bad."
"Well, I am." Replied Regina, "I never even danced in High School. I was never even asked to prom. Besides," Her throat cleared, "I doubt that everyone here will be comfortable with two women dancing together."
Emma rolled her eyes playfully, "You mean two people who are apparently in love? Who cares what anyone thinks- come on." She grabbed her by the hand, taking her into the crowd of people.
"Emma- no!" Regina hissed, "Emma… I can't, come on." She sighed, having a hard time keeping up with the blonde's fast pace, "Emma-" She froze once she felt the blonde's grab a hold of her other free one.
"Relax. I'm here with you, alright?" She smiled, placing the brunette's hand right on her shoulder, her free hand resting on the brunette's waist, her eyes locked onto her own as she spoke in a soft voice, softer than Regina had ever heard it before, "Besides… your entire family is here, we wouldn't want to disappoint them, would we?" She asked.
Regina sighed, giving up the fight, "I suppose not."
Her smile grew, "This dance will work better if we're a little closer. Like this." Her arm snaked around her form, pulling her into her body, their stomach's literally bumping into one another.
So much that a small gasping sound escaped the brunette.
Time was lost for a short minute, because all she could see were emerald green eyes staring back into her own. She could even say, they were staring right into her soul, who was melting at the moment. Because this is as close as she's ever been to Emma, and she liked it. By God, she loved it. She had never felt more like herself than she did right now as she allowed the blonde to lead her into this dance she would love to call their own.
Regina looked around, seeing her parents smiling happily, dancing among one another, same with her sister and Robin, followed by Kathryn and Graham. Kathryn giving her a thumbs up and a wink of encouragement, which made her smile. But, other glares of disapprovement made her quickly look away.
"You okay?" Emma glanced at the brunette, noticing her concern.
The brunette nodded, her body stiffening up, "It's just others are looking."
Emma looked around without any shame, brushing off some of the dirty looks, her green orbs focused back on her favorite pair of brown ones, "Oh, who them?" She shook her head, "Don't worry about it. They're just jealous because you are too beautiful for words." She smiled, taking notice in the blush taking part on the brunette's cheeks.
Regina chuckled, shaking her head, gasping in surprise once Emma, without any warning, spun her out and back against her body, her arm wrapping back around her form.
"See, you don't suck." Said Emma, keeping up their swaying, "Although, you could take it easy on my feet a little."
"What?" Regina looked down, shocked to see she was standing on the blonde's feet. "Oh, God- I'm, I'm so sorry. I told you I was bad at this."
Emma chuckled, holding her closer once she felt her wanting to make a run for it, "Gina, relax. I was kidding, to help you loosen up." Her smile grew at the brunette's glare, "Besides, I had a really bad case of frostbite when I was a kid, so I practically can't feel anything on my toes."
Regina's eyes grew wide, "Really?"
"No. Not really." Emma smiled, feeling Regina's hand give her another playful slap across the arm. "You're not a bad dancer."
"That's only because you're guiding me." Replied Regina.
"And you say I sell myself short," Said Emma, her eyes focused on her own, "You forget. I know you."
Regina's brow raised, "Oh, you do, do you?"
"Mhm." Emma grinned, "Well, we are dating."
"Alright. Enlighten me, Ms. Swan, if you will." Her grin matched Emma's.
Emma inhaled a sharp breath, letting out with a light hum, spinning the brunette out and into her body again before continuing, "You are a great mother. I mean any person can see that, and you are clearly the apple to your father's eye, and even your mother's."
The brunette chuckled, not believing that last bit, "Oh, now you're wrong." She nodded once Emma gave a wondering glance, "My mother is more leaned towards my sister. I mean, look at her." Her head turned towards Zelena, who kept dancing lovingly with Robin, "She has the perfect husband, who adores her and anytime she walks into a room- no matter where that is- she has this ability to be liked by everyone." She shook her head, her eyes meeting Emma's again, "I hate myself for admitting this to you, but sometimes all the attention she gathers, even from strangers, makes me sick."
"Your mother loves you, Gina." Emma replied, "She worries more about you, because of the fact that she loves you."
"Yeah, well," The brunette sighed, "As luck would have it, it seems I was made to end up alone." Her eyes moved towards Kathryn next, who was all smiles with Graham, "I mean, look at Kathryn. She just got here and already she's found her soulmate in Graham. And who do I have? Even my ex-boyfriend of three days dumped me before Christmas."
Her eyes moved forward, meeting Emma's again once the blonde unexpectedly stopped swaying to the music.
"Thanks, I'll try not to take offence to that." Emma joked.
Regina blinked, mentally kicking herself in the head, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean- I-"
"It's okay." She smiled, a smile that assured her everything was alright, "Let's go." Her head nodded to the side.
"Go where?" Asked Regina, puzzled by her sudden change of conversation.
"There's some place I'd like to show you." She held onto the brunette's hand, walking her through the crowd.
"Some place, where?" She asked, eager to know.
"Just come on. You'll see." Emma grinned.
They walked a bit far off from the festival grounds, Regina wondering more and more with each passing second where exactly Emma was taking her and why.
"Emma." She called out, "Where could we possibly be going? It's cold."
"You don't miss much, do you?" The blonde teased, suddenly coming to a halt, facing the brunette, "Alright. Close your eyes."
Regina raised a brow, causing Emma to release a chuckle.
"Trust me. It's a surprise."
With every ounce of curiosity, Regina did as she was told. She closed her eyes and followed the blonde as she guided her a few steps forward, feeling the fur of her gloves covering up her eyes, just in case she was tempted to peak, no doubt.
"Okay…" Emma whispered, breathing in the intoxicating fragrance of the brunette's perfume, which reminded her of a mix between apples and Christmas morning. Her eyes looking straight ahead before uttering into her ear, "Open your eyes."
Regina's eyes slowly parted, shining brighter than ever had before. A light gasp escaping her lungs at the sight that stood before her once Emma's hands were removed from her face.
It was an entire hidden area. A lake that was frozen. It was surrounded by trees all around, with a single bench right in front of the frozen puddle. White Christmas lights decorating every single pine tree that surrounded them in that moment, illuminating the spot with a sense of tranquility and harmony. The sky being the only dark object up above, making every single Christmas bulb shine even more beautifully. It was a sight Regina never ever dreamed of. Her own skating rink. Just for her.
A pearly white smile flashed before the blonde, "This is beautiful! Did you do this?"
"With a little help." Emma nodded her head, to which Regina turned to see Leroy waving from afar. "Oh, yeah…" She continued, "I believe you'll need these."
Regina's eyes caught sight of a pair of ice skates, being held before her by the blonde herself.
She chuckled, "You can't be serious."
"Why not? Come on, I want to see how well you skate. You said it was always your dream to skate alone." Replied Emma, "I want to give you that. Only, you'll have me as your audience."
Regina's grin grew, her heart fluttering inside her chest a million miles per minute. She took the skates from the blonde without another thought, sitting down on the bench, changing into them, while Emma calmly joined her. She never felt more like a kid than she did in this moment.
Emma watched her take off into the ice, the blades on her skates scraping against the cold, frozen pond. A pearly white smile became visible on the blonde's lips as she watched, mesmerized by not only how peaceful but how incredibly beautiful she looked skating out on that ice. She looked better than any Olympic ice skating medalist combined. With elegance and poise.
Her head turned towards Leroy, who joined her on that single bench.
"So, she liked it, huh?" He asked her, watching Emma's grin become even larger.
"She loved it. Thank you, Leroy." Emma replied, her eyes not leaving the brunette's angelic form.
"You're falling hard, kid." Said Leroy, "I mean I haven't seen that look on you since…" He paused, turning to Emma who's eyes were on him again, "Does she know?"
"No." She turned back to glance at Regina, her features hardened, "She doesn't."
"Don't you think you ought to tell her?" He asked.
"No, I don't think that's something she needs to know, Leroy." Emma turned to face him again, with a bit of anger this time, "So I've fallen in love with her. So what? The day after tomorrow, it's Christmas Eve and then I'll be gone."
"Emma." Leroy paused, his eyes locking into hers, "If you can't see that she's fallen head over heels for you too, and you walk away from this opportunity that life, angels, God- Christmas- whatever the hell you want to pin it on, granted you with, well then you are even more stupid than I thought."
She faced the brunette again without wanting to say another word. She didn't even bother to turn once Leroy stood up from the bench, leaving her alone with her thoughts.