A/N: I love, love, LOVE reading all your reviews for this story! You guys have been nothing but amazing supporters and for that I thank you from the bottom of my creative writing heart. Also, I bring you this slightly longer chapter with a few Christmas surprises and a cliffhanger that I'm sure will have my phone exploding with reviews lol As I predicted, the next chapter to come will be the closing door on this magical holiday story! Let's see where it leads...

Bing Crosby's vintage vocals filled the house with Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas). Both Henry and Grace eager to tear into their presents, like any kid, they found themselves reading the tags on each present under the tree. Henry Sr's train, riding in circles around the tree. Jefferson and Robin sharing some beers, with Zelena sitting right on her husband's lap, a Santa hat on her head.

Cora and her husband dancing along to the song, matching smiles on their faces.

Graham and Kathryn snacked on a bowl of trail mix that had been placed out on the center table.

"Come on, Graham." She took the man's hand, placing the bowl back on the table, "Dance with me."

Graham quickly stood, holding onto the woman's waist and hand in a dance.

Emma found herself in the kitchen, being Regina's little helper in making a second apple pie, pinching on the edges once Regina placed the layer of dough right on top of it's apple, jelly like filling. Regina wearing the antlers that Emma had bought for her, quite proudly this time.

"Alright. Now we just wait for the other pie to finish up and we can stick this one into the oven next." Regina smiled. "Thank you for the help. I usually end up doing these alone every year, but having your help made a difference this year."

"I still get the first slice, right?" Emma asked.

Regina chuckled, shaking her head, "Yes, you can have the first slice."

"You know what else I'd like?" Asked Emma, leaning into the brunette's personal space, her arms extending around her, hands placed on the counter top against the kitchen sink.

Regina's brow raised, "What?" A tiny smirk creeping on her lips, ready to lean in just as Emma was.

"Mom!" Henry came running into the kitchen, along with Grace, interrupting their moment. "Can Grace and I have some leftover slices of apples? Please?"

Regina smiled, "Sure. Knock yourselves out."

Henry and Grace grabbed a couple of slices, running back inside into the living room.

"Where's my apple? I did help." Emma asked.

Regina chuckled, "Yes, you most certainly did." She picked up a slice of fruit, feeding it to the blonde who just opened her mouth. "And you did a very good job. I'm impressed."

"I know. Aren't you happy you finally gave into my natural charm?" Emma smirked, moving closer towards the brunette, chewing on the piece of apple.

"Mm… I wouldn't say it was your natural charm." Said Regina, teasingly.

Emma's brow raised, "Oh, really?" She smiled, hearing Regina laugh, "Oh, right. It wasn't my charm. It was you seeing me naked in the upstairs bathroom when you walked in on me."

Not it was Emma's turn to laugh just as Regina slapped her arm playfully, repeatedly.

"You really had to bring that up?" She asked her, smacking her arm once again.

Emma broke into more laughter, reaching for a wooden spoon that had been previously left out, pointing it at the brunette like a sword.

Regina couldn't understand it, how Emma's sense of humor to things would turn her into a kid in her own way. All she knew for sure, was that she loved the feeling Emma brought out on her. Before she knew it, she too had pulled open one of the kitchen drawers, reaching for another wooden spoon, both playing around with them as if they were in a sword fight. Totally unaware that Henry and Cora's eyes were on them.

"Look at her, Henry." Cora smiled, holding onto her husband, standing beside him, "She's finally happy, isn't she?" She asked him.

Henry beamed, "She certainly is." His eyes found his wife's pair, "Emma is good for her."

"Too good." Cora agreed.

"Are you going to have that last apple?" Emma asked, opening her mouth as Regina once again, fed it to her.

The brunette's parents' smiles matched in their entirety, watching their daughter break into fits of laughter just as the blonde had her pinned against a counter, kissing her face with a mouth full of apple.

"Ooh!" Regina backed away from Emma, a smirk to her, "The first pie is done."

The blonde's brows furrowed, "That's impossible-"

"No, it is." Regina moved away, bending down in front of the oven, pulling the door open and taking in the rich scent of freshly baked apple pie, "Trust me." Her smile grew, reaching carefully for the golden crust pie with a pair of mittens to prevent her hands from burning as she placed it on the counter.

Emma glanced at the proud smile on the brunette's lips.

"Can you hand me the second pie, please?" Asked Regina, reaching for the pie and placing it inside the stove next, "Thank you." Her smile growing again, her eyes glancing proudly at the first pie, "Such a beauty."

"I couldn't agree more." Emma's head tilted, glancing down at Regina's behind in a playful manner. She chuckled once Regina playfully smacked her in the arm.

Hours and an entire meal later, as was the tradition, everyone found themselves sitting around the living room, sharing the couches, and some the floor. Henry Sr passed out in his trusty, favorite chair, his light snores at low volume, while Grace slept soundly, cuddled up to her father's chest and snake like arms. Robin sat on the other couch, his wife wrapped in his arms asleep, while light chuckles escaped him from watching the ever goofy Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, being his ever clumsy self, sliding off the ladder while decorating his home for the holidays.

Cora was asleep on another reclining chair, her feet propped up, while Graham and Kathryn exchanged laughs and quotes, all too familiar with the classic movie.

Emma's own chuckle vibrated through her chest and into Regina's ear. Her head was lying against the blonde's shoulder, while her little Henry was stretched and passed out against his mother's legs. His arms hugging her form.

She could hear the low crunching of Emma's teeth, feasting away on the bowl of snacks, while watching the film. Her brown eyes glancing up at her, focused on her green eyes, the way they glowed while she watched the film that was as well too familiar to her.

This entire idea of pretending started out as one crazy plan. A plan that slowly turned into something so real, even Regina didn't know when it had happened.

For as long as she could remember, she lived the same years over and over, alone. Just her and her son. Watching everyone around her have someone else to hug, to share a Christmas kiss with when the first flake of snow fell from the frozen sky and onto the ground.

Now, here she was… with Henry and now Emma.

Now, here she was sharing exactly what she wished for every single year.

And she loved it. Every second of it. She didn't want it to ever end.

She loved this woman.

Emma's head suddenly turned, her eyes falling upon the brunette, feeling her stare almost burn a hole through her. Both pairs of eyes locking in place.

"You alright?" Emma asked, to which Regina nodded.

"I'm more than alright." Her voice low, "Thanks to you."

The corner of the blonde's lip twitched up into a tiny smile. Her voice just as low, in consideration to those passed out around them, "I'm not at all sure what I did, but you're welcome." She smiled.

"That's the beauty of being you. You don't have to do anything." Regina's smile matched the blonde's, "Just being here with me is enough."

"This has been the best Christmas ever for me. And it's all because of you." A shade of pink coated Emma's cheeks.

Their heads slowly began to tilt, lips coming closer and closer-

When the next thing that made Jefferson slightly jump up from his peaceful slumber, Cora to jerk up from her seat, Kathryn and Graham to jump up and Robin, Regina and Emma to turn their heads was a loud snore coming from Henry Sr.

Cora scoffed, smacking her husband on the arm, hard enough to wake him, "Oh, Henry!"

"What?" He asked, cluelessly, "What did I do?" He smiled, a rosy cheek smile, brushing off his wife's annoyed glance, "Hey, who's ready for a slice of apple pie, huh? I'm ready for seconds."

"I second that." Graham raised his hand, standing from his seat.

"Third." Emma smiled.

Regina held out her hand, standing to her feet, "No, Graham, don't trouble yourself. I'll get it."

"Are you sure?" He asked her.

The brunette nodded, throwing a smile his way and heading into the kitchen.

Emma soon stood to her feet, seeing as Henry was still passed out. "I better get in there and help her."

Regina already had a few slices served up on plates, her head turning as soon as Emma walked into the kitchen. "Hey." She smiled.

"Hey." Emma smiled, eyeing the slices of pie.

"Could you do me a favor and hand these out for me, please?" Regina asked her, handing her two served plates.

"Sure." Emma took the plates from the brunette's hands, moving into the living room, handing one to Henry Sr. and another to Graham. "Kathryn, would you like some more pie?"

"Oh, no. Thanks." Kathryn massaged her belly, "I couldn't possibly eat another bite."

As Emma headed into the kitchen to grab one more plate, Jefferson sat up, carefully placing a sleeping Grace beside him on the couch. His arms stretching up as high as they could go while he let out a yawn, speaking through it, "What'd I miss?" He asked, his smile on point as soon as Emma handed him a slice of pie, "Hey, pie! Alright!"

Zelena reached for another plate Emma held on her hand, gladly accepting it from her, "Thanks, Emma. You're too sweet."

"Zelena, I don't think I've ever seen you eat this much like this year." Cora's brow raised, "Are you alright, dear?" She asked.

Zelena placed a piece inside her mouth, nodding, "I've never been better, mother."

"You better watch it, sis." Said Jefferson, motioning to her thighs with the tip of his fork, "You seem to be putting on some weight there."

"I am perfectly fit, thank you." Zelena hissed, smiling over at Robin, who still kept her cuddled in his embrace, even as she ate, "And Robbie likes me just the way I am."

"Knock it off, the both of you." Said Cora, her eyes on Jefferson, "Jefferson, leave your sister alone."

Their small conversation echoed as Emma walked into the kitchen again, her eyes on Regina who had a plate ready for her to enjoy.

"Thank you." Said Emma, taking the plate from her hand, her eyes closing while her taste buds flipped and cartwheeled over the crusted baked dough, as well as the gooey, apple sliced filling. Her tongue had literally never tasted anything better than this pie. "Mmm…" She motioned towards the pie with her fork, her eyes on a smirking brunette, "I'm not going to lie to you, Gina. If this pie was a person, I'd get naked and make love to it."

Regina couldn't help but let a laughter escape her at the blonde's remark. "Well, thank you… I think."

Emma chuckled, taking in another bite, "What? Too much?"

Regina nodded, brushing back a strand of her hair, her cheeks a shade of pink, "Maybe a little."

She would never tell her this, but in that moment she had a vision of Emma as naked as the day she was born and with apple pie on her. Just ready to be feasted on.

God, was she really thinking this? She couldn't! Absolutely not. Not right now.

"Are you okay?" Asked Emma.

Damn it. It was like she could read her at any given moment.

"Yeah." Regina nodded, her brow furrowed. Her hands fanned herself, "It's just hot in here. Aren't you hot?"

Emma shook her head, her brows furrowing, while still scarfing down on her slice of pie.

"You know, I'm gonna just- I'm going to go into the living room with everyone else." She nodded, stepping out of the kitchen, "I'll see you in there."

"Okay." Emma threw her a wondering glance, but continued eating her pie in peace.

"Only a few minutes until Christmas, everyone!" Cora stood from her chair, her eyes looking towards her two daughters, "You two come with me. We're on dish detail tonight."

Regina headed back into the kitchen after a while had passed, Zelena quickly moved but not after rolling her eyes in annoyance of having to get up. Especially after eating yet another slice of pie.

It was Regina's turn to wash, while Zelena dried them up and Cora stored the dishes back to its rightful place. The brunette's eyes glanced over, fully loving the sight of Henry sitting beside Emma, enjoying her reading and acting out one of his comic books to him.

"You're going to marry her, aren't you?" Asked Zelena, shaking the brunette away from her happy thoughts.

Regina's brows furrowed, her look glaring at her smirking sister, "What?" She chuckled, obviously having heard her, "Marry her?"

"Yeah, what's wrong with that? Or what, you don't want to marry her?"

The brunette chuckled again, handing Zelena another dish to dry up, "It's not that I never want to get married, but… don't you think you're moving a little too fast? We've only been dating a week."

"So? Robbie and I were only dating a month and soon tied the knot. Remember?"

Regina rolled her eyes. That may have been but she wasn't Zelena! She would never be her. She was her own independent person.

"Whatever you and Emma decide to do, dear." Cora moved over to where Regina stood, a smile tugging at her lips, that resembled both her and her sister, "I know it's been chaos with all of us here, but, as your mother, I want you to know that I am grateful you finally have someone in your life. I never thought it would be a woman, frankly but I am happy that it's someone like Emma." Her eyes stung with tears, "She really loves you I can tell. A mother knows these things."

"Are you actually about to cry right now?" Regina's brow raised.

"Oh," Cora brushed it off, her hands being placed on the brunette's arms, "Now, you listen to me. I know how you can be, you will get very insecure at some point in this relationship, but no matter what you start doubting about yourself, dear- you can't let this one go."

And, off they went… what had begun as a perfect moment between mother and daughter, was heading towards a criticizing vendetta against Regina.

"Mother." Regina rolled her eyes, scoffing.

"Regina-" Zelena stepped in, "We are only saying this for your own good, because we love you."

"Can you two…" Regina paused, "Just not worry about me? I finally have someone great in my life, yet you think I'm going to screw this up?"

"No." Both women said in unison.

"Of course not, dear." Cora shook her head, "We just don't want you to start freaking out to the point where you'll make Emma run from you."

Run? The brunette scoffed, "Run from me?" The vein in her forehead was ready to pop, "Really?"

"Who's running?" Asked Emma, showing up in the kitchen with a pearly white smile.

"Oh, Emma." Cora took the blonde by her face with both her hands, gently, "Thank God for you. Really, dear. And trust me, no matter how difficult my daughter might seem to be with at times, you mustn't give up on her. Promise me, please, promise me you won't."

Emma nodded, "Of course, Cora. I promise." She went along with it.

"Mother, are you drunk?" Regina's brows furrowed, feeling a bit embarrassed by the woman's intoxicating state.

"Oh, sis, like you've never had one too many wine glasses?" Zelena brushed her off.

Emma chuckled, "Well, it's almost midnight, so we should all move into the living room." Her eyes soon searched for brown familiar ones once it was just the two of them in the kitchen. Her hand lightly touching her shoulder, "You alright?"

Regina nodded, releasing a much needed sigh, "Thank you. You're beginning to become my savior this holiday season."

That compliment alone made Emma smile. "Well, that is why all this started in the first place, right?" Her smile grew, her arm draped lazily around the brunette's shoulders just as they walked into the living room to join everyone for the remainder of the night. "Come on, let's go see what Santa's brought you for being such a good girl this year."

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas filled the room with once again, the gentle and soothing vocals of Michael Buble. Just as everyone gathered around the tree to begin opening up their gifts.

This year, Jefferson would pass around the gifts.

"Alright, pop, this is for you. From Grace." He handed him a squared present, not too heavy but there was definitely some rattling inside the box.

"Oh, you bought this?" Henry Sr beamed at the little girl, who happily nodded her head.

"With my own allowance!" She beamed.

"Well, let's have a look." Jefferson passed along another gift to Cora, which was both from him and Grace, all while his father tore into his gift.

"Gina," Jefferson handed the brunette a much smaller box, a knowing smirk to him, "This is for you. From Grace and myself."

Regina looked over at Emma as if she knew what her brother had gotten her, a gasp escaping her once she opened up the small box, revealing a couple of pearled earrings she had once wanted. "Jefferson, you didn't!"

"Oh, Jefferson, honey," Said Cora, "Those must have been expensive."

Jefferson smiled, his arms wrapping around his sister's form once the brunette threw herself into arms in a thank you, "It's Christmas, mom, come on." His eyes on Regina's, "You work hard, you deserve them."

"Oh! It's a puzzle!" Henry Sr smiled, his arms opening up for Grace to hug him, which she did. "Thank you, darling. I love it. We can build it together tomorrow morning."

Jefferson chuckled, "That's why she bought it for you, pop."

Zelena gasped, "Oh, Robbie!" Her hand on her chest, while her hand held up a gold necklace, given to her by her husband, "It's the one I wanted! Thank you, sweetheart!"

Robin smirked proudly, giving his wife a quick peck on the lips.

"Henry, my boy!" Robin reached out for a big box, taking it from Jefferson's grip, a knowing smile shared between him and Zelena, "This is from your aunt Zelena and me."

Henry's eyes twinkled with delight as he reached for the heavy box, having Emma help him place it down gently on the ground. The next thing they knew, he tore into that wrapping paper faster than candy, revealing a blue box with a well known picture all around it. "Oh, wow!" He turned to Regina, "Mom, look what aunt Zelena and uncle Robin got me!"

Regina's brows furrowed, her eyes growing wide at the sight of the gift.

"What is it, Hen?" Asked Jefferson, his head tilting, wanting to get a better look.

"It's a Playstation 4!" He jumped excitedly.

"You really shouldn't have." Regina shook her head at them.

"Oh, let the kid have some fun, sis." Zelena smiled.

"Can I hook it up, mom?" Henry asked Regina.

"Tomorrow, honey."

"Mom, pop," Jefferson handed his parents Emma's gift next, "This is from Em to you both."

"Oh, Emma. That's very sweet of you, dear, but you didn't have to get us anything." Said Cora, while her husband tore through the paper.

"Wow, look at these!" Henry smiled, showing her a couple of glass figurines, "They're beautiful, Emma. Thank you."

"Regina helped me pick them out." Emma glanced at the brunette, "I honestly would have been lost without her advice."

"They are lovely, dear. I know just where they'll go." Cora set the box aside.

After another while of gifts being passed out and torn open to, everyone having passed out their gifts and receiving them. There was one more gift left to give.

"Alright, everyone!" Zelena grinned, a mysterious grin at that, clapping her hands together and standing to her feet with Robin by her side, "Robin and I have one last gift that's for everyone, but mostly for mom and dad."

"What is it, dear?" Cora chuckled, "I mean apart from the cruise you and Robin are sending your father and I on this summer."

Regina glared at her mother, annoyed with how pleased she seemed with the huge gift. Even her son loved the gift that was given to him by his aunt and uncle more than what his mother got him. All the Avenger's movies on DVD. She drank from her glass of wine once again, already starting to catch a small buzz.

"You two deserve it. But…" Zelena smiled lovingly at Robin, nudging him, "Robbie and I thought you could use one more gift."

Robin stepped forward, handing his father in law another envelope, "Merry Christmas, guys."

"Oh, Zelena," Cora gasped, while Henry still held onto the envelope, "It's not money is it?"

Zelena groaned excitedly, literally bouncing on her feet, "No, mother. Just open it."

"Honey, you know we are fine financially-"

"For crying out loud mother, just open the damn thing!" Regina hissed, taking another drink of her wine.

Henry Sr cleared his throat, opening up the envelope carefully, "Let's have a look." He said, his mouth falling open, his eyes in tears as he met Robin and Zelena's matching gaze, "What-? Is this true?"

Cora snatched the paper from her husband's hand, a gasp escaping her, as well as a huge grin, the biggest Regina had ever seen. "Oh, my God…"

"What is, grandma?" Asked Grace.

Jefferson took the envelope next, his mouth falling open, "No way, you guys! Two?" He grinned.

Zelena and Robin shared a loving look, nodding in confirmation, while the redhead's hand rested on her belly, "It's true. We're having twins, we found out last week."

Everyone cheered, stood up from their seats, gathering around the soon to be parents and hugged them. Everyone but Regina. Not that she wasn't happy- because she was- but talk about her sister beating her again. Now she was also going to be a mother, and not of one but two twin boys, or twin girls, or a pair of twins. Of course, she stood and hugged them both in congratulations.

Putting on her best smile, she reached for her sister's shoulder, "Congratulations. I can't believe it, you a mom." She chuckled, "And of twins. I never thought I'd live to see the day."

Zelena chuckled, "Well, I never thought I'd live to see the day you actually met someone, yet here we are." She grinned, "Both of us happy with what we want."

Emma could tell that Regina was about to explode. Because in the course of the week, she could tell that the brunette tried so hard to please her family, yet they always saw less of her. She could tell in the way she chugged the remaining wine that she just about had it. She could see the sting of sadness in her eyes, her face with the fact that she most likely always tried to be a mother but never could bare a child of her own. As much as Henry is hers and she chose the best kid in the universe to call her own. She would never experience the pleasures of what a child growing inside you brought to a woman.

Emma cleared her throat, quickly standing to her feet, "Actually, you guys… there is… one more gift I'd love to give and right now seems like the perfect time to do it." She swallowed the lump in her throat, her heart wanted to jump right up next but swallowed that back down too. Everyone's eyes were on her, a wandering and lost look from Regina- which made her nerves twist all in knots into the pit of her stomach.

She sighed, gathering up her courage, her head turning to the brunette's parents. "Henry. Cora…" She smiled, "Your daughter is a very independent, strong headed, and stubborn woman."

"Emma, what are you doing?" Regina mumbled under her breath, wondering where this was all going.

Zelena chuckled, "Well, we all know that, Em." Everyone chuckled.

Emma chuckled nervously, "I overheard what you told her in the kitchen about being scared and running away." Her eyes moved to Regina, "I can assure you that if anyone was ever a hundred percent sure about this relationship between her and me ever working out- it was her. This here is a woman who has gotten her heart broken and took a chance with someone like me. Someone who can't possibly offer her much, yet she chose to stick around." Her eyes met with Cora's, "You never have to worry about her, because in just a matter of days, I've come to see the capable and strong woman that she is. I just want you both to know that Regina loves you all dearly and the last thing she ever wants to do is fail you. Just like the last thing I want to do is fail her, so… in front of her family…" Her hand snuck inside her jeans pocket, a gasp from Cora, Kathryn and Zelena and even Regina herself was heard as what followed was the sight of the blonde getting down on one knee. Grabbing a hold of the brunette's hand before her. "Regina Mills…" She held up a sparkling ring.

"What are you doing?" Regina mumbled yet again.

"In front of all the people you love most in this world, I want to ask you: Will you marry me?"

Regina gasped in shock. Because what was going on? At first they had agreed to keep up this as a game, and then feelings started happening and now… Emma wanted to marry her? Was this all part of another game that she wasn't aware of? Was it for real? Maybe it was just her somehow jumping in and rescuing her once again. Whatever it was, it sure sobered her up. Whatever it was, it was something she knew they would have to talk about. Where on earth did she even get an engagement ring anyway? Did she have it in her pocket this whole time?

Regina didn't understand any of this, but there she stood being proposed to and on Christmas night!

More so, she couldn't understand why from the depths of her soul, she began to nod her head, with a smile creeping up on her that she did not expect to possibly have, giving the blonde before her an answer…

"Yes."