A/N: I had so many comments and favorites on my post regarding this story on Facebook, you guys convinced me to post this up super early than when I originally planned it. I blame you all! JK! Lol Anyways, this idea came to me after a film I watched last year during Christmas called Dashing in December. Of course, it will have major differences and it won't completely follow the movie. But, I hope you all enjoy the first 2 chapters while I am gone on my trip and I promise to work on more chapters and future stories to update first thing Monday. Happy reading and I wish you all a lovely weekend! :)
*This is NOT a sequel to my 1st Christmas ff: A Girlfriend for Christmas*
Another successful Holiday party. Another successful year with another successful company. Regina couldn't be prouder and she knew her father- wherever he was- couldn't be prouder as well.
Her favorite view of New York was this window of the building to Belfrey's Co. Inside the party/bar room of the thirty-ninth floor.
Snow gathered around the corners of the window, multicolored Christmas lights decorated the edges all around, same as inside with a few hanging spheres of gold and red. A Christmas tree right in the center of the room.
Regina adored this time of year. She was only sorry she had to spend it alone.
Well- semi-alone. After her breakup with Dani, Regina had decided to visit her mother who lived in Colorado. That's where she was born and that's where she spent all her childhood years, until she reached adulthood and thrived for bigger and better things.
And after her father died, she locked herself away even more in the life of New York.
"Regina," Victoria Belfrey, in other words- Regina's boss called out to her, prying her away from the peaceful view of the winter window.
"Regina, dear, you remember Mr. and Mrs. Whitman?" She motioned at the happy looking elderly couple, both holding to a glass of champagne.
"Of course," Regina smiled, giving the couple a curt nod and a kiss to Mrs. Whitman's cheek. "How do you do?"
"Excuse me a moment," Victoria excused herself, walking away.
"It's so lovely to meet you, dear," Mrs. Whitman beamed, taking in the brunette's elegance in her all black dress. "Richard and I want to thank you for such lovely property. We truly are enjoying our retirement there."
"It's my pleasure, Mrs. Whitman," Regina smiled, raising her glass.
"Victoria was just telling us that you ended your relationship of two years. We are sorry to hear that." Mr. Whitman frowned as did his wife.
Regina swallowed the lump in her throat, nodding curtly at the couple. "Yes, well… It was a mutual break-up."
"Of course, dear," Mrs. Whitman held onto the brunette's arm. "Oh, but I was speaking to my husband and he agrees- you are more than welcome to come and spend Christmas with us. We know you don't have family here in New York after all. Where are they again?" She failed to remember.
"Colorado," said Regina.
"Right," Mrs. Whitman smiled.
"So, what do you say, Regina? Will you spend Christmas with us?" Mr. Whitman nodded.
The brunette smiled, "That's kind of you to offer, but I'm actually traveling this Christmas to visit my mother and sister. She has a ranch out there, I haven't been to since I was eighteen. It was my father's and he was quite fond of it."
"Oh, that's lovely, dear. Do travel safely. I hear it will get very cold this time of year." Mrs. Whitman said.
Regina took a sip of her champagne, wondering if her father's farm even looked the same as it did when she was nineteen years old. She would know soon enough. Tomorrow morning to be exact. And to her surprise, a part of her was actually happy to be going back home.
The snow was thick this time of year as the cab drove through it. It had been shuffled, which she was thankful for. A sad and small smile tugged on the woman's ruby red lips to the sight of her childhood home. It was just as she remembered it to be. Two stories, as white as the snow that surrounded it, a porch out front with an unmistakable red door with the same Christmas reef hanging below the single window.
"Thank you," she said to the driver, handing him the fare and exiting her car only to be greeted by her red-haired sister, as giddy and excited as ever.
"Gina! Welcome home!" The red-headed woman hugged her sister, pulling her so close to her body it left the brunette feeling smaller.
"Okay, you're suffocating me- Zelena," Regina grunted, feeling the woman's embrace loosen as their hug parted. She chuckled, taking in her sister's appearance, a light blue flannel tucked into her jeans, her light brown coat which used to be their father's fitting perfectly against her body.
"Looks like you're loving the country life, huh?" The brunette remarked.
"Hey, someone has to be around to help our mother with this place. Ever since you left for the big city things have drastically changed."
"I can't imagine why, the place looks great." Regina breathed with a smile to her, looking upon their childhood home.
"Come on, I'll help you with your bag," Zelena bent over to pick up Regina's luggage. "Mother will be delighted to see you. She's been counting the hours since you've said you were coming."
Their heads turned to the sound of a vehicle driving up the shuffled road, onto the side of the house, a vehicle Regina would recognize anywhere. It was her father's beat up mid-1960's light teal Ford Bronco. She noticed a blonde woman with jeans, a light gray flannel of her own, a light gray scarf and a red leather jacket, plus a light gray beanie dismounting the driver's side. She remembered plenty of people in this town, but she couldn't recall ever seeing this stranger before. Especially not someone who was all too familiar with driving her deceased father's vehicle.
"Z," Regina called out, her eyes not moving from the blonde woman as she was reaching inside the back door of the car for a box that looked a little heavy. "Who's that?" She asked her sister, who stood by her now.
"Oh, that's Emma," Zelena smiled. "Hi, Emma!" She waved at the blonde, who waved back.
Neither of them could tell, but Emma's brow knitted to seeing the brunette's presence in the Mills home. She knew Cora had another daughter, she talked about her enough, but Emma never asked what she looked liked.
"Who's Emma?" Regina asked, eyeing the blonde again as she walked up the steps of the front porch.
"She helps out around here. I told you a lot has changed since you were last here." Zelena chuckled, her boots clicking against the wooden boards of the porch.
"And you trust her?" Regina asked, looking over at Emma once again.
"Completely. She lives here. Mother practically adopted her."
"What?" Regina's eyes grow wide. Since when was her mother adopting a grown woman?
Zelena chuckled, lightly smacking the brunette on the arm, "Don't look so worried, Gina. I promise, you can trust Emma. Come on, let's get inside." She turned the knob on the door and rushed inside with her sister's suitcase in hand.
Regina looked over at Emma for the last time, eyeing her, a little curious to know more about this mystery woman who seemed to be a part of her family now before heading inside the familiar and warm feeling of her home.
"Mother! Your favorite has arrived," Zelena smirked at the glare she received from her sister.
"Regina!" Cora made her way down the familiar steps of the home, her arms stretched out to greet her daughter properly.
"Hello, mother," she smiled, embracing her mother in a gigantic hug that made her eyes slowly close on her. She had missed her mother dearly, she'd miss her familiar scent of her soft, rich perfume. Her nose dug deeper into the older woman's shoulder.
"Oh, let me look at you." Cora beamed, her hands cradling her daughter's face as her eyes took in her beautiful features.
All while Zelena headed up the stairs to place her sister's suitcase in what would be her room for the remainder of her stay.
"It's been so long, my dear." Cora's voice was just as soft as Regina remembered it to be.
She smiled, "Too long, mother. I'm sorry I waited so long to come visit. After Dani and I broke up-"
"Oh, yes," Cora murmured, brushing back a strand of her daughter's hair. "Such a shame you two broke up. I really liked Dani."
"So did I," Regina smiled.
"Things happen, I suppose," Cora smiled. "What matters is that you are here." She sighed, "All that's missing is your father."
To this Regina frowned, deciding to quickly change the conversation to a question that's been on her mind since the stranger's arrival.
"By the way, who's this Emma?" She asked with a frow to her brow. "Zelena told me you adopted her?"
"Oh," Cora chuckled. "That's what your sister likes to say. Emma arrived here just last year, and she's been of great help around the ranch. She's really wonderful with the horses and chores that I am too old to do."
"Hm," Regina nodded, her attention turning to her sister as she came down the stairs again.
"You're still on the Emma topic?" Zelena asked, grinning. "I told you not to worry. She's completely trustworthy."
"That may be true to you," Regina chuckled.
"Oh, she is, dear. Emma is as sweet as they come. Just like you," She gently pinched her daughter's chin. "You'll love her once you meet her."
Regina smiled, quickly picking up the scent of a freshly baked apple pie. "Is that-?"
"Apple pie. You're favorite," her mother grinned. "Come on, let's all have a piece."
Both sisters watched as their mother happily rushed her way into the kitchen. The inside of the home was just as Regina remembered it. It was all made entirely of oak, floors and all. The stairs placed just a few feet away from the entrance, the living room was big enough to fit an entire family, with a love seat positioned near the main window of the living room, while two chairs rested near but not too close to the fireplace. The Christmas tree was already set up, ornaments and lights wrapped around it, as well as a few ornaments placed around the walls of the house.
"What did you bring with you in that luggage? Bricks?" Zelena asked her sister, remembering the heaviness to the woman's suitcase.
"No, my laptop and a few worksheets." She replied.
"Really?"
"What?"
"You finally come home to visit mother and you are planning to work?" Zelena glared.
"Not all the time," Regina scoffed.
"Are you two coming or am I going to have to eat this pie all on my own? Because you know I will." Cora's voice was heard coming from the kitchen.
"Well, I'm glad you're here, regardless." Zelena gave her sister's arm a gentle squeeze. "We sure have missed you."
Regina smiled, "Me, too."
"Now, let's go before she eats it all herself."
"First one there gets the bigger slice-!" Regina rushed into the kitchen, pushing her way past her sister who was quick to run right after her. It was a sight that no matter how older each of their daughter's would get, Cora never grew tired of seeing.
A slice of pie and cup of coffee later, Cora couldn't remember ever being this happy in a long time. Not since her husband passed. She loved looking over at her two daughters, talking and laughing as if they were kids again, remembering fond memories with their father.
"Delicious as always, mother," Regina stood up, picking her plate and her mother's as they were empty. Zelena was still working on her second slice.
"Oh, honey, you don't have to wash those. Leave them, I'll do it." Said Cora, looking over at her daughter who stood in front of the sink, opening the faucet.
"Mother, despite what you might think of my life in New York, I know how to wash a dish." Regina chuckled, rolling up her sleeves to her sweater before scrubbing away at the dirty plates and forks.
"Really? I thought you would have maids do that for you," Zelena teased.
"Zelena," Cora nudged the woman's arm.
"City life, mother," Zelena shrugged innocently, grinning.
"I will take no offense to that remark. Nothing could possibly spoil my stay here." Regina smirked, her eyes looking out the window and seeing the same blonde woman- Emma- arriving again in her father's bronco as it drove around the property.
"Emma's here," Zelena alerted her mother, stuffing her mouth with pie while noticing the vehicle drive by.
"Oh, good!" Cora smiled.
"Why ask for extra help?" Regina turned around after shutting the water, drying her hands off with a hand towel that was placed to the side of the sink. "You know you could have called me if things were getting hard around here."
Zelena chuckled, "Yeah, and when exactly were you going to make time to fly here just to help, Ms. Bigshot? You've probably forgotten all about manual labor."
Regina glared, while Cora called to her daughter's attention again.
"What's your problem, Zelena?" She asked her sister.
"Regina," Cora called out.
"What's yours?" Zelena challenged.
"Zelena," Cora called out.
"Mine?"
"Yeah," the red-head's fork clinked against her empty plate. "Ever since you arrived you've been hassling on poor Emma when you don't even know her."
"I'm just trying to understand how you could let a perfect stranger stay with you under the same roof. I mean, what do you really know about her?" Regina crossed her arms over her chest.
"They know all there is to know about me. I've been pretty honest with them about who I am, unless I've suddenly developed amnesia and I'm here by chance, then lucky me. As for my sleeping arrangements, I decided to give up my room upon your arrival, so I guess that means I'll be sleeping in the barn, if that eases your mind."
Zelena grinned upon seeing Emma leaning against the door frame of the kitchen, a smug look to her, while Regina's cheeks turned red with clear embarrassment. Cora took one last sip of her coffee to hide her smirk.