A/N: Happy Holidays! I started this fic last year as a gift to my dear friend Lori but never finished then came back to it this year for advent because I really do love it and like, seriously, I have to finish at least one gift for a friend in my lifetime XD
Anyways, Merry Christmas, Lori! This is probably gonna be up way before but I love you and I hope you love it!
now, I hope the rest of you lovely readers enjoy this fic, cause it's basically just 40k words of Emma being a complete simp for Regina Mills and like... I think we can all agree with that lol
Thank you to my friends, Hope and Vicky for reading this, and everyone who sprinted with me (Looking at you Linda!) those last few days as I rushed to finish this fic, and most importantly to my ever amazing Beta, Zelene who makes every fic even better. I'd get nothing done without her help.
well, okay now, enjoy yourselves, happy holidays, and stay safe this new years,
ang
It was their first real Christmas since the curse or well, curses broke, after years of just forgetting or having a second to have one little thing, one spare moment where they could be together, if only for a day.
They never got the family Christmas Snow always dreamed of, the one she sometimes talks Emma's ear off about, Snow never got her thanksgiving feasts or to teach Emma all about her favourite traditions from when she was a little girl.
Emma often thought back to that first Christmas in Storybrooke, during the curse with the lights and wreaths, and a little Santa's village set up in the park. She had the time of her life, she'd never have admitted to it at the time, never had thought about telling Mary Margaret that that was the first Christmas where she actually felt like she belonged.
Storybrooke that first winter, no matter how ridiculous it was to say now, had felt like a fairytale. It was everything she ever dreamt of, hell, even Regina walking around town micromanaging every moment and bickering with "Santa's elves" had brought a smile to her face.
But after that first curse broke and magic came to town, there was never a moment of rest, a moment to be family, to get settled and decorate, heck, her first Christmas after the curse broke she hadn't even remembered she had a family. It had been her and Henry in New York, no memories of their family; and it was nice, yes, but now, now Emma was excited to get all she ever dreamt of, even if it was Snow's idea of a cheesy Christmas and Regina yelling at Doc about his Santa costume and at Grumpy for drinking on the job.
Family, that's all she wanted, needed, dreamt of her whole life, and now after so long she was finally getting it, and no crisis was going to take it away from her. Emma hadn't even dared to hope this year, but the second those lights went up on the street and wreaths and garland decorated doors and windows her heart fluttered.
The second the Santa's village safety paperwork passed Emma's desk, Regina's famous fancy scrawl covering the photocopied page and her signature a messy blur at the bottom, Emma nearly turned into that person in a Christmas musical.
Decorations went up in the sheriff's station the next day, and she and David went out shopping for a tree for the apartment to surprise Snow, it was everything she'd ever wanted. It was like Santa finally heard all her Christmas wishes and this was the year he was going to grant them all.
Storybrooke's tree farm was run by Tiny, in a field close to the edge of town, trees too large to bring home and ones too small, and an assortment of ones in between, and Emma almost wanted to cry, wanted to run through the snow covered dirt and try to find the perfect one.
It was magical, the trees seemed to sparkle and when Emma touched one of their branches she felt the magic jump off of it, buzz around her and tickle her bones and she laughed, spun around and looked up, the sprinkles of snow falling down and melting on her cheeks.
She heard her dad's low laugh and Henry's excited chatter, she could hear Tiny on the other side of the trees thanking someone for their help and the voice that met her ears wasn't one she expected to hear in a Christmas tree farm in 35 degree weather in the middle of nowhere and yet, she would know that voice anywhere.
She straightened up and looked through the space between the large evergreens to see Regina, beanie on her head and a scarf wrapped around her neck and covering her chin to stay warm, and her cheeks and nose an adorable shade of pink as she nodded along to what Tiny was saying.
"Of course, nobody was prepared for the Holiday season to go off without any issues, it's perfectly reasonable that you were not prepared for the sudden demand."
"Well, I am eternally grateful for your help, Madam Mayor, please, pick a tree, it's on me, it's the least I can do for all your help."
"Thank you, Tiny, I'm sure Henry will love to have a tree this year."
Her smile was kind, still very much the madam mayor she is during business hours but there was a softness to her that Emma loved now, maybe it was because her hair fell down her back past her shoulders and was beginning to curl at the ends from the melting snow. Maybe it was how open she seemed, or it was how the magic seeped off the tree and into Emma, making her feel warm and safe and she wasn't sure how she hadn't recognized that it was Regina's magic. The lightness in her magic was new, not something Emma was as used to, but she found it comforting as it wrapped around her.
"Ma! We found the perfect tree!" Emma turned, looking down at Henry and nodded.
"Why don't you tell Tiny that's for you and your mom, I think I like this one here," Emma said with a warm smile as she looked over at the tall strong tree dusted with snow that made her feel at home.
"Picking out Christmas trees for me, are you, Miss Swan?"
"Mom?" Henry asked as he turned at the same time as her to see Regina walking toward her, a smirk on deep red lips and that teasing twinkle in her eyes.
"Actually, Henry picked it." Emma grinned, stuffing her hands in the back pockets of her jeans as Regina got closer, her eyes bouncing between the two.
"What are you doing here?" Henry asked and Regina's attention focused on Henry.
"Tiny needed help with his crop, some of his trees were a little too small for this year."
Henry's smile was massive as he looked up at her, reminding Emma for a split second of that 10 year old boy overdoing it on peppermint cocoa and sugar cookies during the town Christmas party.
"You saved Christmas!"
And even though Henry was Regina's son and her everything, she still couldn't help but roll her eyes at his dramatics, but her smile was that beautiful one only Henry could pull out of her and Emma practically swooned.
"I helped in the growth of a few trees I wouldn't call that saving Christmas," Regina said as she pulled Henry into her side and looked over at Emma again, then over to the tree Emma had picked. "This is your pick?"
"Nice, huh?" Emma asked as she stared at the beautiful dark green needles and its sturdy branches, so distracted by the beauty of the tree she missed the way Regina's eyes softened as she watched Emma.
"Perfect."
Emma tore her eyes away from the tree at the soft sound of her voice and held her breath because Regina was gorgeous, but Regina in the snow with her royal blue scarf and beanie, and the way Henry's head was resting against her shoulder; that Regina, was something else. Maybe it was just how her eyes seemed to sparkle and glow, from the sun reflecting off the snow surrounding them.
She was something magnificent.
"Wanna see the tree I picked out?"
"If it's coming to our house I most certainly do."
Emma blinked back into focus and felt something swell in her chest as Regina stared into their son's eyes and righted his beanie, little snowflakes catching in her dark hair as they fell.
"You coming, Emma?"
"Um…" Emma looked over at her tree and shook her head. "I think Imma get Tiny to help me with this beauty and load her in the truck."
"Kay!" Henry chirped.
Regina gave her a small smile and a nod, a silent goodbye before she led Henry out of the aisle of trees and down another, and it wasn't until Emma couldn't see them anymore that she looked back up at her tree and smiled, wondering if it'd be weird to have such a big tree up in her loft space.
"Henry says you found your tree?"
Emma turned to see Tiny and nodded. "Yeah, this beauty right here."
"Alright, well let's get that down for you."
Emma smiled widely at him and stepped aside as he approached her with his saw and got to work, Emma steadying the tree as he cut it down and then she helped him wrap it up and carry it back to their truck, David already loading Regina's tree back there with a happy smile on his face.
It was only the second week of December and already it was the best Christmas Emma had ever had, and she couldn't wait to see what else it would bring.
Emma nearly fell over in laughter as David got him and baby Neal covered in a coating of glitter as they attempted one of the Christmas ornament crafting ideas Snow had found on Pinterest, it was like a glitter bomb went off in their kitchen and Snow was just stood there in shock while Emma was laughing and David was a sparkly green man.
"I told you glitter was a bad idea," Emma said through her laughter, still remembering those frozen seconds as Neal looked about ready to sneeze from the feather David let him play with.
It took a few seconds before Snow started to snicker and she started patting her pockets, her eyes lit up with laughter and joy and Emma wondered if this would have been her life if not for the curse.
"Where is my phone, I need a picture."
Emma giggled and reached into her jeans for her own. "It's okay, I've got mine."
"Hand it over and get in there, I want all my sparkly babies together."
Emma laughed but did as said, her hands covered in red and green glitter and specs of it on her glasses obstructing her vision a bit. "You know if I wanted to be covered in this much glitter I'd have just gone to Pride."
Emma didn't notice what she'd said until she noticed Snow's expression shift from near laughter to shock and then landing somewhere in that gooey mother place that usually had Emma wanting to run for the hills to avoid kisses and suffocating hugs.
"We can do that too," Snow said with an easy smile and Emma's mouth fell open as David pulled her into his side and pressed a kiss to the side of her head, tears escaping her eyes and tracking through the glitter as she looked up at her mom with the brightest smile just before the picture was taken and Neal found the glitter in her hair fascinating enough to pull on.
"Neal! Let go, you little turd!"
David let out a laugh that sounded like it should belong to Santa and Snow giggled and tried to tell him to let go and took a little bit too long to help extract the toddler from her hair, and Emma would later find out why when she found the pictures and even a video on her phone.
But her favourite thing of that evening, after messy imperfect ornaments and hand turkey's that she wasn't sure why she had to make at her age, and cocoa with glitter in it, was the selfie she would later print out and keep in a frame in her room, the four of them, a mess of glitter and paint and feathers, huddled together, smiling brightly at the camera with Neal in this stupid little reindeer onesie.
It was family and Christmas and love and sure, she would be finding glitter everywhere for months, if not years!, but it was probably the best evening of her life.
Emma loved doing patrol, watching the kids run around and play in Santa's village, and Doc in his big throne, the fairies chasing the kids around in their little elf getups. Granny's had fake snow in the windows and lights that she and David helped her put up last week.
The town was beautiful, even during the daytime, it was like it'd changed. Something changed in everyone when the holiday approached without a bad guy looming over them. Archie walked Pongo who was wearing a pair of antlers for the entertainment of the children and Geppetto and Pinocchio made toys for the gifts from Santa at the village.
Storybrooke had turned into a winter wonderland in just a couple weeks, and Emma loved every second of it.
It was during this patrol she passed Regina's house like usual, but this week there was Regina on a ladder in jeans and runners stringing up lights, bundled up against the cold and really, Emma had assumed she would pay someone or even use magic to do this.
And although the sight was interesting, to say the least, Emma pulled the cruiser over and approached the ladder, gripping the cold metal as she stared up at Regina, who was using a staple gun to attach the lights to her roof.
"Would you like some help there, Madam Mayor?"
Regina startled, pulling an earmuff from her ear as she looked down the ladder at Emma's grinning face. "Gods, Swan, I could have broken my neck!"
"Sorry." Emma flashed Regina her best apologetic smile and although she got an eye roll in response she also saw the slightest twitch of a smile. "So, need a hand?"
Regina turned back to her roof, finishing her task as she said, "if it'll make you happy."
"Why not use magic?"
"We could, but where is the fun in that?" Regina said with this wicked grin that had Emma wondering for a second if she missed the thrills of villains and near death experiences.
"I mean, I don't think Henry wants an injured mother for Christmas."
Regina glared down at her while she attached another inch of lights to the roof. "Very well, but I control the magic, I don't need a giant inflatable frosty on my roof."
"Yes, Miss Scrooge." Emma jumped at the sound of the staple gun going off again, wondering why anyone thought it was a good idea to give Regina access to any form of dangerous equipment.
"Hold the ladder steady while I climb down, Miss Swan."
"What do you think I'm doing here?" Emma said, rolling her eyes at the little smirk playing on Regina's lips. "Geez, you really think I came all the way over here to stare at your ass? Don't flatter yourself, Mills, I could have done that from my cruiser."
Regina laughed, tossing her hair over her shoulder as she turned forward again to start climbing down the ladder. "How could I forget, it's the act of moving that means you care."
"Yes, now don't fall. I don't wanna crack my head on your walkway."
"You're insufferable," Regina muttered, looking down at Emma and rolling her eyes as she seemed to take in the pompom on Emma's beanie.
"Steady."
Regina rolled her eyes and focused on descending the ladder, and Emma watched carefully, prepared to catch her if she slipped; and when her foot just missed the rung level with Emma's chest she reached out on instinct, Regina's gasp sudden and Emma's heart was thudding against her ribs as she stared up at Regina, gripping tightly on the ladder and then her own hand right on Regina's left ass cheek.
"You okay?"
"Fine," Regina sighed and righted her foot on the step before she looked down at Emma to offer her a little grateful smile.
Emma slowly removed her hand with an awkward, "sorry."
"It's alright, dear."
Emma smiled up at her and slowly Regina continued down the ladder the rest of the way, her back pressed against Emma's front for a second before Emma remembered to step back, their eyes meeting shyly.
"Thank you," Regina breathed, and Emma's smile was slow and soft as it curled up her lips and carefully she reached out to tuck Regina's hair behind her ear, smiling at the rosy tint to her ear before she pulled the earmuff back in place.
"So, what are you thinking, multicolour lights, red and white? Just white? Blue and white? Red and yellow? Red and green?"
"Just, don't think, let me control it."
"Are you always this bossy?" Emma teased with a grin, looking over Regina's makeup free face and having the sudden urge to press a kiss to the tip of her pink nose.
"You know I am."
"Alright, your majesty, use me to your heart's desire."
The smile that curled on Regina's lips right then made Emma's stomach twist and drop, Emma practically able to hear and see every inappropriate thought pass through her dark eyes before she purred, "Well now, don't give me any ideas, dear."
Emma shook her head at Regina and stepped back, feeling the snow crunch under her boots as she moved to an appropriate distance to see the house and held out her hand for Regina to take.
Regina slipped her hand into Emma's and stepped closer, staring up at the house before she leaned in close and whispered in her ear, "Just close your eyes and breathe, I'll do the rest."
"So bossy, so controlling."
"I know what I like," Regina said, her breath ghosting over Emma's face before she felt Regina's magic seep into her veins and pull at her own and even if Emma wanted to be stubborn, her eyes closed on instinct and she let her magic help Regina's.
Regina's magic was overwhelming, calming, everything Emma loved and craved; and she leaned into it, she held on tighter and watched the lights shine and dance behind her eyelids. She felt it tickle up her spine and vibrate in her hair, it smelt like something natural, like nature itself, the smell of rain or just before it snowed, of a warm smile; and it tingled on her tongue like pop rocks in her mouth.
It smelt like Regina, there was her perfume, soap, her favourite lotion she'd helped Henry buy for her one time, her laundry detergent that made her think of Henry and home; but under all those things that were Regina, there was that one smell, trees and that one thing she couldn't name that she just knew was Regina's magic cause that's the only time she smelt it and then something almost spicey, that reminded Emma of Regina's famous apple pie.
Warmth and home, that's what her magic was mostly like now, that was what the light magic did, because before it was strong, it was more of the spice, it danced in her veins like electricity and made her tingle. But now it just made her want to wrap herself in it and never leave.
It was home.
She slowly felt it ebb away and Emma let her eyes flutter open, the lights red and white, wrapped around the pillars at the front and covering the roof and wrapped around the empty branches of the tree standing tall in the front yard.
Perfectly put together, and Emma hadn't seen it like this since that first year and it almost made her nostalgic at seeing her bossing Leroy and a few of the other men in town around as they helped set them up.
"It's beautiful."
"Just wait until they're lit up," Regina said with this big proud grin and Emma squeezed her hand and Regina's head snapped to look at her.
"I can't wait."
Regina's expression softened, her eyes bouncing around Emma's face and the snow started falling from the sky again, seemingly trapping them in their own world as Regina's other hand slowly raised up to twirl a lock of Emma's hair around her finger.
"Is that glitter in your hair?"
"Still?" Emma pouted and Regina's smile grew before her eyes as she smoothed out Emma's hair. "We had a crafting night."
"I see…" Emma's eyes focused on the way Regina's nose crinkled slightly and it was only then she realized what smile she was receiving and she wasn't sure how her knees didn't give out on sight.
"Glitter got everywhere… I have pictures."
Regina's left hand fell away from her hair and met her eyes again, something in them sparkled as she said, "I'd love to see them."
"Okay."
Regina looked toward the front of her house then back at Emma, the smile not as large but it still sparkled in her eyes. "Why don't you come in for some cocoa and to warm up before you get back on shift?"
"Kay."
Regina bit the inside of her cheek before she tugged Emma inside by their joined hands and Emma had barely even remembered that they were still holding them, but she couldn't make herself let go even if she'd wanted to.
It was well past dinner time but Emma was still stuck in the sheriff's station filling out forms for the sleigh ride that was taking place during their winter festival the next weekend. This was something she hadn't missed about that first year, she was just looking forward to attending the event with her whole family, to watch Regina as she ordered the citizens around as they set up, like she's already been doing all week in meetings at the town hall.
Christmas was fast approaching and the only thing that's happened so far was a few pesky pixies having a bit too much fun around town; but that had been taken care of in less than an hour, unlike this paperwork which was taking her all day.
"Good evening, Sheriff."
Emma looked up at the sound of the voice and smiled at Regina who was leant against the jamb of her office door, smiling charmingly at her.
"What can I do for you, Madam Mayor?"
Regina pushed off the door and took a step into the room, clutching the handle of her purse in both hands. "I was wondering if you would like to join me for dinner to go over a few final details for the winter festival."
"Well, if my duties as sheriff are needed."
"They are. It seems there was a mistake in the request for additional security."
"Oh no, we gotta fix that immediately."
Regina smiled at her and looked behind her into the empty bullpen. "Come on, Henry is keeping dinner warm."
"Thank you," Emma breathed and Regina simply nodded and stepped back as she waited for Emma to gather up her stuff.
"We don't need our Sheriff tiring herself out before Christmas."
"What about our Mayor?" Emma asked as she nudged Regina's shoulder as they walked side by side down the hall.
"She has a pesky son at home to pull her away from her work."
Their hands brushed and Emma smiled, running her finger against the back of Regina's gloved one and watching her cheeks pink a little bit at the contact.
"What'd you make for dinner?"
"Henry threw one of my lasagna's in the oven and ordered me home… and to bring you with me."
Emma's chest warmed at that and she hooked her arm in Regina's as she whispered, "looks like we both have a son looking out for us."
"Seems like we did something right."
Regina covered Emma's hand with her own as they walked down the street, the wind biting at her cheeks as they walked down the sidewalk, the holiday lights twinkling around them and when Emma glanced over at Regina she could see the lights twinkling in her eyes and for a second she couldn't breathe.
She actually stopped moving, frozen in place at the sight of the wind blowing Regina's hair around and the lights dancing in her eyes making them somehow even more beautiful than they already were.
"What?"
Emma shook her head and smiled, her hand blindly reaching up to brush the hair from Regina's face before Regina got the chance. "Sorry, I just had to take a moment to appreciate the view."
Regina looked away from her, around the street with snow piled against the curb and the decorations and then back to Emma, her head tilted to the side in curiosity. "You see it every day."
"Not like this."
Regina frowned and Emma ducked her head as she turned to look back down the sidewalk, tugging Regina forward and Regina covered her hand with her own again, their fingers slowly lacing together as they walked silently to Regina's house, not caring what people might think, they were just keeping each other warm, that's all.
After dinner in the dining room filled with Henry's excited stories of school and Christmas shopping with David that afternoon, Regina sent her a smile almost as often as she did Henry. Once they finished Henry ran off to do his homework and Regina led her into the family room for some wine and to just talk.
Except what Emma wasn't expecting when she left the perfectly clean house with only a little centrepiece on the table, was a family room with their large tree and a Styrofoam snowman on the side table, lopsided and obviously put together by a child.
"Wow…"
Regina turned to face Emma at the sound, her lips pulled into a frown as she looked from Emma and then around the room, an almost awkward laugh rumbling out of her.
"I know it looks a little out of place right now but we haven't had the time to pull down everything from the attic yet."
"There's more?" Emma breathed and stepped toward the tree, she could see the handmade decorations from the entryway, but as she got closer there was more to see, and she loved everything about it. "I always pictured you as one of those picture perfect magazine cover decorations people."
"I only really do Christmas for Henry, we have our little traditions and when he made something for me I couldn't not display it."
Emma turned to look at Regina who was sitting on the large sofa, wine glass in hand and legs crossed as she watched her.
"It's amazing," she whispered, eyeing what looked like a petrified cookie covered in glitter shaped like a tree and she chuckled, and wondered how Regina had reacted to putting food on her tree.
Her eyes then moved to the baby's first Christmas ornament and she gasped, carefully reaching out to look at the pudgy little face of a 5 month old Henry in a candy cane pattern onesie.
"Oh he's precious."
Emma froze when she felt Regina's hand brush down her spine before landing on the small of her back as she looked over Emma's shoulder at the picture. Emma slowly turned her head to look at Regina and somehow, she's not sure how, but during this winter of peace she's managed to fall even more in love with the woman, and now, in this moment of seeing eyes glazed over with memories and a smile that only Henry caused, Emma found herself falling even harder.
"He was so small, I remember when I could carry him in one arm, when he'd fall asleep on my chest…" Regina's eyes met hers and Emma's breath caught in her throat as she watched the lights from the tree sparkle in the tears that were shimmering in Regina's eyes.
"Babies are great… I wish I got to experience all that for real… I love the memories you gave me but… sometimes I wonder what it would've been like…"
Regina smiled softly at her and turned back to the tree, her hand a steady presence on Emma's back. "He made that one in kindergarten, came home with it, missing front teeth, so excited to hang it on the tree."
Emma looked down at the paper tree, pompoms and glitter glue all over it and in the middle was a Polaroid picture of a very toothless Henry.
"That's adorable."
Regina hummed, and Emma looked around the tree some more when a little horse ornament caught her eye. "What about this one?"
Regina smiled wide and looked at Emma again as she explained. "He was nine, saved up his allowance to buy it from the little figurine store on main street, he was so proud of himself that he was practically vibrating as I unwrapped it."
They went around the tree, Emma taking in all the little things, even finding some that were obviously made by Regina too and Emma's heart somehow swelled even more.
"It's like you've never seen a Christmas tree before," Regina joked and Emma looked over at her from where she was staring at a pipe cleaner and bead snowman.
"This is my first family Christmas, actually."
Regina's eyes softened instantly and she breathed out a small, "Emma," like the news was enough for her to crumble but with all the plans to make it the best one yet.
"It's been amazing so far."
"I'm glad," she whispered and with the hand on Emma's back she directed her past the tree. "I think there's something else you might enjoy then."
"What?"
Regina led them to the mantel, stockings hung, and pictures scattered all over it. She was distracted by the many pictures of Regina and Henry throughout the years, always in pyjamas and adorable, and Emma noticed that starting somewhere after Henry was about eight, Regina had started wearing the same pair every year.
But no matter how cute that was, her eyes locked on one image in particular, it was of Regina wrapped around a maybe two year old Henry in pyjamas and Henry was mid laugh while Regina was obviously tickling his sides to make sure he was smiling in the picture, her smile something Emma had never seen before, something that made her look so young.
"Not that," she said through a laugh and Emma tore her eyes away and finally she noticed the number of stockings hung, three of them, one brandishing Emma's name on it. "I made it, to go with Henry's and mine, we didn't want you to feel out of place on Christmas morning."
Emma's hand reached out, tracing her finger along the swirling gold thread that made up the letter E, tears burning in her eyes as she took in those little details that must have taken Regina forever to do.
"It's…"
Regina's hand moved higher up her back, under her hair and Emma looked away from the red, white, and gold stocking to Regina's eyes that were nervous and worried; and as soon as she felt the tear roll down her cheek, Regina's thumb was there to catch it.
"Thank you, Regina, I love it," Emma whispered in the space between them before she moved closer and wrapped her arms around Regina's neck and pulled her into a hug.
Regina's hand slipped to hold the back of her head while her other rubbed her back, her breaths ghosting over Emma's neck and shoulder and her hair tickled her nose, but Emma just burrowed closer, holding on as tightly as possible for as long as possible. Regina didn't seem to mind one bit, especially if the faint brushing of lips against her neck before Regina tucked her face into her shoulder was any indication.
Emma finished pulling on her wool lined leather jacket as she ran down the stairs of the loft; she saw Neal in his stroller babbling to himself while Snow and David packed the rest of what they'd need for the evening and she smiled brightly at them.
"I gotta go pick up Henry and Regina and head to the festival early, I'll see you all there, okay?"
"See you, sweetie! Tell them we say hi!"
"I will," Emma smiled, waving over her shoulder as she slipped out the door and bound down the stairs to her bug, excited for a night of holiday festivities with her family.
But most of all she was kind of looking forward to a night with Regina, drinking cider and walking around in the snow and playing little games and buying treats, patrolling for naughty lost boys along the way and schmoozing with constituents. Maybe she'd get to hold Regina's hand again.
She drove the short way to the mansion singing along to the Christmas music playing from the radio, her fingers tapping out the beat as she thought about Regina, and how this past month has been the greatest time of her life.
Maybe there'd be mistletoe.
"Ma!" She slammed on the brakes and turned her head to see Henry standing outside the gate of the mansion with a wide smile on his face and a Santa hat on his head.
"Henry, what the hell!" she yelled as soon as she got the window open and Henry only smirked at her.
"You were about to miss the house!"
"I was not!"
Henry rolled his eyes as he pulled open the door and pushed down the passenger seat to slip into the back. "Busy daydreaming about kissing mom again?"
"What? No!"
Henry laughed at Emma's obvious blush and pouting and Emma barely managed to send him a convincing glare. "I saw you hugging last week, and you're always looking at each other like grandma and gramps."
Emma scrunched up her nose and looked out the open door to try and spot Regina. "We are not."
"I caught mom singing this morning."
"So she's feeling the Christmas spirit."
"About kissing Santa under the mistletoe?"
Emma blushed but she stopped breathing as soon as she saw Regina in the open doorway of the house, a Santa hat in her hand, and wrapped in a red trench coat that was just so unlike her but also so fitting.
"Yeah, not in love my ass."
"Henry!"
"Everyone my age swears, ma."
"Don't let your mother know you do, she'll blame me."
Henry rolled his eyes. "Who do you think taught me? You do realize she swears like a trucker, right?" Emma's lips curved in a smile as she watched Regina approach them and she raised her hand to wave before she was hit square in the face with a Santa hat as Henry said, "Oh yeah and she wants you to wear this."
Emma looked down at the hat and remembered what Henry said before, and her cheeks turned a rosy pink by the time Regina straightened up her seat and slipped in.
"Good evening, Emma. Henry, buckle up."
"Yes, mom," Henry said while Emma could only manage to gape at her, she was stunning, breathtaking, the definition of perfection.
"Do I have something on my face?"
"No, no, you're perfect…" Emma breathed and this time it was Regina who blushed, looking away from her and to the empty street ahead of them leaving Emma to gather her wits, but it was hard when her profile just seemed to be even more perfect than she remembered it being yesterday.
"Henry gave you your hat, I see."
"Y-yeah he did, and you're wearing one too? Doesn't seem like something you'd be into."
Regina's smile was soft and teasing as she reached out to turn up the heat a bit more. "It's not, but I thought it might be something you would enjoy."
"Th-that's really sweet."
Regina's eyes met hers again, a frown pulling down her lips and Emma remembered she was supposed to be driving right now and before Regina could say anything else, Emma put the car in drive and sped off toward the park.
SQ-SQ-SQ-SQ
The music could be heard from a block away, people already crowding the area to finish setting up their booths or helping friends. The lights were all lit, including the Ferris wheel's and Santa's village; Emma noticed, as she parked the bug about a half a block away.
"I can't believe we made it to Christmas."
Regina chuckled and reached out, placing her hand on Emma's arm. "Four more days."
Emma shook her head and threw open her door, grinning at Regina and Henry before she stuck the Santa hat on her head and leaped out of the door, rushing around to the other side before Regina could even register she had left the car, giving her enough time to open the door for her.
"Your majesty."
Regina rolled her eyes but slipped her right hand into Emma's while her left one gripped onto her Santa hat and let her help her out of the car, their fingers slipping together before falling away as Regina stepped aside to let Emma lower the seat for Henry to climb out.
"I'm getting way too big to sit back there."
Emma couldn't help but pull him into a hug and tousle his hair while Regina just looked at them with those big loving eyes of hers before Henry grabbed her arm and pulled her into them and then the little shit slipped out of her arms so it was just her and Regina, embracing.
Emma felt her cheeks warm, her heart racing in her chest at the feeling of Regina pressed against her, her hands against her back and the pompom of Regina's Santa hat sticking her in the middle of her spine, and it felt amazing to hold her, but she also kind of wanted to murder Henry.
"Sorry," Emma whispered as she pulled away and Regina met her eyes with a curious tilt of her head. "The meddling, he gets that from my genes."
Regina shook her head at her, a small grin on her lips as she looked down the sidewalk and Emma didn't have to turn to know she was watching Henry, because she always got that look on her face when she was looking at him.
"He had to get some of your mother's genes, it was inevitable."
Emma smiled, unable to look away from Regina's eyes, filled with love and teasing, the white fairy lights twinkling in them in that way that made Emma's heart soar.
Her eyes eventually fell to Regina's hands clutching the Santa hat and she smiled brighter and took a step in front of her which seemed to pull her focus back over to her.
"Gimme that," Emma said with a chuckle and tugged the hat from Regina's hands and her eyebrow jumped up in curiosity as Emma reached up and carefully placed the hat atop Regina's head. "There."
Regina ducked her head to try and hide a blush and Emma's heart stuttered in her chest, her hand moving to brush a lock of hair from Regina's face and watched as surprised eyes met hers, Regina's mouth open slightly in a nearly silent gasp.
"Perfect."
Regina's lips pulled into a tentative smile and Emma flashed Regina her most charming of dopey smiles, which Emma knew she secretly adored, and watched her eyes sparkle with laughter this time.
"You coming, moms? The festival is gonna start without us!"
"Of course, darling," Regina said and stepped around Emma, her fingers brushing against the back of Emma's hand and her breath caught in her chest as she spun around to watch her walk toward their son, the pompom on her hat bouncing slightly and making Emma smile to herself.
She truly was absolutely done for.
"Coming, Emma?"
Emma's smile stretched across her face as she nodded and jogged toward them. She draped her arm over Henry's shoulders and pulled him into her side, glancing over at Regina as she stretched out her fingers and playfully poked her arm, getting an eye roll and a faint smile in response as they walked down the rest of the block toward the festival lighting up the street.
They walked silently through the crowd, Henry off somewhere with friends leaving just the two of them, the talking and laughter of many mixed with the music playing through many little speakers surrounding them in a little bubble, Regina's hand occasionally brushing against hers as they walked, looking around them.
"Did people do this in the Enchanted Forest too?"
"There was a ball every year for the start of the winter solstice and Yule."
Emma looked over at Regina, the casually guarded look on her face she always got in public, when talking about where she came from.
Emma brushed her finger against Regina's and she watched her lips twitch with a smile and soon dark eyes glanced toward her, just the slightest glimpse behind the wall before she looked ahead of them again to one of the many stands crowding the area.
"They did have some in the villages, Daniel told me about them when I was younger." Emma watched that vulnerable smile as she let Emma in on something pure and untouched by pain and hatred. "He said there was music and dancing and some little stalls… some games, nothing too big, not like this but…" Regina shrugged casually. "It sounded nice, better than the balls."
"You didn't like them? The balls?"
Regina's lips twitched with a smile and Emma gave her a playful shove, who knew her majesty's mind lived in the gutter.
"No, I didn't. When I was younger mother made me go to every single one, I was to socialize with all the princes and make nice, put on a good face, show the rest of the kingdoms what our family had to offer…"
Emma watched her features change, from that playful expression back to that one that brought Emma back to Madam Mayor and pissing matches. "And when you were older?"
Regina shrugged, fiddling with her fingers in front of her like she only did when she was feeling anxious. "I was just a pretty doll on a shelf, the king doted over Snow and I was left sitting on my throne watching them all laugh and spin around on the marble floors."
Emma reached out, her fingers brushing over Regina's elbow which got her attention and Emma offered her a lopsided smile, trying to reassure her. "I'm sorry."
"It is what it is."
Emma looked around them, her fingers slipping around Regina's elbow and holding onto her arm as she looked for somewhere to sneak off to for a second. "Come, let's change that."
"What?" Regina breathed, turning her head to stare down at Emma as she was tugged through the crowd.
"Dance with me."
"You're kidding?" Regina said in a tone that sounded like she was trying not to laugh and Emma smiled brightly at her and tugged her toward the open field by the frozen pond, only a few people scattered around them.
"No, you deserve a Christmas dance."
"It's Winter Fest."
Emma turned, her hand slipping down Regina's arm to her hand as she walked backwards.
"Same thing."
"I can't dance." Regina tried as Emma led them into a darkened corner where the music still reached them but there was nobody really able to see them.
"Neither can I."
"This should go swimmingly, then."
"Anyone can sway, Regina."
Regina bit the inside of her lip and looked behind them, "We are supposed to be looking out for hoodlums not sneaking off to canoodle in the bushes."
"We're dancing, not dry humping." Regina's nose scrunched in disgust and Emma gave her hand a slight tug as she continued, "And I think they can manage five minutes without us."
Regina moved closer, her expression surprised at her own body's betrayal and Emma gently placed Regina's hand on her shoulder before she moved her own to Regina's waist.
"One dance."
"Just one, promise," Emma whispered as Regina gently took her other hand in hers. Emma smiled at her as she pulled her in a little closer, her hand pressed against the small of Regina's back as she slowly directed her to the rhythm of the music.
Regina's breath ghosted over Emma's face as she finally let herself relax, her hand slipped across Emma's shoulder blade to the back of her neck, tangled in blonde hair while she mindlessly let her thumb brush against skin.
Emma blushed and wished Regina's hands were bare so she could feel the warmth of her fingertips instead of her leather gloves. Her hand moved slightly over Regina's back, feeling the warmth of her wool jacket seep into her skin and she moved in closer, soaking up the warmth while Regina pulled her head back slightly to look into Emma's eyes.
Then to Emma's surprise, after a slight shake of her head Regina leaned in, their temples pressed together and Regina's breath ghosted over her cheekbone as they slowly swayed to the faint music coming from the festival.
"I suppose it could be worse."
Emma chuckled, tucking their hands against her chest as she quietly sang the lyrics in Regina's ear, "I'll be home for Christmas… you can plan on me."
Regina's thumb slipped over her skin again, Emma's breath stuttering in her chest as she felt the warmth of her skin and the tingle of her magic rush through her veins from the simple spell.
"Please have snow and mistletoe… and presents by the tree."
Emma was even more surprised when she heard Regina sing, her voice low and raspy; it made Emma's heart gallop in her chest and butterflies flutter in her stomach. "Christmas eve will find me, where the love light gleams."
Emma squeezed her hand and hugged her a little tighter, brushing a kiss against her temple, and Regina seemed to relax even more against her, humming mindlessly to the song.
They forgot all about everything around them as they let their bodies sway to the music, so caught in their own little world they didn't even notice Henry watching them with a mischievous and happy little smile he could only have gotten from both his mothers.
The evening was a blast, Henry found them again not long after they rejoined the festivities. The three of them walked around together, Henry too old to let them hold his hands now. And Regina stared at him with that look of hers, somewhere between proud mother and scared of the day he'll be grown and out on his own.
That longing for her little baby boy was evident in her eyes and in the way she wrapped her arms around him from behind, hugging him against her chest with her chin propped on his shoulder as they watched the fireworks lighting up the sky. And well, Emma watched them, took pictures on her phone and tried to memorize the way the fireworks reflected in their eyes; and Henry let himself be a kid, holding onto his mom's arms and looking just as content as Regina did.
Her parents were to her left, holding her brother and cooing over him, tucked into each other and when Emma felt eyes on her she turned her attention from Henry and Regina to catch David watching her from over the top of Snow's head.
Emma felt like she was both out of place and with her family and all she wanted to do was slip her hand around Regina's waist and rest their heads together like her parents, all she wanted to do was be tucked into her father's side.
She knew one she could have if only she went over there, the other, she wasn't too sure, because sure, they'd danced in the cover of large trees in the dark of night but this wasn't hidden, this was in front of the whole town… and maybe all eyes were on the display in the sky but still…
"Are you cold, ma?"
"What?" Emma asked, a confused frown on her lips as she looked down at the grinning boy.
"Mom, hold Emma too, she didn't wear enough clothes, we can't have her getting sick before Christmas."
"What?" Emma squeaked and Regina's laughter met her ears bringing Emma's attention from their smirking son to Regina who nodded her over and Emma only hesitated for a second before she moved the foot closer, her arm slipping easily around Regina's waist and her head fell against Regina's as she moved her eyes up to the sky.
Her fingers ran mindlessly over Regina's side, tapping to the beat of the music that was just barely heard over the fireworks, a content sigh leaving Regina's mouth and she hugged Henry a little tighter.
Emma burrowed her nose against Regina's temple, just under the white fur trim of her hair and she took a deep breath, hugging both Regina and Henry as she got lost in the comforting scent of Regina.
"I love you…" She said, so quietly she wasn't even sure she'd said it but she felt Regina stiffen and she knew she had spoken her thoughts aloud, and she was prepared for all hell to break loose, but after a few seconds Regina relaxed again and their fingers tangled together over Henry.
When it got late and Henry started looking a little tired, he opted to go home with his grandparents since Emma still had to keep watch and as he put it, "she shouldn't be alone, mom, not on winter solstice."
So Regina stayed behind with her, the crowd had dwindled except for a few dozen people, mostly couples milling around the place and Emma wouldn't let herself imagine this was anything but two friends hanging out, even after everything that happened between them, she refused to get her hopes up.
It was during one patrol of the outskirts of the festival that Regina slipped her arm through Emma's and leaned into her, practically hugging her arm as they walked and Emma's heart didn't stand a chance, her hopes shot up so fast she was pretty sure they were in space; but she didn't care because tonight had been amazing.
"Thank you, dear…"
"For what?" Emma whispered, turning her head to watch Regina as they walked through the frozen dirt path across the back of a few tents.
"For tonight, it was…" she trailed off and Emma bit the inside of her cheek, a blush colouring her face as she thought about everything that had happened.
"Next time we go out let's leave the family at home."
Regina chuckled, pulling Emma impossibly closer to her to keep away the cold. "Next time?"
"Yeah, I happen to enjoy your company and I was hoping you enjoyed mine too…"
"I do… quite a lot," Regina's voice was a whisper, speaking more than Emma could even begin to understand as she slowed them to a stop, looking into Regina's eyes and smiling at her rosy cheeks and nose, her hair curling from the humidity and a lock in her eyes that only seemed to warm Emma's heart even more.
Emma reached out, once again brushing the lock of hair from Regina's face as she studied her features, taking in the way her eyes shimmered with emotion and how her smile was soft, loving even, and Emma couldn't help but let her thumb trace over her smile lines and watch her smile grow from the gesture. "Thank you, for tonight as well."
"My pleasure," Regina whispered as Emma's hand fell away from her face, their heads tipping forward, the space between them both massive and nonexistent, the possibility hanging between them, another what if, a fork in the road, they just had to choose, to make a move, the first step. "Emma…"
"Listen, Regina about what I said earlier…"
Regina's eyes moved from Emma's lips up to her eyes again, her head tilted slightly to the side as she studied her. "You don't need to explain… I–"
Regina's words were cut off by the loud pop of firecrackers and they tore apart, and Emma had never hated her job so much in her life. "I've gotta–"
"I know, go."
Emma nodded, an awkward attempt at a reassuring smile shot Regina's way before she ran across the field to a group of teens, feeling Regina's eyes on her the whole time.
It was a little after midnight when the last of the crowd seemed to go home and they left with them, walking silently to Emma's car, their hands occasionally brushing together.
The car ride was silent, the volume of the radio low, and Emma was acutely tuned in to Regina's steady breathing in the seat next to her. Her eyes occasionally drawn down to Regina's hands nervously twisting in her lap, and sometimes she would feel Regina watching her, catch her in the corner of her eye, a worried brow and her lip pulled between her teeth or sometimes just that little loving smile of hers.
It was confusing, this whole night, month, heck these last few years! She never really knew where they stood, and tonight it felt like they were finally getting somewhere but then the firecrackers went off and Regina shut down, but if Emma was being honest she did as well, both not sure how to be vulnerable around someone and so far tonight Emma has put herself out there and maybe now it was Regina's turn.
Maybe it'd never be their time…
"Emma…" Regina's voice travelled into her ears, pulling her attention from the road, her fingers cold as they brushed against the back of Emma's hand. "My house."
"Oh…" Emma looked out the back window to see the mayoral mansion a few houses behind them. "Sorry I was… thinking."
"It's okay, it's been a long day."
Emma nodded and flashed her a smile before she reversed down the empty street to park outside the large house, looking out past Regina to the lights she'd helped hang.
"Thank you for tonight, Emma, it was…" Emma's eyes met Regina's and she froze when she saw that shy hesitant smile on her face, her hands nervously fiddling with her gloves in her lap. "It was the best night I've had in a long time."
"Me too…" Emma confessed and watched Regina's smile grow before she tore her eyes away, looking down the empty walkway for a few long seconds, and Emma had to fight with the urge to brush Regina's hair over her shoulder.
Eventually, Regina looked back at her, biting the inside of her lip before she said in a whisper, "Would you like to come in for some cocoa?"
"I'd love to."
Regina's smile was wide enough to actually cause Emma's heart to explode in her chest, she was simply stunning when she smiled, gorgeous beyond belief, Emma didn't think it was possible for her to get more beautiful but when she smiled it was almost like something young in her came alive, an honest vulnerability and affection shone in her eyes and Emma always struggled to keep herself from reaching out and tracing the lines on her face with her fingers.
Emma was pulled out of her lovesick haze by Regina throwing open her door and stepping out, and Emma let herself watch Regina brush her hands over her coat for a few seconds before she turned off the car and slipped out as well.
"Ready?" Emma asked as she stepped around the car and Regina hummed in response before she silently moved forward, pushing open the gate and Emma slipped past, waiting for Regina on the other side so they could walk side by side down the walkway, their hands brushing together the whole way.
Regina pulled her keys from her pocket, eying Emma shyly for a second before she pushed open the front door and motioned Emma in.
"Thanks."
Regina simply nodded and pushed the door shut, the click of the lock drawing Emma's attention from her boots over to Regina who was leaning against the closed door while she pulled her own boots from her feet.
Emma's not sure what came over her but suddenly she was in Regina's space and large brown eyes were staring up into her own as Emma undid the tie on Regina's coat.
Regina just silently watched her as she undid each button with care, Emma could feel her eyes studying her, could practically hear her thinking and when she looked up after she undid the last button Regina had that strange look on her face again, her fingers twitching at her side before her right hand rose to pull down the zipper of Emma's coat.
"Since we apparently can't undress ourselves."
Emma rolled her eyes, wanting nothing more than to swoop down and kiss Regina, wanting to wrap her up in a hug and never let go; but instead she took a step back, slipping her coat from her shoulders to hang up in the closet.
"Well, are you not going to help me out of mine? I thought I was getting the royal treatment?"
Emma chuckled as she turned around, loving the teasing smirk on Regina's face before she turned so her back was facing Emma.
Emma closed the short distance between them and slowly slipped her hands up Regina's back and under her collar to pull the jacket free, Regina's teasing chuckle meeting her ears as she stepped out of the coat, heading toward the steps, Emma seeing her full outfit for the first time that night and nearly falling over.
How she made a simple white sweater and black pencil skirt look so elegant was beyond her.
"Hang up my coat and join me in the kitchen, dear."
"Uh huh," Emma replied dumbly, tracking over her legs covered in black nylons, and somehow she also made walking around without shoes absolutely adorable.
Yeah, Emma was so hopelessly in love she was pretty sure she was getting to her parents' level of cheesy romanticism.
They sat silently in the kitchen as Regina prepared the cocoa, Emma couldn't take her eyes off her, moving around the kitchen so fluidly, it was always one of Emma's favourite things to do, to watch Regina in her element, be it cooking, doing magic, or bossing people around, it was always a stunning sight to see.
But when cooking her masks seem to fall away; and she looks peaceful, safe and content in her environment, and that's why Emma loved it, the layers, seeing Regina let herself go in front of her. It was breathtaking.
"You're staring."
"I am."
Regina's eyes met hers, a little smirk on her lips at the blunt acknowledgment. "Wanna grab us some cups?"
"Sure." Emma smiled and hopped off her stool, wandering lazily to where she knew Regina kept the mugs and easily getting them from the shelf which was nicely at Regina height. "Here ya go, m'lady."
"Whipped cream is in the fridge," Regina instructed as she poured the cocoa in each mug, the cinnamon already waiting for her on the counter to sprinkle over her own.
"You're the best," Emma whispered as she slipped in next to Regina, putting whipped cream on both their drinks and then, because she was feeling playful, she swiped her finger through the top of the whipped cream and booped Regina on the nose.
"Miss Swan!" Regina gasped, instantly going to wipe it away and Emma laughed because those few seconds of Regina looking angry with a dob of whipped cream on her nose were just adorable.
"Sorry, hand slipped."
Regina rolled her eyes and scooped up her cup from the counter, moving toward the door and Emma followed after her, both of them standing in the open doorway when Regina looked up, her eyebrows furrowing as she looked up at something.
"What?" Emma whispered in the tight space, distracted by the sharp edge of Regina's jaw and her neck to actually look up at the ceiling.
"Is that… who put mistletoe in my house?"
"What?" Emma repeated, snapping her head up to stare at the small sprig and she shook her head. "Yeah no, this, this he gets from you."
"What?"
Emma's attention moved from the mistletoe to Regina to catch her watching her in confusion, her head tilted in that adorable way of hers; her eyebrows were furrowed even closer together and Emma really wanted to smooth it out with her thumb, to press a kiss to her forehead until all the tension melted away.
"Emma?"
Emma shook her head and met Regina's eyes as she carefully explained, "Henry, this is so his doing."
"Why?"
Emma arched a brow, she was pretty sure it was obvious and Emma just, she shook her head again and stepped out of the doorway, she could feel Regina's eyes follow her as she placed her cocoa on the counter and leant against it. Why did it always have to be her taking the risk?
"Emma?"
Emma turned to face her, her fingers nervously tapping against her thighs as she watched Regina silently. "Did you hear me earlier?"
"When?" Regina asked, but Emma knew she knew exactly what she was referring to.
"During the fireworks."
"Oh… yes, I-I did."
"Well?"
Regina shook her head and the cocoa vanished from her hands and landed on the island next to Emma's while Regina watched her. "I don't know what you want me to say, Emma, I don't know what this has to do with our son hanging up mistletoe."
Emma shook her head and moved toward Regina again, forgetting about the sprig, forgetting about everything else. "I want you to say it back, or say something back, I want to know if I mean as much to you as you do to me… I think I do but… god, Regina this has been the best month of my life and it's because I've gotten to spend time with you, with the people I love."
"Emma…"
"Henry is playing matchmaker, that's what he has to do with the mistletoe, it's why he slipped from the hug, it's why he said I was cold, it's why he went home with my parents! God, Regina you can't possibly be this clueless! We almost ki–"
Emma's words were cut off by Regina's hands cupping her face and their eyes locked and everything in Emma both stopped and sped up at once, she was unable to breathe, to think, to do anything but stare into Regina's eyes, to focus on the feel of her hands on her face, of her breath ghosting across her lips.
"Regina?"
Regina looked hesitant for a moment, suddenly unsure, but when Emma's hands fell to Regina's hips she softened, her frustrations and anxieties fell away from her face and Emma tipped her head up, leaning forward so her lips brushed against Regina's still furrowed brow, and she felt her sigh against her neck as thumbs traced over her cheekbones.
Emma pulled away, pressing their foreheads together as Regina's fingers seemed to keep brushing over Emma's cheeks and neck, her eyes studying Emma's and Emma let her see everything she wanted to.
She squeezed her hips in reassurance and Regina trembled, her hands slipping behind Emma's neck to play with her hair and Emma really wanted to kiss her, but she needed this to be Regina's choice so she just stayed silent.
"This time with you…" Regina started but trailed off, her eyes falling shut and Emma let hers fall closed too, breathing in her familiar scent and feeling her body relax more. "It's been incredible."
"It has…" Emma whispered against her lips and Regina breathed out a laugh that made Emma smile.
"I'm not very good at relationships."
"Me neither." Emma's hands moved up and down Regina's sides, trying to comfort her and her heart stuttered in her chest when Regina nuzzled their noses together, Emma was pretty sure she was going to cry if she was any cuter. "I love you, I can wait however long you need to be ready."
Regina's hand moved to cup her face again and Emma's eyes fluttered open when Regina pulled back, watching Regina's eyes slowly trace over her face. "I-I love you too."
Emma's smile was quick and painful in size, but it was worth it because she had never been so happy, and Regina's smile soon mirrored hers, her nose scrunching up from how wide it was and Emma wanted to kiss her again.
"I really wanna kiss you right now…"
Regina chuckled, her smile softening as she cupped Emma's chin and leaned in closer. "Okay."
"Okay?" Emma whispered and Regina chuckled against her lips and Emma's heart sped up again.
"Yes."
"Okay." Emma grinned and she leaned in, closing the minuscule gape between them, her eyes fluttering closed just narrowly missing Regina rolling her eyes at her before their lips met.
The kiss was slow, soft at first, a little tentative before their anxieties slipped away and they got swept up in all those pent up emotions.
Emma's heart was beating so fast against her rib cage she feared she might actually pass out; actually, she was pretty sure just kissing Regina was enough to rein her unconscious.
All her feelings poured out of her, got stuck somewhere in her throat and threatened to escape embarrassingly in tears because Regina was there, in her arms, kissing her, she loved her too… she loved her…
Regina's thumb brushed against her cheek and Emma trembled, feeling her tears wet her face and tasting them in the kiss, and Regina hummed quietly, a happy sound before her lips moved from Emma's and brushed against the corner of her mouth, then her cheek, her hands keeping Emma's face still.
It was so simple, so tender, that a sob actually escaped from her and Regina chuckled, brushing a kiss just under her eye and then to her temple and brow line. Emma's fists gripped onto her shirt and she trembled, pulling Regina into her body so she could nuzzle against her neck and Regina breathed out another laugh before Emma felt her lips brush reassuringly against her shoulder.
"I'm sorry, I don't usually cry while kissing."
"It's okay," Regina whispered, her voice deep with emotion, and Emma realized a second later that there were tears rolling down her shoulder and seeping into her sweater and she hugged her tighter.
"I'm just really fucking happy right now."
"Me too…" Regina sighed and her fingers threaded through Emma's hair holding her head against her neck.
"I love you…"
Regina's fingers brushed against the nape of her neck, the touch so tender Emma trembled again, new tears falling from her eyes as she focused on every second of this, trying to memorize the way Regina touched her with a care Emma had never experienced before in her life. "I love you too, my dear."
Emma nuzzled her nose against Regina's neck, breathing in her scent, her nose twitching as her hair tickled it but she burrowed in closer, holding Regina so tightly against her body now air couldn't pass through them.
Regina's grip only tightened, and her lips brushed against Emma's neck again, the tears falling from her eyes sliding down her sweater and along her collarbone as Regina let out a rumbling sigh.
"I never wanna let you go again."
"So don't," Regina whispered against her skin and Emma decided then and there she never would.
"I won't."
She felt Regina's smile against her neck, felt her chest vibrate with an unsteady exhale, and then she felt Regina's hand comb through her hair, her nails lightly scraping against the back of her neck and Emma was pretty sure she had died and gone to heaven because this was the most magical thing she'd ever experienced and she's experienced some pretty magical fucking things.
"Come to bed with me?"
"Always."
"I just want to hold you, to know this wasn't all a dream… that you'll still feel the same in the morning."
Emma's tears fell again at Regina's whispered confession and she nodded before she kissed her way up Regina's neck, across her jaw and chin, and finally leant back and opened her eyes. She raised her hand to Regina's cheek, her fingers lightly tracing her features as dark eyes slowly opened and met hers, watching her so intently Emma felt like she was the most precious thing in the whole universe.
Regina's eyes sparkled with tears and Emma leant in, thin lips placing a kiss over the scar on Regina's top lip and then the tip of her nose, Regina's laugh skittering across her face and her fingers moved lazily over Emma's neck, like she didn't know she was doing it but couldn't stop touching her, tracing her fingers over her skin, through her hair. And Emma understood that feeling perfectly well.
"You're perfect," Emma whispered before her lips brushed softly over Regina's, feeling them stretch in a smile and her cheeks heat with a blush under her fingertips. And this was it, this was love, this was what she'd been always searching for, this was it, there was nobody else besides Regina, there would never be anyone else, she was all she ever wanted and Emma was sure she was going to marry her someday.
Emma slipped back into Regina's room when she was done getting ready for bed, her heart leaping in her chest when she saw Regina leaning against the headboard of the bed; glasses perched on her nose, a book resting on her bent knees, and not a touch of makeup left on her face.
She was more beautiful than Emma had ever seen before, she was sure of it. The lights from the bedside lamps cast a warm light over her skin, dancing in shadows over her face and arms as she turned the page, her finger occasionally moving to brush thoughtfully over her slightly parted lips.
"Are you just going to stand there and stare or are you going to come to bed?"
Emma blushed bright red, meeting Regina's eyes from over the thick rim of her glasses and watching the way her smile slowly lit up in her eyes and she once again looked so young; Emma was sure she'd never tire of seeing that smile.
"You're stunning."
Regina rolled her eyes, her smile falling away as she looked down at her book, her finger tapping against the side of the pages as she said, "you say that a lot."
"Cause you take my breath away a lot."
Regina shook her head at her, a smile twitching on her lips as she husked, "Get in bed, Miss Swan, before I change my mind."
Emma grinned, instantly knowing she was lying, but she still moved across the room and slipped under the covers, nuzzling into Regina's neck, her lips brushing against her ear. "Liar."
"Brat."
Emma moved her lips to kiss her cheek and pulled back to see the smile on Regina's lips, her eyes focused on her book to look like she didn't care.
"You always read before bed?" Regina hummed, finally looking away from her book as she slipped a bookmark in place and shut it, her hand moving to brush tenderly over Emma's cheek.
"Do you always ask so many questions?"
Emma grinned and leant in, Regina meeting her halfway in a tender kiss, her fingers dancing over Emma's cheek, threatening to make her cry again.
"It's late, we should sleep, we have dinner at my parents' tomorrow."
Regina hummed against her lips, pressing one last kiss against them before she pulled away. Emma watched as she placed the book on the nightstand then her glasses on top of the paper cover before she slid down the bed, pulling her pillow down a bit lower to burrow into as soon as her head rested on it.
Emma's fingers danced around Regina's bare arm, tracing over it and finding a couple freckles, and loving the way she felt Regina's magic buzz across her skin with every touch.
"Can I hold you?"
"I believe I said that I wanted that earlier."
Emma smiled and flicked off her light before she scooted a bit lower, brushing her lips against Regina's shoulder as she whispered, "Just thought I'd ask if it was still what you wanted."
Regina rolled over onto her back, the light on Regina's side of the bed casting shadows over her face and arm as she reached up to cup Emma's cheek, her thumb brushing against her cheek as she stared deeply into Emma's eyes; so many emotions in her eyes it made Emma choke up a little.
"Thank you."
Emma's brow furrowed and Regina's thumb brushed over it until Emma's confusion slipped away and she let Regina tug her down to lay on the soft bed. Regina turned on her side, her fingers tracing over Emma's face, over her cheeks, her lips, the slope of her nose and the dimple in her chin and then cheeks when Emma smiled. Just taking in every inch of Emma's face in the low light of the lamp.
"You're beautiful."
Emma blushed, her eyes closing to try and hide from the attention; and Regina's lips brushed over hers again, coaxing out a slow and loving kiss before she pulled away and pressed their foreheads together, her hand cupping the back of her neck and thumb brushing against her jaw and ear as the light from the room finally went out and Regina sighed against her lips.
"Goodnight, Regina."
"Goodnight, Emma."
Emma smiled, her right arm pinned against the mattress and her fingers bent, holding just below Regina's elbow while her left hand found Regina's hip under the covers, her thumb slipping under the hem of her top to brush against the soft and warm skin of her waist, Regina's content hum vibrating through them both.
Regina sleepily nuzzled their noses together and moved in closer, their legs tangling together seconds before Emma felt Regina relax fully into the mattress and her breaths came out in even puffs against her lips. Emma couldn't believe she was this lucky.
"I love you," Emma whispered into the dark seconds before she fell asleep, Regina wrapped around her, surrounding her, making her feel more comfortable and at peace than she could ever imagine possible with another person.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed. Chapter 2 will be out in a couple days! :D
Take Care,
Ang