A/N: Thank you for the lovely reviews and I hope you enjoy this new chapter.
Happy New Year,
Ang
Emma awoke when she felt the bed dip and Regina slip out from her arms, her eyes blinking open slowly as she looked up at Regina's back from where she was sitting at the edge of the bed.
Emma reached out blindly, her vision still blurry and her eyelids drooping shut again, her fingers brushed over the soft silk covering Regina's back, feeling the notches of her spine under her fingertips as her hand moved down her back.
She hooked her finger under the hem of Regina's top and tugged at her, a sleepy mumble escaped her mouth, saying something that was completely unclear even to her own ears.
Regina turned sideways, her hand falling to cover Emma's and Emma forced her eyes open again to watch Regina slowly play with her fingers.
"Come back. Cold."
Regina barely kept in a laugh and Emma wasn't sure why she was trying to when it was just them. Regina's hand moved from hers and then Emma felt a thumb massage away her furrowed brow, her bent knee pressed against the top of Emma's thigh and Emma's hand lazily and blindly fumbled around until she felt soft skin under her hand, her fingers lazily dancing over Regina's skin causing Regina's gentle combing through her hair to pause.
"No, Snow, of course I'd be happy to bring the gingerbread." Regina's voice met her ears and Emma's eyes snapped open, just now seeming to notice the phone in Regina's other hand. "Yes, you too." Regina nodded, her hand covering Emma's on her thigh as she shifted so she was more stable, her fingers once again lazily playing with Emma's. "She stayed here last night, yes, we thought it was safer since she was so tired."
Emma pushed up on her elbow, her mouth gaping open and Regina turned to look at her the second she felt her shift, a smirk playing on her lips as her hand moved from Emma's on her thigh to once again massage away her furrowed brow and comb through her hair before she gently ran her thumb over the shell of Emma's ear.
"Yes, we will be there then, I promise. Have a good morning, Snow."
Emma watched her toss her cellphone to the end of the bed and then dark eyes met hers, an affectionate smile on full lips as she stared down at Emma and shook her head at her.
"You are very needy, my dear."
"Well if I had known you were on the phone…"
Regina rolled her eyes and shifted on the bed so she was sitting back on her calves and looking down at her, Emma's hand somehow trapped between her knees. "Well, what was I supposed to say, 'Miss Swan, stop touching me, I am on the phone with your mother'?"
Emma rolled her eyes and wiggled her fingers between Regina's knees and got another eye roll before Regina shifted so Emma could slip her hand free, although she just placed it against Regina's thigh, her thumb once again moving across smooth skin.
"We need a signal for next time."
"That, or I can gag you and tie you up?" Regina said, her eyes sparkling with mischief while she wiggled her eyebrows slightly and Emma gave her thigh a light pinch in response, a surprised yelp bursting from between her lips and Emma couldn't help but smile. "Well, now I really might tie you up."
Emma rolled her eyes, her fingers dancing over the strong muscles of Regina's thigh. "So my mom wants you to bring gingerbread?"
Regina hummed and moved up higher on the bed next to Emma so her knees were resting just below Emma's breasts next to her side and Emma's arm wrapped around her, her fingers brushing against Regina's thigh and hip under the small shorts she was wearing. "I have to make her some, apparently she overdid her plans and needs some help."
"Oh…" Emma pursed her lips, and Regina's slowly curled in a smile; and she reached out again, brushing the hair from Emma's face lovingly. "Need some help?"
"I'd love some," Regina said as she leant down, hovering over Emma, her hand slipping behind Emma's neck as she pressed their lips together in a slow and loving kiss that Emma was more than happy to return. "I'm going to go shower and get ready for the day, as should you."
"What about breakfast?"
"After," Regina said before she pressed a kiss to Emma's lips again, distracting her from everything else in the universe besides Regina. "I trust you can find your way around again?"
"Yes." Emma pouted and Regina's thumb brushed over her lower lip as she stared into her eyes, Regina's brow furrowed slightly and Emma removed her hand from Regina's hip to brush over the crease. "What're you thinking about?"
"Last night, this, us, what we're going to tell people… if we're going to…"
Emma's thumb brushed over Regina's right eyebrow and she watched her lips flutter with a smile. "I'm fine with whatever you want. We can be as open in front of my parents as you wish."
Regina covered Emma's hand with her own and slowly pulled it down to press a kiss to the heel of her palm and Emma's eyes sparkled with her smile as she watched Regina's features soften.
"I don't know what I want."
"Well, we can just… act how we usually do?"
Regina pulled her hand away from her face and she dipped her head to look down at their hands, the back of Emma's hand resting against Regina's legs as she stared at the lines on Emma's hands.
Emma bent her finger up, brushing against Regina's middle finger and she watched her smile twitch on her face again.
"What are you thinking about?"
Regina let Emma's hand go and Emma turned it over, pressing it against Regina's fingertips until Regina pressed back and raised her hand along with Emma's, their fingers slowly slipping together and locking, Regina's eyes not leaving them and Emma's not leaving Regina's face.
"I don't want to stop being near you, holding you."
"Me neither…"
"But I also don't want your parents all over our business before we've figured it out for ourselves…"
"Okay," Emma breathed and Regina's eyes snapped up to look at her, her head tilted slightly and brows furrowed; and it really was the cutest expression. "You're in charge, you can initiate whatever you feel comfortable with, okay?"
Regina shook her head, a loving and almost shy smile on her lips as she stared down at their joined hands and then slowly back up to meet Emma's eyes. "What did I do to deserve you?"
"I imagine the same I did to deserve you." Regina rolled her eyes and Emma grinned, tugging on their hands and Regina came willingly, their lips brushing together in a slow kiss. Regina followed her down onto the bed as Emma laid back down, her other hand tangling in Regina's hair as she put all the love she could into a simple kiss.
Regina hummed happily against her lips and bumped their noses together playfully as she pulled away, Emma blinking open to look into Regina's loving eyes and she was suddenly filled with so much love she thought her chest might actually burst open.
Lost in those beautiful eyes and smile, her hand moved to Regina's cheek, brushing her thumb along her cheekbone and Emma's heart constricted when Regina's eyes fluttered shut and she leaned into it.
"This feels surreal," Regina whispered, her lips brushing against the inside of Emma's left wrist.
"I know, but last I checked my mother calling while we're in bed has never happened in my dreams so I think this must be reality."
Regina chuckled, her hand moving to hold Emma's wrist as Emma kept gently brushing her thumb over Regina's cheek. "I don't know, calling for gingerbread is pretty weird…"
"Want me to pinch you again to be sure?"
"Don't even think about it, Miss Swan!"
Emma chuckled, love surging in her chest at the threatening glare Regina was giving her while her thumb brushed against the tattoo on the inside of her wrist, almost like she didn't even know she was doing it.
"You're so cute."
Regina's eyes widened slightly and her lips pulled into a confused smile and Emma laughed and used her hand not in Regina's to pull her down on top of her for a hug. Regina squirmed and muttered angrily against Emma's neck but Emma just held on tighter and eventually Regina stopped pretending to be mad and relaxed against her chest, her fingers dancing along her ribs and sides.
"I hate you," Regina complained while she burrowed into her neck and Emma chuckled, relaxing her hold and Regina squirmed again and Emma almost tightened her arms around her but she stopped when Regina just slid down enough to rest her head over Emma's heart, her legs still tossed over Emma's while her hand brushed over the soft silk of Emma's borrowed pyjamas.
Emma relaxed and moved her hand to gently comb her fingers through Regina's wild mess of hair that was honestly adorable; and Regina let out a happy sigh and hugged her a little closer while adjusting the lower half of her body to be more comfortable, which somehow meant using her knees and toes to get Emma to move her legs a certain way too.
"I thought you wanted to shower?"
"I will in a minute…" Regina sighed, and Emma looked down as Regina's fingers brushed over the back of her right hand, along each finger, tracing it around her belly and then like Emma did earlier, she pressed the tips of their fingers together and Emma spread her fingers to allow Regina to intertwine them.
Emma turned her head and pressed a kiss against the crown of her head and Regina sighed again, perfectly content in her arms and Emma kind of wished they could just stay like this…
"You think we can lie and say we got some mysterious illness or food poisoning?"
"No, but we have until four to get to your parents so I think we can lay here for a bit longer…"
Emma smiled and buried her nose in Regina's hair, breathing in that scent that was so perfectly her, and let her warmth and weight ooze into her, completely at peace in their embrace.
Emma finished getting ready for the day before Regina did; so she decided to be nice and make her some coffee and breakfast, sure she wasn't an expert, but thanks to her gifted memories Emma knew how to make Regina's favourite omelette, or at least she's pretty sure it was Regina's… it was at least Henry's.
She'd been in Regina's kitchen a handful of times including the night before, so finding everything she needed was simple enough, Regina did seem to have a pretty cohesive system that also seemed very similar to the one in her kitchen back in New York, but Emma's really not going to dive into that right now.
Coffee on, strong because she knew Regina liked it painfully bitter from having experienced her idea of coffee first hand. All the ingredients were in the fridge and music seemed to play from a radio like it was set on a timer and Emma got lost in it.
She'd loved making Henry breakfast back in New York, she wasn't sure why but it had felt natural, sitting in their PJs, drinking cocoa, and eating whatever thing her brain recalled as something Henry enjoyed that morning. Saturdays were pancakes, Sundays were cereal, she wasn't sure why, but it was sleeping in and cereal, and she had wanted to ask Regina if that was a part of her routine with Henry, but something always stopped her.
Emma was just about to fold the omelette when she felt arms slip around her waist and the smell of Regina's shampoo and body wash wrapped around her. "Careful, you don't want to break it."
"I know how to make an omelette," Emma said, and Regina's lips brushed against the underside of her jaw before her chin was resting against her shoulder, and Emma knew she was watching the pan to judge her technique.
"Well, get on with it, you don't want it to burn."
Emma rolled her eyes, her eyebrows furrowed and mouth pulled into a frown as she focused on making the most perfect omelette ever, so as not to disappoint her majesty.
"Very good, dear," Regina practically purred and Emma felt the blush hot on her cheeks, finally really taking in the feeling of Regina wrapped around her, holding her as she made them breakfast, it was so domestic. Emma really never thought she'd be the domestic kind of girl, never dreamt about getting married, none of that, but god that sounded real good right now.
"Thank you."
Emma turned her head to slowly press her lips against Regina's and she happily returned the kiss. Emma's hand moved to cover Regina's around her middle and she heard her let out that hum, the one she'd been hearing since yesterday, maybe longer, so happy and content and Emma wanted to know more about it.
"Do you always think so much in the mornings?"
Emma laughed against Regina's lips and turned to face her when Regina pulled away to pour herself some coffee. "Yeah, mornings and nights, when I should be sleeping."
"Huh…" Regina mumbled, her focus on the large ceramic grey mug as she filled it up. "I guess that explains a lot…"
"What?"
"You use all your brainpower up, that's why you're always so…"
"Are you calling me dumb?!"
Regina smirked, bringing her large cup of coffee to her lips. "Obtuse," she said with a shrug before she took her first sip of coffee and hummed again, this one thoughtful as she walked across the kitchen toward the fridge. "Less next time, dear, I don't need to be awake for a month."
Emma's mouth opened and closed, completely unable to process the absolute ease at which she dissed her, and god it was so hot. She was in love with a mean girl, but like, a smart one.
"Lazy Sundays, sleeping in, and sugary cereal, that's a tradition?" Emma suddenly blurted and Regina looked over at her from where she was pouring creamer in her coffee, head tilted and lips pursed.
"Yes, why?"
Emma shrugged and plated the omelette for Regina and placed it on the island in front of one of the chairs. "Did it with Henry in New York, wasn't sure why."
Regina nodded slowly as she pulled out the barstool to sit down, still thinking to herself while Emma went to get her a fork and knife.
"I worked Saturdays, so I made him pancakes, and when he was younger he'd come into work with me, do his homework in my office, read a book, coloured, whatever…"
Emma turned back to face her, watched her staring into her coffee, completely lost in thought until Emma placed the cutlery down and then her eyes met Emma's again, soft and curious, perhaps wondering how much of herself she'd shown Emma with her gift.
"And Sundays?" Emma asked as she hopped onto the counter next to Regina, getting an attempt at a disciplinary glare but there was too much affection in her eyes for Emma to really think she cared about where she was sitting.
"I didn't work, town hall was closed, as you're aware, so we'd sleep in, Henry would often wake up before me and he'd make coffee for me and cereal for himself before he came to wake me up, leaving the cup of coffee on my bedside table before he slipped out of my room to watch cartoons."
Emma remembered something and cringed, looking over at Regina who was focused on her omelette. "So you don't like coffee bitter enough to burn off your nose hairs…?"
Regina laughed, low and deep, her head flying back with the gesture and Emma was sure that this was the most beautiful she'd seen her. "No, darling, I do like it black most of the time, and a little stronger than most, but Henry hasn't quite mastered the measurements no matter how many times I've shown him."
"Huh…" Emma looked down at the light brown coloured coffee in Regina's mug and pouted. "I can make new stuff…"
Regina shook her head, her hand falling to Emma's knee to reassure her as she said, "No, my darling, it's fine, perfect, really. The gesture is very sweet."
Emma looked down at the omelette and pouted again. "Do you not like omelettes either?"
Regina chuckled and shook her head, eyes soft as she reached up to gently brush her thumb over Emma's cheek. "I do it's just… cheese and I, we have a bit of a love hate relationship."
"But your lasagna."
"Henry likes it."
Emma's shoulders slumped, her pout prominent and Regina's finger curled under Emma's chin to raise it.
"Don't pout, you didn't know."
"I just wanted to do something romantic… show you how much I care and… you can't even enjoy any of it."
Regina shook her head and pushed away her plate as she moved her hand to tug on Emma's knee. "The gesture was very sweet, I appreciate what you tried to do."
"I am the worst girlfriend ever."
Regina laughed and gave her knee another tug and Emma slid over on the counter, moving her leg to Regina's other side so she was sitting in front of the other woman. "We've been dating for ten hours, Emma, and most of that was spent sleeping and kissing."
Emma's pout got deeper and Regina's eyes were still as loving and affectionate as ever as she tugged at Emma's knees again and then leant in closer, her hands on Emma's lower back as she looked up at her, waiting, and when Emma leant down Regina nudged Emma's nose with her own and Emma chuckled.
"I can make you normal eggs."
Regina's right hand moved to cup Emma's jaw, her thumb moving lightly across her skin in a feather-light touch as she moved in a little closer, their lips brushing together as she whispered, "Or we could just have Henry's cocoa puffs and kiss a bit more?"
Emma's lips pulled into a grin as she met Regina's lips in a slow kiss that Regina chuckled into, her hand slipping to the back of Emma's neck to keep her close.
"I guess…"
Regina laughed again, leaning up into the kiss again and Emma's hands moved to cup Regina's face, tangled in perfectly styled hair as she leant more over Regina, her head tipped back and Regina's fingers soon digging into the small of her back under her sweater as their tongues slipped together, slow and deep but with no real intention of going any further than what they've already done.
Emma was sitting on the stool at the island, her feet hooked in the bar as she watched Regina slip on her apron and smoothly tie it around herself before she started prepping everything she needed for the gingerbread, some things she was pulling out though, Emma didn't quite understand, like why she needed oranges.
"I know I've never made gingerbread before but last I checked apples and oranges didn't go into it."
Regina's laugh met her ears, that low teasing one Emma was starting to get used to, her eyes glistening when she looked at Emma while pulling her hair back in the cutest little ponytail.
"They don't, that is for the wassail."
"The what?" Emma asked, with a deep frown, watching Regina move around the kitchen to get everything out for apparently two things she was making.
"Wassail, it's a drink served during Yule."
"Huh…" Emma grabbed one of the apples from the counter and twisted it in her hands. "That's cool… Mom was talking about a few things she did when she was little, the balls and some traditions, like the yule log."
Regina hummed, and Emma straightened up a bit to keep watching her as she bent down to dig a large pot from one of the lower cabinets. "My father taught me how to make wassail when I was younger. Among other things, it was one of his favourite traditions…"
"I googled Yule when my mom told me about it being what you celebrated…"
"And?" Regina asked as she hefted the pot on the stove with a loud clang that started Emma.
"It's basically Christmas."
Regina smirked as she leant against the counter, watching Emma fiddle with one of her freshly picked apples. "It is, a lot of Christmas traditions come from this world's Yule traditions."
"What's the difference between this realm and yours?"
"Magic," Regina said in a breath while she twisted her wrist and the apple Emma was holding vanished in a puff of smoke and appeared once again in Regina's, that teasing grin on her face.
"Funny."
Regina's grin turned into an affectionate smile at Emma's deadpan tone, her focus going back to gathering everything she needed.
Emma watched her silently as she worked, mystified by the way she moved so effortlessly around the room, her hair eventually pulled back in a short ponytail as she got to work on cutting and preparing the apples for the wassail.
Emma didn't understand much about this holiday, but she knew how much her mom looked forward to celebrating it; and watching Regina preparing two important parts of their family dinner, for her mom, well she kind of never expected any of this.
"Why don't you make yourself more productive and actually help me cook rather than drool on my clean countertop?"
Emma snorted out a laugh, and slipped off the stool, flashing Regina a crooked smile to hide her uncertainty as she looked about the counter and the ingredients placed orderly in two sections.
"What, uh, do you want me to do?"
Regina looked over at her, eyes skimming over Emma's face for a few long seconds before she looked back down at the apple in her hand, continuing to cut the peel from it. "You can either peel and core the apples or you can start the gingerbread."
Emma blinked slowly, taking a step toward Regina as she almost effortlessly peeled the apple with a knife. Which was hot, to say the least, but not really what mattered right this second. Okay it mattered a little bit, who the hell could do that?!
"How do you do that?"
"Core an apple? You just–"
"No, not that," Emma said with a laugh about to continue, but Regina beat her to it.
"Make gingerbread? It is quite simple, I keep the instructions in that box in the cabinet to the–"
"I'm not really good at baking…"
Regina's head tilted in thought and she slowly put the knife down, turning to face Emma who was hovering next to her, her hands buried deep in her back pockets.
"Well in that case, I do not know if I trust you with a knife." Emma's lips twitched with a smile when Regina offered her a little reassuring one meant to make her relax. "You'll be just fine, Emma, I'll walk you through each step, and I will be right next to you the whole time if you have any questions."
Emma loved the way her eyes softened, that caring look that she only gave to people she really loved, mostly Henry, but knowing she was one of those people, that Regina loved her too, that they were…
Regina reached out, her hand warm against Emma's cheek as her thumb lightly brushed over her skin, the smell of apples meeting her nose and it made Emma chuckle slightly to herself as she leaned into the touch.
"Fine, but if I fuck up…"
"I will blame your mother."
"Damn right," Emma said with a smirk and Regina leaned up to brush the softest kiss against Emma's lips. "You smell like apples."
Regina pulled away with the cutest crinkle to her nose and Emma almost keeled over with laughter, and she really couldn't stop herself from grabbing Regina's face and pressing a little kiss to her crinkled nose before planting another one against pouting lips that quickly turned into a smile as Regina started to laugh against her.
"You might have to wash your face, you smell like apples too," Regina whispered against her lips and Emma reached up to touch her cheek and pouted.
"You got my face all sticky."
Regina's lips twitched with a smile and she leaned in again, turning her head to kiss Emma's cheek where her hand once was, but after the softest brush of lips against her skin that had Emma's eyes slowly shut in relaxation, there was the sudden shock of a tongue licking up her cheek making her pull away in shock while Regina actually cackled, her head thrown back and everything.
"You licked me!"
Regina's smile was too gorgeous for Emma to be anything but surprised for that split second before she mirrored her expression. She had never seen her this free and for a second everything seemed to freeze around her as she stored that moment into memory.
"God I love you…"
Regina's face slowly shifted, the laughter floated away and her eyes and smile softened, it was still massive, still spread across her face and deepened the lines by her mouth and crinkled up in her eyes, but… it was different.
This was perfect. This was everything she's ever dreamt of. She was…
"Perfect." Regina's head tilted, her smile lessening, not because she was any less happy but it was smaller, tears shimmering in her eyes as they studied Emma's face, her nose crinkled again, but this time it was in that way she did when she was filled to the brim with love.
And then she looked away, turned back to the counter and the apples, her cheeks a soft shade of pink as she nibbled on the inside of her bottom lip and Emma was pretty sure she saw her future.
Emma took a tentative step over, slow as she could be as she slipped behind Regina, she slipped her hands around her sides just as slowly, before she wrapped them around her middle and hugged her against her body, a little hum leaving her mouth when Regina leant into her embrace.
Emma rested her chin against her shoulder, watching her carefully as she began peeling another apple. "You're very good at that."
Regina hummed, her breathing even against Emma's body. "I've had lots of practice."
"Yeah, y'all didn't have peelers back in the dark ages."
Regina pulled back slightly to look at Emma with a warning glare. "Watch it, Miss Swan, I have a knife and as you can see, I know how to use it."
Emma chuckled and leaned toward her, and Regina barely kept that glare for a second before she was leaning in to brush her lips against Emma's. "Don't worry, Your Majesty, I know exactly what you're capable of."
Regina glared at her again and Emma flashed her that charming smile she knew was one of Regina's biggest weaknesses, and although the glare didn't change her lips curled with a smile that only grew when Emma pulled her in tighter and kissed her again before she wordlessly placed her chin back on Regina's shoulder and waited until she went back to peeling the apple and coring it.
It was when she was relaxed again and reaching for the next apple though that Emma struck, licking up the length of her neck and getting a surprised squeal from her that had Emma stumbling back with laughter.
"Emma!"
Emma gasped on her laughter as she looked up at Regina, eyes wide but sparkling with laughter; and Emma blindly reached out, her finger catching the tie of her apron and she used it to tug her closer and Regina begrudgingly went to her.
"You're a child."
"You started it."
Regina's lips twitched with a smile and she watched Emma slowly as she straightened all the way up, tugging on her until Regina was pressed against her front. "Maybe so, but I had a knife I could've–"
"I waited until you were done using it."
Regina's lips pursed as she tried not to smile at the wide smile stretching painfully across Emma's face. "You're insufferable."
"You love me," Emma breathed as she leaned toward her for a kiss.
"I do," Regina whispered before their lips brushed together, another slow loving kiss but this one made Emma's stomach flutter and her heart skip a few dozen beats, and maybe apple juice was now on her face and her neck, surely leaving a sticky residue across her skin; but Emma didn't care because Regina's hands were soft and desperate and warm and she felt like she was both floating and grounded by her presence.
This, yeah, this was it. That Christmas she had imagined when she was 7, when she still had hope.
"I love you," she whispered against Regina's lips.
"I love you too…"
Emma smiled and she felt and heard the words leave Regina's lips, brush across her skin and seep into her soul. She felt like she was living in some cheesy romance novel but she didn't care one bit how ridiculous this all was. How ridiculously in love she was.
Regina brushed one more kiss across her lips before she pulled away, their foreheads pressed together as they breathed, Emma's hands gripping onto Regina's hips as the world slowly began to settle back into place around them.
"The directions are in the cabinet to your left."
"Huh?" Emma blinked, pulling away to meet Regina's eyes as she tried to process what she was saying.
"The gingerbread cooking instructions."
"Oh."
Regina's lips twitched with a little smile and her hand slid up to cup Emma's cheek again, this time her thumb brushed against her lower lip, her eyes locked on them with an affectionate smile and a blush colouring her cheeks.
"You'll be fine, dear," Regina said as she looked back up at Emma and she had no choice but to nod in response as Regina slowly stepped out of her hold and went to the sink to wash her hands and get back to work while Emma went about finding a box in a cabinet while her brain was still short circuiting over the way Regina had kissed her.
Emma stood nervously in the foyer of Regina's house as she waited for Regina to come down from getting ready, the gingerbread and pot of wassail were sitting on the floor by her feet; Regina had put on a spell it to keep the wassail warm, making it glow a light pink and drawing Emma's attention down to it. A part of her worried it'd catch the house on fire.
Emma didn't exactly know how they were going about it tonight, they didn't talk about it more after that morning. She just knew that, no matter what, she was just happy to spend her first Yule with Regina.
It took Emma a second to hear Regina's high heels as she walked down the stairs but when she did she turned toward the sound, her breath catching in her throat at the sight of Regina in a beautiful dark red dress and her hair falling down her back in soft waves.
"Wow."
Regina chuckled, and Emma's eyes found hers, as beautiful and expressive as ever, before they flicked away to focus on her descent. "You're drooling, dear."
Emma's hand shot up to her mouth, barely registering there wasn't anything on her face before Regina started chuckling, her eyes alight with mischief once again and Emma wasn't sure what was putting her in such a good mood today but she was just going to believe it was because of her, because of them.
"You look beautiful."
Regina smiled softly as she stopped in front of Emma, her eyes tracing over her as she thought. "And you will need to change once we get to your parents. I cannot have our family photos ruined by your inability to stay clean."
"Mixers are notoriously hard to use, Regina."
"You keep telling yourself that, dear," Regina teased as she lightly patted Emma's cheek but before she could remove her hand Emma placed hers on top of it, keeping it there as she met her eyes.
Regina's teasing smile dropped, her expression turning serious almost instantly as she studied Emma's face, waiting for her to say something.
"Whatever happens tonight, whatever you decide to do or not do…" Regina's head tilted in question and Emma turned her head and brushed her lips against Regina's wrist. "I'm in, I'm not going anywhere, if we hide this a bit longer or don't, no matter what, I'm in. I want this, I want more days like today…"
Regina nodded, her eyes falling away and she dropped her head, staring down at the hardwood floors and Emma leant in to press her forehead to Regina's.
Slowly she felt Regina's breath brush against her lips and then she leant in closer, their noses brushing together as Regina connected their lips in a chaste kiss.
"I don't want full control."
"What?" Emma asked, pulling back to meet Regina's eyes while Regina's thumb brushed against her cheek under Emma's hand.
"I'm in too, they're your parents, and as much as I am afraid they will not approve of us dating because of our… history." Emma chuckled, and Regina let out a little sigh, shaking her head at herself before her eyes found Emma's again, and Emma could see everything in them, the fear, doubt, but most importantly she could see her love. "I also don't want you to feel like you have to hide anything… or share anything with them. I do not want to overstep your boundaries. This is so new and I…"
Emma let out a sigh and her hand fell away from Regina's as she raised her other hand to gently brush the hair from Regina's face and shoulder, before it fell to cup her neck, her thumb brushing along the underside of her jaw as she thought about it all. "Yeah… me too."
"This is nice, is it not?"
Emma smiled softly, their eyes locking in an almost shy glance. "It is."
"Maybe we just…" Emma frowned and Regina laughed to herself. "We act normal, I don't want to lose you, lose this… whatever it is."
Emma chuckled, and Regina joined, shaking her head at her as they both recalled a time a few years ago when Emma had said something similar, right in this very place.
"We've come quite a ways, haven't we?"
Emma smiled and nodded, feeling Regina's pulse thudding against her hand as her eyes traced over her gentle smile and watched her own thumb as it brushed against Regina's skin. "Yeah…"
"I trust you, to do what feels right… for us both."
Emma locked eyes with her again and those words meant more to her than she could even understand. "Me too, always."
Regina nodded and leaned in, kissing her a little more soundly this time before she stepped back, nodding to herself one more time as she glanced over her and Emma just waited, watched as she ran a hand through her hair and walked toward the closet to get their coats, Emma just barely catching the smile spread across her face before her back was to her.
They arrived at the loft in a puff of smoke, Regina's smile adorably nervous when Emma glanced over at her. The pot of wassail held securely in her hands while she nibbled on the inside of her cheek, staring at the familiar green door with the number 3.
"It'll be fine." Regina let out a nervous laugh and looked over at her and Emma flashed her a reassuring smile that just made Regina slump her shoulders and pout slightly. "They love you, whatever happens tonight that won't change."
Regina's lower lip jutted out slightly in a more pronounced pout and Emma stepped closer, as close as she could get with their full arms and then she leaned forward, brushing her lips against Regina's defined pout and when she pulled back she was met with an equally adorable bashful smile.
"I suppose since I haven't bed you yet your father might spare my life."
Emma rolled her eyes at Regina's choice of words, a chuckle vibrating out of her throat as she turned toward the door again. "One: As if he could manage to kill you, and not just because I wouldn't allow that to happen, but because you are insanely badass, and two: I am a big girl, my 'daddy' doesn't get to choose who I sleep with or threaten my partner for doing so."
"Daddy?"
"Yes?" Emma replied with a wide grin and Regina's nose crinkled up in disgust as she scuffed at Emma and looked toward the door again.
"Just, knock on the door, Swan before I second guess our relationship and drop this pot."
Emma laughed and kicked her boot out, both of them waiting patiently for someone to open the door.
"Took you two long enough!"
"Hello to you too, kid."
Henry rolled his eyes and looked toward his other mom before glancing back at Emma. "Grandma is making me do bird crafts. I only do those for school credit," Henry whispered and Regina let out a low cackle, her smile wide and taunting and Emma shook her head at mother and son.
"Emma, Regina! You're here!" Snow called out as she rushed to the door, a turkey baster in hand and an almost manic smile on her face.
Regina shook her head with a smile. "Hello, Snow."
Snow's smile only spread and Emma looked between the two with a smile before she just greeted her as well, "Hey, mom."
Snow smiled widely at them both, her eyes moving between the pair before she seemed to notice their full arms and gave Henry a nudge. "Henry, let your moms in."
Henry's eyes widened slightly, like he'd just realized his mistake in etiquette and quickly said, "Sorry, moms." He stepped out of the way and Regina moved past him followed by Emma, who might have gotten distracted enough by Regina's surprisingly muscular arms and her ass because she stumbled slightly, dragging everyone's attention to her.
"Sorry. I'm fine. No gingerbread was harmed, I promise."
"As clumsy as ever I see, Miss Swan."
"We all know I need at least 2 accidents a day or else the world will end."
Regina's lips twitched, her eyes skimming over Emma's face, surely catching the blush on her cheeks and knowing instantly what had caused Emma's little stumble.
Emma sent her a little shrug and Regina's eyes shimmered teasingly, the two of them lost in the moment until Snow's voice cut in.
"You can put the gingerbread on the island, Emma."
"Right, sorry."
Snow smiled, rubbing her back reassuringly before she stepped away, calling out Regina's name as she went to help her with the wassail and Emma just stayed there for a few extra seconds to watch her mom and her girlfriend, discussing food for a holiday meal.
After Emma finished saying hello to her dad and baby brother and getting changed she headed back into the kitchen where Regina was peeking in the oven as she silently judged Snow's turkey. She was such a snob but Emma loved it.
"Not too late for you to take over."
Regina jumped, the oven slamming shut as Regina spun to stare at Emma with wide eyes that quickly turned into a glare at Emma's obvious enjoyment.
"Sadly there is no saving that thing."
Emma's lips twitched with a smile and she glanced around, "Where did my mom go?"
"Looking for a bowl."
Emma hummed, her eyes moving away from Regina to glance around the kitchen that looked like a tornado tore through it. "Maybe next year we should do this at your place…"
"And have more Charmings destroying my kitchen? I think not."
Emma chuckled, her eyes looking around them again before landing on the pot of wassail still shimmering on the island. "Henry isn't too bad in the kitchen…"
"You haven't walked in on him attempting to make you a mother's day breakfast before…"
Emma turned to look at her, the affection clear in her eyes as she looked across the loft at Henry sitting on the floor of the living room working on holiday crafts.
Emma felt her affection mix with jealousy for just a second, for Regina having these memories and moments with the kid, but the feeling was quickly overpowered when she caught the way Regina's nose crinkled with affection for a slip second.
Regina turned to look at Emma, her gaze caring as she said, "Maybe this year you will… then I can sleep in and you can help him clean up."
Emma laughed, looking at the kid fighting with feathers as he shoved them in a small plastic ornament before she looked back to Regina and took half a step forward, her fingers stretching out toward Regina. "What makes you think I won't be helping make the mess?"
"Your will to live."
Emma pursed her lips, nodding in thoughtful agreement, she was about to respond when they heard an excited cheer, everyone's attention looking toward the noise as Snow ran out holding up a large crystal bowl. "I found it!"
"Good for you, dear."
Emma turned to look at Regina, not surprised to see the little smirk and arched brow. After all, she never passed up an opportunity to tease her mom.
"Emma, Sweetie, if you could be of assistance and give this a rinse for me?"
Emma's smile instantly dropped and she looked at Snow with a frown, the crystal bowl held out to her and she could practically feel Regina's eyes burning into her back, ready to tease her about being a child.
"Yeah, sure, mom." Emma took the bowl from Snow, subtly sticking her tongue out at Regina as she slipped past her, although nowhere in her plan did she include Regina pinching her ass as payback and making her squeal and almost drop her mom's priceless crystal bowl that's probably been in that closet for 30 years.
Regina barely hid her laughter behind her hand as she turned to focus on the potatoes Snow was cooking, once again distracted by Snow's poor cooking skills. Emma was certain she could hear Regina thinking about how Snow had never seen a spice in her life let alone used them.
When Emma glanced back over at her Regina, she was using a wooden spoon to poke at the potatoes. It was hard not to laugh, especially when Regina looked about ready to end their truce over Snow steaming vegetables.
"Crystal is all clean!" Emma called like she hadn't taken half a century drying it because watching Regina fight her murderous instincts was just too entertaining.
Regina looked at her with wide eyes and then slowly nodded as her grip loosened on the island. "Wonderful, bring it here."
Emma nodded, eying her mom as she looked proudly at her steamed broccoli as she passed.
She placed the bowl on the counter next to Regina, watching her closely as she opened the lid of the wassail. "So uh, what's next?"
"Can you grab me a ladle, dear?"
"Uh, sure…" Emma nodded, wandering off to grab a ladle, slipping past her mom as she slipped out of the kitchen. "Okay, got the ladle, now what?"
Regina held out her hand and Emma laughed, handing it over before she stood slightly behind her to look over her shoulder as she began ladling the roasted apples into the empty bowl.
"You never explained what this was all for…"
Regina hummed thoughtfully. "My father explained it to me as a way to wish each other good health and a good year. Now back in the old world it was celebrated more commonly on the twelfth night."
"Twelfth night?"
"Basically the pagan new year."
"Oh, okay, got it…" Emma nodded, her hand falling to the small of Regina's back as she watched her carefully move another apple into the bowl.
"People would sing songs and pour wassail on their crops as a way to bless them so they would grow healthy and keep away any menacing creature that may seek to ruin their crops."
"So, it was like a spell?"
Regina chuckled. "I suppose you could look at it that way… but don't tell your mother that, you know how she feels about magic."
Emma nodded sadly, looking toward their family huddled in the living room before focusing back on Regina. "Why are we drinking it tonight?"
"Well, I doubt we will be heading up to Tiny's crop to bless it now will we?"
Emma stepped to the side to look at Regina as she placed the last apple in the bowl, her attention focused on Emma. "No I suppose not…"
"It is a drink to also bless you and bring in cheer, your mother wanted to incorporate as much of the Yule traditions as she could into this night for you and so she asked me to make this for us all."
Emma smiled, a sudden thought striking her and she smirked at Regina. "I can't believe she trusted you with apples again, you'd think two apple involved curses would have you banned for life from them."
Regina rolled her eyes, turning back to the wassail. "And risk cursing myself? Never."
Emma laughed, stretching out her foot to poke Regina's ankle playfully and Regina shook her head at her but a small smile still curled on the corners of her mouth. "Thank you, for sharing your traditions with me."
Regina turned to look at her, a confused frown pulling at her lips as she studied Emma's face. "They are your parents' traditions too. As a peasant farmer I'm sure your father took part in every part of the traditions."
"Huh… yeah I guess he would've… it's hard picturing him dancing and singing at a plant though… seems more up yours and my mom's alley."
Regina swatted her and looked back down at the pot. "Why don't you put those muscles of yours to good use and help me pour the wassail in the bowl, hmm?"
"As you wish, m'lady."
Regina rolled her eyes and stepped back, signalling Emma to step up. "Slowly, we don't need you pouring it all over the floor, Miss Swan."
"Yes, dear."
Emma lifted the pot, her eyes focused intently as she carefully poured the warm liquid over the roasted apples, the steam billowing up toward her, and she completely missed the way Regina rolled her eyes at her in the process.
"You wanna tell me when the bowl is full?"
Regina sighed and Emma could hear her footsteps as she moved around her, the silence deafening for long moments until she called out. "Stop."
Emma straightened up, looking down at the steaming drink and the apples floating in it and smiled. Not only did it smell amazing but it looked amazing too.
"Is that it?"
Regina chuckled. "Yes, dear, good work, you can put the pot down now."
"Right…"
"Oh Regina, it smells delicious!" Snow practically swooned as she came running from the living room, her smile way too wide to be normal as she hugged Regina against her side and looked down at the steaming drink. "David! Grab the cups."
Emma bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing when Regina looked at her with panicked eyes, absolutely not loving her current predicament.
"Thank you, Snow… shouldn't you be checking on your turkey? Would hate for it to dry out."
"Oh!"
And Snow was off in a dash while David placed five mugs on the island, one for each of them.
As Regina ladled wassail into each glass Snow made the happy announcement that dinner was ready but by the look on Regina's face Emma knew she had a whole different opinion on the state of their meal.
"Waes hael!" Snow cheered and Emma jumped, realizing way too late she'd been stuck once again staring at Regina, and really it wasn't her fault that she was so cute when she was grumpy and snobbish.
"Drinc hael." "Drinc hael!" Regina and her dad returned.
Emma shared a glance with Henry before they both raised their glasses and said, "Drinc hael!" "Drinc hael" although Emma's pronunciation was so far off Regina actually snorted into her mug.
"Shut up, not all of us grew up speaking… I don't even know what language that is."
"It's old English, Ma." Henry said, causing Regina to laugh again. Her arm slipped around Henry to pull him against her side, placing a kiss against his temple while Emma pouted at the teasing.
"Yeah, well, I failed our Shakespeare lesson in high school."
"That's modern English."
Emma glared at her son then looked up at his smirking mother, so proud of her baby boy.
"Yeah well, at least I know what l-m-a-o means."
"Laughing my ass off."
"Henry! Not in front of your mother," Emma hissed, eying the woman who looked a little too pleased considering her 12 year old son had just swore. "I thought you were against our son using 'crude language'?"
"Not when it's to make you look stupid."
Emma pouted at Regina before turning her focus on their son. "You know, kid, I expect this from your mom but I thought you were different."
Henry grinned up at Emma, leaning into his mom's side, exuding all the innocence only a Charming could and really it might be dangerous how much he was like both his moms.
"Sorry, Ma, but mom taught me all this when I was like 5."
"I hate you both. I can't believe my family is full of nerds…" Emma whined but realized her mistake when Regina's eyes lit up and she got that shit-eating grin on her face and… yeah she could stop it but…
"I wouldn't say full…" her eyes flicking to Snow as she cooed with David over baby Neal in his little Christmas onesie.
"I don't know, mom, Grandma's obsession with birds and Gramps' with sheep is pretty nerdy if you ask me…"
Emma snorted, her eyes shooting over to her parents before she whispered, "Hush, you two. They might hear you."
Regina's grin only got wider. "You think?"
Emma rolled her eyes, taking another drink of the wassail. "Wow, this is very good! And dinner smells amazing, mom!"
"Kiss ass," Regina mumbled and Henry snorted, drinking from his wassail as he moved to the dining room table to take a seat.
"Thank you, sweetie! I got the recipes online."
"You used a recipe to steam broccoli?" Regina's eyes were wide and Emma shot her a look, while Snow just seemed completely oblivious.
"No, no, that I can do on my own, of course, but I found one for the turkey and the potatoes."
"Did they include salt?"
"Regina! Henry didn't wash up before dinner!" Emma quickly interjected before she could say anything more about Snow's cooking.
"Ma!"
"Henry!" Regina turned on the boy, slumped in the wooden chair with a pout identical to his mom's. "Get up and wash your hands, young man! You know better than this!"
Henry huffed, pushing up from his seat, dragging his sock covered feet on the floor as he muttered, "I don't have to wash my hands at Grandma and Grampa's…"
Regina looked from the upset boy to his grandparents, muttering something under her breath in what Emma was almost certain was Spanish before she stepped up to Henry, giving him a little shove. "I don't care what they say, get moving, young man. We wash up before dinner, do the dishes and…"
"Don't wear my inside shoes in the house, I know, mom, geez. I'm not 5."
Emma giggled, watching as Regina and Henry moved out of the room, the love blooming in Emma's chest, still able to hear their muffled voices in the other room, including Henry again as he exclaimed in annoyance, "I know how to wash my hands, mom!"
Emma snorted, continuing to just watch where they vanished off to when she felt eyes burning into her back and she turned to look over at her parents. "What?"
"Nothing, Sweetie. Can you help us with the food?"
"Sure, I just gotta–"
"Miss Swan, don't think you're getting out of this!"
"Go wash my hands…"
Henry joined them again, glaring at Emma when she caught his eye and she laughed again, ruffling his hair as she passed and headed toward the bathroom, slipping past Regina in the open doorway.
"I think he might throw out my Christmas present for that."
Emma caught Regina's smirk in the reflection of the mirror and flashed her a little smile in reply.
"He'll get over it."
Regina walked over then lowered herself to the closed toilet seat and Emma looked from her to the closed bathroom door and raised a brow.
"Don't you think they'll get suspicious that we're in the bathroom together?"
"Best friends go to the bathroom together all the time, do they not? Also I need to yell at you about not enforcing our son's hygiene."
Emma rolled her eyes, turning off the tap and leaning against the sink as she looked down at Regina. "Getting him to shower and brush his teeth is hard enough at his age. He's not scared of me like he is of you."
"I do hope your mother washed her hands to prepare dinner, I am sure it will be bad enough already, but I am not interested in a side of fecal matter."
Emma laughed, pushing off the sink and flicking water at Regina as she turned to dry her hands off on the hand towel. "Don't worry, she always washes up before cooking."
"Good." Emma jumped when she heard Regina right behind her and spun around, their eyes locking instantly and Emma held her breath, frozen in place. "Now get out before they think we're either hooking up or, the most likely scenario, that I'm strangling you to death."
"Yes, dear." Emma grinned and pecked Regina on the lips super quick before she dashed out, yelling over her shoulder. "You're such a raging control freak, Regina! God!"
"I'll be less of a 'control freak' when you hold up the rules I've set for our son!"
"Ugh!" Emma grumbled, stomping over to the kitchen and silently beginning to plate the vegetables. "What?" Emma snapped at her family who were huddled together staring at her.
"Nothing, sweetie. Charming, help Emma carve the turkey."
Maybe Emma should feel bad about this little charade but when Regina passed by her toward the table to sit in the chair next to the one Emma usually occupied, her eyes glistening playfully Emma didn't regret a single thing.
Although Regina was correct about the meal being bland and the turkey being dry Emma couldn't be happier, laughing with her family, hearing endless stories about Yule back when they were kids, Henry even sharing a few stories about Regina's wassail lesson when he was a kid, it turns out, Regina was one to sing and pour a drink on her own apple tree.
Snow told them about Yule balls in the palace and David shared tales about him and his mother at the farm, the cold chilling them to their bones but he seemed so happy as he talked about the wassail tradition, seems Regina was correct about that as well.
Seems she was correct about a lot of things.
But as they sat and ate and everyone around the table shared stories about the holidays, Emma suddenly realized she had nothing to share, no fond memories, no traditions, nothing.
And although the smile didn't leave her face, she felt the joy slip away, it felt like a charade as she laughed along to David's story and then, like Regina had sensed her mood shift, she felt her warm hand against her thigh under the table.
Emma turned to look at her, staring for a second until she felt Regina give her thigh a reassuring squeeze and Emma looked away, warmth of the present seeping back into her bones as she covered Regina's hand with her own.
It reminded Emma she wasn't alone anymore, she was getting traditions, family, memories of Winter Fest with her family, dancing with Regina to Christmas songs in the snow, and soon Christmas morning with all of them.
Snow let out a hearty laugh, pulling Emma's attention to her mom and she smiled wide, her body shaking with her laughter and Emma realized David was sharing a story from before the curse, before she was even born, but there was no anger or animosity in the room and Regina seemed to be laughing too.
Regina waved Snow off with her free hand, looking to Henry, and Emma looked at him too, noticing him playing with a carrot on his plate and his expression was exactly like his mom's.
"One Winter Solstice my father snuck me out of bed, my mother was off somewhere else and so he gathered me up, still in my nighty and wrapped in furs and he took me outside, into the freshly fallen snow and we watched lights dance across the sky, it was spectacular."
Emma watched Regina closely as she spoke, feeling her heart stop in her chest, she never talked about her father, was never vulnerable with her family and a part of Emma was almost certain that before Henry, that had been her only good memory about Yule besides maybe when her father taught her how to make wassail.
Emma squeezed her hand, got the message and she thought back, to when she was nine, when her caseworker and a few others took their kids out to a skating rink, she fell more than a handful of times and spent the rest of the day sitting with her caseworker drinking cocoa but… it was nice, and it's also when she first tried cinnamon with her cocoa.
She looked back at her parents, looked between them and at Henry as he smiled at them and she told them about her only good memory; it felt small and it was nothing spectacular, but it was nice enough and with Regina's hand in hers, it made Snow's sad expression a little more bearable.
Emma watched as Henry and her parents rose from the dinner table, stacks of dishes in their arms. Once they were in the other room Emma turned slightly in her seat to face Regina, squeezing the hand on her thigh and Regina offered her a small smile in reply.
"Having fun?"
Regina snorted. "I am enjoying being with you and Henry."
Emma's lips twitched with a smile. "I appreciate the sacrifice your taste buds made tonight."
"You better make it up to me later. It has been torturous."
Emma chuckled, looking back toward her family for a second before meeting Regina's eyes again. "I can definitely do that."
"Good."
Emma smiled, her thumb brushing against the smooth skin of Regina's hand. "Thank you, for earlier…"
Regina frowned slightly but nodded and gave Emma's thigh a slight squeeze in reassurance. "Of course. The holidays are difficult for us all sometimes."
Emma looked back at her parents, at Henry nibbling on a piece of gingerbread as he supervised them… he was indeed her son. "I don't think it is for them…"
Regina let out a deep sigh, her hand turning over under Emma's, their fingers slipping together easily. "As much as I loathe to say it, they did both lose their parents, I'm sure celebrating the holidays without them is as difficult for them as it is for me."
"I never thought about that…" Emma trailed off as she turned back to Regina, her eyes soft and caring and it took everything in Emma to not lean forward and kiss her right there; so instead she squeezed her hand in hers, letting her thumb brush over smooth skin and watched the love shine brighter in Regina's eyes. "Thank you."
Regina nodded, almost curtly and Emma squeezed her hands again.
"And thank you, for sharing that story earlier, I know how hard that must've been for you."
Regina sent her a small smile and then she turned away, staring into the kitchen and Emma took the opportunity to appreciate her profile up close, the smooth perfect fall of her hair, her long eyelashes, and her cute little nose.
"What are they doing over there?"
"Huh?" Emma asked, tearing her eyes away from Regina's lips and looking back to her parents and Henry whispering together. "I don't know… maybe they have a surprise for us?"
"It better not be more food… if I have to suffer through the destruction of an apple pie I might actually have to murder your mother, Emma."
Emma snorted, her other hand reaching across herself to take both of Regina's in hers and squeezed. "You're so cute and dramatic."
"I am not cute."
Emma turned to see that angry little pout of hers and god it was so hard not to kiss it away. "You are literally the most adorable woman on earth."
Regina glared at her and Emma was pretty sure she visibly swooned. "Call me cute again, Miss Swan, I dare you."
Emma bit her lip to keep from squealing, holding her hand even tighter in her own to keep herself from leaning forward and pressing their lips together; from nuzzling their noses together until Regina's did that cute little scrunchy thing; from peppering kisses across her face until she let out that little sighing giggle.
God, it was so hard not to kiss Regina, it always had been but now it was especially hard when she knew what it felt like, when she knew the adorable and hot reactions she could get.
"The gingerbread is awesome, mom." They both jumped, turning to look at Henry with wide eyes and he just kind of smirked at them.
"Emma actually made it."
"Really?"
"Geez, kid, sound a little less surprised."
Henry rolled his eyes in true Mills fashion and sat back in his seat. "Sorry, it's just hard to believe you baked considering the cupcake incident back in New York."
"Hey! We swore to never speak of that again!" Emma stuck her finger out at Henry, glaring him down as she remembered the cup of oil she'd used instead of the ⅓ cup it asked for… the first time… the second try…
"Cupcake incident?" Regina asked with a smirk, her eyes lit up mischievously again. "Was the mixer not a one-time thing?"
"I told you they're notoriously hard to use!"
Regina actually snorted then, full on snorted as she laughed, outside the comfort of her own home; and Emma's face broke into instant enjoyment.
"She also started a fire and firemen had to come."
Emma's enjoyment instantly fell into a pout at their little rat of a son. "Can't you keep any secret?"
Henry smiled widely and yep, Emma did it again.
"Don't you dare say it," Emma warned Regina and her smile grew, almost resembling the Grinch and yeah, Emma really picked the weirdest person to fall madly in love with.
"I didn't say a thing, dear."
Emma glared at her, the look staying long after her parents put the desert on the table and it only vanished when Regina pointed out that her ice cream was going to melt.
Ice cream was more important than making sure her girlfriend didn't make any jokes about Snow being a massive blabbermouth. But Regina didn't say a word, not until she complimented Emma on her gingerbread like it wasn't her own recipe, and like she hadn't helped her each step of the way. And dammit if it didn't soften Emma like butter. That stupid charming woman ugh.
Emma watched as Regina lightly ushered Henry toward the stairs in the mansion, whispering a quiet, "Goodnight, my little prince." As she pulled away from kissing his cheek.
The love Emma felt in that moment was almost suffocating, especially after she had witnessed Henry curled into Regina's side on the couch earlier. He was completely out cold with his mom slowly beginning to follow, if her heavy eyelids and her head resting against the top of Henry's was anything to go by.
"Night, Ma," he mumbled and Emma watched him slowly walk up the stairs before her attention fell back to Regina as she leant against the banister to pull off her high heels.
"You uh… need a hand with anything before I…" Regina yawned and shook her head, but then proceeded to hold out a single shoe for Emma. "Seems even bad turkey has enough sleepy stuff to knock you out."
"I should've used tryptophan on your mother instead."
Emma chuckled, grabbing the other shoe Regina held out toward her. "What do you want me to do with these?"
Regina yawned and pointed toward the front closet before she took off her coat and handed it over to Emma as well. "Lock the door before you come upstairs."
Emma froze, not expecting the invitation at all but she couldn't even question Regina because she was already heading upstairs.
She had fully expected to just collect her car and head home, how was she going to even explain to Henry why she was spending the night… was she supposed to sleep in Regina's room again?
What would her parents think?
Emma heard a quiet cuss and her eyes focused again, staring at the empty top of the stairs for just a second before she ran to put Regina's coat and shoes away, along with Henry's and her own.
She froze again, staring inside that closet with all their coats hanging up together and their shoes side by side, and suddenly she was struck by the fact she had a family, a whole family. A brilliant kid, an incredible girlfriend, two parents who loved her… she, Emma Swan, had a family, on Christmas.
She felt the tears roll down her cheek, her hand running along the soft fabric of Regina's soft black trench coat, it was all suddenly very overwhelming.
The part of her that always ran spiked up, rearing its ugly head, but before it could win, before it could convince her to leave before they left her, she heard Regina's voice carry down the stairs, "Turn off the lights before you come up, dear!"
Then it hit her, she was home, they weren't ever going to leave her.
"Okay!" Emma called up before she closed the closet door, locked the front door, and turned off the hall light, running up the stairs and toward the dim light leaking out from Regina's bedroom.
"Are you staying the night?"
Emma jumped, turning to look at Henry from where he stood in his little Spider-Man PJs in the doorway of the bathroom and Emma nodded.
"It's late and the turkey is really hitting me. Thought it was safer to crash here again."
Henry nodded and yawned, wrapping his arms around Emma in a quick hug before he walked across the hall to his bedroom, and Emma just kind of stared for a moment.
"Can you help me get out of this dress?"
Emma once again was startled, her eyes wide as she turned to look at Regina, her hair pulled away from her face in a ponytail and her makeup washed clean, but it seems a sleepy Regina is suddenly unable to undress herself.
"Sure, if you promise to wear that large Star Wars t-shirt I saw in your dresser last night."
Regina rolled her eyes but nodded, vanishing back into her bedroom and Emma followed after her and closed the door behind her. She watched Regina pull out the t-shirt before she saw her borrowed pyjamas from last night carefully laid out on her bed waiting for her.
"Your eyes are bloodshot…" Regina's head was tilted to the side in confusion before she closed the space between them, her hands immediately falling to Emma's cheeks, gently running along them with that sad little frown and furrow of her brow. "Are you okay, darling?"
"Yeah, I'm perfect," Emma whispered, her right hand moving to cover Regina's on her cheek while the other one landed on Regina's hip, keeping her close as she let her warmth wrap around her.
"Okay…" Regina said before she leant in, her lips brushing against the corner of Emma's mouth and then over her lips. When she pulled away she pressed their foreheads together, nuzzling their noses before another yawn stretched across her face and made her nose scrunch up.
Emma yawned and pulled away, giving Regina's hip a little tap. "Okay, turn around, I wanna sleep."
Regina turned around, a little squeak escaping her mouth as she yawned again and Emma couldn't help but giggle.
"You're so adorable when you're sleepy."
"Just because I'm half asleep doesn't mean I won't strangle you with my stockings."
Emma chuckled, leaning forward to press a kiss against the base of her neck before she slowly pulled the zipper down. "There you go."
"Thank you."
Emma smiled, watching as she started to slip the dress off her shoulders and then she turned away, a heavy blush on her cheeks as she stared up at the roof. "I gotta pee."
Regina's deep throaty laugh met her ears as Emma made a beeline for the bathroom, planning to take her sweet time getting ready for bed in hopes of avoiding seeing anything she shouldn't.
She was brushing her teeth when there was a knock at the bathroom door and Emma just stared at it.
"Would you like your pyjamas or are you going to sleep in your underwear?"
Emma could hear Regina's amusement in her voice and inwardly face palmed herself at her forgetfulness. "Pyjamas," She said around her toothbrush, Regina's laughter once again meeting her ears before the door was slowly opened and Regina slipped in.
"You know we are dating now, which means you are allowed to see me undress."
Emma's cheeks got bright pink again and Regina chuckled, giving Emma's hip a nudge and Emma took a step over, watching as Regina grabbed her own toothbrush and the toothpaste.
"You're very cute when you're flustered."
Emma's blush deepened and then as she saw their reflection in the mirror, she realized how absolutely domestic this was.
Regina arched a brow and Emma looked away, bending over to spit out her toothpaste and rinse off her toothbrush. But somehow, Emma found that although it was a weird thought, it felt… natural.
Emma stepped back, dropping down to the closed toilet seat, finally taking in Regina with her little ponytail and oversized shirt and she was sure she was about to cry again. She was gorgeous, adorable, perfect.
Emma was sure that nothing would ever be as perfect as Regina like this, sleepy, fresh faced, and in a giant and noticeably aged t-shirt, the ends frayed, a stain from who knows what on it, a smudge of what looked like blue paint at her hip.
Emma's hand reached out, pulling at the hem without thinking to feel the soft cotton under her fingers, and a part of her knew Regina had this shirt for about as long as Emma has been alive, that she'd worn it when Henry was just a kid… that it was precious to her.
"Hey…" Regina's voice was gentle and caring and it pulled Emma's attention up to her face but she was mostly a blur as she moved closer and crouched in front of Emma, her hands instantly cupping to her face. "What's wrong?"
It was then Emma realized she'd actually started crying like the absolutely sappy useless homosexual she was; and because she apparently wanted to further confuse Regina, she started to laugh and crashed their lips together in a kiss Regina was quick to return.
She tasted like mint and her hands were warm against her face. Emma pulled at her, pulled and pulled until Regina was standing between Emma's legs and the kiss was broken in favour of Emma resting her head against Regina's stomach while she combed her fingers soothingly through her hair.
"I'm just really freaking happy," Emma finally whispered and Regina's hands stilled in her hair.
Emma pulled away, looking up at her as her arms slipped from around her so she could hold Regina's hips, her body heat seeping through the light cotton t-shirt and Emma smiled, moving her hands up and down her sides.
Regina tucked a lock behind Emma's ear, just watching her and Emma offered her a dopey lovesick smile Emma happily returned.
A few more seconds passed and then Regina took a step back, rinsing off her toothbrush and putting it away before she looked back at Emma, that loving yet sleepy smile still on her face. "Get changed and come to bed."
Emma nodded and did as instructed. She was under the covers with Regina's body pressed against her front in less than a minute, and Emma knew this was something she could get very used to doing every night, but she knew she shouldn't, not so soon.
Yet still, she once again fell asleep with Regina in her arms, allowing herself to savour these moments while they lasted.
A/N: thank you for reading and I hope to hear what you all think of the new chapter!
-ang