The next morning had Emma running out of the house with only a piece of bacon when a call came into the station. Which, she'll be honest, lugging Leroy's drunk ass off the pavement outside granny's at 8am hadn't really been a part of that day's plans, especially not when she was still dressed in her nice cream sweater from dinner the night before.

And then for her the Christmas chaos began, because apparently the Rabbit Hole throws quite the celebration for the lonely fairytale characters… mainly villains… mainly men.

So yes, Hook was there, and no, she definitely did not get any enjoyment out of locking him up in the holding cell all night. Seriously, it was hell, she was stuck with him all night.

Not even the leftovers Regina had dropped off that evening could have made that night any better.

But now it was Christmas Eve and she had the evening off, which meant Regina and Henry; and what Henry had described as, "the best Christmas traditions ever." Which, if they were planned by Regina, Emma was certain he was correct.

"You're late."

Emma grinned at Regina's warm welcome, slipping into the mansion past her, placing a quick kiss to her cheek as she passed. "Sorry, baby bro spit up on David before he left the house, so he was running late."

"You really need to hire more deputies."

Emma turned toward her, pausing for a second before she continued to unwrap her scarf from around her neck. "Is that so, madam mayor?"

Regina rolled her eyes and stepped forward, taking the burgundy scarf from Emma's hand and plucking the beanie from her head. "I was talking as your girlfriend who misses you. As mayor, well, we will have to have a proper meeting to discuss your budget."

Emma grinned up at her. "You miss me?"

Regina's face contorted in disgust at Emma's sappy tone which only made Emma giggle, she was just so adorable when she was confronted by her own show of affection.

"I am almost certain it was delusion, all this time apart, I simply forgot how insufferable you are. But you have since reminded me of such, I thank you."

"You're such an ass," Emma said with a chuckle, undoing her warm winter coat Regina had literally thrown at her the other day simply stating "wear it. I will not have you catching your death during the holidays." And yeah, she had a weird way of showing affection sometimes, but it's really the thought that counts.

Regina walked past her, a smirk on her face as she opened up the closet and hung up Emma's beanie and slipped the scarf around the neck of a hanger. "Coat."

Emma handed it over, her eyes finally taking in Regina, who was wearing a pair of loose slacks and another of her fancy cashmere sweaters, this one a nice deep red.

"Cute slippers."

Regina looked down, and Emma barely contained the laughter as the tiny reindeers looked like they were dancing when she wiggled her toes.

"They were a gift from Henry."

A smile spread across Emma's face and she took a step toward Regina, playfully tugging at her hip. "Have I mentioned how much I love that kid? Because him getting you in those? Just made my whole life."

"Meet us in the kitchen when you're ready," Regina simply said before she pressed a quick kiss to the corner of Emma's lips and slipped from between her arms.

Emma's eyes followed her up the stairs of the foyer and into the kitchen before she got to work on removing her shoes and putting on the extra pair of slippers in a little pouch hanging from the door of the closet.

When Emma entered the kitchen she froze in the doorway. Mother and son were standing side by side at the island, rolling out dough. Henry had little smudges of flower in his cheeks and even some in his hair, he was also sporting the cutest apron with a little reindeer on it.

And then there was Regina, still looking as perfect as a minute before, but now she had an apron tied around her; not her usual one though, this one seemed to be Christmas themed.

Regina was basically wrapped up like a present, it was mainly red with a green line down the middle and the strings wrapped around her waist which were the same colour of green, were tied in a perfect bow.

They were perfect and adorable and Emma wanted to cherish this moment forever. And she did, she pulled the phone out of her back pocket and snapped a few pictures before Henry looked up, flashing her a wide smile and, because he was her son, he did bunny ears on Regina's head and Emma laughed so hard Regina looked up at her.

"What are you two doing?"

"Nothing." "Nothing!" They chimed in unison, while Emma was still standing there vibrating with laughter as she stared at her phone.

She was going to keep that picture forever, probably frame it, and maybe sneak a wallet sized copy onto the Christmas tree.

"Very well…" Emma looked back up and could see the doubt on Regina's face as she eyed them both. Between Emma's giggling and Henry's 'innocent' expression, she definitely knew something was up, but it seemed she was choosing to ignore it. 'Tis the season, she supposes. "There is an apron over there for you."

"Oooh!" Emma's eyes widened with excitement. "Do I get a funky Christmas apron too?"

"Yeah! I picked yours out for you," Henry said with that wise shit-eating grin of his, and Emma had a bad feeling about this… I mean it can't be worse than that Halloween when he hid Snow White pictures all around Regina's home and office.

Emma eyed him suspiciously; and the smirk Regina had on her face as she stared down at the dough she was rolling didn't exactly give her the best feeling.

Emma walked across the kitchen where she found a box and with a deep breath she reached in and pulled out the apron and… "Santa Claus?!"

Henry started snickering and Emma glared at them both. "Do you like it?"

Emma pouted. "Why do you guys get to be so cute and I am Santa Claus?!"

"It was either that or an elf."

Emma's pout only got deeper and she looked at Regina who was grinning over at her. "Why couldn't I get reindeers too? Or the present? Regina looks so cute as a gift!"

Henry shrugged, looking over at his mom then back to Emma. "She wouldn't let me get her Mrs. Claus." Emma's jaw dropped open.

"I happen to think you'll look just precious as Santa, dear."

Emma gaped at her, and then, because Henry is the biggest little shit of them all, he started to hum I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.

Regina stared at her with that little grin of hers, so much like the one Henry likes to sport, because of course he got that from her.

Emma rolled her eyes, and walked over, giving Henry a little shove to get him to cut it out before she stopped by Regina between the two. "Can you help me tie this up?"

"Of course, dear."

Emma smiled and turned around, her eyes locking with Henry's as he made kissy faces at her, and she stuck her tongue out at him in return because no one ever said Emma was the mature one in this parenting arrangement.

"Would you two stop goofing around?"

"Sorry, Regina." "Sorry, Mom."

Henry dropped his head, turning back to the dough to start rolling it out again and because Emma likes living on the edge she reached out and poked him in the cheek, which honestly, was fully worth getting flicked in the ear for.

"Pass me your strings before I change my mind, Miss Swan."

"Yes, Ma'am." Emma grinned, holding the ties that went around the neck of the apron for Regina to take.

"Thank you," Regina said and instead of taking the strings she slowly and honestly teasingly brushed the hair over her shoulder, her fingers brushing against the bare skin of Emma's neck, and rendering her speechless.

Emma was certain she stopped breathing, her cheeks a soft pink as Regina took the ties and wordlessly tied them. After she was done, she reached down to grab the ones by her waist and Emma sucked in a shocked breath when Regina purposely ran her fingers under Emma's sweater.

She completely and utterly rendered her brain dead then, and Emma was certain Regina was loving every second of it.

And then, because apparently Regina enjoyed torturing her, she leaned in, her lips brushing against Emma's ear as she whispered low enough that Henry wouldn't hear, "Maybe if you're good I'll let you unwrap me later."

And Emma was stuck, standing there, for an unknown number of minutes just rebooting while mother and son just... finished rolling the dough for the cookies?

Needless to say Emma was very good the rest of the day.

They baked cookies, watched Christmas movies, overloaded on cocoa, made dinner as a family, and Regina taught Emma to make flan, which was somehow slightly less of a disaster than the gingerbread.

After dinner they watched more movies, and Regina cried during It's a Wonderful Life, tucked into her shoulder, sniffling away. Henry fell asleep during Frosty the Snowman and Emma watched, once again, in a matter of days as Regina gently woke him up, small whispers of his name as she ran her fingers through his hair.

And Emma felt like she was getting a glimpse into their lives before Emma came into it. Before a curse tore them apart.

"C'mon, my little prince, time for bed." Henry grumbled and Regina smiled that loving smile of hers and leant forward to press a kiss to his forehead, coaxing him awake. "Santa can't come if you're sleeping in the living room, mijo."

"I'm not six anymore, mama."

Regina chuckled, lowering herself onto the coffee table as she tugged on Henry's Millennium Falcon covered pyjama pants. "Too bad, you were so much easier to carry back then."

Henry finally opened his eyes, smiling when he caught sight of Regina's teasing yet affectionate look. "I'll only go if we can open our Christmas Eve gifts."

"Is that so? I thought we opened those this morning?"

Henry shook his head, slowly sitting up to face down his mom's teasing grin. "No, those were from me, we gotta open yours."

Regina laughed and nodded. Emma had never seen Henry move so fast after waking up, running and nearly falling as he made a beeline for the tree tucked into the corner of the room.

Emma looked right at Regina, catching her watching Henry with that ever growing proud and loving smile. "You did that on purpose didn't you?"

"Hmm?" Regina said, turning to look at Emma with the slightest tilt of her head.

"You wanted him to get the gifts."

Regina's lips started to curl with a smirk as she turned away from Emma to watch Henry again. "I have no idea what you're talking about, dear."

Emma chuckled and leaned forward on her knees so she was closer to Regina to whisper, "Remember, I always know when you're lying."

Regina simply just shook her head and stood up, looking at Henry who was digging under the tree. "Do you need a hand, Henry?"

"No, I got it." Henry grinned, holding up a present with a wide smile on his face and Regina nodded before she sat back down next to Emma.

Emma leaned in close to her ear and whispered, "How does he know which ones are the Christmas Eve ones?"

"He picked the wrapping paper."

"Ah…"

"Here you go, Ma." Emma looked over at the grinning boy when she heard him speak, completely distracted by his very pretty mischievous mother basically pressed against her side. "This one is yours, mom."

"Thank you, dear."

Emma looked down at the cartoonish Santa wrapping paper, a smile on her lips at the absolutely terrible wrapping job. "Did he wrap them too?"

"Huh?" Regina asked, turning to look at Emma with a raised brow and she just shook it off, deciding to focus on her first… or she supposes, second gift of the season.

"On three!" Henry exclaimed and Emma looked up in shock from where she already tore the paper. "Ma!"

"Sorry, sorry, on three."

Henry rolled his eyes, shaking his head at her while Regina just gave her that more muted loving smile of hers, the one that was Emma's alone, and sure, it was because it was a secret but still… it was nice having a smile just for her.

"Three!"

Shit. Emma and Regina quickly tore their gazes away from the other, Emma's cheeks warm from her blush as she ripped at the paper, revealing a pair of… pyjamas?

She looked over at Regina, and she saw they were the same kind, a deep burnt red with small gingerbread men covering them and Emma softened, looking back down at her pair.

"Now you can match when we take the picture in front of the fireplace!"

Emma snapped her head to look at Henry, a wide smile on his face as he held up a matching set. Emma was brought back to the pictures on the mantle and she could feel the tears gathering in her eyes as she looked between mother and son, like she couldn't believe it.

"Ma, are you crying?"

Emma reached up, wiping away the tears from her cheek with the back of her hand. "Yes I am… it's just…" Emma looked from Henry to Regina, a sappy smile spreading across her face when Regina's tender eyes met hers. "Nobody has ever done something this nice for me… Opening their home and traditions like this…"

Regina's smile grew a bit, tears shimmering in affectionate eyes as she reached out, grabbing hold of Emma's hand and squeezing tightly, so much meaning being sent Emma's way that was enough to make her start sobbing.

"You're family, Emma, this is your home too."

Emma's lower lip wobbled and she grabbed Regina's hand as she looked over at Henry, a nervous laugh forming in her throat; but when it finally passed her lips it cracked with emotion and Henry grinned at her.

"Yeah, ma, we love you."

"I love you guys too."

Regina rolled her eyes, and removed her hand from Emma's, but to her (and probably Henry's) utter surprise, Regina cupped her cheek and gently wiped away Emma's tears with her thumb, that loving look telling Emma everything she needed to know.

"Alright." Regina dropped her hand and turned to Henry. "Off to bed, young man, I'm sure you will be up at the crack of dawn and you need your sleep, you're a growing boy after all."

"Fine…" Henry sighed and stood up, looking down at them both before he leant down to press a kiss to Regina's cheek. "Goodnight, mom."

"Goodnight, my little prince."

He smiled down at her before he moved to hug Emma and she happily accepted it.

"Goodnight, ma, try not to cry anymore."

Emma laughed and gave him a little shove to the side. "Get moving, you little brat before I give your gifts to your mom."

Henry laughed as he waved goodbye and headed out of the room and to his bed, his new pyjamas hugged to his chest.

Emma turned to Regina, a smirk on her lips as she said in a mock sexy voice, "So, now that we're alone…"

Regina used two fingers to shove Emma in the middle of the forehead before she pushed up onto her feet, a sexy smirk on her lips that Emma just knew was a trap. "We could wrap Henry's presents."

"You tease. I was promised unwrapping later, not wrapping."

Regina smirked, walking backward out of the room while Emma pouted at her. "Last I checked this wasn't being good."

Emma's pout turned into a glare but still she pushed up off the couch and cleared everything off the coffee table. And hey, at least she got a kiss and a short snuggle when Regina found her washing the dishes. So points to Emma.

Emma had already wrapped 2 presents when a frustrated groan caught her attention and she turned to look at Regina, her glasses perched on her nose and a murderous look on her face that drew Emma's attention down to what she was attempting to wrap.

"Do you need a hand?"

"No, I need this thing to fucking stay put."

Emma chuckled and reached out, placing her finger in the middle of the wrapping paper to hold it in place. "See what a hand can do?"

Regina levelled her with a glare and she flashed Regina her most charming of smiles. It didn't work. "I am more than capable of wrapping presents on my own. I have been doing it for 12 years I think I can manage one stupid Lego set."

"Hogwarts is not a stupid Lego set, you didn't see me calling your millennium falcon set stupid now did you?"

"That's for Henry." Regina placed the tape finally and Emma removed her hand, the frustration still on her face.

"Yeah, and I got Hogwarts, which is also for Henry."

Regina looked up at her, her glare only strengthening and Emma held up her hands in surrender, going back to wrapping another plaid shirt… how many that kid needed was beyond Emma.

Long minutes passed, mostly containing a slew of curse words in every possible language, where Emma honestly started to fear for the poor Lego sets life expectancy.

The prolonged silence should've been Emma's first clue when she wrote another "From Mama." On a label for the 5th present she wrapped, but she was too focused on not fucking up that she didn't think about it until the thud.

She jumped, looking over at Regina who was pulling out another gift and preparing to cut the wrapping paper, Emma almost too scared to ask how Hogwarts was faring.

"Pass the tape."

Emma carefully slid it over, staring at Regina like she was the fearsome evil queen, seriously, Emma was certain Regina would be on cloud nine wrapping presents but…

"Did you put a label on the gift?"

"Of course I did."

Emma eyed her, watching as she once again fumed at the paper not fitting around the gift. "You cut it too small." Regina looked up at her, her glare somehow more dangerous. "Here, wrap this game instead, I'll wrap the comics."

Regina softened slightly and nodded, taking the Xbox game from Emma, placing it upside down on the wrapping paper to begin the process, and it went much smoother, or at least with less swearing.

It was easy for Emma to get back into the swing of things, everything floating away as she wrapped present after present in lightning speed after many years of being a mall gift wrapper. She knew every trick of the trade, could curl a perfect ribbon and wrap any gift.

She loved it, honestly, always had, it was how she felt connected to others during the holiday season, signing gifts to kids from Santa or to people's parents.

She put her love in each gift she got the chance to wrap. It helped her knowing that in some way she was a part of someone's Christmas, that she made it a little easier, a little better.

And now she got to do it for her family, create the perfect Christmas for them, make it so Regina had less to do, less stress over it all. Although maybe she wasn't doing that very well.

She looked away from her perfectly wrapped present to Regina, as cute as ever with her furrowed brow and her bottom lip held between her teeth as she focused intently on sticking the tape down just right on the wrapping paper.

Her sweater had been discarded leaving her in a silk slip and her slacks, her hair tucked behind her ears. She looked as focused as she did frustrated, Emma had never imagined Regina like this, ever.

She kind of loved it.

Her attention fell to the gifts, a few now stacked on the Hogwarts box and they were a little… worse for wear.

It was hard for Emma not to giggle at how cute that was, how cute she was, even as she growled in frustration and threw a piece of crumpled up tape on the coffee table.

Then suddenly Regina looked up, probably sensing her eyes on her and she pouted, her anger mostly passed and Emma softened even more.

"How do you do that?" Regina whined, gesturing to Emma's pretty large stack of perfectly wrapped gifts and Emma shrugged.

"Practice, I guess. I think I worked as a gift wrapper for like 5 years."

Regina looked down at hers and Emma scooted closer, taking in the uneven sides and the parts of the pattern removed from misplaced pieces of tape before she looked back up at her.

"I can teach you?" Regina's face contorted in a frown and Emma chuckled, leaning forward to press a kiss to Regina's cheekbone. "It's okay to not be good at everything. I'm sure Henry loves your wrapping."

Regina pouted. "He is better at wrapping than me, Emma. He is a teenage boy!"

Emma giggled and took Regina's hands in hers, bringing her full focus to her. "Listen, nobody, especially a kid cares what the wrapping paper looks like, they just tear into it."

Emma looked back at Regina's wrapping job and she smiled. "And honestly, I think it's cute, I hope my other gifts look like this."

Regina turned to look at the partially wrapped present, her lower lip jutting out so adorably Emma could barely stop herself from kissing her.

"Can you help me fix this?"

Emma looked down at it then at Regina's shy yet hopeful expression and this time Emma didn't stop herself from leaning forward and pressing her lips to Regina's.

Regina's hand immediately cupped her jaw and she leaned in closer, that happy sigh of hers vibrating through Emma making her smile against Regina's lips.

"C'mon, Mills, we got this. If you can teach me magic I can teach you wrapping."

"Don't forget cooking."

"Never." Emma pecked her lips again and turned to face the gift, pulling it closer to her chest as she studied it closely. "You… really did a number on this… how much tape have you used?"

"Not as much as I've thrown away?"

Emma laughed, and then just worked with what she had, and although she might've preferred to just remove the paper and start over, she didn't want to insult her by doing so.

"I could write the labels, my penmanship is much nicer than yours."

Emma smirked and held out her hand for Regina. "Tape."

Regina took off a piece and stuck it to Emma's finger, watching her over her shoulder like it was an intense operation.

"Are you sure you don't wanna keep trying?"

Regina sighed. "Maybe I will attempt a few more times, but I would also like to go to sleep before 2am since Henry is always up by at least 7."

"Gotcha." Emma finished up the wrapping and slid it over to Regina so she could write out the label. "Now, let the lessons begin."

Regina nodded and sat up a little straighter, watching Emma's every movement as she measured and cut out the wrapping paper, each step explained and demonstrated before it was Regina's turn.

Emma talked her through each step, her giggles shaking her whole body as Regina still grumbled at the tape in frustration. Seems her majesty had a new mortal enemy and it was scotch tape.

Emma leaned in, kissing Regina's temple over and over. And eventually when Regina looked ready to murder Henry's brand new Xbox controller, Emma held Regina's chin between her thumb and finger and turned her head, tipping it up the slightest bit so their lips could meet in a long kiss intended to calm her.

"Okay, lesson's done for tonight. You write, I'll wrap."

Regina nodded and leant back against the armchair. Emma could feel her eyes on her, and eventually distracted fingers started dancing over her back as a way to entertain herself.

Once it was time for the first label to be written though Regina was sitting up again, spending the rest of the evening just watching Emma closely, occasionally kissing her shoulder or jaw. She combed her fingers through Emma's hair and traced them along the shell of her ear, lost in her own mind and Emma didn't mind one bit.

When Emma stepped out of the bathroom in her brand new flannel PJs she froze, her hand moving to her mouth to stop herself from squealing at the very adorable sight of Regina in her own set.

"Oh my god!"

Regina spun to look at her, finger pointing at Emma in warning. "Don't you dare say it, Swan."

"I think I died and went to heaven because this is the greatest thing I have ever seen."

"Keep it up, dear and you certainly will be dead."

Emma curled her lips in, trying poorly to contain her excited noises because she was just so… "I'm sorry I know I should be scared but, look at you!"

Regina's glare hardened and Emma smiled widely as she moved closer to Regina, her eyes taking in the cute little gingerbread men and how huge the pyjamas looked on her. She just looked so tiny.

"If you squeal I will throw you out into the snow."

"No you won't," Emma said, tugging on the front of Regina's shirt to pull her closer until they were less than a foot apart, close enough for Emma to lean down and kiss her. And she did.

Regina muttered angrily against her lips before she softened into it, her hands gripping the collar of Emma's matching pyjama top to keep her as close as possible.

Their bodies pressed together and Emma felt the soft flannel under her hands and she pulled back looking down into Regina's eyes, loving the faint colour on her cheeks and her tussled hair.

"God I love you so much."

Regina's head tilted and Emma's face contorted as she struggled to keep in her overwhelming emotions of 'my girlfriend is the cutest thing ever, I wanna squish her face'.

"You want to call me cute again, don't you?"

Emma's hands moved to Regina's face, holding her cute cheeks in her hands and squishing them slightly. "You're just so tiny."

Regina glared at her and Emma giggled, leaning in to nuzzle their noses together until Regina started to laugh, her hands resting on Emma's hips to hold her close.

When Emma pulled away, she actually, honest to god, swooned the second she saw Regina's nose scrunched up with her smile. Honestly it was unfair how cute this woman was, how can someone who was known as the Evil Queen just be so cute?

Regina rolled her eyes like she could sense Emma's thoughts, tugging on Emma's hips as she walked backwards, definitely trying to distract Emma from her cuteness, and it might've worked any other day, but not tonight, even as they kissed all Emma could think about was her adorable girlfriend in her adorable pyjamas being grumpy over Christmas wrapping.

She was perfect. Literally the definition of perfection. Even her supposed flaws were perfect.

So yeah, Emma might be a little obsessed with her girlfriend, but who could blame her?

Sure enough at nearly 7am on the dot Henry was banging on Regina's bedroom door. Emma, who was currently spooning his still completely out cold mother with a hand under her pyjama top stared at the closed door in fear. Because like, this was soooo bad.

Regina grumbled and rolled over in Emma's arms, burrowing her head in Emma's neck as she grumbled, "go away."

Emma struggled to come up with a plan even as Henry's laugh travelled through the door and met their ears.

"I'll put on the coffee, if you're not downstairs in 5 minutes I am coming in there to wake you up, young lady."

Regina grumbled again and Emma had to bury her face in Regina's neck to stop from laughing at this strange turn of events. Wondering when this whole thing had started, but she had a feeling it'd been pretty early on.

Emma waited until she couldn't hear him anymore and pulled back slightly, to look down at Regina's sleepy pout, her hand rubbing her back soothingly as she peppered kisses over her face until she got something other than sleepy grumbles.

"Morning…" Regina yawned and Emma smiled, bumping their noses together to get the desired reaction of the cutest sleepy smile anyone had ever seen.

"Good morning, sleepyhead. Merry Christmas." Regina smiled and leaned in, pressing a kiss to Emma's lips before nuzzling against her chest, hugging her as tight as she could.

"Merry Christmas," came Regina's muffled and sleep-filled voice a few seconds later, and Emma peppered kisses wherever she could reach for a few more long moments.

Emma let out a long sigh. "I should slip out before he comes back."

She could feel Regina's pout against her neck, meeting her eyes when Regina pulled away to look at her, her hand immediately moving to comb through Regina's messy curls.

"You should… and I should put on a bra and brush my teeth…"

Emma frowned. "So should I… gross."

Regina chuckled, pressing another kiss to Emma's lips before she rolled over onto her back, staring up at the ceiling. "We could lie and say you came in here after he left."

Emma laughed and rolled onto her side, her right hand propping her head up while her other one found its way to Regina's belly and traced over the buttons on her top. "You think he'd buy that?"

"Unlikely."

Emma sighed, really not wanting to get up and leave Regina. "We could start brushing our teeth and say I came in here to borrow your toothpaste."

Regina's lips pursed in thought, Emma's eyes tracing over the angles of her face in the dim light as she waited for a response.

"You go to the bedroom door, knock, I'll yell come in, then you open the door and we brush our teeth, he'll never know."

Emma giggled. "He so got his operations from you." She leaned forward, pressing a kiss to Regina's cheek before she rolled out of bed and headed toward the door.

"Wait!" Regina hissed and Emma turned to look at her in panic. "Bras first."

Emma laughed and walked into the bathroom where she left hers and slipped it on under her clothes. When she looked up again Regina was standing in the open doorway of the bathroom, just smiling at her and Emma blushed slightly under her affectionate gaze.

"What?"

"Nothing, just thinking about how beautiful you look in the morning."

Emma frowned at that, looking in the mirror and just seeing her messy hair and a definite pillow print on her cheek.

"Oh god, you're as useless as me."

"I certainly am not!" Regina puffed out her chest, chin jutted out in irritation, and Emma laughed, taking the few steps it took to close the distance between them and grabbed onto her hips. Regina's eyes fell closed, not even registering that Emma had turned them around until Emma had let go. "Hey!"

Emma smirked, walking backward toward the closed door, standing right behind it she raised her hand and knocked.

Regina barked out a laugh, her eyes rolling as she leaned against the doorjamb. "Come in!"

Emma pulled open the door and made a beeline across the room, pressing a kiss to Regina's cheek before she slipped past her and into the bathroom, already beginning to brush her teeth.

The worst part is, their whole ruse was pointless, because Henry didn't come back up. They found him in the kitchen snacking on a sugar cookie while he waited for the coffee to finish brewing.

The little shit ruined her quality morning cuddle time for nothing.

They silently sat together, watching Henry unwrap his presents, their thighs pressed together to be as close as they could get without it being suspicious.

Regina drank the too bitter coffee like it was something amazing and Emma lasted two sips before she abandoned the cup in favour of pulling out the candy from the stocking Henry had practically thrown at her the second she sat down.

It seemed Regina could fit a lot in these things, because it was a never ending supply of chocolates and candy canes. But she couldn't exactly complain about that.

Eventually her digging got her to a small wrapped box, the edges poking at her hand telling her exactly who it was from. It seemed Emma's pause at endless amounts of candy winding up in Regina's lap pulled her attention away from their son to look at her.

"And here I thought the candy would keep you from finding that for at least a week," Regina said as Emma pulled the box free from the stocking, her nerves obvious in her voice.

"What is this?"

Regina sighed. "Your Christmas present, Emma. What else would it be?"

Emma rolled her eyes at Regina's sarcasm but quickly trained her eyes back on the small box wrapped in the familiar reindeer paper she had used up last night with Henry's gifts.

She picked at the torn edge sticking up, a weird sense of affection stirring in her as she remembered last night.

Emma turned to look over at Regina, who was gnawing on her bottom lip as she waited for Emma to open the gift, and Emma didn't think as she straightened up enough to press a kiss to Regina's forehead, hoping to calm her nerves.

"Would you just open it already, Miss Swan?"

Emma chuckled and looked down at the box, easily tearing the paper away to reveal the velvet box hidden inside. She eyed Regina out of the corner of her eye for a second before she finally opened it and… "A key?"

Regina let out a nervous laugh, "Yes, a key."

Emma met her eyes, seeing the panic and irritation clear as day shining through in them. She reached out, taking Regina's hand as she stared at the key. "What is it for?"

Regina rolled her eyes. "The house, you idiot. What other place would I be giving you a key to?"

Emma laughed, shrugging as she looked back down at the key in disbelief. "But… why?"

Regina squeezed her hand, before she reached out, turning Emma's chin to meet her eyes. "Because this is your home too."

Tears instantly welled in Emma's eyes, all her emotions welled up in her chest, and she was about to lean forward and kiss Regina when suddenly she was reminded of their demon spawn.

"Mom, you made Emma cry again!"

Regina laughed and Emma joined in, her eyes filled with tears as she tipped her head until it was against Regina's forehead. She didn't even care anymore.

"It appears Emma is very easy to make cry during the holidays."

Henry chuckled and Emma pulled back to look at the young boy sitting amongst gifts and wrapping paper in front of the tree.

"Hey, kid, can you do me a favour and bring that gift for your mom with the silver paper over here?"

"Sure."

Regina eyed her funny and Emma flashed her a hopefully reassuring smile, but Regina's head only tilted slightly in response.

"Here you go, mom." Regina's eyes snapped to Henry and as she reached for the box, Henry leaned down to whisper, "You might wanna fix your hair."

Regina and Emma both looked at him weird before he scurried away back to his spot by the tree, but Regina's hands still moved to fix her hair in case it was something major.

Emma looked back at Regina, watching as she nervously fiddled with the small box perfectly wrapped in shiny silver paper.

"I uh… I know it might be a little much but when I saw it earlier this month I immediately thought of you and well…" Emma blushed brightly, her shoulder raising in an unconscious shrug as she looked up to meet Regina's curious, yet loving, eyes.

Regina looked back down at the gift, Emma's heart beating like an anxious drum in her chest, she had spent nearly all her savings on this gift, it was completely idiotic, but the second she had seen it she knew it was meant for Regina.

"Well… open it." Emma gave her a nudge, a little hopeful smile on her face making Regina laugh.

"You're as bad as Henry with patience."

"Says you."

Regina looked up at her, affection bright in her eyes when they locked with Emma's. "Yes, says me."

Emma gave her another nudge and Regina focused on her gift, slowly removing the paper like she wasn't wrapping papers' worst enemy.

Emma grumbled impatiently and Regina laughed again, finally tearing the paper free to reveal a white box with the jewellery store's name embossed on top of it in gold lettering.

Regina looked at her, her eyebrows nearly raised in her hairline. "Emma…"

"Open it before I throw up, woman!"

Regina rolled her eyes, but her smile was still affectionate. She removed the lip from the box and paused again, the emerald green satin making her pause for another few seconds, her eyes flicking to Emma who hadn't stopped watching her the whole time.

She couldn't, she was practically vibrating with nerves. Because what if she hated it? No, no, she'll love it. Emma knows her. Even back then.

Regina tipped the box upside down and the one inside slipped out, sitting in the palm of her hand and Emma just couldn't handle how beautiful she looked right now.

Emma unconsciously reached out, tucking a lock of hair behind Regina's ear so she could properly see her face, but it made Regina look up at her, curious and a little nervous and Emma sent her all the love she could in a single look.

Emma watched her features as she slowly opened the top of the box, Emma practically giddy with excitement.

The lid creaked as it opened, but Regina's gasp overshadowed it as she looked at what was inside.

Her head snapped to look at Emma, an almost choking sound leaving her mouth again before she looked down at the box. Emma's eyes followed hers to make sure she hadn't gifted her the wrong thing but no, there it was, a cushion cut garnet ring, little diamonds surrounding it. The gold band shimmered in the light, along with the small diamonds on the other ring, just a simple band, and the gems looked like they were woven together in figure eights.

Emma looked back at Regina's face, she still looked… shocked.

"I know it's a lot… if you don't like it I think I can still return it…"

Regina let out another choking noise before her hand moved to cover her mouth, her eyes finding Emma's again and Emma instantly caught the tears in them.

"Oh god you hate it! It's too weird right?! It just… I saw it and it screamed you, like I couldn't leave the store without it–"

"Emma." Regina choked out and Emma immediately shut up, waiting for her to say something more but her mouth just opened and closed wordlessly.

"You can say if you hate it."

Regina laughed, broken with emotion and tears and Emma gnawed on her bottom lip as she said, "Please, just, shut up for a second."

Emma opened her mouth to reply but a single glare had Emma snapping her mouth shut again, watching Regina nervously in the deafening silence.

It felt like an eternity had passed when Regina looked at her again, her face under control again as she asked, "Do you know what these are?"

Emma frowned. "They're rings?"

She vaguely heard Henry choke on something, a muffled mumbling of words that had her quickly looking at the boy who for some reason was practically ripping out his own hair.

Regina sighed and reached out to take Emma's hands, pulling them into her lap to get Emma's undivided attention, and probably lessen the blow when she told her the gift was horrible.

"Emma, darling…" Regina trailed off, her grip tightening on Emma's hands. "They're an engagement ring and wedding band."

Emma's jaw dropped open, probably mirroring Regina's look earlier and then she looked down at the box still sitting in Regina's lap. "I uh… I now know why David and the sales clerk were looking at me so funny…"

Regina laughed, a relieved one and then it hit her.

"Oh my god! You thought I was proposing?!"

Regina pulled back, laughter pitching up her voice as she said, "What else was I supposed to think?!"

"Regina! It's been like a week! I'm not that crazy!"

Regina started laughing more, gripping Emma's hands in hers. "You told me you bought these a month ago."

"Yeah when we were just friends. Oh god! That would've been so much more awkward!"

Regina laughed, her whole body sagging in relief and Emma joined in on her laughter. "You're such an idiot."

"Yours." Emma grinned.

Regina shook her head, and Emma smiled, about to lean in and kiss her–

"You two are dating?!"

They jumped apart, staring across the room at Henry, standing before them, with obvious annoyance on his face.

"Honey…" "It's only been a few days, kid." They both rushed to reassure him and he shook his head.

"I'm not upset you're dating! I'm upset I didn't figure it out!"

"What?" Regina said and Emma just started to laugh and fell back against the couch. Because freaking Mills'.

"Did my operation work? Did the mistletoe make you finally kiss?"

Emma just laughed harder and Regina's hand fell to her knee, squeezing it tightly.

"I suppose it was a catalyst in the situation."

"Yes! I knew it'd work!"

"Henry…" Regina started and Emma opened her eyes, looking from her girlfriend to their son. "You have to understand this is very new…"

"You gave Emma a key to our house. And I know she was sleeping in your bed last night."

Their jaws dropped open at the same time.

"How?"

"You think I wouldn't have tried to wake you up too, Ma? I opened the door and you weren't in there." He said, rolling his eyes like it was so obvious and honestly… it kind of was.

"You mean to tell me, I could have continued to cuddle your mom this morning?"

"Emma!"

"Oh gross!"

"God, you two are so weird, it's just cuddling." Emma rolled her eyes at them. "For starters, Regina, Henry knows you're a giant soft snuggle bug, you never turn them down. And secondly, kid, there's nothing gross about cuddling, especially cuddling your mom. She's very soft."

Henry's face contorted in disgust, looking toward Regina like 'you're gonna let her do this to me' and Regina just laughed.

"You brought her here, darling."

Henry rolled his eyes. Looking between the two, and falling on Emma's hand as it covered Regina's on her knee. "So like… you two are really like together and happy?"

"We are."

"Very happy."

Regina sighed, looking over at Emma for a second before turning back to Henry and holding out a hand for him. He wandered over slowly, slipping his hand in Regina's and falling to the couch next to her when she gave him a little tug.

He immediately tucked himself into her side, and Emma watched as Regina rubbed at his arm, placing a few kisses to the crown of his head.

"Okay, but Henry, you need to understand this is very new…"

"I know…"

Emma looked at Regina and she got a loving look in response, her eyes falling down to the open ring box as Henry pulled it closer to fiddle with the rings.

"And we'd like to keep this between us for a bit longer… until we figure things out."

"Not even grandma and grandpa?" Henry pulled back to look at Regina and Emma nervously bit her lip, and her nerves only got stronger when he got that panicked look on his face, the one Emma knows too well after that first year of operation cobra.

"Henry… what did you do?"

Henry looked from Emma then up to his mom. "Don't be mad…"

"Henry Daniel Mills what have you been up to?!"

Henry slipped off the couch, standing in front of his moms, his hands held out placating. "Just… don't freak out. It's really not that bad…"

"Henry…"

Henry winced, looking at Emma for help before breaking out his very best puppy dog look in hopes to soften Regina. "They uh… they might be in on Operation Lobster… also known as Operation Love Birds by Grandma…"

Regina's expression soured and Emma started to laugh, because, yup, sounds like them.

"I mean, it's not all my fault! They thought you two have been secretly dating since the curse because Ma bought an engagement ring with Gramps! I helped convince them you two were just dumb!"

"He does have you there, my darling."

Emma's mouth fell open, the betrayal, putting this on her. It's not her fault she was a hopeless idiot in love. "I hate you both…"

Regina laughed and turned her body to press a kiss to Emma's temple which helped heal her bruised ego.

"So uh… can we tell them then?"

Emma and Regina looked at each other, a silent conversation going on between them before Emma turned to look at Henry. "No, kid, not just yet…"

Henry groaned. "This is about to be the weirdest afternoon ever."

"All afternoons are weird with your grandparents, dear."

Henry glared at his mom and Emma laughed.

"Is this a good time to mention your mom still hasn't opened her stocking and we still gotta do that family photo?"

Regina gave Emma a playful shove but it got Henry distracted as he ran to grab the stocking for Regina.

"You're gonna love what else I got you," Emma whispered in her ear and Regina pulled back, an eyebrow raised.

"What is it? A bridal garter?"

"Fuck off."

Regina chuckled and turned just in time to grab the stocking from Henry, Emma's other gift sticking out of the top. Regina eyed her and Emma could barely contain her giggles as Regina pulled the little paper booklet out and Henry actually groaned when he saw it.

"Coupons?"

"God, ma that's so cheesy."

Emma laughed some more, watching Regina's face as she flipped through them, she couldn't contain the love as it broke through her face and she turned to Emma, pulling her in for a quick kiss. "You're an idiot."

Emma smiled against her lips before she pulled her back in, the two of them lost in their little world until they heard an over exaggerated gag from across the room.

"I am still here, you guys." They both blushed, looking apologetically at their son. "Can we take these pictures before grandma and grandpa show up? If they find out we wear matching pyjamas mom might murder grandma to keep her quiet."

They both laughed, mostly because Emma was pretty sure he was right. She definitely would.

They cleaned up Henry's garbage pile together before they propped the camera on the coffee table and sat on the floor, Henry nestled between both his moms as they smiled at the camera.

They took a few pictures, some goofier, Emma making Regina laugh with her head thrown back and falling into her. Emma doing bunny ears on Henry, and Regina using magic to put actual bunny ears on Emma.

All in all it was only a few minutes but by the end they were laughing hysterically, flicking through the photos together to choose their favourites when one extra click found Emma and Regina staring down at a photo of them both, the second Regina had opened the ring box.

It was before the panic set in, and for that second, she actually looked… excited? In love? Emma wasn't sure but when she looked at her Regina seemed to be a little shy, a blush on her cheeks before she excused herself to change.

It took Emma a long moment to realize Regina took the rings with her.

What could that even mean?

Emma watched in awe at the completely synchronized chaos that was Regina and Henry preparing for brunch. Okay, chaos was making it sound like they were destroying the house, but no, it was just insane for Emma to wrap her head around how mother and son prepared and moved so fluidly together.

And at that moment it finally hit Emma that Regina had taught Henry how to cook in this very kitchen, he moved almost exactly like her, his mixing was a little messier and after one eggshell wound up in the eggs Regina sent him off to set the table.

"Not the good china!" She yelled across the room, still in her Christmas apron and her hair twisted back in a bun as she whipped eggs and cooked bacon.

Henry muttered something back, Emma didn't quite catch it but it made her feel a little bit at home as she watched the two people she loved most in this world, just, being together.

After everything that happened in their relationship and their year apart, it was just nice to see Regina happy, to see Henry at home. To see how much he really was like his mom, especially when he breezed right past her, muttering in Spanish as he grabbed the little step stool Regina kept stored in the cabinet to reach something on the top shelf.

"Mama, which napkins?"

Regina looked up at him, Emma swooning from the smudge of flour on her cheek from brushing hair off her face.

"White and gold." Henry nodded, and reached in to grab them. "No, no, use the red, I don't need your grandparents staining my good table cloth."

"I already put the red one down, red napkins will look weird."

Regina muttered something under her breath, pushing the bacon around the pan before her attention moved back to the French toast. "White and gold then."

Emma watched as Henry pulled out a small stack of plates, a small pile of cloth napkins on top and then he just looked at Emma.

"Well, make yourself useful, Ma."

Emma laughed, because yeah, he really was his mother's son. She moved toward him, taking the plates and napkins into the formal dining room, hearing the faint bickering from mother and son as she left the room.

It was then that she realized she has never set a table, a formal table, in her whole life. Luckily the doorbell suddenly going off gave Emma the perfect out.

"I got it!" She cut through the dining room and straight for the front door in hopes to avoid the judgemental eyes of Henry and Regina as she bailed on her only task.

Emma came to a stop, her hands moving over the nice shirt she'd borrowed from Regina to flatten any wrinkles and then she opened the door, her smile wide to greet her parents.

"Merry Christmas!"

"Oh, Honey, you look beautiful." Emma blushed slightly under her mother's compliment before she was engulfed in a hug. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, kiddo," David greeted, hugging Emma once Snow slipped inside with her hands filled with gift bags.

"Merry Christmas, dad. Did you two have a good morning?" Emma stepped away to let her dad in with the stroller.

"Oh it was lovely, we took videos of Neal opening his presents if you'd like to see."

Emma smiled, about to reply when she heard the distinct sound of high heels on the hardwood floors and turned to watch Regina enter, looking nothing like the woman she saw a few seconds ago in the kitchen.

"Snow, Charming, welcome."

"Merry Christmas, Regina."

"Merry Christmas." She walked toward them, stopping by Emma's side as she looked them over. "Please remove your shoes and coats and you may put your presents in the sitting room. Emma, you can show them where to find the slippers so they don't ruin my floors?"

Emma nodded, Regina's hand pressed to her back before she headed back into the kitchen, surely to take back control of the breakfast from Henry.

"Well, isn't she fancy?"

"I mean… she is a Queen," Emma joked and her parents thankfully laughed, Emma's nerves floating away before she began to help them, distinctly aware of the fact that the familiar bickering from the Mills' was no more.

Emma kind of wished they kept it up, let others see them as they truly were. Emma just hoped that by the end of today Regina let her parents see more of the amazing woman and mom she loved so much.

Emma was back in the kitchen, helping Regina with the French toast, okay, she wasn't much help, but she was there for moral support. By that she means she was mainly hugging her and pressing little kisses to her neck. But like, comfortingly so.

Brunches are very stressful. It was her job as her girlfriend to make sure she wasn't stressed.

And she'd been doing a damn good job until their buzzkill of a son burst into the room looking like the whole house had gone up in flames.

"Grandma wants to hang up more mistletoe. She thinks this will be the one to get you guys." He hissed and they both just blinked at him. "You two are cuddling?! I thought this was a secret and you're–" He waved them off, a hand pinching his nose and Emma had to bury her face in Regina's neck to hide her giggling, because he really was just a tiny version of her.

"What should I tell her?"

Emma stepped away from Regina, both of them sharing a look before looking back to their 12 year old son who looked like a businessman after the stock market crashed.

"Let her."

"What?" Henry asked, staring at Regina like she grew another head and Emma definitely didn't keep her laughter in this time.

"They might get suspicious if you don't."

"Yeah, and it'd be really funny to mess with her. Really, I'm sure it'll make your mom's whole Christmas."

"But then–" Henry groaned. "If this bites you two in the butt it's not on me, understood?"

Emma laughed, looking at their adorable son. "Look at him, Regina, he's like a little man. A little you, he even has the same irritated scowl."

Regina's nose scrunched up, looking at Henry like he was her whole world and she was seconds away from covering his face in kisses and Henry seemed to sense that because he was gone in a flash.

"Remind me to get him flash PJ's for his birthday…" Regina looked at her then back to where Henry was once standing. "Oh come on, he deserves this after his little tricks."

"Yes, but I feel a little bad, I hate seeing him with that little stressed furrow." Regina pouted at her, even going as far as to poke Emma between her eyebrows where it shows on her as well.

"He'll be fine. And don't worry, I already plan on buying him a shit ton of video games and ice cream."

Regina nodded and moved back to the food. "Just, don't tell him I approve, if he knows I support it he'll never listen."

Emma laughed, pressing a kiss to Regina's cheek. "I know about your late nights watching Star Wars and eating ice cream, Mills. That kid can't keep anything a secret."

"He couldn't have just stuck with inheriting your mother's eyes and your father's insufferable charm, could he?"

"Nope!" Emma grinned, moving back to wrap her arms around Regina's waist and snuggled into her neck before she whispered, "He had to be noble, just like his sweet mom who taught him about heroes and right and wrong."

"I am not sweet."

"And yet you passed on all those parts of you Snow told me all about."

"Yes, my naivety. And you saw how that turned out."

Emma pressed a kiss to where her neck curves into her shoulder, smiling against her skin and swaying them slightly. "Yes, it turned into the sweetest most caring kid I have ever seen."

Regina's hand covered hers for a second, a quiet thank you before she got back to finishing up the preparations for brunch.

Regina called everyone into the dining room not long later, the food set up perfectly, looking like it belonged in a painting and not something they should actually be eating.

She seemed so proud. Looking perfect in her black slacks and deep green cashmere sweater that almost perfectly matched the button up Emma was wearing. But they definitely weren't colour coordinating… no matter what Henry claimed.

It took Emma a solid 5 seconds before she noticed the mistletoe and almost laughed, her gaze pulling Regina's up to it and she smiled, her brain already coming up with a mischievous plan as she slipped by Emma and back into the kitchen to get the last touches for the meal.

"Wow, this looks amazing!"

"Smells pretty great too," Emma added, grinning at her parents across the room.

Snow's eyes moved to look above Emma before they focused back in her face, now if Emma didn't know about their little plan maybe she would've missed it but that little gesture was very obvious to her now.

"Very good, I can't wait to eat."

Emma smiled at David who immediately sat at the table, ready to dig in the second he could. At least Emma now knew where she and Henry got it from.

"Where is Regina?"

Emma shrugged and glanced behind her. "I think she went to grab something from the kitchen."

Snow nodded, shuffling slowly to her chair, still watching Emma, and really, she was pretty freaking obvious.

"I forgot the serving spoon for the fruit." Regina returned with a smile, her empty hand falling to Emma's shoulder as she squeezed by, but her eyes travelled up, pretending like she caught sight of something hanging above them, like she didn't know it was already there. "Where did that come from?"

"Huh?" Emma played along, looking up at it. "Weird. This is the second time this has happened, Regina, I'm starting to think your house has a mistletoe problem."

Regina chuckled, and shrugged, making as if she was about to walk away.

"Wait!" They both froze, staring at Snow, her hand stretched out, and her eyes wide in panic, it was kind of cute how dedicated to their happiness she was. "You have to kiss! It's tradition! You don't want bad luck!"

Regina laughed again, shaking her head at Snow before she looked over at Emma. "What do you think, dear? Want to risk the bad luck?"

Emma pursed her lips in thought. "Nah, knowing Storybrooke I'd end up turning into the Dark One or marrying Hook."

Regina cringed. "Yes, we can't risk that."

"No, definitely not." Emma grinned, both of them standing there until Snow looked ready to scream. "Divert your eyes, kid if you don't wanna see me kissing your mom."

Henry rolled his eyes and Snow let out a little noise that was probably excitement at her plan working.

Emma met Regina's eyes again. "Well, here goes nothing." And then she grabbed Regina's face and pulled her into a kiss. Regina let out a little surprised gasp before her free hand slipped into Emma's hair and the other sat on her hip, the serving spoon stabbing into Emma uncomfortably but she didn't really care, especially when Regina's tongue was in her mouth.

After a few good long moments that she was sure would scar her parents out of ever trying to meddle in her life again, Emma pulled away, smirking at Regina smugly.

Regina's eyes fluttered up and she swayed slightly in her spot, her lip pulled between her teeth bashfully as her hand moved to wipe the lipstick off Emma's bottom lip.

"Well…" Regina took a step back, adjusting her sweater as she looked at her parents. "That should ward off all bad luck." Snow nodded dumbly. "Brunch?"

Snow's mouth fell open and Emma pretended she didn't notice as she rushed toward the chair next to Regina's at the head of the table. "Yes! I'm starved."

"You–" Snow squeaked out and Emma and Regina both turned to look at her, curiosity and innocence painted clearly on both their faces. "Oh come on. You two can't–"

"Look at that, Snow, Regina even made your favourite!" David announced as he used a fork to stab the French toast and put two pieces on Snow's plate to distract her.

Emma's eyes widened at that fact and she turned to look at Regina who was primly placing the napkin in her lap. Surely that was a coincidence…

A closer look at Regina and she noticed as she eyed Snow as she got all teary eyed over the gesture and Emma leaned in toward Regina.

"Did you… do that on purpose?"

Regina looked at her, their faces close together from Emma whispering in her ear and Regina shrugged, looking down at her plate before she reached for the pancakes she had also prepared.

"You did, didn't you?"

"I'll admit to nothing. But if I did it was because I wanted to impress them for you…" her voice was so low when she said this and Emma's whole face brightened up, there was no denying it, Regina loved her so much she actually wanted to make her parents happy.

Emma reached over and squeezed Regina's forearm before she focused on grabbing her own serving of food. Fully intending to fill up on all this delicious food until Regina would have to roll her into the other room to open the gifts.

After they finished eating they all gathered in the sitting room to exchange gifts with her parents. It was barely a few minutes in when her little brother started getting fussy and before either of her parents had time to react, Regina was up and scooping the boy out of his bassinet.

Instantly Emma's attention was on her, watching as she cooed and bounced him in her arms. She was so good with him and he seemed to just adore her.

Emma suddenly found herself wondering what it'd be like to raise babies with Regina, what she would've been like when Henry used her very expensive necklaces as teething toys.

Emma could faintly hear Regina talking to him, not loud enough to make out actual words but her voice still travelled to Emma, captivating her even more. And then Regina's eyes locked with hers, a single eyebrow raised high on her forehead.

"It seems your big sister is staring. It's like nobody taught her that was impol– oh right."

Emma glared at her and Regina flashed her a smile and walked back over to Emma, sitting next to her on the couch as she held him up in front of her, bouncing him on her knees while, to Emma's surprise, she made goofy faces.

"You're so cute."

"He is quite adorable. At least your parents can do something right."

Emma snickered. "I meant you."

"I know, but I was choosing to do you a favour and ignore it so I didn't have to murder you on Christmas in front of your whole family."

Emma grinned and leaned in, propping her chin on Regina's shoulder to watch her baby brother make faces and squeal excitedly at Regina. "He is kinda cute though…" She reached out, tickling his round tummy.

"He looks a bit like Henry did."

"Yeah?" Regina nodded. "Kinda makes me wanna have another."

Regina pulled back to look at her, slight panic but also barely hidden hope in her eyes and Emma chuckled and focused her attention on the little gurgling baby, neither of them noticing the rest of their family just staring at them.

Then suddenly they were pulled out of their little dumb haze by a soft paper wrapped gift hitting Emma in the arm. "Hey!"

"Open your gift, sweetie." Emma gaped at Snow then looked down at the gift in her lap, slowly picking it up as she kept an eye out for her mom. "And here is Regina's."

Emma yelped, catching the soaring present as it was tossed her way and Regina's laughter met her ears. Emma turned to glare at her but softened when she saw Regina sit her little brother in her lap, his little body resting against her front.

"Do you wanna help me unwrap the present?" Regina said as she took the gift from Emma, placing it on her lap for him to grab at. "You're very good at this."

Emma 100% swooned on sight, like, full on awed-held-her-hands-to-her-mouth swooned. Regina was just so good with kids. She could just so easily picture her doing this exact same thing with Henry when he was a baby. It was honestly too much to handle.

"Open your gift, ma."

Henry's voice snapped her out of it and she snapped to attention, and she looked back down at the gift-turned-projectile and tore at the paper, her gift barely unwrapped when Regina's voice met her ears again.

"A bird sweater?!" Emma turned to look, nearly choking on her own spit as she saw the knitted sweater with a crow in a Santa hat on it.

"Oh my god…"

Regina turned to glare at her. "Don't speak so soon, dear." She finished with a nod of her head to Emma's lap and Emma looked down, seeing the tail feathers of a swan and… oh god…

Emma pulled it free, the sweater held up in front of her hiding her wince from Snow. "I love it, mom…"

"Don't you think a swan is a little… literal?"

Snow frowned. "I think it suits Emma perfectly."

Regina's eyes eventually fell to Henry who was holding out a similar sweater but his had three penguins on it, obviously supposed to be a family and Regina's frown deepened.

"Why did I get a crow?"

Snow's frown deepened. "I thought they were your favourite bird? You always use them to send messages."

"I mean… she's got you there…"

Regina glared at Emma and she held her hands up in surrender, looking at her sweater with a small smile before she leant in to whisper in her ear, "Mine isn't so bad now is it?"

Regina turned to look at her, her hand on her little brother's belly to keep him steady. "You accidentally proposed, Emma."

"And yet…"

Regina rolled her eyes before she looked at Snow's hopeful expression and sighed. "It's very nice, Snow, thank you."

"Yeah, mom, they're great, really soft."

Her mom's happy smile was fully worth it, but there was no way she'd wear this outside of the house ever.

"Oh yay! I'm glad! I worked so hard on them!" all three of them shared a look, Henry looking almost panicked like he knew something they didn't and then. "Put them on! I want to get pictures of the whole family in them!"

"No way," Regina immediately said and Emma was grateful for her but then she saw her mom's pout and Jesus fucking Christ this was unfair.

"Please, Regina."

"No." Regina looked at her and Emma immediately knew her face betrayed her, Regina she had fallen for her mom's pout. "No."

"C'mon, mom, it's Christmas."

Regina turned to glare at Henry for his betrayal and Emma honestly both pitied and respected the kid. She did not have the balls to do that, dare her to murder her, sure, but convince her to wear an ugly Christmas sweater for pictures? Never.

Regina took a lot longer to break against Henry's puppy dog eyes than she would've thought, but eventually they wound up in front of Regina's fireplace in the sitting room. They were all in their sweaters, smiling as Snow took pictures and made faces to get them to smile like they were five.

She gushed over how cute they looked and Emma had to dig her fingers into Regina's hip to stop her from lunging across the room to wring Snow's neck.

"Don't poke the bear, mom." Emma had warned and Snow just laughed, like she'd forgotten Regina had actually attempted to kill them a little over a year ago.

"Charming, pass Neal over to Regina, I want all my kids together."

Regina growled and Emma bit her lip to stop from laughing. "Welcome to the family, Regina."

"Worst. In-Laws. Ever." Regina ground out then accepted her little brother with a wide smile, her whole demeanour changing the second he was placed in her arms though.

The fearsome Evil Queen had the biggest soft spot for kids ever.

The weird faces from Snow only got worse from there though but hey, soon it was done and they all played board games together until it was time for her parents to go home a little before 3pm.

And Emma probably should have gone with them, to be less suspicious, but instead she said she was going to help Regina clean up and that she'd see them later that night. Which she didn't plan to.

She ended up spending another night in the mansion, her second surprise coming in the shape of a couple empty drawers in her dresser and a space cleared out in the closet, even room was made in the bathroom for Emma's stuff.

And yes, Emma cried again and who cares. Nobody has ever made a place for her in their lives and here was Regina and Henry just proving day after day that this was her home too.

They fell asleep wrapped up in each other's arms again. Regina's bare skin warm against her, and her fingers gentle as they danced across Emma's hand splayed on her stomach.

It was officially the best Christmas of her whole life and she didn't want the day to end, but she wasn't angry when she finally slipped into sleep, the warmth of Regina and the smell of her shampoo all around her.

And it turned out, waking up like that was also pretty great. All in all Emma realized one very important thing: She never wanted to stop having moments like this.

A week passed by and Emma found she spent most of the time at the mansion, with her family. Her drawers and closet space were filled with her belongings. Her toothbrush next to Regina's.

She had snowball fights with Henry, and once with Regina when she stepped out of the house at the worst possible moment. Really, Emma hadn't meant to throw it at her, and definitely not to get snow down her shirt. And Regina's retaliation was totally unjust.

Which means, as Henry put it, she was just pressed Regina kicked her ass. Which she did, because she cheated. But whatever. It was worth it. Especially the warm shower she and Regina shared after.

Emma was certain her parents had to be suspecting something when she spent nearly the whole week there. But Emma had just explained it as wanting to get as much time with Henry as she could before he had to go back to school or another villain attacked.

It was going kind of perfectly, and yeah, she knew it was just because they were in their happy little honeymoon phase bubble but she didn't care, she didn't plan on bursting it anytime soon.

Not when she got to step out of their shared bathroom to see Regina at her vanity, carefully applying her makeup in a dress way too grand for a New Year's party on the roof of the shops across the street from the library.

"I can feel you staring."

Emma smiled and walked over to her, her hands falling on her shoulders as their eyes met in the mirror while Regina removed access lipstick from the bottom of her lip.

"You look stunning tonight."

"Thank you, darling. So do you."

Emma blushed and looked down at the simple pants and button up shirt she was wearing. "It's nothing."

Regina removed her hand from her shoulder and rolled up her sleeve to press a kiss against the inside of Emma's wrist, their eyes glued on the others in the mirror.

"It's perfect. You're perfect."

Emma's fingers grazed Regina's jaw, urging her to turn her head to look at her and Regina did just that, her head turning and tipped back as looked up at her.

"I love you."

Regina smiled as Emma leaned down, brushing their lips together in a soft kiss before she pulled back, her thumb brushing along Regina's jawline as she let herself just stay in that moment for a bit longer.

"I love you too," Regina's soft voice met her ears and Emma's smile grew wide. She bumped their noses together, feeling victorious when Regina's laughter filled the room and her hand found Emma's cheek, tracing along her high cheekbones.

Getting lost in their little bubble for a few long seconds before Emma's back demanded she straighten up, and they parted so they could finish getting ready for the party.

The party was wild and they stayed huddled together, Henry practically spending the whole night with them until he spotted his friends and he was off, leaving just the two of them. Which they didn't mind one bit.

Emma's hand almost stayed permanently on the small of Regina's back, their heads leaning closely together so they could hear each other over the music. Regina even leaned into her side at one point, her head against Emma's shoulder from the heels Emma had put on for the evening.

But eventually her parents found them and they spent a good amount of time talking with them until a particularly good song came on and Emma really couldn't help herself.

"Dance with me?"

"What?" Regina breathed, looking at Emma with wide eyes as she pulled her toward the group of people on the makeshift dance floor.

"Dance with me."

"Emma…"

Emma flashed Regina her trademark pout. "Please?"

Regina groaned but let Emma pull her onto the dance floor, and Emma smiled the whole time. It was crowded enough nobody would even notice them so Emma felt confident enough to pull Regina against her body, her hand on her hip as they swayed to the music.

Regina eventually tucked her face into Emma's neck, her breath warm against her skin and her hands were so soft in hers, cold but soft.

"You should've worn gloves."

"Says you."

Emma smiled, hugging Regina's hand closer to her chest as she pressed a kiss against her cheekbone, a smile on her face as she left her head against Regina's moving them to the music surrounding them.

They once again got lost in their happy bubble, not noticing the change in music, or anyone around them as they danced. Their eyes closed and temples pressed together; Emma's hand high on Regina's back, holding her as close as possible as they swayed.

They didn't notice the time pass until the music stopped and the counting down caught their attention, both turning toward the stage to see Astrid excitedly leading the countdown.

They both looked around, spotting Henry by the tables with Grace and they relaxed. Emma looked over at Regina, "5" echoing in her mind as she watched her.

"Can I kiss you?" Emma said and Regina turned to look at her instantly, "3" being called in the moment of silence.

"Yes."

Emma smiled, her hand moving to Regina's face to brush a lock of hair behind her ear as the wind blew it out of place.

"One! Happy New Year!"

The crowd's voices surrounded them and Emma leaned in, Regina meeting her halfway as their lips met in a slow yet loving kiss. Emma held her face so delicately in her hands, her lips brushed softly against Emma's and a happy sigh ghosted against Emma's lips as she pressed closer, pulling Emma closer by her hips.

It was so easy to get lost in their bubble, in their happiness, in how perfect she felt in her arms.

Emma knew instantly that this year was going to be the best yet, simply because she knew she'd have Regina and the rest of her family in it. Knew that she could wake up with Regina in her arms every day if she wanted to. Could kiss her, hold her, hear her laugh, snore, and grumble unhappily against her neck when she didn't want to get up.

Emma was just so happy. So insanely happy that nothing could ruin her mood, their moment.

"Finally!"

Except maybe that.

They parted, staring across them to see David and Snow smiling widely at them.

Emma looked at Regina and she still looked so blissfully happy that Emma's nerves floated away.

"Happy New Year, mom, dad."

Snow crossed her arms in front of her chest, shaking her head as she stepped closer to them. "Oh no, don't you dare think you're getting out of this so easily."

"Snow…"

"I will not let them pretend this was nothing again, David! They are obviously in love and I wo–"

"We are."

Emma's head snapped toward Regina when she heard her speak, staring at her with her confident jut of her chin and that impenetrable mask, but her love for Emma broke through the second she looked back over at Emma and squeezed her hand.

"What?" Snow breathed, the sounds of the fireworks going off nearly made it impossible to hear and Emma couldn't help but laugh, as she looked between the shocked expressions of her parents.

"We're in love. Madly in love, if I'm being honest." Emma looked over at Regina as she finished talking.

"I loathe to admit it but… Emma is not wrong in that assessment." Regina looked her parents in the eyes and Emma's heart soared at the fact she was letting them see Regina's true feelings for her. "I love Emma very much. Nobody has ever made me as happy as she does."

Now Snow's happy squeal definitely could be heard over fireworks which also was kind of funny.

"I knew it! I am so happy you've finally admitted it to yourselves! Now you can stop with the excuse of staying over for Henry, Emma."

Regina choked on her laugh, actually choked and had to turn away, hiding her face against Emma's shoulder so Snow wouldn't see her cracking up and Emma wrapped her arm around Regina's waist, holding her against her but knew she just couldn't rob Regina of this moment.

"Well, mom, that was just an excuse to you…" Snow blinked at her. "Regina and I actually started dating on the night of Winter Solstice."

"No…"

Emma's confusion seemed to have emboldened Regina because she was no longer hiding her enjoyment to play nice.

She had a full Cheshire cat-like smile as she looked directly at her parents and said, "Yes, we have spent many a night together in a passio–" Emma pinched her side and Regina's statement ended with a surprised yelp and a glare that was totally worth it.

"So on Christmas…"

"Dating."

"You tricked us!"

"Hey! You hid mistletoe around Regina's house to try and force a kiss because a 12 year old told you to!"

Snow's face fell and she started to slowly nod. "I suppose it is justified when you put it like that."

Emma laughed and looked over to Regina, unable to stop herself from kissing her softly when she met her eyes. Regina's hand immediately fell to Emma's jaw, so soft and delicate Emma could almost cry but… she was in public so she didn't… but she sure felt like she could.

"Oh I'm so happy for you both!" Snow exclaimed and then plowed into them, hugging them both as tight as she could, once again, to Regina's absolute horror.

Emma met her father's eyes and to her utter shock he gave her two thumbs up and Emma laughed, loud and giddy. And then he joined in on the hug, Regina muttering grumpily in her ear until Henry's body collided with theirs and she finally seemed to just accept her defeat.

All and all it was a great party, they hung out for a bit longer, finished watching the fireworks, and then headed home a little before 1am, because Henry was way too young to spend the whole night out partying even if it was with his family.

Emma slipped into the house a little after 10pm, Henry already in his room, most likely pretending to sleep while he actually stayed up reading his new load of comics.

Emma knocked lightly on his door before cracking it open, meeting the boy's sheepish smile under the light of his flashlight. "Don't stay up too late. You have school in the morning."

"Okay, Ma. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, kid." Emma smiled at him before she stepped out of the doorway and pulled the door closed.

She headed toward Regina's room, hoping for a nice warm shower and then some time with her girlfriend before they both had to crash for the early morning kid duty.

Emma pushed open the door and slipped in, closing it quietly behind her before she turned, catching sight of Regina removing a long chain from her neck that was once hidden by her now partially open button up.

Regina stopped when she saw her and Emma's eyes moved from Regina's to the chain dangling from her fingers, the rings Emma got her for Christmas hanging on them.

"So you did like them…" Emma looked up at Regina with a slightly hopeful smile and Regina chuckled.

"I did. I do," Regina said as she turned to place them in her jewellery box.

Emma stepped closer but stopped a few feet away, not wanting her to feel crowded. "Why did you hide it?"

Regina let out a sigh and turned back around to face Emma and leant back against the dresser as she crossed her arms over her chest. "I don't know… it's…"

Emma's eyes softened when she noticed how nervous Regina was, she didn't want her to ever feel pressured into anything.

"Hey, it's okay," Emma broke the space between them, her hand falling to Regina's forearm, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "I am just happy you like them…"

"I don't know if I–" Regina cut herself off, turning her head to look at their perfectly made bed and Emma's thumb brushed against her arm.

"You don't have to do anything, I just got them cause they reminded me of you. That's all. If one day you wanna get married we can do that, and they can mean that but for now… they're just something that reminds me of you."

Regina looked back at her, her lower lip jutted out in a pout. "What if I never want to?"

"That's okay, I don't need to get married. I just need you." Emma flashed her a reassuring smile, her hand moving to gently cup Regina's cheek in her hand and she watched as her eyes fluttered shut and Regina leaned into her touch.

"I love you…"

"I love you too, Regina. No matter what."

Regina smiled, her eyes opening back up to meet Emma's before she pushed off the dresser and wrapped Emma up in a hug, her face tucked into Emma's neck.

Emma hugged her tightly and pressed a few kisses to her shoulder before she pulled back and waited until Regina met her eyes again.

"I'll tell you what, if you ever do wanna get married, you can ask me. How does that sound?"

Regina smiled and nodded. "That sounds good."

"Good." Emma leaned in and kissed her, it was soft and loving and something that's become so normal over the last few weeks and Emma melted into her. She knew that no matter what, as long as she had Regina in her life she wouldn't need anything else.

It was long after they crawled into bed, Regina's head resting against her chest while her fingers trailed over Emma's stretch marks that Regina whispered into the dark room, "What about what you said about more kids?"

Emma turned her head to look down at her, but when she realized she could not see her face she reached out blindly until she found the switch for the lamp and turned it on, seeing Regina's nervous eyes staring up at her, her lower lip held hostage between her teeth.

"Do you want more?"

Regina shrugged and settled back down against Emma's chest, her fingers once again moving to trace Emma's stretch marks where they were peeking out from under her tank top.

"I wouldn't mind having more, but it's not a need… if you don't want…"

"I think I might want more…"

Emma smiled down at her, her hand moving to Regina's face to cup her jaw, trying to coax her up and it didn't take long before Regina was hovering over her, that curious tilt of her head even cuter from this angle.

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't imagine raising more kids with you. More little Henry's with your sarcasm and that big loving heart of yours."

"And your stubbornness," Regina added with an affectionate smile and Emma turned her head until she could press a kiss against Regina's forearm.

"You're also very cute with kids and I'm kinda sad I never got to see you with toddler Henry. I want to experience that joy with you as they take their first steps, and cry with you when we send them off to kindergarten."

Regina chuckled, leaning all her weight on her left hand so she could cup Emma's face, her thumb brushing against her cheekbone. "I'd like that too."

Emma smiled, staring up at Regina and her radiant smile. "I love you so much."

"And I you."

Emma leaned up, pressing their lips together in a slow kiss that deepened, and she felt like she could float away. Could cry from all the emotions welled up in her chest, from the way Regina loved her, cherished her.

"I love you," Emma whispered after each kiss she placed on Regina's skin, against scars and stretch marks and freckles until Regina's laughs turned to small sighs and a hand combed through her hair, traced over her features, pulled her back up into a kiss, against her chest where she just held her.

Her heartbeat strong and steady and Emma wrapped herself around her, held on tight, their limbs a tangled mess and their skin warm and soft against each other's and… it was perfect.

Emma eventually fell asleep in Regina's arms, with her fingers combing through her hair and her steady heartbeat against her ear.

She woke up the next morning with Regina pressed against her chest, their bodies a tangled mess in something so familiar that Emma didn't even think about it, didn't question it; she just enjoyed the moment.

Enjoyed the whiny grumbles of 5 more minutes and the little hums when Emma pressed kisses against her shoulder. Laughed when Regina held her hostage when she tried to slip free. Kissed her before she went to make Henry breakfast when Regina slept.

Leant into Regina when she finally came downstairs, immediately hugging Emma from behind, her face tucked into Emma's neck because she was still sleepy and grumpy and she missed her warmth. At least that's what she always told her.

And eventually days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months and Regina was officially asking her to move in, not just a space when she stayed over, but permanent, her home with her and Henry.

Obviously she agreed, it took her a day to move all her stuff in and their life was just right there in front of them, their future playing out in colour.

Emma never felt unloved or unappreciated again. She never felt like she had to hide her true self with Regina and she found Regina felt the same way because over the last six months together she learnt more about her, saw more parts of her. Fell more in love with her.

Their relationship was the easiest Emma ever had, and not because they never fought because boy could they fight, but they knew each other well enough, trusted each other well enough to talk, to listen, to learn.

They knew that all they had to do was ask.

And Regina eventually did, one day, after they had adopted a little baby girl from Boston after 3 years together, Regina just started wearing her ring. Emma had a feeling it was coming but when it finally did, she still sobbed like a giant idiot in front of their whole family.

Regina looked stunning in her wedding suit as Henry walked her down the aisle. Emma sobbed the second she saw her, because this was it, this was the future she'd dreamt of that first month they started to date.

Regina's hands trembled in hers as she said her vows, laughed about how this all started, how they fought. And Emma smiled because as they stood there Emma's mind filled with a million little moments. But one that stuck in her mind was that evening as they walked home together, with the snow in Regina's hair and the lights shimmering in her eyes.

Emma cleared her throat, looked at their family and friends all around them and then back at Regina, her smile massive as she said, "Thank god for meddling kids and mistletoe."

And Regina laughed, bright and filled with tears, her grip on Emma's hands tightening as she leaned in closer to her as she struggled to breathe.

"Without Henry I never would have found my family. And yeah he brought me here to break your curse, but really he was just bringing me home, to you, to my parents. So like, thanks for casting that curse and for raising Henry, and most of all for loving me."

"It was my honour," Regina breathed, a mischievous smile twinkling in her eyes and Emma laughed.

She didn't wait for Archie to tell her to kiss her, she just did, she pulled Regina in by their fastened hands and pressed their lips together in a passionate kiss that spoke of years of unconditional love and more years to come.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Hope you all enjoyed!