Emma sat in the middle of many parts scattered on the floor – parts she wasn't even sure all went together. She looked again at the directions.
"This is ridiculous," Regina said, as she surveyed what was earlier a very clean living room floor.
Emma looked up at her wife, giving her a small smile. "I will get this figured out."
"Do you think you will get it figured out before our son decides it's time to get up for Christmas morning to see what Santa brought him?" Regina asked.
"Well smarty pants, how did you do this when Henry was growing up?" Emma asked.
"I paid someone to put the toys together in advance," Regina said.
"Of course you did," Emma chuckled. "But I refuse to cheat. This is part of the whole Christmas experience. It's no different than decorating the tree or leaving out milk and cookies for Santa."
"That reminds me, be sure to drink some of that milk and have a cookie before you come to bed."
"Wait, you aren't staying to help?"
"You do realize this is the first Christmas that Bodie really understands all of this. It's not like when he was a baby and we did things at our pace," Regina said. "I remember Henry's first real Christmas as far as embracing Santa – he woke me up at like 4:30 in the morning wanting to see what Santa got him. I would like to get some sleep before the early wake up call."
"Did you tell him to go back to bed?"
"No," Regina replied. "I did however make him wait a few minutes before coming downstairs so I could turn on the tree and get the camera ready to take some photos. I'm not sure I was ever as exhausted as I was at the end of that day, but Henry, he was like full speed most of the day. All day it seemed like it was, 'mom, look at this,' or 'mom, see what this can do.'"
Although it sounded like she was somewhat complaining about the experience, Emma could see the wistful look in Regina's eyes as she remembered that Christmas.
"It's a little late to hire someone to deal with all of this," Emma said.
"Or we could use magic, which is what I suggested to you two hours ago."
"But that is cheating too," Emma pouted. "Come on, don't you want to embrace doing something traditionally. Be just like other families."
"There is no such thing as traditional in our lives," Regina said. And then she thought a little more about what Emma was saying. Ever since Bodie was born Emma had wanted to do all the things she missed when Henry was growing up. Even though it was really the last thing she wanted to do, Regina came over to where Emma was sitting, moved some of the toy parts out of the way and sat down. "Give me the instructions."
Emma gave her a huge smile, before leaning over and giving her a kiss on the cheek. She then handed the instructions over to Regina who studied them a moment.
"No magic?" Regina asked.
"No magic," Emma said. "Unless you count the magic of Christmas."
Regina rolled her eyes at her but gave her a quick kiss.