The sharp bitter air nips at her pantyhose encased legs as she walks the short path from her car toward Granny's diner. Just before she reaches the door she glances up at the gray sky, wondering if there will even be snow this year for Christmas. She has to assume not, with how frigid the temperature is this evening. The sparkling white flakes would have been beautiful descending from the sky with their town glowing in bright lights.

She peeks around the warm lasagna in her hands and watches carefully as she steps up the stairs, her heels clicking loudly against the old, run down wood. The energetic buzz, and booming chatter is already threatening to blow the roof right off this decrepit building, before she even has a chance to make her debut.

The old familiar bell rings loudly, but the crowd easily drowns out the noise. However, the Charmings always seem to have their Evil Queen radar on and all three hastily crank their necks to watch her awkwardly stumble inside.

"Sorry I'm late," she apologizes through a wince and sneak passed a few dwarves to place her dish upon the counter.

"Mom, so glad you could make it," Henry beams as he too, squeezes through the over populated diner.

"Me too, honey. Did you eat?" She inquires as she begins to unwrap her dish.

"I didn't, I was kinda holding out, hoping you would bring your lasagna."

"I make it every year, don't I?" She smiles at her son as he slides onto a stool, patiently waiting for her to cut him a piece.

"I know, I've missed it," he smiles up at her with a cheeky grin that she hasn't seen since he was eight years old. Her heart melts instantly and her hand moves to its own accord, cupping his cheek just to feel the warmth of her son once again.

"Hey Regina, thanks for bringing something." Emma slithers her body between her and Henry, green eyes roaming over the dish she spent all afternoon preparing, while brown eyes rake over the bright red sweater that seems especially tight this evening on Emma. Regina's eyes somehow land upon the tight, black jeans, that she knows must have been magicked on by the way the fabric is clinging to Emma's thighs. "Henry said this is the best lasagna out there, but he's never really had anything to compare it to, so I'll have to be the judge of that," Emma teases as she scoops up a fork nearby, ready to recklessly dive right into the platter.

"Back off, Swan!" Regina scolds, placing her hand over the dish radiating heat. "Why don't you try asking for a slice instead of eating straight from the pan. Other people might want to indulge as well."

"No way, if I like it, I'm taking that whole pan to a booth in the back and loading up on my carbs," the sheriff declares with her infamous shit eating grin plastered across her face.

Regina rolls her eyes at the barbaric nature while their son snickers to himself. "I will cut you a piece," she recommends as she passes Henry the first portion.

Their son quickly dives into the mess of noddles, meat, cheese and thick red sauce. He hums his appreciation while shoveling fork after forkfuls into his mouth. Regina cuts Emma a rather generous portion, then proceeds to slide the piece onto a Santa plate. Emma smiles her way and happily accepts the plate and again Regina's finding herself noting just how cheerful and relaxed the savior really is today.

With great interest, she studies the way the side of Emma's fork slices through the noddles and green eyes light up with anticipation. She always had a special kind of love for food. The sheriff raises a forkful of lasagna to her mouth and moans around the mouthwatering dish.

"Oh my god, Regina," she mumbles around her generous mouthful. She even holds her hand in front of her mouth to keep any contents from flying out. "This is so good."

"Manners, dear. Our son is still growing and impressionable," she snarks in a teasing manner while she begins cutting her own slice.

"He's fine, I'm sure you beat food etiquette into his brain a long time ago, it's not going anywhere," Emma unenthusiastically claims while diving right back in for another bite.

"Hey sister," Leroy shoves his pudgy face right between her and Emma. "Is that your special lasagna? Red pepper flakes?" He questions while practically drooling all over their shoulders.

"Yes, would you like a piece?" She politely offers and sets down her plate to cut the town drunk a piece knowing damn well that he needs something heavy in his stomach for how much alcohol he will consume this evening.

"A nice fat piece, I need fuel to keep me going tonight. Am I right?" He chuckles and nudges Emma's elbow causing her to fumble with her plate.

"Take it easy tonight, Leroy. It's Christmas Eve and I rather not get a call from any bartenders saying that I need to come get your drunk ass," the sheriff strictly informs the man who is already laughing in her face, because they all know that's exactly what will occur this evening.

"Eat," Regina orders and shoves the Christmas plate into the man's chest, prompting his lips to vacuum shut, desisting his drunken giggles.

"Thanks," the scruffy man grumbles under his breath and dives right into inhaling his food like a caveman.

XXXXXXXX

Long after her dish is just a red stained glass pan and most of the adult patrons are fully intoxicated, Regina finds herself trapped in a corner, with a flushed Snow White bouncing up and down hysterically.

"I just don't understand why he never stops crying?" She frantically shouts in Regina's face over the blaring Christmas music from the jukebox and the howling crowd failing miserably to stay in tune.

"Henry was the same way, dear. They are just colicky and you only have yourself to blame, clearly it was in your genes," she retorts and watches as the baby's face scrunches painfully tight.

"Do you think Emma was colicky as a baby?" Snow mindlessly questions as her fingers trace the outline of her son's delicate features.

"I never asked."

"Sssshhhh, please my sweet boy, please stop crying," she pleads with the fussy, tear soaked face peering up at her so sadly. "So, how are you doing?"

"I'm fine."

"Regina please," Snow flashes her most unamused expression, firmly stating that she doesn't believe Regina's pathetic lie. "I've known you for a very long time now. I know you are anything but fine."

"I'm miserable without him and Roland," she blurts out, knowing there's no way she can avoid the truth with this pushy woman. "I just want this stupid holiday to end."

"Just because they aren't here doesn't mean that you're not allowed to enjoy Christmas. I remember a time when you would ignore every miserable thing in your life and actually celebrate the day. Remember when I was ten and-"

"Snow please, I'm not in the mood. I'm not that same person anymore. That was long before the Evil Queen came out to play."

Guilt. Humiliation. Resentment. All wash over her, forcing her arms to fold across her chest and protect herself from the karma that's on the prowl for all her wrong doings.

"You will find happiness again, Regina," Snow softly vows, her hand settling upon her arm to show her support and maybe also to help comfort her during this time of heartbreak.

Thick tears well up in her eyes unexpectedly, so she tilts her head back and stares aimlessly at the water stained ceiling tiles. She just won't allow these pesky little tears to fall in front of this whole godforsaken town.

"I just know the answer is in that damn book."

"Stop forcing it," Snow sighs heavily, her hand slipping away to caress her son's cheek once again. "Happy endings aren't always what they seem."

XXXXXXXX

Her handsome son is lounging in a booth, sipping hot chocolate with whipped cream and cinnamon, just as always, speaking animatedly to Pinocchio. The young redhead is nodding energetically, holding onto his cup of cocoa as though someone may steal it right from under his nose.

That's when a thought comes to mind. She remembers feeling the texture of the pages from Pinocchio's story, they are thinner sheets of paper and smoother than the other stories in the book. Her lips twist in thought, but her feet are already marching across the diner that has yet to clear out even a few patrons.

"Henry," she tenderly speaks to make sure she doesn't scare off his friend, but much to her dismay the young boy is already recoiling, disturbing flashbacks of her Evil Queen day's no doubt rumbling in his mind. "May I sit?"

"Of course, mom," Henry beams with pride and scoots closer to the window, so she can slide in next to him. "Pinocchio, you remember my mom, right?"

The little boy's eyelashes are fluttering rapidly as he tries to fight the instinct to burst into tears. "Oh honey, I'm not the Evil Queen anymore, I promise you," she gently declares, but he doesn't attempt to answer her or even pretend to appear okay with her presence. "Anyways, I was wondering, do you recall a time in your life when you were older?"

Little green eyes flick toward her son, filled with curiosity as he tilts his little head. "Remember your dad explained how you grew up, but the Blue fairy turned you back into a boy," Henry cautiously explains.

Pinocchio's eyes flick back to her and he hesitates for a brief moment before he shakes his messy little redhead. She quickly waves her hand in the air, producing a thick purple cloud of smoke along with Henry's storybook. She shuffles through the pages as fast as her trembling fingers will allow and opens the book to Pinocchio's story. She spins the book around and slides it right beneath his nose.

"Does this look familiar? The pages are different," she begins to explain before Henry cuts her off.

"Yeah, August placed those pages in there, they were never originally part of the story."

"Pinocchio," she gasps, demanding the boy's full attention. "Do you remember doing that as an adult? I think the older you, August, might know who the author is," she hopefully explains, her body tingling with so much excitement that she might be one step closer to finding her happy ending. However, the young boy does what life does best with her, disappoints her once again. He just shakes his head and shuffles back into the booth like he wants nothing to do with her. "Just...just look again," she exasperates, but he folds his arms across his chest in defiance.

"You don't remember anything?" Henry softly asks again not wanting to scare the little boy anymore then she already has.

"No, I don't."

"Try," she pleads with the little boy and taps the page, encouraging him to take another gander at the elaborate illustrations that he once drew.

"Regina," Emma calls her name as she approaches their table.

"Thank god, maybe you can get through to your biker friend," she mocks and gestures toward the little boy who is anything but a motorcyclist.

"What's going on?" The sheriff suspiciously questions and sinks down into the vacant spot next to Pinocchio.

"I told her I don't remember," the redhead whines as he gazes up at the sheriff.

"Remember what?" The blonde interrogates as she sets down her dark beer and glances over at the book again with a scowl on her face.

"August was able to take apart the book, add his story and put it back together again," Henry explains through a heavy heart. "Mom thinks maybe he knows who the author is."

"Well if he doesn't remember-"

"He's just not trying hard enough," Regina suddenly bellows, slapping her hand hard against the heavy book and causing everyone to wince.

The room falls silent, painfully, embarrassingly silent. She's sure if this was a movie, the music would have screeched its protest just to prove a point of how uncomfortably silent this moment has become. She takes a deep breath, knowing all eyes are on her and every minuscule, pea brain in this room is expecting the Evil Queen to claw her way to the surface.

"Let's step outside," Emma whispers as she leans across the table.

Regina exhales all her stress and frustrations while she clambers out of the booth and follows the sheriff out of the diner. She doesn't have her winter coat and the frosty air bites into her flesh like a thousand sharp needles. A sleeveless dress was a huge mistake this evening.

"What the hell was that?" Emma shouts once the door firmly swings shut.

"I think we might be one step closer to the author, if he would just-"

"Stop! Dammit, Regina, stop!" Emma stomps one assertive step forward into Regina's space, her eyes flashing rage and teeth grinding from either the bitter cold or her anger. "He's a little boy," she whines as her hand gestures frantically back toward the diner.

"Yes, I know, but-"

"No, but's! He's a child, and if he says he doesn't remember then he doesn't. Look, I'm all for you finding your happy ending and I promised you I would help, but harassing Pinocchio is not the way!" She firmly demands, seething with rage.

"I-I apologize, I just-"

"No! Enough, Regina! It's fucking Christmas and you're still so wrapped up on Robin Hood that you're missing out on the world around you. We could have had a really nice evening tonight, but you tossed all of that away for some asshole who isn't even here anymore. Do you even see the people that are here for you everyday?"

"Emma-I'm..." words fail her, her voice fading away into the dark as her mouth snaps shut and she feels the guilt way heavily upon her aching chest.

"I'm done for tonight. When you end up alone, it won't be because of some stupid agenda you think this world has against you for your sins. No, it will be because you pushed everyone away with your obsession over Robin Hood," Emma screams in her face and stomps up the rickety stairs back toward the diner. "Merry Christmas, Regina," she scoffs over her shoulder and disappears back into Granny's, leaving her more alone than she has felt in a very long time.

Shame. Embarrassment. Guilt. All creep up her spine like a prickly tarantula ready to attack its prey. She shivers involuntarily, from the cold or weight of loneliness, she'll never know. She flicks her wrist, producing her coat and texts her son a message, apologizing for actions and saying goodnight.

She drives in silence back to her mansion and kicks herself over and over again for not being able to control her raging temper. Emma was right, why couldn't she just let it go for one night? One night!