A/N: Hello everyone! Sorry to have disappeared, but luckily for you guys I got really sick and had to take the day off of work and this afternoon I made myself finish this chapter. :P I hope it's alright, I hope I'm not loopy from the cold medicine and this chapter is actually done like I think it is. :P
Regina breathed a sigh of relief when their Mercedes SUV finally reached the historic Welcome to Storybrooke sign that was stationed just inside the town limit. The four hour drive from Boston had taken about six hours due to the weather; Regina had been driving under the speed limit most of the way home in hopes of avoiding an accident. The final stretch from the city was always the worst in the winter, as the tree-lined roads that wound through the mountains were ploughed less often than the main highways.
"Mom are we still going to the Christmas Festival tonight?" Henry asked as he looked out the window at the winter wonderland of snow covered evergreen trees that walled each side of the road. The blizzard had let up a little and now the snow was falling softly and the trees were glistening with a layer of ice.
"I don't know Henry..." Regina said with regret. "I'm a little tired after all this driving." She said, looking up at the trees apprehensively, hoping no branches collapsed under the weight. "We're lucky we left the airport when we did, it's getting a bit warmer outside and everything is freezing over. I don't know if my nerves could have taken driving this far on slippery roads."
"But we've never missed it before!" Henry whined.
Regina bit her lip. "I'll see how I feel once we get home, alright?"
"Okay." Henry unconsciously bit his lip too. "If you don't want to go, could I still go by myself? I'm old enough now."
"You are not old enough now." Regina countered firmly.
"But I'm nine years old."
"Which is too young."
"What if I go with Graham?"
Regina repressed an exhausted sigh. Graham was the town Sheriff and also a long time friend of hers. He had been in Henry's life for as long as the boy could remember. Regina trusted him but a part of her just wanted to have Henry by her side that night to cuddle up with and to watch Christmas movies with, otherwise she knew she would only end up brooding over thoughts of Emma again.
"Henry, Graham will be busy patrolling tonight." She responded simply, not taking her eyes off of the road.
"What about Granny?"
"Henry..."
"Come on Mom, just come with me. You have fun every year, and it'll take your mind off of Emma for a few hours."
"Henry!" Regina gave him a quick, but scolding look.
"What? It's true! You haven't stopped talking about her the whole drive home."
"When have I mentioned Emma?" Regina asked innocently.
Henry stared at her. He cleared his throat, and his already high voice raised a few pitches to mimic hers: "Emma was so lovely wasn't she? Her job must take her to such exciting places. I wish I had asked her for her phone number. I wonder if her flight to South Carolina got out okay? I hope she has a good Christmas... Wasn't she just so charming? The way she blushed every time she embarrassed herself was dear."
Regina tutted, rolling her eyes. "I do not sound like that."
"Uh-huh, you do."
"I did not say dear."
"You did."
Regina breathed a heavy sigh. She fell silent, and her eyes seemed a little sad all of a sudden.
"I know Mom, I liked her too." Henry said more kindly, knowing what she was thinking. "Who knows? Maybe if we go to Disneyland again next year instead of Florida, we'll see her again."
"Henry, you know that's next to impossible. With the amount of flights going out? The amount of airports, and airlines... she could be flying out any day, she could be flying from anywhere in the world."
"Mom, I think that every single flight we take from now on should be with Oceanic." Henry said, emphasizing his seriousness. "One day maybe she'll be a flight attendant on our plane."
"Henry that's it," Regina said in a sudden whisper.
"What? You agree that we should keep flying with Oceanic until we find her?" Henry asked in surprised confusion.
"No of course not don't be silly... but what if I contacted Oceanic Airlines? They could tell me how to get in touch with her right? Or would that come across as too creepy? A stranger trying to get information on one of their employees... I'm sure that's against their policy."
"But at least you would know you tried."
Regina's shoulders uncharacteristically sagged a little. She knew he was right. "When did you get so wise?"
Henry shrugged. "I spend a lot of time with adults."
Regina feigned a gasp. "Am I your best friend?"
Henry's features twisted a little as he thought. "No... I think Graham is my best friend." He said to tease her.
Regina pretended to look offended at his grin but she couldn't keep her face straight for long.
Henry shrugged. "He's a guy, he gets me."
Regina chuckled, shaking her head. Finally, they were turning onto their street. Luckily the town had been proactive about the road conditions and had already been combating the ice with sand. Regina felt much more in control of the car here than she had out on the country roads. She smiled when they were within sight of their house, a sizeable colonial white structure that was every bit as classy as its owner.
"Home sweet home," she sighed as they pulled into the driveway.
"I forgot how pretty it looked," Henry commented. He was right. Even though the heavy snowfall had made driving a bit of a nightmare, it made their home look every inch like it was out of a Christmas movie. It was nearly evening and the sun was low in the sky but the Christmas lights had already been turned on by a nightly timer. The columns on the front porch were spiraled in red ribbon and warm white fairy lights. The railing on the faux balcony over the porch was edged with garlands that were decorated with red ornaments and more lights. Beneath that, hanging from the portico were icicle lights that matched the ones hanging from the roof. The windows each had a beautiful wreath hanging in them, and while many of the decorations were covered in a layer of snow, it somehow made them feel even more festive and beautiful. To complete the effect, the short hedges that lined the path from the road up to the front door were netted with white lights, and the front gate was decorated with its own garlands and a red bow.
Regina hummed in agreement as she switched the car engine off and leaned gratefully back into her seat for a few moments.
"I can't wait to put my pajamas on and curl up by the fire with some hot cider." She commented, closing her eyes.
"After the festival though, right?" Henry asked hopefully.
Regina looked over at him. "We'll see," she said kindly. "Let's just get our bags inside first okay?"
"If I bring your suitcase in for you can we go?"
Regina breathed a laugh as she took her seatbelt off and stepped out of the SUV. She was instantly hit with a gust of cold air that her wool trench coat did little to protect her from. Tugging her coat collar to cover her neck, she opened the door to the backseat and grabbed her purse and carry-on, while Henry took his own little suitcase and backpack. He went to move around the back to get his mother's bigger suitcase.
"Wait Henry let me do it, it'll be too heavy for you." Regina quickly stopped him. He had already opened the trunk but stepped back a little so Regina could lift the bag out.
"I'll roll it to the door for you, I have a free hand." Henry said.
She smiled gratefully but offered him the handle of her carry-on suitcase instead. "I don't want you to hurt yourself." She explained.
Henry shrugged his indifference, affirming that he was strong enough, but without arguing he took the smaller suitcase and rolled it alongside his own, own in each hand.
The neighbour's teenaged son had been taking care of the walkways and driveway for Regina, and she was thankful that he seemed to have been over to shovel within the last hour. The driveway was covered in a thin layer but they were still able to easily roll the suitcases through it.
When Regina finally unlocked the front door and she and her son stepped into the foyer, she couldn't help but smile as the warmth and familiarity of home embraced her. Despite the flight cancellations, airport changes and dreadful weather, they had still made it home in time for the holidays. She hoped with all her heart the Emma would be able to say the same.
A/N: Thank you for reading, please leave a review! xx Take care everyone
