A/N: I hope you all enjoy this next chapter. Emma finally comes in! :) Happy reading!


The inside of their home was so quaint, so welcoming and warm. The smell of dinner, which they enjoyed first, was just heavenly. Ruby had taken a liking to Regina, just like everyone in the family. She had informed the brunette without Regina even asking her that Emma wasn't joining them because she was out working, but would arrive home a little later. Which Ruby was sad over, but delighted to have made a new friend in Regina.

Regina liked Ruby, she was friendly and always smiling. Delighted at the idea to finally have a sister-in-law type. All through dinner, she and the rest of the family filled her in on stories about Graham as a boy, which she was more than delighted to listen to.

After dinner, Ruby had set her aside in the living room couch, next to the warmth of the fireplace to show her a photo album David and Mary Margaret had set aside of Graham's pictures. There were some of Emma too, but there was a big newspaper clipping of Graham on one page that Ruby was quick to tell the brunette its story.

"That's us three when we were kids," Ruby pointed at the picture, her finger landing on Emma as a little girl. "That's Emma. And Graham."

Regina smiled while glancing down at the picture. "They are so sweet." She murmured.

"Oh, yeah, the squirrels." Ruby giggled. "He was a local hero for a while. A couple of squirrels fell out of their nest, and he saved them."

"Really?" Regina's eyes moved back to Emma's picture as a twelve year old. She couldn't help but wonder what she would look like now as an adult. All three siblings looked so happy together in that picture, it made her smile.

"Alright, eggnog time!" Mary Margaret came into the living room with a platter filled with glasses of eggnog, passing them around to anyone who would want one. "Mom, where are you? I'm serving your eggnog." She looked over her shoulder.

"I'm getting my camera." Louise came out with her camera, smiling at everyone. "Everyone get in front of the tree!"

Ruby launched off the couch and joined David, Mary Margaret, and Eugenia right in front of the tree. Her arm draped around David's form.

"Regina, come on!" Mary Margaret beckoned the gawking brunette.

"Oh, no," Regina shook her head with a frown. "I can't, it wouldn't be right, I-"

"Are you kidding? You're family!" Ruby pulled her over, placing her right in the middle of everyone while giving the brightest smile ever.

Regina straightened up, and gave her best smile, feeling Ruby's and David's arms circle her form in a loving manner, while Mary Margaret was glowing.

"Alright, everyone watch the birdie!" Louise placed the camera near her face and snapped the first picture.

"Oh, mom, take it again, I blinked." Mary Margaret whined.

"You're lucky. I'm blind." Said Eugenia, hearing laughter come out of everyone in unison as the second picture was taken.

After their family Christmas picture, they all sat around ready to tear open their gifts. Emma would pass them around each year, but since she wasn't here yet, it was agreed that Ruby would take over.

"Granny," Ruby handed Eugenia a small box that let the woman know it was another bottle of perfume.

"Another bottle of perfume, I bet." She said to Louise with a smile. She didn't mind. She loved her perfumes.

"David." Ruby handed David a rectangular box that could only be clothes. Probably another scarf that he would pass down to Emma. He had enough.

"Who's this from?" He asked his wife, clueless at the name written on the label.

Mary Margaret leaned in, reading the names out loud. "It says to David from Uncle Al."

"Who the hell is uncle Al?" David asked, still clueless.

"Uncle Al- you know, from Buffalo."

"I don't know who the hell that is." He shrugged.

Regina was surprised as soon as she spotted Ruby coming toward her, handing her a gift.

"This is for Regina. From Santa." She smiled, giving the older brunette a gentle squeeze on the arm.

They had bought her a gift? Why? Sure they thought she was a part of their family, engaged to their son, but who would get her a gift? And that wasn't all she took notice in. Just behind her on the chimney, hung several stockings decorated differently and with every family member's names. Louise, Eugenia, Ruby, David, Mary Margaret, Emma, and Graham. But at the end of the names, next to Graham's was Regina's. They had made her her own stocking. They had taken her as part of their family without knowing them.

Regina could tell that this family lived well. They weren't rich, but they each worked for what they had. She smiled upon seeing Ruby jump for joy at opening her gift, excited when she saw an earring to pierce her navel with. She had always wanted that, and she kissed and hugged David for convincing Eugenia to allow her to have it.

She couldn't tell them the truth. At least not now.


This is Humbert. Leave a message, and I'll get back to you. Ciao. The phone in Graham's quiet apartment rang twice, answered by the voicemail on his machine, followed by a beep and an incoming message.

"Hi! It's Ashley. Portugal has been great, but I'm cutting my trip short because I have been doing a lot of thinking- and what the hell- I will marry you."


A pale yellow delivery truck pulled over to the side of the Swan house, the door parted open as a pair of boots made their way up to the sidewalk of the house. The snow crunching underneath the two feet as they softly thumped their way up the porch.

Keys were heard jingling as a pale hand fished them out of a red leather jacket's pocket to open the front door with.

Ruby made her way down the stairs slowly, seeing the front door part open, and a mane of blonde hair that was unmistakable. Just like her red leather jacket and her favorite scarf she always wore.

"Emma!" Ruby couldn't help but exclaim a little loud as she rushed down the stairs, her arms wrapping around the blonde's form.

Regina's body shifted on the couch where she slept. David and Mary Margaret refused to allow her to leave so late, so they set out some blankets for her to sleep on their couch for tonight. She's never considered herself a light sleeper, but tonight- for some reason- at the sound of Ruby's voice and hearing Emma's name being mentioned made her eyes open up slowly.

"Hey, Rubes!" Emma chuckled, picking up the brunette in her arms and grunting in the process. She had missed her during the time she had to be away.

"Hey, Em!" Ruby shrieked, feeling her feet touch the ground once she began to wiggle herself free from Emma's embrace. "Shhh, you'll wake Regina." She whispered, looking into the living room where the brunette's back was turned to them.

"Who?" Emma whispered, her brow furrowed as she leaned against one of the entrances to the living room to get a better look. All she could see was a sleeping form and the blackest mane of hair she had ever seen in her life. "Who's Regina?" She turned to Ruby.

"Regina is Graham's fiancee." Ruby whispered.

Emma's head tilted, her eyes squinting in wonder as she glared back at the sleeping brunette. "No, that's not Graham's fiancee." She whispered, more in shock than an accusation. She had never known Graham to have a love interest of any kind. Let alone take anyone seriously. Why would he now?

Regina's eyes snapped open again, suddenly an unsettling feeling settled at the pit of her stomach. Did this Emma knew? Maybe she was close to her brother to know that he would never marry? Or maybe she was just a good judge of people, that she just knew. Had she met any of Graham's girlfriend's before? So many unanswered questions flashed through her mind in that moment that she decided to lay still, and listen.

"Have you met her?" Ruby asked.

"No." Emma replied, her eyes focused on the sleeping brunette. She knew about someone Graham had dated a while back, but she always remembered her having blonde hair, not brunette.

"Well, she's great. You're going to love her." Ruby smiled up at the blonde.

Emma hummed, her brow raised as she looked back over at Regina. "You know what, Rubes? Maybe I'll stay the night."

Crap. Regina thought to herself. She wasn't sure what Emma knew or didn't know, but she didn't want to risk her exposing her if she could. Okay, so she hasn't met anyone Graham has ever dated, that much was clear, but she could tell that Emma was smart and caught up to things quickly. She didn't have to meet her to know that.

"Don't eat my cereal in the morning." Ruby warned her as they headed up the stairs.

"Oh, so it's Ruby's special cereal now?" Emma whispered to her, glancing over at Regina one last time before turning in for the night.

"Last time you took the toy surprise. Remember?" Ruby reminded her, still resenting her for that.


The paperboy was doing his usual route early that morning. He had already passed by the Swan home and he still had a couple of houses left to do before finishing up. His mother had bought him a new jacket, which honestly, he preferred his trusty old one. The sleeve of this new one kept getting stuck against the handle of his bicycle and he hated it. It never failed to knock him off.

He reached down for a newspaper roll from his pouch and prepared to toss it once he reached the next house. And without fail, as he tossed it, he felt his sleeve get caught on the handle, causing his front wheel to violently turn and his bike to lose control, knocking him down on his back on the cold concrete floor and snow in the process.

This stupid jacket. He thought to himself, deciding to lay there for a while as he looked up at the morning sky.

Regina was finishing up fluffing up the pillows on the couch, reaching for her purse and scarf as she quietly made her way out of the front door, but not before reaching for her coat which hung against the rack.

"Good morning." Emma's sudden voice and appearance as she calmly sat by the front stairs, a smile stretched out on her lips, cup of coffee in one hand and newspapers in the other.

"Oh, my- oh, you scared me." Regina breathed, her hand placed on her chest. Her eyes couldn't help but look up at the woman's smile, her green eyes. She was dressed up in a pair of jeans and a gray long sleeve shirt.

"Sorry." Emma smiled apologetically, setting her coffee cup down.

"Good morning, Emma." She remembered her name.

"Uh…" She sat her newspaper down beside her, her eyes unable to look away from Regina's brown orbs. "I guess I don't remember meeting you."

"Well, that's probably because we've never met." Regina smiled, screaming internally at herself. God, please don't know anything. Don't call me out on my lie.

"That might have something to do with it." She nodded, a ghost of a smile stretching out on the corner of her lip. Graham always did have great taste in women. She had only seen a few of his girlfriends in pictures, but none came close to the word beautiful like Regina here.

Regina didn't know what more to say. And she couldn't look away from Emma's green eyes either. They were green like Graham's, but not quite like his, if that made any sense at all. Emma's were more close to a clear, emerald green. Like a jewel. She had a kind look to her, too, like someone who had a big heart, just like her parents.

A honk outside, alerted the brunette of a cab waiting outside for her. Good thing it arrived when it did, usually when you call for a cab they make you wait a while.

"Um, that's my cab." She motioned toward the door, reaching for the doorknob and parting it open. "I have to go, because I'm late for work, so I have to go- but, it was nice to meet you, Emma. So, bye." She waved at the blonde, rushing out of the door.

"Hey, Regina…" Emma rushed off the steps, toward the door. She needed to say something else. Something pleasant.

"Okay, look- I know, I- I-" Regina whirled around, ready to confess the truth.

"Hey." Emma was taken aback by the woman's reaction, but she noticed her calm as soon as their eyes met once again.

And Regina couldn't explain as to why Emma's simple hey calmed her.

"Welcome to the family." Said Emma, her voice soft just like her eyes as she kept her gaze on her.

"Oh, thank you." Regina blinked, heading out the door but taking a quick peek at the blonde before leaving for good. "Bye." She said, shutting the door in the process. She scowled at herself. What the hell was wrong with her? She was nervous enough as it was, but why did meeting Emma make her turn into a total fool?