Warning: Small mention of domestic violence

The second Christmas

It was a year later that Regina went through the Christmas mail as usual, this year she had even stepped in at a few of the post offices helping out as a lot of people were on sick leave. The seasonal flu had hit the country hard this year. She helped stressed customers sending present and letters near and far, not being able to be with their close ones as they lived too far away.

She startled when she heard a small voice say, "Excuse me, Ma'am?"

"Yes," she said and looked down upon a small boy, he couldn't be more than seven or eight. His red and black scarf was tucked neatly around his neck and he was wearing a black coat to keep warn. With a bushy hair and a big grin on his face, he looked up at her. It was children like this that made her days better. Those little smile. She noticed them whenever she was in one of her parents' toy stores as well, and at the yearly handout to the less fortunate. It was a couple of days before Christmas that she, her sister, and their parents invited the poor children in town to pick one toy each from their biggest store. They were ones asked how they could afford it, whereupon her father said that they made enough all year long and people also donated to the cause so it wasn't a problem.

She knew it all too well to be true, she had more than enough herself and she didn't really need this job or any job in addition to what she did for the family company. She mainly did it because she really enjoyed it and she saw postal workers as noble men and woman risking their lives to bring the mail out in time. No letter or present would be left behind, was her motto.

Her eyes landed on the young boy that was looking up at her behind the counter. He was holding up a letter and small see-through bag with some gingerbread cookies. He looked insecure as he asked her, "How much will it cost to send this to Santa?"

"Let me see," she said and put it on her scale, knowing with takes and all it would be around $15. She smiled at him saying, "It is about $15, but you know Santa does take the cookies if you leave them on a plate also? It is cheaper than to send them."

"I plan to do that also, but he saved our Christmas last year and I know he and his wife work very hard so wanted to send something to thank them," he said. He found some small bill and some coins in his pocket and counted them. Seeing he was a little short, he let out a deep sigh. He knew he probably wouldn't have time to send it in the time it took to save up more.

Regina could easily tell the trouble and offered, "Tell you what save your money, I will make sure he gets it alright?"

"You really will? That isn't something you are just telling me?" he looked at her with doubting eyes now.

"I promise and if Santa doesn't deliver you can come here and yell at me as I will most likely be working this Christmas," she said and winked at him.

"Alright, thank you, Ma'am," he said and took his money back.

"You are welcome, Sir. Have a happy Christmas," she said and took the letter, watching as he hurried outside. She didn't notice which was he went or if he was with someone as he vanished as fast as he came.

It wasn't until later that evening she realized that the boy was the one that sent the heartbreaking letter one year prior. She recognized his handwriting and even if she knew she should send the letter further she couldn't resist in helping them one more time. She took one of the cookies form the bag and read,

Dear Santa.

I wanted to thank you so much for helping us out last year. My mom loved the teddy bears so much and I loved, love my new room. So thank you. Sending with some cookies as a thank you, we baked them together.

She doesn't have a lot of time, she is working tons now that she has to provide for it. It is a good job and she gotten new friends there so she is happy. Still she is so very tired and this year grandma, grandpa, and my uncle and his wife is coming for Christmas. I know she only have three days off and doesn't really want to cook and ….she isn't really good at it. I don't mind but I know grandma will. So maybe if you could leave a turkey or something when you drop by a little earlier than usual? You see, we are all in church around 4pm on Christmas eve. I won't ask for more and I know you are very busy, but a turkey would really help. On the second hand one small thing she needs a new scarf and we both like comic books, but mostly the turkey.

Sincerely Henry.

Ps I will leave the key under math for you.

Regina couldn't help but to laugh a little by this when the door to her office opened and her sister came inside. The redhead tilted her head and looked at her, asking; "What is so funny? Is that a love letter?"

"No, one for Santa, a young boy asking for a turkey since his mother can't cook," she said, still amused.

"I fail to see how that is funny, not every woman can make a turkey you know," she said, rolling her eyes. There was no secret that unlike their mother, and Regina Zelena was terrible when it came to making a turkey just right.

"I know and I am sorry. It is just the way he puts it that is so cute and funny. Look?" Regina showed her the letter.

Zelena came closer, taking it from her hand and they she started to read. Her eyes darted quickly over the lines before she asked, "Wait is this the same Henry that you last right fixed an apartment for? Please tell me you are not thinking about sneaking in there and fix a full Christmas dinner while they are away, because I am sure it borders between some kind of stalking and breaking an entry."

"I am pretty sure it is the same boy, I recognize his handwriting and I wouldn't steal anything, I would just leave a meal behind. I don't see the harm in doing that, if it helps his mother rest. It's not like she will ever know it is me, we don't cross paths and I have no idea what she even looks like. He stopped by to send the letter today and he is so adorable, Zelena," Regina defended herself strongly. Perhaps a bit too strongly.

"Regina, please use your common sense, this is not your child or your family. You don't even know them and you probably never will. What use it is to go out of the world and beyond for them?" the redhead tried to reason.

"To give them a better Christmas, and I fail to see how this is different to us handing out toys every year," she shook her head.

"Just be careful so you don't end up with a broken heart," her sister warned. She knew her sister's tendency to go in all the way, then end up getting hurt. She suspected that was why she had almost given up on love. She hadn't dated someone for years now she knew.

"I won't as I am not attached to them!" she rose her voice now. Slowly she closed down her computer and dropped the remains of the letters in an envelope, putting the right number of stamps on. She grasped for her winter coat and purse, before adding; "Do we have time to stop for coffee or should we hurry not to let mother wait?"

"We have time, she will displeased no matter when we show up as well," said Zelena with a big grin on her face. Regina punched her in the side, making her laugh as they headed out of her office and out on the busy streets.

"So Regina, are you bringing anyone for Christmas party this year?" Cora Mills asked, looking over the table at her youngest daughter.

"I…might," she lied. She wasn't dating anyone at the moment, hadn't for over a year. She found it tiresome to answer the same question over and over, getting the same displeased look. She hated to show up at the parents Christmas party being oogled at by family and friends because she was still single.

"So who is she?" her mother wanted to know.

"Errh you will see at the party, she is celebrating with her family," Regina tried, seeing her sister rise her brows at this.

"I see, well we will be happy to meet her," said Cora with a forced smile.

"Yeah, in any case, I have to go. Early shift tomorrow, the mail has to get there in time," she said, getting up from the table kissing them both goodbye before leaving. On her way back to the car she dialed Elsa's number, "Hi, I was wondering if you could help me out?"

"It depends on what it is, I am rather busy you know," she said with a soft laughter.

"I know. Could you either go as my date or know someone I could take as one for the family Christmas party this year? I told mom I would bring someone, but as you know, I am not the dating type. I don't have the time or energy for anyone right now," said she with a huff.

"I may know of someone, or I will bail you out as always. Can I get back to you on that?" she wondered with a soft laughter.

"You are a saint, commissioner," Regina said, taking a breath of relief.

"Always here to save the day," she mused, before hanging up. No doubt she was still working, still she was never too busy to take a call to help out a friend or her family. The two had been friends for decades, they met at Harvard back in the day, but those days were long gone. Elsa had been at Regina's home as many times as Regina had been at Elsa's, and both got along great with each other's families. They had crashed more weddings, baby shower's, and funerals than they cared to count over the years and knew each other better than anyone else. Maybe that was why they never dated, as they saw each other more than sisters than anything else, and dating would be too weird.

The brunette shook it of as she managed to slip the phone back in her pocket and pick up the bags containing some of this year's Christmas presents walking the past steps to the car.

It was Christmas Eve and Emma felt her heart sink on the thought of the burned food waiting at home. She had halfhearted tried to prefer the Christmas dinner for herself and the family after a long speech to her mother she could do this herself. She couldn't, she simply didn't have the energy. But she didn't have the energy for her mother to tell her how do to it either. She just couldn't handle it, her mother's never-ending lectures on how she and Henry should live their lives.

She never heard the end of it over the apartment she lived in for the past year, that she should have fought Peter for the house at least. When she couldn't manage to stay married to him that was the least she could do, to provide Henry with a proper home. She didn't care to listen when she tried to tell her, Peter beat her black and blue. She refused to believe it since he was always so nice when they were around. He was good at that making it all seem so very perfect so no one would suspect a thing. Angry tears in her eyes now. She hated him for doing this to her, for making her feel like this, even now when he was out of the picture for good.

"Mom, are you alright?" she heard Henry's voice from behind.

"Yeah, I just can't take her lecturing me because I messed up dinner, I just want one nice meal, no fighting," she explained. One nice meal and maybe drink a glass of wine or two before bed. She deserved it, she had worked hard all year trying become a better officer. She had worked only part-time when she was with Peter, it was all he would allow as he wanted his wife home. Now that she didn't have his income also it was harder. Besides she needed to show that she wasn't weak after what happened, and provide for them both, so she took any shift she could get. To show herself worthy of the badge, so far she was in the good graces with her boss.

"Don't worry about it, mom, I am sure Santa has been by to fix it," Henry said, every so confident.

"I hope so, Henry, I really do," she said. She found it cute he still believed, but how could he not after last year. Whoever got them that apartment, had really saved their lives. And Henry had gone on and on about the woman at the lost office that had promised to send the letter, and if she did Santa for sure would help them tonight. The blonde couldn't bring herself to tell him that Santa was just a Fairytale, that it was the goodness of people that got them out of there in time and this new place.

"I know it, just wait and see, mom," he persisted. Her stubborn little boy.

She didn't say anything, just parked the car in the garage, knowing her family would be there soon also. They insisted to give them a head start to make sure all was in order. The blonde got out of the car and made sure she had everything and Henry, before walking into the building and getting off on the right floor.

Opening the door to their apartment, a dozen smells flooded towards then. She frowned as she walked into see the dining table filled with a huge turkey and all that came with. Leftovers in pots and pans on the stove and counter. She took one of the pieces freshly cut turkey lying next to it, tasting, it was like pure heaven. Whoever did this for sure was a great chef, she decided.

She looked at the things at the table, mashed potatoes, two types, one regular and one with peas and carrots, freshly steamed vegetables, gravy, stuffing, cranberries - it made her mouth water. She also saw a note at the counter. Picking it up she read, "Merry Christmas, Emma, I hope this helps you today, there are some wine to go along with the meal in the fridge and one more special for you to enjoy on your own along with some cheese in the fridge. There are also some bear claws in the cabinet and some present for tomorrow under the three. Santa."

There were tears in her eyes now as she hid the node in her pocket, wondering who this mystery Santa was and why she would help her. Because she was pretty sure it was a she. Mostly because the handwriting was to delicate to be a she. She couldn't even believe that some random person would do something like that for her, for them, and for no reason at all. Not that she had time to think about it as the doorbell rang. She dried her tears to go to open for her family, glad that for once her mother could say nothing ill about the cooking.

It was later that night that the blonde was cleaning up the last of the remains after the party that she once again found herself being grateful for this Santa. Henry had spilled nothing to her parents about Emma not having cooked it all. He had simply told his grandparent, aunt and uncle that his mother had been slaving over the food for hours, and the next-door neighbor had stopped by to see it didn't burn while they were in church. Could have been possible the blonde reckoned.

Her mother had praised her highly for the food, and after dinner and dessert they were now slumped down in her living room wherever they saw fit. Henry was playing video-games with his auntie Jacinda, while his uncle Neal was cheering for them. Her parents were watching them with interest. Emma put the last plates in the dishwasher only to turn it on a second time, when she heard her father's voice behind her.

"So who is she?"

"I am sorry?" Emma turned to look at her confused.

"I assumed you had help of some woman to pull this off, or is it a male chef?" he wondered.

"No dad, I managed on my own. I know I could have asked Ruby, but she is working tonight," Emma answered thinking out loud.

"You may fool your mother, but not me. I will however not force you to tell us, but know that if you were seeing anyone, whoever it might be, we support it, princess," he said. He pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek, while Emma shook her head. How could she tell him, when she didn't even know.

It was only the next morning Emma knew for sure she was crushing on her secret Santa. Opening a gift under the three, finding a bunch of comic books, some of the rare and expensive editions. She knew she could never afford them herself. She told her son to be very careful with his own, at least the rare ones, explaining why. He nodded as carefully looked through a spider-man comic. A smile on her lips, wondering if she should try to find this secret Santa. No, she told herself, after all, she didn't even know where to start.

She put the idea aside as she started to read to see what kind of trouble the joker would cause for batman this time, all snuggled up in a chair with a reindeer covered once piece feeling nothing but bliss.

"Elsa, where is she?" Regina hissed as she phone outside her parents' place. She still saw no sign of the date her friend had promised her.

"I will be right there," Elsa said calmly. She hung up and let one of the driver's take her ice blue escalade. Stepping out she walked over to Regina that was already stressed.

Regina eyed her up and down in her shimmering, light blue evening gown. She was a vision, that much she knew. She looked at her confused, "I thought you said you had someone for me."

"I did, but she bumped into and ex the other day. Long story short, I couldn't find someone else on so short notice, I can however play the part," she said, leaning in to kiss Regina's cheek.

The brunette snorted, "There is no way in hell they will believe that."

"Just trust me," the blonde whispered, letting an arm slip around Regina's waist. The brunette leaned closer, knowing that she didn't have time or energy to argue. She would just play the part, they both would.

In her silent mind she wondered what Henry and his mom was doing right then, wishing she was anywhere but there. She calmed hearing Elsa whisper, "Don't worry, we got this covered, it's not the first time we pull this act."

"I know, babe, I know," she said, letting her hand slip around her waist also. She sighed heavily as they walked inside, leaning against her, putting on a fake smile. She made a mental not to go somewhere for Christmas the year after to get away from it all. In her silent mind, she hoped that she would maybe bring Emma and Henry to these tedious events. She shook it off, knowing the likelihood of that was close to zero as she leaned closer to Elsa making it look more real.

Thank you so much for reading this chapter, I would love to hear your point of view :o)