The third Christmas

One year later Regina found herself working at the same post office as she was Christmas the year before, and again she saw young Henry come inside. He had grown a little since she saw him the last time. Still there was this grin on his face and the letter in his hand. That childish optimism as he clearly believed in Santa still, and how could he not, she proved to him that his wishes got granted. It was stupid, she knew, because there was no way she could continue to do this forever.

"Good morning, Henry, no school today?" she wondered, looking at him. It was Wednesday after all, so he should most likely have been at school as it was before noon.

"No, I am off, the teacher had a planning day or something. Mom is working so I get to spend the day with grandma, she is at the baker next door. We are going to have cinnamon rolls when we get back," he told her. Clearly excited.

"I see, do you like those?" she wondered curiously.

"Sometimes. She likes them though. I guess I am more into bear claws like mom, or apple turnovers," he answered after thinking a bit.

"Hmm, tell you what, why don't I take a letter and be right back," she said with a glint in her eye. He nodded and handed it over, waiting for her to return. When she came back, she had something wrapped in a plastic bag. She handed it over, "I baked apple turnovers late last night and I know you are probably bot allowed to take things from strangers, so your mom can yell at me if she likes. Or it will be our little secret. Take it as a Christmas present or something."

"I won't tell and thank you so much, ma'am," he said as he took it.

"Please call me Regina, and have a Merry Christmas, Henry, you and your family both," she said and beamed at him.

"Merry Christmas, Regina," he said as she put the bag in his pocket and hurried back out. She shook her head, as she put the letter aside for later. Maybe she couldn't continue to do this forever, but what would one more year hurt or maybe until he stopped believing, still she hoped he never would.

"Regina, are you listening?" her mother said as her daughter seemed occupied in her own thoughts. They were at the Royal Hearts Toys' main store, helping with some of the restocking. It was late night and about seven hours to the store opened for the next morning. It was open from 8 am to 10pm every day up to Christmas morning, meaning when Regina wasn't doing her job as the postmaster general, she was at this or one of the other stores helping out.

She knew put some teddy bears back in the shelf when her mind went to Henry's mother, had she liked the teddy's she got two Christmases ago?

"I am sorry, mother. What did you say?" she said with a yawn.

"I said that you can go home if you want, I can see you are tired and I know you have worked a lot lately," she said. She didn't even know when her daughter found time to sleep working two jobs.

"I am fine, I got a later shift at the post office tomorrow, so going in later in the morning to do some paperwork at the office first. I am just wondering, how much do you know about computer games?" Regina looked at her mother. Henry had asked for a new Wii in the letter and she knew nothing about computer games what so ever other than their store soul any game imaginable at the basement level.

"I know that we carry all the newest brands and that we have a consul of two for testing before the grand release in a couple of months. Your sister and her children are testing out one of them as we speak. Why?" she wondered curiously.

"I would rather not tell, only someone I know is wishing for a Wii, but I thought the NX would maybe be cooler. But if that has an upgrade in March, maybe I should just leave it be and give him what he wished for. I mean them," she said with a sigh of frustration.

"I didn't realize you knew any children?" her mother wondered curiously.

"It doesn't matter, never mind I said anything," she shook her head.

"If I were you, I would go for an NX with a note that they will get the switch with the games as soon as it comes into the store. Maybe even a little sooner, we do have them in storage here before the release you know," her mother tried calmly.

"I suppose I could do that, if that is alright with you?" she wondered.

"You can take wheat you need from the inventory; I will log it as gifts if you let me know. So anything else you want to tell me about these two? This wouldn't have anything to do with the apartment you got a few years ago, would it?" she pressed a little.

"How do you even know about that?" Regina frowned. She hadn't told her parents about that. She figured her own money was hers and hers alone to use. She bought it in her name and covered all the expenses after the buy just like she did with the house. Of course she knew Emma covered plumbing and so if something went wrong, being the house owner she was always notified, even if she was a silent partner.

"The bank called regarding some details which I gave them. I don't get why you told me why you hid it as a secret. She isn't a girlfriend you are trying to hide, because you know I don't mind whoever you are dating," she said.

"No, I am not, she doesn't even know it is me that is the Santa, and she never will. I just want to help them out that is all. At least as long as the kid believe in Santa," she shrugged.

"You love her!" her mother's eyes widened.

"I never even meet her. I am going to check on the games and then go home," Regina changed the subject.

Her mother didn't push, just nodded to this, watching her disaster towards the elevator, fastest way downstairs. She concluded that she would never get her daughter, doing something like this for a stranger, and then not taking credit for it. It was not like her at all. She shook it off, knowing she shouldn't meddle and she would not until she saw it necessary.

Emma Swan gasped when she opened the gifts from the secret Santa that year, a brand-new game console with the promise of the newer once in store. Plenty of games for her and Henry as it was. When she asked Henry about it he had just shrugged saying that he asked Santa to help because their old Wii didn't work anymore and she missed her work out sessions.

The blonde could only guess the cost of this, and she felt it was all too much; even if whoever gave it to them had tons of cash. And not to mention why? Why would anyone in their right mind give anything like this to complete strangers without even wanting anything back? She didn't get it, not at all.

Over the past two years she had taught about it, who could possibly know that her ex-husband hurt them like that. Even if Henry said it was the letter to Santa, who would really have the power to call the police commissioner to come and save the day. She shook her head, she probably put too much into this. Most likely it was just one of the neighbors and same with the Christmas dinner last year.

"Mom, you wanna test this or?" Henry looked at her with wondering eyes.

"You know it kid, but not for too long. You know your auntie Ruby is coming over along with the rest of our friends," Emma reminded.

"Sure thing," he said and put in a car game and handed her a control. She took it and the mysterious Santa vanished from her mind, right now it was just herself Henry and the game.

Thank you so much for reading this chapter, feedback is always most welcome :o)