The fourth Christmas

"Mom, look, it is Regina!" Henry said, pointing at a woman with some shopping bags a bit further down the shopping street. She was clearly doing the same as them, shopping for Christmas.

"Regina?" Emma said, looking at the brunette with flawless makeup in her black coat, boots, and a stern look on her face. She didn't seem to enjoy herself with the shopping, instead she looked rather troubled.

"The woman I told you about, from the post office," he said, letting go of her hand. He ran towards the brunette yelling out, "Regina!"

"Henry, wait up," Emma yelled after him, cursing on the inside. That kid had a mind on his own and should know better than to run off like that, not to mention strangers.

Regina looked up at the sound of her name, spotting Henry with his rosy cheeks and frost breath coming running towards her. Why did he have to be the most adorable kid ever?

She stopped and smiled down at him saying, "Well hello there, Henry, on your own again?"

"No, mom is…" he stopped hearing Emma's voice say, "Damn it, Henry! How many times have I told you not to run off like that! I am so sorry, Ma'am."

"Don't worry about it, it is my pleasure to talk to this young man. I do, however, agree with your mother, Henry, you shouldn't run off like that," she said in a serious tone.

"I am so sorry," he said and looked down now. It melted Regina's heart completely.

A smile appearing on her lips saying, "It is alright, just don't do it again alright?"

"I won't," he said and beamed at her again. He looked at her bags saying, "So you are Christmas shopping too huh?"

"Yes, with two jobs I don't have much time to spare so I have to used the little free time I have. I do think my sister and her family and my parents does deserve something nice, don't you?" she asked him.

"I do, so not husband then?" he boldly asked.

"No, are you trying to ask me out," she laughed now, making Emma's heart melt.

"No, you are too old for me, just curious," he said with a grin.

"I see, well I have no husband, as I am a lesbian, you know what that mean?" she wondered calmly. Why was she telling him this?

"You only like woman, same as my mom! I mean she was married to my dad of course, but it was a mistake. She didn't love him, not really and he…was not a good man," he said, looking down.

"And that is enough from you," Emma said, feeling her cheeks burn in embarrassment.

"It is alright, and I am sorry. I do hope you are doing better now?" Regina said, hope in her voice.

"Yes, much better," Emma nodded with a bright smile.

"Good, well I have to go, so I can get home with this before I go to my second job," she said politely. Or before she ended up doing something stupid, she knew in her silent mind.

"Yes of course. If you don't mind me asking, what is your second job?" Emma asked.

"I make children's dreams come true. If you figure out what I mean you should have no trouble finding out what it is," she said with another soft laughter, hurrying away.

"Make children's dreams come true…" Emma mused, trying to figure out where she had seen her before. Because she was sure she had and she had heard that catch phrase also. She looked around the busy street when her words came back to her; she was a lesbian. Wait did she say that so Emma would let her know she was open for a relationship.

"Oh stop it, she is out of your league," she told herself, shaking her head, before following Henry into a sports store. He wanted some skiing equipment for his grandfather and she could use some new winter gloves herself.

It wasn't until later that very same Christmas it made sense to Emma when she and Henry walked into the Royal Heart's Toy store. There right on the window it stood their motto that had lasted for ages, "We make children's dreams come true."

Why hadn't she figured it out sooner? She had shopped toys for Henry there for years, well one of their smaller stores when she struggled to survive. Her parents had shopped toys for her from this store and it was then she knew where she had seen Regina before - their commercials and in newspaper articles fronting their big events with the rest of the family.

Like the one today, where they gave away toys to children in need. She was there with Henry to find some for his classmates. Their families didn't have much money to spare, and since Emma knew what it was like, she wanted to help out. It was Henry's idea when he saw the add on the TV. Regina's parents had talked about it, getting people to come buy this day and help themselves to make a better Christmas for their children, telling them if they didn't want their names on the notes they would had notes saying from Santa in the registry as needed.

Emma that knew both the children and their parents opted for that and as she asked Henry to find what he thought his friends would like, one thing for each, as she went to the registry to get two notes. She looked at them, festive with a Santa Claus and reindeer on the front and the writing in red on the back. It was only when she saw that her eyes widened, because she had seen this writing before, in her home. Meaning their gifts came from someone in this store. She looked around to see if she could see any of the members from the Mills' clan.

Remembering how her parents looked like, she spotted her mother helping a customer at an aisle with dolls. Once she was done, Emma approached her saying, "Excuse me Mrs. Mills?"

"Yes, is there anything wrong?" Cora asked as the blonde looked rather serious.

"No, I just have a question. In your commercial you say the Santa notes are written out in advance, like this one. I was wondering who does this signature belong to?" Emma said and held up the note.

"That would be my youngest daughter, Regina," she answered politely.

"I see, is she here by any chance, I would like a word with her?" Emma said calmly. Inside her, the blood was rushing. Regina had gotten her the gifts and would most likely continue to do so if she didn't put an end to it. She knew she should do that, but if she did it might offend her. Was this a way of courting her? Or did she do it to be nice? And if so, did she only do it with them or others as well?

"She isn't working tonight, she had to take care of something at her other job and then something personal. I didn't ask, and even if I knew I wouldn't say as I do not know you," Cora countered as polite as she could.

"I see. Very well then," Emma was about to go when Henry came over saying, "This is the best store ever!"

"Thank you for thinking so, young man," Cora said looking down at him. It was only then the pieces fell into place. This was most likely the ones Regina wanted the new game console for the Christmas before and she had gotten earlier this year. Clearly, they couldn't know each other as they blonde wouldn't have asked about her signature if she did. Then it occurred to her what her daughter said the Christmas before, they never knew and they never would. She couldn't help but to wonder, of all the people in the world, why these two.

"You are welcome," he said, still smiling.

"What do you like the best in here?" Cora wondered, still looking at him.

"Hmm, maybe the video games, baseball shirts and caps, and the comic book action figures," he said still beaming at her. His eyes shining with excitement where he stood, holding a radio car and a Superman costume.

"Are those for you?" she wondered curiously.

"No, ma'am, they are for my friends. They have very little and we wanted to help make their Christmas better," he explained, Emma nodded to this.

Cora nodded and used a walkie calling for a clerk. Once he came there she told him, "These two are getting something for someone less fortunate, I want you to bring me the action figure pack from aisle G47 and the Iron man suit, the deluxe model, and the Lego Corvette Chevrette ZR1, I believe it is on the third floor isle N23 and also see if you can find a car poster with some race cars and a race car driver suit, I believe you know where?"

"Yes, Ma'am, what size is the young men?" he asked Henry.

"About my size, Sir," Henry said, looking at him.

"Alright, I will be right back," he said with a polite smile.

"Now Henry, I want you to pick one of the three things you mentioned and I shall make sure it get delivered on Christmas Eve so you can open it Christmas morning. Just one thing so think about it and you, Miss, can do the same? Please do not object to this, this is what I do and it makes me happy to do it," she said.

Emma seeing no point in arguing about the matter thought for a second, "I want whatever toy your daughter played with the most when she was younger, because I want to learn to know her better."

"I would like a baseball shirt that is too big so I can grow into it, that way I can use it when I am older as well. Also, I am a Yankee fan," said Henry with pride in his voice.

"Noted," she said with a serious nod.

"Do you even remember what your daughters used to play with," said Henry, because looking at Cora it had to be a long time since she was young as him. To him his mother's wish seemed like and impossible request.

"Of course, I remember every toy we ever made, every toy my daughters played with, in addition to every toy we ever sold and are selling in our stores. I could even tell you which shelf they are on as you could tell earlier. I may be a bit forgetful in some areas, young Henry, but I remember toys. It is my passion and how me and my husband meet," she explained to him with a smile.

"Cora, I heard Max say you wanted these things?" she heard a too familiar voice say and she looked up to see her husband helping the store clerk carry.

"Speak of the devil, there we have him right now," she turned to give him a peck on the cheek. He smiled at her, before she explained, "Yes, dear, these two are making the Christmas special for some less fortunate."

She got a nod a nod in return. Once it was all handed over to them, he said, "If the clerk in the registrar should ask, tell them it alright with us."

"I will, but really this is all too much," Emma said, her hands were now full.

"No, it is not, we are fortunate to have more than enough, so it is a joy for us to know someone else is happy," Cora said, getting an approving nod from her husband.

"Hey you are named the same as me," he said, reading older Henry's name tag.

"I do. Well it is a quite common name," the older Henry concluded.

"Yes, it is," he agreed with a serious nod.

"Henry, we should get going before it gets too late," Emma reminded him. He nodded and said, "Thank you for the stuff and I hope you both have a merry Christmas."

"The same goes for you two," Cora said with a smile watching them hurry away. Once they were out of sight, Henry turned to his wife and said, "Why the generosity, my dear?"

"It is Christmas and I have a feeling those are the two Regina keep on spoiling," she said thoughtfully.

"I see. Well what was on their list?" he asked, because he could see the wheels turning in her head. Surely she must have asked them. She tended to do so with friends of the family. He knew that Regina already planned on giving Elsa a pair of new skates, as her old pair was hardly wearable, in addition to a necklace she lost at work. He knew the two to skate with Elsa's family during the winter at an old rink. He also knew his other daughter, Zelena was giving the usual stuffed bear for her wife, in addition to a new bow and arrows for her collection.

"Him, the Yankees uniform big enough to grow in. I am thinking two, one for now and one for later, and maybe one for his mother? She wanted what Regina used to play with most when she was younger, to know her better. Maybe some of them older ponies. The ones we used to make with movable joints?" she wondered, looking at him. She knew those horses went out of style sometimes back, but they were still for sale in their store. Regina had played with those for ages, not being able to have her own horse. Mostly because she would not have time for it, next to her education, friends and other activities.

"Both sound reasonable, and by that request I think you are right," he said with a nod. He walked back to where he had come from, no doubt the aisle with wooden toys she knew she knew was his favorite. Shaking her head, she went in the direction of the cash registry hoping the blonde had left some information as she realized only then that she hadn't told them her name or where to send the gifts too.

Regina felt conflicted and Henry's Christmas wish that year. Even if it was simple enough. He wanted his mother to get away for a weekend with his auntie Ruby, he would stay with her grandparents over New Year and his mother had time of then. She deserved it, to be without him, even if she objected. What was his words again?

"For mom to get relaxed and taken care of like she does with me all year long. And other people, making sure they are safe in their homes."

Could she be a police officer? Or a job within the health sector? A spa or a hotel somewhere, maybe. But who was this aunt Ruby, was that a companion?

She felt her blood boil in her veins because of it, without even knowing why. She had no claim to her, to them even, she knew. Mainly because she never made any claim and now she was in over her head. If she hadn't seen her in the flesh, heard her voice, it would all would have been like the Christmases prior, but now that she had…

Why did she have to be so stupid to feel something for her, after one short meeting? She was getting too attached to them.

Regina startled hearing the doorbell ring and got drawn back to reality. She put the letter aside and went to open the front door, finding her friends, Elsa, Mallory, Vanessa and Ella outside. They were there for the yearly Christmas party, this time it was her time to host it. It had been Mallory the year before, as the five took turns on who was the host every year. They had done so since their college days when Elsa and Regina meet the other three the first day there.

"What the hell happened to you?" Ella asked, as Regina looked possibly crestfallen.

"Nothing just having a bad day," Regina groaned, letting them inside. She knew there was no point in debating this.

"It's a new woman, isn't it?" Mallory chimed in.

"Do tell us who this unfortunate soul is," Vanessa said, giving her a playful push in the side.

"Yes, do tell auntie Ella," Ella said in a soft tone.

"One, there is now woman, and two, you are far too young to be my aunt Ella, you are barely three years older than me," Regina objected strongly. She could already feel her cheeks burn.

"Tsk tsk, three years wisdoms older, dear," Ella corrected.

Elsa, who had reminded quiet up to now, trying to figure it out, spoke, "You finally saw her for real, you know who is renting the apartment. Only if you tell her she'll know and then you have to stop helping and the wish this year leaves you conflicted because…"

"You are attracted to her, of course. So is she hot?" Vanessa looked at Elsa now.

They all knew how the two had gotten a woman out of the bad relationship and how the woman now seemed to be doing better thanks to Regina's help. Elsa had told her, after all, she did keep in check with her many police officers, and since Emma was one within her interest due to Regina, she knew that by now she was divorced and her ex was still in jail. They had, however, not shared that Regina kept providing her with gifts every year. Elsa had simply told them she was doing better to her knowledge and that she was due to a promotion the following year due to her work in the field.

"I suppose if you are into the whole blonde, green eyes, looking not too bad in a uniform thing, yes," the blonde shrugged.

"You got a picture?" Vanessa asked.

"No, I do not?" she shook her head, looking back at Regina.

"I might have a run into her and so I decided that I will stop giving them presents when Henry is too old to believe. Of course, I will pay for the apartment as it is in my name, but that is all," Regina shrugged.

"You are aware that there are cheaper ways too court someone right?" Ella said, rising her eyebrows at her friend.

"Coming from the one that flew Mallory to a date in Paris for their first date. You had known her for years, we all known her for years, I am sure dinner and a movie would have sufficed," Regina teased her, shaking her head.

"Well, I did have to whisk her off her feet. And besides, you are not even talking to her," Ella countered with a light shrug.

"Because I have no interest in her, now can we please move on!" Regina pressed. She didn't want to debate this anymore, mainly because she needed to make sense of her own emotions first. She had no idea why she felt she was way younger at that very moment.

"Whatever you say, dear, whatever you say," Ella said, shaking her head, and did just that. She started on the new winter line she was designing, being the owner of a major clothing brand. Elsa gave Regina a look and got a nod in return. It simply meant she would stay after the others left so they could talk about it further if Regina wanted to do that.

The brunette quietly followed the other four into the dining room, trying to figure out where she would send Emma and this auntie Ruby, feeling a sting of jealousy over not being able to go with her instead. She made herself a promise to try to find someone before the next Christmas so maybe she wouldn't be this upset about something so stupid.

Early Christmas day Emma and Henry got up and into their car. They were supposed to drive over to her parents' for dinner, yet Henry noticed his mother seemed to be driving in circles instead. She seemed rather deep in thought after they opened their presents that morning and at this point he was considering asking when they suddenly stopped outside the massive toy store owned by the Mills' family.

He looked at her from the passenger seat as she leaned on the wheel, heaving for air. He had seen this before, more than once, knowing it was a panic attack and that she was beyond reach now. He got his buckle up and got out of the car, running over to the entrance and banged at the door. Hoping someone, anyone was inside even if it was a holy day. Tears in his eyes as he looked into the dark, abandoned store. It was too much to hope for wasn't it? That any of Regina's relatives worked today.

About to turn and ask anyone random in the street, he startled as the door suddenly opened. He looked up at the older Henry saying, "I am sorry to bother you, Sir. My mom…she needs help, please."

"What is wrong, should I call an ambulance?" Henry said, looking at the young boy with worried eyes. Wondering how they ended up here.

"Panic attack, but I never manage to get her out when she goes in deep. It passes, but I am scared." There were more tears springing from the young boy's eyes now.

The older Henry nodded as the young boy pointed at the yellow bug they had been driving. Slowly, he walked over and got into the seat young Henry had been sitting moments before. He put a gentle hand on Emma's shoulder. She didn't turn, and he didn't know if she could hear as he spoke, "Easy, please take long, deep breaths."

The blonde listened to his voice and somehow managed to follow, until her breath came at a regular, steady pace. Then she turned and looked at him confused, "Mister Mills? What are you doing in my car? Where is Henry?"

"He came to get me, it appears you had a panic attack?" he reasoned. Both his voice and eyes calm and steady.

"Yes, I believe I must have. The gifts your daughter gave me, or I believe it is her, it was too much. She should have done it, because she is sending me mixed signals. I can't seem to understand why she is being so generous just to be generous, that is all," she tried to explain.

"I don't know what she gave you or have given you if it is her. I know, however, both she and her sister have done crazy things when it came to matters of the heart or helping people they feel need it over the years. I am not saying she is in love with you or denying it, because it is not for me to tell you. All I know is that if she is, she will tell you when she is ready to confront those feelings. She has been burned by love before and therefore find it hard to trust in the department. She does speak highly of your Henry, even if she might not know him. And I am not saying either should indulge her in anything if you don't feel anything. She asks for nothing to my knowledge, so just look at it as rich benefactor or something," he tried to explain. He didn't even know to explain his youngest daughter's actions. Sometimes she didn't even make sense to him, and he had known her from the day she was born.

"But what if it makes me feel like I owe her something, or like I don't want her charity? If it is her that is?" she wondered. She was not a charity case after all.

"You don't owe her or us a thing and it is no need to feel that way. To my knowledge, she only helps those she feels needs so in the hour of need?" he said, still looking at her.

"She did, but…" she stopped.

"She knows what is like to have nothing, having had friends that did. And although we worked hard so our daughters lacked nothing in life, and tried to rise them with good values, we are not perfect as parents either. Please do not worry about it," he said in a soft tone.

She nodded before adding, "You know, there are easier, cheaper, and faster ways to ask me out if that is what she want to do."

"I know, and as I said, I am not sure if that is what she plans in the long run. If it is her that is," he said and winked at her. He thought for a moment, "Do you want me to drive you anywhere, or are you good to drive? I have to fix one thing before going home for Christmas dinner."

"I am good, but can you do me a favor?" Emma wondered curiously.

"I can try," he answered.

"I want to give her an item from your store if possible. I will of course pay," Emma said with shy smile.

He nodded and got out of the car alongside her. Emma hugged her son close, whispering, "I am sorry I scared you, kid. I just to get Regina something, then we will go."

"Good idea, can I do so too? I can pay you back," he said and looked at his mother.

"Of course, one thing remember," she told him in a serious tone.

He nodded and run off as soon as they got inside. Emma looked at the display to find the right floor, going up to the third floor to find a white and brown stuffed horse, then to the part on that floor with cowboy things. Quickly scanning through, she found what she was looking for, a sheriff star with a heart inside. She took it out of the small box she was in a attached it around the neck of the horse. Then she went down to pay for it, along with Henry that found some old tin soldiers. He smiled as his mom, "To keep guard at her door."

Once they both had paid, they went over to the wrapping desk, wrapping them, then handing them to Henry. He looked at them asking, "Should I give a message with these?"

She leaned over and whispered something in his ear and he nodded. Henry looked at them saying, "Just Merry Christmas, Sir."

"I shall make sure she get them," he promised as they vanished out in the winter cold. Once outside they got back inside the car and drew towards Emma's parents' house, she only knew one thing, and that was that she was feeling a little better after talking to Regina's father.

Henry Mills came home and brushed some of the snow of his winter coat; it had started snowing when he was on his way home. He hung the coat and scarf in the wardrobe in the hallway, then took of his shoes before walking inside the living room. He looked at his family from the doorway. Cora was sitting by the fireplace reading, Zelena and her wife was playing monopoly with Zelena's children, and Regina was deep in thought looking out the window at the falling snow.

For a moment he wondered what it would be like if Emma and young Henry had been there alongside them. He cleared his voice, before saying, "Regina, I got some gifts for you."

"For me, daddy, you really shouldn't have," she said, still her face lit up. He saw a glimmer of excitement in those dark eyes. The same sparkle his wife tended to have every once and again. She, however, looked at him with curious eyes.

"They are not for me, there were a couple of customers at the end of the day. Young Henry and his mother, don't ask me why they wanted to give you something," he shrugged. He walked over and handed her the two presents.

She took them and sat down in another one of the chairs near the fireplace. She could feel all their eyes on her as she, with shivering hands, opened the biggest one, finding the stuffed horse and the necklace. A sob of happiness escaped her as she with shivering hands attached it around her neck, vowing never to have it. She then opened the gift from Henry, seeing the small soldiers. A gentle hand stroked over the box as she looked at her father asking, "Were there any messages to go with them?"

"From Henry, Merry Christmas, from Emma, that she will always be there to save the day if you should ever need it."

"Thank you," she said as she hugged that stuffed horse tight. She smiled then, feeling her heart flutter as she looked into the fire. For the first time in decades, she felt warm both in the inside and on the outside. Her parents exchanged a glance and smiled at each other, knowing this was a good thing.

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