Author's Note: I know there are many out there that cannot spend Christmas together for various reasons. Not only this year due to the covid situation, but for other reasons like work or living far apart. I feel for you and I hope that you will be able to celebrate together at a later point or in the future years. I dedicate this chapter to all of you, but most to the ones that have to spend Christmas apart !

The Sixth Christmas

Regina was sitting in her office, pondering. Her plan was to go over to Emma as a Christmas surprise to take her up on the offer from earlier this year. She'd considered it more than once now, but something stopped her. Whenever she got in the car to drive over, she ended up driving pass the building with a hammering heart.

She was scared, she knew, scared this would fail like with the ones before Emma. Scared to get hurt, scared of the impact it would happen to Henry if they ended it. She'd really come to like this little, lively boy. Well maybe he wasn't that little anymore as he seemed to grow more year by year. Like most boys did.

Soon he would not believe in Santa, she knew, much like she had decades or go. Or it was how she felt. Of course, she believed in the spirit of Christmas, but Santa…

Regina could still believe when she stopped believing, she had been about eight and her grandmother had just passed away. They used to be at her house every other Christmas and she and Zelena also used to spend time there when their parents needed some alone time. They usually played there or at the store when they weren't home. And she had loved it, her old house, the smell of flowers in the summer and early spring, the smell of camphor, cinnamon, of apples and mint in the fall, and the smell of gingerbread, caramel and wax candles in the winter. The gingerbread scent was there mostly before and right after Christmas and Regina had loved it. A tear running down her cheek thinking about it.

She had been stricter than her parents, her grandmother, but she had also been so kind and understanding. She knew all that were to know, or so it felt, because much like her parents she could answer any question she or Zelena had. And she told stories, of foreign lands, of dragons, knights and fallen kingdoms, of travels and people she met, of love lost and found, of happiness and sorrow. She made it all seem so real.

"What should I do, nana?" she asked out in the empty office. Of course, there was no answer, there never was, there never would be. She was gone, and it seemed like the magic of that house was too. It wasn't as warm as it had been back then, it didn't smell the same way, and the atmosphere… Regina should know as she lived there now, it was left her in her grandmothers will. Much to Zelena's dismay and her parents' surprise.

It wasn't the same after she was gone, though, and she had moved in when she was old enough to do so. At least in the beginning, now she was hardly ever there. Mainly because the house was a reminder of what could have been, so she mostly stayed in her two-bedroom apartment in town. Easier that way being closer to work, and not so painful as the house with the many rooms.

She'd meant to move in with one of her former boyfriends and start a family, she was even pregnant at the time when she found he was cheating. The stress of that and everything else made her loose the child and she did not try again after. Mainly the timing was never right. And after having a girlfriend cheating on her after that, she learned not to trust people and remained single and alone. Better that way, at least up to now.

She wanted to be with Emma, more than anything she knew. Not just provide for her, but as a companion. She wanted to spend time with her, learn to know her and be a part of Henry's life. A sob escaped her lips, echoing in the empty walls. She loved her so much it hurt. Her heart was aching for her, more so than it had for anyone before her. Still she couldn't bring herself to ring the doorbell or find her phone number to call her.

A deep sigh as she found a pen and a paper and started to write;

Dear Emma

I have to admit I am your Santa and I planned to meet Henry's wish this year, a companion for mom. I want that, but as you know by now, I have two jobs. The first at the toy store and the second as the Postmaster general. Due to my second job, I have to go out of town during Christmas and I am not certain how long this task will take. I hope you will, as you said, wait for me. If that option is still at the table. If it is, I will make it more official by next Christmas.

For now, I am sending you and Henry something that can be a worthy companion of sorts in the meantime.

Speaking of companions, I have tried to ring your doorbell more than once this year, but my courage did falter. I have not had look in that department I am afraid. It is a long story and a not happy one. But after you gave the that horse and the necklace, which I never have taken off, and the gifts from the park, I found new hope.

I find that I am falling for you more and more for each year, even if we are not together. I hope that we will be in the future, if you as I said before still want me. I know I come with some baggage and quirks, but don't we all?

I hope you and Henry have the merriest of Christmases.

Love Regina.

She looked it over once more, before she heard a knock on her door. She answered and her father came inside the office.

He looked at her, his little girl, she did seem of a happy spirit this year. Even if she had to spend the first Christmas in her life away from him and his wife. I would be good with some distance they both know.

"So are you ready to leave?" he asked her, with a small smile.

"I am, but will you do me a favor when I am gone?" she wondered. Hope shining in her dark eyes.

"Of course I will," he nodded. There was something new about her today he reckoned, something he hadn't seen in a while. A sparkle, a gimmer of something.

"I have a gift that need to be delivered to Emma and Henry Christmas morning, and there are some more gifts in a bag in the hallway at my house. This note goes with one on the dresser. I will send you what you need to pick up the extra gift, and you have my house keys to do the rest, right?" she wondered.

"I believe your mother have that, so we will fix it. Please hurry or you will miss your flight," he said with a chuckle.

She nodded and got up from her chair, taking her purse and suitcase, she handed him the letter on the way out and gave him a hug. With that, she was on her way, she felt butterflies as big as bombs spreading inside her as she wondered what Emma would think of her gift this year. Or rather gifts.

A smile on red lips as she hailed a cab, picturing her reaction, hoping that next year they could finally spend Christmas together.

Emma woke early Christmas morning, like she always did. She had to prepare Henry's stocking and make hot chocolate before Henry got up. She felt her heart skip a beat when there was a knock on the door to the apartment.

Let it be Regina, let it be Regina!

She was told by Henry that she hadn't been at the post office this year and the man behind the counter wasn't nearly as nice. He had asked him if he knew where Regina was, but he said it wasn't his bloody responsibility. His boss had heard and gave him a reprimanded, telling Henry that she was busy this Christmas, so she was most likely in her office.

The young boy's heart had fell that day Emma knew, still she knew that the brunette most likely would either come with the presents herself, as she always had, or have someone bring them over like last year. She still couldn't believe that Regina sent them to Disney world and picked up the bill for it. Not to mention fixing the machine and the floor in the bathroom where it stood.

She never knew how she felt about the gifts she sent her, then again she didn't hear back the first time she did it. She was sure that if the brunette could manage to pull a stunt like their vacation she could easily track them down if she really wanted to.

Another knock made her hurry towards the door, her heart fell when she saw Regina's father standing outside. He was holding a bag in one hand and a leash in the other hand. He smiled at her saying, "Merry Christmas. It would seem I have to play Santa Claus this year, my daughter is out of town you see."

"Out of town?" Emma asked, she felt her heart sink even further. She hadn't found someone new, had she?

"Yes, something to do with her job as Postmaster general, we skyped with her last night and she was sad she couldn't spend Christmas with us. She usually always does, along with her older sister and her family. Still, sometimes there are things that takes precedence over us. Like her second job, and we have learned to live with that," he explained.

"Postmaster general? I just thought she was a postal worker. Do you have her phone number so I can call her? I mean to wish her a merry Christmas or text her to thank her for the gifts," Emma said with a soft smile.

"I am not sure if I should give it, but I trust you not to misuse it. By the locks of it, she has been courting you for years, and I can tell you that your gifts mean the world to her. She might not have thanked you properly for them yet. I think her plan was to come here to do so this year, but then she got called away last minute," he answered. He knew timing had never been in the favor of his daughter.

"Please come inside," she motioned, letting him inside so he could take some of the load off. He took of his shoes and followed her inside, placing the bag next to the Christmas tree, watching the small puppy sniff around there. Emma went to find her phone in the kitchen and typed in the number, before taking the small dog off his hands. The scruffy little thing wriggled a bit in her arms before licking her face. She looked to see he already had a color with her phone number on and a name, Sheriff Totoro.

"So Totoro, I think I will name you Toto, how is that?" Emma asked, getting a happy bark. She pressed a kiss into his black and brown fur, knowing it most likely was a mix between a German Shepard and some sort of Labrador. She didn't really care though, because he was simply adorable.

"Funny," said Henry amused.

"Why?" Emma wondered confused.

"Our eldest daughter is named Zelena, meaning green, taken after the wicked witch from the wizard of Oz. We both felt it was a good name at the time, and it does fit," he quickly explained.

Emma nodded, as she offered, "Would you like a cup of hot chocolate or do you have to be on your way?"

"Next year. The wife wanted me home for breakfast and opening presents," he said and turned to pad towards the hallway.

Just then he remembered and turned to give her the small present and the letter. She thanked him and gave him a hug before opening the letter and reading. She sighed, feeling her heart sink again. Clearly, the brunette had planned to celebrate with them. She opened the small box inside, opening that she found a ring with a diamond shaped like a crown. Inside the box was a note saying, "You can give me the answer next Christmas, I will come then."

Emma almost jumped a meter-high hearing Henry's voice, "Is that a puppy?"

"Yes, it is, from Santa," Emma said, letting it down so it could properly greet her son. She watched them play overlooking it with a smile on her lips. She closed the box and put it inside a safe place in her bedroom so it would not be lost. Walking back to her son and the puppy, she looked at him, he seemed a little down.

"I asked Santa for a companion to you, hoping he would bring you Regina. It's not that I don't like the dog, because I do, but yeah," he said, tossing a ball at the small creature that captured it, chewing on it.

"Well, some things are even outside Santa's control, but you must not stop believing. You know, sometimes people need to go out of town for work or other things. I am sure she would be here if she could," Emma tried calmly.

"No, she wouldn't. I was wrong she wasn't Santa, it's probably like you said, the neighbor or something," he shrugged. Emma's heart fell again, so this was it, he stopped believing.

"Why don't we open gifts and sent a picture of the mess to mom and dad, they will freak out over the mess as always," she said and winked at him.

"Yeah! Maybe Santa brought something else on my list. Hey, did you make hot chocolate?" he wondered curiously.

"You know it kid!" she said, glad she managed to make his mood change so quickly, maybe it was hope after all. She smiled as she went to get the mugs, and a bag of marshmallows to put in them. She laughed seeing Henry and the puppy already started on the gifts. Glad some things never changed.

Regina startled when she around noon got a text with a picture of Emma, Henry and the puppy, with the script, "Thank you for the presents, Santa. My offer still stands and I will wait for you. We all will. Can hardly wait to next X-mas. Love Emma.

"Me neither, you all look so happy. Can't wait to spend Christmas with you," Regina wrote back, with a great big smile on her lips. She knew then, at this moment, those two would be her future. It really warmed her heart where she stood in the middle of an abandoned post office sorting out the mess there after the workers seemed to leave due to the boss she just fired. She would try to talk to them into coming back and have a better pay, knowing having them say yes would be a Christmas miracle. Still, she would not stop until she found a new boss and workers here.

She made the picture the background on her phone before she continued to sort letters and packages, knowing the next year she would most likely get the Christmas she always dreamed of.

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