The Seventh Christmas

Regina Mills was nervous where she stood outside Emma's apartment ringing the doorbell. She and Emma had been meeting up during the year, sneaking a moment here and there between their busy lives trying to get to know each other better. They had yet to spend the night or meet each other's families. To Regina this was a very big step.

Even if Emma had meet most of Regina's family by now, she had yet to meet Regina's sister and her family, and sit down with the full family for dinner or anything else. The blonde had also neglected to answer Regina's question about the ring she received the Christmas before, and the brunette didn't bring it up afraid of the answer.

She knew tonight had to go well, they were first having dinner with Emma's parents, brother and her family, then they would spend the night together for the very first time and then go to open presents with Regina's family the next morning. She shivered lightly as it was the second time in her life someone introduced her for her family, and that had ended in disaster. She wasn't even sure how Emma's parents would react to her. She heard Emma's voice give Henry a strict message from inside and heard her footsteps nearing the door.

Emma took a breath of relief saying, "Thank god it is you and not my parents arriving early, I am so behind."

"Calm down, dear, I am sure we can figure out. Tell me what you need instead," Regina said and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. Emma returned it before letting her inside saying, "You look stunning as always."

"Yes, well, that was what I was aiming for," she answered with a soft smile.

"Henry, will you please hurry and take Toto out," Emma said, she could feel the frustration spread within her. She had asked him four times already and she about had it with his sulking mood.

"Alright, alright, come here Toto," he called, making the dog come patting over, his tail wagging excitedly. The two appeared in her hallway, Henry getting a jacket and shoes on, completely ignoring them. Regina frowned over how big he had gotten since she saw her two Christmases' before, then again, he was thirteen now to her knowledge.

They both decided not to mention anything for Henry until they figured out where this was going, now that they were sure Emma had told Henry she was coming for dinner. He didn't even seem to care, but then, he didn't seem to care about anything these days, she was lucky if she got a grunt from him when she asked a question.

Regina frowned at this behavior saying, "I am sure this is not how your mother rose you."

"Oh stay off it, you are not my mom," he said with a snap, lightning in his brown eyes.

"Perhaps not yet, but she will be," Emma defended her love.

"Whatever," he shrugged, heading out. Regina shook her head, not knowing what to make of it.

"I am sorry, Regina. Don't take it personally he has been like this for some time now. After last year it is like he stopped believing in everything," she said with a sigh. She removed Regina's coat and scarf, then dragged her towards the kitchen.

The brunette found an apron and put it on, to not spill on her sparkly red dress. She thought for a second, he stopped believing the year before. He had asked for a companion for his mother, hoping that would happen the year before. Did it really matter that much?

She decided to sit him down and talk to him when he got back. She pressed a kiss to Emma's cheek as she started to work on the mashed potatoes and the gravy while Emma finished setting the table. She even sang around with some Christmas songs Emma put on.

Regina, however couldn't help but notice how Emma looked after her parents, brother and sister-in-law arrived. She could only assume that she was worried about Henry, who by then had been away for over and hour. She pulled Emma aside, asking her where he usually want so she could take her car to look for the young boy, or maybe walk there. Emma nodded and told her a couple of rotes and

The brunette soon took her car around the first two roads without any luck, but on the third she saw the young boy sitting on a park bench, the dog going back and forth clearly worried. Looking for a spot to put the car, she soon found one within walking distance. She even stopped by a coffee shop for some hot beverages on the way back, hoping he would still be there.

She took a deep breath to steady herself before speaking, "What are you doing out here? your mother is really worried. If you have a problem with me being here, I can leave. I mean I don't want you to feel like you aren't being seen or anything."

"Whatever," he said, still he took the cup of hot chocolate she was offering him. He took a long sip, feeling how the hot beverage slowly spread through his cold body.

"Please, Henry, talk to me. I may not be able to help, but I can at least listen," she said down next to him.

"You never asked me," he whispered, looking down in the ground.

"I am sorry?" she wondered calmly.

"I found the ring by accent, I knew what it meant, but neither asked me how I felt about it. Or about doing things different for Christmas this year. I…don't mind you marrying mom, I know you will make her happy. You have for years, even if you were present. It's just that I needed you last Christmas, I deep down knew it was you, but you didn't come. I know you have work and everything, but…" he whispered.

"Oh Henry, I am so sorry. Of course we should have thought about asking you, but we figured it was alright as you wanted a companion for your mom. I want you to be alright with all of this, we both do. So what would make it easier on you, should we just be us three tomorrow, or do you want me to ask my family to come to your place instead? Would any of this help?" she tried. She only then realized how right he was to feel upset about all these changes.

"Is your parents' house big?" he wondered, looking at her.

"You can get lost there," she said with a soft laughter.

"Is it like the store, filled with toys?" he asked, a bit of excitement shining in his eyes now. The excitement she had missed the last two years, as he didn't come to deliver his letter this year. The glimmer in his eyes that made her heart melt. She wondered why he hadn't stopped by with the letter this year, and now she got a better understanding of it.

"Well not as full, but they have plenty at home also, and dad is always tinkering with something," she said and smiled at him.

"I want to go, but if I want to leave I have to be free to do so. I was wondering if you could look at something when we get home. I have been working on something for your dad, but I can't get it right," he said.

"Of course, but first dinner, your mother and your family are waiting," she said in a serious tone.

He nodded quietly and followed her back to the car and got in the back with King Toto. He looked out of the window as they drove, counting the street lights. Once they were back in the apartment, Emma hugged Henry so tight, whispering, "Don't scare me like that again, kid."

"I won't, it's alright, we are alright," he said, hugging her back. As she let go he went to wash up and sit down by the table.

Emma hugged Regina saying, "You are magical, you know that. Tell me later what it is all about?"

"Of course, love," she pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.

Emma pressed a loving kiss to her cheek, before dragging her into the living room to meet her parents, Mary Margaret and David James Blanchard Nolan and her brother and his wife, Neal and Jacinda Nolan. Regina knew from before Emma had taken the name Swan of her own as she had a thing for the creatures earlier in life.

The brunette conversed with Emma's family during dinner and dessert before she went to help Henry with the toy. It was a small robot, that seemed to talk like her father, but it didn't walk rightly. After looking at bit on it she changed some screws and made the thing move across his desk, knowing her father would love it. When she asked Henry how he managed to get a hold of her father's voice he simply said he got it of the internet and adapted it to what he wanted to robot to say. She knew right then he would become a toy master in time just like the rest of her family. He excused himself from the party after that, said he had to fix some last gifts. No one seemed to mind.

Emma and Regina talked with her family until the early hours before they left and they got into bed. She could see the brunette was tired and knew that love making was out of the question. Instead they got to bed and fell asleep holding each other tight.

Regina woke by a squeal early the next morning, slightly disoriented. Opening her eyes to look around, she knew at once where she was. Noticing Emma was not in bed, she got out and to the living room where Henry was opening a building set that would become a remote-controlled car. No doubt a gift from his mother.

"Morning," she said in a husky voice, slumping down on the coach next to Emma.

"Morning, love," she kissed her lips, adding, "Merry Christmas."

"Yes, merry Christmas," said Regina with a yawn, noting Emma was wearing her ring. Her heart thumping, "Does that mean yes?"

"Oh, this. Yes, I believe it does," said Emma, beaming from ear to ear.

"You have no idea how happy that makes me," Regina smiled as well now, tears in her eyes.

Emma kissed her lips again, whispering, "There was no way I would have said no. I have something for you."

She handed Regina a small box, watching her open finding a matching ring. The brunette tread it on her finger, a perfect fit. Emma laughed, "So I guess it is official."

"Yes, but shouldn't we get going, my parents don't like when people are late," she said and got up once more. This time to get dressed. Emma followed her example, whereas Henry started to pack what they needed most and some things for King Toto. Emma watched as Regina put on a black skirt, a red blouse, and a golden chain necklace. She was stunned as she put on a black dress with red flowers on. She wanted to match her love today she knew. Regina put on a pair of killer heels, Emma did the same, before both went to fix their makeup. The brunette looked at her love smiling, pleased, the knee-length dress really suited Emma. She took her hand and dragged her out in the hallway so they could get their coats on and leave.

Regina didn't know when she had been this full last, most likely the Christmas before, as she lay one of the coaches with her presents around her. Young Henry and her father were talking around the robot, her father was clearly impressed.

"He got skills, I will give him that," She heard her sister say as she slumped down next to her with a glass of wine in her hand.

"He is a bright one," Regina agreed watching Emma and her mother debating something about toy horses, the past and the future to see if those two could be combined to give the children of the future better toys.

"He sure is, just think about it, without him you and Emma wouldn't be together now," Zelena pointed out as her wife Merida came to join them.

"You never told me the story in full, please do," said Merida, looking at Regina with curious eyes.

"I am more interested in the proposals, but do take it from the start," Zelena encouraged her younger sister.

Regina nodded as her niece and nephew also joined them as she started to tell about how she first wanted to just help Emma and Henry and then it turned into a courtship that lasted for years. From the side young Henry was watching with a smile.

Regina's father looked at him asking, "What is so amusing, young man?"

"Last year I asked for a companion for mom, and there she is. Maybe a year later, but Santa did deliver after all," he said with a laughter.

"He always does, Henry, he always does," Regina's father said and ruffled his hear in a loving way. He knew this would be the first of many Christmas mornings with the tow of them.

From across the room Emma watched the whole scenery and her wife to be telling the story, smiling. She was happy, they both were and for the first time in years she had finally found the right companion. The daughter of two toy makers nonetheless. She could only hope to be included in the family firm in the years to come. For now, she was happy that her son had the skills to impress his new grandfather and that Regina was happier than she most likely had been in years. She knew that Regina had the first letter framed in her house, a house they planned to move in sometime in the new year. She just had to fix a few things first. Emma could hardly wait for them to start their new lives together and she knew Regina felt the same way. She smiled as Regina looked right at her, blushing before smiling back.

Her secret Santa, her savior, her love, her everything. She only realized then how lucky she had been that Christmas seven years ago, that Henry's letter fell into her hands, or this Christmas and the six before it might not have been this happy. Slowly, she got up from the chair she has been sitting it and walked over to her.

Regina noticed and stopped mid-sentence, looking at her Emma with tentative eyes. When she reached her she wondered, "Is everything alright?"

"Yes, I just wanted to thank you for saving my ass those years ago. I realize now I never did and I am forever in your debt for it," she said as she kneeled before her.

"It was nothing really, I had the means to do so, that is all," Regina responded, blushing.

"Well for me it was, if you hadn't, who knows where we would be right now," Emma objected, placing her hands on Regina's knees, looking up at her.

"I can only imagine, but I rather not, and you don't owe me a thing. As long as you and Henry are happy and safe, that is all I will ever need," she let her hands rest of top of Emma's.

"With you around, we always will be," Emma said, beaming at her. She had nothing but loving for this wonderful woman sitting before her. She saw her blush as she response were a simple not. Slowly she rose from the floor, still holding her hand, bending down to kiss a gentle kiss on her lips, then her cheek. Utter happiness spreading inside her. As the kiss broke, she saw a twinkle in Regina's dark eyes and she wondered how she ever been this lucky as to be loved so much by someone like her.

She kissed her cheek before she went back to sit down next to Cora, seeing a tear escape Regina's eyes as she continued the tale. Cora smiled at her saying, "Thank you for making my daughter happy, I had almost given up the hope she would be."

"You are welcome, ma'am. So how are we on the whole board game situation, I believe both you and the children got a new one for Christmas," she said with a wink.

"Oh yes, Robin, Roland, pick one of the games and we will set it up on the dining table in a few. Anyone want to join they are more than welcome," she called out. She watched as the two children found a version of monopoly and headed into the dining room along with Henry, they were roughly around the same age. Robin were the oldest of the three.

She slowly got up, seeing her husband and the younger Henry do the same, her oldest daughter, Merida and Regina followed suit. So this was the future she reckoned, her youngest daughter's wife and son. She saw the three exchange some words as King Toto came running after them. She could tell by Regina's laughter that she truly was happy and it was a good thing. Because happiness was the main part what the spirit of Christmas was about. Soon joining the table next to her husband, she smiled at her family, their family wondering how she was ever this lucky, when she heard Emma boldly say, "Ready to be beat Miss Mills?"

"I do think you are mistaken, no one beat a Mills, Miss Swan," Regina counter with a laughter.

"Then this shall be a first, game on, Regina," Emma said laughing also, as the board was being set up for play.

"Game on, Emma," Regina said, blowing her a kiss, feeling so lucky. She could hardly wait to continue the rest of her days with this woman, but for right now she settled on winning this board game, if one of the other's didn't beat her to the punch.

Thank you so much for reading this story, I would love to hear what you thought :o)