A/N: Hello my loves! We are back with a new chapter! We hope that you all had a wonderful and safe holidays! Enjoy!
It's the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle belling
And everyone telling you be of good cheer
It's the most wonderful time of the year
The song came to an end as Regina walked through the hospital to drop off a file for . Kathryn quickly attached herself to the brunette's side upon spotting her pass the door to the scrub room.
"Hey Gina, how's it going?" Kathryn smiled and poked at Regina's side.
"Great! For the first time in my life I feel like I'm doing the right thing for the right reasons." She beamed at the blonde as they continued on their path towards the Pediatrics ward.
"And by doing the right thing you mean sleeping with Swan?" Kathryn joked, cackling at the playful glare that was thrown her way.
"Well, yes and no. She and I actually really get along. She's like kind of everything I need right now. Relationship wise. It's nice to have someone to come home to and talk to about my day."
"I'm glad to see you all happy. It's a good change, babe." Kathryn kissed her cheek softly,squeezing the latina's arm.
"Hey hey hey! I called dibs!" Emma called from behind Regina, a playful grin on her lips as she slipped her arms around the younger woman's slender waist and pulled her gently back against her.
"Oh, hey. We were just talking about you. " Regina smiled up at Emma, the blonde leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips.
"Ew, get a room." Kathryn covered her eyes like a child but both women could see the smile barely concealed by her makeshift mask.
"What are you doing here, silly? You don't work for another half an hour?" Regina turned around and faced Emma, the blonde never losing grasp on the brunettes waist as their position changed.
"I don't, but I had something for you so I came and dropped it off. I'm going to sit in my office until my shift starts." Emma pulled away and stepped back, grinning as she walked backwards away from the pair.
"Wait wait wait, you forgot something!" Regina closed the distance between them and rocked up on her toes, sealing their lips together in a sweet kiss that made both women sigh as they pulled away.
"We've got surgery in an hour. I'll see you in the O.R babe." Emma kissed her forehead before turning and making her way down the corridor towards her office.
"Ew you two are disgustingly cute." Kathryn hit her in the arm lightly, nudging her to continue towards Peds, away from the direction of the retreating blonde.
"Thank you"
"So has she made it official?"
"Oh no, not yet. We haven't decided to put a label on things yet ."
"That's so obnoxious."
"It's fine. I'm sure it'll happen sooner or later."
"Hopefully, sooner than later." Kathryn rubbed Regina's belly
"Stop" Regina giggled "I'm not pregnant." She blushed softly, murmuring "Not yet. It's too soon for us."
Regina and Kathryn continued their walk through the hospital as the topic shifted, listening to the sound of the Christmas music in the background.
The past few weeks at Sapphire Lakes seemed to be the most eventful. From Emma and Regina deciding to be a 'thing' to Kathryn and Lacey ending their 'thing', there had been no shortage of surprises.
Kathryn and Lacey's seemingly wonderful romance had come to a screeching halt just a few days prior to the start of the week. The blonde had spent a good while searching the hospital for the shorter woman to discuss plans for the holidays. Upon locating the elusive brunette in an on call room, the older woman had been devastated to find her girlfriend between the legs of another woman. What had been worse or, more truthfully, had simply been salt in the wound hadn't been the fact that the other woman was the head of Orthopedic Surgery, it had been the nonplussed look on Lacey's face when the blonde had caught them in the act.
'Lacey? I don't….I don't understand. I thought we….why would you do this to me?' Kathryn asked in a hushed voice, her eyes still darting between the two women. The redhead at least had the decency to look uncomfortable, if not embarrassed.
'Kitten, I don't know why you're getting so worked up. I had an itch, I scratched it. It's not like we were serious or anything. We weren't even really official.' Lacey stated with a roll of her shoulders as she began to redress in her discarded scrubs.
'We've been together for almost four months! How can you even say something like that to me? We spent Thanksgiving together. You bought me a birthday present. Was it all just some big game to you?'
'Which was all great, yeah, but it's not anything serious. It was fun and it was hot, but I'm not a relationship kind of girl.' The brunette shrugged and grabbed her ID badge off the small table beside the bed and stepped around the stunned blonde.
Regina had gotten to hear the entire situation between sobs that night as she held the trembling blonde in her arms. She hated to see Kathryn in pain and she hated more that a part of her wanted to say 'I told you so' as the pair had discussed Lacey's wild and carefree views on love and relationships more than once over the past few months.
With the holidays just days away, everyone in the hospital was ready for some much needed time away from one another.
December 22
Whoa, it's been forever since I've last written about my life. I guess when life starts to pick up you start to forget about the things you built as a distraction. I have to update you on everything I'm so excited! Okay well by the date you can tell that it's almost Christmas. Which I'm ecstatic for. Ever since Thanksgiving Emma has really taken on the girlfriend role and I'm kinda loving it. Like just yesterday she brought a sweatshirt that she used to wear when she played soccer to the scrub room. And she just walked in and went "here babe" and then left. Like what?! She's so amazing I love her so much but I haven't told her that. Duh it's too early. But I get to spend Christmas with her and Sophie and Apollo and I'm so excited I love my little family.
~Forever and Ever
Regina
"Women are the worst" Kathryn declares as she enters the room, slamming the door and looking rather frustrated. Regina closes her journal and places it back in her locker before turning to face the blonde.
"Ouch" The younger woman teased lightheartedly knowing that the last few days had been rough on the other woman as she struggled to come to terms with her feelings for Lacey and the impromptu break up which had occurred between the two.
'No, seriously. That woman has no idea what she wants, like at all." Kathryn pulled off the top half of her scrub set before throwing it angrily into her locker and running her fingers through her blonde tresses as they were released from their place in her ponytail.
"Okay, okay. Kat, calm down. Tell me what's going on."
"One minute she's all 'let's get back together and make it exclusive' and then the next she's all like 'well you shouldn't be upset dear because we were never official.' Like I don't understand what the fuck she wants." Kathryn threw her fist up against the locker with a growl, blue eyes closing against the painful thoughts.
"Hey hey relax." Regina grabbed her arm and pulled it away from the locker so that she couldn't hurt herself further. "You're really hung up about her, Kat? I didn't think you had fallen this hard for her. I thought you were taking it slow."
"I love her…." Kathryn looked at Regina the tears swell in her eyes. "I didn't think I could feel that way so fast but….she was different when we were alone. She listened to me and she never looked at her phone. She asked about my life and my family. It wasn't….you don't do that if it's just 'a little fun', right?"
Regina placed both hands on the older woman's face, her thumbs gently wiping away the tears that were beginning to make tracks along the pale skin.
"Let's talk about something other than her okay? What about Christmas? What are you doing? Are you going to Tennessee?"
"I wanted to, but I don't know if I can make it. The holiday rush is coming and you and Emma are both out for the holidays." Kathryn shrugged a little and sunk onto the bench beside the brunette, dropping her head to rest against the offered shoulder.
"You should go back home, I'm sure your parents want to see you."
"Yeah maybe."
"Hey, if not you can spend the holidays with me and Emma."
"You two are spending the holidays together?"
"Of course."
"That's sickeningly adorable."
"Oh, shut it" Regina playfully hit her in the arm before pulling her into a tight hug and pressing a kiss to her cheek. "I'll see you later, okay?" She gave the blonde a reassuring smile before making her way out of the scrub room.
December 22, later that night (Emma's at Work)
Regina sat on Emma's couch with Apollo laying across her feet near the foot of the couch and Sophie cuddled into her lap. Both dogs had developed an attachment to one another as well as to the other's respective owner which had made it easier for Regina to spend so much time at her girlfriend's apartment as opposed to her own. Her phone rang before she picked it up and shifted over slightly to get more comfortable.
"Hello"
"Gina hi!" Her mother's voice came across the line.
"Mom hi!" Regina picked up Sophie and stood from the couch, careful not to disturb Apollo too much.
"So how's your internship going? We miss you back home. Graham said you were seeing someone, what's that about?"
"Mom. Mom, Relax" Regina chuckled a bit as she made her way into the kitchen to make herself a snack. "I love it here. The internship is going amazing. I miss you guys too. Yes, I am seeing someone. Another doctor, actually."
"What? Regina, you know the hospital rules."
"Of course I know them, but that doesn't mean they don't need to be broken or changed. Mom. Times are different now. Besides, what better place to meet someone who understands your job?"
"Tell me about him."
"Well, she's a woman."
"Oh, I'm sorry." Regina could hear her mom blushing over the phone. Her parents had been accepting of their daughter's sexuality when she had sat down and talked to them about it several years ago, but it was still instinct for her mother to assume she was dating a man instead of a woman.
"Mom, chill, it's okay" Regina smiled as she noted some of Emma's mannerisms were wearing off on her. "She's a few years older than me, but I actually really like her. We haven't done the whole 'let's live together' thing, but I'm here a lot especially when we work the same shift."
"You sound really happy, sweetheart."
"I am really happy. She makes me happy." The sound of keys in the door made her turn her head "Speak of the devil. I think she just got home." Regina opened the door, holding the phone near her hip so her mother wouldn't be distracted by the sound of their kiss.
"Hi honey" Regina smiled and stood on her toes, kissing Emma quickly.
"Hey, who's that?" Emma pointed to the phone before picking up the groceries she had set down by the door.
"It's my mom." Regina whispered before bringing the phone back to her ear. "Mom, you still there?"
"Yes, dear." her mother assured her before continuing her conversation "I know this is a little late to ask but we didn't see you during Thanksgiving and we were kind of hoping you'd want to see us for Christmas." The older woman finished hopefully.
"Aw, mom of course I do." Regina smiled and followed Emma into the kitchen, beginning to unpack things and hand them to the taller woman to put away. "but I'm not sure I can make it to New York by Christmas. With traffic and work and all." Regina pulled the phone away from her ear to speak to the blonde.
"So, my mom and dad want me to come for the holidays but I want to spend Christmas with you" Regina pouted. Emma smiled and kissed her softly, continuing to put the groceries away.
"We'll figure it out. If anything they can come and stay with us and we can do Christmas here.." Emma shrugged nonchalantly.
"Wait, really? You'd do that?" Brown eyes widened in surprise at the ease with which the blonde had offered up her home.
"Any family of yours is family of mine, babe. Plus I'd love to meet your parents."
"How about we make it to you?" Her mom offered as Regina brought the phone to her ear again, surprised to find that her mother had been thinking along the same lines that she had.
"Perfect! Then you can meet Emma and I can show you around the hospital. That would be amazing, mom!"
"Anything for you, dear." her mother said warmly, pleased to hear her daughter so happy.
"Great, we will see you soon! Text me as soon as you have everything set!" Regina hung up and squealed, clapping her hands together.
"Excited?" Emma mused from her place against the kitchen counter, smiling at the happiness radiating off of her girlfriend in waves.
"Extremely. I can't believe it, I'm so excited. This is going to be so perfect. We can spend Christmas Eve together and it'll be cute and great."
Emma smiled and kissed her forehead "You're adorable, baby. "
December 23
It was Regina's final day at work before she was off for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. So she had made sure that all of the fellow interns knew just how much she really appreciated them. Today she hadn't planned to actually do anything medically unless she absolutely needed to. She entered the scrub room and put down the red, black, and white, themed santa bag with the presents in them.
"Merry Christmas everyone." Regina smiled and went over to her locker to get changed
"Oh no, you're one of those." Dorothy rolled her eyes, clearly the brunette wasn't a fan of the holiday.
"One of what?" Regina asked curiously as she slipped into her scrubs.
"Those people who get all happy and excited as Christmas gets closer and closer" Neal explained simply, motioning to the Santa bag as an example.
"What's wrong with being excited about the holidays?" Regina frowned a bit, suddenly second guessing herself.
"Nothing, sweetheart. Y'all leave her alone she can't help how she is. Why don't you tell us what's in the bag?" Jeff defended her and patted her arm thigh, smiling encouragingly at her.
"Well, I got you all presents." Regina smiled and clapped her hands "For Neal and Jeff."
The young brunette handed Neal an envelope "I had overheard you two talking about how you wanted to take really nice couples trip to New York. So I got you guys round trip plane tickets along with a hotel reservation and a really nice dinner gift certificate." The brunette beamed at the shocked expressions on their faces, making a mental note to explain to them at a later point that she had an entire trust fund that she only ever used for emergencies and frivolous shopping for the holidays.
She handed Dorothy a nicely wrapped box with a vibrant blue bow on top, smiling as the brunette unwrapped it slowly. Blue eyes grew wide as she quickly lifted the book from where it was nestled in the tissue paper. "This….this is a first edition signed copy of the Wizard of Oz. How did you…?"
"I know some people, plus I've seen you read that book on break at least six times since we've worked here. It's your favorite."
Regina moved on to Kathryn and smiled, handing her a neatly wrapped rectangular box. Kathryn took it and carefully removed the paper to reveal a black velvet jewelry box. In the black box was a rose gold Cartier bracelet which was inscribed with 'best friends are the sisters we choose' on the inside. They hugged tightly before she helped slip the new accessory on the blonde's slender wrist.
Regina handed Lacey an envelope once she had finished her moment with Kathryn. "I know you've missed the parties back home so I'm sending you to Vegas. I booked the flight, the hotel and I got you on the list to some of the best clubs on the strip." Regina kissed her cheek lightly and picked up the bag.
She walked over to the door and blew them all a kiss before closing it behind her and walking off to find Graham and Killian. There were only a few more people on her list that she needed to take care of before she was able to leave.
She half stumbled into the offices of Dr. Nolan, West, and Blanchard on the way and left them each one of her signature apple pies. When going to visit she smiled and saw that Graham was seated next to a beautiful little blonde girl that reminded Regina of Emma as a baby.
Graham stood and stepped out of the room. Regina put down the bag of gifts she had left and slid into the room she was in. "Hi there princess. I'm , what's wrong?"
"Hi I'm Sky."
"I see, just like your eyes."
"My eyes?"
"Yeah, they're blue. Wanna see?" Regina held up a metallic pan that had been sitting next to the bed the little girl's eyes lit up as she watched her own reflection.
"Whoa." She smiled
"Yeah they're pretty." Regina pulled it away "so what seems to be the problem, princess?"
"My heart hurts a lot sometimes so my mommy sent me with my daddy so that he can help fix it."
"Your daddy?"
"Yeah, that's him." she pointed excitedly at Graham who had the phone in his hand and appeared to be growing more and more frustrated as the minutes ticked on.
"Graham?"
"Mmhm"
"That's my big brother." Regina smiled.
"Really?" The little girl kicked her legs "that make you my auntie"
"Yes, it does" Regina smiled and pushed back the single blonde curl that wouldn't stay in place in her beautiful ponytail.
"What's that?" She pointed to the apple necklace that hung around her neck.
"It's an apple. Someone very very special gave it to me."
"Someone that you love?"
"Yeah, someone that I love" Regina started to think she really did love Emma especially with everything she had started to do for her.
"I wanna fall in love one day too."
Regina smiled "I'm sure you will, with someone special ."
Regina noticed that Graham was coming back towards the room and she smiled before she kissed the little girl's forehead "I'll see you later, princess."
She walked out of the room and picked up the bag of gifts, pausing as she had a thought. She set the bag back down and began to rummage through it until she found the small gift she was looking for. handing her a necklace that read "princess". Luckily she had kept the necklace in her bag. She had wanted to give it to someone but she couldn't pinpoint who it was. She was glad that she gave it to Sky. She set a neatly wrapped box with Graham's name on it on the table beside where the little girl sat.
"Can you give that to your daddy for me, sweetheart?"
December 23 (later that night)
Regina pulled into the packed parking lot of her lover's apartment. She has assumed that everyone had been home for the holidays being as they were set to occurs within the next two days.
Regina climbed the stairs and opened the door to Emma's apartment. The lights were low and she could smell what she thought was empanadas cooking in the kitchen.
"Hi hun" Regina smiled and walked through the door carefully taking off the heels she had paired with skinny jeans and a formal shirt.
"Hey babe I didn't hear you come in." Emma wrapped her arm around her waist and kissed her cheek
"Something smells good are you cooking?"
"I am. Just for you" Emma kissed her nose and returned to the kitchen.
"What are you cooking mi amor?" Regina turned the corner after Emma and sat on the counter.
"Empanadas."
"What?" Regina raised an eyebrow
"Yeah I figured that I'd make you something for dinner since you had the later shift tonight."
"You're amazing" Regina smiled
"Sometimes." Emma shrugged and continued to cook.
Regina hopped off the counter and started to place the presents she had wrapped under the tree. Once she had finished that task she went into Emma's bedroom and changed her clothes, more than ready to get into something more comfortable for a night in.
She smiled as she re-entered the kitchen in an oversized shirt that she had stolen from the blonde's closet and a pair of Nike Pro leggings from her cheerleading days. She leaned against the counter, admiring her lover so relaxed as she read over instructions on her iPad.
"Nothing's better than you in my clothes" Emma stated with a smirk in her voice, her eyes roaming over her girlfriend.. Watching Regina walk around in the things she wore was like an assurance that Regina was proud to be with her. Of course with Emma being the woman she is she wouldn't ever say this out loud.
Regina smiled and swayed her hips slightly as she does when she needs the attention of a certain blonde. She stood on her toes and pushed her ass softly against the side of the counter just enough to get her lower half up on the counter to sit. The brunette crossed her ankles and swung them lightly hitting her girlfriend in the thigh a few times.
"Someone is just so desperate to get my attention." Emma turned around once she had turned off the stove, placing her body in the open space between Regina's crosses legs. The blonde placed her hands on each side of golden painted thighs before inching her way closer to the seat of the beautiful brunette in front of her.
"First you embarrass me at work, then you bring me your sweatshirt 'just because', and now you're making me dinner.. You, my dear, are racking up some serious brownie points. I think you deserve the grand prize." Regina reached forward and hooked her finger in the collar of Emma's shirt, pulling her closer so their lips were centimeters apart.
Emma nodded in agreement with what Regina had just said, quickly closing the space between them she met their lips together and dug her hand under the petite woman, lifting her off the counter. The shorter brunette wrapped her legs around her lover's waist, sliding her forearm up and around Emma's shoulders.
The sounds of the two together could only be described as pure lust. The blonde walked the pair of them over to the couch and laid herself down on her back holding Regina hips firmly in line with hers. Regina, being the spicy Puerto Rican she was, she couldn't manage to hold still. Her hips began to play out a melody along Emma's torso.
The blonde did her best to hold still under the brunette's hypnotic spell. She reached her hands up and pulled at the fabric of the shirt Regina had on. The latter lifted her arms and helped Emma pull off her shirt revealing the delicately laced black bra and matching pantie set she had under her sweatshirt.
As soon as the image in front of her processed Emma shot her hands up and grabbed at the perky mounds sat high on the brunette's chest. Emma's mind immediately recalled back to a few weeks ago when Regina was riding her and how beautifully bouncy the younger woman's breasts had been. The blonde let out a groan at the thought making Regina slow her hips, taking more time to hit every nerve. The friction and attention she was getting alone was enough to make her wet, coupled with strong hands on her hips she felt positively euphoric.
They were interrupted by a hard knock on the door. "Oh come on" Emma grunted in frustration, her hands stroking the smooth skin of her girlfriend's stomach.
"Who is it?" Regina called sweetly, swatting at the blonde's hands when they began to wander higher.
"It's us, Gina." A woman's voice answered from the other side of the door.
Regina squealed and went to reach for the door when Emma touched the center of her stomach, stopping her progress. "You're naked, Regina."
"Oh right!" she smiled and kissed Emma before retrieving her shirt and putting it on. She ran to the mirror and made sure she wasn't too flushed before going to open the door.
"Surprise!" Cora and Henry chimed simultaneously, beaming at their daughter.
"Mom! Dad! You're early! I thought you weren't getting into town until tomorrow night." Regina opened her arms and hugged her parents at the same time,melting into their embrace. Emma sat up on the couch, watching the way her girlfriend's face lit up in the presence of her parents.
"We were going to wait, but the weather was supposed to get pretty nasty tonight. So, we packed up and got on the road so we could make it here in time." Henry supplied helpfully, touching his daughter's cheek affectionately. "We hope you don't mind."
"Come in, come in. It's cold." Regina smiled and opened the door wider, ushering her parents inside before closing the door. "We don't mind at all. It's a wonderful surprise!" Regina assured as she moved to sit next to Emma. With all of the commotion Apollo had woken up from his nap and began to charge towards the shorter brunette as he often did upon realizing she had returned from work.
"Well hello there! Who's my good boy? That's right Come here" Regina smiled and opened her arms in which Apollo leaped into. The large dog licked her face and made a noise of contentment, settling his large body against hers.
"Apps, you know not to jump on mommy like that" Emma called to him with a whistle.
"You're just jealous of me, my dear. Don't blame the baby."
"Speaking of the baby, here's my princess " Emma patted her thigh as Sophie came running to her. The blonde scooped up the small dog and pressed a kiss to her head, scratching her ears.
It was a running joke they had going on that Apollo liked Regina more and that Sophie liked Emma more. Sophie and Apollo would often take long naps together and when they woke up their humans would act very similar to the way they were now.
Emma rolled her eyes playfully before smiling up at Regina's mom. "Sorry, I'm Emma Swan. It's so nice to finally meet you two. You're living legends." Emma stood and shook Cora's hand and then Henry's. Regina smiled and stepped away from the trio, making her way down the hallway towards Emma's bedroom to put on more suitable clothing.
"It's nice to meet the woman who's making my daughter so happy" Cora smiled and went to hug Emma warmly, giving the woman a squeeze.
"Yes, we were so happy when Regina told us she was seeing someone. She's been very hush hush about the whole affair." Henry agreed as he slipped off his coat and helped his wife out of hers.
"You raised a beautiful young lady. She's got it all. She's smart, beautiful, funny, and amazing at her job. I don't think I could have asked for anyone better to work with, let alone be with." Emma smiled, taking their coats and hanging them in the closet before escorting them into the living room. Regina emerged from the hallway freshly dressed in a pair of simple black jeans and a red v-neck t-shirt, her feet still bare.
"I'm glad you see all the work she puts into her job. What do you do for a living, Emma?" Cora inquired as they took a seat on the plush faux leather sofa, Regina settling beside the blonde and reaching out for her hand.
"I'm the head of Cardiology, actually." Emma admitted proudly, kissing the back of the Latina's hand absentmindedly.
"Wait, if you're the head of Cardiology that would make you Regina's boss, wouldn't it?" Henry interrupted, looking between the pair.
"Well, yes I am technically her boss." Emma said, already knowing exactly where this conversation was going. She looked towards her girlfriend for some assistance getting the situation back under control.
"Daddy, relax. The rules have changed since you last left the hospital." She attempted to sooth her father's temper as he grunted in disbelief.
"How so, mija?"
"Well, Emma and I aren't romantically involved during our work hours. If I'm on call and she's on call our relationship is strictly professional, but if we aren't on call then we're romantically involved. We've talked to the chief about it already and filled out all of the legal paperwork."
"Well, Henry it sounds like they know what they're doing." Cora advised, patting her husband's hand gently. "They seem to have this worked out and as long as the hospital is okay with it…"
"I'm sure they do and I don't support it, honey. She shouldn't be infatuated with her boss. This is an abuse of power and I won't stand for it." The elder man grumbled as he stood up.
"Daddy!" Regina rose from her place on the couch as her father did, her face a mix of anger and shock.
"Henry!" Cora repeated, grasping his hand. "Sit back down and be reasonable."
"Hallway, now" The younger brunette commanded, grasping her father's arm and leading him into the hallway, out of earshot of the remaining women.
"Daddy, that's not okay. You can't just embarrass me like that in front of Emma. I actually really like her. Okay? You know what you were telling me about finding someone who you were happy to just sit on the couch and do nothing with? That's her. For the past few months I have been struggling to be here, away from you and mom and all my friends. She has made it so much better. She's alway here. Always. She always wants to talk and be near me. The past seven nights we'd come home from work, order some kind of food and then go and watch Christmas movies. She's not a Christmas person and yet she was willing to be happy about Christmas for me. Okay? I get it, she's my boss and that's bad, but I love her okay? I am in love." She looked up at her father pleadingly, brown eyes shining with sincerity as she squeezed his hand. "Please, can you just let me be happy, Daddy? She makes me happy…."
"Okay, okay….I'm sorry Regina." Henry smiled and hugged his daughter tightly. "It's just hard for me. You're my little girl, mija. I want the best for you. I'm still not sure how comfortable I am with all of this, but if she makes you happy then I am willing to give her a fair chance." He kissed her temple before allowing her to lead them back to where Emma and Cora were discussing new medical procedures.
"Mom, Em made empanadas." Regina offered, motioning for them to follow her into the kitchen, she began to take down dishes and set the table.
Emma stood and took the dogs into her bedroom and fed them before coming back and putting the food out on the table.
"Thank you ,lovely" Regina smiled brightly and kissed Emma's cheek. Regina's parents sat next to each other across from Emma and Regina who sat in the same position. Once everyone was seated and drinks had been poured, they all tucked into their meals.
"This is actually really good" Cora smiled at the blonde. "Well done, Emma, dear."
"Thank you"
After dinner Emma laid on the couch with Regina's body laid on top of hers. She ran her fingers through the brunette's growing hair. Her parents sat near the two of them enjoying the Christmas movie along with them.
"So you two seem comfortable together have you two started thinking about kids?" Cora inquired innocently, sipping her wine.
"Mom!" Regina gasped and buried her face against Emma's neck. The topic of Emma's unique anatomy had come up after dinner. It wasn't a topic the blonde was ashamed of but it wasn't particularly comfortable to discuss with her girlfriend's parents.
"No. No babies out of my little girl!" Henry groaned from beside his wife, his hand rubbing over his stomach as it had been since they finished dessert.
"We haven't discussed it, no. We do have two dogs but a baby would be nice." Emma smiled, perfectly comfortable discussing her hopes for the future.
"It was a simple question, my dear." Cora shrugged, smiling at Emma conspiratorially.
"Still mom" Regina blushed.
"The guest room in two doors down and to the right, sir, if you were getting tired." Emma chuckled to Henry as he yawned once again, blinking his eyes wearily.
"Thank you. it was nice meeting you, Emma. I will see you tomorrow. Merry Christmas. Good night, sweetheart" Henry shook Emma's hand and kissed Regina on the forehead.
"Nice meeting you too, sir." Emma smiled and Regina just groaned in response. She was full and tired and very much ready to escape to her bed with Emma in tow.
Cora and Henry walked into their room for the next two days and got ready for bed.
Regina laid on Emma's chest and Emma kissed her forehead. "I think we should head to bed too." Regina nodded and slowly got up stretching and taking Emma's hand as they went to bed.
December 24th-Morning
Emma opened her eyes to a very excited Regina sitting very attentively across her hips.
"Whoa" Emma chuckled "good morning to you too." She murmured, lifting her hands to rest on her girlfriend's exposed thighs.
"It's Christmas Eve. I already made breakfast, finished wrapping presents, and planned our date day."
"Date day? What's that babe?"
"Well we were supposed to have sex tonight and then celebrate Christmas tomorrow but my parents are here so that's canceled."
"Fuck!" Emma whined, dropping her fists against the bed dramatically.
"Shhh" Regina giggled and pressed her finger against the blonde's lips.
"No! That's not fair I wanted Christmas sex for Christmas. That's why it's called Christmas sex." Emma whisper screamed, thumping her fist against the bed again.
"Stop shouting my parents are next door and you have thin walls." She smiled and slid off of Emma's lap after pecking her on the lips.
"Fine but now I'm grumpy." Emma pouted and Regina kissed her pout softly before pulling her out of bed.
Christmas Eve Day-Afternoon
Regina pulled on a pair of skinny jeans, a sweatshirt with her Alma Mater on it and a pair of Uggs.
Emma started to chuckle to herself while Regina got dressed, adjusting her boots as she zipped them up..
"What's so funny?" The brunette inquired, quirking an eyebrow at the amused blonde.
"It's nothing."
"No, tell me"
"Babe, it's really nothing"
"No what is it? You think something is funny."
"Oh nothing, I just didn't think that miss Christina Louboutin herself would own Uggs. That's all."
"I love my Uggs. They're comfy." Regina defended, looking down at her selected footwear.
"I'm sure they are, babe. They're just a little " she chuckled as she chose her words carefully, "basic."
"Oh, shut it" Regina giggled and threw her bra in Emma's direction. The blonde promptly caught it and waggled her eyebrows at the younger woman.
"You're not getting this back."
They spend the beginning of the date walking around speaking of little things until the topic of Emma's dislike for the Christmas season comes up in conversation.
"What? You're basically dating Cindy Lou Who! How do you hate Christmas, ?" Regina asked sweetly, kissing Emma's cheek as they walked, cups of warm apple cider held in their hands.
"It's a family centered holiday and I don't have one of those. Well at least not until you and Sophie came along. Apollo and I usually spend it all by ourselves. Not much decorating happens or even a tree. It's just a normal day to me. So when I told chief that I was staying home for the holidays, he got all giddy about how much you've changed me for the better. So yes, Cindy Lou, you have melted my cold green heart." Emma kissed the younger woman softly,
"Well, when you put it like that it makes it sound so much better. I didn't know all of that Em."
"Not many people do"
"I'm glad that Sophie and I get to be a part of your family."
"So am I."
Christmas morning 5am
"Good morning sweetheart" Emma kissed Regina's forehead softly, her fingers lightly stroking the skin of her girlfriend's back.
"Why are you awake?" Regina groaned and snuggled closer to the older woman's body, keeping her face turned away from the early morning light filtering through the curtains.
"It's Christmas." The blonde murmured, pressing soft kisses along an olive toned shoulder.
Regina gasped at the realization "it's Christmas!" She squealed, shooting upright in bed, brown eyes wide with excitement.
"Shhh shh, I have a present for you but you can't open it in front of your parents so you have to open it now. Close your eyes, baby."
"Okay" Regina held her hands out and closed her eyes, her body practically vibrating with excitement.
Emma placed a small box in her hands, pressing a soft kiss to her wrist.
"Open your eyes now."
Regina took the box in both hands and slowly opened it. Inside sat a beautiful amethyst ring with the gem in the shape of a heart.
"It's a promise ring." Emma got to eyes level with her, kneeling in front of her girlfriend and taking her hand in hers.
"I am promising you everything that I have. I promise to keep you happy. I promise to be honest with you. I promise to put you first and then my job when I can. I promise to be your shoulder to cry on. I promise to be your smile when you're frowning. I promise to listen when you talk. And I promise to try my absolute hardest to be the best for you because you are everything that I want." Emma took the ring out of the box and took Regina's right hand.
"Do you Regina Mills promise me the same?"
Regina's eyes were filled with tears. The kind of tears you only see at a wedding. The kind of tears you only find when you realize that you're doing something right.
Regina smiled and nodded "Yes." she reached forward and pulled Emma into a tight hug. "Yes, Emma, I promise. I promise you everything."
"Well, damn it, Emma. Now I feel underprepared." Regina wiped her tears and laid her head on Emma's chest "It's beautiful. I love it." She admired the morning light.
"I know you like purple and I've always thought that you look beautiful in it so I wanted to give you something beautiful. Something special."
"You're beautiful."
"No, you are." Emma smiled and kissed her, wanting to enjoy just a few more private moments before they had to face the world.
"Now, let's go out there and make breakfast, my love. How do pancakes sound?" The blonde hummed as she rose from the bed, stretching her arms above her head and making her way towards the door. Regina moved to sit on the edge of the bed but made no move to follow the older woman.
"Emma."
"Yes?" The blonde paused in the doorway, turning to look at her lover expectantly.
"I love you."
"I love you too" Emma jumped back on the bed and tackled Regina in a fit of kisses, the sound of their laughter filling the apartment.
A/N: Happy New Year Everyone!