Hey guys! Hope your havimg a great day slash month. My Vacation was amazing! Well here is a new chapter hope you guys enjoy. As aleays let me know what you guys think. Oh I did not go over this chapter well so im sorry if its a little messed up.

December 25

Regina

Regina had just come in from a long shift at the Rabbit Hole. She had recently started a job at the local bar. It paid good money but the hours could be long and the smoke filled room made her smell like an ash tray. She kind of loved it. The atmosphere at the bar was always light and fun. It also allowed her to socialize with the town's people and get to hear all the gossip and drama. It fascinated her how so much could be happening in such a small town.

Having such a demanding job did have some down falls. One was that she worked most nights and weekends. It all worked out considering Emma had found a job at a local warehouse which demanded her to work from 5am to 5pm Sunday through Wednesday. Two was her sleeping hours were all wonky. She started work between 4-6 pm and many times did not get off till 1am. Luckily she and Emma were able to work it out that Emma could watch Henry at her house until Regina got home. Most times Emma would fall asleep in her bed. Knowing that Emma was trying really hard to be a good parent Regina would just get ready for bed and fall asleep next to Emma. The first time Regina's parents found them sleeping they freaked out. Regina assured her parents that they were not sexually active with each other it was just something that happens, because Regina does not want Emma to suffer from lack of sleep. At first they were not thrilled, but came to understand it. The third down fall was the obvious a bar never closes. Hence the Christmas shifts. Luckily she was able to get an early shift and made it home for dinner.

Walking into the house she could here joyful singing and laughing in the kitchen. Walking to check on the festivities Regina saw her very drunk family, the Swans and friends mingling. She unfortunately did not see a certain blonde and her son. In the midst of searching her mother spotted her and rushed to pull her into a hug. Her mother was wasted. It wasn't that Cora couldn't be affectionate it was more like her regal nature sometimes kept her from showing her true self.

"Re-gina ," She slurred, "I didn't know you were home."

"I just got in," Regina tried to support her mother.

"Good Dinner is ready. Let's eat!" she yelled joyously. The group erupted in cheers.

"Alright, let me change and find my son. Then I will join you." Cora nodded before wandering off. Shaking her head in contentment Regina left and climbed the stairs to her room. Once entering she found the most precious sight she had ever seen. Emma was sleeping in her ugly sweater and slightly skewed Santa hat on her head. Henry laid on her chest peacefully sleeping in his elf onesie that was slightly big for him and an elf beanie. Smiling she took out her phone and quickly took a photo. Not finding any reason to wake them Regina grabbed her towel and proceeded to take a shower. 15 minutes later Regina emerged from the bathroom. Entering her walk in closet she missed the green eyes watch her. Quickly she threw on a plain white long sleeve and a pair of jeans. It wasn't fancy or festive, but after a day at work she didn't care.

"Hey," Emma greeted her after she had exited the closet.

"Emma," Regina said slightly surprised. "I didn't know you were awake. "

"I just woke up. " She said quietly as she sat up and placed Henry in his crib. "He was tied but there was so much going on that he wouldn't nap," Emma Explained.

"It's okay I just got home myself." Regina sat on the edge of her bed and Emma joined her.

"How was work?"

"Truthfully. Depressing. You don't realize how many people have no one to be with except Jack or Jim." She said sadly. "Leroy came was there when I came in and was there when I left."

"Yeah my dad says that by midnight he will be in a cell sobering up."

"He was telling me how his wife would always burn the turkey, but he would always eat it because she made it with love just for him."

"That is sweet yet sucks." Regina nodded in agreement. They sat silently for a moment. "Hold on," Emma goes to her backpack and brings back a little box. "Here." Emma says handing her the box.

"Emma you shouldn't have."

"I wanted to. Open it." Regina started to open the top, "it's nothing special since all my funds are going to the kid but I saw it and thought you might like it." Inside the box lay a necklace with a ring on the end it was plain silver and not fancy at all. Regina knew it had come from the Target cheap jewelry stand, but it was the sweetest gift Emma had given her. It wasn't that Emma had never given her presents. In fact Regina had a whole box of presents from Emma stashed in her closet. They were all Gotti and expensive items that had no thought behind them. Some of the gift ideas were even reused from past girls Emma had charmed. This one though Regina could tell by the way Emma's nervousness over took her was straight from the blonds heart.

"Thank you Emma." Regina smiled, "could you help me?" Emma nodded motioning for Regina to turn so she could clasp the necklace. Once finished Regina looked eyes with Emma hoping Emma could see her appreciation. She felt Emma leaning in. For just a second Regina contemplated letting the kiss happen. Not wanting to ruin the moment with confusion she stood up. "We should head down stairs. My mother is drunk, clingy and has wanted my attention since I got home. I am surprised she hasn't come up here in search of me."

"Yeah." Emma nods knowing not to bring the moment up. "My Parents are probably in the same boat." Emma spares a look at their son.

"I'll check on him in a bit." she assured. Emma nodded before they left the room.

Emma

"So did you give it to her?" Emma's father slid up next to her as she stood by watches on a wall everyone swoon over Regina and Henry. It had been a couple of hours and everyone was still having a good time. Dinner had already been eaten and now they were all lounging around handing out the last of the presents.

"Yes. She loved it." Emma smiled. "Thank you for lending me the money."

"Good. I told you Regina would love it." Earlier in the week Emma had asked her father for $500.00 so she could by Regina an expensive necklace. Her father had promptly told her no. Emma begged and pleaded, but he told her no. Instead he sat her down and they talked about relationships with children.

He told her that now that she and Regina had a child $500 was a lot to be spending on something so materialistic. He got her to see that with that money instead of buying all that meaningless stuff she could buy dippers and food, the essentials one needs for a child. When she tried to explain to him that she wanted to impress Regina with a lavish gift he told her she was a fool. Again he tried to reason with her that Regina wasn't and has never been the type of girl that like expensive thing. Then listed of the many expensive items Emma had bought only to have Regina never use them. Emma knew he was right Regina would always reluctantly take the gifts and Emma had no idea what she did with them.

Still determined to get Regina a gift she argued that for her son's sake she wanted to treat Regina right and that entailed Emma getting something for her. Emma's father finally agreed to lend her $20. Unimpressed by the amount she continued to try to pry more money out of David, unsuccessfully. David had told Emma that if Regina did not like the gift due to the cheapness of the item he would give her the amount she wanted. Begrudgingly Emma agreed to the term.

It took Emma a whole week to find something suitable for Regina. Even that was discouraging. She first went to the high quality jewelry store, but the jewelry was way too expensive. She looked on Amazon and Ebay but found nothing. She tried to bargain with the pawnshop owner Mr. Gold only to have him laugh in her face. Then she went back to target and stood in browsing the jewelry section for days, literally.

Finally after days of coming back to Target and just standing in different spots a security guard came over. At first the lady questioned her, even accused her of being up to no good. Emma was begged the lady to give her a break. She explained to the lady that she needed a present for the mother of her child who she loved so much, but she only had $20. The stress of the holiday had affected her and just rambled at lightning speed off at this poor woman. Emma told her everything. When she got back to the whole purpose of why she was there at Target for day. The security guard felt sorry for her and decide to help. 'Here' the woman said grabbing the box off the small rack and handed it to Emma. Emma looked at the item. It was plain and boring something she would have never picked. As she went to argue it plainness the woman stopped her. 'Don't. Just take it. She will love it.', Emma merely nodded and scurried away with the item.

"I spent days looking for the right item. I almost got arrested at Target." She told her father as she sipped her drink.

"What?" Her father asked shocked.

"Yea I had been going in there for days just stuck with this present thing. A Security Guard thought I was trying to rob them. When I told her what was going on she quickly pulled the necklace off the shelf and told me to take it. Regina loves it."

"If there is a God he totally sent you an angel." He patted her shoulder.

"It is the plainest necklace I have ever seen, but it's the first thing she has ever used." Emma looked her father in her eyes.

"It's because you put your heart and soul into it, Em. It was like I was telling you the right woman, whether it is a present or whatever, will love what you give as long as you give them your all. Yes a security guard picked the present out, but you searched and searched until you couldn't search any more. That is all Regina has ever wanted your all." Emma looked at Regina's smiling face from across the room. Regina feeling here staring looked at Emma then touched her necklace and mouthed a thank you. Emma saw it. Regina loved her for only that spilt moment.

"I gotta go." Feeling overwhelmed all of a sudden Emma needed to leave. Without waiting for her father to respond Emma bolted out the front door. Once she hit the side walk Emma took off into a sprint down the street.