Decorations
Killian met Henry after school that day so they could go pick out a tree. They'd told Emma that they were going out for sailing lessons, but really they just wanted the tree to be a surprise. At the lot, Henry talked Killian into buying the biggest tree they had. The pirate didn't really need to be talked into it, as 'bigger is better,' and he happily plunked down his gold. Taking the tree back to the loft, they discussed what kind of lights they should get. Killian wanted all white lights, but Henry insisted that the tree needed colored lights. If there is one thing that Killian had picked up on so far, it was that Christmas was about the kids, and he gave in. Mary Margaret met them, having cleared out a space in the living room to set it up.
"My goodness, was that the biggest tree on the lot? You're lucky we have high ceilings."
"Of course it's the biggest one they had. The lad explained that the bigger the tree the more room for presents." He winked at Mary Margaret. Obviously the tree size had no bearing, but he let Henry think his arguments were persuasive.
Mary Margaret had pulled out the few ornaments she had, but they were not enough to cover the whole tree and the three decided to go to the store to stock up.
"This year we'll have to get a bunch of filler ornaments," she said. "Usually it's nice to buy one or two special ornaments a year, so that each year when you decorate the tree you think back to earlier Christmases."
Once at the store, Killian searched for decorations that could be special to Emma, but nothing felt quite right. Henry had opted to buy glass bulbs that came with a paint pen so he could write messages on all of them for everyone.
As they left the store, Killian parted ways with Mary Margaret and Henry, saying he had an errand to run.
Back at the loft Henry diligently started decorating an ornament for each member of the family. Regina's was decorated with a crown. For Mary Margaret, a bird. On David's he drew a sword. Killian's was decorated with the skull and crossbones of the Jolly Roger. Neal's he simply wrote "Neal's First Christmas." Henry was lost as to what to decorate his mother's with. Finally, he decided that she would love an ornament that showed them as a family. Giving up on the bulb, he gathered pictures of everyone and made a collage of their faces and put an ornament hook on it. He knew it was homemade, but he also thought his mother would love seeing her family all together.
Hook came back in a few minutes later and studied Henry's handiwork. "Nice job, lad. Thank you for my ornament." Always happy to be part of the family, he truly did appreciate Henry's willingness to include him.
Mary Margaret had popped some corn, and they set to work stringing it up with cranberries. Killian quickly gave up even trying. He was more tempted to eat the popcorn and every time he tried to get a cranberry on the line, between his hook and his hand they just went rolling across the room. When David and Emma returned from work, they found the three on the couch peacefully chatting and working. Emma had to admit the tree smelled nice. Henry came over to show off the ornaments, and excitedly told her that she needed to be the one to put the star on top of the tree.
Emma was truly touched by Henry's ornaments, not just hers, but all of them. The fact that she had a family to care about was making this year special. She loved Henry's ornament for Killian and turned around to show it to him, with the biggest smile on her face. Killian then pulled something out of his pocket and handed it to Emma.
"I couldn't find the perfect ornament for you at the store, so I made this one, love."
In his hand sat a ceramic swan. He said he'd found it at the store, and taken it over to Gepetto's and had the man add an ornament hook to it. Tears welled up in her eyes. In her whole life she'd never owned so much as even a store bought ornament, and now she had two that were made just for her by the men who loved her most. Both Henry and Killian were swept in to a group hug.