This idea came to me because tonight is my friend's annual White Elephant party. It's one of the best parties of the year. I couldn't say no to the party to stay home and watch TV, but ...I'm going to miss the mid-season finale. Hulu better put it up fast.

White Elephant -

"I don't understand the point, Swan. David was saying you're supposed to take bad gifts. Why would anyone go."

Emma laughed. She and Killian were out looking for gifts for a White Elephant party that Granny was holding at the diner.

"I've never been to one, but I don't think the point is to necessarily take bad gifts. Just kind of offbeat gifts, that maybe not everyone would want. Then you choose numbers, pick a gift from under the tree, or steal from someone else. It's supposed to be fun. I'm looking forward to it."

Killian picked up a set of plastic pink flamingos and showed them to Emma. "What are these, Swan?"

"Those are amazing. You put those in your yard as decoration. Tacky, yet awesome. They don't really have a purpose."

"Okay. I'm done then,"Killian said, taking the birds over to Emma, while she continued to shop.

Killian was not taking gift selection as seriously as Emma was. Something about the White Elephant party really got her excited. She'd heard people talk about them for years, and always wanted to be included. Finally, finally she was going to a White Elephant party, and she wanted to nail it. It took another three stores and another two hours of shopping, but she had found something she thought was perfect for the party. Killian was a little disappointed that she wouldn't let him see but she didn't want anyone to know which gift was hers.

\\

Granny's was packed. She and Ruby hadn't invited the whole town, but it seemed like everyone was there, in varying states of sobriety. "Oh boy," Emma thought to herself. "Good thing I'm here already. I think the Sheriff might need to mediate a few fights tonight if people don't like their gifts." Leroy was already complaining, saying he got a crappy gift every year and this year he better get something good.

It was time to start the unwrapping, and due to the size of the party, they'd limited it to two steals per gift. If they'd done the traditional three, they'd never get to go home.

Mary Margaret went first. Choosing a small gift under the tree, she opened a pack of cards that said 'Cards Against Humanity.'

"What's this?" she asked, not sure what the game was. Emma answered. "Well Mom, I don't think you're going to like that. You're too nice to win the game. But don't worry, it will absolutely get stolen."

"Oh yes it will," they heard from Ruby. "I'm number two and I'm taking the cards. I know exactly who I want to play that with," she said, eying Victor, Emma, Killian, and a few other of Storybrooke's more sarcastic citizens.

Emma was number three, and she couldn't have been more excited. She picked a medium sized box, and opened it. "A humidifier." She tried to hide her disappointment. "Just what I've always wanted. Thanks, whoever brought it."

She went to sit back down, and several people noticed that she just didn't seem as happy as she had been earlier. There was always that person who did bring the truly bad gift, and ruined the night for the person who got it.

Killian wasn't up for awhile, but he vowed he would steal that humidifier to give his swan another chance at a good gift. David was secretly making the same vow. They never got the chance though. Number seven was Mr. Clark, and he actually stole the humidifier, with a truly excited look and several sneezes. He wanted to make sure he wasn't upsetting Emma by taking it. "My old one just broke. Do you mind Emma? If you do, I can buy one." "No, Mr. Clark. I think you need it more than I do. Please, feel free."

Emma's good mood had returned, and she took another trip up to the tree. Choosing a second gift, she unwrapped a basket of bath goods: soaps, lotions, bath bombs. Smiling, she sat back down. It wasn't the best gift, but she'd absolutely get use out of it.

Mother Superior was next, and she came over to Emma, smiling. "Sorry Sheriff, but I'm going to take that from you. We don't get many luxuries at the convent, and I'm dying for a bubble bath."

Emma handed over the basket, embracing the point of the game.

"Third time's a charm?" she commented, laughing as she went up to choose yet another gift. This time, she dug under the tree to find something someone had hidden beneath all the other gifts. This time she opened a kite shaped like a dog. She loved it. She immediately saw herself at the beach with Henry and Killian, flying the kite and having a picnic. She tried to quietly sit down, hoping no one else wanted it.

She watched happily as everyone else went around opening gifts, stealing gifts, and fighting. Now that she had something she wanted, she was content. This is exactly what she wanted out of the party. The alcohol had fueled the Christmas spirit. Killian was fully enjoying eggnog, and consumed several spiked glasses before going up to get his gift. He unwrapped a garden gnome.

"What's this?" he questioned the room. "I quite like the look of this little man."

"It's a garden gnome. You put it outside in the yard," the room responded. He guessed it was like the flamingos, tacky and pointless, but fun. He was picturing putting it in the yard at their new apartment as he went back to his seat next to Emma. Emma smiled, and asked if he liked it.

"As a matter of fact, Swan, I do. I'm going to call him Gordon."

Killian sat in his seat for the rest of the game, glaring at anyone who even glanced in his direction when they were taking stock of what was available to steal. He chuckled inwardly. There were some perqs still to being a fearsome pirate.

Finally, the game was over and there were a few trades taking place. Granny said everyone was welcome to stay and drink. She'd fire up the kitchen for any orders. Emma and Killian decided they'd go upstairs and turn in. She'd be close enough that if any trouble did break out, she'd be able to get back quickly.

Hook put Gordon on the dresser as the two got ready for bed.

"Were you happy with your first White Elephant party, love?"

"Very happy. I got a good gift, and the person who got what I brought seems to love it."

"Are you finally going to tell me which gift was yours?"

She smiled at him as she crawled into the bed and turned out the light.

"He's sitting on the dresser over there, just waiting until he can go in our yard."

Killian laughed, and pulled her close. Of course she bought the gift he liked. That's how they worked.