"I don't understand" Regina said.

"It's very simple. You pick a name out of the hat and buy them at present. The fun bit is that nobody know who is buying for who" snow responded enthusiastically.

"No, you miss understood. I meant why would I want to buy for just anyone" Regina responded haughtily. She knew who she wanted to buy for but the chances of pulling her name from the hat were incredibly slim.

"Don't be so boring Regina" David said butting in.

"Excuse me" Regina responded. David shrank away stuttering awkwardly causing Regina to smirk.

"Henry would love for you to take part" snow tried.

Regina softened. "For Henry then yes I will take part".

"Hey Regina, you taking part in secret Santa." Kathryn asked her friend.

"Unfortunately yes I am" Regina responded grumpily, she was not happy with her choice.

"Can we swap? I don't want to buy for Leroy" Kathryn asked.

"I have Snow so I guess if you still want to swap" Regina replied with a grin. She was surprised when Kathryn agreed so quickly. Well I guess I could always buy him beer she thought to herself.

"Hey madam mayor"

"What do you want Sidney?" Regina asked impatiently. She had been getting ready to leave work for the evening and did not like being interrupted.

"I was hoping we could swap names for secret Santa" he asked.

"I have Leroy, who do you have?" Regina asked.

"David" Sidney responded quickly "please can we swap?"

"Of course we can" Regina said kindly.

"Hey Regina, who do you have for secret Santa?" Snow asked ambushing her outside her own home.

"David" Regina responded.

"Can we swap" Snow asked.

"Depends who you have" Regina said, she was beginning to enjoy the game a lot more now she was involved in the swapping. "Whale" Snow said with a shudder. Regina laughed.

"Please can we swap?" Snow asked. Regina nodded, she honestly didn't care that much, Whale would be easier to buy for than David anyway. It wasn't like she would get to buy for her crush.

"Hey mum" Henry said as Regina was cooking.

"Yes dear" Regina responded as she stirred the dinner.

"Can we swap people for secret Santa?" He asked carefully.

"Who do you have?" She asked.

"Sidney" he responded.

"I have Whale" Regina offered.

"That's easier" Henry said "please mum". Regina nodded, anything for her son.

"Hey Madam Mayor, how are you today?" Doctor Whale asked as she entered grannies dinner.

"I'm very well thank you" she responded "how can I help you today?".

"I was hoping we would be able to swap names for secret Santa" he pleaded.

"Who do you have?" She asked.

"Emma" he responded.

"I have Sidney" she replied "but I am happy to swap".

"Thank you Madam Mayor" he said running off happily. Regina smirked to herself, perfect she thought.

"Hey Regina" Ruby said a few hours later.

"Are you ok miss Lucas?" Regina asked.

"Can we swap names for secret Santa?" She asked.

"I'd rather not thanks" Regina responded with a smirk "try Henry or Whale, they might be able to help".

The day came for everyone to present their gifts to their secret santas. Regina was very happy with the necklace she had found for Emma. "I can't believe how many people took part" Henry whispered to his mum.

"Thank you all for coming here" Snow said from the front of the hall "I am aware there have been a few swaps, but that's all in the spirit of the game. So if you all would please hand your gift to your person that would be amazing" she said handing David his gift. Regina rolled her eyes and looked for Emma in the crowd. She saw Ruby hand a gift to Sidney and chuckled to herself.

"She begged me to swap, but there was no chance" came a voice from behind her.

"She did the same with me dear" Regina responded looking into Emma's eyes "here is your gift".

"And here is yours Regina, you won't believe how many times I had to swap to get your name".

"You wanted my name?" Regina asked nervously.

"Open it" Emma said with a smile.

"Open yours" Regina responded.

"I knew you felt the same" Emma said slipping her fingers through Regina's and pulling her close to her.

"I love you dear" Regina said voicing what they had been to afraid to voice.

"I love you too".