Emma woke Regina up before 6 am on Friday the 24th. She ransacked the brunette's closet and pulled out a pair of thick black leggings, tan riding boots and a thick cream-colored sweater for Regina. Emma pulled on yesterday's jeans and one of Regina's button-up blouses in a shade of blue that she probably couldn't name. Regina walked out of the bedroom's attached bathroom, hair wet and body wrapped in a towel. Emma didn't think it was possible for her to be more attracted to the woman than she already was, but this was a sight that would challenge that notion. The blonde gulped noisily and visibly and it made Regina chuckle. The younger woman handed the older one the outfit she chose for her and told her she'd be downstairs waiting.

While Emma waited for Regina to dry her hair and get dressed, she made a pot of coffee and drank two cups. She poured some in a to-go mug she found while ransacking the cupboards. She let Queenie out quickly before making her come back into the warmth. When Regina came downstairs it still wasn't even 7 yet, so they headed to Granny's to get their usual goodies and then Emma drove.

"I still cannot believe I let you convince me to get into this thing."

"It's called a car, Regina."

"If you say so, dear."

"I do. It's perfectly safe."

"I disagree."

"Stop it, don't make me crabby before you get your gift."

"I'm sorry. Where are we going?"

"Oh, oh I have to blindfold you!"

"Absolutely not."

"Please, Regina? Please let me," Emma begged, half whining.

Regina sighed. "If you must." Emma pulled the car over and used a handkerchief that Regina had in her pocket to blindfold the brunette.

"Ok, we're almost there, anyway."

After a few more minutes of driving, Emma stopped the car. She ran around to help Regina out and led the woman down a small hill. She stopped leading so she could open the door, which sounded heavy and wooden. Emma pulled Regina into the building and Regina smelled something familiar. She stopped concentrating on listening and concentrated only on her sense of smell. It was a smell that was almost wooden, but not quite. It smelled like nature and animals. It smelled like hay and horses. Regina gasped.

Emma pulled the blindfold off of Regina. Green eyes faced brown while the younger woman pulled the other down to the farthest stall of the stable. Standing in the stall was a Palomino mare. Regina gasped again.

"What is this?"

"Her name is Sundance. She's five years old. I adopted her, I guess the owners were moving off of their ranch and didn't have space on their new property for horses."

"You bought me a horse?"

"Well, I adopted her, it's a lot different, and you know, cheaper."

"You adopted a horse for me?" Emma just nodded. "Is there a brush?"

"I'm sorry?"

"A brush? So I can brush her."

"Oh, yeah. Sorry, that crate over there in the corner has a saddle, a brush, winter shoes in case you want to ride her in the snow, and you know, whatever else she'll need. I told the guy to send everything he thought was necessary for someone who doesn't already own any other horses."

Regina walked to the crate and pulled out a brush. She started brushing Sundance, patting her and talking to her while she did so. Emma just sat on a bench and watched. It didn't bother her to watch, nor was she bored by it. She was fascinated by how the other woman was with the horse. Regina went on to muck out the stall and Emma walked around the horse, trying to get comfortable.

"They can tell if you're afraid, dear."

"Huh?"

"They can tell if you're afraid, so try not to be."

"Ok. Anyway, you can take your time, we just need to retrieve Henry before noon."

"What time is it, dear?"

Emma checked her phone. "Just after 10."

"We can go ahead and go. I'll come back tonight to feed her again, just let me grab some bales of hay really quickly."

Emma nodded and observed Regina as she did as she said. She loved watching the other woman do everything and anything. Emma knew she was attractive; she had the right types of features, slender and strong build, and long blonde curls that had made many people stare. But the woman she loved was stunning beyond comparison. Where Emma had the all-American girl look, Regina was exotic and curvy and outrageously perfect. She was deep in thought and hadn't noticed Regina walking up to her.

"What has your thoughts, Emma?"

Emma smiled, looking up at Regina. "You do. I was just thinking about how lucky I am and how incredibly stunning you are."

"Thank you, dear. You're really very beautiful yourself." Regina bent to kiss Emma lightly on her lips. She straddled the younger woman, placing her knees on the bench on either side of the blonde's legs. Cupping Emma's cheeks in her hands, she held the kiss and deepened it, licking the blonde's lips so she'd part them. Once their mouths began melding together in a constant heat of tongues and lips, Emma wrapped her arms around Regina, underneath her coat, stroking her back and holding her tightly to her own body. After several minutes, the blonde pulled away.

"I'm really enjoying this, but if we don't stop now I'm not sure I'll be able to and we have a kid to go take care of, and I should probably work a few hours today."

Regina sighed, nodded, and took herself off the other woman's lap. After Emma stood up too, Regina patted her cheek tenderly and affectionately. "Emma, I can't begin to thank you enough for all of the gifts you have given to me. I know that you asked me questions to get ideas, but you really have given me more perfect gifts than I have ever been given. I don't love very well, but if you're still willing to help me learn, the past two weeks have made me realize that for you, I'm all in. I want you and I want this. I haven't smiled or laughed as much in my entire life as I have the past two weeks with you. But I swear if you break my heart, it might kill me, so please, I'm giving you an out if you want it, because I cannot take another heartbreak if this goes any further."

"Regina, didn't you read my letter? I don't want an out. I want this. I want you, even if you don't know how to love well."

"Well, alright then. Now that that's settled, let's get Henry and get you to work, you need to get out early if you want to come over to wake up with us to watch Henry unwrap his presents in the morning."

"Really?"

"Of course."

When the women got to Snow and David's apartment Emma put all of her gifts for Henry in a box and the last one she had for Regina with it. She grabbed a change of clothes, a nice outfit for Christmas dinner, and tossed a pair of heels into her overnight bag. She loaded her things into Regina's car, telling her she could leave it all there and she'd haul it in later when she got to the mansion. With a kiss on Henry's head, and a hug and quick kiss from Regina, they parted ways, Emma to work and Regina, with Henry, headed home, all three of them awaiting the end of the day when they could spend time together as a family.

When Emma arrived at the mansion that night, Henry and Regina were curled on the couch together watching Jingle All the Way. Emma took Regina's keys from the table in the entryway and gathered her things from the car, carrying them into the house. She set all the presents under the tree and left her overnight bag by the stairs.

The two moms ushered their son up to bed, reading him The Night Before Christmas after he requested. They then wandered into Regina's room. Regina began to undress without even asking Emma to turn away. Emma was already down to her white tank top and black lace boyshort underwear when she looked at Regina. The blonde saw a very familiar looking pair of red panties, and when Regina crossed her arms in front of her to grab the hem of her sweater, Emma's eyes widened. The brunette pulled the sweater up slowly and teasingly, revealing the matching corset Emma had purchased for her. The blonde gulped and smiled bashfully.

"Now, dear, I believe I am ready for this, the question is, are you?"

Emma nodded, crashing into the other woman. She whispered loving words to Regina as they both landed on the bed in a tangled mess of limbs and hair and warm bodies.