A/N: Ok, so this one was really long so I stopped and split it in the best possible place, I will have the next half up tomorrow. Reviews are amazing and my followers and readers are the best! Thanks guys!
The next morning, Henry woke them up at 5 wanting to open his presents. Regina was as gorgeous as ever, pulling on a robe over her silk pajamas and Emma pulled on a pair of sweatpants and an old, worn out t-shirt. She blushed slightly when she saw what Regina was wearing and compared it to her own clothing.
"Should I borrow something from you? This is kind of how I usually sleep," Emma said.
"No, dear, I wouldn't change you. Actually, you look sort of cute in ratty clothes." Regina smirked at the blonde when blush covered pale cheeks.
"Alright. Onward to coffee, then gifts, would you mind?"
"Making you coffee? Not at all, I'll need some myself. Henry is only up this early one time a year. You'll see his excitement is a bit to handle this early."
The women, coffees in hand, and Henry went to sit by the tree to open presents. They let Henry dig in first, for a long time since he had so many. Queenie was by Regina's feet chewing on a bone that the brunette had bought her for Christmas. After fifteen minutes, Emma stood and grabbed the small box that was Regina's last Christmas gift. Regina stood to retrieve two boxes that were wrapped and handed them to Emma.
"You first, but be discreet with the smaller box," Regina told the blonde. Emma tore into the first box, revealing a nice, black leather holster for her gun. Emma loved it. Making sure that Henry was occupied; Emma slowly opened the smaller box to reveal an emerald and chocolate colored, long-waist bustier and matching lace panties. Emma's eyes widened and she quickly closed the box. "It isn't implying that I don't like what you wear, usually, I haven't seen enough of your underwear to have a judgment. I got it because as much as I knew you would enjoy seeing me in mine, I want to see you in yours," Regina said in a low voice so Henry wouldn't overhear.
"The colors, they match our eyes."
"Indeed. Green is sort of my new favorite color."
"Since when?"
"Oh, couple weeks, I think."
Emma kissed Regina, first softly on her upper lip, and then moved to suck gently on her lower lip. Before pulling away from the kiss, Emma licked Regina's bottom lip. The blonde smiled at the brunette and handed her the small box.
"It sort of goes along with Thursday's gift."
Regina pulled the wrapping paper off slowly, revealing a small black box and her heart started racing. She was unsure of what the gift was, but it was the perfect size to be a ring box. She loved Emma, but this was quick, way too quick. Emma must have seen something in her eyes, because she spoke.
"Don't be weird, just open it and breathe. No panicking."
Regina opened the box to reveal, indeed, a ring. It was a simple ring, a small white gold band with small emeralds imbedded in it at intervals.
"It's not an engagement ring, if that's what you're thinking."
"Then what is it?"
"It's a promise ring."
"What in the world is a promise ring?"
"It's a custom of this world, usually only young people do it, when they're too young to get engaged or they promise to be pure. I just thought it was fitting. Sort of an exclusivity agreement, I guess. It means that I love you and I want to be with you, forever. It means that I promise that one day, if it's what you would like, I'll marry you, but right now I'm happy with how things are. I want to be with you and I think that we're doing well and this is just the beginning of something that has the possibility to be so great. I'm going to keep talking if you don't stop me."
Regina closed her mouth over the blonde's. She kissed her quickly, but sweetly. When she pulled back away she took the ring out and hesitated, not knowing where a promise ring belonged. Emma took it from her fingers and slid it onto Regina's left hand ring finger.
"It usually goes there, but if you are uncomfortable, you can take it off and put it on the other ring finger."
"No, it's beautiful. Why did you choose emeralds?"
"Because you love my eyes. It seems that they sort of make you soften up a little bit."
"Indeed they do. You really are quite perceptive."
"Mom?" Henry asked, interrupting them. "Why is there more than one present for grandma and grandpa?"
"Because one is from you, and the other is from Emma, and the last one is from me. I'll not have someone in my house for Christmas without giving them something."
"Oh. Cool. I like that you want to get along with them. I still have presents for you guys in my room! I'll be right back."
Emma took the quiet as a chance to kiss Regina again, an easy, simple kiss. A kiss that conveyed that she wanted to stick around but not that she expected more, right now, from the other woman. When they broke apart, they heard Henry bounding into the room. He handed each woman a gift bag. Both women dug into theirs and pulled out a picture frame, just a standard size 4x6 frame. Emma's was black with silver imprint that said family, and Regina's was silver with hearts around the frame.
"Thanks, kid. I love it."
"Yes, Henry, thank you, it's beautiful."
"Well, I figured that when grandma and grandpa get here, they can take a picture of the three of us and we can print them up on the picture printer that grandma has and you guys can put them in your frames." Emma gasped and Regina hummed. "We are a family now, right?" Henry asked.
Emma looked to Regina, the one who had been hurt more by love, the one who was more afraid of what this all meant. The thought passed through their eyes.
"Of course we are, sweetheart. It sounds like a wonderful idea."
After Henry had put away all of his gifts and Regina started the turkey in the oven, she began peeling potatoes while Emma and Henry sat at the island, watching.
"You know, Regina, it would be totally cool if you went to take care of Sundance. I know you want to see her and you can take Henry and Queenie, too. I can get stuff going around here."
"Oh, that's alright, I'll go after dinner."
"No, you can go now, and go after dinner, too. Twice a day, right?"
"What are you guys talking about? Who's Sundance?"
"Emma adopted a horse for me, Henry. Now we can ride together."
"Cool! Awesome gift, mama."
"So, you guys go, and Regina just tell me what you want me to start on."
After Regina gave Emma instructions to peel and cut the potatoes, mix together the green bean casserole and how to check the turkey, the two Mills brunettes were on their way to see their horses. Emma did as she was told, glad that Regina had taken care of the desserts yesterday. After she had finished everything she was told to do she checked the time and it was only nearly 10. First, she cleaned up the wrapping paper mess that was left by the tree. She went upstairs and showered, letting her hair dry naturally into her curls over her shoulders. She gave a second thought before pulling on her boyshorts and instead put on the lingerie Regina had given her, then pulled the black and white sweater dress she had worn to New York on, slipping on some black tights and her heels. After she checked the turkey again, she headed into Regina's office. She pulled A Christmas Carol from one of the shelves and headed back into the living room and curled up on the couch near the tree to read. She must have been tired from Henry waking her up so early because she fell into a deep sleep.
Regina and Henry arrived home shortly after 11 and saw that Emma was asleep, they let her stay that way. The mayor sent Henry up to get ready and she made her way into the kitchen. Regina was happy to see that Emma had carried out all the tasks asked of her, so she checked the turkey and then saw that Henry was getting into his room after his shower. She took her shower and wrapped herself in a towel while she styled her hair in curls and did her makeup. She pulled on the sexiest underwear she could find, which happened to be purple lace with a matching bra. She chose a nice navy dress that ended just above her knees, a cream colored cardigan and heels that matched the cardigan.
She went downstairs and finished meal preparations until everything that could be prepped early was done. She checked on Henry who was in his room reading one of his new comic books Regina bought him. Before she closed his door, he spoke to her.
"Mom?"
"Yes, dear?"
"I'm glad you're happy. I know you've wanted to be happy for a long time."
"Thank you, Henry. It's nice to hear you say that."
"I mean it. I'm really happy for you and Emma. I'm glad we can be a family."
"Thank you, dear. I'm going to be in my room for a little while, come and get me if you need me." Henry nodded and she went into her room.
She sat on her bed, the legs off the side. She put her head into her hands and began crying. She couldn't believe she'd been so careless, so freefalling. She shouldn't have ever allowed herself to love Emma, she should never have let the blonde pursue her. Now it all had to end. She couldn't ever let it hurt Henry and the only way to stop a greater pain was to stop the relationship now, before they became more involved, before they moved in together or got engaged, or even married.
She allowed herself to lie down on her side, one hand on her cheek and one clutching her chest over her heart. The pain she felt was too much to bear, too powerful. She had to end this. No, she had to make Emma want to end it, that way it would hurt the blonde less. She couldn't bear the thought of hurting the woman she had so easily fallen in love with, the woman for whom her affection she had denied so long. She could have avoided this all if she had just not been stupid, but Emma's affections were so easy to fall into. The Sheriff was beautiful, funny and smart and she couldn't resist her charms. She fell asleep, exhausted from all the tears she had cried.
Henry went looking for his moms, first he checked on Regina, she was asleep on her bed so he didn't enter the room. Next he checked for Emma and she was still asleep on the couch. It was half past noon and he knew that his grandma and grandpa were expected at 1 and they were to eat near 2, so he checked the turkey and the plastic thing still hadn't popped, so he basted the juices over the top of the turkey the way he had seen his mom do it all the time.
He woke Emma first. She startled away and checked the time.
"Shit, kid, why did you guys let me sleep?" Henry shrugged. "Where's Regina?"
"She's sleeping in her bed."
"Ok, kid you get her and I'll check on the food."
Emma went into the kitchen as Henry headed upstairs. The blonde checked the turkey and stared at the counter, not really sure what else she could do. Luckily she heard Regina's heels on the tile entering the kitchen so she looked up. She smiled at Regina before she realized something was off.
"Hey, you ok?" she asked Regina as the brunette walked past her to check the turkey. "I just checked that, it's fine. I wasn't sure what else to do, though."
Regina pursed her lips and nodded, putting the green bean casserole and the dressing into the oven. She set the timer and set the pan of potatoes to boil. She pulled out flour and butter and various other ingredients to make the homemade biscuit mix that Henry loved so much.
"Regina, are you ok?"
"I'm fine, dear. I can finish up in here, you should go be with Henry."
"I want to be in here with you, Henry's entertained enough by his new gifts."
"Miss Swan, I no longer need you in here, please leave the kitchen," Regina said sternly, not leaving room for question. Emma left the kitchen and her heart felt heavy.
Emma wondered what Regina's problem was. Was she mad that she had fallen asleep? That couldn't be it, she herself had fallen asleep. The doorbell rang and Emma went to welcome Snow and Charming in. Snow went into the kitchen with a bottle of wine only to be less than nicely thrown out by Regina. Snow and Charming went into the living room to find Henry who excitedly jumped up to hug them. Emma went back to the kitchen.
"What the hell was that?"
"What was what, dear?"
"You, throwing Snow out, what is your problem? What changed?"
"Nothing, dear. I merely prefer to cook alone."
"And that required you to tell her to 'get the hell out' of your kitchen? Come on, Regina, talk to me."
"There's nothing to talk about, now go be with your charming parents, I'm sure they'd like to spend time with you." Emma shook her head and left the room.
Regina allowed a few tears to fall from her eyes, but quickly brushed them away. She cursed herself for being so weak. Shaking her head she continued with the meal.
