This is the last chapter! I hope you guys like it!
While Regina was taking care of the meal, Emma went back to Henry, she was going to find out why the brunette was acting so weird.
"Hey kid," she said when she entered the living room. "Can we talk a minute in your mom's office?"
"Uh, yeah." They went into the office.
"What happened with your mom today?"
"Nothing, We had fun."
"Ok, what about when you got home? What happened then? Did she say anything to you?"
"Not really. I mean, she went to her bedroom looking worn out after we talked, but she didn't seem angry."
"What did you guys talk about?"
"I just told her I'm happy for you guys, that I'm happy she's happy. I said that I'm happy we can be a family."
"That's it? That was all you said?"
"Yeah. What's going on?"
"Nothing, go be with your grandparents." He watched for a minute as she paced his mom's office. He was confused but put the pieces together more quickly than she. He went to the kitchen to speak to his mom.
"Mom?"
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"I know why you're acting weird."
"I'm sorry dear, I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Yes you do. You're acting weird because you're worried about me being hurt if something happens with you two. It's stupid. I'm growing up, I'm gonna be an adult in no time, I can handle it if you guys break up."
"I'm sorry, sweetheart, but I'm really not going to talk with you about this. Go see your mom and grandparents." He nodded and passed Emma on his way out of the kitchen.
"Good luck," he whispered. Emma nodded and walked in, fury in her eyes and anger written in her face. Her sweater dress suddenly felt too warm and her heels felt too fancy. Still, no matter how uncomfortable she was, she was settling this today.
"Put up some kind of spell so that our conversation will not be overheard."
"What?" Regina asked, staring at her like she was crazy.
"You heard me."
"Very well," Regina waved her hand and it was done. She had done it she had made Emma break. It hurt her a bit how easily it was done. She loved the blonde, seemingly more than the blonde loved her. "What can I do for you, dear?"
"You can drop whatever act this is. What, you're… you're trying to push me away? You're trying to make me not want you? That's stupid. Henry is fine with it, he doesn't care. I know what you're worried about and it's stupid. I already told you I'm not going anywhere. Even if it doesn't workout with us, I'm here, I'm your friend. You're my best friend, Regina and I love you. Please don't push me away. Please." Emma's voice cracked on the last word and she was crying when she finished.
Regina's heart felt torn to pieces at Emma's monologue. She knew the younger woman was right, it was stupid, they were far too involved, they had gone through too much, each personally and together. It had taken them far too long to realize that they were good for each other, they were in love.
"Regina, please," Emma whispered, walking closer to the brunette. "I love you. Please don't make me lose you, not before we even really have a chance."
Regina deliberated a moment, tapping her fingers on the counter and turned her body towards the blonde. She vaulted herself against Emma, throwing her arms around the blonde's shoulders and burying her face in thick golden curls.
"I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry, Emma. I was trying to throw up my walls, trying to make sure Henry wouldn't be caught in the middle of us if this ended badly."
"Shhh, shhh, it's ok," Emma whispered, comforting the older woman. "It's ok, Regina. Just, you know, don't do it anymore. I'm here, we're here and I think, that despite how it may or may not end, we owe it to ourselves to see where this goes. Ok?" Regina nodded into Emma's neck. "You're such a good mom, Regina."
Regina broke away and wiped her tears, and then she wiped Emma's tears. She leaned their foreheads together and kissed Emma gently on the lips.
"I love you so much, Emma Swan."
"And I love you, too, Regina Mills."
"Would you get your mother for me?" Emma raised her eyebrows, questioningly. "I do believe I could use some help with dinner and I think I owe her an apology." Emma nodded and left the room only to return moments later with Snow.
"Do you, uh, do you want me to go?" Emma questioned.
"No, dear. I was thinking us women could keep busy and let the guys bond for a little while." Emma nodded and Regina looked to Snow. "I am quite sorry for how I behaved earlier, I was having a strange day, and I apologize, you didn't deserve it."
"It's ok," Snow replied quietly.
"It isn't. I'm very sorry. Now that I know what True Love really is like, I do feel the need to also apologize for everything in the Enchanted Forest. You may have betrayed my secret and caused a pain I wish I had never had to bear, but you didn't deserve everything I threw at you. But, if none of it had happened I wouldn't have Emma and Henry, so I think that we should attempt a parley."
"I concede."
"Shall we move on? I do believe we both just want to be happy now, yes?"
"Indeed." After a moment Snow continued, "Thank you, Regina. Thank you for saving Emma and me, thank you for saving us all from our demise, thank you for saving us all from another curse. And…and thank you for making my Emma happy."
Regina nodded. She quickly moved onto giving Emma and Snow directions for help with dinner. Their meal was nearly done and Snow set the table while Emma and Regina brought the food to it. Regina pulled one of her best bottles of wine from her cabinet and poured the four adults each a glass, then poured Henry a wine glass with sparkling juice.
The odd family sat together and enjoyed their meal. Afterward they exchanged the rest of their gifts. Snow and Charming gave Emma a new pair of nice work boots, they gave Regina a gift basket with a collection of fine Italian coffees and chocolates and they gave Henry a drawing pad and an expensive set of colored pencils he had wanted for a while. Emma gave her parents the unicorn mobile from Gold's shop that was supposed to have been hers, telling them that it would be great for when they had their next child. Henry gave them a framed family picture that was of Emma, Snow, Charming and himself. Regina handed them her gift last. When they unwrapped it, they saw a bottle of potion.
"What…what is this?" Snow asked.
"It's a potion of true love. It can break any curse, heal any pain, and it can even do what no other magic can do; it can bring someone back from the dead, one time only. It can only work on one of you for that. Though I do hope that our lives can remain calm, I thought that maybe, since we seem to have more adventure around here than necessary, and I had kept you guys apart for so long, if anything bad were to happen, I could give you guys one more chance to remain together. It's made from your love."
Snow cried, not out of anger or sadness, but out of gratitude, she hugged the older woman who had once been her step-mother. David thanked her, and their family settled in together to watch a Christmas movie. It's a Wonderful Life.
