A Year In Review
This next chapter is in December. Flashbacks are italicized.
Regina Mills let out a deep sigh as she woke up on December 5th and saw snow falling from the sky and a layer of it on her windowsill. She hated the cold temperatures and she certainly didn't enjoy that the white fluffy substance was an ever-constant reminder of her nemesis. She sat on the edge of her bed and stared out the window for a moment before her son flew into the room.
"MOM! IT'S SNOWING!" said Henry as he went to go sit, or rather bounce up and down excitedly on the bed beside her.
"Yes Henry, I can see," said Regina with a laugh as she put her arm around him.
"Is there enough snow for you to cancel school?"
"Hmm, I suppose so"
"YEAH!" said Henry as he pumped his fist in the air.
"Ill go call the school and let everyone know, if you want to go outside for a bit you may. Don't forget to dress warm though" said Regina as she stood up.
"Thanks mom, bye" said Henry as he raced out of the room. Regina stood up and walked downstairs. She called the school to notify them about the snow day and sent out a town notice. She then walked downstairs to make breakfast. As she was scrambling some eggs the phone rang, She answered the phone and after about 10 minutes she hung the phone back up and called Henry inside.
"Henry! Come inside please," said Regina as she opened the window in the kitchen and yelled out at him.
"Coming" said the boy as he raced around to the front of the yard and ran inside.
'What's up Mom?"
"Joshua's mother called and wanted to know if you would be interested in going over to his house for the day. Do you want to go?" asked Regina as Henry sat down at the table.
"Yeah, you're sure its okay?"
"Its quite alright, I have some paperwork that I'm behind on anyways. Finish your breakfast and then you can go gather your things"
"Thanks mom, that's great" said Henry as he smiled at her.
"You're welcome," said Regina as she smiled back at him.
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Emma Swan had just gotten the town notice about the school and business closure and decided to go about her usual runs of the city. The snow had been ploughed in the roads but the driveways still were piled high. She managed to get all the snow off her bug and started her drive. She was driving past the mayoral mansion and slowed down when she saw Regina Mills, out shovelling her own driveway. Emma pulled to a stop at the side of the road and got out of the car.
"Regina! What are you doing?" asked Emma as she walked towards the brunette. Regina put down her shovel and looked at Emma. "It would appear Miss Swan, that I am shovelling my driveway."
"No I meant why are you shovelling? It doesn't seem like something that a Queen would do"
"No, it isn't but no one else is going to do it," said Regina as she picked up the shovel and resumed her task.
"Aren't you tired"?
"I have a lot of stamina, I'll be fine," replied Regina. Emma turned and walked over to her car and opened the trunk. She pulled out a shovel that she had put in there that morning and walked back towards Regina.
"I said I was fine Miss Swan, I don't need your help" said the brunette as she looked up.
"Yeah well too bad, I'm going to help you anyways," said Emma as she started shovelling beside Regina.
"Where's Henry?" asked the blonde.
"He's at his friends house for the day."
"What are you doing today"?
"I have some paperwork to finish up at the office," replied Regina.
"You're going to work on a snow day?" said Emma with an incredulous look on her face.
"Its just the same as any other day. Are you not going to work Miss Swan?"
"Yeah, but its just rounds, and anyway's David's on call today. I'm going to finish my rounds and then go relax." Regina gave a look at the blonde before they both returned to the task. After about five minutes the shovelling was all done and the shovels were put away.
"Thank you for helping Emma" said Regina as she turned to go get into her car.
"Wait Regina!"
"Yes?"
"I know you said it was on your terms but do you think we could have a magic lesson today? And then after you could just relax."
"Teaching you magic is certainly not relaxing," said Regina as she crossed her arms.
"Yeah, but its better than doing paperwork" said Emma. "C'mon Regina, you work hard all the time, you deserve to just take it slow once in a while"
A look of sympathy and a small smile flickered over the brunettes face before her features returned to normal. "Very well, we can practice your levitation spells again"
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Emma and Regina had just finished up with the magic lesson and they were sitting in Regina's study. The brunette had made coffee and they chatted about the town and Regina shared some of Henry's childhood stories.
"Hey, I have a question?" asked Emma after Regina had just told her about teaching Henry how to read.
"Yes?"
"Did you have Christmas in the Enchanted Forest? I know its random but I was just wondering about that," said Emma.
"Yes, we did, although it was a bit different then the Christmas that you would be used too."
"How so?" asked Emma as she took a sip of her coffee.
"Well on Christmas Eve there would be a large ball held at the castle, there would be plays held that afternoon, and on Christmas Day there would be a grand feast of celebration and gift-giving. Actually if I think about we had roast swan for our Christmas meal" said Regina as she gave a smirk at the blonde. The blonde rolled her eyes in amusement.
"Do you enjoy Christmas?" asked Emma.
"I suppose so, although I would have to say I enjoyed it more when Henry came along and I got to spend it with him" said the brunette as she gave a small smile at the blonde. "Any interesting Christmas tales of your own Miss Swan?"
"Not really. Christmas wasn't so much a holiday for me but rather a reminder of how little I had and how alone I was in the world" said Emma as she looked down at the floor. Regina sat in silence for a minute before replying;
"I didn't realizeā¦"
"No, its okay, Its really not a big deal" said Emma as she stood up to leave. "I should probably do another set of rounds"
'Alright, bye Emma" said Regina as she stood up to see Emma out.
Shorter chapter this time but I'm trying how to figure out how to write the actual Christmas scenes. My muse isn't very creative at the moment :) Hopefully this is alright for now though. Reviews are always greatly appreciated, Happy Reading!
