Chapter 7: The Winter Masquerade

After Thanksgiving weekend, it was time to finalize the Winter Masquerade. Tink set up a meeting with Regina, which Will drove her to. It was her first time at Sherwood's corporate headquarters and she gaped when she stepped out of the limo.

"Impressive, huh?" Will asked with a smile. He gave her a nudge.

All she could do was nod. Will chucled. "Well, you enjoy your visit. Let me know when you're done."

"Thank you, Will," Regina said, regaining her power to speak. She took a deep breath and headed toward the entrance.

It had been years since she had been in such a building. But this looked more welcoming than Blanchard Financial's cold steel skyscraper. Sherwood was spread out between two smaller buildings that seemed made entirely of glass. They were connected by a skyway that hovered over a courtyard filled with employees on their breaks. On the very top of the buildings were solar panels which she knew powered everything in the complex.

She opened the glass door and entered the warm lobby. Plants decorated the lobby, emitting a soft floral scent that greeted her. A mosaic depicting life on earth covered one of the walls with a fountain underneath. It seemed so tranquil and Regina thought that if she had to go back to work in an office building, she would prefer to work here.

Approaching the security desk, she smiled at the short, balding man sitting behind it. "Good afternoon. I'm here to see Rose Belle. Name's Regina Mills."

"Ahh, yes," he said, checking his clipboard. "Before I let you up to see her, I need to take your picture. So, step around please."

He buzzed her through the gate and she followed his directions, coming to stand on a red "x" as he fiddled with the camera. Frowning, he clicked a few things on the computer. "I hate this darn thing. Why can't we use a real camera?" he complained.

"Technology," Regina replied with a shrug. "Doesn't always make things better."

"Ain't that the truth, sister," he responded.

After a few more clicks (and a few curses muttered under the guard's breath), he handed her the ID. "You can use that now whenever you come here and don't have to keep checking in with me," he said.

Indeed, her ID said "employee." She frowned. "But I don't work here."

"You work for Mr. L. That's good enough for us." He held out his hand. "Name's Leroy but everyone calls me Grumpy. You need something, let me know."

"I will. Thank you, Leroy. Now, which floor is Rose located on?" Regina clipped her new employee ID badge to her shirt.

"Tink's on the fifth floor. I'll call up to her so she knows to meet you by the elevators." Grumpy waved her toward the elevator bank.

A petite woman with blonde hair pulled into a bun and a pleasant smile greeted her at the elevator bank. "You must be Regina," she said, holding out her hand.

Regina shook it. "Tink?"

"Yep," the woman confirmed. "Don't ask."

Laughing, Regina nodded. "So, where do you want to meet?"

"My office is this way. Follow me." Tink led her past some cubicles to an actual office. She motioned to a chair in front of her desk. "Have a seat."

Regina did so, watching as Tink took out a folder. "Most of the party is planned," the woman explained. "I just need your help with the menu and the music."

"I can do that. Everything else is set?"

"Yep. I just have to refigure some of the seating but it's best if I do that. Explaining everyone's problems with each other would take all year. And it's exhausting." She sagged over the desk.

Regina laughed. "I'll take your word for it. So, let me see the menu."

It took them about an hour, but Tink and Regina finalized everything for the ball. "Well, that was easy," Regina said. "Thank God you had most of it planned."

"I know, right? All you need to worry about now is your dress fitting."

Regina frowned. "Dress fitting? What are you talking about?"

"You need a dress for the event, right?"

"I didn't expect to be invited."

"What?" Tink gave her an incredulous stare. "You think Robin would ask you to plan this and then not invite you?"

"Well, I guess I did think that." She pulled out the guest list again and sure enough, her name appeared between Will's and Emma's. "He invited my best friend as well?"

Tink shook her head. "How long have you been working for Robin?"

"Not long enough to be used to his kindness," Regina replied.

Laughing, Tink nodded. "I guess so. Anyway, he also asked me set up Marian's usual dress fitting for you and Emma. You two go, try on fabulous dresses and have fun."

"No, that's too much."

"Consider it a thank you," Robin said, entering the room. "You deserve it after helping to plan the party."

She frowned. "Tink's done most of the work."

"And I'll get a dress of my own," Tink assured her. "Take the dress."

Regina sighed, holding up her hands. "You all win. I'll take the dress. And I'm sure Emma will as well."

"Good!" Robin looked at Tink. "Can I take my nanny home now?"

She beamed at him. "She's all yours. Nice to meet you, Regina."

Regina shook Tink's hand before following Robin out of the office. "Is Will coming to pick me up?"

"I sent him back home. Marco will drive us home."

"You're getting ready to leave?"

"It's almost five o'clock." Robin held up his watch to her and she saw it did read ten to five.

She shrugged. "I didn't realize it had gotten so late. Where do we meet Marco?"

"Downstairs," Robin replied. "But first, I need to get my coat and briefcase. Come with me and I'll show you my office."

He led her back to the elevator and he pressed the button for floor six. "Top floor," he said.

"You are the boss."

Robin laughed, holding open the elevator door as she stepped onto the floor. An older woman glanced up from the desk outside two frosted doors and smiled. "Hello, Robin. Is this Regina?"

"This is," Robin confirmed. He turned to Regina. "Regina, this is Johanna. She's the one responsible here for making sure I get everywhere I'm supposed to be."

Johanna shrugged. "Someone has to do it. Right, Regina?"

"Absolutely," she agreed, winking at Robin.

He opened the door for her. "Johanna, if you'll let us know when Marco gets here?"

"Of course, Robin."

Regina stepped into Robin's office and her mouth dropped. "You didn't tell me your office was the entire floor."

He chuckled. "Perks of being the boss," he said. "Come on, I'll show you around."

She was able to see everything from where she stood, though. His large desk stood right in front of her, several windows looking out on Storybrooke behind him. A computer sat on it and several papers covered it, along with pictures she knew had to be of Roland and Marian. There were more along his bookcases and the table holding his coffee maker. A fridge sat in one corner and he opened it to reveal it was stocked with waters and juices. He pulled out a bottle of water and handed it to her. "You can have a seat over there," Robin said, motioning to several plush chairs set up around a faux fireplace and a flat-screen TV mounted to the wall.

"This is amazing," she said, taking a seat. "Did you design this by yourself?"

"Well, I had help but for the most part, yes."

His phone rang and he picked it up. "Yes, Johanna? She is? Yes, you can send her in."

"Do you need me to step out?" Regina asked, wondering who this "she" was.

"No. It's just some quick business I need to take care of. Sit back and get comfortable. I'm sure Marco will be here soon."

She nodded as the door opened, revealing a well-dressed blonde woman. Regina's eyes widened as she recognized her old friend Malinda. Malinda shook Robin's hand. "The audit is almost complete," she said. "We just need to talk to some of your West Coast executives."

"Of course. Most of them will be coming into town for my annual Winter Masquerade. I can make sure they're available for you then," Robin said.

Malinda nodded. "Thank you. Otherwise, have a good evening, Robin."

"You too. And thank you for all your hard work."

She turned, stopping when she saw who else was in the room. "Regina Mills! It's been too long since we last saw each other. How are you?"

"I'm well, Mal," she replied, standing to hug her friend. "So you're doing Sherwood's audit?"

Mal nodded. "Yes. It seems someone recommended us to Robin and he decided to hire us. I think things have been going well so far."

"They have," Robin agreed.

Giving Regina one more hug, Mal left with promises of meeting up for lunch soon with her old friend. Regina watched her leave as she felt Robin's gaze on her. When she looked back at him, he smiled. "So you're the little bird who told me about Mal's auditing firm."

"Guilty," she admitted. "When you and Will had talked about it, I figured why not suggest Mal?"

"I'm glad you did. But why didn't you come to me in person? Why sneak the card onto my desk?"

She rubbed the back of her neck. "It was still my first week and I wasn't sure of my boundaries. So I snuck it after my shower."

"Well, thank you." Robin came over and sat down next to her. "They really have done a great job and I think we're close to finding the missing money."

"I'm glad."

He nodded, giving her a smile before checking his watch. "I wonder what's keeping Marco. He should've been here by now."

As if on cue, Johanna walked into the office. "Marco just called. He's stuck in traffic. They're lighting the tree tonight."

Robin groaned. "I forgot all about that. Thanks, Johanna. You better go before you're stuck here too."

"How close are we to the tree?" Regina asked once Johanna had left.

"Come on. I'll show you." He took her hand and led her over to the wall of windows.

She glanced down and gasped. The tree was right next to her, waiting for the lights wrapped around its boughs to be lit up. She saw the stage that was set up for some local celebrities to perform on and a throng of people pressed around it. They looked like ants from Robin's office, despite only being six stories high. "You have the best view in all of Storybrooke," she said.

"Roland, Marian and I watched them light the tree from here last year." His voice cracked and she reached over to squeeze his hand. Robin cleared his throat and headed toward his desk. "Looks like you and I will be watching from here. I'll see if I can have some dinner delivered. You have any preference?"

"No, whatever you order should be fine," she said, taking a seat to stare at the tree.

Once he ordered the food, he called Will to tell him about the delay. Soon, he was talking to Roland, judging from his tone. "I know it's late, but Marco just can't get the car near my office. And I don't think Regina and I will be able to get out of the building anyway.

"We'll be home as soon as we can. Yes, we'll be fine." Robin paused before walking over to her. He held out his cell phone. "He wants to talk with you."

Regina took the phone and put it to her ear. "Roland?"

"Regina, I want you and Papa to come home," he said. "It's safer here."

She sighed. "We're safe, Roland. We're in your papa's office. That's safe, right?"

"Yes."

"And then we'll be with Marco. He's safe too."

"Yes, he is."

"Then we'll be safe until we're home with you. Papa will keep me safe and I'll keep him safe. How's that?"

Roland seemed to think about it. "I guess that's okay. But I want a bedtime story when you come back!"

"You should be asleep by the time we get back."

"Not until I get my story."

She pulled the phone away to look at Robin. "I'm negotiating with your six years old."

"Give me the phone," he said, frowning. "Roland? What's going on? No, you're going to go to bed on time. Regina can read you a story tomorrow."

He spoke for a few more minutes to Roland, agreeing to something before saying goodbye to his son. When he hung up, he didn't meet Regina's eyes and she smiled. "I'm reading him a story when we get home, aren't I?"

"Yes," he admitted, sighing. "Marian was always the one who could tell him no. I'm shite when it comes to that. I have to practice resisting spoiling him."

"Just not tonight."

Robin sighed again. "Just not tonight."

The phone rang and he picked it up. "Yes, I did order food, Leroy. You can send him up. Thanks."

She watched as Robin helped the delivery man set up their dinners before he tipped the man. Robin turned to her with a smile, pulling out a chair. "Milady?"

"You're a real gentleman," Regina said, sitting down. She looked over the meal and her eyes widened when she saw where he had ordered from. "Tony's? You got takeout from one of the most exclusive restaurants in Storybrooke?"

He shrugged. "Perks of being rich?"

"You're a bundle of contradictions," she said, leaning back. "You seem like an average guy and you're really low-key. But then you just casually order an entire dinner from a five-star restaurant to be delivered to your office like a pizza!"

"My life does seem strange to me at times too," he admitted. "Now, are you going to eat this or just amaze at it?"

She gave him a look before digging into her chicken Florentine. They talked in between bites, reminiscing about Christmases past. He told her about decorating the tree with his parents and going to services on Christmas Eve. "When I was really little, Mum and Dad would put me in the car after I fell asleep and drive over to my grandparents. When I woke up there, they'd tell me Santa brought me because I was Nan's Christmas present," he recalled with a smile.

"That sounds so sweet," she said. "I never really knew my grandparents. Mother claimed hers were dead, but who knew if that was the truth. And my father's mother died when I was really little. There are pictures of me with her but I don't recall her."

"Did you have any other family?" he asked.

She shook her head. "It was just Mother, Daddy and me. And when Mother left, it was just him and me. But I never felt I was lacking. Daddy was enough."

"You two are very close, I can tell."

"You said Roland is your everything. Right now, Daddy and Emma are mine. They're my family and I love them."

Robin smiled. "So, do you three have any Christmas traditions?"

"Besides Emma burning Christmas Eve dinner?"

"Yes," he replied, laughing. "Besides that."

She shrugged. "I guess…I guess it's setting up the tree. Daddy and I still do it every year. When I was younger, he always got me an ornament for that year and it used to have something to do with something that happened to me that year."

"That sounds nice. I'd steal it for Roland, but what would I do for this year? I doubt there's an ornament for losing your mother," Robin said, sad.

Regina reached over and placed her hand on his. "Are you okay? I know the holidays can be the hardest after a loss."

"It is hard," he admitted, "but I'm focusing on making sure Roland has the best Christmas possible. It's helping."

"If you need someone to talk too…"

He squeezed her hand. "Thank you, Regina."

They had turned the TV to show the tree lighting ceremony going on beneath them, the performances providing a soundtrack to their dinner. But now the hosts—two local news reporters—were joined by Mayor Spencer and his wife as they prepared to light the Christmas tree.

Robin pushed his chair back, standing without letting go of Regina's hand. "Come on. Let's go watch them light the tree."

He led her to the window and as they heard the countdown on the TV behind them reach one, the lights on the tree flashed to life. Their multicolored lights twinkled before her and she sucked in her breath. "Beautiful," she breathed.

"Indeed," he agreed but she got the feeling he wasn't talking about the tree.

Especially since their hands were still clasped.

The night of the masquerade started with an afternoon of activities. A team showed up to do Emma's and Regina's hair and makeup and they brought a masseuse with them. It was a spa treatment without having to leave the house. Emma sipped from a flute of champagne as she sat in an oversized fluffy white bathrobe with cream on her face and drying polish on her toes. "I could get used to this. I hope you work for Robin forever. Or marry him. Either works."

"How easily you are lured to the dark side." Regina, though, could see the allure. She felt like a princess being pampered like this and had never felt more relaxed. From what she had heard, Marian eschewed the more luxurious aspects of being rich, much like Robin. But if this had been her one indulgence, well, Regina believed she had deserved it.

She was whisked away to another chair as someone began to twist her hair into curlers. A young woman set out several makeup kits and ordered Regina to hold still. She applied makeup with brushes and Regina felt like a painting come to life.

"Well, is this Mr. Roland?" the woman doing her hair asked. "You've gotten so big!"

Regina glanced down to find a smiling Roland by her chair. "Do you need anything?" she asked.

"I just wanted to see you and Miss Emma get ready for the ball," he said before scrunching his nose. "Cinderella had it easy."

The hairdresser laughed as she began to remove the curlers. "Cinderella's godmother had it easy. Let me know if you find a magic wand because that would help me a lot."

Roland promised he would as he climbed onto Regina's lap. "You look pretty," he said.

"Thank you," she said, "but I'm not done being made beautiful."

"But you are beautiful," Roland said, frowning.

She hugged him, touched. "You are great little boy, you know that?"

He beamed and hung around as Regina and Emma finished dressing, his eyes wide when he saw his nanny. "You look like a princess from your storybook!"

"I do?" Regina asked as Emma came back into the room. She wore a red satin strapless gown with only a ruffle running down the side of her skirt as an embellishment. Her blonde hair was braided and pinned to her head while her silver circle necklace hung around her neck.

Emma nodded, smiling as she guided Regina to the mirror. "Take a look," she said.

Regina beheld her completed look for the first time. Her dark hair was curled, half up while the other half fell loose over her shoulders. A fascinator with white feathers was pinned to her curls. It matched the white strapless trumpet dress she wore, with a heart-shaped bodice and jeweled snowflake patterns running down the gown until it gave way to a pale blue organza skirt. She chose to pair it with the simple diamond necklace her father had given her for her eighteenth birthday.

"I guess I do look like a princess," she conceded.

Emma hugged her. "You are going to knock everyone's socks off. Including Robin's. We're going to go downstairs and he and Will are going to have trouble remembering which pair are theirs."

Roland laughed at the image and hopped off the bed. He ran from the room and Emma handed Regina her matching clutch. "You ready?" she asked.

With one more deep breath and a last look at the mirror, Regina nodded.

Robin tried to tie his bowtie. Several times. Marian had done this for him and now he felt lost. He prayed this didn't mean he had to go back to wearing a clip on and vowed to master this skill.

"Need some help?" Henry asked from behind him.

Sighing, Robin nodded and turned to the older man. "I'm afraid I'm hopeless."

Henry's fragile fingers still deftly tied the bow, securing it under Robin's collar. "There you go."

"Thank you." Robin smoothed down his tuxedo jacket and sighed. His stomach was twisted up in knots and a lump had settled in his throat.

"Is something wrong? You seem nervous."

"It's just…This has always been Marian's thing. She ran it. What if I screw it up?"

Henry patted Robin's hand. "You're be fine. I'm sure Marian will guide you."

The knots in his stomach loosened and Robin smiled. Regina was so lucky to at least have had Henry in her life after being saddled with a less-than-stellar mother. And he was fortunate Henry liked him. With his own father so far away, Robin had sought closer father figures. Paul had been one it felt like Henry was becoming another.

"They're coming! They're coming!" Roland took the stairs two at a time, jumping over the last three. He raced over to his father's side, smiling up at him.

Robin glanced up at the staircase just as Emma appeared. She looked quite beautiful in her red dress but his heart stopped moments later when Regina appeared behind her. The brunette looked like an angel in her white gown and with feathers in her hair. Her dress hugged her curves and his gaze may have lingered a bit longer than proper on her chest before snapping back to her face. Brown eyes shone with the light that seemed to be glowing off her, though her smile was a nervous one. Did she not realize how breathtaking she was?

"You both look so beautiful." Henry stepped forward, hugging both Regina and Emma. He then lingered with Regina, speaking softly to her while she gave him a smile Robin was praying would one day be directed at him.

Emma walked over and looked down at Roland. "What did I tell you? Blown away."

As Roland giggled, Robin recovered himself enough to compliment her. Emma smiled and thanked him. "But we all know who really struck you speechless."

She turned to Regina and his gaze followed. The beautiful brunette kissed her father's cheek before glancing up. She blushed when she realized they were staring. "What?"

"We were just talking about how you look…" Emma trailed off.

"Stunning," Robin picked up. "In every way."

Her cheeks grew redder and she seemed to wait for him to add Emma to his statement. While Emma looked beautiful, it just wasn't the same. Not with how Regina glowed.

And, of course, he wasn't pulled toward Emma like he was to Regina. It was like they were magnets. Now that he was more honest with himself, it was easier to admit. He would never act on it, could never act on it. But there was nothing against thinking it.

Will entered. "Lovely ladies…and Robin…your chariot awaits."

Regina and Emma donned wraps and put on gloves as Robin shrugged on his coat. Despite it being of a good make and the fact he was wearing a tuxedo, he still felt underdressed next to them.

The two women crouched down, leaving lipstick marks on Roland's cheeks as they kissed him goodnight. Robin chuckled as he picked up his son. "You're quite lucky there, my boy."

Roland giggled before hugging him, "I love you, Papa."

"I love you too," Robin said. He put Roland down and looked him in the eyes. "Now, you be good for Mr. Henry."

Henry pulled Roland against him. "We'll be fine. Some dinner, a little TV, maybe some magic tricks and we'll both be out by nine. You all go and have fun."

Robin nodded before holding out his arms to Regina and Emma. Each woman took one and he smiled at them. "Shall we, ladies?"

The ballroom looked amazing. She had been there earlier with Tink to finalize everything but Regina still marveled at how it turned out. Glittery snowflakes hung from the ceiling as projectors covered the walls with multicolored ones. Snowmen greeted guests when they entered. A sleigh was set up in front of a snowy backdrop in one corner, ready for pictures.

But the centerpiece was a picture of Marian, taken from last year's masquerade. She wore a green gown with cap sleeves and her dark hair was pulled into a French twist. Her brown eyes sparkled as she laughed at something said off camera by someone. Regina thought she looked very beautiful.

Robin had stood in front of the photograph, his mask in hand as he stared at his late wife. They had given him a wide-berth, busying themselves with making sure everything was perfect just as the first guests started to arrive. Robin took a deep breath and Regina watched as he slid his mask on, heading over to greet the people.

At first, Regina worried that she'd be a wallflower and wouldn't know anyone besides Will and Emma at the ball. Robin, though, introduced her to one of his other friends, Killian Jones, while Tink and Johanna also hovered by her. When Robin started the dancing with Vivienne, Paul asked Regina to dance with him.

Regina was surprised to find her dance card full as other men asked her to dance. Will and Killian took their turns, though the latter showed a preference for Emma. She didn't mind—her friend deserved a little romance. Regina had nursed Emma's broken heart a few times and it had been far too long since Emma had a good man interested in her. Also, Killian's dark hair and bright blue eyes were more the blonde's taste than Regina's.

Though both clearly had a thing for me with British accents.

She told her friend that as they sipped wine, watching the couples on the dancefloor. Emma shrugged. "Killian is something. He runs the ferry. Which means he's a captain. He might even have a uniform."

"And no one can resist a man in uniform," Regina finished.

Emma nodded before changing the subject. "I'm surprised Robin hasn't danced with you yet."

"There a lot of people here to dance with. I don't need one."

"But you want one."

Regina sighed. "Yeah, I do."

"Well, the night is still young. Who knows?" Emma perked up as a song began to play. "Yazoo? Only You? I love this song!"

"Oh, I know," Regina replied, having heard it several times over her friendship with Emma. "And I think someone else does too."

Killian approached the women, holding out his hand to Emma. "Shall we?"

"We shall," Emma replied, shooting Regina an excited look before letting him pull her back onto the dancefloor.

"May I have this dance?" Robin appeared by her side, hand outstretched.

She took it with a smile, letting him lead her onto the dancefloor. He closed his hand around hers as his other rested against her hip, a warm weight as they glided in time to the music. Regina's heart kept beating faster and faster, especially when she saw Robin still looked at her like she was some goddess come to earth.

"Are you having fun?" he asked, spinning her.

She spun back toward him. "Yes."

"You've been one of the more popular dance partners all night. This has to have been my tenth try to get a dance with you."

"You're exaggerating."

Robin shook his head. "Someone kept swooping in every time I tried to dance with you. I was getting quite frustrated."

He spun her out and then back again as she laughed. "It's like something from a movie."

"I think it's the song. Wasn't it in every movie in the 80s?"

Reina laughed. "It's Emma's favorite song."

"And I see she's dancing to it with one Killian Jones. Again," he noted. "They seemed to have really hit it off."

"They have," Regina agreed. "Thank you for introducing them."

"Your welcome, though I had nothing to do with their instant attraction. That's all them." He dipped Regina as the song end and she laughed.

He righted her but continued to hold her as the music slowed into a ball. Blue eyes peered at her from behind his mask. "Thank you for all your work on this."

"Tink did most of the work."

"You really are allergic to compliments, aren't you?"

"I'm just giving credit where it's due."

He sighed. "Well, I'm going to give you another compliment. And you're not going to deflect it. Got it?"

"Robin…" She sighed. "Fine."

"Good." He tilted her head up so their eyes met again. "You look beautiful."

She smiled as heat filled her cheeks. "Thank you. You look very handsome."

Robin thanked her as the music died down. Everyone applauded and he pulled her toward the stage. She frowned. "Where are we going?"

"It's time for my speech. And I'm going to thank you and Tink for this. Can you handle that?" he teased.

She shrugged. "Since Tink will be there, yes."

Tink hugged her as she and Robin took their spots on the stage. Once Robin tested the microphone, he turned to the crowd. "Can I have everybody's attention? I want to thank you for coming out tonight. This past year has been difficult without Marian but it touches me to see how loved she was. I know she is smiling at us from above.

"Before we continue the festivities, I would like to thank the two wonderful women who pulled this all together at the last minute—Rose Belle and Regina Mills. Please give them a hand."

Everyone applauded as Robin hugged Tink. Regina opened her arms for a hug but he kissed her cheek instead. He held her hand. "Stay here. I'm almost done."

She nodded, lacing her fingers with Tink's as he told everyone to enjoy the food, drinks and of course the dancing. "And take a look at all the prizes you can walk away with. I'll be back in a little bit, though you'd probably be happy if I wasn't, right?"

The people laughed and Robin escorted Tink and Regina off the stage. Once they were off, Tink turned to them. "I'm going to go look at those baskets. I'll see you later."

"See you later," Robin said, eyes crinkling as he smiled. He then glanced over at Regina. "What do you want to do? Another dance?"

She bit her bottom lip. "I could use some air, actually. It's pretty warm in here."

"Then we'll round up the others and head out to the patio." Robin took her arm and led her back to where Killian, Emma and Will had congregated.

The five friends stepped out onto the patio and Regina closed her eyes, enjoying the cool crisp air against her flushed skin. She removed her mask as did the others and they set them on the railing for safekeeping.

"It feels so good to have that off," Emma said, pointing to her red mask. "It looks nice when we're all dancing but after a few hours…"

Will chuckled. "You ain't getting an argument from me."

"I don't want to go back in," Robin admitted, moving closer to Regina. His hand found the small of her back as she gave him a look.

"You have to go back in. It's your event to honor Marian. I'll drag you in there myself."

Robin's eyes twinkled. "I may just let you do that."

"As cute as this flirting is," Emma interrupted, "I wouldn't advise that, Robin. I refused to go to a guest lecture with her in college and told her she would have to drag me there. She nearly dislocated my shoulder doing so. She is freakishly stronger than she looks."

Regina glared at her friend. "I did not pull you that hard. And may I add that your professor was giving out extra credit for anyone who attended and that extra credit made the difference between passing and failing?"

Emma rolled her eyes but smiled. "My arm still hurt for two days afterwards."

"Oh my god, you two are the female version of Will and Robin," Killian said, amused. "No wonder they like you both so much."

Robin chuckled. "I'm surprised I never noticed it but…yes, you two are like me and Will."

"Only worse," Will added. "We're not that bad."

"Careful, Pinocchio. I think your nose is growing," Regina teased.

"Here's where everyone is hiding!" A light, airy feminine voice with a slight accent interrupted their merriment. Regina turned to find a woman with red curls wearing a dark green sleeveless dress with a very low neckline standing there. A diamond chandelier necklace covered her throat and large diamond earrings hung from her ears. Cold blue eyes peered out from behind her dark green mask.

Beside her, she felt Robin tense up. "Zelena, what do you need?"

"Well, introductions for starters, Robbie," she said, her smile becoming more fake. "I know Will and Killian, but who are your other companions?"

Robin sighed. "The lovely lady in red is Emma Swan and this beautiful woman in white is Regina Mills. Ladies, this is Zelena Ozgreene, the VP of my West Coast operations. She always comes to Storybrooke for the holidays."

"It seems more festive out here on the East Coast, though I'm sad there's no snow." Zelena held out her hand. "Pleased to meet you."

Regina and Emma shook her hand before Zelena studied Regina. "So, what do you do at Sherwood?"

"I work for Robin. I'm his…Roland's nanny," she replied.

Zelena's smile faltered as she turned to Robin. "The help? You put your nanny in charge of such an important event?"

"I put Regina in charge of the event." Robin frowned as he crossed his arms. "And it's my late wife's event. I can put whoever I want in charge, Zelena."

"Zelena? Have you sorted out if we're staying at the mansion or not?" An older woman stepped onto the patio. She had dark brown hair and familiar brown eyes, ones that sent a shiver running through Regina and had her blood running cold.

Robin frowned. "No. You're staying at the best hotel in Storybrooke, like you do every year, Cora."

"Cora?" Regina gasped out.

The woman approached, smiling the same cold smile Zelena had. "Yes, dear. It's been a long time, hasn't it?"

Robin frowned, turning to Regina. "Do you know her?"

"Yes, I do," Regina said as Emma took her hand. "She's my mother."

A/N: Cora's re-entered Regina's life. And what's her connection to Zelena?

Don't worry, the ball's not over yet. But I did want to give everyone their Christmas gift. That seemed like a good spot to end it.

I hope everyone has a great Christmas!

-Mac