A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who read/reviewed/followed/favorited this story. I have been completely overwhelmed with the response. I had only planned to write a one-shot, but due to several requests for a continuation, I decided to continue this. Thank you again for reading and please let me know what you think!
Have a Cup of Cheer
As she turned the key in the lock to Mary Margaret's apartment hours later, Emma could not stop smiling. Despite the cleared roads and the wind dying down, Regina would not allow Emma to walk back to her mother's apartment, insisting instead upon driving her home. The streets had been utterly abandoned to the weather, leaving untouched snow over the small town. Between the beauty of the scenery and the fingers laced through hers, Emma had felt contentment wash over her. Regina had been chivalrous to the end, opening her door and holding out a long-fingered hand to help her stand before walking her to the door. She had blushingly given her a fleeting kiss before smiling and whispering "Good night" and turning back to her Mercedes.
Despite the late hour, Emma was unsurprised to see that her mother had waited up to see her home safely. She had called and texted Emma half a dozen times over the evening asking whether she was ok, even threatening at one point to send David over with his sword. David and Henry were apparently in bed already, but as her mother looked up over two mugs of hot cocoa, her expression clearly stated that Emma had some explaining to do.
With difficulty, Emma suppressed the eye roll she felt coming on at being treated like a teenager out past her curfew. She gave her mother a small smile before taking the cup indicated for her and muttering her thanks.
"So did you and Regina do it?" Snow asked.
Emma choked on her cocoa and took several minutes to recover, eyes streaming before replying, "Do what?"
"Get everything settled for tomorrow? You know, if you needed to make plans, you really should have had me come along for the meeting. I am basically running the town now, and besides, it's not safe for you to meet with her alone. Emma, she might try to…I don't know, put you under a spell."
"I'm fine, she didn't do anything to me," a slight flush crept up her neck at this as she thought that this was not entirely accurate, "Besides, I can take care of myself."
"Well, just make sure that you're around tomorrow. You missed out on a lot of fun Christmas activities tonight, but tomorrow will be even better. We're going to set up the nativity scene and watch movies, and…"
Now Emma was unable to refrain from rolling her eyes and interrupting her mother. "Yeah, um…I will definitely see what I can do, but you know, the tree lighting and all…have to be prepared." She made short work of her cocoa, regretting slamming it as it burned down her throat. "Anyway, thank you for the cocoa, good night!"
She stopped with her hand on the doorknob to her room when she heard softly behind her "I just wanted this to be a family Christmas."
With a sigh, she turned and said "I know, Mar…Mom. It's not that I don't appreciate having you guys around; I just don't really know how to be a part of a family. I promise I'll make an effort."
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Regina awoke with a start hearing her phone buzzing on the nightstand. She yawned and arched her back in a stretch feeling the tension release before reaching over to check the text she had received.
Good Morning :) Care to join me for Breakfast?
She smiled with bleary eyes and replied:
I'd love to. I just have to wake up. Should I meet you somewhere?
Reluctantly, she threw off the covers and began to rummage in her closet for something to wear. When she heard her phone buzz again, she raced back across the room, excitement overpowering her sluggishness.
Yes, you should come open the door :)
Regina was confused for a moment before running to the window and looking down she saw a familiar yellow bug parked in the driveway. Her smile lit her face for a moment before she realized she was in her pajamas with her hair mussed from sleep and she had on no make-up. She grimaced and pulled on her robe, stopping at the mirror to straighten her hair before heading downstairs to answer the door. When she opened it, her smile returned full force at the sight of Emma standing with a bag full of groceries on the porch. She immediately reached out to take the bag from her and led her into the kitchen. She had barely set the bag on the counter before she felt Emma's arms snaking around her waist and her lips kissing her earlobe before murmuring, "Good morning."
The feeling of Emma's breath against her ear made Regina's knees feel weak as she leaned into the embrace and sighed "Mmmm…morning."
"I thought perhaps Breakfast in bed would be nice, but seeing how I've not yet ventured into your bedroom…I thought maybe I'd simply make a special delivery."
Regina's heart had skipped a beat on the "yet" in Emma's sentence. She turned around and realized that she was at a distinct disadvantage.
"How is it fair that you're fully dressed and I'm still in my silky pajamas?" she playfully pouted.
"Well, I'd be happy to put on some silky pajamas to even the score if you'd like," Emma joked with a waggle of her eyebrows. "Or if you'd like, since I'm making you Breakfast, you could go and get ready for the day."
Regina replied by leaning in to kiss the White Knight soundly before bounding up the stairs yelling "I'll be down in fifteen minutes" over her shoulder.
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Emma chuckled as she watched the brunette scamper up the stairs and set to work making her world-famous silver-dollar pancakes and bacon. She knew that Regina rarely indulged in this kind of food, but she figured that once in a while she could make an exception.
As she began to move around the kitchen, quickly making herself comfortable, she couldn't help reflecting on how much had changed from the night before. She thought over their easy conversations about Henry growing up, about Emma's life moving around, and about the people of the town. They did not delve too deeply into difficult topics, but Emma did share that she was feeling unexpected pressure now that she was reunited with her parents to behave as a family. Regina had simply listened and shared that she too had become a part of a ready-made family when she married Snow's father and that she understood how difficult it could be to reconcile your own feelings to those of the family you adopted.
Emma had found herself amazed by how fascinated the mayor seemed to be with her life, moving across the country and changing jobs all the time. She had never considered that by being stuck in the same town for twenty-eight years as the only person with a full knowledge of the situation, Regina must have been lonely and…well, bored.
Although their night had not become more intimate, they had spent time holding hands and kissing passionately. Emma could not remember ever having enjoyed "making out" as much as she had with Regina. She felt herself flushing with the memory of one particular kiss on the couch that had very nearly propelled things forward and did not hear Regina come back down the stairs behind her. When hands gripped her shoulders and began to rub, Emma gave a start of surprise, and flipped a pancake in the air such that it landed unceremoniously upon a little drummer boy who had been marching across the counter. Fully aware of how tidy the woman behind her was, Emma cringed and turned to find Regina laughing heartily as the drum spun around and around, no longer held by the poor boy.
As she settled down, she pulled Emma down to her so that her lips were brushing against Emma's ear as she whispered "Something smells delicious".
As Regina's wet hair brushed against her cheek, Emma inhaled the scent of apples and cinnamon that was her shampoo and merely moaned in response. She turned off the stove and thoroughly kissed the mayor good morning, tasting peppermint toothpaste. She pulled back and said, "Come on, it'll get cold" and handed Regina a plate.
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After Breakfast and a dozen heated kisses along her jaw and across her throat, Emma had left regretfully and with promises to catch up with Regina later in the day at the tree lighting. She had grumbled about being force-fed Christmas cookies and made to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" before returning to the apartment to face her family.
Regina took her time finishing the dishes and wiping down her immaculate kitchen while reliving the past twenty-four hours in her mind. She felt such a wave of her own Christmas cheer that she found herself humming as she scrubbed at a non-existent spot on the counter. The day was going to drag by as she waited for the tree lighting later that evening. The morning had been so pleasant and she felt such a bubbling up of hope that she was overwhelmed by an abundance of energy. She decided to step out and finish some last minute Christmas shopping to help pass the time. After all, she felt now that the simple gift she had purchased for Emma was insufficient and if things were to continue in the way she hoped, she really should purchase a gift….sigh…for Snow and Charming as well.
Perhaps she would stop by Maurice's flower shop. She felt a giddy burst of romance she had not experienced since she was sneaking off to see Daniel in the stables as a girl. She faltered for a moment at this thought, but firmly reminded herself of his urging her to love again and forced herself to resume a measured pace.
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"God Bless us Every One!" blared the television as Snow wiped her eyes, Henry clapped, and Emma relived the morning in her head with a small smile on her face. Believing her to be invested as firmly in A Christmas Carol as they were, Snow squeezed her hand and gave her a watery smile before sighing and saying "This is just so perfect."
Henry ran over and hugged them both "It really is! I'm so happy that I get to be with my family for Christmas!"
Emma's stomach clenched at this and she pulled back from Henry saying, "What about your mom, kid? Isn't she a part of your family anymore?"
"Well, I guess, but she's…she's the evil queen, right? I mean, she…I guess…"
"Henry…I think it's time to put some of that stuff behind us. I mean, your mom has been trying to do the right thing, right? And nobody deserves to be alone on Christmas."
Henry's eyes widened as he realized that he felt both ashamed that he had not thought of his mother for days and that now that he did think of her, he sincerely missed her. "Emma, you're right! I mean, she loves Christmas. I didn't even get her a present."
"Oh," Emma suddenly realized that the change in their relationship had been so abrupt she had not even considered what she should get the brunette for Christmas. "Well, maybe we should do that today, kid, I could get her something, too."
Snow intervened at this "Well, there really isn't time today, we need to finish wrapping gifts here and get ready; the tree lighting ceremony is only in a few hours." She said this in a neutral tone, but Emma could read the shift in her body language and expression.
"Henry, why don't you go in your room and finish wrapping your gifts, I want to talk to grandma for just a minute." The boy reluctantly turned and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.
"Can we please skip over the motherly lecture for today?"
"Emma, I just want to enjoy this opportunity to be with my family. I don't understand why she needs to be a part of that."
"Because she's Henry's mother. She raised him to be the kind, caring young man he is today. He would not have had the life he has had here if he'd been with me. And I meant what I said, nobody deserves to be alone on Christmas. I know all too well how that feels."
Snow sighed and raised her eyes to Emma's "You're right. I can't say that I completely trust her or that I am ready to forgive everything that's happened between us. But for Henry's sake, I will do my best to try to be civil."
"Thank you. Now, I really should get ready to go, I need to make sure everything is in place for the tree lighting later," she grimaced, "And I want to stop by Granny's and warn them against over-serving Leroy. I heard about last year's incident."
With that, the serious tone of the moment was broken. Mother and daughter shared a laugh and both felt the levity return between them. "See you later."
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As she walked out toward the town square, Regina thought to herself that this year she had noticed the early darkness more than any other. It was already nearly pitch black at 6:00 and although this was helpful in bringing out the town for the ceremony, she would be relieved when the days began to lengthen.
She felt nervous about the ceremony. This would be the first year that she was not participating in the event, as she had recently been asked to step down from her post as mayor. She was unsure of the welcome she would receive among the townspeople. The afternoon shopping had been tense, but the shopkeepers seemed reluctant to test whether her magic had been restored. Among the rest of the town and outnumbered, she felt unsure about what the reaction would be.
She had dressed in her mayoral best power suit, stiletto knee-high boots, and dark trench coat, pulled tight against the chill. With her chin high, she was determined that regardless of the outcome, she would not allow them to see her anxiety. Still, she stood on the fringe of the growing crowd, trying to nonchalantly glance around for the blond hair and red jacket that would indicate the person she most wanted to see. Doubtless, Henry would be with her, which made her heart rate increase as she realized she had not seen her son for over a week.
When she spotted them, they were standing with Snow and Charming at the front of the crowd, beaming smiles on the parents faces. Green eyes found brown and she felt grounded again as she allowed her smile to show. Emma leaned down to whisper to Henry, who looked up at her and waved, his face shining at her. Regina felt her breath catch as she beamed and waved back.
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Emma barely listened to the speeches given by her parents as she found herself gazing over the crowd, her eyes returning again and again to linger on the brunette mayor standing alone at the back of the crowd. As the Charmings spoke of the difficulties faced by the townspeople and their prospects for a bright future, she kept a watch out for any possible conflicts or incidents that might occur. Luckily, after only twenty minutes or so of crowd-rousing words, Emma handed the plug to her father, who lit the tree to uproarious applause.
From here, Snow invited the town to join together in singing Christmas Carols. It was like a scene straight out of How the Grinch Stole Christmas as the Whos down in Whoville gathered around the tree to sing. This was taking things a bit far for Emma's sensibility and she slipped to the back of the crowd, leaving Henry hand in hand with his grandparents.
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Regina had begun to turn to leave, certain that nobody would notice if she headed back home, when she felt a long fingered hand slip into her own and she looked around. Smiling down at her was her Sheriff with a twinkle in her green eyes.
"Leaving already?"
"Well, I figured that the town would not miss the Evil Queen with the Christmas spirit to share," she said this with a smile, but Emma could see the loneliness behind the words.
"I can't speak for the town, but I've missed you all day," even without a superpower, the sincerity behind these words was so apparent that Regina felt her lips curl up into a smile.
"The tree really is beautiful, you all did a wonderful job putting this together. And the way it reflects on the snow is…"
"Breathtaking, yeah," said Emma, not looking away from the brunette's face for a moment. "I still can't believe we got snow just in time for the ceremony."
"Yes, well…someone must have wished for a white Christmas."
Emma leaned in closer and under the guise of speaking confidentially placed a hot kiss on Regina's pulse point before murmuring "I'm kind-of wishing for a warmer, more private place right now."
Regina's body hummed with sudden warmth as she raised her lashes to look at the Sheriff, "What about Henry?"
"He's spending the night with my parents. They told me they wanted to have some time alone with him, I assume that they're wrapping my presents," she nibbled an earlobe "But there's something else I'd rather unwrap right now."
Regina felt her knees go weak and she looked quickly around at the crowd, who were not paying the two at the back the slightest attention. Without saying anything further, she led the Sheriff away from the crowd toward the mansion by the hand.
So distracted were the pair that they did not notice Snow craning her neck and catching sight of them just before they disappeared around the corner, her jaw dropping.