Crazy busy lately. If you visit my profile page, I'll keep updates on story progress so if I haven't published in a while, you'll know what's going on. Many, many thanks to my friend Addicted1 for the support and help! I've realized we're nearing the end on this one. Merry Christmas, and I hope you enjoy.

Holiday Spirit

Chapter 23

"You're late," Henry pointed out when the woman took the seat across from him. He folded his arms on the menu in front of him and leaned on the table. "We were supposed to meet at noon."

Her eyebrows rose in faint amusement as her eyes flicked over to the clock on the wall. "It's three past."

Cheeks coloring in embarrassment, he shrugged. "My mom always taught me it's polite to be early or on time – never late."

"She taught you well. I apologize for my lateness."

He watched her for a full minute before she lightly cleared her throat.

"I believe it was you who called this meeting."

"Are you sure you can't do anything to reverse this?" he asked desperately, jumping straight into it. "Everything's got some sort of reset button, can't you just stop it now or use your power to turn everything back to before it happened or something?"

She shook her head. "I spoke the truth when I told you that everything must work itself out. Once the events have started, they continue until the spell itself feels the goal has been reached, and no one can turn back time. Also, as I told you, nothing now is permanent. Once the spell reaches its natural end, everyone may return to how they were living their lives before. Whether or not they choose to is up to them."

Henry sagged a little in his seat. "But everything is already changing," he muttered quietly.

"Oh?" she asked interestedly, leaning forward a bit. "How so?"

He bit his lip for a moment, not sure if he wanted to share his new fears with this strange woman. Finally deciding she'd already done all the harm she could do, he let out the breath he'd been holding. "I'm worried that this other reality thing is ruining my grandparent's relationship."

"Your grandparents are..."

"Prince Charming and Snow White. David and Ms. Blanchard," he clarified when she still looked at him in confusion.

"Ah," she said. "David who is now with your mother?"

Henry nodded. "At first, things were still kinda normal. I mean, as normal as they could get. My grandparents still saw each other all the time and talked, but I was mad at David because it was making it really hard for my mom. Now they're getting along, but David doesn't see grandma anymore. And I mean, it was already kinda weird cause he has kids with my mom and he's supposed to be married to her, and grandma's supposed to be married to this other guy, and they're having a baby, and...I don't know..." He slumped over, laying his head on the table. "I really wanted everyone to be happy. Why did you have to grant my wish? Now it's all worse, and it's my fault."

The woman studied him quietly for a moment. "Are you sure?"

Henry sat up at that, looking at her curiously. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you seem unhappy, but is everyone else still as miserable?"

He sat stunned as he thought back over the last several days, considering how everyone's moods had been. He'd been focused solely on the fact that his grandparents weren't seeing each other anymore, but he hadn't considered everything else that was happening. "They've been...happy, I guess." His brow furrowed. "Everyone but Izzy. My mom and David are actually getting along really well. Grandma seemed happy when I saw her, and Emma and Neal really seem to like each other. They've been pretty happy." He looked up to meet the woman's eyes. "Everyone was so angry in the beginning, I didn't even notice that it changed. Does that mean that the spell is gonna end soon?"

The woman raised a shoulder in a light shrug. "It's a good indication that people are allowing the spell to fulfill its purpose, yes. I don't imagine it will be lasting too much longer."

Henry leaned back against the booth. "But what was the point of all this if we were just gonna end up where we started? The only difference was that everyone was mad in the beginning, and it was my fault."

"Is that what you truly believe?" she asked sadly.

"Well what else is different? I mean, aside from the obvious – all the new kids and everything. But they'll be gone, too, when the spell is over. I'm gonna miss them," he said quietly.

"They were here for a purpose, as well. You said yourself that everyone seemed happy now. Was that not what you wished for?"

"I did..." he stumbled over the words, "but everyone is just going to be sad again when everything goes back to normal."

"Which brings us back to the knowledge that it need not go back to normal. That is what is up to everyone here."

Henry shook his head. "Just because people want to be happy doesn't mean they can keep things the way they are now. My mom is gonna miss Izzy and Ellie and Oliver and Ben. It's not fair."

The woman remained silent, watching him as he thought more and more about how things were going to be once the spell ended.

"I'm gonna miss them, too," he said quietly. "I wanted it to go back to the way it was so badly that I didn't really think about what it would mean."

"Would you still want me to turn things back the way they were now that you have?" she asked him.

He shook his head. "I don't know."

Letting him sit with his thoughts, she pulled the menu on the table toward herself, opening it. "Would you suggest anything?" she asked after she'd browsed the entire menu and given him a bit of time.

Henry looked at her in confusion. "What?"

"Food. I assumed that you'd picked this location and time so we could both talk and have a meal."

"Oh," Henry said, his focus elsewhere. "Yeah, I guess. I actually think I'm gonna go. Sorry," he muttered, standing up, still thinking about everything. "Umm, the grilled cheese is pretty good," he said as an afterthought.

"Thank you," she told him. "And Henry…I'm sorry this has been so difficult for you. I hope everything works out and you get what you want."

"Thanks."

He left the diner and walked to the street corner, but then stopped, looking around. He didn't feel like going straight home, so instead, he headed toward the apartment where he knew his siblings were all playing together.

Ben was finally awake, playing contentedly in his playpen in the living room and the two adults were enjoying the short bit of silence, letting everything from the day so far sink in. As they moved down the hall, Regina leaned forward, picking up a toy that had been lying in the center of the floor, and when she did, a necklace slipped out from under her shirt, hanging around her neck and glinting as it caught the light. She stood back up to find David staring at her.

"What?"

He stepped forward, taking her by surprise when he delicately lifted the pendant from her collar bone. She shivered as his fingers brushed against her skin, but he didn't' seem to notice. His attention was completely on the necklace.

"Where did you get this?" he breathed, eyes never leaving it as he cradled it in his palm.

She found it hard to focus with the back of his hand resting lightly against her chest, but she finally managed to get the answer out.

"Izzy pulled it from my jewelry box this morning. It's the necklace she was talking about yesterday. Apparently I wear it every day. She seemed to feel a little better when I put it on." She watched David as he continued to stare at the necklace, his eyes starting to tear up a bit the longer he looked at it. "David, what is it? What's wrong?"

He shook his head. "This is impossible. It was lost decades ago. I don't…" He finally managed to pull his eyes up to meet her confused gaze. "This was my mother's," he explained. "Her mother gave it to her and it was given to my grandmother by her mother. My mother always said she'd give it to the woman I married – to keep the tradition and pass it to her daughter. It was lost long before I met Snow. I remember the first day I saw her without it; she was heartbroken. It was one of the only items of value she owned, but the sentimental value was priceless. I don't understand how it could be here now."

Regina reached to undo the clasp, but David put his hands on hers, stopping her. "No. Leave it on."

"But, David—" she started, feeling immediately uncomfortable with wearing something so important to him.

"Leave it on," he repeated. "It's important to Isabella, and if I gave it to you…well," he swallowed, his face softening, "you should have it."

"I can't take this. Not if it was your mother's. It obviously means a great deal to you."

"Yes, but it also meant a great deal to her. She wanted it to go to the woman I married, and I gave it to you. And if you get the chance – it should someday go to Isabella."

Regina swallowed, circling the pendant with her own hand. "Are you sure?"

He nodded resolutely. "I'm positive."

"I hope I get that chance," she whispered.

In a rare moment of waking affection, David pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her tightly. She stiffened at first and then rested her head against his chest.

It was then that they heard the front door open and several footsteps before Isabella came bounding into sight, the twins trailing more slowly behind her.

Isabella smiled widely as she saw her parents move out of their embrace to greet them. "You're home," she said happily.

"Oh, good!" They heard Emma's voice as she came into view as well, Henry in tow – both having missed the hug altogether. "I tried calling, but neither one of you answered. I figured I'd try bringing them and if no one was home, we could just wait here. The twins are pretty wiped."

"Is this true, my darlings? You played yourselves out?" Regina asked, and sure enough, the twins were bleary-eyed, dragging their feet as they walked.

"They fell asleep in the car," Emma informed her.

"Oh, no," David said, bending down to heft Oliver into his arms. "Guess it's naptime, buddy."

There was no argument from the toddler, who instead, nestled his head into his father's shoulder and immediately closed his eyes.

"Mommy," Ellie whined, lifting her arms to Regina.

She lifted her youngest daughter and looked at Emma. "How'd you manage to tire them out so thoroughly?"

Emma rolled her eyes. "Neal's a child. There were a few games of chase and hide and seek, and they built a fort."

"It's freezing outside!" Regina exclaimed. They'd all been sent over with their snow clothes, but she hadn't expected them to spend the majority of their time outside.

Grimacing, Emma shook her head. "Most of that took place inside, actually. Neal's now busy playing clean-up."

"Mommy?" Isabella asked. "Next time can Olivia come here to play?"

Emma nodded enthusiastically. "I don't know how you guys have been doing this for a day, let alone weeks."

"Mom's used to being a mom," Henry told her, and Regina let out an amused chuckle.

"Lots of coffee," she told her. "Amongst other things," she added, which had David smiling. "We should get these two into bed," she said, running her hand through Ellie's hair.

"And I should get back to Neal and Olivia. Get this kid something to eat," she said, pointing at Henry. "I'll see you guys later." She gave them a wave and Henry a pat on the shoulder. "It'll work out."

Regina raised an eyebrow as Emma left. "You were at Granny's all morning and you didn't get anything to eat? I thought I gave you money before you left?"

"You did, I just...I kind of lost my appetite."

She looked at him sympathetically. "How about I put this one in bed and then I can make you a sandwich and we can talk?"

Henry nodded. "That sounds good."

"Okay, then. Isabella, honey, are you tired, too?" she asked.

Izzy shook her head. "No."

"Well then you and I can put together a puzzle," David suggested, to which the girl agreed enthusiastically.

Henry settled himself in the kitchen, buried in his thoughts while Isabella followed her parents up the stairs.

"Did you have fun today?" David asked as they entered the twins' room.

She nodded. "What about you and mommy?"

Regina looked over at him, and then over to Isabella with a smile. "We had a very productive day."

"Can we read stories again tonight?" she asked hopefully. "All of us?"

"I don't see why not," David agreed, and Isabella clapped happily, skipping out of the room. "And then we should finish talking," he told Regina. "I feel like we left it in the middle of something rather important."

"I agree."

"Good."

When they reached the stairs, they noticed Izzy waiting anxiously at the bottom. "Shall we?" David asked, holding out his hand.

She took a deep breath before taking it, allowing him to thread his fingers through hers. They both started at the crackle of electricity that seemed to travel between them for a brief instant before fading into the normal warm contact of holding someone's hand.

Regina was busy staring at their hands when David's voice startled her.

"We should probably warn Henry about this. It will be normal for the rest of them, but I don't want to upset him. This is going to be weird for him."

"For him?" she asked, smirking. It dropped as she nodded. "I was planning on bringing it up."

"Okay. And I wanted to let you know that I plan on following through with Archie's advice if you're okay with that? I just wanted you to be prepared so I don't catch you off guard."

Regina nodded. "It's for the best. So you'll be turning on the charm?"

He laughed. "I think you mean turning up the charm – it's been on the whole time."

"Hmm...Is that what it was supposed to be?"

They finally started down as he scoffed. "I think I'm insulted."

"Well then I've lost my edge," she joked with a frown. "It was meant to be an obvious insult."

Isabella smiled at their joined hands and light banter and reached for her father's free hand. "Come on, daddy! I picked out the puzzle!"

He laughed as she tugged at his arm. "Alright, alright, I'm coming. And I'll see you after," he added to Regina with a smile.

She hummed. "Looking forward to it."

Henry was still deeply absorbed in his own thoughts when she entered the kitchen. He finally looked up at her when she took a seat across from him and cleared her throat.

"Didn't hear what you wanted to hear?" she asked him gently, and his face screwed up in a frown.

"Not really. I mean, she actually told me exactly what I wanted when I first went in, but she made me realize that what I wanted to hear wasn't exactly what I wanted."

"Oh? How so?" she asked curiously.

"Well, at first, I just asked her if she could fix what I did or go back to keep it from happening," he started.

Regina felt suddenly anxious, wondering if that's what was going to happen. Perhaps the woman had only been lying when she said she couldn't. Her stomach twisted at the thought – as painful as they'd be, she didn't want to lose the memories of the last week and a half. "And? What did she say?"

"She said she couldn't," Henry answered. "But she said she thinks the spell is close to ending anyway."

Regina narrowed her eyes. "I thought she said she couldn't predict how long it would last?"

"She did, but she thinks now that everyone's happy, it's gonna end."

Regina was irked by the answer. "So she wanted to make everyone happy just to take it all away?"

Henry's shoulders sagged as he answered, "Yeah, that's kind of when I lost my appetite."

"Oh, honey." She reached across the table to take his hand. "I thought you wanted this to end? Don't let it upset you just because I'm upset. I want you to be happy."

"Well, I did, but then I got to know Izzy and Ellie and Oliver and Ben, and I never really thought I'd have siblings, and they're kind of awesome, and you've been happy, and I...I even got kinda used to having David live here with us. And I know you don't like each other, but you've been getting along okay, and it's been fun having him here."

Regina swallowed heavily. "I've enjoyed having him here as well."

"You have?"

"Yes," she admitted. "And we don't dislike each other. Maybe in the beginning, but...well I'd like to think that's all behind us."

"So you're friends now?"

"I hope so," she said quietly.

"So the things you guys have been doing – hanging out with each other, talking all the time, laughing, sharing your room – it's all been real?"

Her eyebrow raised at the last one and Henry's cheeks immediately flushed crimson.

"I didn't mean it like that! I just meant that...well he was...you know – the couch, and now...you...he..."

"It's okay, Henry," she told him, cutting off his floundering. "I actually wanted to talk to you about David and I."

His flustered expression turned to one of confusion. "You did? About what?"

"Well, as you know, we had a bit of a rocky start when we first woke up under the spell." Henry nodded, so she continued. "That affected Isabella more than we knew. You may not like it, but you're used to seeing David and I fight. For Isabella, it was frightening."

"Yeah, I remember she asked if you guys were getting a divorce a while ago."

Regina frowned. "What did you tell her?"

"Don't worry, mom. I told her you guys were fine."

She let out a breath. "Well, her fears didn't go away – they seemed to be getting worse."

"Is that why David stopped sleeping on the couch?" Henry broke in.

"Yes. And it's why we went to see Dr. Hopper today," she told him honestly. "And he suggested...well he thought Isabella and the twins would benefit if David and I behaved more like a married couple."

Henry was surprised to hear his mom had gone to see Dr. Hopper again after the last time, and then he scrunched his nose in confusion as he processed her words. "What do you mean?" The uncomfortable expression on his mom's face made him feel suddenly awkward. "Like kissing and stuff?"

"Well...yes." She frowned as she nodded. "And we wanted to talk to you about it because we knew it might make you feel uncomfortable."

"Yeah, I mean, that would be weird. But are you guys actually gonna act like that? Just because he said you should doesn't mean you have to."

"And we know that, but as long as we're here, it's important that everyone is happy. Isabella wasn't, and it was actually making her sick."

"She was sick because of that?" Henry asked in disbelief.

Regina nodded. "Sometimes stress becomes too much to handle, and in someone so young, especially, it can make a person physically ill."

"Whoa," Henry muttered. "But what about you guys? Won't it be weirder for you? Is it gonna be bad? What if it makes you guys fight again?"

She let out a light laugh at the expression of great concern on Henry's face. "We can handle it, Henry, I promise," she told him. "And it's not that bad."

"You mean you've already kissed?!" he asked loudly, his eyes going wide.

It was Regina's turn to blush as she quickly shook her head. "No, no...we...that's not—"

"Wait, do you guys like each other?" Henry asked in a loud whisper, leaning forward and nearly falling off the front of his chair in the process.

"What?!" she asked, feeling this conversation had quickly derailed and was getting further and further out of control. "I think we've moved into something completely different than what I was trying to explain."

"But, you do, don't you?" Henry persisted, completely ignoring her attempt to get them back on track. "Oh my god, how did I not see it before. It's so obvious! David moved in and you guys started spending all that time together, and then he stopped talking to grandma, and grandma's with that other guy." He shook his head as Regina looked on, mouth hanging open as she tried to form words. "Does he make you happy?" he asked suddenly, and Regina shook her head dazedly.

"Henry...I...I don't even know how to answer that question. We're not talking about David and I. Everything I've been saying applies to now – while we're under this spell. It has nothing to do with whether or not David and I like each other."

"Yeah, it kinda does," he pointed out to her.

"Henry—"

"No. Mom." He leaned back in his chair, his thoughts a whirlwind. "I think I get it now."

"You get what? What is there to get?"

"The whole reason this all started was because I wished that everyone could be happy."

"Yes."

"And so the spell was cast to show everyone what things could be if they made different choices."

"I know, Henry, I was there when she was explaining all of this."

"Yeah, but I think what she was talking about was too weird for any of us to understand."

"Henry," she sighed in exasperation. "What are you talking about?"

"You and David, mom. You guys were mad because the spell had put the two of you together, but now you get along. It's only been a couple of weeks, and you're completely different with each other. What if you guys had even more time? Grandpa and grandma were fighting all the time, and even though they're Snow White and Prince Charming, maybe they weren't supposed to be together forever."

Regina stared at him, shaking her head. "Henry, do you hear yourself right now?" This sounded nothing like her Henry – the little boy who'd spent so much time fighting to get his grandparents back together before the curse was broken. "They have true love, as you've pointed out to me many times. You can't possibly be suggesting what I think you're suggesting."

"I know, I know," Henry said, looking as if he barely believed it himself. "But why else would the spell have turned out the way it did? It's crazy, but maybe you and David are supposed to end up together."

Regina shook her head. "No, Henry, I know the last few weeks have been stressful, and I know you felt responsible, but—"

"Mom," Henry called, starting to sound a little irritated himself. "Just listen to me for a minute. Please?"

She finally stopped, watching him as he breathed heavily. This conversation was not going at all like she'd planned, and by the looks of it, it wasn't what Henry had expected either. "Okay," she said finally.

Henry took a few more deep breaths in order to calm himself before he continued. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think that's what this has all been about. Everyone was miserable before," he said, sounding on the verge of tears. "David and Snow, and Emma and you, and me too. And maybe it was because we were all trying to stay the same and we weren't supposed to be. That woman said something today that made me realize that we're not miserable anymore. We were all so busy trying to fix things that we didn't even notice, or maybe other people did, I don't know, but people are happy now. Even though it looked like everything was falling apart. David and grandma aren't together anymore, but they're okay. I've seen grandma with that guy, and they seem really happy. And she may not have known who he was or met him before this spell, but she knows who he is now, and just because the spell ends doesn't mean he's going to go away. They know each other exist now. And David isn't angry all the time, either. You could tell he was always trying to fix things with grandma, but they didn't agree on anything. And now Emma and Neal are together, and I saw them today, and I think they're supposed to be. Emma seems a lot better now, and I didn't really know Neal that well before, but I think he seems better around her, too. And maybe that's how it's supposed to be with you and David." He looked at her sadly. "You were lonely before, mom, but you smile a lot more now, and last week when David told a joke was the first time I'd heard you really laugh in a long time. I didn't get it at all before, but now I suddenly see what this spell is supposed to be doing. THAT'S why she didn't know how long it would take, because we have to realize what it's trying to show us before it stops, and then we have to decide whether or not we'll listen to it." He sat up, looking at her and said a little breathlessly, "It's showing us the happy we'd never see without it forcing us to."

Regina sat in stunned silence. After what felt like several minutes had passed, Henry caught sight of the lone tear that fell quickly down his mother's cheek before she viciously wiped it away. "Things are never that simple, Henry," she told him firmly.

"I didn't say it was," he said quietly, feeling suddenly defensive.

"Not everything works out the way it does in books." Henry recognized the cold tone she adopted when she was hiding behind her emotional wall, but it didn't make it hurt any less when she directed it toward him. "We can't all be so naive."

Henry swallowed heavily, feeling his throat burn with the threat of tears. "I'm still not very hungry," he said shakily. "I'm gonna go to my room."

That snapped Regina out of it, and she watched Henry stand abruptly from the table, knocking clumsily against the table in his haste to leave. "Henry," she said quickly, shocked she'd reverted so easily and spoken to him that way.

He didn't look back at her, even as she stood to follow him.

"Henry!" she called a little more desperately. "I'm sorry! Henry, wait!" She stopped at the base of the stairs, raising a hand to her forehead as she heard his door slam shut.

"Is everything okay?"

She jumped a little and spun around to face David. "What do you think?" she growled.

He raised his hands up in surrender. "Is there anything I can do?"

She sighed, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, trying to reign in her emotions. It wouldn't do to repeat what had just happened with Henry. "Where's Izzy?"

"She fell asleep just a few minutes ago. Turns out she was pretty tired, after all. I put her on the couch."

Regina ran a hand through her hair, and David noticed it was shaking slightly.

"What's the matter?" he asked. "What happened with Henry?"

"I was an idiot," she said simply.

"Did he not react well to what Dr. Hopper suggested?"

Regina let out a small, hysterical laugh. "I almost wish that were what it was. I snapped at him, and I...I shouldn't have done that," she said to herself as she stared at the floor, her hand still in her hair.

"Regina, whatever it is, you can talk to me," David started, reaching out to grasp her shoulder, but she jerked away from the contact.

"Isabella's not here, you don't need to do that," she told him.

"Just because she's not around doesn't mean I have to stop caring," David informed her carefully.

"Don't say that!" she spat, but he noticed the spark of fear in her eyes, hidden away behind the anger.

David shook his head in confusion. "Regina...What is going on?"

Feeling the weight of everything suddenly crashing down on her, Regina took a few steps backward and sank against the wall.

"Hey...hey," David said softly, reaching out to brace her elbows and take some of her weight, holding her up. "Come on," he urged, turning her and leading her back to the kitchen. He pulled out a chair and sat her down before pulling one out for himself to face her. Leaning forward, he pushed a stray hair back behind her ear, giving her cheek a gentle stroke with his thumb. "You have to talk to me," he spoke gently. "We're on the same team here. What's the matter?"

The last of her control crashed to the ground at the gentle gesture, and she gave into the overwhelming rush of emotions, letting out a harsh sob as she brought her hand up to cover her mouth.

David immediately reached out and pulled her into his lap, hugging her tightly against him as she broke down completely. "It's okay," he told her, bringing a hand up to hold her head as she buried her face into his neck. "I'm here, it's okay, it'll be okay." He realized as he said it that he didn't know if it was true, but he felt the need to reassure her. It was only the second time he'd seen her so vulnerable, and he couldn't stand to see her in pain. Things had completely changed in their short time together, and he knew he'd do just about anything to protect her from the pain he'd once been a part of inflicting.

They didn't know exactly how long they stayed that way, but eventually, Regina calmed enough to take even breaths. She reached up to wipe the tears from her face, but she remained leaning against David.

"I think we're going to have to talk about this one," David told her, and he felt her nod.

"I know." She closed her eyes, concentrating on the small amount of peace she felt and trying to let it wash over her. "I just need a minute."

"That's fine."

His hand brushed through her hair and she felt more of that same peace spreading out from where he touched her. She was about to move back to her own chair when Ben's cry rang out through both the monitor and from the short distance away in the living room.

They both moved quickly and were relieved to see that Ben's crying was because of having been left alone so long, not because anything had happened. Izzy was shifting on the couch, eyes fluttering as she muttered unhappily.

"I've got him," David said, lifting the baby. "Looks like you're ready for a diaper change," he told the boy as he continued to cry.

The cries faded as David took him upstairs and Regina sat on the edge of the couch, stroking her daughter's forehead comfortingly. "It's alright, sweetheart. Shh, go back to sleep."

Isabella's brow lost its crease at her mother's touch and she slipped back into sleep, sighing softly.

Regina continued running her fingers along Izzy's hairline, unable to look away and wondering what she was going to do when the spell finally ended. These children were one hundred percent hers and she loved them more than anything. After all the heartbreak and loss she'd suffered, she didn't think she could go through it all again. She found herself thinking about what Henry had said – about what the spell was showing them. Could she find happiness with David like they had now? Was it possible for both of them to let go of the issues they'd faced in the past and move forward in a completely different way? The idea of children with him still seemed so impossible, but right in front of her was proof that it could happen. This beautiful, bright-spirited young girl had come from both her and David. As she moved her finger to trace down her daughter's nose, her heart ached, realizing she wanted it more than anything.