A short chapter for the New Year. Here's hoping 2014 sucks less than 2013. Have a good one everybody.

Thanksgiving had been held at the Charming's household, mostly because Regina didn't feel like trying to cook while not actually being on her feet. They agreed that Christmas would be held at the mansion and that it would be a potluck of sorts to cut down on what Emma and Regina would have to cook there. Thanksgiving went by in a flash and soon Regina could no longer come up with a reason why Emma and Henry couldn't go buy their tree. More over she couldn't come up with a good excuse as to why she had to stay home. Regina was certain any little thing would hurt the babies and it was only after being promised by Whale that she would be fine so long as she sat as much as she could that she gave in.

Regina sat in the front seat of the car with Apollo sitting at her feet. Emma had tried to get the puppy to stay in the back with Henry, but the pup would have none of it. Sure, he was the family dog, but in the weeks had lived with them he had made one thing very clear; Regina was his human, the one he'd be the most protective of as he grew up into a mature dog. As they pulled into the tree lot near the grocery store Henry bolted out of the car with the excitement of a five year old, leaving Emma to help Regina. Regina kept Apollo on a small leash, not that was needed as he stayed at her feet always. Regina settled on a bench at the entrance of the lot and told Emma to bring what trees she liked there so she could see it before they paid for it. This way she had some say and was involved in picking out their tree, a tradition that had become very special to all of them. Emma went in one direction and Henry the other, leaving Regina to entertain herself by talking to the puppy that seemed fascinated by the falling snow.

"I suppose it's just as well you like snow, it's supposed to be quite the winter. You can be a sled dog perhaps." The puppy offered a swift bark that came out like a yelp.

"You don't think so huh? Well, I guess you'll just have to spend time inside the house with the rest of us." Apollo seemed to like this idea much more and barked several times as his tail went wild.

"I must say Majesty, I always assumed any beast you owned would be much more intimidating." Regina looked up at Mr. Gold who was standing a few feet from her. Apollo didn't care that he wasn't very big yet, he didn't like this new person and he could feel Regina's stress level go up. Pulling hard at his leash he got as close to Gold as he could and barked, this time it came out as an actual bark, no high pitched yelps.

"Give him a few months and see how much more intimidating he is with your ankle in his mouth."

"After all this time and you still perceive me as a threat, how very sad for you."

"I'm a great many things, but stupid is not one of them. You stay away from my family and from me. You can pretend to have a connection with Henry, but these children have nothing of you so back off."

"Afraid I want your daughters as my newest students? They're going to be powerful Regina perhaps even more so than us."

"Then I will teach them, Emma and I, not you, never you. You don't get a second chance to create your monster. Once is enough." All through this conversation Apollo had yet to stop barking and it was that sound that eventually caused Emma to abandon her search for a tree and go see what had her dog so upset. When she got back to the bench, Apollo instantly stopped barking and plopped down on top of Regina's feet, satisfied that Emma would handle things from there.

"You. Leave. Now." Gold stayed still.

"I don't take orders from you sheriff."

"You do and you will. Get out now. She's pregnant and she can't handle stress or it will kill the babies and let me make one thing perfectly clear to you. If anything, ANYTHING, happens to my kids or my wife after this little conversation with you, the first trick I'm teaching that dog is how to go for your throat. Leave." Gold backed away and eventually sulked away, leaving the two alone.

"You ok? He didn't try and hurt you did he?"

"As if he could. I'm fine, I had my guard dog with me." Emma looked down at the pup who was swatting at snow while still laying across Regina's feet.

"Well, let's get you home anyway. I'm sure Henry has found a good Swan-Mills family tree by now." Regina had to admit, the interaction with Gold was stressful, but having Apollo there helped, regardless of his size. Regina wasn't about to let another ghost from the past, albeit a more real ghost, ruin her health or her chance at a healthy pregnancy. Gold had taken too much from her already and Regina refused to let that list get any longer.