Since there was a time for celebrate, the weekly meetings were cancelled during the holidays, giving Regina a break from it and from Emma. The Sheriff hadn't tried to contact her and Regina was both relieved and disappointed; she kind of missed the days with Emma and Henry. So as usual, she buried herself into her work, filing papers that didn't really need to be filed.
It was the morning of New Year's Eve when she finally heard from Emma. She was trying to focus on the files she had before her, lying on the sofa while she frowned at them standing in from of it, but her mind kept drifting to the celebration that would be held that night in front of the library's clock. Regina didn't understand all the fuss about entering another year. Time was relative, especially for the citizens of Storybrooke; it didn't mean anything. And eating grapes? Whose idea was that? It was ridiculous. It was as if Snow had invented it.
And the kiss. Regina huffed; that really was a stupid idea. She tried to shut down the voice in her head that told the truth she was trying to hide but she couldn't deny it: she had actually looked forward the New Year's Eve's kiss with Emma.
A sudden knock pulled her out of her thoughts, and as she raised her head to look at the unexpected visitor, she froze when she saw Emma closing the door of her office.
"Hey," she blonde smiled sheepishly. "I know you're in no mood but I'm here by Henry's orders."
Regina, with her hands on her hips, raised her eyebrows and prompted her to continue, so Emma took it as a peace offer and walked towards her.
"I hope I didn't catch you too busy," she said eyeing the files on the sofa.
Regina shook her head waved her hand, "No, it can't wait. What is it?"
"I guess you don't have plans for tonight and Henry wants you to come with us to the celebration on the library's clock. I know you'll probably refuse but I still promised him I would ask you." Emma shrugged and put her hands on the back pockets of her jeans, looking at the floor.
Regina hesitated; Henry had asked for her to come and it was hard to say no to him but… "No one would want me to be there except for him," she sighed out loud without fully realising it.
"I would."
When she raised her gaze, her eyes met Emma's and found honesty there which made her chest heavy. Closing her eyes, she started, "Emma—"
Emma took a step ahead, closing the space between them but still letting Regina have her space. "Hear me out just a second okay? Trust me."
The Mayor stared at her; she wanted to tell her 'no', she didn't want to hear it, but her curiosity made her nod her head, "Okay."
"Please, don't interrupt me or I won't be able to get it all out at once." Emma took a deep breath and taking another step ahead, she spoke, "I don't really know how to manage my feelings. It's always a mess at the beginning and I tend to run away if I'm scared. When Henry came up to my door and said he was my son, my first instinct was to run because that was easier than dealing with my feelings, even if they meant good on the long term. That's what happened when you told me you loved me, suddenly I was scared to hurt you, to not being enough for you and I just ran away from it, doing exactly what I didn't want to: I hurt you.
"I get that you're mad at me for that and I'm really sorry Regina, I truly am. And I…," she seemed to struggle to let the words out. "I do love you okay? I just I've never really been good at saying it. With my past I just learned to keep those feelings in a bottle inside me and now that I finally found what I wanted, now that I finally found a family, it's just hard. I don't know, I'm sorry."
Emma finally let out a long sigh of relief for getting that out of her chest, and looked at Regina expectant to see her reaction.
The Mayor blinked at her, the corner of her eyes betraying the tears that were about to fall. She swallowed. "I didn't know," she whispered, so low that if Emma hadn't seen her lips moving, she'd thought she had imagined it.
Before she could register it, Regina was hugging her tight, and she could only return the hug as well. "I'm sorry I was so hard on you."
"It's okay," Emma said once they separated, but Regina shook her head.
"I don't know how to love very well, and I'm aware I said it too soon—"
"It's not soon if you feel it."
Regina raised her eyebrows and looked at Emma, "Sorry, I won't interrupt you."
Nodding her head, Regina continued, "As I was saying I might feel things too much and I didn't realise I was saying it until it was already out. I understand your reaction, and now that you have explained to me, I understand even more and I'm sorry I snapped at you that way. I don't really handle rejection very well."
"I'm lucky that you don't have magic anymore then, or I'd probably be a pile of ashes by now," Emma joked.
"Probably," Regina laughed but then looked at Emma. "Now seriously, I'm sorry too."
"It's okay. I'm glad I finally let that out and you understand me." Then smiled at each other for a moment, realising they were still close, Regina's hands resting on Emma's hips.
"So," the Sheriff started. "About tonight? Is there any chance you can make it?"
Regina frowned and bit her lip, "I don't really feel like getting yelled at or ruin the party."
"You won't, and if anyone yells at you they'll spend their New Year on the cell."
"You can't put anyone under arrest because they bother me. As your boss, I couldn't let you," Regina reasoned, although the idea was pretty tempting.
"I can if they are bother other citizens and they bother me and Henry," she tried, but Regina gave her a meaningful look and nodded. "Okay, okay, I get it. But now trust me, they won't say anything; it's okay."
Regina considered. She would be with her son and Emma; it would be only an hour tops. Finally she sighed, "Okay, I'll give it a try."
Emma grinned at her, "Awesome." Her eyes looked at Regina's lips and then up to her eyes, "So, we're okay? As in we are okay?"
Leaning in, Regina kissed her, holding her face with her hands. "I am. Are you?"
"Damn right I am."
After and endless evening choosing a dress to wear, Regina finally settled for a long dark dress. It was sparkly, so it wasn't that serious, and she opted for a light make up rather than the sharp one she used to wear when she was the Evil Queen.
She still hadn't been able to calm her nerves when the doorbell rang, announcing Emma and Henry were waiting outside. She opened the door and there they were: Henry in a tuxedo that made him look older and Emma in a long light blue dress. It wasn't what she was used to see on the Sheriff, so she couldn't hide the surprise on her face. "You look so…elegant."
Emma rolled her eyes, "Always the tone of surprise."
"I mean, you look beautiful, both of you," Regina said looking down at Henry with a smile. He grabbed his jacket happily as he could with his bandage and smiled proudly.
"You look stunning too," Emma said, trying to not to sound too amazed by the Mayor's beauty.
Regina's cheeks started to turn a light shade of red and she used the excuse to grab her coat to hide it before going out with them. They saw the large group of people gathered under the library's clock, ready for the chimes at midnight, in about a half an hour. Regina swallowed and Emma briefly grabbed her hand, giving it a squeeze to let her know she was next to her for support.
It was David who first saw them and approached them. Regina was ready for an attitude of suspicion from him, but he welcomed them with a smile, "Hey Emma. I thought you wouldn't make it."
"Henry made me do his bow tie like a hundred times," she said rolling her eyes.
The kid looked at her, protesting, "I didn't. You just never did it right."
"I wonder where you got that sense of perfectionism," Emma murmured to herself.
David looked at Regina and, for her surprise, he smiled at her too, "Hello Regina, glad you could make it."
She didn't have time to find anything to say because Snow appeared behind her husband, sliding her arm under his, "Emma where were you? I thought you would miss the chimes."
"She got a little trouble with Henry," David whispered with a ghost of a smile on his lips.
"Let me guess, the bow tie?" Henry nodded and Snow kneeled to fix it for him, "There, that's better."
When she stood up to her feet again, she smiled at Regina as well, "Hello Regina, don't forget to get the grapes. They're at a table over there." She pointed somewhere behind them and registered someone else arriving at the gathering, so she and David excused themselves and left.
Regina was about to turn to Emma when Ruby appeared, "Hey guys, hey Henry. Looking good tonight."
"Thanks Ruby, you too," he said proudly and both Emma and the waitress laughed.
"Have you guys seen Snow? I've been chasing her but she can't stay still for a second," she asked the two adults.
"She went that way," Emma said pointing to where they had seen the couple heading.
"Thanks. Catch ya later?" She asked Emma, who nodded. Then she looked at Regina and smiled, "Have fun!"
Suddenly Henry caught a glimpse of the other kids of the town and ran towards them after telling Emma. She looked over at Regina and raised her eyebrows, "So, not that bad, right?"
"Everyone is so…nice."
"Yeah," Emma smiled but Regina frowned.
"It's weird."
"It's not Regina," Emma said rolling her eyes. "They are more understanding than you think."
The Mayor narrowed her eyes at her, "Did you have anything to do with this?"
"Let's go get the grapes," Emma said changing the subject. Regina noticed, but decided to let it go just for that night.
When they ate the last grape, everyone jumped, cheering at the New Year. Regina watched how everyone immediately hugged the person next to them, and suddenly felt a tug at her coat. She looked down and saw it was Henry. When she kneeled down to hear him over the fuss, he hugged her and kissed her on her cheek. "I know you don't have anyone to kiss you, so I thought I could be the first to do it."
Regina looked at him on the verge of tears and put her hand on his cheek, "Oh Henry, thanks." He grinned widely and nodded, then turned to Emma, who picked him up to hug him while he planted a kiss on her cheek too.
The Mayor watched them and she couldn't stop the smile on her face, finally understanding why everyone was so happy on the holidays.
When Henry left to go with his grandparents, Emma looked at her and smiled, "He was the first kiss, maybe I can be the second?"
Regina smirked and shrugged, "We'll see."
Henry came back and his hand automatically latched onto Emma's, "C'mon." He tugged at her and the whole town started to walk towards Granny's, where the celebration would continue, and Regina was so deep into the conversation with Emma and Henry that she didn't realised she was heading there too until they arrived at the entrance of the café.
She stopped and people walked past her, not even realising who she was while they were all cheering and talking. Henry quickly ran inside as well, and Emma stood next to Regina. Once they were all inside, Emma put her hand on Regina's lower back, "You okay?"
"I'm not sure about this."
"You saw before there's nothing to worry about."
Regina still felt hesitant to go in, "That was different. Here we are in a closed space, and with alcohol."
"Look, you can give it a try and if you don't feel comfortable, then you can leave whenever you want."
Regina glanced at Emma and let herself be convinced, finally nodding and entering Granny's. Everyone was already with a cup on their hands, talking and chattering. She found a spot on a booth and sat there, not really knowing what else to do.
After a while, Regina was already about to leave, tired of watching people ignoring her but suddenly Snow sat across her. Her posture immediately stiffened but Snow smiled, sliding her a cup. Regina took it suspiciously and smelled what it had inside: white wine. What a monstrosity, white wine in a red cup instead of a glass, she thought furrowing her nose.
"Granny doesn't let anyone get a glass in case it breaks," Snow clarified when she saw Regina; her usual pale skin was a little flustered from the alcohol and the celebration.
Regina nodded and silently accepted the drink. After a while of silence, Snow turned to her and broke it, "You guys put a nice street decoration this year."
The Mayor put the cup down and raised an eyebrow, "I think we're past the 'trying to kill you' phase, but I still don't like you Snow, so you don't have to do this."
"I'm willing to give you a second chance Regina, I think almost everyone is, but you have to put some of your heart in it."
Regina seized Snow to catch any sign of a lie and found none, but of course she hadn't found it back then either. She sneered at the small woman and drank again from the cup, making a face at the cheap alcohol but still thanking the warmth in her throat.
Snow sighed, "Regina, it was one time and I've told you I'm sorry. We can put all that behind, forgive each other. Besides I'm sure you'll find—"
The Mayor glared at her, "It's not about Daniel anymore; I've come to peace with that on my own, but you still betrayed me. I told you very specifically the one thing you didn't have to do, and you still did it. How can I trust you after that?"
Her voice broke at the last words, betraying her real feelings about Snow. She loved Daniel, of course she did; but it hadn't been enough for a True Love's kiss and Regina knew it, so in the end she had just come to terms with it. But Snow's actions still touched a place close to home; she had sold her to Cora after she had trusted the little girl.
Snow nodded and stood, "I'm sorry Regina." She left and Regina downed the remains of her drink.
She didn't have the time to do anything else when Emma appeared taking the seat of her mother. "Hey, I saw you talking to M…Uh, Snow," she said, struggling with the name, still too weird for her.
"We're not friends again if that's what you're thinking," Regina said crossing her arms.
Emma chuckled, "Oh no, I think it would take a lot more of alcohol and a few screams at each other before you can be 'friends'."
Regina raised an eyebrow, surprised by Emma's answer; as if it would be that easy. "So how is it going?" Emma asked.
The Mayor saw the look on her eyes, hoping she would answer that she was having a good time, but it was no use since the Sheriff could always tell when she was lying. In fact, she didn't have to answer because Emma read her face and she furrowed her nose, "Not too good, right?"
"Sorry Emma, I—"
"It's okay," Emma assured. "I'm really glad you tried though."
They smiled at each other, and Regina suddenly realised they weren't alone in the room so she straightened her back and cleared her throat. Emma chuckled to herself and nodded, "Right, so Henry fell asleep and I was about to carry him home. Wanna come? You can escape the party for a while."
Regina nodded and stood. Emma led her to Henry, who was shrunken in one of the booths. The Mayor picked him up in her arms and his head fell to her shoulders, still deep in his slumber.
"You sure you can carry him all the way to my apartment?"
Regina stared at her, "Please Emma. I've done this more times than I can count."
They walked on the empty streets while Emma told her a few gossips she had heard on the party, whispering to not to wake Henry. Once in the apartment, they both tucked him in and left the room which was starting to become his.
"Emma," Regina called when they were alone. The Sheriff stopped to look at her. "I cannot thank you enough for tonight. I don't know what you did but although I didn't have too much fun, I got no comments about…you know."
Emma smiled and grabbed her hand, "You'd be surprised how talking to people and explaining your love for Henry can make them start to see things differently. They may not take you in yet, but they know you're trying to redeem yourself."
Regina the words forming in her throat again. In that moment she knew she really felt that for Emma, she knew she loved her, but instead of saying it, she decided to prove it by kissing her tenderly. Emma responded to the kiss, and Regina could feel her smile against her lips as she did so. The Mayor leaned her forehead against Emma's, "I owed you a New Year's Eve's kiss."
"What a great way to enter the new year," Emma smiled, peppering kisses on her lips and cheeks while Regina laughed happily.
A/N: Marry Christmas to you all! I hope you liked this chapter:)