CHRISTMAS FUTURE

Neal bounced adorably to the Peanuts theme playing over the radio. Now almost two, he was an active little tyke. He certainly kept Snow and David on their toes. Just last week, he managed to flush a whole roll of toilet paper and every small object within reach down the toilet and flooded the bathroom as the toilet overflowed, all while Snow was on the phone with Emma.

Meanwhile, Henry was finally in high school. It made Emma feel old. He was now busy with homework and clubs and friends and the house was usually empty.

"Why on Earth are you frowning?" Regina said, coming up to Emma and cupping her cheeks. "It's Christmas. We're all here together as a family. You should be smiling."

"I know. It's just... Neal's growing so fast, Henry's in high school... Before we know it, he'll be going away to college and it'll be just us, all alone in that big house." Emma said. She looked up into her wife's eyes. Her wife. Their wedding had been on the beach, with all their friends and family on a warm day on the tail end of summer, when the days were just the right temperature and the nights held a slight chill and the promise of the upcoming autumn. Regina wore a beautiful white gown, Emma in a tux. They honeymooned in New York, in a fancy hotel for three weeks. There, they dined in restaurants, visited museums, saw shows on Broadway, and spent the nights doing everything but sleeping.

When they returned, it was like something changed. There was an odd charge in the air, especially when they were together. Emma felt it now, drawing her to her wife like a magnet. She didn't understand it, but she figured it had to do with True Love magic.

"Well, I have a feeling your present will change your mind about that." Regina said, handing Emma a present wrapped in snowflake wrapping paper and topped with a bow.

"But it's not time, yet." Emma said. "We always open one after dessert."

"Yes, but this one is different. It's for all of you, but I want you to be the one to open it." Regina said. They all crowded around and watched Emma open the gift. Inside the box was...

"Tiny shoes? How would tiny shoes-" The realization hit Emma hard. Tiny shoes. Tiny pink shoes. The exact size for a baby.

"No..." Emma said, not believing what she was thinking.

"Yes." Regina insisted. Emma stared at Regina.

"Mine?" Emma's brain was fried and could only manage one word sentences. Regina nodded.

"How?" Emma asked.

"It seems True Love can truly work miracles." Regina answered. She held Emma's hands in hers. "We're having a baby, Emma."

"We're having a baby." Emma repeated, the news finally sinking in. "We're having a baby!" Regina laughed at Emma's growing enthusiasm. "WE'RE HAVING A BABY!" Emma yelled with her hands in the air.

"I don't think the entire country heard you, dear. Try that a little louder?" Regina teased.

"Congradulations!" Snow hugged the couple. "Oh, I'm going to be a grandmother again!"

"Oh, wow."Emma breathed. "This totally beats my gift."

Extra: two years later

Regina fluttered about the kitchen, getting everything ready for their Christmas dinner. Snow and David were due any minute and she was still cooking everything.

"Something smells good." Emma said as she came up behind Regina and kissed her shoulder. "And the food doesn't smell half bad, either." Regina playfully swatted at Emma.

"Where's Charlotte?" Regina asked.

"With Henry. He's showing her the tree. She can't get enough of it. At least with Henry holding her, I won't be worrying she might eat something she shouldn't."

"She gets that from you." Regina teased. Emma swatted her butt.

"And she gets her defiance streak from you. She hears me say no and thinks I mean yes." Emma said. Just then, Henry came into the kitchen holding his baby sister, followed by Violet, his girlfriend. She was spending the holidays with them.

"Mom, Lottie's hungry. What do I feed her?" he asked.

"There should be some applesauce in the fridge." Regina answered. Henry was such a good big brother. from the day Charlotte was born, Henry took to helping out with everything he could, even changing diapers. He absolutely adored her. And from the way Lottie always stopped fussing when he held her, she felt the same about her brother.

Now seven months old, Charlotte was the perfect blend of both Emma and Regina. She had Regina's eyes and Emma's hair. She did a perfect copy of Regina's scrunchy face when she was mad and Emma's smile when she was happy.

A few hours later, after dinner, after dessert, and after their present opening, Regina and Emma sat together on the couch in front of the fireplace. Henry had fallen asleep on the couch, playing video games. Charlotte slept on Emma's lap, thumb firmly in her mouth.

"This is perfect." Emma whispered. "This is more than I could ever wish for."

"Me, too." Regina whispered back. The clock struck midnight right at that moment.

"Merry Christmas, Regina." Emma said.

"Merry Christmas, my love."