A/N: There are some time jumps in this chapter to get us up and ready for the final instalment of this story which will be posted on Wednesday. I know, it snuck up on me too! There's also the wrapping up of Neal's storyline, for those of you who thought I'd forgotten about him!

The decision to rebrand the restaurant had not been taken lightly. While Regina was pleased with their final choice, she had not voiced to Emma the niggling voice at the back of her mind which wondered whether they would pull it off. Even though Hook, Line and Sinkerhad been relatively new, the brand's image was strong. What if they lost that customer base when Once Upon A Time reopened?

In the week leading up to the launch, Regina's team had been working hard on their marketing efforts and a piece had been run in the local newspaper, announcing the new management and showcasing the new menu. Regina knew they were doing everything right and that, at the end of the day, people came for Emma's cooking. Of course, that wasn't going to change.

But she couldn't deny she was a little nervous on the morning of their reopening. She had taken the day off from Mills Marketing and drove with Emma to the restaurant after dropping Henry at school. While Emma headed to the kitchen to oversee the first delivery of the day, Regina ducked behind the bar and fired up the computer system, on which their bookings were stored. She hadn't even navigated to the correct screen before Ruby arrived.

"After my job already?" the younger brunette asked as she shrugged out of her light winter coat.

"Sorry," Regina blushed, not wanting to overstep. "I was just checking on our bookings for this week."

"Full," Ruby said. "The phone's been ringing off the hook ever since that article came out. The booking function your team set up on the new website has been working well too. Didn't Emma tell you?"

"No," Regina replied, wondering why her girlfriend hadn't mentioned the upswing of interest in their rebranded restaurant.

"Yeah, we've been either turning people away or booking them later in the month. Most of our Christmas party bookings are already in as well. I don't know what you and your team of computer geeks are doing but it's working. I've never known this place to be so busy."

"Really?"

Ruby frowned and nodded. "You sound surprised. Were you expecting us to be a ghost town or something?"

"No, not at all. I'm just … pleasantly surprised, I suppose. I mean, rebranding a restaurant comes with some risks. Emma and I discussed it and we decided it was something we wanted to do but I did expect a drop off in patronage."

"You did?"

Regina and Ruby turned to see Emma standing just outside the kitchen doors, having evidently overheard the conversation.

"Um, well, yes, to an extent," Regina admitted. "But it's normal. That's what you expect when you rebrand."

"Then why did we do it?" Emma asked. "If this was such a risk to the business, why did we decide to rebrand?"

"Because we wanted a fresh start and we decided together that it was worth the challenge. And from what Ruby's told me, we made the right choice."

"Yeah, Ems," Ruby piped up. "I told you yesterday that we're fully booked."

"We're always fully booked," Emma pointed out. "But what you're saying," she added, turning to face Regina, "is that you're surprised at that. Why? Didn't you believe in me?"

Ruby, realising that this conversation was delving into another area, walked to the far end of the bar and began folding napkins in an attempt to remove herself. But, of course, she made sure she was still within hearing distance.

"That's not what I'm saying," Regina said, stepping out from behind the bar and towards the blonde who was looking rather betrayed. "I knew we'd make a success of this. I knew you'd make a success of this. And you have. We're booked up. Please, Emma, there's nothing for you to feel defensive over."

"I'm not defensive," the blonde said, arms crossed firmly over her chest.

Regina had to bite the inside of her cheek to prevent her from saying something. "Look, you and I talked about rebranded as well as the possibility of keeping the old name. We made that decision together and I agree that it was the right choice to rebrand."

"But you never told me this decision which we apparently made together could have hurt the business. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because it wasn't going to be a big deal. Even if we did see a slight dip in sales, we'd still be profitable and it would have only taken a few months to build us back up. I didn't want to worry you."

"We're partners, aren't we? We're supposed to both be fully informed when it comes to these decisions. Just because you have run a business before, doesn't mean you get to keep things from me. You have to treat me as an equal in this."

Regina cocked her head. "Is that what this is about? You think I'm treating you differently?"

"Aren't you?"

"No, Emma," the brunette said, walking right up to Emma and lacing her hands around the back of the younger woman's neck. "No, I'm not. We are in this together. We are partners. We did make the decision to rebrand together and we talked it through as equals. Emma, come on, we're arguing over nothing. The bookings show that the rebrand and the marketing campaigns have led to more interest in the restaurant. We made the right decision and this is going to be successful. Because of you, Emma. They're coming here for you."

The blonde drew in a deep shuddering breath. When she exhaled, her whole frame appeared to sag. Regina stepped in closer, peering up into Emma's face, silently asking Emma to open up and admit what was bothering her.

"I'm scared," Emma whispered at last. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to accuse you of keeping anything from me. I'm just a little nervous."

"Why?"

"Opening day. The pressure. I'll be fine once I start cooking but this is it, isn't it? I mean, you just said we're fully booked and people are coming here for me. What if I'm not good enough? What if I don't live up to their expectations?"

"Emma, sweetheart, you know you're an incredible chef. You're going to knock it out of the park today, I promise. It's going to be a huge success and I have no doubt that everyone who comes here to see the great Emma Swan will be telling all of their friends that they have to try Once Upon A Time."

"You think?"

"I know," Regina said, placing a chaste kiss to doubtful lips. "You've got this, Emma."

Emma closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against Regina. The contact grounded her somehow; comforting, warm, secure.

"I've got to go," Emma said after a moment. "Prep for lunch. The team will be here soon."

"Ok," Regina said, kissing Emma once more before stepping away. "I'll be in the office. Let me know if you need anything. I'll come and see you just before service starts and wish you luck."

True to her word, just before midday Regina made her way through the already busy dining area and slipped into the kitchen. It was loud and hot and busy, everyone rushing to finish their prep work before the orders began to be displayed on the large screens. They had updated the operating system and made the whole ordering process simultaneously simpler for the kitchen while providing more detail for the waiters. This was the first time it was being used for paying customers and Regina was hopeful that it would smooth out any kinks in their service.

August smiled at her as she made her way to the back of the kitchen where Emma was talking to one of their new chefs. A few of the other chefs nodded at her as she passed through. Since their meeting with the whole team, Regina had noticed that everyone was more relaxed in her presence. Key to this, of course, was that she rarely entered the kitchen. But today was special.

She placed her hand to the small of Emma's back and waited until her girlfriend had finished explaining the correct searing technique for the sea bass fillet to the young chef. The man nodded, his face rapt with attention as his boss demonstrated what was required to cook that day's lunch special to the high standard expected. Once done, she dismissed him and turned to Regina.

"Hey," the blonde grinned.

"Hey," Regina replied. "You seem to be happier."

"Yeah, once I started work, I realised I can do this. I'm sorry about earlier."

"No need to apologise," Regina assured her. "I just came to wish you luck. We're busy out there already."

Emma grinned. "I can't wait. Now we're so close, I just want to get started."

"It's going to be amazing, Emma. I'm so proud of you."

"I'm proud of us," Emma said, curling her arms around Regina's waist and kissing her soundly, ignoring the sea of staff of whom they were in plain view.

"Hey, no kitchen kisses," August piped up after a few second.

Breaking apart, Emma shot her sous chef a withering stare. Regina just laughed and reached up to wipe the faint trace of lipstick from Emma's mouth.

"Good luck. I'll see you after service."

Once the challenge of their first day was faced and conquered, the restaurant seemed to slip into its new identity seamlessly. Within a week, the kitchen staff were working as a cohesive unit to deliver the new menu. Regina's accountant was marvelling at the numbers from the first week's takings. Ruby had taken it upon herself to reorganise the restaurant to allow them to add two tables of four, increasing their nightly covers by up to eight. The additional spots were quickly booked up.

The launch couldn't have been more of a success. Emma found it hard to believe some days when she arrived and unlocked the restaurant doors. It had been part of her job when Killian had owned the place but now it held different meaning. The sliver of metal opened the doors to her dream, to her happy ending. Before her staff arrived each morning, she would stand and take a second to look down the length of the commercial kitchen, stainless steel glinting at her in the pale morning light. She had done it. No, that wasn't true. She and Regina had done it. Together.

"I'm so proud of you," Mary Margaret cooed when Emma called her at the end of their first week to update her foster parents on how the restaurant launch had gone.

"Thanks, Mom," Emma said, the word slipping out in part due to tiredness and in part due to the fact that she knew Mary Margaret's pride was very much motherly.

"David and I can't wait to come and eat there. We're already planning a trip early next year."

"Great," Emma said. "I'm looking forward to showing you around the place. I think you'll like it. We've repainted and restyled the whole restaurant. I think it looks much nicer than it did the last time you guys came to eat at HLS."

"The pictures you sent looked beautiful. Seriously, Emma, both me and David are very proud of you and Regina and all you've achieved."

"Thanks," Emma said again. "Actually, there's something I've been meaning to ask you. It's about Christmas."

There was a pause and then; "you're not coming out to see us this year." The tone was resigned, despondent.

"No, no, I am. Well, I want to. But I wanted to ask you if perhaps you'd have room for a couple more guests."

"Regina and Henry?"

"Yeah," Emma nodded. "It's my first Christmas with them and I don't want to be miss that but I also want to come and see you. Regina's parents are both dead and they usually stay in Portland for the holiday. I haven't asked Regina yet but if she says yes, can they come too?"

"Darling, of course they're welcome," Mary Margaret said at once. "In fact, I insist they come. The more the merrier."

"Thank you. We'd get a hotel so you don't have to host us. I know you're tight on space."

"You're welcome to stay with us," Mary Margaret said. "Your old room is taken but the room which … now which children did you overlap with? Was it Neal who was in there when you lived with us? Yes, Neal's old room will be free so you can sleep in there."

"No," Emma spat. "No, we'll get a hotel."

Mary Margaret paused before saying anything. "You heard about Neal then?"

"What about him?" Emma's heart was in her throat. Did that mean Mary Margaret had finally found out what her foster brother had been doing to her for that year? What he had said to her? How he had forced himself upon her to try and 'cure' her? Had she put together his actions and worked out the cause of her eating disorder?

"Really, Emma, you should read the news more often. It made the national headlines."

"What did?" Emma pressed.

"Neal was found guilty of multiple counts of sexual abuse and murder. Some cult thing, apparently. David tried to arrange a meeting with him after he was sentenced. We were the only parents that child knew. But Neal refused to see us; said he didn't want to talk. I think David blames himself; thinks he could have done more to help. Apparently after he left us he went back to Alabama and got involved in another one of those religious cults. Only this time he was the leader, not a member. I don't know all the details. It was too much. I didn't read all the articles. But once the police found out, there was some sort of hostage situation. People were killed and Neal was charged. He's going to be in prison for the rest of his life. Did you really not read about it?"

"I … I've been busy," Emma said eventually, her brain working at a million miles a minute. "Um, I've got to go. I'll ask Regina about Christmas and let you know."

"Ok sweetie. I love you."

"Love you too. Send my love to David."

As soon as the phone call was finished, Emma closed her eyes, trying to digest the information. Neal had become a leader of a cult. Neal had been convicted of sexual abuse. Neal had been found guilty of murder. Neal was in prison and was never getting out.

"Emma?"

She opened her eyes to see Regina standing beside the couch, on which she was lying.

"Hey."

"Are you ok? You're very pale."

Pushing herself into a seated position, Emma rubbed her face before reaching for Regina's hands. "Neal's in prison."

"What? What did he do?"

"Some crazy cult shit I think. I don't know the details. Mary Margaret just told me."

Regina reached for her cell phone but paused before her fingers closed around it. "May I?"

"Go ahead," Emma nodded. "His surname was Cassidy back then but I don't know if he changed it. Neal Cassidy doesn't sound very cultish, does it?"

The room was silent for several minutes while Regina Googled and read. When she had gathered the necessary information, she put her cell on the coffee table. Emma had laid back down, eyes closed once more.

"Do you want to know?"

"No," Emma said quietly. "Just tell me, is he really never getting out?"

"He was sentenced to life without parole."

A shuddering breath left the blonde. Regina hesitated before lying herself down beside Emma, wrapping an arm around her waist.

"What a week," Emma said after a long silence. "We've opened our own restaurant together and now I find out my rapist is in prison. I just wonder if I had said something back then, maybe the people he's hurt since would still be alive and happy."

"Emma, this wasn't your fault."

"I could have stopped it." Emma's eyes screwed shut again, a grimace on her features as a wave of guilt crashed over her. "I could have stopped him. I should have said something."

"You were a scared kid. You did what you had to do to survive, to make sure you had a family. What happened wasn't on you, Emma. It was on him. Don't ever blame yourself for his actions."

"Mary Margaret offered for us to stay in Neal's old room over Christmas, that's how it came up."

"Christmas?"

"Oh yeah, I was going to ask you in a better way than that. Sorry. Um, would you and Henry like to come to San Francisco for Christmas with my foster family?"

"And stay in Neal's old bedroom?"

"No, God no," Emma said. "I said we'd get a hotel. I mean, if you want to come."

"I'd love to," Regina said. "But what about the restaurant?"

"We're closed for four days of Christmas, remember? It's a short trip but I always go back home then. It's fun. Me and some of my foster siblings plus whomever Mary Margaret and David are looking after at the moment. A crazy family Christmas. It's different every year but it's our tradition. I'd like you and Henry to be part of it too this year."

Regina kissed Emma gently before replying. "I'll book our tickets tomorrow."

After the first week's success, Once Upon A Time enjoyed an ongoing increase in their customers. Regina continued to come to the restaurant at least once a week but on a day to day basis, the responsibility of the place was Emma's. Which was why, when it came to putting in an offer on the beautiful Victorian mansion facing Henry's favourite park, Emma didn't feel as freaked out as she once had. Of course, the bulk of the cash would come from the sale of Regina's home, which she owned outright. But the profits from the restaurant were also contributing. For the first time in her life, Emma felt like she had sustainable financial independence.

But she still refused to upgrade her car when Regina brought the idea up in late November. The morning was cold and Emma had left the house early to oversee a delivery at the restaurant only to return seconds later, grumbling about Dandelion.

"You know, new cars work all year around," Regina remarked as Emma searched through the hallway closet for the jump leads she knew were stored there.

"Dandelion is just cold. She'll be fine once she gets started," Emma said, grabbing the keys to Regina's Mercedes before she headed back outside.

Regina pursed her lips and said nothing, leaving the stubborn blonde to her task and returning to the kitchen where Henry was finishing a bowl of cornflakes; his newest breakfast favourite. Five minutes later, she heard the engine splutter to life outside and knew Emma had been successful. She also knew that pushing the blonde to spend her newfound wealth was not the way. It was only a matter of time, however, until Emma was forced to upgrade. There was no way that car was going to last much longer. But, as Regina had learned, it was best that those ideas came directly from the young woman.

The move was the perfect example. While it had been Regina who had first brought up the idea, it wasn't until Emma was in the right headspace that she became open to the concept. Regina had been pleasantly surprised at how quickly Emma's attitude had changed. She had resigned herself to living in her existing home for years before Emma was ready. As it was, however, packing preparations were already underway, their offer having been accepted on the Victorian home and her own mansion having been snapped up mere days after it was put on the market. The move date was set: January 10th.

"Why are you packing already?" Emma asked one morning when she woke up to find Regina neatly folding some clothes into boxes. "We have another three weeks before we leave here, Gina."

"Good morning, my love," Regina replied, ignoring the question. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah," Emma nodded. "Why are you packing?"

"Because I want to get organised. I know you don't have your bike any more but do you want to keep your leathers?" she asked, holding up one of Emma's many motorbike jackets.

"Do you want me to keep my leathers?" Emma countered, knowing how much her girlfriend liked the look of her in the material.

Refusing to be drawn in, Regina folded the jacket and placed it into the keep box she was packing into. It was her favourite after all. "Emma, come on, we have lots to pack. After we get back from San Francisco, we have to be out of here in less than two weeks and the restaurant is busy with late office Christmas parties. I want to get as much done before we go away."

"I'll help you pack later. Come back to bed."

"You're working today, sweetheart," Regina reminded her.

"What day is it?"

"Sunday," Regina replied. "You have that banked Christmas party in from Portland for lunch."

Emma groaned and rolled over, burying her face in her pillow. "I need a day off," she said, the words muffled. With the huge number of Christmas bookings which had flooded Once Upon A Time, Emma had been working very long hours. She needed a break.

"Tomorrow," Regina said, moving back to the bed and slipping between the sheets, curling her body around Emma's. She had awoken early that morning and decided to make a start on the packing. After five years in the house with her son, she had a lot more to pack than Emma did.

"Well, can we maybe not pack tomorrow? Can we just stay in bed all day? A lazy Monday in bed. You can call in sick to work and we can just chill."

Regina was about to protest but then Emma shifted her thigh and it slipped between her own, pressing lightly against her core. She let out a whimper which was followed by a chuckle from Emma.

"You're so easy to persuade," she said, turning to place a kiss to Regina's cheek.

"Much as I would like to stay in bed all day with you tomorrow, I can't, and neither can you. I believe you have Christmas shopping to do, remember?"

"Urgh," Emma groaned again. "Do I have to?"

"They're your family," Regina reminded her. "And unless you want to give them airport gifts, then yes, you do."

The following weekend, on the 23rd of December, the trio were flying across the country for their Christmas trip. Henry had already asked Regina to get his little suitcase out of the loft and had packed it full of comics and toys he wanted to take to Mary Margaret and David's.

"I'm cooking Christmas dinner, isn't that enough?" Emma asked, face now buried in Regina's hair.

"Is it?" Regina asked. "I don't know your well family, Emma, so I don't know what's acceptable."

Emma groaned once more. "Fine, I'll go shopping tomorrow. I've got to get you and Henry a few more things anyway."

"Ooh, what are you getting me?" Regina asked, eyes glinting with excitement. She hadn't had a birthday since she met Emma so she had no idea what sort of gift to expect from her girlfriend.

"Nope," Emma said. "Not telling."

Fingers trailed up and down Emma's side, tickling the tender skin. The blonde squirmed away. Regina followed, her mouth moving towards Emma's ear, the tip of her tongue snaking out and curling around her lobe. Emma shivered under her fingertips. "Tell me," she whispered before dipping her tongue into the shell of Emma's ear.

"You play dirty," Emma moaned, delighting in the warm, intimate act.

"I like dirty," Regina smirked.

Before the brunette had a chance to say another word, she found herself on her back, Emma pressed on top of her, their mouths fused together. But just as Emma's questing hand made it to the band of Regina's silk pyjamas, thundering feet on the far side of the bedroom door alerted them to the fact that Henry was awake.

"To be continued," Emma said, rolling off her flushed girlfriend and placing a quick peck to her cheek. "But I'm not telling you what I got you for Christmas."

On Monday afternoon, Emma picked Henry up from Roland's house. The boys had had a playdate, since school was finished for the Christmas vacation and Emma needed a few hours to buy gifts for her foster family as well as Regina and Henry. Dandelion's trunk held all the goodies and Henry pleaded with the blonde to tell him what she'd bought.

As they passed by their future house, she and the boy waved to the imposing structure; a new tradition of theirs. It also served to distract Henry from his mission of finding out what he was getting for Christmas.

"Can I have a swing in the back garden at the new house like I have now?"

"Sure can," Emma nodded. She and Regina had scoped out the house on several visits. The fact that it was derelict was going to make the few few months after they moved awkward in terms of redecorating but meant they could visit whenever they wanted as the paperwork was finalised. Emma had already identified the perfect tree in the garden from which to hang Henry's swing.

"Will my new bedroom be upstairs?"

"Yup," Emma nodded.

"I used to have a bedroom upstairs but then me and Mom moved downstairs. I want to have an upstairs bedroom again. It will be fun!"

"It sure will." The mansion had four bedrooms, spread over the two upper floors. The top floor held one large bedroom, a bathroom and an additional space which Regina had already commandeered as her gym. Emma was more than happy with that. Every now and then, if she wasn't too tired, she had taken to joining Regina for her workouts in the mornings. Often enough, their workouts descended into morning sex, each woman's sweat slicked skin and panting, toned body too irresistible to the other.

"And in my new bedroom, can I have Spiderman wallpaper?" Henry asked as they pulled up outside the house on Mifflin Street.

"We'll see," Emma said as she got out of the car.

"Roland has Spiderman wallpaper and it's soooooo cool! I want it too," Henry announced as his door was opened.

"Maybe if you ask your mom politely then we'll try to find some," Emma said, beckoning for the boy to unbuckle himself and climb down.

Henry jumped out and ran up the garden path ahead of Emma. As soon as the front door was open, Henry raced into the living room. Emma was going to shout after him and tell him they were about to start cooking dinner before he started playing but a voice from behind her made her turn around.

"Excuse me."

Emma took in the tall blonde woman stood on the sidewalk, hand resting awkwardly on the top of the gate she had just latched behind them. "Hi, can I help you?"

"Um, I think so," the stranger said. "That was Henry Mills, correct?"

Frowning slightly, Emma pulled the front door closed and walked back down the path. "Who are you?" she asked once she was stood in front of the older woman.

"I'm Mal. Regina's ex wife."

A/N: Come on, you didn't think I was going to finish this story without one final cliff hanger, did you?