And all the dreams of children

Once lost will all be found

That's all I want when Christmas comes to town

That's all I want when Christmas come to town

("When Christmas Comes to Town," Polar Express)

Chapter 7: Christmas Comes to Storybrooke

Robin and I sat in the car, taking deep breaths. "We can do this," I told him.

"Right," he said. "Compared to fighting off flying monkeys, this is a piece of cake."

Yet we didn't budge. We just sat there, staring at the mall looming ahead of us. I hit my head on the back of my seat. "What are we doing? It's just the mall."

"At Christmas," Robin pointed out.

"It's going to be a fucking war zone," I groaned.

He sighed, opening the door. "We just need to face it head on. Come on, milady. I know you're made of stronger stuff than this."

I shot him a look but get out of the car. "That was a dirty trick."

"It was the truth," he assured me, taking my hand. "We can do this."

"You're right. As long as Zelena doesn't decide she wants another chat with me," I replied.

He squeezed my hand. "Has she tried lately? Weird dreams? Odd feelings? Anything?"

I shook my head. "Nothing. I think she's waiting for me to come back to Storybrooke. But she's going to grow impatient soon, I just know it."

"We need to figure everything out," Robin said, opening the door. "Once we survive the mall."

Taking his hand, we entered together into the crowded department store. I could barely hear the Christmas music being pumped in over the mall's speakers over the din of the shoppers. People argued with each other and several seemed to all lay claim to the last sweater in one display. Different perfume scents lingered in the air, forcing me to cover my nose at the conflicting aromas, while children cried in different departments.

"This is awful," Robin replied. "Why can't people be more civil to each other?"

"I wish I knew." I tugged his hand, pulling him out of the way of a frazzled mother not watching where she was guiding her stroller. She had the audacity to glare at us before leaving the mall.

Robin and I hurried away from the door before we could be assaulted again. I pulled out my life, clutching it in my hand. "Where do you want to start first?"

He shoved his hands in his pockets. "I was hoping to get your present first, lovely. So maybe we split up for a bit and meet up in the kids' section?"

"Sure," I said, smiling. "That'll give me a chance to get your present as well. Be careful."

"You too." He gave me a quick kiss before hurrying into the ladies' department. I turned and headed toward the men's.

I perused some shirts, drawn to the men's suits. Robin didn't have many reasons to wear one but he looked so good in one, I wanted to get him another suit. It couldn't hurt, I reasoned. Maybe I would even get Roland a matching one…

My vision began to waver and I grabbed onto the suit rack to steady myself. I breathed in through my nose and out of my mouth but the darkness started to take over anyway. All I could do was hope that it wouldn't hurt when I fell.

I glanced around the ruined palace and sighed. "Why do we always come back here? Why not some place more cheerful?"

"I don't know. I have no control," Zelena said from behind me. I turned around, finding her standing there and tapping her foot. "Why haven't you come yet?"

"Because you made some comment about my mother? Do I look like I was born yesterday, Zelena?" I crossed my arms.

She shook her head. "I guess you're just too smart for me."

"Now you're just patronizing me." I glared at her.

"And you're aggravating me," she snapped. "Do you want your mother?"

I paused before shrugging. "Not necessarily, no. I'm better off without her. Though I really doubt you have her."

"Why? Hasn't she been missing?"

"Yes, which is well known. I'm sure you get the news in Storybrooke."

"Well," she said, smirking, "I do."

I rolled my eyes. "Are you just going to brag how your life is so much better than everyone else in Storybrooke? Because I was in the middle of Christmas shopping."

She frowned. "Christmas? What is this…Christmas?"

"I thought you got the news?"

"Very funny," she snapped. "I guess I'll just ask your mother. I'm sure she'll tell me."

I tilted my head. "Why do you give a damn about my mother?"

Zelena smiled. "It's like having my mother back. And I have plans for her. So if you really don't want her, I'm going to keep her."

"She's not a lost cat. She's a human being with people who miss her, like her husband. Let her go if you really have her," I said.

"No," she said. "Enjoy your Christmas. Whatever it is."

Darkness took over again and I felt like I was falling backwards, hitting something hard as I did so.

"Is she okay?"

"Let's stand back and give her some room to breathe."

"Has anyone found her husband?"

"Did someone call for medical help?"

The voices all swirled over me as I laid on the floor, my fingers grazing my purse. I tried to open my eyes but couldn't muster the strength to do so yet. All I could do was just lie there as everyone talked over me.

"Let me through," Robin shouted over the din. "I'm her husband, let me get to her, please."

I felt Robin's hand on my cheek and his familiar pine scent wafted over me. "Regina? Regina, are you awake?"

"Yes," I groaned. "Can you chase off the crowd? Please?"

He sighed in relief before saying: "Okay, nothing more to see here. Move on. I've got her."

"Are you sure? Does she need a doctor?" a concerned woman asked.

"She's fine," Robin assured her. "I'll take her home and will make sure she gets plenty of rest. Thank you."

He scooped me up, cradling me against his chest. "Regina, can you open your eyes? Or is it too bright again?"

It took a lot of energy but I managed to open my eyes. Robin's face came into focus and he pressed a kiss to my forehead. "Zelena?" he asked.

"Yes," I whispered. "I think she has my mother locked up somewhere in Storybrooke, using her as bait."

"You can't take it." His voice was hard, his tone authoritative.

I clutched his sweater, pulling myself closer to him. "I know. But she's still my mother, however much I hate her."

He sighed, softening. "I'm going to take you home, you're going to get some rest and then we'll start coming up with a plan to rescue Caroline. Okay?"

"Okay," I replied. "I guess we'll just have to go Christmas shopping some other time then."

"Don't worry. We still have plenty of time." Robin stood with me in his arms and started to carry me out to the car.

I wriggled a bit in his arms. "I can walk, Robin. She hasn't robbed me of my strength."

"I'm not taking any chances," he replied. "So just hold still and let me carry you."

Robin was the only one I knew who was more stubborn then myself and I found myself caving to him the most because of it. So I sighed, resting my head on his shoulder. "I want her out of my head."

"I know. And we'll get her out. I promise you," he said. "And my word is my bond, remember."

"I've never forgotten." I watched as someone held open the door open for us. From what I could tell, it was one of my students though I couldn't place who at the moment.

He then called out: "Take good care of her, sir. We'd all be lost without her."

I felt Robin chuckle before he responded: "I'd be the most lost, trust me."

"Zelena doesn't stand a chance against us, does she?" I asked once we got a good distance away.

"No, she doesn't," he replied as he put me in the car. "She's going to rue the day she made an enemy out of the two of us."

I laughed as he got in the car as well. We would be victorious; I was certain of it. And I hadn't felt that way in a long time.

The phone rang the next day and I set down my newspaper to pick it up. "Hello?"

"Regina?" Snow's sweet voice asked. "I'm sorry, is this Regina Locksley's residence?"

I chuckled. "Yes, it is. And yes, it's Regina. It's good to hear your voice."

"I got your number out of the Sheriff and was afraid you'd be upset…" Snow blathered on.

"It's okay," I insisted. "I should've given you my number before I left anyway. It's good to hear your voice."

"You mean it?" Snow sounded so hopeful and I wondered how many friends she actually had in Storybrooke.

"Of course. So, what do you want to talk about?"

"I…I just wanted to let you know I'm still reading to John Doe," she said. "He doesn't really respond but I think he likes it nonetheless."

I smiled. "I'm sure he does. What do you read him?"

"Different things. Newspapers, mostly. Some of the books I have, but as an elementary school teacher, a lot of them are children's books."

"Can you get something from the library then?" I asked, tapping my pencil against the table.

"We don't have a library. It's been closed for…well, forever as far as I'm concerned."

"Of course it has," I sighed. "Zelena West is a really sucky mayor, isn't she?"

Snow hesitated before answering. "She's not bad. The town keeps running and everything else is working. So what we don't have a library? We're fine."

"Okay…" The air crackled and I knew there was a baby on her way down to me. It was just going to be a surprise as to which one as neither Emma nor Rachel had developed unique magical signatures yet. "I just have to put the phone down for a bit. I'll be right back."

I set the phone down right before Emma landed on my lap. She clapped her hands and let out a joyful squeal of "Mama!"

"Sorry. I just ended up with a lapful of squirming toddler," I apologized once I picked up the phone again. Emma tried to grab the phone and I maneuvered myself away from her as best I could.

Snow chuckled. "Emma or Rachel?"

"Emma," I replied, holding her away from the phone now. "She's trying to grab the phone."

"Oh! Put her on. I'll talk to her for a little bit," Snow said, excited.

"Are you sure? Her vocabulary is pretty much just 'Mama' and 'Ro.' She hasn't even mastered 'Papa' yet."

"That's okay. I like children. It's why I'm a teacher."

"Okay." I pressed the phone to Emma's ear. "Say hi, Princess."

Emma babbled away to Snow and I rubbed her back with one hand while holding the phone to her ear with the other. She clutched the bottom of the phone with her chubby little hand as Snow talked back to her. I wondered if part of her knew who was on the other side, if her magic could sense her birth mother.

After a few minutes of that, I took the phone back from her. "Okay, Princess, Mama is going to talk to Mary Margaret again."

The name felt odd on my lips but I couldn't chance her hearing me call her "Snow." So I used her cursed name and forced myself to continue to do so as I resumed the call. "Well, I think you just made her day."

"She's a sweetheart," Snow replied. "Even her babbling gives me hope. She has everything ahead of her."

"So do you," I assured her, bouncing Emma.

Snow hummed. "Anyway, I was wondering if we could meet up? Maybe for some lunch?"

I was surprised. "Really?"

"I don't really have a lot of people to meet for lunch," she confessed. "And I like you."

"I like you too. Okay, when do you want to have lunch. I'm guessing the weekend when you don't have school?"

"If you can do Saturday, I'd appreciate it. We can meet at Granny's," Snow offered.

Pulling out my calendar, I penciled her in. "Does one o'clock work for you?"

"Yes, it does!" She sounded so happy now and it warmed my heart. "I'll see you then."

We hung up and I stood, resting Emma on my hip. She played with my hair as I went over to the fridge. "What should I have for lunch, Princess?"

Apples!

"You're going to turn into an apple," I chuckled, pulling out some cold cuts. "How about I have a sandwich?"

Emma have apples?

I nodded, making my sandwich with one hand. "Yes, Emma can have apples for lunch."

She clapped and I pulled out a jar of applesauce for her. Once I retrieved one of her baby spoons, I settled her in her high chair with her lunch. I then got mine and sat down next to her at the table.

Robin strolled, carrying Rachel. She rubbed her eyes and he smiled, leaning closer to her. "Look, Rachel, we're right on time to join Mama and Emma for lunch."

Emma clapped again before reaching a grubby hand out as if trying to grab onto Robin. "Papa!" she exclaimed, loud and clear.

We both paused and Robin smiled from ear to ear. He crouched down in front of her. "Yes, Princess?"

I touched her and Emma sent her message to me. "She wants to know if you're going to eat apples like her."

"I think I'm going to have a sandwich like Mama," he replied. "But maybe I'll have an apple with it."

She smiled at that and Robin handed me Rachel. "Can you find out what she wants for lunch?"

"Sure," I said, letting Rachel stand on my lap. "What do you want, baby?"

Carrots!

"Alright, carrots it is," I told her.

Emma frowned, reaching out to grab onto her sister. Rachel turned her head and her smile became into a frown before she looked back at me. Tell Emma Rachel wants carrots, not apples.

I looked over at Emma. "Leave your sister alone, Emma. She can have carrots if she wants carrots."

Emma let go of Rachel, sulking in her high chair as Robin brought over the carrots our youngest wanted. Once she was situated with her lunch, he took a seat by me and motioned to Emma. "Seems someone is a bit bossy."

"Indeed," I agreed. "We'll have to work on that."

He nodded, taking a bite of his sandwich. I pushed mine around before saying: "I got a call today. From Snow."

"Really? What did she want?"

"To invite me to lunch," I replied. "Feel up to a trip to Storybrooke on Saturday?"

Robin shrugged. "Sure. We'll just have to arrange for child care. Maybe leave them at the rec center for a few hours?"

"We could do that." I turned to Emma and Rachel. "Would you two like to go play with some other babies on Saturday?"

They both stared at me and I shrugged. "I don't think they get it."

"That's okay," Robin replied, taking my hand. "How do you feel about meeting Snow without her memories?"

"Awkward. I worry I'm going to slip and say her real name. Who knows what would happen then?" I sighed.

He shrugged again. "Maybe you'll break the curse on her."

"And put her in more danger."

"Snow was always able to hold her own," he reminded me.

I nodded. "I know. But this is a whole new world."

"Then we'll do everything we can to keep everyone safe until we can defeat Zelena." He squeezed my hand but I was not reassured.

Still, I knew I could not let my fear keep me from my friend and so I was determined to have lunch with her that weekend.

On Saturday, Robin and I drove into Storybrooke. I was nervous that Zelena would realize I was there and try to contact me, but I remained steadfast in my decision to from a friendship with the person Snow had become under the curse.

Robin pulled up to Granny's. "I'll come back in a couple hours? That seem like enough time?"

I nodded. "Sounds fine. What are you going to do in the meantime?"

"Explore a bit more," he replied. "Avoid the Sheriff. The usual."

"Be careful. I don't want to have to bail you out. Got it?" I gave him a pointed look.

He smiled at me. "I will be. Don't worry."

I climbed out of the car and watched as he drove off. With a deep breath, I headed into Granny's to meet Snow.

She waved to me from one of the booths and I started to take off my coat as I approached it. I sat down and she beamed at me, dressed in a black sweater over a white shirt and red skirt. She looked every inch the schoolteacher. "Thank you so much for coming," she said.

"Thank you for inviting me," I replied, opening the menu. "I love spending time with friends."

"Me too," she replied, beaming.

Red bounded up to us. "Is Mr. Scruffy and Handsome all alone today?"

"For now," I confirmed. "He's exploring the town."

"Hmm. Maybe I should knock off early," Red said, tapping her pencil against her lips.

Snow shook her head. "You know Granny isn't going to let you go so you can chase down a married man who probably isn't interested anyway."

Red sighed, raising her pad. "Whatever. Can I get you two anything to drink?"

"I'll just have some tea," I said and Snow echoed my order.

Once Red had left, Snow turned to me. "I'm sorry about her. Ruby…Well, she's Ruby. At least she's not as bad as Lacey."

At my surprised look, Snow's eyes widened and she looked guilty. "Oh…Oh, that sounded judgmental didn't it? I really don't try to pass judgment on anyone for how they live their lives but sometimes…I guess it just happens."

"Don't worry," I told her, taking her hand. "I've seen Lacey. She's…something else, isn't she?"

Mary Margaret shrugged. "She and Ruby are young. They're best friends, you know. I know they go out to the Rabbit Hole whenever they can."

"Do you go to the Rabbit Hole? Have a little fun?" I asked.

Red scoffed as she approached with our teas. "Mary Margaret? Little Miss Prim and Proper? Please."

Snow glanced down at her tea, looking a bit embarrassed. I couldn't believe she and Red weren't friends here. It just seemed so wrong.

"Well, nothing wrong with that," I said, glaring at Red. "Now, we need a few more minutes to look at the menu. Can you come back in a little bit?"

Red rolled her eyes but stalked off. Snow smiled at me. "Thanks. She always teases me about how I don't party like her and Lacey."

"Don't let her get to her. Now, let's find something to eat and then we can talk about more pleasant things."

Snow smiled, looking over the menu. "I think I'm going to try the lasagna. What do you think?"

"Eh, I prefer my own. I am partial to Granny's burgers."

"You should try her onion rings," Snow said, looking like she had just seen a giant slice of chocolate cake. "We should get a basket to share."

"Sounds great. I guess we're all set then." I motioned for Red to come take our order.

She came over, rolling her eyes. "What can I get you?"

We placed our orders and she went off to put them into the kitchen. I reached out and took Snow's hand. "So what did you want to talk about?"

"I…I don't know. What do girlfriends talk about?" she asked, looking lost.

I smiled. "Everything. Tell me a bit more about you."

"Not much to tell. I've lived in Storybrooke my whole life with my parents, both who died just as I became a teacher. I've been living alone since," she said, shrugging.

"Well, I'm sure you have happy memories with your parents," I said, wanting to see the extent of the curse and the false memories. "My father and I always went apple picking when I was younger."

Snow's eyes clouded over and her brow knitted. "I…I really can't recall many memories from when I was little. Is that bad?"

"No, not at all. It just happens sometimes. The memory is finite and can only hold so much," I assured her, not wanting to make her upset. It was already clear that the curse left many holes in their memories.

That seemed to soothe her and she returned to her normal self. "Tell me more about your children. They all seem so sweet."

"They are. Well, Emma and Rachel are young still and can't really cause much trouble. Emma's starting to come into her own, so Robin and I are trying to teach her manners and the like already."

"Well, you have experience with Roland," Snow said, sipping her tea.

I bit my lip, ready to tell her things that were locked up in her mind. "Roland isn't mine. When I met Robin, he was already four years old."

"Oh!" Snow's eyes lit up. "With his dark hair and brown eyes, I just thought he was yours. You two look like each other."

"We do," I said, nodding slightly. "But no, I didn't give birth to him. Only Rachel so far."

She looked ready to cry. "That is so sweet. Opening up your heart to two children you didn't carry and loving them as your own."

"They made it so easy." I thought of Roland holding out his plate to me my first day in the camp, asking me to cut up his food. And then I thought of Emma, lying in the box Pinocchio had place her in for safekeeping while he went to get help. From those moments, I had loved both those children more than I had ever thought possible.

"I hope one day I can be a mother." She twisted the ring on her finger, which I recognized as the one Charming gave her at their wedding. It had once been his mother's.

I also thought of Emma, the girl she had really given birth to but didn't remember. So I forced a smile on my face. "I think you will be a great mother someday."

"Thanks," she said, "but that requires actually meeting a guy. And while everyone is pretty nice in Storybrooke, I know them all. No one really catches my eye."

"No one?"

She bit her lip before leaning forward. "Well, maybe one, but I don't think it's going to happen."

"Oh?" I leaned even closer, intrigued. "Who is it?"

"Ian, the orderly who takes care of John Doe." She blushed and got a goofy smile on her face.

That surprised me. I had expected her to say John Doe, with the reason it wasn't going to happen being that he was in a coma. "Why don't you think it'll happen between you and Ian?"

"I think he likes Serena, the nurse," she replied.

"Oh." Well, that was interesting. John and Ilsa. It was something I was going to encourage because they could be good for each other.

Snow shrugged. "So I guess I'm back to being alone."

"You're not alone," I told her. "You have me."

"And I appreciated it but I'd still like romance, you know? Someone who loves me and who I love and that we're each other's entire world. Like you and Robin. I know I've only known you both a short amount of time, but it's just so clear you two are so in love. I want that." She looked close to crying.

How could I tell her that I was inspired by the love she shared with Charming when he was just John Doe to her? That the man she was reading to was that love—they just didn't know it because their memories were taken? So I squeezed her hand instead. "You will find it. Who knows? It might be under your nose."

"Maybe," Snow replied as Red returned with our food. She dropped our plates in front of us, mumbling something and then stalking away.

The door opened and a hush fell on the diner. I glanced over, my stomach sinking at the sight of Zelena. She smirked when she saw me but made no move to come over. Instead, she moved to the middle of the diner.

"Good day, citizens of Storybrooke," she said. "I have come with a special announcement. This year, we will be having Christmas and a Christmas festival. Bring the families, decorate your houses and stories and enjoy the spirit of the season. Merry Christmas!"

She smiled at me before leaving Granny's diner. While everyone immediately began whispering about Christmas, Snow looked at me. "Are you friends with the mayor?"

"Hardly," I replied, taking one of the onion rings from the basket. "She's obsessed with me and I'm not sure why. I just want her to leave me alone."

"Well, I think this Christmas is interesting. Have you heard of it?" she asked.

I raised an eyebrow. "Christmas is a holiday that's been celebrated for over a thousand years. It's strange Storybrooke hasn't had it before."

Snow shrugged. "Well, it's going to be fun to celebrate. Tell me all about it. Please."

"Alright," I said, laughing. "I guess I'll start with the music…"

By the time Robin showed up to check on me, I had gone through every aspect of Christmas with Snow. She leaned back in the booth, shaking her head. "We have a lot to do to prepare," she said.

"Prepare for what?" Robin asked, walking up to his booth. He smiled at us. "May I join you ladies?"

Snow nodded and moved over so he could sit next to me. I kissed his cheek before saying, "Zelena is letting the town celebrate Christmas."

"Well, isn't that nice of her." Sarcasm dripped from his words.

"Regina was telling me all about Christmas," Snow said brightly. "I think I'll host a party. Will you two come?"

Robin and I looked at each other. He nodded slightly and I smiled. "Yes, we'd love to come."

"And you should bring the children. I'm sure they'll love whatever Mayor West is going to set up," Snow said, excited.

My stomach plummeted and I felt Robin tense up beside me. The last place we wanted any of our children was near Zelena. "We'll see," I said, my tone tense.

She nodded and change the subject as I thought about Zelena. I knew we couldn't keep avoiding her forever. Perhaps the Christmas Festival was a chance to confront her once and for all.

Merry Christmas, indeed.

A/N: So Christmas is going to last longer as I've decided to split it into two chapters. The Christmas Festival is going to be a focal point and Regina is going to find herself in the middle of a feud.

I have decided to do a live reading on Periscope. If it goes well, I may do more in the future. Right now, it will either be Friday or Sunday (there's a poll on Twitter) and will be something I haven't published (most likely an upcoming chapter of a story). Keep an eye on my Twitter and tumblr for more information and for any more polls I run regarding it.

Have a good week!

-Mac