There was a stark contrast between the night sky and the puffs of white warm breath that invaded the coldness of the air. She knew her breathing was shallow, but the air felt different in her lungs, so sharp and painful. It held a different weight than the Floridian humid warm air, one that was heavy.

The negative wind chill was bone chilling, an ache that she never knew was possible. If it weren't for the crisp wet gusts of wind cutting through her like a knife she would have been fine. The red peacoat she wore though wasn't enough to shield her from the piercing wind that forced shivers through her entire body. And naturally, Emma couldn't help the chattering noise that escaped her lips as her teeth danced together in retaliation from the coldness. As if in a chain reaction, her eyes winced from drying out and yet all the while she felt cold, she enjoyed the tranquil scenery.

When Emma looked up, her eyes mirrored the hazy snow filled clouds that hung just above her making her feel taller, or maybe that was the change in elevation. Still she felt so tall that she could almost reach up and scoop up the cotton candy-like clouds in the palms of her hands and pack it into a snowball. This was all foreign to her, the snow, the way it transformed the landscape into a magical winter wonderland that might as well have been a painting.

Crunching sounds from Regina's boots against the snow interrupted the eternal silence of the cold night.

"You okay?" Regina asked as she appeared at her side. Emma felt her eyes on her and then Regina's hand on the bridge of her back.

"Yeah, it's just… whoa." Emma said in response. "It's just different than I imagined." Emma closed her eyes. She felt snowflakes cover her red, numb skin. It may have only been a few minutes since she'd stepped out of the car, but despite that her body instantly froze. Her internal temperature dropping a degree unable to maintain its own warmth.

"When I was a little girl, I would run outside with my tongue out catching snowflakes for hours with my father." Regina said as she watched Emma soak in the new experience of winter.

"Only when you were little?" She said, childishly peeping open one eye at Regina. Before Regina could back away a safe distance, Emma's hands latched onto her own. It didn't take much momentum to get them going, but when they did, Regina's beautiful brown eyes grew smaller as laughter filled the silence of the night. Emma stuck out her pink tongue and twirled around in circles with Regina in tow.

The world spun right along with them, their laughter filled the silence as if it was a catchy Christmas tune meant for the radio. "Emma, you're going too fast." Regina tried her best to warn. That didn't stop Emma from being joyfully carried away. Instead, she just picked up her speed. Cold flecks of snow landed on her tongue melting away at first contact. Her blonde hair was picked up by the wind and glistened in the night light as it flowed around her, making her seem as if she had a glowing halo.

Emma had no idea of how beautiful she looked against the snow. The way the smile spread across her face, or the way her happiness alone made Regina falter in her steps. Emma felt Regina's pace slow. Winded from the harshness of the air, Emma stopped, albeit dizzily. Regina moving at a different pace wasn't ready for the abrupt stop and collided into Emma's arms. The force of Regina's body against her own sent them plummeting down to the snow covered walkway.

The blow from hitting the ground forced a strangled breath of air from Emma's lungs. She coughed in response and laughed. Before she knew it, her laughter was joined in with the harmonic tune of Regina's own laughter for the second time that night.

"So if this were a movie, this is when I would roll over and kiss you, right?" Emma asked, her eyes squinting as snowflakes fell onto her exposed face.

"Who says it's you?" Regina huskily questioned. And just as that question met Emma's ears, she felt tiny gloved hands reach behind her neck and a body on top of hers. "Perhaps it's me that rolls on top of you, kissing your lips." Regina smiled. Before Emma could protest, Regina's lips met her own in a warm kiss.

Feeling less dominant in that moment, Emma fought to change the pace, to take control by biting down on Regina's bottom lip, sucking it. The heat between them could have melted the snow around them, but before the moment had a chance to become more intimate, filled with more passion, a voice cut through them.

"Get a room." They both heard. Regina shot up a second later like a prairie dog to see who, exactly, dared to yell at them. To their dismay, no one was in sight.

Emma tried to ground the woman above her, to pull her back to the moment they were sharing.

"Someone's a Grinch." Emma frowned. She licked her purple, cold lips and asked, "So, uhm, what else did you used to do when you were a kid?"

Regina looked off to the side, thinking. "Well, let's see, besides building snowmen, which we aren't doing here, we made snow angels?"

And just like a kid, Emma pulled Regina back down to the ground next to her. "Then let's make snow angels together."

Before Regina could argue a reason for why they shouldn't, Emma began making her snow angel. Regina watched her for a few moments. What Emma didn't see was Regina debate if she should carelessly join in on the fun, but then she did. Regina laid back down and let out a big gust of her own cloud of breath.

So, there they laid, on a snow covered walkway, fanning out their arms and legs merrily, leaving their snow angel imprints for all to see. Well, for those who were at the Westbrook Tree Farm off I-95.

"How have I missed out on this my entire life?" Emma asked as she helped Regina up.

"Your guess is better than mine. Just wait till we go to Sunday River Ski Resort for Christmas."

Regina dusted the snow off her black peacoat as she continued to speak. "You'll be in for a real treat. We always rent out a very nice resort style cabin that's right off the slopes."

Emma shuffled in the snow a little and shoved her cold hands into the red peacoat pockets. "I hope your family will like me."

There was a hint of insecurity in her voice. She knew it, but despite that, it was true. Emma spent her entire life seeking acceptance. All she wanted was to impress Regina's family.

"They'll love you. Trust me. They've loved everyone I've been with." There was much truth behind those words that Emma would soon discover.

Regina looped her arm in Emma's and they started to walk to the entrance of the tree farm that was lit up by lights reflecting off the snow. It was so bright that Emma's eyes squinted from the sharpness of it.

"Well, I guess time will tell." Emma said as they continued to walk in silence. She appreciated Regina's reassurance, but, much like Regina had been, she was sure she too would be a ball of nerves the first time meeting the parents.

"Do you want some cocoa or apple cider to warm up before we pick out our tree?"

"I'd love some cocoa." Emma said with a dorky grin.

The two walked over to the main building that had an open window and a short line of customers.

"So, just so you know, I've never seen anyone chop down a tree. You have to saw it down. Makes a cleaner cut for the stand." Regina clarified.

"Oh, I hadn't thought that through." Emma looked shocked.

"Well I doubt there's Christmas tree farms in Florida." Regina cheekily added.

Emma laughed softly. "Nope. We would get a tree from Home Depot."

"Well at least yours was real and not fake."

A voice acknowledge them, "What can I get you both?" A man's voice interrupted their conversation.

When Emma turned to greet him, he smiled instantly. "Oh Mayor Mills, how are you this evening?"

"I'm doing wonderful Leroy. Emma will have a cocoa and I will have a cider."

"Coming right up."

Emma looked questioningly at Regina, who in turn explained, "He's on the town council."

"Ah, I see."

"Here you go." He reappeared. "It's on the house."

"Oh you don't have to do that." Regina pulled a small wallet out of her coat pocket.

"You've done enough charitable things for the town. I think two cups of warm drinks on the house is the least I can do."

Regina smirked. Despite the smaller man's words, she shoved a five dollar bill into the tip jar.

"I'll see you next week at the town council meeting." She said. Emma felt her arm loop back into hers and they turned and left.

"That was nice of you."

"Believe it or not, I'm nice and humble."

"Never said you weren't." Emma said as she sipped her drink.

"So is there an art to picking out a tree?" Emma motioned to the rows of pine trees.

"I mean, yes and no. We just need to keep in mind the size. We won't make it safely home if we pick too large of a tree. You also want it to be full and round."

Emma nodded along as they strolled through the dark abyss of the snow covered field of perfectly lined pine trees.

"How about that one?" Emma pointed out. The tree was magnificent.

Regina looked over at her, "Did you listen to anything I just said?"

Emma eyed the large, monster of all Christmas trees, and laughed. "I was joking. Stop being so serious baby. Besides doesn't that remind of you the tree from the movie Christmas Vacation. The Griswold Family Tree." Emma laughed at her own movie reference. This experience felt much like that.

"Did you just call me baby?" Regina asked, ignoring Emma's movie reference.

"Is that not okay? I thought you didn't mind pet names so long as I didn't call you cupcake?" Emma said, nervously.

Emma was waiting for Regina to respond. Instead she was met with silence and the crunching of the snow beneath their feet as they followed a snow covered trail.

"No it's just taking a getting used to." Regina paused. "Cupcake is… Just don't call me that."

"I would never call you that." Emma said. Her eyes caught sight of a tree off in the distance. She used her cider holding hand to motion in the direction. "I think I see our tree."

When they approached it. Emma eyed it up and down, "She's perfect." A mental spotlight shined down from the snow filled clouds and Emma nearly drooled.

"Oh, so it's a she." Regina raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow.

"You know what I mean." Emma said, her eyes still glued to the nearly six foot tree before her. It's branches and arms were covered in snow, but despite that, she could see its potential.

"Can we get this one." Emma turned to Regina like a puppy. "It's not too big for your car is it?"

Regina took a step back to fully see the size of the tree, she sipped her cider, and shook her head no in response. "I suppose it will work. Let me get one of the workers to help us saw it down. Just wait here so no one else takes it."

"You mean her, takes her." Emma corrected with a sly grin.

Regina rolled her eyes naturally. "What's next, are you going to name it too?"

"What would give you that kind of impression." Emma laughed comically to herself. "I wouldn't be crazy enough to name a Christmas tree, Paula."

Regina choked on her drink. "You will never be in charge of naming our children." The words escaped all too quickly from Regina's mouth.

Emma was paralyzed by Regina's unexpected and surprising words. A cat literally had her tongue and Regina was just as caught off guard. Her glove covered hand covered her mouth, but it was far too late to take those words back.

"I…" Regina started to say. "I'm going to get some help… for the tree." She turned and hastily went on her way.

Emma stood staring at her girlfriend fading off in the distance between rows of trees. She kept repeating the words back You will never be in charge of naming our children. Our children. Our children. It started to slowly wash over Emma that she may someday have a family with Regina. A smile crept across her face and she beamed at the thought of a little girl running around who looked just like her girlfriend. Perhaps it wasn't such a terrible thought, or slip up in their case.

When Regina reappeared, she had Leroy at her side. "Sorry it took so long, Leroy was the only one working and he had a few customers to serve still."

The shorter, thick man had a smile plastered on his face and a saw in his hand. "Hey, word on the farm is that this is your first time cutting down a tree."

Emma smiled. "You heard right. What's the best method?"

It only took twenty minutes to saw it down. Emma didn't think it would take that much elbow grease and technique, but it did. That said, she also stubbornly refused to let Regina or Leroy help out. However, despite that she was more than open to having him drag it to the car. After it was strapped down, Regina was the one that remembered the photo.

"Leroy, think you could get a photo of Emma and I by the Westbrook Tree Farm sign and the snow angles over there?" She pointed to their nearly gone snow angels that had fresh snow filing in their imprints.

The smaller man motioned for them to get closer as he used Emma's cell phone to capture the scenery.

It was quite the picture perfect moment as Emma stood next to Regina a little too happy. She wrapped her arms around Westbrook's mayor and said cheese.

It was their first official picture together, standing in the cold night covered in a light dusting of snow.

Just as Emma had imagined, their Christmas tree sat in its stand by the fireplace, which glowed with a fire burning. The crackling sounds filled the air and the smell of fire wafted throughout the room and infiltrated the aroma of pine.

Regina stood off to the side admiring the fullness of the tree, which caused Emma to smile. This felt like home to her. She felt a wholeness to her, a feeling she was learning all too quick because of the brunette.

Her heart swelled in her chest as she realized her own words that floated in her mind. She could feel herself becoming choked up from being so overwhelmed with the sensation of feeling at home.

Emma watched as the brunette turned around. Their eyes locked for the briefest of seconds and that's how Emma knew she wasn't the only one feeling this way. Regina's eyes really were a window into her soul spilling all of her secrets.

Regina was the one that broke the comfortable silence, "Tomorrow we can head into town and pick out some lights and ornaments to decorate it. Why don't you head upstairs to my bedroom and get cleaned up for dinner. Kat will be here in an hour."

Emma's clothes clung to her body. Her pants were damp from playing in the snow at the tree farm and her discomfort was obvious as she huddled next to the fire.

"What should I wear?" Emma asked, knowing that meeting Regina's best friend would call for something nicer than a flannel from the Bass Pro Shop.

"Anything is fine. Kat will look like a model ready for the catwalk, but don't let that bother you. She's incapable of dressing casually."

"That's saying something since you're the same way." Emma licked her lips. "You're wearing a dress or something of that sort, right?"

Regina nodded, "Probably. I'll be upstairs in a few minutes. I just need to put the casserole in the oven."

Emma nodded, "I think I'm going to shower, if that's okay...I just can't seem to warm up."

Regina smiled slyly, "Help yourself, what's mine is yours. I'll be up in a few minutes."

When Emma ventured into the large familiar bedroom, she was struck with a scent that she vowed to commit to memory. A scent she could never smell if she hadn't made the long flight to Maine. Trying to figure out why the smell itself sent chills throughout her body, it dawned on Emma that it was the smell of home. At least what she imagined home being. It was lavender, it was vanilla, and fresh cotton all mixed into this one intricate smell that was uniquely Regina.

She felt her body tingle with excitement from Regina's earlier slip up about their future children and Regina's home feeling like her own. It was an awakening feeling one that told her that this was becoming serious faster than she'd ever thought possible.

A little voice, known as August, reminded her that this was called u-hauling. She grimaced.

Shaking her head of her thoughts she walked into the bathroom, which was enormous. The entire back wall had an immaculate floor to ceiling glass shower that Emma was sure ten people could fit into.

Emma felt pulled towards it, as if it was her salvation from the coldness she felt in her bones. When she took a step forward into the room, her feet came in contact with the floor and were instantly warmed.

"Jesus Christ." Emma swore to herself. "She's got heated flooring." She had no idea why this shocked her, but despite that she continued forward. She stripped down and opened the large glass door and took in the perfectly tiled shower. Emma had never in her life been in such a nice shower, hell, there were even benches inside of it that she didn't see until she had fully stepped inside.

"I've died and gone to heaven." Emma admitted to herself. Her hand reached forward and turned the handle all the way to the H, for hot. A waterfall shower head from above drizzled water onto her cold flesh, instantly warming her. She moaned in appreciation as the water washed over her aching skin.

"Sounds like you're enjoying my shower." Emma heard from inside the bathroom. She turned and saw Regina's silhouette through the steam covered shower door.

"I can think of some more ways to better enjoy it." Emma flirted.

"Are you asking me to join you?" Regina's husky voice echoed against the bathroom walls and into Emma's ears.

"I think I am." Emma said as she opened the glass door. Her eyebrows shot up as she took in the naked form of her girlfriend. "But it seems like you already intended on joining me." She grinned.

"I wasn't going to pass up the opportunity. The second I heard the shower come on I hurried up here." Regina admitted as she stepped into the shower.

"How long do we have?" Emma asked.

"Not long." Regina shrugged. But that didn't stop Emma pulling Regina closely into her own naked form.

"But long enough for me to have some fun with you." Emma said with a smirk.

She kissed Regina's lips and sucked on them till they felt swollen. "You should sit on that bench." Emma whispered.

"I should?" Regina dared.

"Yes." Emma breathlessly responded as she backed the other woman up until the backs of her knees were flush with the ledge. Emma felt Regina's knees buckle in response and she gently helped her to a sitting position with their lips still attached in a heated kiss. The passion between them was like a fire that would never go out.

"I've missed you. I've missed this." Emma admitted as she pulled her hair up in a ponytail. "I dreamed about you all week, even when I was awake and how I just wanted to taste you on my

lips again."

Regina's eyes grew wide full of lust as she felt Emma's eyes ravish her wet body. Emma felt this impulse and desire to take Regina right there. To have her way with her under a waterfall of water. Her once dormant sex drive was now unexpectedly awoken. All she wanted was to make Regina feel like she looked, heavenly.

She felt herself bend down so that she sat in between Regina's thighs on her knees. The tile cut into her knees, but it was easily ignored with the woman above her. Emma's hands darted out and brought her flawless legs effortlessly over her shoulders. Unlike Emma, Regina was easily aroused. Emma's eyes twinkled in the dim lighting of the shower from the wetness between Regina's thighs. When her tongue came in contact with Regina's molten center memories of just the weekend before made her crave more. Cursing Regina's best friend Kat's soon expected arrival, she quickened the pace of her tongue against Regina's small bundle of nerves.

Emma's hands explored upward cupping perfectly shaped breasts in the palms of her hands. Her thumbs gently caressed the small erect buds, teasing Regina.

Soft moans escaped her body and before Emma knew it, Regina's hips began to buck forward. Emma's body reacted from watching the waves of pleasure washing over her girlfriend. The surge of wetness on her mouth was enough of an indication that she had come. Emma pulled back and looked up at the woman who shook with aftershock spasms from her orgasm.

"Was it good?" She asked, wondering since it all happened so fast.

Regina rolled her eyes as she pulled Emma closer to herself and kissed her lips.

"It was more than good. I really needed that." Regina confessed. Emma knew that Regina wanted to come undone earlier in the week. But, she wasn't ready to explore phone sex with her. It felt to impersonal and it was testing her own comfort level.

"Well, let's get you up and cleaned before dinner." Emma said, trying to ignore the ache that she started to feel linger between her own legs as she helped Regina to a standing position.

"What about you?" Regina asked with concern. Emma watched as her eyes darted between her legs as a slight erection was starting to shape up.

"It's fine. You don't-" Emma was cut off.

"But, I want to." Regina said, confidently.

Before Emma could protest, Regina had switched their earlier positions so that she was now on her knees.

"Regina-" She tried again, but was shut down with a kiss that effectively silenced her. Emma could feel it working it's magic. The kiss further aroused her making her stubborn member harden more.

A warm, wet hand traveled down the column of her neck, down her torso and then lower. Breaking the kiss, Regina asked, "Can I?" Her eyes searched for reassurance. Emma appreciated how Regina would pull back to always ask for permission. It made her feel more at ease.

The look in Regina's eyes told Emma that she wanted to do more than just use her hand it was frightening, especially because she'd never allowed anyone's mouth on her, ever.

She hated that part of her body. It was a constant reminder that she wasn't the person she wanted to be. Allowing someone so close to that intimate part of her was challenging. She hated for it to be acknowledged and more than anything she wanted to look just like Regina did. To feel what she felt when Emma's lips were upon her slick folds.

Emma could tell that Regina had picked up on her hesitation. "Do you trust me?" She asked.

It wasn't about trust, or maybe it was. All Emma knew was that this wasn't something she'd let just anyone do, but Regina wasn't just anyone.

"I've never let anyone that close." Emma said. Her voice so tiny and almost indistinguishable from the sounds of the water over head impacting the tiled floor.

Emma watched as Regina nodded in understanding and went to stand accepting the response given to her. Emma caught her elbows and held her still. There was a faint look of rejection in

Regina's eyes that made Emma's heart drop. "You didn't let me finish. I've never let anyone that close, but there is no other person in this world that I would trust more than you." Emma said with a hopeful smile that caused a small smile to relax Regina's once saddened features.

"Are you sure? We can wait till you are ready, if you ever want to that is?" Regina questioned.

While Emma hated this part of herself, she still felt this inherent desire to feel Regina against her flesh. And in the softest whisper, she admitted, "I would love to feel your lips on me."

Without further fuss, Regina nestled between Emma's legs, her lips trailing up closer to her apex kissing her soft inner thighs. Emma knew this wasn't just a first time for her, but for Regina too. She had openly admitted that she'd never been with a guy, not that Emma was that, but her sex wasn't that of a female's. Her nerves brought knots in her stomach and she waited on the edge, literally, for what came next.

It wasn't what she expected, the warmth of Regina's mouth around her was so soft and wet. When Emma looked down, the look upon her was big beautiful brown eyes while Regina's mouth was full of her. The mere thought alone that Regina would ever do this for her made her melt with adoration for the other woman. The sensations coursing through her veins made a moan slip from her mouth. Willing her eyes to remain open, she looked down to see Regina's pouty lips, that she craved, focusing on her crown, pulling up and down her shaft. It was as if she was in the mouth of an artist, each stroke of her tongue made Emma relax even further, succumbing to subsequent waves of pleasure. The licking and teasing against the tip of her flesh was enough, but the feeling of Regina taking in all of her was the tipping point, the intensity forcing Emma's eyes shut.

Emma's body shook, it was almost painful how delicately euphoric it was for her. When she felt herself go limp, Regina sat up next to her and asked her own earlier question, "How was it?"

She opened her eyes half expecting to be seated on a throne in Heaven, alongside an angel, but instead the water droplets reminded her she was in Regina's shower.

Emma licked her lips and forced out from her strained vocal cords the only response she could give, "Best." She said. Fighting her body's euphoric exhaustion she added, "Best I've ever had."

She was completely helpless, all sulken in on the shower bench, and vulnerable to her lovers wandering gaze. Emma was wholeheartedly thankful for the pleasure Regina had brought her, a sensation that made her realize anything before was nothing in comparison. Regina's lips and tongue were a masterpiece. "How are you so good at that?" Emma asked.

"Well, I assumed it was mostly the same. It's all about the tongue." Regina said matter of factly.

Emma pulled Regina into her arms. She held her close and knew that she'd never find someone more perfect in the world for her.

She knew in her heart and soul that time was closing in on them. Sooner, rather than later, she'd say those three words and that was something she was more than okay with.

"Kat will be here soon. We should hurry." Regina told Emma. Regretfully, they stood and finished their shower in an orgasmic haze.

Regina was right when she said that Kat would be there soon. The doorbell rang not long after they had gotten out of the shower and changed.

"Will you come downstairs to greet her with me?" Regina asked, hopefully.

Emma was just finishing up her makeup and smiled, "I'd love to."

The nerves she felt earlier about Kat were long gone. Regina was constantly and rapidly knocking down all barriers that existed. She made Emma feel at home and comfortable in her own skin. That said, Emma felt like she was in a safe place with Regina. They were in love, despite them not saying those exact words.

Emma watched as Regina opened the front door, on the other side however was a woman that looked all too stunning to be real. Her skin, her hair, even the way she was dressed was flawless.

"Hello." Regina greeted, kissing both sides of her cheek.

"Regina." Kat greeted after. Her attention then was directed at Emma. Kat said, "And this must be Emma." She stalked forward into Emma's personal space, just an inch away from her face.

"She's…. interesting." She said, disgustedly.

The sarcasm didn't fall on deaf ears and the look she gave Emma didn't go unseen. Emma had no idea that Regina's ex was a 'C U Next Tuesday.' No wonder they were no longer together. In fact, Emma couldn't even fathom Regina with this prickly woman.

"It's a real pleasure to meet you, Kat." Emma said, smirking. She brought up her right hand between the small space between them.

"It's Kathryn." Emma noticed how the other woman just let her hand hang, emptily between them after correcting her name.

Three long seconds passed before Regina stepped in and offered to take Kathryn's coat.

"Emma why don't you go grab the casserole out of the oven, I think I heard the timer go off." Regina dismissed her as she hung the peacoat up in her coat closet.

Emma did as she was told, however, her left ear was glued to their conversation. She could hear bits and pieces of their quick banter. The casserole now on the stove, Emma snuck closer to the open door way and eaves dropped in long enough to gather that Miss Perfect was jealous.

A Cheshire like grin surfaced on Emma's face. Never in her life had anyone been jealous of her and that gave her a sense of pride.

Dinner was already off to a rocky start and it was certainly going to be eventful evening. That much Emma knew.