"Regina told me you met Kat." Henry started as they were walking through the snow. "Said that she didn't make a good first impression." The crunching of the icy white slush was the only sound other than Henry's voice. "That kid had a rough time." He coughed into his arm till his face was red. He cleared his throat and said, "I don't think anyone understands the kind of pain she feels, not unless they have survivors guilt too. Cora and I tried to help. We've known her for such a long time and we thought of her as a second daughter in a way. I found a support group with people who had faced similar tragedies. Stubborn little thing refused to go. Regina drove her there once. Kat wouldn't get out of the car. She told her she didn't need that kind of help. Our poor daughter was just trying to make her feel better, to find her relief from the sadness that was deep seeded in her heart."

Emma didn't say anything as they continued to walk. The whole situation with Kat was bizarre. She understood that she and Regina had a history, but even so she had no right to be so rude and spiteful towards her. And while they had the past, it was hard for Emma to see beyond the present and her first impression of Kathryn. It left her feeling a bit uneasy. It was next to impossible to see her as a kind person who Henry and Cora saw as a second daughter. Unfathomable really. Not to mention that Regina actually dated the bitter woman.

"And after a while, her grief turned to anger. It was like poison affecting her mind. It caused her to change. She wasn't the same Kat we knew and went on family vacations with. I think she drowned herself in sorrows. The answers she sought after were never at the end of a bottle." He brought his gloved hand to his wipe his runny nose dry. "You see I've never seen my daughter happier than she has been with you, but Kat came to a close runner up until later in their relationship. It wasn't easy for Regina to move on, but it was the best damn decision she ever made. Wouldn't have you if she didn't." Henry looked to the side of his shoulder and winked at Emma.

Emma smiled in return. She loved this man. He was more than welcoming and accepting of her and that's all she could ever ask for. He already felt like family to her. Someone she could openly talk to, even though he had no filter at times and said crude jokes. Hell, he already saw her left boob and bought her nipple clamps. They were basically family at this point, kind of like August. He's like the closest thing to a sibling she had.

His raspy voice went on, "The point I'm trying to make is that while it wasn't a good first impression, I hope you allow Kat a chance to make a better second impression. That girl, she's got a lot of metaphorical scars and a looming cloud of sorrow over her head, but the Kat we know and love is still there. She's just waiting for the Sun to rise and shine again to make the clouds dissipate. She loves fiercely and she's as loyal as a lioness is over her cub. Her and Regina aren't together anymore, but she loves her and wants the best for her. I believe you are that. Cora and I, we like you a lot Emma. And I'm sure Kat will too in time. So, give her another chance to prove that to you, will ya?"

Henry stopped walking and regarded Emma with a serious look in his eye. The Sun cast a shadow on his face. They made his wrinkles look deeper than usual, especially his thinkers wrinkles on his forehead. His already tan skin looked darker and his white hair resembled like the ashes of his cigars.

Coincidentally, he started blowing rings of white breath out as he waited for Emma to respond. Regina had told Emma that her father was born in San Juan and later his family moved to the States when he was a toddler. His father, a little old Puerto Rican man, as Regina had described, passed on his love of cigars. She never knew her grandfather, he died at a young age. It was his poor eating habits and life choices that killed him, or so she claimed.

"You know, I am more than willing to give someone a second chance. I don't know when I'll be seeing Kathryn again, but I'll make sure to keep an open mind." Emma said, very maturely. She kicked at the icy snow and added, "I felt like Kathryn didn't like me and I've always had a problem with that, especially because she didn't know me. It's just something I've always dealt with, fighting for acceptance even if people didn't know anything about me. If that makes sense." Emma said, biting her bottom lip.

"It does. It makes perfect sense to me." He brought up his hand and ran it warmly down Emma's arm. "You're a good person, Emma. Stop trying so hard. It already comes effortlessly for you." He turned and started walking again, "Come on now. Let's get on with it. Cora and Regina will be wondering if something happened if we take too much longer."

"How much further do we have to walk to find wood?" Emma asked walking beside the older man. Hanging on his shoulder was rope for the wood so they could carry it back and then a hunting rifle, for God knows what. Emma didn't question it, best not question things at times.

"Can't be wet." He looked over at Emma with a raised thick, hairy eyebrow. "Everything by the house is wet from the snow. So I figure if we keep walking we'll find an area that's a bit dryer. Can't believe they didn't leave us firewood. You would think with how much we pay for that place we'd have better customer service. Cora will have to leave a review online later when we get back to Providence." He said stomping through the snow. "You'll have to visit with Regina sometime, it's a nice area, not too big. In the summer they have WaterFire, they ignite torch-lit vessels and send them down the three rivers that run through the city. It's one of our main attractions."

"That's actually really cool. I think I would like that. Regina and I haven't had a chance to talk about when I will be back in Maine or when she'll be back in Florida. The distance is hard, but I hope maybe by next summer to be in Maine."

"She told us that she gave you a key for Christmas last week," He said with a twinkle in his eye. "Think you'll take her up on the offer?"

Emma laughed. Henry was an older version of August. She could already tell she was going to love having him in her life as a second father-like figure. "I think it was a very sweet gesture. I...it's just a huge step to take right now. Especially when I don't have a job in Maine and my whole life is in Florida still, but eventually, I think I will. I couldn't imagine not." Emma said twitching her nose from a tickle. She brought up her hand wiped at the numb skin.

"I see, wise of you to not jump the gun right away. If you do, there's still nothing wrong with that." He pointed out. "Look over there, that's a good spot for collecting wood. You go that way and I'll go this way." He gestured. "Make sure it's dry or it won't burn right," He yelled as he went off into the distance.

Emma walked some fifty feet away from Henry and started breaking branches and stacking a pile of wood to take back with them. It was New Year's Eve and Regina wanted to hit the slopes one last time while they did the fireworks show. Tomorrow afternoon Regina would have to drive her back to the airport. Emma was already starting to feel sad. She, for once, wasn't looking forward to going back to work, which was a first. She got an email from Maurice a few days prior with a new case for when she got back home. This time, she would be investigating a wife who was thought to be having an affair.

The only thing really that she was excited about was seeing August and hearing about his time with her parents. He had called and told her that he and her father went golfing. She was glad he was able to bond with someone instead of spending the holidays alone.

She could hear some snapping off in the distance behind herself. She figured Henry had made his way back towards her direction. She spoke over her shoulder and said, "Hey, you think this is enough." She just heard a grunt and then said, "Jeez, you didn't have to grunt at me. I'll start breaking some more." Emma said.

She went on breaking some branches. They were brittle from the winter, so they snapped under the pressure easily.

The rustling behind grew louder and then she heard not a grunt, but stomping. She turned and it wasn't Henry. Not unless Henry had turned into a 1,500-pound moose, but that wasn't likely. The big brown beast had his ears peeled back and was shaking his head back and forth at Emma.

The sticks in her hands dropped to the ground. "Shit," She said under her breath. She should have really read the 'Moose Attack Survival Guide' that was on the coffee table in the house. She mentally kicked herself because Regina told her to and she thought it was a joke. Apparently she was serious. Emma made a mental note to self, if she were to survive this, never question Regina, ever again.

Unknowing what to do, because Hell, all Emma had to worry about back in Florida were gators. Not that those weren't terrifying, but she knew to at least run in zig zags. There were also snakes and spiders, but those were at least so much smaller and less terrifying. Emma thought things with fur were supposed to be less frightening, but this was worse than the time she and her father had walked up on the gator on Christmas Eve.

"Henry!" She yelled out for help hoping to God his hearing aids worked from this far away. The moose got even angrier at that and started walking closer to her grunting louder. He sounded like a cow of all things! Never in a million years would she have thought that a moose would sound like a cow.

"Oh god, this is how I'm going to die." Emma covered her face as she heard the moose dig its hooves into the ground before charging full force at her.

A gunshot pierced the air, which made Emma jump in more fear than before. Her body fell to the ground like a limp noodle as an automatic response. She felt the vibration of the ground beneath her shake from the moose's body collapsing too. Her hands jolted away from her face, curious to see what happened. She was in utter disbelief as her eyes looked down at the dead animal just a few feet away from her.

"Emma!" Henry's gravelly voice echoed. She looked over to where it sounded from and saw him running through the snow towards her. He dropped his rifle to the ground and pulled her into his arms.

"Sweet Mary and Jesus of Bethlehem, are you okay?" His chest heaving from his shortness of breath.

"What were you thinkin' takin' on a big ole moose by yourself. Those things are more aggressive than Grizzly Bears. You could have been his New Year's dinner!"

Emma trembled in his arms as she watched crimson blood leak into the snow. "You...you, killed it?" She stuttered out.

"It was about to kill you. I'd rather a dead moose than a dead soon to be daughter-in-law. Regina would have killed me." He coughed. "Let's get you back to the house," He said, pulling Emma away from the now deceased animal.

"You were attacked by a moose!" Regina's eyes protruded out of her skull. Her hands on her hips and a vein bulging from her forehead. "How were you attacked? Are you okay?" Regina scolded.

Emma could tell that Regina's rage was out of fear of her lack of safety. "I'm okay. Your dad, he, uhm, killed it before it killed me."

"Jesus, how close were you?"

"A few feet."

"Regina, darling, the fact is Emma is safe." Henry tried to reason with his daughter who stood between Emma and Henry.

"Did you not read the guide on the coffee table?" Regina asked Emma, her hand extended outward to point at the said, 'Moose Attack Survival Guide.'

Emma looked down at her boots and shoved her hands into her pockets. Her lack of response was enough for Regina to take her silence as a no.

"Are you serious," Regina said in a low tone. "You could have been seriously injured or killed."

"I thought you were kidding when you told me to read it," Emma said, regretfully.

Regina turned and moved one hand from her hip to her forehead. She huffed and then put her hand back on her hip. She didn't turn around. Instead, she spoke very carefully with her back to them. "Daddy, thank you for saving Emma, but can you give us a few minutes alone?" Emma picked up on Regina's controlled and calm tone of voice.

Henry nodded and looked at Emma in an encouraging way before leaving them to it.

When Regina turned around, Emma saw the pained expression on her face. "Look, I know it's not like you were actively trying to get yourself killed, but next time I ask you to read something, please do it. I don't know what I would have done if something had happened to you."

It was tough. As Regina said, it wasn't like Emma had some sort of death wish. She felt bad and knew that her actions could have gotten her hurt or worse, killed. The thought of that alone upset Emma too. Not because of her dying, but the part of leaving Regina behind.

"Regina, I'm sorry. Will you forgive me?" Emma took a step forward and tentatively pulled the woman into her arms. Emma really didn't know what else to say. She didn't realize killer moose were lurking in the woods plotting her demise. Had she known the importance of knowing what to and what not to do, she would have read the stupid guide.

According to Henry, yelling out for him is what made the animal charge at her in the first place. It would have likely gone away had she ducked behind a large rock or tree. Of course, that made her feel like dirt because had she read the damn guide the moose wouldn't be dead.

"Yes," Regina said, her head leaned on Emma's shoulder. And just like that, all the anger radiating off her girlfriend was gone.

Emma relaxed and then added, "Good, so is it okay for me to talk about how amazing your father is? Like out of nowhere he took out the moose and was running through the snow after me. He's very protective." She tried to lighten the mood.

Regina laughed. "I can't imagine seeing my father running. I'm sure it must have been quite the sight to see."

They pulled out of the embrace and Emma tucked a strand of Regina's hair behind her ear. "It's still really early, want to go downstairs and watch a movie in the home theater before hitting the slopes? I'd like to cuddle up and get warm again. It's really bitter out there today." Emma shivered.

"So long as you don't make me watch Christmas Vacation again, then I'll be more than happy to do that."

"What's your beef with Christmas Vacation?" Emma asked eyebrows knotted together.

Two eyebrows shot up and Emma realized, "Oh, I mean, what's your problem with Christmas Vacation?" She changed her words. Regina had a problem with slang language, so Emma was slowly learning to correct herself.

"Nice save. Other than the fact that we have watched it over six times since we've been here, the humor is crude, the guy, whatever his name is-"

"Clark," Emma added.

"Yes, Clark, he's an absolute idiot. It's hard to find humor in his shortcomings."

"Aw, but that's what makes it funny. Like the scene when he gets locked in the attic and falls through the ceiling, how does that happen to someone? Sure people fall through the ceiling, but locked in the attic?"

"It doesn't." Regina deadpanned.

"What would you like to watch?" Emma asked after realizing this was a battle she wouldn't win with Regina. Her mind was set and she was a stubborn mule.

"I think my mother brought It's a Wonderful Life."

"Oh, Regina, that's old," Emma whined. "Can we pick something that's at least been filmed in the last two decades.

"Do you want to cuddle?" Regina challenged her.

Emma rolled her eyes and said begrudgingly, "Yes."

She hated how easy it was for the older woman to win her over. She'd honestly do anything if it meant she got to cuddle her, even if that made her whipped.

Their legs dangled below their seat on the ski lift. They had front row seats to the fireworks, which would be any minute now. If the world was perfect, this would have been the moment Emma would tell Regina that she loved her. The world isn't perfect though, a far cry from it really. The white mountains and a sky full of stars would have really made it a romantic moment. Emma didn't regret how she told Regina that she loved her though. Not in the slightest. When she would think back on that night, Christmas Eve, she would catch herself smiling like a fool.

The way they were yelling at each other back and forth in the snow somehow reminded her of Allie and Noah yelling at each other in the rain from The Notebook. Telling Regina under the stars and fireworks, well that was too generic. Nothing about the woman next to her was generic. That was the beauty of it all. It made their first I love you's more meaningful in the end because it was uniquely them.

A gloved hand squeezed her own, "Do you have any New Year's resolutions?" Regina asked Emma.

Emma thought about it. The year before she committed herself to resolutions like, eat healthier, get in shape, read more books, volunteer, she'd done them all. This year, was an opportunity to actually come up with a resolution and stick with it.

Last year, she lasted two whole weeks on a diet that consisted of only vegetables. It was pure torture. Realistically, maybe making a resolution to eat less pizza and drink less beer would have been a more practical start.

She'd been an active member at her gym for the first three months pretty regularly. That slowly faded out and turned into her running whenever she got a chance.

Novels were harder for Emma, she hated reading. The first book she read, The Opposite of Loneliness, well it made Emma cry too much from the beauty of it. Truth be told, it made her really value life because in the blink of an eye it could all be gone, like earlier today and the damn moose.

There was a local homeless shelter in Orlando that she and August visited two weekends in a row. They passed out second-hand, but really third-hand, clothing. It was rewarding, but by April, all of those amazing resolutions were out the window and old news.

This year, she wanted to come up with one thing. One resolution that she wanted to follow through with. One that she truly believed would be worth working hard to maintain.

Something did come to mind. What Emma really wanted was to fall in love. Not like fall in love with Regina, no she had already done that. Truthfully, she would always keep falling in love with her as time ticked on. You don't just fall in love one time. That's impossible. Regina will change with time and that was exciting to Emma, falling in love with all the new things that were to come. She was happy to be falling into an endless life-long romance with the woman by her side. That was what made Emma want to fall in love with... herself.

Falling in love with yourself is hard, especially for Emma. She wanted to feel better about herself to help herself be a better person and a better girlfriend. She wanted to feel better, inside and out and to achieve that she had to start by accepting who she was.

"Promise you won't laugh?" Emma asked.

"I promise," Regina said looking Emma in the eyes.

"I want to fall in love with myself." She squeezed Regina's hand as she explained. "I feel like a part of myself is being held back right now. I want to share myself with you, the good, the bad, all of it. It's scary though and I think that I need to learn to accept every aspect that makes me who I am. I want to feel good in my body someday, I know that may not be accomplished any time soon, but mentally I still need to work on me." Emma said honestly.

Regina leaned forward and kissed Emma's lips. The lift started to swing a little bit from their movements and Emma clutched tighter to Regina. Emma was afraid of heights, amongst a lot of things really, but holding Regina closer made it easier to just be hanging hundreds of feet above the ground.

When Regina pulled away, she said, "I think that's a wonderful and respectable resolution. I have faith that you'll be able to get there. You know you were really easy for me to fall in love with. There are so many wonderful things about you and I can't wait for the day when you see all of those things too."

Emma nodded with a shy smile on her face. Hearing those words from Regina, that she loved her, still made her heart flutter. It was all still new and she never wanted it to feel old. It was hard to not be in awe of the woman next to her, Regina loved her and made room in her heart for her.

When August signed her up on FindLove, of all the people on that website, the only person she messaged was this beautiful angel. Somehow their lucky stars aligned.

It was a wonder that it was that easy, Emma couldn't let her mind fuss over the idea of that not being the case. Who knows, she'd probably still be single if she didn't take the chance at messaging Regina in the first place. Thankfully, that wasn't the case because she had taken the chance and found the person she was meant for. Perhaps she should write a letter to the website's staff. Emma by no means wanted to be one of those testimonials, but she still wanted to extend a thank you. Her mother would say it was the southern thing to do.

Emma sighed, "What about you, got any resolutions?"

Regina nodded. "I do. I was thinking, since I have all of this money from the acquisition I wanted to donate it to charitable causes. I did a lot of work in the town, but I was thinking of other ways I can help those in need. I have so much money that it's silly for me to keep it all to myself, selfish really. When I took forty-five percent stake in the shares, I never imagined the payout being as large as it was." Regina said, her hands gesturing in the air to further emphasize her point.

"You're very fortunate Regina," Emma said. "And, I'm very fortunate to be with such a caring person. Do you mind me asking what kind of charities you're looking to donate to?"

Regina smirked. "I don't know if you've heard of them. One is a camp here in New England called, Camp Aranu'tiq. It's for gender-variant and transgender youth. It's a place for them to go, a safe haven really, so that they can be around people like themselves to feel comfortable enough to have fun."

Emma couldn't believe her ears. Regina was donating to a camp for kids who grew up like her. There must be some mistake, "You're donating your money to a camp with kids, who are like me?" Emma asked.

"Yeah, I am. I, you know when you told me that story with the scissors, it broke my heart. I wanted to do something for kids out there like you and I emailed Jeff. He sent me a list of places in our area that I may be interested in and I liked what they were doing." Regina said, the left part of her lips smirked up.

Emma nodded and didn't know what to say really. She was speechless and thankful. "Uhm, are you serious?" Emma asked a little hoarsely.

Regina smiled shyly. "I'm serious. I also am donating to some others as well." Regina blushed, but Emma couldn't tell from how dark it was. "I have a thing for saving the Giant Pandas, so I may have donated some money there and a program to send a group of girls to school in Africa."

She couldn't be prouder in that moment to call Regina Mills her girlfriend. She could barely believe she was real.

"God, I love you," Emma said pulling the other woman closer to her. As if on cue, fireworks shot out into the night sky. Reds, blues, and greens invaded black and sparkled through the air. It was magical, really. And apparently it was also a New Year.

"I prefer being called Regina, but God has a nice ring to it too." Regina laughed. "I love you too. Thanks for being in my life."

Emma smiled. Her gloved fingers caressed Regina's cheek. While this wasn't their first I love you's, it was their first New Year's and it was breathtaking.

It was officially January 2016 and in a matter of hours, she'd be home in Orlando. She never wanted any of this to come to an end, but she learned that while this was a good vacation, there would be many more to come.