Merry Christmas
Lounging across the couch on the first day of December, Emma hadn’t felt more at peace in a long time. It sucked that Henry wasn’t coming home for the holidays but honestly, Emma hadn’t expected him too. He’d been so absorbed in ‘making a name for himself’ that he barely even made their weekly mirror-magic check-ins anymore. She’d had a sharp word with him about it and he was doing better, but it was certainly no surprise that he wasn’t coming home.
It was killing Regina. This would be her first Christmas – or Yule, in the Enchanted Forest – without him since New York. Regina loved Christmas. She loved the decorations, the tree, carefully choosing presents for everyone she loved. It was due to Regina that Storybrooke did it up too. Storybrooke’s Christmas market got bigger every year, and she even auditioned the Santa herself.
But Regina seemed better now. It had been almost a fortnight since the news and other than a long cry after they ended the call, Regina had been ok. Her legs were draped across Emma’s, each woman nursing a particularly good batch of apple cider. Emma couldn’t wait for the weekend when she would return home to an immaculately decorated house. She adored Regina’s decorations almost as much as she adored the woman herself.
A toe nudged Emma’s glass, sloshing the liquid up the sides. “Hey – Gina!”
She cackled, swinging her legs back down as she shifted up to sitting. “I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Oh?” Anxiety churned in Emma’s gut. Before Regina, she’d never heard anything good follow a statement like that. Things were different now, but the same worry still stirred. When Regina placed her glass on the coffee table, Emma followed suit, folding her legs beneath her to offer a modicum of comfort.
“It’s nothing bad.” Regina patted Emma’s knee with a knowing smile.
“Ok.” Her hand found Regina’s of its own accord.
“Seeing as Henry isn’t coming home for the holidays.” She swallowed slightly, averting her eyes before they returned with confidence. “I was wondering if Little Emma might like a bit more attention.” Her heart fluttered with yearning. “I know there are things you never got to do, and usually we only have a few hours here and there at this time of year.”
Emma squeezed her partner’s hand. Her vision had clouded, and she tried to bat away the growing emotion. The tiny thing inside of her that had barely been more than a second thought around Christmas wanted to leap into Regina’s offer. They were usually so busy between family dinners, school and work functions, and the school holidays that they barely got much time as a couple, let alone any chance for this. Last December they’d only managed one evening with the potion the entire month, and it had left her wanting more so badly that she wished they hadn’t even bothered.
What Regina was offering was incredible.
“Are you sure?”
Regina’s entire body relaxed, that soft, easy smile gracing her lips. She reached across to run a comforting hand over Emma’s arm and thigh, squeezing the knee tenderly. “I wouldn’t be offering if I weren’t.”
“You know, Mulan was asking for more hours so she can take off most of January.” The idea of getting to spend most of Christmas small was intoxicating.
A broad grin erupted on Regina’s face. “I’m sure I could take some time off too. Things tend to slow down around now anyway. What’s a couple more things on the agenda in the New Year?”
When Little Emma asked for permission once more, the adult in her agreed. She flew at her like a train crash, wrapping her arms tight around Regina’s shoulders as her head nuzzled into the crook of her neck. The older woman fell back slightly before bursting into laughter. She rubbed gentle circles into Emma’s back, pressing kisses above her ear.
“Hey, baby.” She cooed. Emma grinned at the endearment.
“Thank you.” She shifted so her head could perch more comfortably on Regina’s shoulder. “’M excited.”
Another bounding laugh, warm and kind and reassuring. “I’m glad.” A squeeze. “I have so many surprises for you this Christmas.”
Emma pulled back, her mouth falling into a perfect ‘o’. Her voice was incredibly young when she asked, “like what?”
Regina cupped her face and wiggled their noses together. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”