Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Henry had insisted on waiting. He’d said it three different times throughout the afternoon, which was a lot for a generally impatient kid. Once while dragging the box of ornaments out of the hall closet, once while sorting hooks from that box in a tangled pile on the couch, and once more when Emma reached automatically for the small gold star at the bottom of the box.

“Not yet,” he said, covering it with both hands. “We have to do that part together.”

Emma blinked at him. “We are doing it together. I’ve been elbow-deep in ornament guts for the last thirty minutes.”

Henry rolled his eyes in that put-upon way that always made his mothers laugh. “No, Mom. The three of us. At the same time.”

Regina looked up from the garland she was fluffing. “Henry, darling, the top of the tree is hardly–”

“It’s important,” he said, not quite arguing but definitely planting his feet. He didn’t do that often anymore, not like when he was younger. It made Emma pay attention. Regina, too.

She watched him step closer to Emma, lifting the star carefully. “We’ve never put it up with all three of us before. Not at the same time.”

Oh. Right.

It was their first Christmas all under the same roof. They didn't know how they'd missed the point.

Emma and Regina shot each other a look and smiled softly. Regina set the garland aside. “Well,” she said, dusting off her hands, “in that case, I suppose we’d better not keep tradition waiting.”

Henry grinned.

— — —

But the tree didn’t come first. Not according to Henry’s “system.” 

“Tree last,” he announced, kneeling in front of the living room bookshelf. “We do the mantle, the windows, then the tree.”

“What did we just get the ornament crap out for then?”

“Language,” Regina chided. “Impressionable ears.”

Henry laughed, “like I haven't heard worse.” He turned to Emma, “you always get decor out and ready first. A race is never won at the finish line.”

Emma glanced at Regina. That was clearly something he'd learned from her. “You are your mother's child.”

Henry nodded proudly.

“Have you two always had a system?”

“No, Mom lets me change the order we decorate every year.”

“Why's the order so important this year then, kid?”

“Because.”

Regina didn’t even pretend to fight it. “Right. Mantle, then.”

Emma followed them to the fireplace, where Henry dumped his load of decor with a dramatic sigh and began arranging the ceramic houses in a neat row, assigning a home to each person. Regina retrieved the garland and fussed with it until it hung just so. Emma set out stockings, Henry’s, Regina’s, and hers, all lined up. They stepped back at the same time.

“It’s crooked,” Henry said.

Emma scoffed. “How can a village be crooked?”

Henry pointed. “Your house leans.”

Regina hid a smile behind her hand. “Perhaps the charm is in its structural instability.”

Emma groaned. “Great. Even my fake houses are a disaster.”

Henry fixed it anyway, satisfied only after Regina gave it an approving nod.

Next came the window stickers, snowflakes and candy canes and one reindeer that really disturbed Emma. Apparently it was “looking at her funny.”

“Upside down,” Henry said, tapping the window.

“It’s a snowflake,” Emma argued. “They don’t have an upside down.”

“In this house they do.”

Emma stuck her tongue out when he turned away, and Regina caught her in the reflection, raising an eyebrow in playful warning to let Henry do his thing.

By the time they circled back around to the tree, the house smelled like cinnamon and pine and Henry practically vibrated with excitement.

“Okay,” he said, hands on hips. “Now we can do the star.”

— — —

The tree wasn’t that tall, but it was just tall enough that even Emma couldn’t reach the top easily without help. Regina moved first, stepping close and bracing a hand against the trunk to keep it steady. Emma came up beside Henry, and when she held out her arms, he passed her the star with a ceremonial seriousness.

“Okay,” Henry said. “But we all have to touch it.”

Emma raised an eyebrow. “All of us?”

“It’s symbolic,” he insisted.

Regina laughed under her breath but reached in anyway, her hand settling over Emma’s. Henry placed his hand on top of theirs, the star’s base lightly pinched between all three sets of fingers.

It was awkward and ridiculous, three bodies crowding the same tiny spot, shoulders bumping, someone’s elbow digging into someone’s ribs. Emma stretched up first and didn’t quite make it. Regina adjusted her footing, leaned in, and this time they managed to guide the star onto the highest branch. It wobbled for a second before settling.

Henry stepped back, triumphant. “There. Now it’s Christmas.”

Emma looked at the star, then at Regina. Regina looked back, both their eyes were shiny and wet. Henry didn't notice. 

Regina cleared her throat and folded her hands. “Yes,” she said. “I suppose it is.”

Henry was already digging through the ornament box again, humming something vaguely like a Christmas song. Emma stayed where she was for a moment longer, watching the star glow faintly in the tree lights.

She stepped back, nudged Regina’s arm lightly, and said, “Next year, we should probably invest in a ladder.”

Regina’s mouth curved. “Next year, perhaps Henry will have grown another inch. That'll help.”

Henry, from the couch, whined, “Hey! I’m right here.”

“Yes, dear. We know.”

Chapter Text

Regina wrapped gifts the way other people solved puzzles. Calmly. Methodically. The act brought her peace and security, and she had the utmost confidence in it.

Emma watched from the kitchen table in wonder, chin in her hands.

“I feel like I shouldn’t be intimidated, it’s paper, but this is scary to watch.”

Regina didn’t look up. “You should be. Wrapping is a reflection of care.”

Emma snorted. “Pretty sure it’s a reflection of how much patience you have for corners.”

Henry sat cross-legged on the floor between them, surrounded by bows and ribbons of all colors and levels of sparkle. “Mom does the hospital folds,” he said, reverent. “Like they do with bedsheets.”

Regina raised an eyebrow. “That is not a compliment.”

“It totally is.”

Emma picked up her own roll of paper and the tape dispenser, determined. She tried. She really did. She measured. She cut. She even smoothed the paper with the flat of her hand the way Regina did.

The result was… optimistic.

Regina glanced over. “You’ve used half the roll.”

Henry leaned over, inspecting it critically. “It looks like it’s wearing a poncho.”

Emma sighed. “I’m trying to meet your mother’s standards.”

“Mom’s standards are impossible,” Henry said cheerfully. “You should use magic.”

Regina stilled. “No magic.”

Emma looked down at the lumpy, over-taped present. Then up at Regina, who had already finished three perfectly wrapped gifts and was tying a bow with infuriating ease.

Before Emma could say anything, Regina crossed the room. She paused behind Emma’s chair, leaned in just enough that Henry couldn’t hear, and murmured quietly,

“If you even think about casting a spell, I will tickle you until you forget what wrapping paper is.”

Emma bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling. “You wouldn’t dare. Not with Henry here.”

“Oh, you are correct, dear, but what’s this?” She dropped her voice even lower. “Henry, dear, I think you left your bag at Snow and David’s. They’re making ornaments with Neal anyway, would you like to visit?”

Emma’s heart dropped into her stomach.

Regina straightened, completely composed. “Test me.”

Emma swallowed. For a moment, it looked like she might listen.

Then Henry, oblivious, clapped his hands together. “It’d be funny!”

Emma’s mouth twitched.

She shrugged, then spoke at normal volume. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

Regina’s mouth tightened. “Emma. You know better than to break my rules. No. Magic. That is cheating.”

Too late.

Emma murmured the spell under her breath. She only half remembered it and it definitely wasn’t meant for crafts.

The paper twitched.

Then it exploded.

Wrapping paper unfurled itself across the room like streamers at a parade. Ribbons snapped free from a pile and wound themselves around chair legs, table legs, even Henry’s arm.

Henry howled with laughter. “IT WORKED.”

A bow landed in Regina’s hair.

Emma stared, stunned, as paper attempted to wrap everything in sight, including the lamp and the decorative pillows a few feet away on the couch.

“I said no magic,” Regina said, carefully removing the bow from her head.

Emma winced. “In my defense, I didn’t know wrapping paper could be so… aggressive.”

Regina waved a hand dismissively in the air, and the paper fell lifelessly to the floor.

Silence.

Then Henry burst out laughing again, collapsing in a pile of limbs onto the carpet. “Best idea ever.”

Emma looked at the wreckage. Then at Regina. “So… still an art form?”

Regina surveyed the room, then picked up the mangled present Emma had started. She smoothed the paper, folded it neatly, and retied the bow. It was perfect.

“Yes,” she said dryly. “And like all art, it requires restraint.”

Emma smiled, “maybe I should just let you teach me.”

“I’d like that.”

Henry groaned dramatically. “Boring. I’m gonna wish for glitter.”

Emma and Regina spoke at the same time.

“No.”

Henry flopped back against the couch. “Ugh, lame. Can we have hot chocolate now?”

Regina glanced at the clock. “In a minute, sweetheart. Would you mind grabbing another roll of wrapping paper from the store before it closes?” She threw a playful glance at Emma. “Seeing as Miss Swan has managed to waste nearly our entire supply.”

“Sure! Can I grab some chocolate too? I want to dip it in my hot chocolate.”

“Of course.”

Regina handed him the money and Henry was out the door, slamming it shut behind him.

Emma exhaled. “See? Harmless.”

Regina turned to her slowly. “You deliberately ignored a clear instruction. And you laughed.”

Emma took a step back. “I did not laugh.”

Regina advanced, unbothered. “You were smiling.” 

Emma’s retreat ended when the edge of the counter hit her lower back. Regina carefully set the gift aside, then placed her hands on either side of Emma’s hips.

“I did warn you.”

Emma swallowed. Regina was close enough that she could feel the warmth emanating off of her.

The brunette paused her threatening for a moment. “Before I continue, are you still finding this amusing, or would you like me to stop right now?”

Emma met her eyes. “…I’m okay,” she said.

Regina searched her face for a beat longer, then nodded once, satisfied.

“Good.”

Her hands moved, then, fingers crawling lightly up Emma's sides, making her dance against the counter.

Emma clamped a hand over her mouth immediately, shoulders shaking as she tried to keep quiet. “Regina! Ah!”

“I gave you every opportunity, I was very clear.”

Emma shook her head, laughter leaking through her fingers despite her best efforts. “I thought– I thought you were bluffing!”

“I never bluff.”

Emma tried to straighten, failed, and ended up pressing her hip uncomfortably into the counter as Regina’s fingers wriggled towards the edges of her stomach and found a particularly unfair spot. “Guh!”

“Ooh, what's this?” Regina mused, subtly shifting Emma into a more comfortable position as she vibrated her finger into that devastating patch of skin. “That's a fun sound.”

Any attempt to hold her laughter in imploded as Emma shrieked. “AHHH!”

“We could have avoided this,” Regina purred, “you brought it on yourself.”

“DIHIHID NOHOHOT!”

“Oh, but you did. I guess the inability to follow directions doesn't come with understanding of consequences.

“SHUT UP!”

“Are you going to behave next time?”

“YES! YES YES YES! JUST STOHOPPP!”

Regina eased back without removing her hands and spoke into Emma's ear. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” Emma said quickly, breathless. “Yes. No more cheating with magic for important stuff. I promise.”

Regina paused. Let Emma sit in it a moment. Then she stepped back, hands lifting away.

Emma slumped forward, Regina stabilized her and grinned. “Good.”

She glanced once at the door, then back to Emma, smiling, punishment mask slipping off. “We are clear?”

Emma nodded. “Crystal.”

“Then you may clean up your mess. I’ll make the hot chocolate.”

Emma waved her hand and every scattered piece of wrapping paper was gone. “You’re enjoying this.” 

“Immensely.”

The front door opened a few minutes later, Henry’s voice echoing down the hall.

“I got the good chocolate!”

Emma and Regina exchanged a look and went to greet their son.

Chapter Text

Dinner was still twenty minutes from being done. Regina knew this because she’d checked the clock twice already, but Emma had been hovering at her elbow for at least 5 minutes.

Little Emma was quieter than big Emma, but not subtle. She only hovered with purpose. So Regina stirred the pot and waited.

Finally, Emma spoke. “Cookie.”

Regina didn’t turn around. “Dinner is soon.”

“One cookie.”

“No. You need to have dinner.”

Emma’s mouth pulled into a pout so dramatic it would’ve been funny if Regina hadn’t seen it coming from a mile away.

“I’m hun’gyyy,” Emma whined.

“I know,” Regina said calmly. “And dinner will help with that.”

Emma dragged her socked feet across the kitchen tile. “But cookies help faster.”

Regina set the spoon down and turned. Emma was standing there with her hands curled into the hem of Regina’s sweater, lower lip wobbling a bit.

“No cookie before dinner,” Regina repeated gently, kissing the crown of Emma's head. “That’s the rule.”

Emma huffed. “Don’ like that rule.”

Regina hummed. “You don’t have to like it.”

“Pleeease.”

Regina folded her arms. “Pouting will not change my mind.”

Emma crossed her arms too, badly mirroring her. “What will?”

Regina tilted her head, considering. “Well,” she said, “we could make a deal.”

Emma's eyes brightened immediately. “Deal!”

“You play quietly and wait until dinner. No whining, no sneaking, and you eat as much as you can of your food.”

Emma nodded fast.

“And,” Regina added, “if you do that, I will give you exactly one cookie after dinner. And”, a pause, “I might even throw in something extra.”

Emma squinted. “Extra?”

Regina’s fingers wiggled just slightly in the air between them. “Tickles.”

Emma gasped, delighted. “Tickles?”

“Yes,” Regina said. “If you behave.”

Emma bounced on her toes. “I can behave! I’m so good at behaving.”

Regina raised an eyebrow. “We’ll see.”

Emma climbed onto the chair and waited, for almost thirty whole seconds.

Then she slid off and toddled back over, pressing her face into Regina. “Waitin’ is hard.”

“You’re doing very well.”

Emma peeked up. “Still no cookie?”

“No cookie.”

Emma sighed. “Then I want my tickles now.”

Regina laughed softly. “Oh, I don’t think so. That’s part of the reward.”

Emma stomped back over to her chair, dramatics galore, but she did sit until food was ready.

Dinner was eaten very seriously. Emma took careful bites, glancing up at Regina after each one, checking her progress. When she finished the last bite, she pushed the plate forward proudly.

“All done.”

Regina inspected it. “Very good.”

Emma grinned. “Cookie?”

Regina reached for the cookie jar and placed exactly one cookie on Emma’s plate.

Emma’s eyes widened. “And…?”

Regina smiled. “And tickles.”

Emma squeaked. “Now?”

Regina chuckled and stepped closer. “Are you ready?”

Emma nodded so hard her hair bounced. “Uh-huh!”

“All right,” Regina said, “but you tell me if you want me to stop.”

Another nod.

Regina tickled up and down Emma's ribs first, gently pressing the pads of her fingers in in the way you would if you were playing a piano.

“Eee! Ehehehe!” Emma burst into laughter instantly, folding in on herself and trying, rather unsuccessfully, to hide.

Regina shifted to spider across Emma's tummy. Emma's knees went up, so Regina decided to just spider behind them instead.

“Mamaaaa! Hahahaha!”

“Yes, silly girl?”

“I don't! Ahh! Dunno!”

“Too much?”

“No! Mowe!”

“More? Goodness,” Regina said, “such a tough little one I have.”

She shot her hands up under Emma's arms and was rewarded with a screech. “AHAHAHA!! Dat cheatin! Cheatinnn!”

“Is it now?” Regina asked, fluttering gently around Emma's neck.

“Yehehes!”

Once Emma's laughter started to become breathless, Regina pulled back, smoothing blonde hair off Emma's forehead.

“‘Gain, Mama! ‘Gain!”

“Once more, we don't want you getting too tired. Where do you want your last tickles?”

Emma's only response was “pfffftttt!”

Regina knew what she meant, and began blowing lots of tiny little raspberries across Emma's stomach, top to bottom and back again, as the little one maniacally giggled and thrashed underneath her.

 “Okay, baby, that’s enough.”

Emma caught her breath, giggling softly and sitting a little wobbly, then reached for her cookie and bit into it with the utmost pride. She earned that cookie.

Once it was eaten, Emma proceeded to launch herself at Regina.

Regina took it in stride. “Oh, you're so sweet. Did you need a hug after all those tickles?”

“Mhm!!”

“You are such a good girl, you took that so very well.”

Emma beamed with pride and spun out of Regina's hug, giggling. “Chocwit?”

“Gods, help me.”

Chapter Text

It wasn’t supposed to snow yet. Regina had checked the forecast that morning, but December had been behaving itself so far. Cold, yes. But manageable.

Henry stood at the front window anyway, palms pressed to the glass.

“Do you think it could happen early?” he asked.

Emma leaned against the doorway. “I don’t think snow really takes requests, kid.”

Henry frowned. “Most things do.”

Regina glanced up from her book. “We live in a magical town, that doesn’t mean that’s how weather works.”

Henry turned to her. “You’re magic, though .”

“I am responsible.”

Emma piped up, “Debatable.”

Henry closed his eyes dramatically and whispered, “I wish it would snow. Just a little. Before Christmas.”

Regina opened her mouth to remind him that, again, really not how weather works… then there was a tapping against the windows.

Emma was the first to notice. “Uh. Regina?”

Snow drifted softly, gently past the glass. 

Henry gasped. “It worked.”

Regina marveled. “I didn’t–”

Another flake landed. Then another. Soon the yard was filling with it, covering the grass in a white blanket.

Henry was already pulling on his coat. “I’m going outside!”

“Boots,” Regina said.

“And gloves!” Emma added.

The door slammed behind him a moment later, and the house went quiet again.

They stood side by side at the window, watching Henry run through the yard, laughing as snow caught in his hair.

Regina folded her arms. “I didn’t cast anything.”

“Didn’t think you did.”

Regina glanced at her. “You’re not concerned?”

Emma shrugged. “He wished. It snowed. Feels… on brand for this place.”

“Yes, but Henry… can he do that?”

“I mean, kid has The Heart of the Truest Believer.”

“True.”

Henry slipped, recovered, then deliberately fell backward into the snow, absolutely covering himself in it.

Emma smiled. “He’s happy.”

“Yes, he is.”

Emma’s gaze drifted to Regina. To the way her hair caught the light from the window and the subconscious, loving smile she had on looking at Henry. 

Regina felt it, and eyes met Emma’s.

They stayed like that for a moment, Regina looked away first. “He’ll be cold soon.”

“Yeah,” Emma said. “But I don’t think he’ll care for a while.”

When Henry finally ran back toward the house, the snow had already begun to thin, fading as gently as it came.

He burst inside, leaving wet footprints and joy in his wake. “Did you see me?”

“We did,” Regina said, handing him a towel.

Emma ruffled his hair. “First snow. Pretty good wish.”

Later, after Henry was bundled up with cocoa and a blanket, Emma and Regina stood in the quiet kitchen again. 

Regina figured it wouldn’t be so bad if it snowed a couple more times.