A/N: Hello everyone! I hope you're having a good 2019 so far. Right now I am kind of back into the headspace required for Letting Go, but I listened to Christmas music this morning and got my Christmas spirit back up enough to finish this little chapter. Let me know what you think! Thank you to those of you who reviewed the last chapter, I always appreciate your feedback!

Throughout the final thirty minutes or so of the drive, Emma was filled with a growing anxiousness that had nothing to do with the terrible road conditions, or with the forest branches leaning too far over the road, due to the weight of the ice on top of them. What if Regina completely freaks when she sees me? What if she rejects me? What if she calls the police? Emma worried. The last thing she wanted was to scare the beautiful brunette.

It had been well over four hours since Emma had left the airport, and she was ashamed when thoughts of turning around crossed her mind once again. She had made it so far, but maybe it was better to cut this trip short and avoid an embarrassing and heart-crushing refusal.

But I've already told Mom. Emma reminded herself. And the weather... there is no way I'll be able drive all the way back to the airport tonight. The hotels are probably booked up by now too...

Emma sighed. Regina had been lucky to have left Boston when she did. The brunette would have had at least an hour head start, and hopefully had reached home before everything had begun to ice over.

When Emma was asking herself for the thousandth time what she was thinking, amidst the trees ahead of her she spied a very snowed-in sign. Through the heavy snowfall she could just make out the words 'Welcome to Storybrooke', once she got close enough.

Oh god. Oh god oh god. Emma's heart began to race again. This was it. Regina and Henry were so close and she still had absolutely zero clue as to what she was going to say when she saw them. At the beginning of the trip she had convinced herself that she would have ample time to come up with something witty or romantic in the many hours it was going to take to get there, but here she was, hours and hours later, and still, nothing.

Emma was doing about nine miles per hour because of how snowy the roads were. This was because about five minutes previously, the road had taken a slight bend and when she had turned the car she could feel it sliding to keep going sideways on its own. She was really really proud of herself for going with the all-wheel-drive-off-road-capable SUV back at the rental place. She never would have made it in her own yellow bug. When finally she passed the welcome sign, it was as if she had just exited a snow globe. She was surprised to find that the road was ploughed, and even the snow seemed to have let up a bit. She could still see the ice on the trees, but the roads were no longer as hazardous as they had been further back in the country roads. Emma assumed that the snow ploughs must have made the main parts of town their priority, and would return to do the back roads later.

Soon Emma could see houses and buildings up ahead and knew she had reached Storybrooke. Now was the problem of figuring out what to do next. Her plan had been to simply ask around to learn where Regina lived, but what if the locals didn't want to help a creepy stalker find their beloved mayor? Okay, so maybe Emma had taken liberties on assuming the 'beloved' part, but based on what Emma had seen earlier how could anyone not love a mayor like Regina?

Emma was driving down Main Street now and she absolutely loved what she saw. The whole little town looked like a Christmas village. The street lights all had wreaths and ornaments, the shops and buildings were all decorated, there were snowmen, Emma could see a giant Christmas tree in a park up ahead... it was completely breathtaking. She had arrived just as the sun was going down so while all the lights were already on, she still had a clear view of the street. Despite the weather there were people everywhere, and Emma wondered if this was the holiday celebration Henry had mentioned back on the plane. Even from her car she could see that everyone outside just looked so happy.

Yes. This definitely seemed like a wonderful place to live.

After a shower and a cup of coffee, Regina had finally agreed to take Henry to the Christmas Festival that evening. The festival itself wasn't all that different from the tree lighting the town held at the end of November, but it was just another excuse for the townspeople to get together and indulge in wintery treats and enjoy the festive beauty that was Storybrooke, Maine at Christmas.

Henry was already bundled up and standing impatiently at the door. When he decided that Regina was taking too long he kicked off his boots and ran up the steps to the main landing, carrying her scarf and coat in tow. "Come on Mom we're going to be late!" He called out to her.

Regina appeared at the top of the stairs to the second floor with a fresh face of makeup on. She had changed into a cashmere sweater, which was a little more East-Coast-weather appropriate than her thin, red silk blouse had been.

"Henry there's not a set time we have to arrive. It's not like the tree lighting." She said as she descended the staircase.

"I don't want Granny's to run out of free hot chocolate and cookies."

"When does Granny ever run out? She's more than prepared every year, and you know if we stop by the diner tomorrow she'll have a tin full of freshly baked 'leftovers' just waiting for you."

Henry just held her coat out to her – a slim fit Bordeaux colored Canada Goose parka with a fur trim around the hood – and a cashmere classic check Burberry scarf that he had selected at random from the closet. "I don't want to miss anything." He said with a pleading look in his eyes.

Regina gave him a soft smile as she took the scarf from him and wrapped it expertly around herself. Henry moved behind her onto the first step of the staircase. He held the coat out for her and she slipped her arms back into its sleeves.

"Thank you sweetheart," Regina said as she bundled herself into the coat. She pulled a pair of gloves from one of the pockets and reached for her purse, which had been patiently waiting on the staircase since their return from the airport. "Will you be warm enough?" She asked. "Don't forget, we won't be taking the car."

"Well right now I'm overheating." The nine-year-old arched his eyebrow, a trait he had learned from his mother.

Regina inspected his outfit. He was wearing a winter coat, a wool pom-pom hat, a grey and red striped scarf and mittens. She must have approved because she responded with: "Let me know if you get cold, we can go into the diner or look around in the shops to warm up."

"Okay." Henry agreed.

Regina affectionately zipped his coat up a little bit more before placing a gentle hand on his back to guide him towards the front door and back into the chilly December evening.

A/N: Thanks for reading, please leave a review! Take care xx