The Last Alpha

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

"MAMA!!!! MOMMY!!!! MAMA!!!! MOMMY!!!! WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP! IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!!" A four year old Henry screamed, as he launched himself into their bed, startling them awake! "GET UP! GET UP! GET UP! SANTA CAME!!! GET UP!!!"

"Damn kid, the sun isn't even up yet..." Emma grumbled, as she untangled herself from Regina. "Wait! How do you know Santa came? Did you peek downstairs?" Emma asked, as her eyes struggled to adjust to the sudden light of the lamp.

"No...." Henry said, with a devilish grin on his face.

"Henry Daniel. Did you peek at the tree?" Regina asked, in her softest Mayoral voice.

"Yeah...I did...just a little though!" Henry said, still excited. "Get up!"

"Why don't you stay up here with Mama for a little longer, and I'll go make some coffee and hot cocoa. And when it's ready we can see what Santa brought you?" Regina suggested.

"No! I want to help you make hot cocoa, Mommy!" Henry said. "But Mama has to come with us!"

"Well, Emma, your child has spoken. Looks like it's time to get up!" Regina smiled, clearly enjoying torturing Emma with the early hour. They had been up late the previous night, sneaking downstairs in the early morning hours to put out Henry's presents from Santa, knowing he would most likely still be awake in his room and listening for Santa until past midnight.

"Fine. But I need two things before I can get out of bed. The first is a kiss from Mommy!" Emma said, pointing to her cheek, where Regina quickly planted a kiss. "The second is a kiss from Henry!" She said, as she pointed to the other cheek, gaining a sloppy kiss from her son, tickling him senseless for a few seconds.

"Mama!! Stop!!!" He laughed, as he tried to wiggle out of Emma's grip.

"Ok! LET'S GO!" Emma declared, kicking off the blankets, jumping out of bed, following their son out of their room. She stopped just before she left the room, turning around to grab Regina. "Merry Christmas, My Love." She whispered, kissing Regina sweetly.

"Merry Christmas." Regina smiled, grabbing Emma's hand tightly, intertwining their fingers, as they made their way downstairs to start Christmas morning with Henry.

Twenty long minutes later, they were sitting in the living room, a fire burning in the large fireplace in the rarely used room, sipping their coffee as they watched Henry rip open present after present, wrapping paper flying through the air like snow.

"We're going to spoil him rotten." Regina whispered, as Henry squeaked at all his new toys.

"You think?" Emma laughed. "We'll stop after he stops believing in Santa." She said, as Henry suddenly ran up the stairs behind them, returning a few seconds later with two thin boxes wrapped in tissue paper.

"I almost forgot your presents!" Henry said, handing one to each of them.

They slowly unwrapped the presents, opening the lids together. Inside each box was a small picture frame, clearly from one of those paint-your-own-pottery places. The frames were clearly painted by Henry, they would recognize his art style anywhere. Each frame had either a picture of Henry and Emma or a picture of Henry and Regina, tucked carefully under the glass.

"Oh Henry, it's beautiful." Regina said, trying her hardest to keep from crying.

"Did you paint them yourself?" Emma asked, running her fingers over the picture.

"Yeah. Auntie Ruby helped me a little. I picked out the pictures myself, too!" Henry said, clearly proud of his work.

"I Love it, kid!" Emma said, pulling Henry in for a hug, kissing the top of his head, his hair still wild and messy from sleep.