A Storybrooke Christmas

As the long Maine winter settles over Storybrooke, the Nolan family gathers close in their small apartment above Granny's Diner and hotel. Ruby, the eldest, carries the weight of adulthood as she works beside Granny but dreams of freedom beyond the town. Belle, thoughtful and bookish, journals every detail of their modest life while helping care for her younger sisters. Emma, restless and strong-willed, struggles through her senior year of high school, her ADHD setting her apart in classrooms that rarely understand her. Ashley, gentle and fragile with a heart condition, remains home more often than not, filling their days with kindness and quiet courage. And Lily, the youngest, fights against her dyslexia and her fiery temper, determined to prove she is more than her struggles. With David in a coma, Mary Margaret keeps the household together, guiding her daughters with patience and quiet strength while the glow of the Mills mansion across the street reminds them of a wealthier, more powerful world.

The season takes a turn when the Nolan sisters receive an unexpected invitation to the Mills family's Winter Ball in December. It is here, among snow-lit lanterns and polished floors, that the sisters are introduced to Regina and Zelena Mills, their commanding mother Cora, and the intrigue of Storybrooke's wealthiest family. Emma collides with Regina in more ways than one, sparks of rivalry hinting at something more profound, while Ruby flirts on the edges of trouble, and Belle finds herself drawn to voices outside her world of books. Ashley's quiet sweetness charms guests despite her frailty, and Lily bristles against expectations. With Killian already Emma's mischievous friend at school and Graham guiding her toward responsibility, the sisters find themselves pulled into new connections, heartaches, and dreams that will shape their lives beyond that first snowy winter.