Title: 12 Days of Christmas - Day 6
Author: Shatterpath
Feedback address: shatterpath@shatterstorm.net
Date in Calendar: 21 December 2013
Fandom: Once Upon a Time
Pairing: Emma and Regina, eventually.
Rating: soft PG. Barely!
Date Written: December 2013
Word Count: still a work in progress!
Summary: (sing it with me now) For the Twelve Days of Christmas, my OUaT author gave to me...
Warnings: nope
Website: ShatterStorm Productions – Doggie Duo
Link to: http://bdkk.shatterstorm.net/
Archive: ShatterStorm Productions & AO3 only…all others ask for permission & we'll see…
Feedback: Constructive criticism is always welcome.
Advertisement: Part of the FSAC:DW13

Disclaimer: "Once Upon a Time," the characters, and situations depicted are the property of Adam Horowitz, Edward Kitsis, Kitsis/Horowitz, and ABC Studios. This piece of fan fiction was created for entertainment not monetary purposes. Previously unrecognized characters and places, and this story, are copyrighted to the author. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author. This site is in no way affiliated with "Once Upon a Time," ABC, or any representatives of the actors.

Author's Notes: I enjoyed the challenge of using the famous Christmas song for this! It took some finagling to get the verse titles right-- not to mention come up with an fic idea for a few of them-- but I enjoyed myself writing this. It was written just before the half-season finale, so keep that in mind. Much of my story will contradict the final ep.

Beta: ariestess

6 Princesses Bowing

Things were moving along for the town holiday party and Emma found herself reluctantly roped in by family and friends. At least she got a chance to hang out with Alexandra again, making outrageous faces at the toddler to make her laugh.

"Y'know, kiddo," she murmured to the child as she grew weary and accepted a cuddle. "We have got to have every princess I know of in this room. That is perversely amusing somehow. Well, to me anyway."

There was some truth to the statement as Emma looked around to see her mother chattering at Kathryn and Ashley with Ariel close by.

"If we had Aurora here, we'd be a baker's half dozen."

Amused with herself, Emma pet Alexandra's head and enjoyed not being part of the preparations and annoyances the others relished so. Emma may have been born of their world, but this mundane world had raised her. Their fairy tale lives were a language Emma did not understand any better than birdsong.

"I was gonna help, but this is a little too 'princess party' for me."

Henry's dry wit drew Emma's eyes to him, mildly surprised to see the boy standing near the door with a smirk on his face. He might be her biological offspring, but that expression was all Regina. It startled Emma to realize that she missed the woman, surrounded as she was by all the cloying princessy mojo. Henry's smirk turned sly and he stepped in to give his blonde mother a quick hug, careful not to jostle her sleepy charge.

"See you later."

"Traitor," she deadpanned. "I'm telling your mother."

"Who do you think is waiting in the getaway car?"

It took a real effort to not crack up and awaken the nearly-asleep Alexandra.