And then at last the dawn. Gentle light pouring in the windows to dispel the dark, chase off the shadows and clear away the wreckage of that sad future. Regina upon opening her eyes could scarce believe the welcoming beauty of this new day, the tiny spark of hope it carried with it. She sprung out of her bed, and ran to the window, throwing it open and leaning out, just to revel in the sensation of that crisp clean air against her skin. No more the lonesome whistling of the wind – now all Regina heard was the distant sound of bells, chiming joyfully at the arrival of Christmas morning.

Christmas! Oh if ever she was going to change her fate, it would have to be today, when the visions were still so clear; when she could still hear the Spirits' warning voices and feel the chill of the decaying prison that was waiting for her. Today, when all the songs promised good will, and all the stories told of a bright and shining light to lead the way from darkness. She pulled back from the window, and hurried to the door of her room, pulling it open and stepping into the hallway – ah! This beautiful house, clean and bright, standing strong as though it could stand forever – Regina knew better than that now. Her feet barely touched the ground as she hurried to the staircase and down. She rushed then to the front door, and threw it open, as though to let in the world.

Time, there was still time! Time enough to set things right, to chart a better course. She wanted to march out right then and there, barefoot in the cold, and shout a greeting to every person she saw – but no, time enough for that later. For now, her redemption would start – as all the best ones do – with a cinnamon pie.

·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·

Hours later Regina stood at the door of Mary Margaret's apartment, pie in hand. She hesitated now, staring at the threshold which would be the point of no return for her – but then she thought of the visions from the Ghosts, and she was ready to cross through. She knocked.

It was Emma who answered the door. For a long moment the blond just stared out in surprise. Finally, Regina took pity. "Ms. Swan… I've rethought my position on this gathering. I hope the invitation still stands?" Still no answer from the dumbfounded Savior. "I brought a pie?"

At that, Emma managed to huff out a laugh. "Well, someone told you the magic words! Yeah, absolutely the invitation still stands. Come on in…" She stepped back, allowing Regina to enter. "Henry!" Emma shouted over her shoulder, as she took the pie from Regina's hands. "We're gonna need another place at the table!"

Henry barreled around the corner from the kitchen. "What, Emma?" He asked, before catching sight of Regina. "Mom!" He exclaimed, freezing in place. "You came!"

Regina smiled at him then, wide and true. "I came." She hesitated. "I hope that's okay."

Henry just grinned back at her. "It's Christmas, you're supposed to spend it with your family."

Snow stepped out of the kitchen then, wiping her hands with a dish towel. She stared at Regina in surprise, Regina just raised her eyebrows by way of greeting. Baby steps. She reached then into her coat, and pulled out a package which she offered to Snow. Snow accepted the package, but looked at her curiously. "They're candles…" Regina explained. "Henry gave them to me as a Christmas present one year. I've just been… waiting for the right time to use them."

And to Regina's surprise, once they were all seated around the table and the candles were lit, they cast a glow that was truly beautiful.

·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·

"Alright, Henry, it's time for us to get back stage, you've got to get in costume, James has to survey the props, and I have to make sure everyone's here!" Announced Snow. Regina, Emma, the Charmings, and Henry all stood in the lobby of the school auditorium, waiting for the pageant to begin.

Henry nodded his assent but before he left, he stepped towards Regina, and smiled up at her. "I'm really glad you came, Mom." He told her, a little shyly. Regina smiled back at him. "I'm glad I came, too, Henry. I've never missed one of your pageants. If I'd missed this one… Well, it would have been very foolish of me." She reached out then, and ran a hand across his hair. He seemed truly happy that she was there.

"Alright, I have to go. Watch for my solo!" Henry exclaimed before turning to scamper off after Snow and Charming.

Regina turned to Emma then. "Well, shall we go get seats?"

Emma nodded, but didn't make a move for the doors. "I just… I'm glad you came, too, Regina. I know it was probably hard for you –"

Regina quickly shook her head. "No. I thought it would be hard, but it hasn't been – not at all. Not like staying away would have been. This has been… a perfect Christmas."

Emma raised her eyebrows, surprised – but she smiled. "Alright, come on, let's go grab some seats."

A few moments later, the house lights in the auditorium dimmed, and the performance began. It was more or less the same as it was every year, but this year the songs seemed sweeter to Regina, the messages of hope and faith truer. And that was infinitely more so when Henry walked onto the stage alone, holding a candle.

Let the stars in the sky

Remind us of man's compassion.

Let us love til we die

And God bless us, everyone.

Slowly, the other students joined him on stage, all holding lit candles, and taking up the song.

In your heart there's a light

As bright as a star in heaven.

Let it shine through the night,

And God bless us, everyone.

It was only when Emma pressed a crumpled up tissue into her hands before fishing another out of her coat pocket for herself that Regina realized she was crying.

·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·

Emma and Henry walked Regina home. The streets were dark, but the Christmas lights shone spectacularly, lighting their way. They really were very lovely, Regina thought to herself.

At last, they arrived back at her house. Regina wished she'd left some lights on when she'd left, it looked very dark and lonely right now, and Regina found herself reluctant to go back in there.

Until, that was, Henry moved from Emma's side to stand next to her. "Emma," he said, "I think I'm going to stay with my mom tonight, if that's okay."

Emma just smiled at him. "Sure, kid, that sounds good. I'll tell Snow and James you said goodnight –"

"-And Merry Christmas!" Henry interjected.

"And Merry Christmas." Emma looked over to Regina then. "Goodnight, Regina. I really am glad you came today."

Regina was still too stunned by Henry's pronouncement to be very eloquent, but she managed to choke out a goodnight. "Thank you for inviting me, Ms. Swan…" Emma nodded, and turned to head down the walkway back to the street. "Merry Christmas!" she called back over her shoulder, just the very same way she had the night before – oh, but that felt like lifetimes ago.

At that, Henry and Regina stepped into the house. Strange, the way a house that had felt so very empty with one person in it somehow felt abundantly full with two. Regina couldn't stop smiling, it was a very strange feeling. "Well… I guess you should get changed for bed? Maybe I'll make a fire, and make us some hot chocolate, and you can – tell me what you got for Christmas?"

Henry beamed at her. "Okay!" He turned to go up the stairs, but turned back just a second later. "Oh, I almost forgot! I got something for you!" He reached into the pocket of his coat, and fished out a little tissue wrapped bundle. "I'm sorry it's not wrapped better. Emma used all the tape on her presents – she's not very good at wrapping."

Regina just smiled, as she accepted the little gift. "I hope you like it," Henry whispered nervously. "I know you don't have anywhere to hang it, but –"

Inside was the little Christmas ornament she'd seen him looking at the night before. Ah, so the Ghosts had not lied to her then, it had not all been some dream. They had shown her true enough. And how much better was she now, for what they had shown her? It didn't even bear thinking of. She was a million miles now from where she'd been the night before, and she certainly would never go back. She interrupted Henry, placing a hand against his cheek. "Well next year, we'll have a tree. And this –" She held up the ornament, watching it spin on the red ribbon it hung from "-will be the most beautiful decoration on it."

Henry nodded, smiling, before turning again to head to his room. "Okay, I'm changing now. Don't forget the hot cocoa, Mom!" He paused again, midway up the flight of stairs. "Mom? Merry Christmas…"

Regina looked at him, standing there smiling at her. A night before, she'd thought she'd never see him in this house again. Now there he was, looking honestly happy to be there. Henry understood the Christmas spirit – he always had done, she realized. He'd understood that it was a season to give selflessly and fearlessly, and look what he'd given her tonight. Regina understood now, too. And she would do her best to hold to that spirit, whatever the season, whatever world they found themselves in. She'd thought the words would be harder to say – she'd avoided speaking them for so long, but in the end, they were the very easiest ones, and the most sincerely meant, she'd ever spoken. "Merry Christmas, Henry."