You can do this. Nothing will be different. Remember, at least he will like you. Grace sighed and fixed her hair once again. Everything just had to be perfect.

"Grace, hun?"

She looked in the mirror and saw her father peaking his head in her bedroom. Since the curse had broken years before she had moved in with her father, spending part time between the Graces' –her curse parents- and her true father. He smiled wide and stepped inside, arms wide. She turned and hugged him tightly.

"What is it, papa?" she asked, pulled away to look up at him. It was then she realised he had changed into his Forest clothing, his large hat on his head once again.

"Just here to wish you luck tonight, not that you need it but with that family you never know…"

She chuckled and pulled away. "Thanks, papa." She looked him up and down and gain, raising a brow. "And where are you going?"

"Well since my daughter is scampering off to her boyfriend's home for Christmas Eve I am going on a quick run for some last minute necessities that the once former Queen and Gold has asked me for."

"What for?"

He shrugged. "The portals. Apparently they have figured out a way to hold and make a permanent portal to the Forest but they are missing some hard to obtain items which they have asked me to procure…"

"Papa…" she trailed off.

Hands were held up in self-defence. "Everything is on the up and up, Grace. It's to help everyone here, reconnect to our old land. We can go back home. And I'm the only one who can travel to the lands were the items are from."

She sighed but gave up. He was right. And she knew that things had changed in the other land since the curse had been lifted. The large players on the 'evil' side had given in and mellowed out and with two of the largest powers keeping an eye on the others, things had turned legit for the most part. Her father's powers too had become necessary in getting people home. And, she smiled at herself, she liked that he had taken her under his wing and had begun teaching her the business of being a Jumper.

"Fine." She leaned up and kissed his cheek. "You have a good time and be good. I'll see you tonight?"

"Tomorrow morning more likely. And you my dear, don't do anything I wouldn't do."

"Of course not, papa."

Henry sighed and tried to tame the stray piece of hair that had chosen to defy every hair product they had in the house. Tonight just had to go perfectly…She's going to run very far, and very fast.

Tonight Grace was going to join his family- the whole family- for Christmas dinner. They had been putting this off for a while now but after a year and a bit in the relationship, Grace had finally pushed him. Might as well get it over with, she had said. And to be fair, she had met all of them already. A few dinners here and there at the Mills' and Cassidy's, more than a few movie nights at the Jones' as well as babysitting his new baby brother-Zarek- together when his parents were working. In each occurrence everything had gone as well as could be expected…nothing super out of the ordinary (well as ordinary as they came) but tonight…it would be a big step. These gatherings were always chaotic and embossing when it was just family but bringing in his girlfriend? God he just hope she didn't run.

"Oi lad, come down and help your mothers get ready," Killian peered inside at the sixteen year old who still stood staring at himself in the mirror. He stepped into the room. "Everything alright?"

Henry turned and looked at his step-father and frowned. "Yes? No? I honestly have no idea."

Killian closed the door and strode over to the young man. A hand and a careful hook was placed on his shoulders and gave him a light shake. "You will be fine, Henry. Everything will go well. All of us promise to be on our best behaviour."

Henry looked at his step-father and nodded slowly. "I know but still…It's terrifying having her here."

"Why? Because you think something will happen to make her run or what it means that she is becoming part of the family?"

His eyes widened. Yep, Killian had hit it on the head, as he usually had whenever it came to most things. He had helped Henry get Grace in the first place and had been crucial on keeping her and while he hadn't needed the pirate's help in quite some time (at least in this department), Henry once again found himself turning to the older man for help. Yes, if Grace came then it just meant that they were one step closer to something…more…real? After coming from a family where True Love reigned supreme he felt pressure to achieve the same for himself.

"Lad," he shifted to wrap and arm around the teen's shoulder and tucking Henry into his side. "It's a large step, I know. But we can all see that the two of you are ready for it. You both work so well together –."

"But what if it's not True Love?"

Killian scoffed. "Please, you're both sixteen. The two of you have years to figure things out. It took me over three hundred years to come across your mother and if things hadn't had happened the way it had then we would never have met. Don't think that because it's not True Lover it's not real. True Love is rare believe it or not. You just happen to know nearly every individual that has been blessed enough to have it but thousands…millions of others find their love and for them it's true and that's all that matters. As long as the two of you care and protect one another that's all that your mothers and grandparents and I and anyone else could ask for, Henry."

Henry sighed but nodded his head. "Thanks…Dad."

Killian shook him gently and smiled. "Now, go and help your mothers get ready. I have been tasked with diaper duty…unless you'd like to trade jobs?"

"Not a chance," Henry pulled away from the pirate, laughed and bolted out the room.

"Grace, dear, welcome!"

Grace smiled politely and greeted the former Queen- Regina, as she had told Grace to call her- before walking into the Jones' house. The home was beautifully decorated in blues and silvers. Henry had complained to her numerous times on their nightly phone calls over the winter holidays about decorating with his grandmother and father…apparently the two were very intense and competitive decorators.

"Merry Christmas," Grace greeted.

Regina smiled and pulled her into a hug then took her coat. "Well come in and join the rest of the clan."

Screaming laughter came and young Roland came running in from the depths of the house and slammed into her.

"Grace, Grace, Grace! You're here!"

She smiled and leaned down to pick up the child. "Hello, Rolly. You been a good boy?"

"Yes!" he laughed and squirmed out of her grip.

"No," his step-mother countered, her arms crossed and a stern look crossed her face "Little munchkin got into my pie this morning."

"Oh but dear, can you really blame the boy?" Robin chuckled as he walked into the foyer and picked up his son who ran to him. The former outlaw kissed his now wife and greeted the young girl.

"Fine, fine," Regina waved him away. "Be gone," she ordered with a slight smile on her face. "Snow and I have more preparations to attend to."

Robin laughed and bowed before taking his son and walking out towards the backyard. Grace turned and followed Regina who made her way into the depths of the home. Inside was so warm and cosy. The fire place in the living room was roaring already and Grace noticed the heaping piles of presents under the large tree which Grace remembered going to the forest to find with Henry, Killian and Robin. Voices were heard from every room, each one sounding happy.

"Grace."

Henry stood in the living room entrance, a bag full of presents slung over his shoulder. "Sorry I couldn't greet you," he said as he put them into the ever growing pile. "I had to help bring in a few things for Mom."

"It's ok, I just got here." She walked over to him and smiled when he pulled her in closely. Lightly he placed a kiss to her forehead and smiled at her, his brown eyes warm and comforting.

"Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas Eve, my Prince."

Henry groaned at the title and ran a hand through his hair. "You don't have to…I'm not really…"

She pecked at his cheek and smiled. "I know, I just love that stupid look you get on your face."

"Oh is that so?" he laughed and tackled her, picking her up effortlessly and dumping her onto the couch and tackling her.

"Hey, not on my furniture you two!" Emma called out from the kitchen, noticing the pair.

"Oh but Emma love, we've tested it out enough to know it can take more than that!" Killian hollered from the stairs, arriving with baby Zarek in his arms.

They both quickly jumped off the couch. Grace blushed, Henry groaned and Emma grabbed the knife from her mother's hand and began to chase down her husband. Killian tossed his son to Belle who had just arrived, standing in the foyer with Gold and looking quite confused, before taking off at a run around the house, avoiding the newly pregnant saviour.

"Oh you little!" she yelled out. "I am going to skin you when I get my hands on you!"

Regina shook her head and covered her eyes. David and Snow just turned to each other and laughed.

"We did not need to hear that," Regina muttered. "Now I know where I won't be sitting."

"Oh please, Regina. Not like we haven't done the same." Robin quipped in. He leaned over the counter to swipe a finger into the desert she was finishing and narrowly missed having his appendage stabbed.

"You, never speak of that again," she pointed her own knife at her husband.

Henry shook his head. And this was why he had avoided this…alone they were all fine (relatively) but together it was insanity.

"What the hell did I just walk into?"

Henry looked over the couch from his spot on the floor at Neal and Tink who had just arrived shortly after Gold and Belle. The pair were still shaking off the snow when he ran over to greet them. Grace rose and smoothed out her shirt. It never really occurred to her how much Henry looked like his father's side until she saw the three of them standing together. She could see the similarities over the generations, the hair, their eyes, even their stature had become more and more similar as Henry grew. It made her smile as he quickly embraced his father and shook his grandfather's hand.

"Merry Holidays, dear!" Tink skipped towards her and pulled Grace into a crushing hug, separated only by the large pregnant bulge which was due in less than a month.

"It's Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays, not both," Neal sighed and shook his head, apparently tired of explaining it to his fiancé. "And Merry Christmas, Grace. Nice to see you've joined the nut house."

"Thanks and it's not that bad."

"So far," Henry scoffed and placed the bags his father had brought in under the tree. "Only two knives have been brandished, a record I think."

"Yeah well it's a bit easier now that we can't have firing practice while waiting for the food to cook." Neal offered.

"Speaking of food," Belle cut in to the small group and passed Zarek off to Neal. "Where should I put mine?"

"Here, let me," Henry jumped up and grabbed the package from the hall and escorted the Lady Belle into the kitchen where the other women seemed to have gathered. Grace followed the pair -leaving the now growing group of men as Killian, Robin and David arrived with children in hand- into the kitchen.

Just like the rest of the house this room was straight out of a magazine and smelled like perfection. No holiday Grace could remember felt this warm and perfect and she smiled as she was welcomed into the close knit group. The recently crowned Queen Snow and the resigned Queen Regina stood side by side at the oven, checking this and that. Emma poured herself another glass of not wine (as she complained throughout the night and continued to blame her husband who retaliated with a swig from his own glass and a well timed smirk) and came to stand beside her at the bar top. She nudged at Grace and smiled.

"Merry Christmas, kid."

Grace smiled. With that simple word she knew that she had been accepted.

The rest of the affair went fairly smoothly. Dinner was absolutely beautiful and the large crowd gathered around the extended dining table. Henry had laughed and told her he had to fight for the two of them to be at the 'adult' table and not sitting with Roland and James (as baby Zarek and Eva still sat near their mothers). The food was beautiful and the conversation lively. Discussions ranged from returning to the forest and royal politics to the boys planning a wide scale snow ball fight/duel in the morning. Eventually things petered out and they all shifted to the family room, the children screaming in delight at opening presents from their family member.

Grace smiled as Henry took his place on the floor, helping and attempting too wrangle in his two younger brothers and toddler uncle. Zarek had everyone laughing, even Mr. Gold, at his precision on opening his first presents ever, slapping away helping hands from his parents and brother and wanting to open them slowly.

As the children's gifts were given out the adults started to share a few of their own. Smiles and hugs between family and a few kisses between couples were shared. She was even given some beautiful clothing from Regina and Snow, a perfect little necklace from Belle and Gold and an empty leather bound journal book from Emma who had smiled and told her it was time to tell her own story.

Grace smiled and leaned back against the couch arm from her place on the floor, just taking in the warmth this once tattered and broken family now gave off. The wounds and hatred they had between each other were healing still but she saw he hope in their faces, the ties that were forming once again. Snow and Regina both gave each other fairly honest hugs after exchanging gifts, Emma and Neal shared a laugh over each other's gag gifts and even Hook –Killian- gave Gold a respectable nod when his wife opened up a present meant for the pair, a beautiful crystal mobile for the new babe.

She was lost in the moment and startled when Henry sidled up next to her and wrapped his arm around her. He pulled her in closer to his side and she in turn wrapped her own arm around his waist, tucking in closely.

"So nothing too traumatising?" he whispered resting his forehead on hers.

She smiled and shook her head. "Of course not. I had a great time. They aren't half as bad as you make them sound."

He pulled away and laughed. "Not trust me they're worse but there were nice enough to tone it down."

She shrugged and pulled him close again, watching his family continue to interact. Things dying down as the night went on. The fire slowly dying, the children crashing where they may as the sugar wore off. "Well they might as well drop it because you know…" she paused and looked into Henry's eyes. "I do plan on sticking around for a while. And it would be a shame if they had to put on an act for that many years."

He didn't answer at first. Emotions played on his face and then he stood up, pulling her with him. The others didn't question when he pulled her out to the back screened in porch. Silence between them grew at they both listened to the sounds of the small wooded area behind the house. The winter's wind was light and gently blew about the light snow that had been going for days.

"Grace," he finally spoke.

She turned to him and was unsettled by the look in his eyes. In those hazel eyes flashed fear for a moment before quickly being overcome by something much stronger.

"Grace," he repeated and took her hands in his. "I honestly don't know where to start or what to say. You'd think, you know coming from all that," he waved to the house, "that'd I'd have a better idea about stuff like this but I don't. All I know is that I care about you…really, really care about you and I know after seeing you here that I want you to be here, with me, well…for as long as you want to. I know we're young but that's never stopped anyone before."

Grace's heart stopped as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small ring. It was quite plain and simple, a small amethysts stone sat in the center.

"I want to give this to you, as a promise, I guess that I'll be here for you for as long as you would wish. That no matter what you'll always have a friend and someone to turn to." He paused and waited for her. Grace felt her eyes tear up but raised her hand. The warm metal slipped easily onto her right hand and his eyes, his smile made her day.

"Henry," she whispered and pulled him close. She smashed her lips none too gently onto his and he returned it just as fierce. She tried to convey what she always had trouble saying, tried to convey her gratefulness and hope, her friendship with him and…well yes her love for the gangly teen. She loved him.

"Love you, Grace," he whispered out as their kiss petered out. "As long as you'll have me."

She smiled and ran her hand through his hair, over his face and he the same. "I'll have you forever, little Prince."

"As you wish, my lady."

The pulled apart but stayed out together wrapped up in each other's arms and presence. The snow came down softly still but Grace was still warm, curled up next to Henry. She knew that here, with him she would be spending most of her life. She knew that next year they would find themselves in the same spot and hopefully for many years to come. The family would grow and change but she knew she would always have a place with them, with him for as long as she wished and right now that was forever. Forever seemed like just long enough.

Hello! Well hopefully you enjoy a slightly belated holiday fiction. Each chapter will follow Henry and the Jones siblings (from my 'verse shared throughout Letters, Distinguished and Wedding Day) brining home their significant others. I have the other three nearly written out but I also have three essays to write so will most likely not post for another week or so. So please feel free to read and review (please do, nothing gives a writer more of a boost than a quick 'good job') and thank you again to all those who have read and reviewed my other OUAT fictions and who have followed me. You guys really are helping me get through a rather tough and jarring time this year. So again thank you so much everyone, this would not be possible without you!