SQ Halloween AU

In light of the upcoming celebrations, I decided to write a festive one shot. But since SQ one-shots and I don't really work, this story extended to a three-shot (if that even exists). I'll probably update on Wednesday/Thursday.

Part 1/3

Emma Swan was positive that Halloween was her favorite holiday. Even if most people didn't even consider it a holiday.

Ever since she was a little kid she would wait for October with an unexplainable excitement. 'Pumpkins and Ghost!' she would yell as soon as she woke up every 1st of October. Then she would run down stairs, as if it would be Christmas, to help her mother putting the decorations on. It didn't matter how old Emma was, she was always a kid for Halloween.

Loving Halloween ran on Emma's family. Her mother always made their costumes with an extra touch of scary (Emma loved making the other kids cry.) and her uncle always organized huge parties (With tons and tons of candy!). It was something Emma and both of her cousins, David and Kathryn, had inherited.

But for Emma, David and Kathryn, Halloween was not only about candy and scaring kids. It was about spending time with your family doing fun stuff like making your own costumes or carving pumpkins or baking food for their party. It was a tradition that had passed from their grandfather, to their parents, to them - it was something they cherished and enjoyed every minute of it.

Besides, Halloween was not just one night in the Nolan household, it was one whole week - with pre and post celebrations too. The pre-celebrations consisted mainly on Kathryn stressing over last-minute details, and the post celebrations consisted mainly on Emma and David recovering from their massive hangover over scary movies and lots of water (and aspirins).

As every year, Emma moved in with her cousins as soon as the monday before Halloween came with the excuse to help Kathryn with the preparations. The blonde didn't really help her cousin, Kathryn only did boring chores like cleaning the house. She did, however, help David with the decorations, because they were so much fun. Each year they would pick a different theme and decorate the whole house. This year it was the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Plus, David and Emma would always dedicate time on practicing for their costumes, since they both depended greatly on make up; Kathryn, however, had given up on face paint years ago and had decided to either buy masks or go with her face clean because she didn't have the patience nor the time to paint her face. This year Emma had decided to dress as Darth Maul from Star Wars, so she needed extra time to practice (specially because those stupid horns wouldn't look real - it was so much easier when the chick on YouTube made them)

"You got the horns all wrong," David commented, as he casually entered the bathroom and face away from her - he was going to use the toilet.

"Dude! Some privacy?!" Emma made a face of disgust and looked out the window.

"Ah, common, it's not like you are interested on looking at my junk," David finished peeing, "Or any male junk," he chuckled and flushed the toilet, ever since Emma had come out their friendship became even stronger.

Emma rolled her eyes and returned her sight to the mirror, David was next to her, washing his hands "Doesn't mean I'm not disturbed when I hear Niagara Falls next to me," she said and looked as his reflection, he looked back at her and smiled.

Before David could say anything else, Kathryn walked into the bathroom.

"Seriously, guys!" Emma protested "Haven't you ever heard of the word P-R-I-V-A-C-Y?!"

Kathryn completely ignored Emma's comment with a "Your horns look weird," and made a weird face.

Emma threw her hands in the air "Thank you, Captain Obvious! How about you guys give me some encouragement and not only critics?" She added as she took placed the paint palette on the sink and took the make up remover and started removing the paint from her face.

"You have time to practice," her cousin added patting her back, "Anyway, I wanted to tell you that Regina is stopping by,"

Emma had no idea who Regina was, but by the sound that David made she was sure that he was not a fan of this Regina woman. And if David didn't like someone, the chances of Emma liking her were very small.

"She's nice when you give her a chance," Kathryn defended the person, which made Emma understand that Regina was her cousin's friend.

"Nice and Regina do not mix,"

"David," Kathryn said in a warning tone and walked out of the bathroom.

"Nice and Regina do not mix," David repeated, whispering it to Emma's ear. And the blonde couldn't help but to giggle. "I will leave you with your precious privacy to practice your make up, Lady Swan,"

"That's very kind of you, Sir Nolan," Emma chuckled and put her hair up in a pony tail before she started working on her make up again.

Emma heard the bell ran as she worked on the last details of her make up. This time her Darth Maul make up was almost perfect, she grinned and almost patted herself in the back as she walked towards the door to see who had decided to join them on their pumpkin carving evening.

The blonde opened the door but before she could say something, the brunette that was standing in front of the door raised an eyebrow. The woman standing in front of Emma was beautiful, but Emma didn't take the time to appreciate all the features because she felt the urge to explain her look.

"It's just face paint," Emma explained, as if it wouldn't be obvious.

"And here I was thinking you had a terrible skin condition," the brunette rolled her eyes.

"Not as terrible as your lack of humor," Emma pointed out and once again felt the urge to pat her back.

"This," the brunette moved her hand over Emma's face, "is not humor, it's infantilism,"

"Oh," Emma let out as if she had just realized something, "You must be Regina. David told me you were a bitch,"

Regina said "Charming," with a hint of annoyance at the same time that David appeared behind Emma

"Those were not the words I used," he said, sliding an arm around Emma's shoulders.

"David," the brunette narrowed her eyes.

"Regina," he replied dryly.

"Emma!" Emma said gleefully, she was not going to allow the brunette ruining Halloween for them "So, David, better?" she pointed at her face

"It's better than last time," he said inspecting his cousin's make up "You still need to work on the horns, though,"

"I see putting some much effort into a pointless holiday runs in the family," Regina commented and stepped into the Nolan's house without really being invited, "Kathryn was not kidding when she said that Halloween is important for your family," she pointed out, looking at the decorations David and Emma and put on the living room that morning.

Emma and David followed her inside, David muttering something like 'Please, do make yourself at home,' and Emma whispering something like 'How is Kath friends with Halloween-Grinch?'. Their murmurs, however, were overshadowed by Kathryn welcoming her friend into their home.

"Regina, you made it!"

"Of course, dear!" Regina walked to hug her friend, "I promised I'll spend the evening with you to see what is all this nonsense about,"

"It is not nonsense!" Emma yelled, almost defensively. She would defend Halloween before she would defend her own pride. It was because Halloween reminded her of her deceased mother and grandfather, they loved Halloween and insulting the holiday was like insulting their memory. David also tensed up at Regina's comment but remained quiet, probably because he was too much of a gentleman to say something to a lady.

Emma, on the other hand, was not a gentleman, and didn't consider Regina was a lady.

"It is a holiday invented by the companies to sell candy, dear," Regina stated matter-of-factly.

"It was not invented by companies," Emma replied, "Halloween has been a tradition in different countries for centuries,"

"Yes, well, I'm sure the Celtics celebrated their Halloween slightly different," the brunette commented.

"Alright!" Kathryn interrupted before her cousin and her best friend killed each other with those icy glares. "I see you've met my cousin, Emma," Kathryn smiled "Emma, this is Regina,"

"And David was right about her," Regina raised an eyebrow at Emma's comment, wondering what had David said about her. But before she had time to ask, or before Emma could elaborate in her lame excuse of an insult, Kathryn started talking again.

"Regina has never carved a pumpkin, so I thought that we could help her on her first time,"

"Would you look at that!" Emma acted surprised and gently slapped David's stomach with the back of her hand, "Regina is going to lose her pumpkin-carving virginity to us,"

"Emma! that's highly inappropriate!" her cousin reprimanded her.

"I apologize, cousin dearest," she told Kathryn, "I did not know pumpkin-carving virginity was a taboo in this household,"

Kathryn pinched her nose's bridge and breathed deeply. It was already bad enough that David and Regina hated each other, but if Emma would boost David's behavior, the outcome to the evening that she had planned would not be as expected. She needed to separate David and Emma "Emma, just take the make-up off and help me with the muffins,"

"Ah, common! You know there's only one thing I know how to do regarding muffins, and that's eating them,"

"Yes, Emma is good eating all sorts of things," David elbowed her, "Right?" he added, raising and lowering his eyebrows.

"A girl never eats and tells, David," she joked back. "But I can give you some pointers if you need help," they both chuckled; it was always like this with David, specially because innuendos drove Kathryn crazy. "I think David should be on Muffin duty for encouraging my inappropriate behavior!"

"I think I'll handle the muffins myself, you will help Regina," Kathryn pointed at Emma, and Emma sighed at her new chore, "And you will go and pick to the cake at Mary Margaret's,"

"No! I want to pick the cake at M's!" Emma protested, Mary Margaret was one of her best friends from childhood.

"Too bad she's my girlfriend and not yours!" David sing-sang and grabbed the truck's keys "Wait up for me, then I'll beat you at Call of Duty," letting Emma know that he would stay at Mary Margaret's for a longer time than picking up a cake really needed.

"You do not get to steal my best friend and my highest record!" Emma yelled as he walked out of the house, he raised a hand to let Emma know that he had heard her, and that it was exactly was he was planning to do.

"I hate your brother," Emma told her cousin.

"You guys deserve each other," Kathryn replied, but her attention was on her phone. She was reading a text message, "I have to go and pick something up at Frederick's. Are you going to behave or should I give you plastic knives?"

"Definitely, otherwise I'd kill Regina and chop her into small pieces and make pies like Miss Lovett's, and serve it to our guests to get rid of the body," Emma replied nonchalantly

Kathryn rolled her eyes at the same time that Regina asked "Must you be so disgusting?"

Emma shrugged and went to the bathroom to take the face paint off her face. When she came back, Kathryn had already left the house and apparently explained Regina how to carve a pumpkin (or more like how to destroy the innocent orange ball-like food)

With a smile on her face, Emma saw as Regina fought with her pumpkin. The brunette's eyebrows were furrowed and her tongue sticking out from one of her mouth's corners. Regina was so concentrated with her task that she didn't notice Emma openly staring at her. Emma found it quite endearing, to be honest. Regina looked adorable when she was trying to make something perfect, but carving a pumpkin was hard, specially if it was your first time. Emma could bet all her money that Regina was not used at being less than perfect at something. It was only when the blonde chuckled that Regina dropped her knife and looked at Emma.

"You find it amusing, don't you?"

"You look cute when you're frustrated," the blush that Emma's comment caused on Regina didn't go unnoticed by the blonde "Here, I'll teach you," she offered, taking Regina's knife and sitting next to her in the kitchen's bench.

"Don't bother, Kathryn already tried," Regina replied in a defeated tone "I'm a lousy pumpkin carver,"

"Kathryn is a lousy teacher," Emma stated "Grab the knife like this," the blonde showed the brunette, it took a while for Regina to master the right grip, "Now, try carving a triangle in your already mutilated pumpkin,"

Emma watched as Regina failed, once again, to make a proper cut. "I'm useless,"

"Yeah, that's what happens when you don't celebrate Halloween,"

"I used to celebrate it," Regina admitted "When my father was alive,"

"And you never carved a pumpkin?"

"My mother didn't believe that I should be engaging in such activities," Regina replied "She would hire someone to do them for us,"

Emma looked at Regina as the brunette lowered her head and played the with the pumpkin seeds and pulp. It made Emma feel bad, no wonder Regina thought Halloween was a commercial holiday: she didn't know better.

"Alright, we'll change the approach to this problem," Emma said, standing on the bench and placing one foot on each of Regina's side.

"What are you doing?" Regina asked as Emma sat behind her, the blonde's legs hanging on each side on her own.

"Making you uncomfortable, obviously," Emma teased her and grabbed Regina's hand and placed the knife, "This is how my mother taught me," she explained without letting go of Regina's hand.

"It is less inappropriate when you do it with your mother, as a kid,"

In Emma's mind that sounded wrong in so many levels, but she decided to stay quiet and not make Regina more uncomfortable. Besides, she also needed to distract her mind from the tingling in her lower abdomen and between her legs.

"Alright," Emma grabbed the pumpkin that Regina had tried to carve minutes ago with her free hand and dragged it closer, "When you pierce the pumpkin, you angle the knife like this," Emma guided their joined hands and cut the pumpkin that was beyond saving, "And then you place your hand like this, and smoothly do the cut," Emma continued, ignoring how good Regina smelled "Always with smooth but sharp movements," she whispered, afraid that her voice would betray her, "And, we have one of the eyes!"

Regina looked at the triangle that they had carved with a little smile on her face "Help me with the other one?" she asked Emma, not wanting to lose the blonde's warmth against her back. 'Seriously, Regina? What is wrong with you? You are not a teenager, stop behaving like one!' she scolded herself

"Sure," Emma replied, and took the question as an invitation to lean even more against Regina "But, try to do it on your own and I'll tell you if you're doing something wrong," she added, letting go of Regina's hand and placing her hands on Regina's thighs.

She had not done it on purpose, putting her hands on Regina's legs. It had felt like the natural thing to do, and it was not until she saw Regina tightening her grip around the knife that Emma realised what she had done. She quickly removed her hands from Regina's thighs and awkwardly placed them over the table.

Relief washed her over when she felt Regina releasing a breath and grabbing the pumpkin to continue with the carving. Regina started working on the other triangle; and if Emma's actions had distressed her, she didn't show. The second triangle was almost as good as the one Emma and herself had done together, even if it took her twice the time.

"Would you look at that! Our pumpkin has two eyes!" Emma commented in an over-excited tone, it was a tone she only used during Halloween. And it made Regina pursed her lips into a smile (and silently thanked all the Gods that Emma couldn't see it from where she was sitting)

Then, Emma proposed to Regina to carve the nose before they moved on to a higher task: the mouth.

"Yes, that's it," Emma praised Regina as the brunette pierced the area that would be the pumpkin's nose "Stick it through the same hole, yes, right there," she commented as Regina cut the triangle's second border. "Push it with you finger. You are so good at this!"

Emma meant it as an encouragement, but for her cousin, who had just heard the last sentences, and didn't know what was really happening, the words sounded wrong.

"I wish somethings could be unheard!" David commented as he carefully placed the cake he had picked up (more than five hours ago) on the table, "So wrong, so wrong," he added, covering his ears and shaking his head.

"You have a hickey," Emma pointed out calmly, not moving an inch away from Regina. "Look what we made!" she turned the half-mutilated half-unfinished orange ball.

"Congratulations, it's a pumpkin!" David teased her, "Hey, buddy, I'm your uncle David," he said patting the pumpkin

Emma raised an eyebrow and said "You're a jerk,"

"Language! They pick up those words!" David pointed at the pumpkin "And seriously, Em... You did better than this when you were ten,"

"Cut her some slack!" Emma protested, "It is her first time carving," the blonde was suddenly feeling protective of Regina, and it made the brunette's heart skip a beat.

"No kidding," David said, as if it wouldn't be obvious and then left the room.

"What's his problem with you?" Emma asked curious and moved to sit behind Regina, rather than next to her.

Regina caressed the pumpkin with her thin fingers, considering if she should tell the reason behind the mutual hate between her and David, or just tell Emma that's none of her business. Emma didn't push her, but she kept on staring at Regina, waiting for an answer.

"David and I had an internship together at the City Hall," Regina said, "At the end of the summer one of us would be given a job, and I got it," she explained, "He says it is because my mother is friends with the mayor,"

"Is it true?"

"Probably," Regina replied, and even if Emma knew that the answer had been an honest one, the blonde could also feel a hint of guilt in Regina's voice. Regina avoided making eye contact with Emma, wondering if she had damaged the newly formed friendship between herself and the blonde.

But if Emma was upset by the story, she kept the opinions to herself. Because she only opened her mouth after pointing at the pumpkin to say "Let's go with the mouth,"

Regina nodded and smiled, and continued carving the pumpkin. Emma stared at her, not longer supervising the job but studying Regina. Sure, she understood why David disliked her, but it was no reason for Emma to dislike her. Regina did sound somewhat guilty about it, plus, she had been honest with Emma, and honesty was one of the things Emma treasured the most.

"Stop ogling," Regina scolded her, "You are making me uneasy,"

Emma didn't reply, she just pursed her lips into a smile - which Regina returned - and then started to carve her own pumpkin.

Next chapter: Emma helps Regina with her costume.