The beginning of the end!

This is the first chapter that is less than 1,000 words, but I want to set things up for next chapter.

So let's get things going, because this chapter will be very crucial!


"The next step, will be to show how unprofessional the Mirror really is, and we'll use Ms. Swan herself for it. She tries to undermine my decisions and your capacity using dirty tricks, then I shall give her a taste of her own medicine, and end her career - forever."


The election was a little over a week away, and Emma was furiously trying to figure out how to make her article perfect. It would be the deciding factor to bringing Cora's deceptive and manipulating ways to light, but she was just pulling up a blank. She let out a frustrated growl and put down her legal writing pad. She leant back, resting her head on top of the couch's backrest and closed her eyes.

Regina came up and stood behind the couch and put her hands on Emma's shoulders, gently kneading to try and calm her friend, looking down at the blonde.

"You need to relax," Regina murmured.

"Kinda hard to do so when you've got a writer's block," Emma responded. She sighed and looked at the upside down Regina, asking, "Is Henry..."

Regina smiled and nodded. "He is asleep. The 500 pieces puzzle tired him out."

Emma let out a small chuckle. "Sorry you ended up in babysitting duty, but I've just been so busy with this article and-"

She was interrupted by a kiss on the lips. Over the past 2 weeks their relationship had stayed steadily the same. Everyone in town knew that the two exes were friends now, but their kisses were still kept a secret. No one else knew about the small tokens of affection, not even Henry knew for now. It wasn't that they wanted to hide it from him, but the little boy had a big mouth and an even bigger imagination. One kiss, to him, could mean a world of things that neither woman was ready for.

"It's fine Emma. Henry is a darling and I love spending time with him."

"So does he, by the way. He keeps asking me when 'Gina' will be coming over," Emma said with a playful smirk. "You know, I think Gina will stick."

Regina attempted to glare at Emma but it didn't hold for long before she leant down to capture the lips gently one more. "Maybe," she softly said once they broke apart.

After they had shared a few more kisses, Regina asked, "How's the article going?"

"Not that great. I keep getting stumped..."

Regina went around the sofa and sat down beside Emma. "Well, maybe I can help?"

Emma flashed her a grateful smile. "Yeah, I'd love that."


"I'm certain the girl will be writing some sort of article about me. You will volunteer to help her with it, and I will provide you with the material she needs for her article."

"Why help her though?" Regina asked.

"Oh we're not helping her. Rather, we're going to set her up to publish an incredibly untrue article, thereby destroying her reputation and credibility."


"Ah Regina, there you are. You're early," Cora looked up at seeing Regina enter her apartment.

The younger Mills woman swore that her mother was spending more time in her apartment than anywhere else. "Hello mother," she stiffly greeted.

"I have the information for you to give to our intrepid reporter," Cora said, ignoring the cool hello. She held out a thick manila folder.

"How do we know that she'll believe this? What if she does research?" Regina asked, taking the folder.

Cora waved it off. "I made sure to falsify records and include them in the folder. If she was interested in verifying, she'll find that the real documents are locked up and not accessible to the general public."

"I see. I'll get these to her tomorrow."

"See that you do. And remember to spin a story to her about sneaking in to find all of this, and all that cloak and dagger nonsense that she'll surely buy," Cora added dismissively.


The next day, Regina headed to Emma's house with the manila folder in her hand.

"Hey!" Emma greeted opening the door, an easy smile lighting up her face at seeing who it was.

"Hey, I brought you a gift," Regina said with a playful smirk, handing out the folder.

Emma took the folder and started rifling through the contents, eyes growing wide. "Are you serious?"

"Yes I am."

"Oh this is perfect!" Emma exclaimed with a grin, and opened the door wider to let Regina inside. "Now we can get this show on the road."


The next day, Emma barged in to Sidney's office without even knocking.

"I need a big favour from you," Emma started, sitting down on the visitor chair, staring at her boss expectantly.

Sidney looked up and raised an eyebrow, putting down his glasses. "Oh? And what could I have to offer?"

"Your permission. I need to do something that might not be exactly kosher and will involve a bit of trickery and deceit, and I need your help for it."


And that was that!

Next chapter will feature big reveals and everything will come to light.

Who do you think will have the upper hand?

Tomorrow you shall find out!

For now I'd love to hear your thoughts!