A/N: I know new writer to the fandom, no one wants to say anything. Makes it hard to write, believe me but I want to thank you guys for following because at least I know you all are reading. But do tell me what you think. Even if you want me to just stop writing the story I will believeme I have much more to write. I just found something new here so I thought I'd go for it. Enjoy this chapter-

Aftermath

Emma

Wait a minute… what did she just say? "Who is… who is getting married?"

She looked at me intently. "We are getting married." she repeated and came to me with that smile painted on her face. she took my hand and squeezed

"We're getting married." I said with a nervous smile. I tried to look shocked as if I thought we weren't telling anyone yet. but really my brain was melting and I couldn't be responsible for what I was doing right then.

Gold furrowed his brow. "Isn't she your secretary?" he asked

"Assistant," I spoke up.

"Executive, assistant." Regina corrected. Then she laughed and looks at mr. Gold. "It wouldn't be the first time one of us fell for our secretaries right? Mr. Gold?" Gold shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Truth is Emma and I were two people that weren't supposed to fall in love… but we did."

I Shook my head, my body actively rejecting whatever it was that Regina was saying. I hoped that Mr. Gold could see the fakeness she was spewing "No." I said. but it sounded like I was agreeing with her.

"You know all those late nights, weekend book fairs, and… something happened." Regina stated.

I scoffed, but it sounded more like a nervous chuckle. "Something," I intoned.

she chuckled nervously. "Yes… we can't we can't fight it… no can't fight a love like ours." Then she wrapped her arm awkwardly around me. "So are we good.. here?" she asked "Are you happy with that Mr. Gold?"

"I wouldn't say I'm happy, Just make it legal okay?"

"Oh.. I guess we need to get ourselves over to the immigration office right away." Regina said beginning to back out of the room.

I followed her numbly. I nodded my head at Gold. "Sir" I said as goodbye and left the room with her mutely. I could see the rumor mill working. First her secretary and as we marched our way out to Regina's office I could see the IM boxes popping up everywhere. I just knew what they were talking about.

I looked out across the floor and all the dudes were leering at the two of us, one girl just looked at me and shook her head as if I were trying to sleep my way to an editing position. I walked past Katherine in my ruined dress and she was practically doubled over laughing. I glared at her and followed Regina who seemed oblivious… (come on who can be that oblivious) into her office.

I closed the glass door behind me and watched as she sat at her desk and began reading a manuscript as if nothing had happened. Mind you I still needed an explanation. I stood there and stared until finally she looked up. "What?"

"I don't understand what's happening." I finally said.

"Relax this is for you too." She said nonchalant.

"How is that exactly?" I asked getting more than a little frustrated. but remembering that she is my boss I kept my temper in check.

"They were going to make Archie Chief editor." She said simply.

"So naturally, I have to marry you." I continued indignantly.

"What's the problem, were you trying to save yourself for someone special?" Regina asked.

"Well… Yes I would like to think so. But maybe in your world every woman lives for her third or fourth marriage." I spat out. "By the way… this is illegal."

"They are looking for terrorist notebook publishers." Regina stated. Well she was damn close to a terrorist to me.

"Regina!" I said making sure I got her attention. "I'm not going to marry you."

"Sure you will, because then your dreams of changing the world with the written word will be crushed forever."

"How do you figure that?"

"Archie is going to fire you the moment I'm gone guaranteed." She said putting her red pen down. "That means that all the times we spent together, the late night food runs and work nights would all be for nothing and your dreams of being an editor are gone."

"Oh my god." I said in a whisper. she was right. Archie hated me because of her.

"Don't worry though because after an allotted amount of time we can get a quickie divorce but until that time… your wagon is hitched to mine. Okay?" she paused and the phone rang at my desk. "phone."

Regina

Emma and I went to the INS office. It was so ridiculously crowded. Regina mills does not wait in lines. I walked on past everyone on the queue. "Regina there is a line." Emma hissed, but didn't stop following me.

I looked at the first person in line and held up a finger. "Hey I just need to ask him something." I said then looked to the clerk in front of me. "Hi. I need you to file this fiance visa for me please?"

"Miss… Mills?" He asked I nodded. "Come with me please.

He lead Emma and i down a corridor and into an office. Emma sat limply on the Visitor's chair. she looked scared and even paler than usual. "I have a bad feeling about this." she whispered to herself as the INS officer knocked on the door before pushing in.

I stepped away from the door and he walked into the room, but I remained standing I didn't want him to think I was settling in for a long talk I had things to do. "Hi, Hello… I'm inspector Whale."

"Hi." I said. Emma just stared at him.

"I'm sorry about the delay, it's been a crazy day." He said politely. Emma nodded absently. She still had this haunted look in her eyes.

"Yes of course of course." I said agreeing with him I want this to stay as pleasant as possible. "We appreciate you seeing us on such short notice."

"Okay," he said. "First question is, are the two of you committing fraud so that Miss Mills can retain her position of editor in chief at Colden books?"

"That is ridiculous." Emma said immediately.

I furrowed my brow. "Where did you hear that?" I asked

"We had a tip from a man named-" he began.

"Would that be Archie Hopper?" I asked.

"Archie Hopper…" He reiterated.

"Oh… Poor Archie… He is nothing but a disgruntled ex employee." I reassured. "Look I know that you are busy with a room full of gardeners and bus boys to tend to if you can give us our next step we can just get out of your way."

Emma dropped her head in her hands and sighed. Mr. Whale chuckled and shook his head. "Miss Mills please." He said signalling for me to sit down. "Let me explain the process that you are about to go through. One will be a scheduled interview where I would put you each in a room and ask you the questions the two of you should know about each other."

I looked at Emma and and she looked confident. I looked back at Mr. Whale and kept myself from biting my lower lip. I didn't even know Emma's last name… well I know it starts with an S I have seen her signature ES on everything.

"Then I dig deeper." He continue. "I interview your friends, your family, I look at your phone records. And if your answers don't match at any point, Miss mills you will be deported indefinitely. And you young lady will have committed a felony. Punishable by a fine of $250,000 and a stay of up to five years in federal prison."

Emma turned a little green. But her mouth was set. I didn't really know what that meant. I didn't know her moods well enough to tell what was going through her head.

"So Emma… You wanna talk to me?" Mr. Whale asked. Emma shook her head. "No?" then she nodded her head. "Yes?"

"The truth is… Mr, Whale, that Regina and I were just two people that weren't supposed to fall in love but did." Emma said. Her voice was a little strained but to someone who didn't know her like I did would never be able to tell. "We couldn't tell our co workers because of my big promotion coming up."

"Promotion?" Whale intoned interested.

That little sneak… "We both felt that it would be inappropriate that I would be promoted to Editor…"

"Editor…" I said and nodded my head in agreement.

"While we were-" she said and gestured to me.

Mr. Whale didn't buy any of it I could tell so he went on to the next question. "So have the two of you told your parents about it?

"I would, except both my parents are dead, and I had no Siblings that I know of." I said.

"What about your family, are they dead?" He asked Emma.

"No." Emma said.

"NO no… her's are very much alive." I interjected. "So we are going up this weekend… to tell them. Granny's 90th birthday, it's gonna be a nice surprise." I said trying to sound as if I knew her. She looked at me and I gave her a knowing look. I do listen to her when she talks.

"Where is this happening?"

"In Emma's home Town!" I answered

"Where is that?" Whale asked. damn him I don't know why does he keep asking questions.

I laughed. "Why am I doing all the talking? It's your hometown Emma…" I said putting a little flirt in it. Emma smiled a fake smile. I could tell cause that little vain on the side of her right eye was twitching. "Why don't you tell him where it is?"

Her smile dropped the moment she turned to face him. "Storybrooke." She said.

"Storybrooke." I repeated.

"Maine." Emma stated finally.

"Maine…" Shit that's practically Canada… couldn't she have come from Miami or something?

"You're going to Maine This weekend?" Mr. Whale asked in disbelief

"Yes… that's where my…" I said reaching out. I wanted to run my fingers through her hair but it was in a ponytail so I settled for putting my hand awkwardly on her shoulder. "My Em is from."

She reached up to hold my hand and I quickly removed it. She sat hugging herself for a moment as Mr. Whale who I think doesn't believe anything we are saying we need to do a better job. "Okay, I see you on Monday for your interview. I'm going to have fun getting through this."

My phone Rang and it was Belle. I knew Emma would take care of the details I had an author to keep sane.

Emma

I was so pissed off at Regina. I felt so used. Trapped by this stupid circumstance and now I have committed a fraud. Her dragging my whole family into this… and Henry… Oh my god Henry. She doesn't know I have Henry.

"Okay," Regina said cutting into my thoughts. "What's gonna happen is we are gonna go up there pretend we're together, tell your parents we are engaged, We'll rent a Limo to ride up there with, I don't really want to drive and we can get some work done on the way."

She stopped walking, but I didn't I had to keep moving because I could kill her right now.

She finally looked up from her phone and stopped talking. "Hey what are you doing? Why aren't you taking notes?" she asked

I whirled on her. "I'm sorry were you not in that room?"

"What?" Regina said acting as if she were oblivious again… she was good at that. I glared at her. "Oh… that thing you said about getting a promotion? That was genius. He totally fell for it."

"I was serious. I am looking at a massive fine and five years in federal prison. That changes things."

"Promotion to editor?" Regina scoffed. "No way."

"Then I quit, and you're screwed bye bye Regina." I said and turned to leave yet again. "It has been a little slice of heaven."

"Wait! Emma!" she said following me. "Fine… Fine. If you do the Maine weekend and the interview you can consider yourself an editor."

"Not in two years, right away." I said stubbornly folding my arms across my chest. "And you'll publish my manuscript." Her eyes fell fell to my breast and she blinked back up at me.

"Ten thousand copies first run." she said.

"Twenty Thousand copies." I insisted. "And we'll tell my family about our engagement when I want and how I want. Now ask me nicely." I quirked an eyebrow and waited to see how much she wanted it.

"Ask you nicely what?" Regina asked.

"Ask me nicely… to Marry you." I answered.

"What does that mean?" Regina said with a horrified expression.

I smirked . "On your Knee."

She looked around and struggled to her knee. "Fine… does this work for you?"

"Looks good.." I said watching her in amusement.

"Willyoumarryme." she said it her words running together and if I didn't know what she was asking I would have missed it.

"Say it like you mean it." I teased. I was thoroughly enjoying this.

She glared up at me, then looked down at my legs under my skirt and looked back up at me taking my hand. "Emma… "

"Yes Regina?"

"Sweet, beautiful Emma… would you please with a cherry on top Marry me?" Regina said in a saccharine tone.

I looked up as if I had a choice to consider the question. "Okay, I don't appreciate the sarcasm, but I see that you really want this. I'll have the car come get you tomorrow." I said and walked away from her not helping her up from the floor knowing that in her stilettos and pencil skirt that would be a difficult task. I laughed to myself. hooray for small victories.

A/N: So what'd ya think? Feel free to drop me a line below. you know, right there in that little box at the bottom. Go ahead don't be shy. TTYL-S.K.