Chapter 12

"Go ahead, take my money. It's not like I can't get more." Killian mumbled to himself as he filled out the necessary paperwork. He had been without New York money for two days now. Emma had only given him enough to take the bus and get food. Sure, she was his princess, but she didn't have to treat him like a child.

He looked over his letter that was to be wired and smiled as he passed it to the clerk.

"How long will it take for this note to be received?"

"You really want to send this?" the woman looked at him strangely. "Seriously?"

"What is wrong?"

"'To Neal, please get this message to her Majesty, Snow of the Enchanted Forest'," the clerk started reading. "'Madame, Emma and I have depleted our funds. Kindly send enough gold to be converted to 300,000 New York money immediately, as we are in dire straits. Your humble servant, Killian'. That's your letter."

"Do you think that's not enough money. Shall I ask for 400,000?"

"Huh?"

"You're right. Change that to 500,000 just to be sure."

"Well hell, why stop at 500, just go and make it a cool million." Killian stroked his 5 o'clock shadow as he thought.

"You don't think that is too much?"

"Not in the slightest" the clerk assured. The companion nodded and waited for confirmation that his letter was sent to Neal before walking back to the apartment. He could feel the grime already beginning to cover his skin as he passed the locals. He couldn't understand why Emma needed to remain in such a place. Yes, Regina was a beautiful woman, but things would certainly have moved faster if they showed the woman that a princess was courting her.

He shivered as she stepped into his building, trying to shake off the stench of peasant as he walked up the stairs. In a moment he would be in his newly installed hot tub. He had paid top new york dollar to have the pipes extended to their apartment, but it was worth it. A drop of cologne in the water and he would be fresh once again.

"What the hell?" he exclaimed as noticed the woman in his apartment.

"Ok what's going on?" the redhead asked as she turned away from the audio equipment she had been messing with.

"Zelena?"

"I came to see Emma, but um...what are you two involved in?" she said suspiciously " You can't afford these things on your janitor's salary. I know what my mother pays."

[SQ]

Emma couldn't help singing as she ran up the stairs. It had been another successful date with Regina, and everything was going perfectly. She would tell the woman who she was and then ask the brunette to marry her. They would go back to the Enchanted Forest and live happily ever after.

"Killian I just had the most amazing-" Her best friend rolled off the woman beneath him quickly, as Emma's jaw dropped at who was in the bed.

"Hi, Emma," the redhead said, fixing her shirt. "Killian told me everything. I'm sorry things didn't work out between us, but you understand." Emma nodded. She didn't understand, but she didn't care. She hadn't been interested in Zelena at all.

The older Mills girl slipped on her shoes, before leaning over and placing a light kiss on Killian's cheek.

"Good night, my sweet prince."

"Remember," the man yelled from where he sat. "You must not tell a soul."

"Your secret is safe with me, your highness," she blew him another kiss as she closed the door.

"Question," Emma spoke for the first time since she walked in. "If you're a prince...then who am I?"

"My servant," he said sheepishly. Emma grinned, letting out a belly laugh and shaking her head. "Don't worry. I made sure she didn't think you were a concubine." At that the blonde picked up the nearest item she could find, and chucked it at her friend's head.

[SQ]

"Regina dear, I took the liberty of bringing these to you from the lobby where you left them," Cora sat the large bouquet of flowers down on the young woman's desk. "These smell amazing. Robin must be spending a fortune on flowers."

"Stay out of this mother," Regina said taking the latest bouquet over to the garbage can near the window, and tossing it in the same place the three previous arrangements had ended up. They were coming in at a steady pace for the last week. She had ignored his phone calls and text messages, so it moved on to flowers. She knew it would only be a matter of time before he started sending gifts.

Regina grabbed her jacket preparing to leave for the day.

"Where are you going dear? You're leaving promptly at 5pm. This is new."

"I'm heading to the museum, with Emma."

"Oh No. No. No. No. I don't like this, not one bit."

"What's wrong with Emma. I didn't take you for homophobic mother."

"Oh please. Her gender has nothing to do with it," Cora scoffed. "You told me yourself. She's a sheep herder!"

"Mother."

"Why won't you give Robin another chance. He dresses wonderfully and he treats you well. Not to mention he has an entire media empire at his fingertips."

"Mother..."

"Okay okay. If you are suddenly feeling as if you prefer the fairer sex, there is a wonderful woman I could introduce you to, Kristen. She is of the BonVarin-"

"Mother!" Regina yelled before realizing her office door was open. She lowered her voice. " You only dislike Emma because she isn't rich, which doesn't matter to me."

"I-I just don't-," Cora exhaled, placing her arm on her youngest daughter's shoulder. "I just don't want you to struggle the way your father and I did. We worked hard and built this business so that you and your sister wouldn't have to go through what we did."

"I know mother," she kissed the woman on the cheek. "Don't stay up waiting for me."

[SQ]

Emma smoothed down the invisible wrinkles in her button up shirt. The light blue of the fabric did bring out her eyes as the woman at the store had said. She opted to do without the tie, leaving a couple of the buttons undone. Paired with some tight jeans and her knee high boots, she had to admit she looked dashing.

At the knock on the door, Killian opened it, still grumpy at Emma's decision. She hadn't consulted him.

"Mr Townsend," Emma said to the apartment manager.

"God Damn!"he looked around the small apartment. "What the hell did you two do in here."

"Well that is what I wanted to speak to you about,"Emma said. "My friend here altered the apartment, and it would take too long to change it back. We were wondering if we could exchange it for another."

"Is this stuff hot?"

"Hot?" Emma asked. "Oh you mean illegal. No, not at all. The receipts are even here. It's just, I am going to bring a young lady home and I can't let her see me living like this." The manager looked around, confused, but contemplating.

"Tell you what. I'll let you two move into my apartment and I'll move up here."

"Does your apartment look poor?"

"Yeah it's a real piece of shit, you'll love it." He pulled out his keys. "Here take the keys. Its apartment 1A, first floor."

"You are too kind Mr. Townsend," Emma tossed the keys to Killian. "Move our things while I'm out. I have to get to my date."