As much as I would like to own them, all the characters and plot of Once Upon A Time belong to ABC – I own nothing.

Sorry for the late posting on this one, it's just that this is my favourite prompt of the week so I wanted to make sure this one was up to my standards and was really good and was a good length to end the week on a high note. Anyway, enjoy this last update!

Thank you all for reading this story, it means so much that you have all followed this every day and enjoyed my writing. It was a challenge in itself getting stuff done for every single day but I think we had a great week so thank you!

SQ Week - Day 7 / Accidental Marriage

Emma was going out of mind and she was pretty sure she saw Regina yawn at least five times. They had been stuck in this 'quick' meeting for more than an hour now and they hadn't gotten anywhere at all. They were finally thinking of ways to strengthen the barrier that protected the town and so far no one had come up with a remotely suitable idea that would actually work. It wasn't until Gold finally got his turn that Emma decided to tune back into the discussion. With him being the dark one and all maybe he had a fresh idea to solve their latest 'problem'. Well, when she said problem really it meant a simple idea turned into yet another thing they all couldn't agree on.

"Can I have your attention please?"

"Then why don't you all share it with us so we can go?" Regina snapped, getting just a little fed up of this whole situation.

"In all due time Madame Mayor. Mulan..."

Emma's deputy sat up a little straighter in her seat and cleared her throat. "I think there's something that can strengthen the barrier."

"What is it?" Snow asked.

"There's this shard back in our land. It was only legend but there's rumours that buried deep in one of the mountains is something that holds immense power"

"The shard...I think I've heard of this" Rumple said.

Emma frowned. "And this thing works?"

"If you can find it, yes"

"How do we obtain it?" Regina asked.

"You will have to travel back to our land"

"How do we do that? All the beans are gone"

Regina shook her head at Snow. "There's a tear I discovered a few days ago. I think it's stable enough to enter through, at least I think it is but I suggest that only two people go through. It's too risky with more"

"So we're going for this?" David asked.

Regina looked around the table. "Show of hands for pursuing this. Ok then I guess it's settled. We just have to decide who's going to go through"

"How did we get chosen again?" Emma groaned as she and Regina headed up the group towards the tear Regina had found not too long ago.

"We're the most powerful dear, hence the reason why we were chosen"

It wasn't long before they made it to the tear and they all surrounded it, Emma and Regina plus David, Mary Margaret, Henry, Ruby, Mulan, Belle and Gold.

"Are you sure about this Emma?" Snow asked.

The blonde shrugged in response. "There's no other choice so I guess we have to do this"

Regina nodded. "Yes, we have to"

They knew what came next, goodbyes. They both hugged Henry at the same time.

"Be good"

"Yeah kid. Don't get into any trouble while we're gone" Emma said as Regina kissed him on the top of the head.

When both mothers had reluctantly pulled away from their son Mulan stepped forward. "Are you sure you're ready for this?"

Emma stepped forward and placed a hand on her deputy's shoulder. "Don't worry, I think me and Regina have this covered. Look after the station while I'm gone"

Not needing any more verbal confirmation the Chinese woman stood back and nodded, trusting her boss completely. Emma looked over at her father next and he stepped forward, handing her his sword.

"Here, keep this by your side and you'll be ok."

"But what if I lose it or something?"

He smiled at her nervousness and stepped closer, clapping a hand to her shoulder like she had done with Mulan moments ago. "Don't worry I have faith that you can look after it. Plus your a Charming, I know it will stayed glued to your side"

Nodding Emma excepted the hug from her father before standing back. Receiving hugs and wishes of good luck from the others it was time for her and Regina to leave. It was an extremely big risk and even though she wasn't sure what was exactly on the other side, Regina knew they had to take this risk if they were going to keep protecting their town from the outside world.

Both women took one last look back at their friends and family and then they were stepping through the time tear together.

Emma groaned as she connected with the hard ground of a forest floor. Sitting up and rubbing her head she spotted Regina about a foot away from her and stood up, grabbing her father's sword and looking down at the other woman.

"Regina, you ok?"

The brunettes eyes slowly opened and she looked up at Emma. "Yes."

Emma reached a hand out and helped her up, Regina dusting herself off with her hands before looking around at their location. "I think we're in the Enchanted Forest"

"Yeah, but how do we know where we're going?"

"I know where the mountains Mulan was talking about are located. Come on, we need to get moving as soon as possible before nightfall"

They didn't make it to the mountain range before dark but they did manage to set up a small camp in a small clearing, the two women huddling close together as the cold night air set in and chilled them to the bones. Wrapped up in a single blanket Emma could feel Regina shaking next to her so deciding to put any past bad blood behind them in favour of keeping the only one who knew where she was going alive she wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

Regina raised an eyebrow at the action but it soon faded as she realized just how warm Emma was so she found herself snuggling into the warmth. Emma excepted the action and enjoyed the warmth that now radiated onto her own chilled body, or at least that's what she said to convince herself it wasn't anything more.

It was in that moment that she decided to occupy her thoughts with something else. "Regina?" She asked softly.

"Yes?"

"Do you think this shard really exists?"

The woman next to her shrugged. " I don't know but we have to believe it does or Storybrooke will be at risk, including Henry. We have to at least believe for his sake"

Emma considered her point. "I guess you're right but do we even know what we might be going up against?"

Regina could sense her doubt. "Don't worry dear, Mulan told me what she knew. It shouldn't be hard to obtain with the power we have together."

There was a few moments of silence before she replied. "I'm sorry if I seem nervous"

"Don't worry dear, I am too"

"It's just that I don't like unknowns"

"Emma," She started, the woman in question surprised she was addressing her by her first name for once. It meant she was being completely serious. "I have known you long enough to know you don't like unknowns and with the crazy life I have led as the Evil Queen and the mayor of Storybrooke I still don't like them either. Right now all we can do is hope that obtaining this shard is easy. If not Storybrooke could be seriously at risk."

"Miss Swan, please keep up or we will lose each other"

"But I'm tired"

Regina turned and raised an eyebrow at the other woman. "We started walking two hours ago"

"Two hours?! I thought it and been at least one!"

Now at a stop Regina turned to face her. "How come my towns sheriff is so unfit?"

"If you haven't noticed Storybrooke isn't the most crime-ridden place in the world Regina. Most of the time I'm finding Pongo and rescuing old ladies cats from trees."

Sighing she turned around again. "Just keep up"

It was about an hour later when Regina finally came to another stop, talking to herself. Well, she thought she had been talking to Emma but when she turned around the blonde had a pair of headphones in. Frowning she stepped forward and pulled both earbuds from her ears, making the saviour protest aloud.

"Hey, I was listening to that!"

"I don't care. If you had actually heard me I said we were here. How are you listening to that anyway?"

She watched as Emma pulled the iPod from her pocket, wrapping the earbuds and the cord around the device. "Henry thought it would be cool if I had something to keep myself occupied on the trip. What can I say? The kid knows me like he knows himself"

Regina rolled her eyes at the blonde's shrug. Sometimes Emma and Henry were too alike for their own good. Deciding to the change the subject she crossed her arms. "I think this is the place that Mulan told me about"

"How are you sure?"

"I don't know, I just feel it. Can't you sense that power?"

"What power?"

"Take a deep breath. All those magic lessons weren't for nothing Miss Swan"

Doing as she was told and deciding not to fight her on it Emma closed her eyes and took a deep breath, focusing on what she had been talking about. It was then that she felt it, that power that told her there was something there, just not exactly what it was.

"What if it's some kind of magical booby trap?"

"No, this is different to anything I've ever felt. I'd know a booby trap when I felt it"

"Ok, lead the way Madame mayor"

Regina turned back around and started walking once more, Emma following. They climbed a little higher up the mountain, which wasn't all that big, and Regina came to a stop.

"Are we there yet?" Emma whined, coming to a stop next to her.

Rolling her eyes yet again Regina shrugged. "There's a magical barrier here so I think we've got the right spot."

"You sure about that?"

"You would know better by now not to underestimate me Miss Swan. Just help me break it"

Not quite used to the idea of breaking a barrier on her own Emma just did as she was told and put aside her fatigue in exchange for helping the other woman. As soon as she did Regina felt her own power multiply, still amazed at just how much force there was in Emma's magic, always catching her by surprise when it multiplied her own tenfold. Purple and blue tendrils of smoke curled together in a perfectly balanced dance and it engulfed the existing barrier making it visible and in a second it snapped instantly dissolving into thin air, literally.

Regina turned to Emma with a smirk. "I think we can handle anything don't you?"

Deciding not to fight her on this she just agreed and motioned for her to lead the way. Regina then turned and soon enough a cave made itself known to them, appearing as soon as they each took a step forward. It had vines and moss hanging over the opening and a small stream ran out through the middle which probably led to a river much further down. As they moved inside Emma grabbed a flash light from her backpack and soon they were navigating a narrow passage that lead deep into mountain.

The power that they had felt before lower down the mountain steadily grew more powerful the deeper they got. When cave paintings started lining the walls they knew they were close. Unable to ignore the pull of the ancient art they both slowed down their fast paced travelling to inspect them. They started to get more and more plentiful the further they went and soon they were covering the entirety of both sides of the passageway, including the ceiling.

"Regina, how old do you think these paintings are?"

"I don't know. They're probably some of the first ever paintings to exist. Come on, I think we're getting close to the central chamber."

Taking one last look at the paintings she snapped a photo on her phone to show Henry when they got back and followed behind the brunette once more. Soon enough the passageway started widening and before long both wall and floor were carved out into a proper corridor of sorts, elaborate carvings in the stone work. Both women were in awe of the change in scenery, especially since they had just come from the most primitive of cave paintings to something that looked much newer, yet it was buried deep inside this mountain.

When they came to an opening, sort of like a gateway, and the power was the strongest it had ever been they were sure they were in the right place and were finally done travelling. At least for now they were. Regina stepped forward first and a door appeared in front of them, the image of the passageway an illusion. She reached forward and ran her fingers over the stone, not knowing what to do next. Mulan's explanation didn't cover magical illusions and she had a strange feeling in her gut that this door wasn't going to open with magic like the entrance had.

Fortunately for her Emma stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder. "It's not magic, it's blood"

"What?"

The blonde shrugged. "I don't know, I just have this weird feeling in my gut that's telling me it's a blood lock door"

"But-"

"I don't know Regina, but what I do know is we're not opening this door with our magic."

"Then what do you suggest?"

"I suggest we do as I am thinking. Here, my dad's sword should do the trick. Give me your hand"

The mayor did as she was told and held out her hand, Emma carefully placing the large blade in the center and closing the rest of Regina's hand around it. She then did it with her own and directed the other woman to do as she did once she had sheathed the blade.

"Place your hand on the door at the same time as me"

Regina watched her carefully and slowly placed her hand on the stone. It was then that a wave of energy passed through them and the rest of the passageway and the door opened, revealing a small cavern that marked the end of the passage. Both looking at each other briefly Regina healed their hands before they turned back and stepped inside. It wasn't large in size but it was big enough to hold four pillars of stone and as soon as they both set foot in the room candles appeared out of nowhere and lit themselves as of they had been waiting for them. In the center was a circular elaborate carving of what seemed to be a dragon and around it there was grooves carved deep into the stone, much like the ones from when Zelena tried enact her backwards in time stunt. They were located around the center and had grooves that led in at four points, like a cross, that connected them to the carving.

"Regina, what do you think this place is?"

"I don't know. It's some kind of chamber"

"Yeah, but where's the shard?"

"I have no idea" She stepped forwards, just outside the dragon carving and she gasped.

"What? Are you ok?"

Regina nodded. "Thank you for the concern, I'm fine. I just felt something"

"Like what?"

"Like this is the spot. I think I know how to break the protection but it's going to take both of our magic to do it"

"Ok, direct me on what to do and I'll do it"

She couldn't explain it, she felt this feeling within her that was just telling her what to do. She pointed over to the other side of the dragon carving opposite her.

"Put your bag down and take your jacket off"

Emma nodded and took her red jacket off, leaving her in her baseball raglan. Regina then took her own winter coat off, placing it down to the side before rubbing her hands together.

"Now sit down"

They both sat opposite each other and Regina took a look at the groove in front of her. "What are we doing?" Emma asked.

"I think these grooves have something to do with the carving in the center. I think it's just like Zelena's ritual circle but instead of it being powerful items it requires magic, i.e. me and you"

"So what, we just run our magic through it?"

Regina looked up and nodded. "Yes."

"Surely it's not that easy"

"It may be. Whoever put this here probably didn't count on us being so powerful to break these magical bonds."

"Ok, let's do this"

Holding out her hands she signalled she was ready. Regina did the same with her own and focused on the other woman. "Let your magic run free and it should find it's way to mine. I then need you to help me focus on it so that we can get it into the grooves"

"I know, this isn't the first time we've connected our magic together Regina"

Regina smirked. "I know, I'm just making sure you remember"

"Whatever, let's just get this done"

Regina closed her eyes and felt the tendrils of her magic flowing down her arms and out of her fingertips. Emma did the same and moments later blue and purple smoke entwined together in the center between them and they could tell as if by instinct that it was time to focus it on their intended target. Breathing in deeply both women directed the powerful magic to the grooves in front of them, their eyes now wide open as they focused. As soon as it started filling the specially dug out lines they could feel the sheer power they created together starting to shake their bodies, much like when they had joined together to stop the trigger back in the mines in Storybrooke.

They watched in awe as their magic shot into the center and lit up all of the intricate lines of the dragon carving, shooting up into the ceiling. Seconds later the magical clamps seemed to break and both women were shot back in opposite directions.

Emma groaned as she sat up, rubbing at her head. When she blinked away the pain she was feeling in her head she looked over to see Regina just sitting up. She immediately stood and ran to her, helping her up to her feet.

"You ok?"

The brunette nodded as she rubbed at her eyes. "Yes."

"What happened?"

"I don't know"

Emma looked back at the place they had just focused all of their magic on and she noticed something different. When she had looked over at Regina she had completely missed the obvious, much more concerned whether the brunette was ok. Regina followed her gaze.

"That's the shard"

"Yeah"

They both took cautious steps towards the floating object, the shard encased in pink sparkling smoke.

"How are we gonna get it out?"

"Maybe it's safer to do it together considering we both released it"

"Good idea"

Just for good measure Emma wrapped an arm around Regina's waist, the mayor internally smiling at the warmth of the action and returned it by reaching a hand up and placing it on the blonde's shoulder from behind. She and Emma then reached forward with their free hands and they felt their magic course through them as they both wrapped their grips around the object, a sudden warmth enveloping them as they pulled it towards them and free of it's holds.

As soon as the magic seals had been broken Emma spoke up. "Do you feel that?"

"Yes, what is it?"

"I don't know"

They couldn't explain exactly what it was but it was growing by the second and all of a sudden they feel something click within them taking them by surprise as both of their magical coloured smoke engulfed them.

Emma was the first to pull away, breaking their physical contact in favour of coughing. Regina coughed as well, watching as the blonde was bent over with her hands on her knees. As their smoke dissipated she walked over to her and placed a hand on her back, patting a few times to help the other woman out.

"Thanks" Emma panted, overcoming her coughing fit and standing at full height once again. "What was that?"

Regina looked at the room. "Something unknown. Our magic has never done that before."

"God, my hand hurts"

"Let me have a look" Emma held her left hand up and Regina took it into her own, studying the limb for any type of injury but finding none. "There doesn't seem to be-" All of a sudden they watched as something started forming around Emma's wrist.

"Regina...what's happening?"

"Watch" They continued to do so as an ancient tribal design, not very wide, started wrapping around Emma's wrist until it formed a complete circle acting like a wrist band.

Regina then felt her own left hand start throbbing and held it up, the two women watching as the process was repeated. The exact same band appeared around her wrist and upon closer inspection it seemed to be a tattoo.

"Did we just get tattoos?"

"It appears so" She replied, studying the intricate design.

Emma frowned and nudged Regina, making her look up. "Hey, something else is happening"

They both watched as a much smaller version of the band wrapped around Emma's left ring finger, the size of an actual ring. Moments later the same happened to Regina and she suspected there was a familiar pattern to this.

"What the hell just happened?" Emma asked, fear rising quickly.

Regina looked to the shard that she had been holding in her free hand, over to where they had taken it from and back to the blonde saviour and their new tattoo's. "I think that wasn't just us taking this shard"

"What do you mean?"

"I think we just accidentally got married"

"WHAT?!"

"Calm down. I think it bonded us somehow. If only one of us had reached for the shard it wouldn't have affected us in this way."

"Wait, look"

Regina turned her attentions back to Emma's hand and watched as a plain silver band formed around her left ring finger over the tattoo, exactly the same size. As expected the same happened to her and now they had matching rings and tattoo's. When they tried to remove the objects they stayed as if they were attached by super-strength permanent glue.

"How did we just get married?" Regina asked in disbelief.

"I don't know but I think we have to get home and find away to reverse this before it's too late"

"I'm sorry girls, there's nothing I can do" Blue admitted, hating to deliver the bad news.

Regina sighed and rubbed her temples. "How did this happen?"

"There is this legend that the shard also joined people together. It's not like a normal marriage, it's magical and if you're a match it will even do it without you knowing. I didn't know these two legends were true though"

Emma frowned over at her deputy. "So you're saying we're now married?"

Mulan nodded. "Yes. It considered you two as a match and joined you, deeming you worthy as you broke it free of it's magical holds. You can't reverse it, it's bonded you for eternity"

"God dammit!"

Not caring that she had just swore Regina disappeared in a plume of purple smoke, Emma staring at the spot where she had just been standing. Sighing she decided to leave too, now knowing that there probably wasn't anything that could take back what had happened between them.

Deciding that Regina probably needed her space she steered clear of any attempts to find her and headed to Granny's to get a coffee.

Later that evening she found herself standing at the foot of the path that led up to the porch of the mansion. She desperately wanted to leave but when she looked down at her hand where her new wedding ring rested she knew she had no other choice. She had given Regina her space alone since they got back but now was the time that they had to talk whether they liked it or not.

Opening the front gate she closed it behind her and purposely walked slowly up the path until she reached the front door, ringing the bell and stepping back.

When Regina opened it she found Emma stood nervously on her front porch with her hands buried in her jean pockets. It was then that she knew they had to talk about what happened so she stepped back and allowed her inside, closing the door behind her.

"Where's Henry?"

"He's up in his room reading comics. Come to my study"

Emma did as told and followed closely behind her into the study, sitting down on the couch opposite her.

"I guess you want to talk?"

"Yeah. I couldn't wait"

"Go ahead"

"Regina, I know what happened between us was an accident and I know we can't go back,"

"Unfortunately not."

"I know I'm the last person you'd want to be married to, considering our history, but I also know that you have the complete right to hate me for the rest of your life if that's what you want,"

"Get to the point Miss Swan"

"But don't shut me out" She finished.

That one simple statement brought Regina right back down to reality, the sight of the silver band nestled snugly on Emma's finger that matched her own the last thing she needed to dissolve the anger façade she had tried to keep up for everybody else ever since they had left the cave back in the Enchanted Forest. Looking down at her own ring she realized just how much emotion Emma had put into her statement, also realizing just how true it was. She had been shutting her out but she had good reason and Emma knew this.

She had been forced into a marriage with someone she didn't love before and look where that ended up. Now here she was again in yet another similar situation with the last person on Earth she would have ever considered marrying, Emma Swan.

Emma saw the tears glazing over Regina's eyes and got up, rounding the coffee table and kneeling down in front of her. She reached forwards and guided her by the chin to look at her. She had been thinking about what to say all day and it was now or never. She had one chance to get this right.

"Regina, I know you were forced into a marriage before and I know it did bad things to you, things I can't even begin to imagine or understand but there is one thing that I do understand: you. I know this was thrown on us and I know that I'm the last person you would have ever married but we have to face facts that we are. There's actually something I've wanted to say for a while now that I just haven't really found the right way to put into words or found the right time to do so. I love you Regina Mills, whether you like it or not, and I want to try this, together, with you. I know it will take time but I also know that we already have a son together and I want to be with you. I want this"

By then end of her little speech Regina was finding it hard to keep all of her emotions in check, tears threatening to pour out of her eyes at the pure conviction she heard in Emma's voice at how serious she was about making this work. It was then that she couldn't hide what she felt any more. These feelings that were steadily growing inside her had been getting stronger and stronger over the past few months the more time she spent with the blonde and she couldn't help but think about the possibilities she would miss if she didn't take this opportunity.

Reaching forward she took Emma's face into her hands, the blonde's dropping from her chin as she pulled her closer. Emma responded by shuffling forwards, in between the mayor's pant-clad legs, and wrapped her arms around her waist. She closed her eyes as soon as Regina rested their foreheads together, a warmth spreading through her at the intimate action.

"You want to try this?" She asked softly, her thumbs rubbing at Emma's jaw as her own eyes stayed closed.

The saviour nodded, a smile gracing her lips. "Yes, if you want to"

Taking a few moments to consider what her next move meant she decided to do what her heart was telling her. "I love you too"

"You do?"

"Hmm"

All Emma wanted to do was lean forward those few precious inches and press her lips to Regina's but she held herself back in favour of letting the other woman make the first move. She didn't have to wait long though as Regina made her final decision, locking in her choice by pressing her lips to Emma's. As soon as they joined a spark ignited between them, their decision finally made.

Whatever had happened obtaining the shard they had ended up not only finding a way to protect the town they loved so much but also got married in the process. Now, as they kissed for the very first time they could both feel the hope bubble between them that this could actually work, that they could actually do this together. For the first time since it happened it didn't feel like such an accident.