A/N: I took some liberties with immigration laws in Northern Ireland, since google wasn't giving me a straight answer on whether or not Stella would even have a work visa and could get deported. Plus Brexit happened in the middle of my writing this and it kinda just fucked with everything so. Also, Jim doesn't work with them, but he does still have history with Stella.

Also, I've only seen season one so far, so this takes place right after season one. Dani never goes back to the streets and Stella and Reed don't kiss.

chapter one

Danielle Ferrington's day was not off to a good start. After sleeping through her alarm, she was still half buttoning up her shirt as she ran into Starbucks.

"Two Grande, Quad, Non-fat, one-pump, no whip, mochas!" Dani's usually, long suffering barista called, passing the identical drinks to her.

"This one's for you," the barista said, tapping one with red writing on the side. Dani barely had time to register that it was a phone number.

"She's already here!" Mike called as Dani hurried past, sharply turning the corner and running into Tom Anderson. Coffee went everywhere.

"Damn it Ferrington!" Tom snapped.

"Look what you did!" Dani cried, "That was for Detective Superintendent Gibson!"

But Tom wasn't listening as he continued to grumble, smearing coffee on his shirt as he left Dani, also covered in hot coffee, still holding one cup. The redhead sighed, buttoning her blazer in an ill attempt to hide the stain as she made her way to her supervisor's office.

"You're two minutes late," Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson said in lieu of greeting as Dani set a full cup of coffee on her desk.

"Sorry ma'am," she smoothed her blazer over the wet shirt and tried not to cringe.

Stella Gibson swiveled her chair to face her, picking up the coffee. After a sip, she examined the cup.

"And I see you're playing matchmaker? Although I don't think Allie would quite be my type,"

"I, um, that number was for me," Dani stammered, "Your coffee spilled along the way. That was mine."

"You take your coffee the same as I do?" Stella asked, steel blue eyes burning into the younger woman.

"Yes ma'am," replied the PC, with a nervous laugh, "But that's not to say that I take my coffee the same as yours just in case it spills! That would be pathetic."

Stella raised one eyebrow, taking another sip as she regarded her assistant. Then she gave her the smallest nod, "You're dismissed."

"Yes ma'am," Dani mumbled again, backing out.

With a sigh, she dropped into her desk chair, completely aware of how flushed her face was. Stella Gibson made her feel... things. Especially when she looked at her like that- like she could read her mind, like she was about to pounce on her. Running her hands threw her hair, Dani tried to focus on work. Thank goodness it was Friday.

She was successful for a half hour, until Stella walked down the hall to Detective Chief Instpector Eastwood's office. But Stella was only in Eastwood's office for a minute before her phone rang.

"Detective Superintendent Gibson's office," Dani answered and after a quick conversation in which she tried to say that the Detective Chief Superintendent was in a meeting, Dani found herself hurrying down the hall to Eastwood's office.

She gave a little knock on the door and stuck her head in, "Ma'am? There's someone on the phone for you, but I told them you were otherwise engaged-"

"Dani! Exactly who I wanted to see," Stella said, beckoning her in, a dangerous look spreading across her features.

"Ma'am?" she edged in, throwing a glance at Eastwood who were watching the exchange expectantly.

"I know that this is a very difficult situation," Stella said to Eastwood, "But we have some good news."

"We're getting married!" she continued, wrapping an arm around Dani's waist.

She was barely processing the words, what with Stella's warm closeness and the slim hand on her hip, "W-who's getting married?"

"Us, love, you and I," she brushed Dani's hair behind her ear with her free hand.

Dani looked down at her boss in confusion. But seeing Stella stare, hard, back at her, she nodded, mutely.

"Isn't Ferrington your assistant?" Matt Eastwood asked.

Dani could feel her face flush bright red, continuing to nod.

"Well it couldn't be the first time some one has fallen for their secretary, hm, Eastwood? How is Colleen?" the petite blonde shot back.

Eastwood shifted uncomfortable, "Fair enough. Just make it legal, Stella, then this whole mess will be over."

"Of course, now if you'll excuse us?"

"Yes, yes," Eastwood waved his hand, still looking at bit awkward.

Stella steered Dani from Eastwood's office, dropping her arm as they walked back. Dani quickly shut the door behind them as Stella collapsed in her chair.

"I... don't know what's going on," Dani felt a bit faint from whatever had just happened in Matt Eastwood's office.

"I am being deported- or was going to be deported until we got engaged two minutes ago," Stella replied as she sorted through the papers on her desk.

"Isn't that illegal?"

"Quite," she continued to shuffle through her things, "But if go back to England for a year, there's no way we'll catch the strangler."

"Right, of course ma'am," the redhead bit her lip, hesitating under Stella's gaze, "But..."

"Yes Dani?" Stella looked up, steal blue eyes searing into her.

"Aren't you- I mean, I though you weren't- I'm gay everyone knows that but this is Belfast and your reputation-"

"You think that I'm straight," her boss said, bluntly, "and that being engaged to you will, a woman, will sully my reputation."

Dani nodded.

"You don't have to protect me, Dani," Stella replied, "And we'll need to visit the immigration offices later today."

"I'll make an appointment," she said, getting the feeling that she was dismissed.

Dani had almost reached the door when Stella called out, "Oh and Dani? I can assure you that I am not straight."

Her hand tightened on the door knob, this was going to be interesting.

"Mum, it's really not a good time," Dani hissed into her phone, two hours later, as she and Stella took a bad to the immigration office.

Stella glanced out the window, half pretending not to listen, even though they both knew she was.

"I'm sorry, I can't make Gran's birthday party this weekend, something's come up at work," she continued, "Mum, I know. I'm sorry, really, but I can't make it this weekend. Yeah, yeah, okay."

"You were planning to go home this weekend," Stella said as Dani slipped her phone back into her pocket. It wasn't a question.

"Yeah, it's my Gran's 90th birthday," she explained as they pulled up to the immigration office, "It's fine, really."

The Detective Superintendent didn't press the matter.

Dani fidgeted as Jim Burns, immigration officer, sat down in front of them. His office was too cold and her hands were shaking.

"I have just one question for you," he said, looking between them, "Are both committing fraud in order to avoid her deportation?"

"W-what?" Dani stammered.

"Of course not," Stella said, calm as always, "That's ridiculous. We're just two people, in love, who would like to get out of your hair as quickly as possible."

Jim narrowed his eyes, but continued, "This is how the process works. First we'll schedule an interview, where you will each be in separate rooms and we'll ask you all the questions a real couple will know about each other."

Dani swallowed.

"Then I dig deeper. Your phone records, computer records, I'll interview your coworkers, family-"

"I don't think that will be possible," Stella interrupted, "We are working on a high profile and highly classified case. Maybe you've heard of the Belfast strangler?"

The immigration officer made a 'harrumph' sound and turned to Dani.

"You do realize the penalty for marriage fraud is a fine of $250,000 and five years in prison?"

She nodded.

"In that case, is there anything you'd like to tell me Miss Ferrington?"

"Oh honestly, we both work for police; we're well aware of the law," Stella sighed, but Jim inclided his head towards Dani.

She licked her lips, nodding, "Actually, the truth is, sir, Stella and I should never have fell in love. But after all those late nights, sleeping at the office, all the stress and close calls, it just drove us closer."

Stella tilted her head, watching as Dani blushed.

"I've always admired her, but I didn't think I had a chance," she continued, "We didn't tell our coworkers because I wanted to protect her reputation. Belfast is a lot different than London, you know, and I know how people react to same-sex relationships."

The older woman reached over, taking Dani's hand, "Quite. She tries to be my knight in shining armor."

"And do you parents know about your secret love?" Jim shifted uncomfortably at this display of affection, no matter how small it was.

"My parents are dead," Stella said, without a hint of emotion.

Jim looked at Dani, "What about you? Are your parents dead too?"

"Oh no, her parents are very much alive," she squeezed Dani's hand in hers, "In fact we were planning on telling them this weekend. It's Dani's Gran's 90th birthday, and we both thought it would be a nice surprise."

Dani struggled to stay calm.

"Of course," the immigration officer said, "And where does Gran live?"

"Portballintrae," said the younger woman, and Stella nodded.

Jim looked from one to the other again, before saying, "We'll set the interview for Monday morning then, how does that work?"

"Perfectly," the Detective Superintendent said, still holding Dani's had as she stood, "We will see you Monday."

Outside, Dani half jogged to keep up with Stella's quick pace. How she could be faster than her, several inches shorter and in high heels, Dani didn't know.

"I'm not sure about this, ma'am," she said.

"If we're secret lovers, you really shouldn't be calling me ma'am," was the short reply.

"Stella," Dani caught her arm, "Did you hear him? Five years in prison? A $250,000 fine? You'd be deported, we'll never catch the Belfast Strangler if you can't enter the country and I'm in jail!"

"If we don't do this I'll be deported anyway!" Stella snapped.

"This changes things!"

"Damn it, Ferrington! This isn't about you!"

"What and it's about the people of Belfast?" Dani could feel her voice rise, "Or is it about you?"

Stella narrowed her eyes, "What do you want? You want something, what is it?"

Dani closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, "We tell my family on my terms."

"Done."

"And, you ask nicely."

"Ask what?"

"Ask to marry me!"

Stella was still for a moment, letting the crackling energy between them dissipate. Then she reached out her hands. Dani took them, as Stella Gibson got down on her knees in the middle of the sidewalk.

"Danielle Ferrington," she said, very seriously, "Will you marry me?"

Dani stared down at her and nodded, "Yes."