I Give it (Less Than) a Year (To Fall in Love With You)

Emma's and Graham's marriage is teetering on the brink of implosion and she has all but resigned herself to being unhappily married when Regina Mills enters her life and suddenly Emma realizes she might have a chance at happiness after all. No magic AU.

A/N: Another prompt based fic. This one based on the movie Give it a Year. Prompt is- Emma is in an unhappy marriage when Regina enters her life and the two start flirting and it inspires Emma to seek her happiness elsewhere.

Chapter One: A Marriage Crumbling Apart

"Graham!"

Silence.

"Graham!" another annoyed shout.

The man in question was sitting on the couch in the den, TV blaring, open pack of chips next to him, and a beer balancing precariously on his stomach, despite the fact that it's only eight in the morning. His beard was scruffy and his pj's stained with nacho cheese from about three nights ago that he had not yet bothered to wash out. The frustrated caller of his name yanked open the door to the basement. "Graham, how many times did I tell you to clean the damned dishes in the sink? They've been there for over a week now!"

"Don't worry, I'll clean them up," he said, eyes never leaving the screen. He took a large slurp of his drink and then crunched loudly on his chips.

That would not do. Huffing loudly to herself, Emma went down the stairs into the dark den, only the blue glow of TV shedding light on anything. Emma stood in front of the TV, blocking the view.

"Babe, can you move over-" he craned his neck to peer past her but she did not budge.

"No, Graham, I will not move. I keep telling you to wash the dishes each night. I don't have time to clean up the house. I work long hours each day. You sit at home each day so you have the time. You need to pull your weight around here, especially since you don't have a job and are just coasting on my paychecks!" Emma pointed out, pissed off this early in the morning because enough was enough. She had put up with his lazy behavior up til now because she loved him, because they were married, but she was tired of being the rock financially and emotionally of this family.

"Relax, I'll clean them. I promised I would so I will," he said, not at all disgruntled by her vitriol.

"And another thing- when are you going to get a job, Graham? It's been six months since we finished college and you still don't have anything. Not even a part time job!" she threw her hands up in exasperation. When she had married him, she hadn't expected this. She had expected them to work together as a team. Not for her to have to pester him about doing chores around the house, about getting a job, about even his cooking.

"I told you I'm looking into it. I got some interviews lined up." He rubbed his scraggly beard. Even his hair was long. He had really let himself go after the wedding. His toned figure was slowly receding into blubber because of all he ate without exercising afterwards.

"And when are those interviews?" Emma asked, calling him out on his bullshit.

"Soon."

"When?" she pressed.

He sighed out, just wanting to get back to his show. "They haven't scheduled a date with me."

"Why would they, if you didn't even apply to their positions?" Before Emma could continue her wristwatch beeped, signaling it was time to go to work. She clicked it off and raised a stern finger. "You better figure your shit out by the time I come home, or else." She left the threat there and rushed up the stairs and to her car, snagging her briefcase on the way.

The drive to work was only half an hour and she used the time to listen to some soothing music to calm herself.

Where had their relationship gone wrong? Things had been fine for the first two months but then had begun to deteriorate in the past four.

Emma thought back to her college days.

She had first meet Graham sophomore year of undergraduate. They really didn't talk much then, would just be around each other because of their friend groups always mixing. Additionally, he was dating this really pretty brunette by the name of Ruby and was too wrapped up in her to pay much attention to anyone else.

He was a complete stud then, all tight muscles, well taken care of clothing and hair. And he was kind with a winning smile. Emma had to admit she found him attractive from the get go but she would never make a move because he was already taken. One particularly bad break up later in junior year and they met at a party, and both drunk, they made out for the first time. Ever since then they decided to meet up for hook ups. They essentially became each other's booty call. And through that method, feelings arose and soon he asked her to be his girlfriend. But just because they were official didn't mean they knew each other all that well. Time was a precious commodity. With him being a student athlete and her double majoring in econ and business, when they meet up they would only have sex. Sex that was mind blowing because of the natural chemistry between each other.

Their relationship was hot and heavy, lust tying them closely together. They didn't talk much, only would put on a movie, pretend to watch it, and then hook up. Or just hook up straight away. The facts she knew about him could fit on all ten fingers and the same could go for him regarding her.

But they had been in too much lust back then and it had clouded their minds, had made them see with rose tinted glasses. He proposed to her a semester before the end of senior year, and she, never having known love because of her less than stellar relationship experience (she had a tendency to always go for the scumbags, case in point Neal, her high school boyfriend who left her when she gained a little weight. Asswipe) and so she'd said yes, clinging onto him because he loved her, so very much, and she didn't want to lose that.

They made a deal that they would get married as quickly as possible. And so once graduation came and passed, they traded their black gowns for a wedding dress and suit and got married in city hall with a couple of close friends.

They didn't have much money so they did what they could. They felt bright and full of hope at their future. Emma had a job slated at a prestigious advertising firm and while Graham had nothing, they weren't worried because they still had time, they had the rest of their lives together to make something of it. And then they'd moved the hell out of dreary Boston and to California where they got a small house together with help from Graham's rich parents, and a car, so Emma could drive to work.

Their honeymoon was postponed because neither of them wanted to spend Graham's parents money any further. They wanted to afford a honeymoon of their own. So it would wait and they would take one when they had the time.

But the wedding bliss began to fade away and quickly at that when Emma realized how incompatible the two of them actually were. She was hard working, always up to doing something, and he was lazy and laid-back, content with letting the world pass him by. She was neat and organized and he was a mess and disorganized. Once they actually had to live with each other, be around each other 24/7, they both saw how ill fit they were. Not to say they didn't try to make it work, but they were just so different and it irritated Emma more than it irritated him. Graham was casual about all this, just riding the waves, trying to have a chill worry free life. He saw no need to rush, to grapple his way to financial security and it might have to do with having rich parents and knowing he could always fall back on them.

Emma never had that luxury. She had to work hard to get what she wanted. And right now she wanted a happy marriage. They had tried therapy but there seemed to be almost no way to reconcile. It's not like Emma hated Graham, she still cared for him very much and he cared for her, it was just that insatiable spark between them had been lost and with their passions cooling, they began to drift apart.

Emma sighed out and parked her car. She was at her work place now and she needed to be as charming and professional as she could. The company counted on her charms to secure many of their deals. She had only been working here for half a year but already everyone knew her and admired her work ethic. She had gotten three raises alone in a short span of time and even had her own office. While it wasn't as glamorous as a CEO office, it had a nice view of the outside and lots of natural light filtering in. Her desk was made of light wood and she kept it organized and clean just the way she liked it. Her chairs too were custom leather, and she had a nice big closet in which to stash all her files and coats in.

She rode up the elevator to the 14th floor, greeting a couple of her coworkers as she walked by to her desk.

"Emma, hold up!" August called out behind her and she waited for him. The poor intern looked a bit out of breath and harried. "Word came that you've got a new client coming your way."

"I wasn't supposed to have a new client today," she furrowed her brow. Today was paper day- meaning organizing all her files.

"They've been moved over-Simon says he can't handle her and wants you to close the deal because if anyone can get it done, you can."

"Whose the client?" Emma asked as he handed her a manila envelope with all the details of the ongoing deal.

"Regina Mills from Poisoned Apple Tech."

Emma let out a loud groan here. The woman was notorious for being difficult to work with. Emma hadn't met her personally and hoped she never would, but she had heard many of her friends complaining about having to deal with the woman. Emma didn't know why her boss just didn't deny Regina's company if she was such a hard ass. But she did understand that it must be because Regina was too valuable of a customer to drop. Her company was worth billions. A high tech company that produced smartphones, tablets, gaming gear and more. Her logo, one of an apple with a bite in it, was recognized worldwide and she had a headquarters in almost every country globally.

"Hey, don't worry," he patted her on the arm. "You're smooth Swan. If anyone can cinch the deal, it's you."

"Thanks," she muttered, not feeling particularly reassured.

"I'll get you some coffee after this. It should help." He rushed off and she smiled at his retreating back. The boy was considerate which was an odd thing for a ruthless business company. She worried about him being able to make it in a field like hers. Kindness didn't always make the best deals and offers.

She went to her office and set up her computer and pulled out the files in the folder August had handed her. She made sure to read through everything carefully- she didn't want Regina calling her out on wrong information.

By the time ten came, she got a call on her desk phone that Regina was coming up to her office.

Emma took in a deep breath, closed her eyes briefly, and tried to throw on her most confident persona. The door clicked open and she stood up from her seat, throwing her hand out and flashing her most charming grin.

"How good to meet you in person, Ms. Mills."

Next time: Emma and Regina get to deal making, but it looks like Regina might need something special to prompt her into going through with it.