Author's Note: I, in no way, own any of the characters from Once Upon A Time. I simply absolutely adore them. Also this is a OUAT adaptation of Galt Niederhoffer's The Romantics. Great book, go read it or watch the 2010 movie of it – amazing soundtrack! Don't sue me. Also I didn't enjoy the ending of the book/movie so I might switch it up. Enjoy!

Emma sat in her ancient, yellow bug of a car heavily contemplating leaving the country hoping to avoid the wedding – "Wedding of the Year", as her friends loved to call it. Yes, leave the country for something business related, research for her writing, or perhaps family related. She should have really gone to the Bahamas with her parents but no, the obviously smitten couple was vacationing as a means of a second honeymoon. Emma could not, would not, be the third wheel to such a love fest.

She stayed lost in thought. Just ditch the wedding altogether. We'd been friend for years, they'd all understand if I'd call in sick and let them know I was in no condition to celebrate. I could always fake my death? No, be mature about this.

She had stopped her car a mile away from the unwelcoming, green "Welcome to Storybrooke" sign. Emma sighed deeply and banged her fists on the steering wheel. "I can do this." She told herself, "Just one weekend, one rehearsal dinner, and one wedding. Nothing to worry about." Can I do this? She placed her head on the steering wheel just as a dark jeep pulled up beside her.

"Hey, Emma! You lost?" greeted the red-streaked brunette in the passenger seat. "Hi, sweetie!" greeted another blonde from the jeep's backseat.

"Yeah," Emma replied. "How do I get back to Boston?"

They had all met at Boston University their freshman year and had been inseparable since. The seven of them – Red, Tink, Hook, Jefferson, Robin, Regina, and Emma – were practically family with an abundance of love to hold them together but enough drama to break them apart. But through it all they remained together for 10 years now.

Emma didn't come from a lot. Her mother, Mary Margaret, was an elementary school teacher while her father, David, a simple sheriff back in Boston. She was often the black sheep but the most loved. Her different upbringings and reserved, but ambitious, personality only served to her advantage as all members of the group babied her with such care but never too much as too limit her independence. Ruby, who had a flare for the color red, was always the flirty brunette of the group. Her friends long ago stopped calling her Ruby instead choosing to call her Red because she was a feisty one that one. Even after she married Jefferson three years ago, she still managed to be her overly-sexual self though who could blame her. She was practically a lingerie model but she did reserve her sexiness for Jefferson only. Jefferson was somehow the odd invite to their group. He was crazy, mad even but nonetheless he was the most fun of them all if you were up to his never ending challenges and party lifestyle. College parties were where he stayed at or stayed hosting. But as strong as his partying went, so did his studying. He never fell behind in his academia. Tink – Tina, actually – got her name due to her radiant, perky persona and her blonde resemblance to Tinkerbell. She was always the optimist of the group – in school, in life, in love, in everything. She was the right mix of positivity the group always seemed to need. Not only was she right for the group, she was especially right for Killian. Killian was known as Hook. This title bestowed upon him because of his infamous hookups with just about anyone who had a face during his college years. But he found his stability in Tink and had decided to settle down which is why he proposed 5 months ago and was still rejoicing in the newness of their engagement.

Then there was Regina. The group was known for their overt beauty like the Cullen's in the Twilight series but Regina truly took the crown home. Her family was loaded with cash all due to their long line of politicians – she was, after all, the heir to the publicly renowned Mill's Law Firm and daughter of the Mayor of Storybrooke. But Regina was beyond her wealth. She was absolutely gorgeous with her shoulder-length, raven hair paired with a luscious body and the brains of a politician, she practically screamed royalty. She was always the leader of the group because of her sturdy and scheduling manners – extremely useful when she conducted study sessions during finals week. She always planned ahead even if it was something seemingly spontaneous as her sudden trip to Europe in which she successfully managed to drag Emma along an hour before her flight departed. Her parents had no idea, not even their closest friends knew they had left the country until they received similar long-distance calls. Regina was the glue of the group. She kept everyone calm, together, and in good standings with one another. Her calm reserve always placed her at an advantage to understand all the members of the group but her temper was ever present what which allowed her to reign without opposition. Thanks to her temper, she was able to for a lifelong bond to Emma.

Regina was Emma's first friend at Boston. The two instantly clashed and bickered because they were so different. Regina was all color-coded schedules while Emma was all post-its and clumsy spontaneity. Regina planned her outfits the day before while Emma chose the first thing she saw the day of. But their differences were what held them together after ten years. And this bond was the sole reason that lead Emma to agree to be her best friend's Maid of Honor even if they had hit a bump in their friendship some years ago. Regina was to be married to Robin. Robin was, is, an honorable man of high status. Not as high as the Mills family but sufficient in the eyes of Regina's controlling mother, Cora. He was perfect to the point of boredom but he was the ideal man for a successful bond in marriage and union for 2 important and powerful families. He was athletic, smart, handsome, and a big family man. After Marian's, his sister, untimely death 5 years ago in a car accident alongside her husband, Robin took it upon himself to care for their one year old, Roland, as his son. This only made him a bigger catch for the ladies but he only had eyes for Regina and they remained a constant for 8 years now. A big contrast to Emma's recent love life.

Emma was the only single one of the group. Had been for a while but she pretended to not mind seeing as her writing career was starting to take flight. But she placed her career at a pause for the weekend as she found herself on the side of the road not too far from Storybrooke.

"Hey, you're still driving that deathtrap, love?" Hook shouted from the jeep's backseat. Deathtrap, the term of endearment created by Regina because she knew how much Emma valued the old gift from her family.

"Don't move," Ruby instructed Jefferson seated in the driver's seat. "I'm getting in!"

"Red, no–" but Jefferson's plea fell on silent ears as Ruby assured the group she'd be fine and threw her left leg over her left window right into Emma's. Swiftly she continued with her entire body following her left leg through Jefferson's car into Emma's.

"Hi, sexy!" She told Emma as she straddled her thighs and kissed her cheek. "Oh my Gods, I had to get out of there! Desperate situation. All right, truth."

Emma continued to look at her as she seated herself in the passenger seat. Red continued. "Have I gotten obese? Tell me the truth."

Emma chuckled. "Are we gonna start that already?"

"Just tell me the truth. You can catch anyone's lies with you superpower but you, lady, cannot lie for shit!"

And with a sarcastic tone, "You look revolting. Head to toe."

"Good because you've never looked worse in your life! Oh, babe!" Red leaned in and hugged her friend.

"Red, you always know what to say."

"I think this occasion calls for a drink."

"Yeah, yeah. A couple." And heavens did Emma need them. "Go, go!" she told Jefferson.

"Wanna race? I'll race you!" was Jefferson's reply before the group headed into Storybrooke.