AN: Ok so I wasn't really sure what I was writing at first, because I had this random idea of a girl always stealing Jefferson's coat and him getting really annoyed at her and then it somehow spiralled into this. I don't know if I'll continue this but please review and let me know what you think! Reviews really keep my writing motivation up!

Alice couldn't live like she used to. Her father was killed with many others in a shipwreck, leaving her on her own to find work and shelter to keep her alive. Eventually she found a tavern to work in, though she wished she could work anywhere else. Men would arrive drunk to get even drunker, which often resulted in fights that she could not stop. The clothing the owner of the tavern made her wear was probably the worst part of her job, he often claimed it was to attract more people to the tavern, which it sadly did. The thin white shirt often left her shivering, the red corset caused her to gasp for breath and the small black leather shorts she wore left little to the imagination. She looked like a pirate wench and she hated it.

Alice had heard about the new queen, and how she was under Rumplestiltskin's training. All over the land Rumplestiltskin was feared for his deadly deals and many have already guessed the queen will turn bitter like he is. Alice hid her magic for her own good, one day someone would use her for her magic and leave her for dead, that's what happens to so many others who possess magic in the Enchanted Forest. Her mother had been the person to pass on her magic to Alice but had left her and her father in fear of putting them in danger, though Alice later realised she wasn't trying to protect her or her father, she just didn't want to be responsible for a child.

Tonight the tavern was completely full as it was the mine worker's night off. Alice always dreaded when they were in the tavern, all the burley and probably married men looking down her shirt and flirting with her, like she was just a toy for them to play with. Alice never payed the men much attention considering they were almost always twice her age and willing to hit on a 21 year old. Though one of the men had caught her eye this evening. He sat at the back of the tavern, in his extravagant black coat and his hat placed on the small table in front of him. The owner had spoken to him earlier that evening and got him a tea, which was strange since the owner was rarely in the tavern. He was definitely not a mine worker, that much was clear by his slim frame and expensive clothing, he also seemed much younger than the rest of the men in the tavern. His eyes were lined with kohl and his hair stuck up in different directions which gave him a mysterious look that Alice spent too much time glancing at.

Alice was carrying a tray of ales when one of the men, a broad man with a face littered with scars, hit her ass when she was walking past. She got such a fright she fell and spilt the ale all over herself, causing her shirt to cling to her chest and an uproar of wolf whistles and cat calls from the men. Alice quickly scurried back to the bar in some attempt to hide herself. Alice gave a quick glance around the tavern from behind the bar to make sure no one was looking before she released a small burst of yellow magic from her hand, her shirt returning to the way it was with no traces of ale. She turned around, heading to go pick up the shattered pieces of glass from the ale glasses, when she locked onto a pair of blue eyes staring at her. He had a devilish grin plastered on his face as he took a sip of his tea, eyes never leaving hers. He had seen her use her magic. Alice tared her eyes from his and returned to her job, trying to not look his way again.

She failed.

This was definitely not good.

The sun would surely be rising soon and Alice had managed to usher out the men, all except one. She did what she always did when closing up the tavern, wiping down the tables with a rag and sweeping the floor. Alice had just finished checking everything was back in place when she turned around to see a certain pair of kohl lined blue eyes staring back at her from the other side of the bar.

"So how can a tavern wench do magic?" He grinned his hand propped.

"Wow quite the charmer" Alice replied but still unable to hide her blush caused by his wide grin. "And I am not a wench"

"Of course you're not, if you were you'd be all over those men like a rash" He said opening his satchel to pull out a piece of paper. "Do you know what this is?"

Alice read the paper carefully, it was a contract, one of Rumplestiltskins' contract. Saying this man, Jefferson as it was signed at the bottom, would work for Rumple for a year and a half, as a portal jumper. Then a realisation dawned on her.

"Hatter" Alice whispered.

"I prefer Jefferson, but yes that is my other name" He said is grin faltering a fraction "And what would yours be?"

Alice knew she shouldn't tell him anything, she had heard about the hatter and the jobs he does for Rumplstiltskin, but deep inside she felt like she could trust him. "Alice Liddell"

"Well, Alice, as you read on my contract I am going to be working for Rumple for a year and a half. I've been working for him for three months and have realised I get hurt very often. I was told if I could find someone who could protect me with magic, he would also pay them as much as I am payed, which trust me is a lot more than you make in this tavern. And you'd get to wear more clothes." Jefferson stopped to rake his eyes over Alice's body. "But if you want to keep the uniform you've got, that's fine by me"

Alice knew it would be a dangerous job, she knew she wouldn't have a permanent home and she knew she would get a bad reputation from working for Rumplstiltskin butwhat kind of rep did she have serving men ale in skimpy clothing?

"How much pay would I get for a year and three months of work?" Alice asked leaning forward so that her face was only centimetres from his.

"Enough to not work for a year afterwards" Jefferson said, his breath fanning across Alice's face causing her to blush. "And a year and three months my close company, which I think is payment enough"

Alice scoffed and rolled her eyes, pushing herself of the bar. Hundreds of thoughts were running through her head: Men wouldn't stare at her like meat every day, no more wearing skimpy outfits, finally a solid pay, keeping company with a rather attracti- No, she wasn't even going to go there.

"So, Alice Liddell, do we have a deal? you protect me and get payed in gold?" Jefferson said sticking out his hand for her to shake, the way he said her name causing her to shiver

Alice grabbed his collar and pulled his face close to hers, so close to hers their noses almost touching. "Yes, Jefferson, we have a deal"

Alice skipped off to go get changed, grinning from ear to ear. Leaving Jefferson gaping at her sudden actions.

Jefferson was going to enjoy this, a lot.