Story Summary: Jefferson wouldn't tell anyone how the Hat worked, but two women knew some of its secrets.
Story Notes: Jefferson/Grace's Mother, Jefferson/Regina, Leopold/Regina, Jefferson/Original Female Character. Chapters 1-6 are based on episodes up through S2 Ep 8 "Into the Deep." Chapters 7-8 are based on episodes up through S2 Ep 20 "The Evil Queen," and chapters after that are based on episodes up through S2 Ep 22 "And Straight On 'Til Morning." Crosses over with Terry Pratchett's "Discworld" series after Chapter 6, "World of Warcraft" after Chapter 7, and "Final Fantasy X" after Chapter 11. Also references other works. Part of my series "Some Kind of Madness." Nonlinear. This was moreso a place to put disconnected shorts, rather than one long story.
Marriage
Despite her many trips through the Hat's portals, Alice chided her husband for his recklessness. Even though she had become accustomed to and even took pleasure in the dizzy rush of it, and allowed herself to step through a hastily opened door or whirling purple tornado to evade some threat - beast or police or other pursuer. Alice, now heavy with child, told him to slow down and take a breath. To place the hat on the floor and carefully rotate it one, two, three times (No place like home), not fling it like some plaything. Magic wasn't a toy. It seeped into your marrow, down into your soul. It changed you.
Alice couldn't reconcile the arrogant young man she loved with the creator of such a powerful artifact, but took his word that it was his and he controlled it and he alone, despite the wiggle-room in such truths. The hat was his (theirs, now), because he owned it, or it owned him. Because he kept a hold on it like it was his own child. He held it lightly, twirling it in his hands, but any friend could tell that he would lose the smirk if it ever dropped.
Alice had seen the panicked - terrified - look in his eyes when he misplaced it. (Never at home, but many times while they were on the run.) They feared it would fall into the wrong hands. Some realm jumping sorcerer with his own magic, bent on world domination. Heists and cons were easy, and enough for them. Adventure and money and a whispered name. Quiet renown. Her husband had never seemed to want much more, and when he found her, wanted nothing but her. Wanted to shower her in jewels and furs, and eat like kings while living like gypsies.
They feared the hat would strand them somewhere, unable to return home. Unable to find each other ever again. They ran with hands entwined, when their covers were blown and stealth was no longer an option. Away from dementors and jabberwockys, balrogs and dragons, werewolves and vampires, and even flying monkeys. From the City Watch, the Warsong Clan, the Winkie Guards or the Death Eaters. He took her hand and told Alice to run and she knew she would never leave his side, never dream of it, 'til death did they part.