A/N: Well hello there! This is my first OUAT fanfic. I am obsessed with Jefferson and thought to give this a try. So I know we haven't gotten a dance to see who Grace's mother is and I thought this could settle one of the theories that her mother was Alice. So let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Once upon a time or it's characters.

~xXx~

StoryBrooke

"Good morning StoryBrooke!" The voice from the television filled the quiet little house. "Thanks for tuning into today as we talk about…"

The blonde sitting at her kitchen counter didn't pay any attention to the people talking on screen as she sipped her morning tea, she was trying her best to stay awake. She had been up all night finishing paper work for her boss, Madam Mayor. Being the Mayor's assistant meant doing mostly paper work and filing said paper work.

"One more day," Vivian said to herself quietly. "one more day until the weekend." Of course she would be able to sleep in, but still have a ton of paper work to complete.

She rinsed her cup out in the sink and headed off to change and add her make up. As she made her way passed the living room, she turned off the television, no longer in need of back ground noise.

When it came to make up, Vivian didn't' use a lot, she didn't need a lot. Her pale skin only needed a touch of powder and just a tad bit of blush to add color. Her lips just needed a small amount of red lipstick. Her eyes didn't very much require eye shadow but she would occasionally add a natural brown or nude color. She would finish the look with mascara and eyeliner. Her hair was long and didn't need much tending to, just a fews brushes and a few minutes with the curling iron.

When she had first began working for the mayor, she was told to mainly wear black, maybe a little bit of white, but mainly business attire. She didn't question it. Todays look was simple and already had been picked out. A white ruffled blouse, a black pencil skirt and topped off with a pair of black pumps.

After she was completely ready, she grabbed the folders worth of a late nights paper work and her purse, heading out to the car. Vivian lived in a small neighborhood, near the school district. Which wasn't too bad for her. Occasionally, Madam Mayor, or Regina, would ask for her to walk her son, Henry, to and from School for her when she was too busy.

As she was putting her purse and folders in the car, she heard a familiar voice. "Good morning, Ms. Liddell."

Vivian turned around and was greeted by Archie, StoryBrooke's own Psychologist and his dog, Pongo. She closed the door to the passenger's side and smiled. "Morning, Archie. And hello to you too, Pongo." she replied, petting the Dalmation.

"Shall I be expecting you to drop off Henry today, or Regina?"

"Most likely me."

Archie smiled. "Well, your presence is a little more… enlightening."

"I know Regina can be slightly aggravating, but she means well. Especially when it comes to Henry." Vivian said.

He nodded. "Of course, you're right."

Vivian smiled. "Well I better go and grab Regina's coffee. If she has her coffee not time, she's most likely not to give me so much paper work."

Archie smiled. "Well I'll leave you to that. I'll be seeing you then, Ms. Liddell."

"Bye Archie!" The blonde smiled and got into her car.

~xXx~

Jefferson had many reasons not to leave his mansion, but he also had a few to go out. Being one out of the only two people who remembered their past lives made him feel that he should be kept away. He looked down at his watch, seven thirty. Any minute she would be walking in.

'Right on time' he thought as he heard the bell on the door to the diner ding.

Her heels clicked against the floor as she made her way to the counter. Jefferson couldn't help but smile when he caught scent of her perfume when she had passed by him.

"Right on time, my dear." Ms. Lucas smiled at the blonde. "I'll have your coffee ready in just a minute."

"Thanks Ms. Lucas." Vivian smiled.

Jefferson felt his heart melt when he saw her smile. He missed her smile. Every morning he tried to work up the courage to interact with the blonde. But he always talked himself out of it, afraid that he would mess things up.

'It's now or never' He thought to himself. Slowly, he left a few crumpled bills on the counter and stepped outside without Vivian's attention, he had everything planned out in his head ready to put it in action.

"Here you go, dear." Ms. Lucas said. The older woman handed Vivian her coffees. "Will I be expecting you for lunch?"

"Probably not." She grimaced. "I have a lot of papers that I left unfinished and I'm sure Madam Mayor would like them filed as well."

"I swear she works you too hard."

"Well, it's good pay. Can't really complain." Vivian said, looking down at her small watch. "Wow, I gotta go. Thanks again!"

She smiled and headed towards the door. Once outside, she began searching through her purse for the car keys with one hand, the other holding the coffees. She wasn't paying attention towards the man in her way. She let out a squeak when she had crashed into him. Luckily he had caught the coffee holder, preventing the coffees from spilling with one hand, and used his other arm to wrap around her waist to catch her.

Vivian on the other hand gasped and tightly held on to him, trying to catch herself. It took her a few seconds to realize what had just happened before she finally looked up at the man. She had to admit, he was handsome; strong jaw line, ocean blue eyes and styled fluffy brown hair.

"I'm so sorry," Vivian started pulling from his embrace. "I should have been paying more attention."

"It's alright," He slowly let go, not wanting to. "I'm sorry Ms…."

"Liddell," she held out her hand, which he gladly shook. "Vivian Liddell."

"Jefferson Hatter." he smiled.

She took in his appearance once more. He wore a black coat, dark washed jeans, and a dark blue scarf. "I don't think I've seen you around town before,"

He chuckled. "Yeah, I don't get out that much. You work for the mayor?"

"Yeah, um, how did you-" He pointed to Regina's name on one of the coffee cups, handing it back to her. "Oh, yeah, I do."

It grew quiet between the two before Vivian broker the silence. "Well I better get going. it was nice meeting you, Jefferson. Sorry about the whole bumping into you thing."

"It's fine, and it was nice to meet you too." he smiled.

She smiled back and slowly started towards her car. "See you around."

He watched her as she walked away towards her car and let a breath out that he didn't know he was holding in. He pictured her smile in his head again and again, the way her sweet, innocent blue eyes looked into his, and her voice, oh god, her voice was like music to his ears. He hadn't made contact with her in over thirty years and he had finally worked up the courage. he hadn't felt this happy in a long, long time. Nothing could destroy his mood, that is until he looked across the street to meet the angry glare of Regina herself.

"Well, that's just great." he muttered.

~xXx~

Enchanted Forest

"Mama! We're back!" a young girl announced her and her father's arrival.

Her mother smiled and greeted the young girl with a hug. "How was the market today, gracie?"

"It was okay," the young girl replied. The mother looked up at her father only to see something flicker in his eyes.

She pulled away from her daughter and cupped her cheeks. "Why don't you go change fore dinner, grace?"

Grace smiled. "Okay, Mama."

The older woman waited until her daughter was out of the room before turning to her husband. "What happened?"

The man only shrugged and sighed. "I let Grace look at the toy cart," he began. "She saw a stuffed rabbit she liked… and I couldn't afford it."

"Oh Jefferson," she hugged her husband.

"I'm so ashamed, Ally." he continued. "I can't even afford her toys."

She pulled away to look up at him. "Grace has plenty of toys and stuffed animals. I'm sure she understands." She cupped his cheek in her hand. "There's no need to feel ashamed."

It was quiet until Jefferson spoke. "Regina came to the house yesterday."

"What? When?"

"Yesterday, when you were visiting with Red. Grace and I were on our way home when I noticed her carriage outside." Alice was about to say something before he stopped her. "I made sure Grace was hidden in the woods so she wouldn't hear us talking."

"What did she want?"

"To offer me a job," he nodded towards a trunk nearby their bedroom.

Alice slowly closed her eyes as she leaned into his chest. "Please, Jefferson, please tell me you did not take this job."

She felt his arms wrap around her waist. "I didn't. I told her I couldn't abandon you and Grace. No matter how much she offered me."

"I know it sounds too good to be true, but I don't trust Regina, not anymore."

"You and me both, Alice."

"Why didn't you tell me? About Regina?" She asked.

"I didn't want you to worry, after all the things she has done in the past, I didn't want you to be scared."

"Oh please, I've faced more ferocious things than that witch." That made Jefferson smile.

"Yes you have," he placed a small kiss on her nose.

They were leaning in for another kiss when they heard Grace enter. Pulling away Alice told him quietly. "We'll finish this talk later. Come on Gracie, lets start dinner."

~xXx~

StoryBrooke

Jefferson patiently waited for Regina to cross the street. Right when he was finally talking to his wife, she just steps in.

"Well, well," she began. "Look who decided to leave his cave."

Jefferson rolled his eyes. "What do you want, Regina?"

"What do you think you're doing talking to my assistant?" she asked as she crossed her arms.

"I think I was talking to my wife." He shot back, a bit quiet so people passing by did not hear. "Since when is that a bad thing?"

"Oh Jefferson," she chuckled darkly. "How many times do I have to remind you. Back home in that little shack you called home, she was your little innocent, mushroom picking wife. But here, in StoryBrooke, she is Vivian. My assistant, my friend and not your wife. And if I were you, I would crawl back into that big mansion I was nice enough to give you and give up."

Jefferson stepped forward the mayor, almost towering over her, glaring. "And what if I don't?"

"You love her, don't you?" she asked innocently. "And you wouldn't want anything bad to happen to her would you? I mean think about it, she has a nice job, a nice home, and people who care for her. You wouldn't want me to change all that would you?"

"You wouldn't."

"Try me."

Jefferson stepped back, looking away. "She use to be your best friend, Regina. How could you do this to her? Taking her away from her family?"

"Oh please, she was better off before she met you." She scoffed. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to be heading to work. If I get there in time, my coffee should still be warm." And with that, Jefferson watched as she turned and walked away.

~xXx~

A/N: So there's chapter one! I hope you liked it! So all I need now are some reviews letting me know how you guys liked it!