Author's Notes: This little story is the fifth and last in a short series I've written about Emma. I've also split this story into multiple chapters, as I have a lot of information I'd like to cover in this story as well. While you don't need to read the prior stories to read this one, it's a bit more background into how I view Emma after returning to Storybrooke.
Please know these characters are not mine, and I just enjoy playing around with them.
The Saturday morning started much like any other. Emma awoke to the scent of breakfast being made by Snow, and the faint sounds of morning cartoons Henry and David liked to watch in their pajamas. She rolled out of bed, pulling her hair out of the ponytail she had put it up in the night before, and quickly used her fingers to comb out her hair. She walked out the bedroom to see Snow at the stove scrambling some eggs, a plate of toast and bacon were already sitting on the counter ready to be served. Emma walked over to her, grabbing her coffee cup to fill it so she could function properly.
"Good morning," Snow greeted cheerfully, looking up from her breakfast duties. "Did you sleep well?"
"Not too bad," Emma replied. After that first night with Henry, Emma and David had gone down to the local furniture store to pick up a twin bed for Henry. They managed to fit it into her bedroom after a bit of strategic re-arranging, but for now, she and Henry had their own place to sleep again. When Snow and David moved to their own place, Emma was planning to take over Snow's loft bedroom, and Henry would keep her old one for himself.
"Morning, mom!" Henry said, as he took a seat at the counter. "What's the plan for today?"
"How about we eat first before we decide anything?" Snow suggested, moving around David as he came to grab his own cup of coffee. "Let's sit down at the table and eat."
They all moved to the table, all of them seeking out a particular chair. Ever since returning from the Enchanted Forest, Snow had insisted on cooking nearly every meal for her family, and they had all settled into a familiar routine. Snow and David would sit on the ends of the table, with Emma and Henry sitting on either side across from each other. It was a small thing really, but for Emma, it was a family ritual she had never experienced before and it felt nice.
"Everybody dig in," David said, reaching for the platter of eggs Snow had made. "Honey, everything looks delicious."
"Mmmm," Henry agreed, his mouth already full of jam covered toast. David served him some eggs, before passing the dish onto Emma. The little family continued with their meal, and the only sounds for the next several minutes where the sounds of utensils clinking on plates. But all too soon, Henry again asked, "So what are we doing today?"
Emma sat back in her chair. "I—uh—sort of need to visit someone," she said nervously, trying not to look at Snow.
Snow gave her a suspicious look. It was amazing that even though she and Emma had known they were mother and daughter for a few short weeks, Snow could completely see through Emma. "Who do you need to see? We've met with everyone at Granny's the other night."
"I—I need to go visit Jefferson," Emma mumbled, focusing on her breakfast in front of her.
"WHAT!" David yelled, dropping his fork onto the table. "Why in the world do you need to see that man?"
"Emma, I have to agree," Snow chimed in. "After what he did to us…why on earth do you need to see him again?"
"What did he do?" David demanded, looking at both Snow and Emma. "If he hurt the two of you, I'll—"
"You'll do nothing," Emma interrupted, looking defiant. "And Snow, I need to see him because I need to apologize. He tried to make me believe in the curse, and I refused to see what was right in front of me. He only wanted his daughter back, and I thought he was crazy!"
"Emma!" Snow cried, placing her hand on Emma's arm. "That doesn't mean you need to go see him."
"Yes, it does!" Emma said stubbornly, giving both Snow and David hard looks.
Through all the arguments, Henry was watching everyone quietly as he continued to eat his breakfast. He looked at Emma and calmly asked, "Can I go too?"
"What?" Emma said, looking at Henry in surprise. "Why do you want to come with me?"
"Well," Henry drawled, looking at everyone sitting at the table. "First of all, Grace is a friend of mine, and I'd like to show her the new Iphone you and mom got me." He pulled out his white cell phone showing it to everyone once again. "And two, Jefferson is cool. He's the Mad Hatter after all."
"How do you know Jefferson?" David demanded, looking sternly at Henry.
"I—uh—sort of talked to him the day I visited my other mom's vault?" Henry tentatively responded, averting his eyes back to his plate and began eating again.
"What the hell!?" Emma sputtered, looking at her son in disbelief.
"That's how you knew about the vault?" David asked, looking intently at Henry as he squirmed in his chair.
"Anyway, can I please come with you to visit Jefferson?" Henry asked, giving Emma a pleading look.
"I don't know, kid," Emma responded. "Apparently there are a few things you and I should discuss first."
"Mom!" Henry pleaded. "Jefferson didn't tell me to go down to the vault. And I was the one to convince him to go find Grace."
"What do you mean?" Snow asked. She had been silent for most of the conversation, but was interested to learn about a favorite student of hers reuniting with her family.
"He was scared to find her," Henry explained, turning to Snow. "He was afraid she would be angry with him for leaving to go with the Evil Queen to Wonderland and getting stranded." Henry had developed a habit of calling Regina the Evil Queen when talking about her past deeds, but calling her his other mom in the present tense. "Grace is really happy now she's back with her dad, just like I am to have you back mom."
Emma was silent for a few moments. "Well, I don't even know if Jefferson will be home with Grace, but I suppose if they're there, you can come with me, as long as Jefferson doesn't care."
"Yes!" Henry exclaimed, and then began finishing up his breakfast. "I call the shower first!"
Emma just shook her head as she continued eating herself, ignoring the concerned looks her parents were giving her. She and David washed and dried the dishes, as Snow cleaned the table and counter tops of the kitchen, while Henry was in the bathroom. Finishing the last dish, Emma stepped back and reached for her cell phone. "I guess I'll call Jefferson, now."
Pulling up her address screen, she found the number she was looking for and pressed it. "Hello?" came a male voice over the phone.
"Uh, Jefferson?" Emma tentatively asked, walking towards her bedroom to talk in private.
"Emma, is that you?" Jefferson said, sounding surprised to hear from her. "Can I help you with anything?"
"I—uh—I was wondering if Henry and I could stop by later today?" she said, sitting down on her bed and picking at the comforter. "Will you be home?"
"Grace and I don't have any plans to go anywhere," he replied, still sounding confused. "Not to be rude, Emma, but why do you want to see me?"
"Henry wants to visit Grace," she stammered, uncomfortable at his blunt question. "And I—I'd just need to talk with you."
"Alright, Emma," Jefferson calmly responded. "When where you planning to stop by?"
"Uh, what time is good for you?" she asked nervously.
"Grace and I have just finished breakfast together, but our schedule for the day is wide open," he replied.
"Well, Henry's nearly ready," Emma said, looking at the clock near her bed. "But I need to still get ready. Would an hour or so be okay for us?"
"Would you like to stay for lunch?" Jefferson asked politely.
Emma was silent for a long moment. She wasn't really keen on eating with Jefferson after the tea incident, but knew Henry would want to stay for a while, and she had no idea how long her talk with Jefferson would last.
"Emma, I promise I won't tamper with the food," Jefferson said in a patient tone.
"I—uh—sure. We can stay for lunch," she said, trying to ignore the nervous feeling in her stomach. "I—I'll see you in an hour or so. Bye!" And with that, she disconnected the call.
Henry burst into the room, fully dressed but with a wet head. "Did you call him yet?"
"Uh, yeah," she replied, looking off into space. "I need to get ready, but we're going in an hour. He's invited us for lunch."
"Yes!" Henry exclaimed, running out of the room. "I can't wait to show Grace my new phone!"
Emma shook her head, and walked over to her closet to pick out something to wear. It was time for her to select her armor to visit the Mad Hatter.
Jefferson sat at a stool in his immaculate kitchen staring at the phone receiver in his hand. He had been cleaning up from the breakfast he and Grace had shared when Emma had called. He couldn't believe she even wanted to see him again after all he had done to her and her family. After all, holding a mother and daughter hostage at gunpoint isn't really a good start to a friendship. Yet Emma still wanted to see him about something.
"Papa?"
Jefferson turned to see Grace standing next to him. She had only been living with him again for little over a week, but to Jefferson, it felt like she had never left. This empty old mansion of his was finally starting to feel like a home. "Grace, we're having some visitors in a little bit."
"Who's visiting, Papa?" she asked, looking up at him curiously. She looked so much like her mother when she looked at him like that.
"Sheriff Swan and her son Henry," he said, giving her a bright smile. "She's agreed to stay for lunch, so what should we have, sweetheart?"
"Henry's coming to visit?" Grace asked, completely ignoring the fact his mother was joining him. "Can we order pizza, Poppa?"
Jefferson thought about it for a moment. Actually, ordering out might not be such a bad idea after all, considering what had happened last time he had prepared food for Emma. Having food delivered was probably the best option if he wanted her to actually eat food he gave her. "That sounds like a perfect idea, Grace. We'll wait until Emma and Henry are here before we order. Now why don't you go check around the house to see if all your toys are put away properly for our guests?"
Grace nodded eagerly and rushed from the room. She was actually a very tidy child, but he could tell she wanted to make sure everything was perfect for their guests. Jefferson stood and began walking towards the living room of the home. He and Grace had started to redecorate the mansion to better suit their tastes. Now that the curse had been broken, he was no longer forced to live with the wretched Wonderland-inspired decorations Regina has forced on him. They were a long way from being finished, but different touches in some of the regularly used rooms were starting to show the difference.
He happened to glance in a mirror hanging in the hallway. He wasn't wearing his scarf or cravat like he usually did, as he had explained to Grace about his scar on his neck shortly after bringing her back home. He had glossed over many of the gory details of what had happened in Wonderland by saying he had been injured by the Queen of Hearts, but he was grateful Grace didn't yet understand what that meant. He could only hope that Henry wouldn't say anything to Grace today, as he was certain the boy knew full well what he had went through thanks to Regina because of his book.
Changing direction, Jefferson walked towards the stairs to go up to his bedroom to grab a scarf. Just because he was now comfortable enough to go without one in his daughter's presence, didn't mean he wanted Emma or Henry staring at the scar on his neck. It was time for him to prepare himself and Grace for a visit that would no doubt be unpleasant for him after his past actions.