Emma's body slumped against his as he caught her in his arms, catching her before the effects of the tea could drop her to the floor. Her head lolled back to the crook of his neck and he could smell her already familiar scent. Her hair smelled of milk and honey and her jacket of the coffee that was always brewing at the Sheriff's department. Jefferson slipped his hands around her waist in preparation to drag her dizzy body to the couch, but he lingered. This second time around, having Emma in his arms, he realized just how long it had been since he had embraced another person. The weight and warmth of her body against his left him feeling almost as dizzy as the tea had made Emma. Jefferson sucked-in a breath and shook his head, trying to focus.
"Let's get you to the couch," he said as he drug her towards it, helping her down onto the cushions, "There you go."
Jefferson turned away then, and almost opened his mouth to tell her the same lie about "getting her some air", but he stopped. He turned his gaze to the half-lucid blonde woman lying on his couch. Even in her dizzy, tea-drunken state, Emma Swan looked up at him with suspicion in her eyes and Jefferson wondered why—if Emma had the power to make him relive this day over and over—why would he ever get away with drugging her in the first place.
"Who are you?" the words managed to fall from her lips before her tea cup fell to the floor and her head to the couch.
Jefferson heaved a sigh and tilted his head as he looked at her peaceful, sleeping face. How could he be foolish enough to think she was capable of such a curse? Jefferson clenched his jaw in frustration and walked over to the tea cup she had dropped. As he bent down to pick it up, Emma sighed in her sleep and Jefferson glanced up to find that his face had come much too close to hers. His eyes lingered on her mouth for a moment, and then suddenly, like a telescope to the head, an idea struck him.
"A kiss can break a curse."
Jefferson reached a hand towards her face and gently brushed his knuckles across her cheek. Emma murmured something unintelligible and Jefferson pulled away.
"But not if you're in a drug induced stupor..."
Jefferson scowled in spite of himself and stalked off to his work room to wear-out his frustrations by sharpening his scissors. He allowed the drugs time to take their course and for Emma to find her way to Snow White. When all the business of un-tying and then re-tying Snow White was over with, Jefferson managed to steal another moment alone with Emma. With his gun in one hand, he nudged her inside his work room with the other, and then closed the door behind them. Emma turned on him.
"I don't know what you think you're doing, but if you hurt my friend, I swear I'll make you regret it."
Jefferson gave a humorless laugh.
"Emma," he practically purred as he strolled forward, causing her to step back, "I already do regret it."
Emma stopped moving in spite of his slow pursuit towards her, allowing his proximity to stop just a breath away.
"Then let us go," she reasoned as she looked up at him.
Jefferson's gaze darted to her mouth and then back to the pair of hazel-green eyes that were becoming too familiar to him. He considered her words as he appreciated her face, finding it tempting to give-in to her plea. Jefferson heaved a sigh.
"Fine," he agreed, "But only on one condition."
Emma's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"What do you want?"
Jefferson smiled. Even though he found her to be a bit distracting, he hadn't forgotten that he was stuck in a new curse and that Emma had magic. Magic was the key and Jefferson was willing to try anything to get it.
"Tell me something," he began as he strolled passed her, walking around the table that sat in the center of the room, "Your son, Henry, believes you're the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming, right?"
Emma's eyes shifted uncomfortably at the mention of her son, and she crossed her arms over her chest to hide her balled-up fists.
"How do you—"
"That would make you a princess, right?" Jefferson interrupted.
Emma rolled her eyes and her arms fell to her sides in exasperation.
"Yeah. I guess. But—"
"And…isn't it true that sometimes a princess can break a curse with her kiss?"
Emma raised an eyebrow at his words.
"What's your point?"
Jefferson settled into his chair and propped his gun-holding hand on the table as he gave her a bored look.
"My point is that I'm cursed and I can't afford to leave any stones unturned."
Emma swallowed as she stared at him with cautious eyes.
"You're insane."
Jefferson sprung up from his chair and strode towards her, clenching his gun tightly in his hand as he invaded her space.
"Maybe so," he agreed as he backed her up against the wall of hats, "But that's my one condition."
"For me to kiss you?" Emma asked for clarification.
Jefferson nodded as his eyes danced over her face.
"And then you'll let us go?"
"You have my word."
Jefferson didn't miss the twitch of her brow that told him just how much she valued his word.
"Okay." she agreed as she took in a jagged breath and stared up into his eyes.
Jefferson sucked-in a breath of his own as a sudden case of nerves fluttered in the pit of his stomach, but he played it off. His free hand rose to her neck and he swallowed at the warmth he felt against his palm. Emma didn't move as she started blankly at him like a slave resigned to her fate. Jefferson frowned and pulled her face towards his, shutting his eyes as he kissed her gently. When Emma pressed her lips back against his, he nearly groaned. His brow furrowed at the sensation and his gun-holding arm encircled her waist, pulling her body flush against his. His pulse drummed loudly in his ears and he caressed her mouth with his own, forgetting everything as he kissed her. Emma's hands slid up his chest then, and before he knew what was happening, Emma shoved him back and kneed him hard in the groin. Jefferson doubled over in pain, giving Emma enough time to find a weapon, and then, with impressive force, she brought it down hard on his head. Jefferson dropped to the floor and his mind dropped out of consciousness.
.
.
The clock tower chimed ominously in the distance like the drums of war and Jefferson stared up at his ceiling. He could still feel Emma's lips pressed to his, stirring him with feelings that made him forget everything, but the kiss hadn't been the solution to his curse. The kiss didn't work. The clock chimed on and Jefferson's eyes darted towards the window where he could see the noisy tower standing at the center of the town. Slowly, he moved from his bed to the window and glared at the enchanted timepiece, ticking and tocking away in the distance. Of course! He thought as he stared at the tower. There was no greater master of time than a clock. There was no device more capable of announcing the day, and an enchanted clock possessed even more capability! A smile darkened Jefferson's features. But not if it stopped ticking…
.