Hey everyone, hope you liked the last chapter and enjoy this one!

Rose couldn't believe how fast Paige had grown. It felt like one minute, she was a squirming bundle wrapped up in a blanket, the next she was a ten-year-old little girl with the most adorable face she'd ever seen. Of course, being her mama, she was completely biased, but she didn't care. Paige had turned into a beautiful girl both inside and out. She could make anybody smile just by looking at them and she was always the most well-mannered and loveable child in her class. Nobody ever had a bad thing to say about her and Rose couldn't even begin to put into words how proud she was of her little girl.

Right now, Paige was at school and Rose was making her way to work. She checked her watch for the umpteenth time to ensure she was still on time and gave a small cheer to see that just for once, she would make it in with a minute to spare. Until she rounded the last corner and crashed into somebody. She let out a yelp, her portable coffee cup exploding, sending the hot liquid down her shirt and she would have fallen to the ground if a firm hand didn't clasp her wrist, pulling her against an equally firm chest.

"Are you okay? I am so sorry miss, I didn't see you there!"

Rose looked up to see a pair of impossibly blue eyes peering down at her worriedly.

"It's okay, really. I'm fine." She reassured.

She gently pushed away from the man and looked down to see her shirt was a goner. Biting back a groan, she wiped at the material, but knew there was no use and she would have to head home to change.

"Really, I feel so bad. Is there anything I can do? anything at all?"

Rose looked up at the man, wanting to tell him to go away, but the genuine concern in his gaze had her smiling instead.

"You could walk me home if you like?" she said.

She'd already decided she was calling in sick for the day. It was better than turning up an hour late and having to explain to her nightmare boss the reason why. The man smiled broadly at her and he couldn't help but notice how his whole face lit up. Tiny butterflies began fluttering in her stomach but she stubbornly pushed them down, forcing herself to think about her daughter and how she had to focus on her, not her own lack of love life.

"great! Maybe I could buy you a coffee to replace the one you're wearing?" he asked her.

Knowing she was already facing discipline for skipping work, Rose decided to hell with it and accepted his offer. He vanished into granny's almost before she'd finished speaking and returned a moment later with two cups in his hand. Rose's eyebrow raised as he neared.

"Is the second one in case you spill that one on me too?" she asked good humouredly, pointing to the cup.

He grinned as he handed her one of the steaming cups.

"Not at all. This one is mine."

She smiled warmly back at him and they fell into an easy conversation as they walked back to the house she'd worked so hard for. As they approached the steps, she took a deep breath and decided to do something she'd never done before.

"Would you like to come in for a while?" she asked.

"Are you sure your other half won't mind?" he replied.

She almost sniggered at how not-so-subtle the question was.

"No, because I don't have one. Its just me and my daughter."

He nodded in understanding before giving an enthusiastic smile.

"Well, in that case, I would very much be honoured to come in for a while."

Rose showed him in, offering to take his hat and coat. He handed them over and without thinking, also removed his scarf, revealing a thin scar round his neck. Rose saw it and gasped.

"That looks like it hurt!"

The look on his face reminded her of a deer caught in headlights. She opened her mouth to apologise, but he beat her to it.

"It did but it was a long time ago. Crazy ex."

She gave an understanding nod and led him into a cosy living room, filled with homely accessories and soft blankets. She excused herself to change and call work, coming back a few moments later to see him standing by the fireplace, looking at one of the pictures of Paige with a longing in his eyes that had her hovering over the phone until he spoke.

"Is that your daughter?"

Hearing the sadness in his voice, she relaxed and moved closer to him to smile lovingly at the picture.

"It certainly is. My sweet little Paige."

"How old is she?" he asked, his tone wavering.

"She's recently turned ten. I had her very young, but she is my universe. I can't imagine my life without her"

"She's beautiful" he replied after a long moment, his voice beginning to crack

Rose gave him a concerned look and reached out to touch his arm. He flinched, but allowed the contact.

"Are you okay?" she asked him gently.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. I had a daughter once who would be the same age as your Paige. I lost her."

Rose's expression immediately turned to one of sympathy and the hand on his arm tightened.

"I'm so sorry. What was her name?"

"Grace."

Rose wasn't sure what to say to that, so moved into the kitchen, returning a few moments later with a tray of coffee. She placed it on the table, slapping her head when she realised she'd forgotten something.

"I always forget the sugar!"

She raced back to the kitchen, oblivious to the dark look that crossed his face. Swiftly, he poured a tiny sachet of powder into her drink and when she came back, he smiled.

"Thank you for this, though I feel it should be me doing this for you as I was the one that walked in to you."

She chuckled and sipped at her coffee, sighing as the flavour washed over her tongue.

"It's okay, really. Oh, I realised, I haven't even asked your name yet!"

He leaned closer to her, a warm smile on his face that didn't quite meet his eyes. Seeing it, she backed away slightly, only to find her body felt heavier than usual. Quickly, her arms turned to lead and she dropped the mug she was holding.

"What…" she slurred.

"It's okay, you're just going to sleep for a while and when you wake, this will all be a dream."

She tried to reply, but darkness took over and she slumped, unconsciousness taking her to sleep.

"There you go" he muttered.

Jefferson watched her with a cool gaze and once sure she was asleep, lifted her into his arms and carried her upstairs. One of the doors was open and judging by the coffee stained shirt on the floor, he assumed it was her room. He entered and placed her on top of the covers, shutting the door behind him as he left. Knowing he had about an hour before she woke, he moved across the hall to the other room and almost keeled over when he opened the door and Grace's scent washed over him.

"Grace." He whispered, his voice trembling with emotion.

Tokens of their past life surrounded him, from the little tea set in the corner of the room to the stuffed rabbit he'd painstakingly sown for her. with trembling hands, he reached out for the rabbit and gathered it in his arms, burying his face in the soft fur to inhale the scent that was as familiar as his own, unchanged by the curse. If he closed his eyes, he could just imagine he was back home with his little girl, but he knew that right now, that was just a fantasy. He closed his eyes to hold back the tears threatening to fall, but his breath remained shaky for a few long moments. Twenty-eight years. Twenty-eight long, painful years he'd managed to stay away, stealing fleeting seconds with his daughter, knowing that the next day she'd go back to not knowing who he was. Just as tomorrow, Rose would have no recollection of what had happened today. He didn't know what had caused his resolve to snap, he just saw them go through their usual routine and had to do something.

A groan from down the hall told him his time was up, and he forced himself to put the bunny back on the bed. He left the house just in time as Rose slid out of bed, clasping her pounding head.

"I really must have been ill." She murmured as she stumbled to the bathroom.

Jefferson made it home in record time, moving straight to the telescope facing Grace's house. He was relieved to see that though groggy, Rose was moving around and was no worse for wear. He may have despised the fact he wasn't in Grace's life anymore, but he couldn't say that Rose wasn't a fantastic mother.

"My PA calls in sick for the first time in twenty-eight years. Now how did I know you had something to do with it?"

Jefferson turned slowly to face his 'visitor', a glower on his face.

"Regina."

"Madam Mayor to you." She replied, her face pulled back in her usual sneer.

"Regina." He repeated.

A twitch of her eye was the only indication she was annoyed, but the slight movement gave him a deep sense of satisfaction.

"You know, you're never going to have her back again, so why bother?"

It was Jefferson's turn to sneer.

"Because. One day, your curse will be broken. And when it does, I want my daughter to know I spent every single day loving her. And, when that day comes, and we all go home, I can't wait to see your face."

Regina left without another word, and as the door slammed shut, Jefferson returned to his telescope.

He just hoped that when the day did indeed come, he'd have a shred of sanity left.