Ok, so I hate to say but I haven't finished this story yet, I mean, I have several more chapters done but don't really have a finished product yet….so it might take longer than my other stories…just thought I'd warn ye!

Chapter Five~

Kara woke the next morning with a strange dream in her mind; white roses, a sickly sweet voice, a world away. Shaking her head she turned towards the window and sighed seeing sunlight. It was Monday meaning the beginning of the week and meaning too she'd have to go back to school. Kara wasn't really liked at school by anyone, everyone thought her strange for her simple antics and how she carried herself. It didn't matter to her really, except it got rather lonely not to have people her age to talk to. Sure, she had Emma and Mary and Ruby and Archie and even Ashley but she wanted someone her age too. Sighing, she stood from bed and dressed quickly knowing the bus would be there to pick her up. Then she remembered something, she was eighteen, she was an adult now. This caused a smile on her face that didn't go away until she got on the bus for school.

"What are you so happy about?" asked one girl as Kara tried to find a seat; no one would let her sit down so the bus driver forced someone up front to let her sit next to them. It happened to be a boy named Tommy Jones. He smiled weakly at her as the bus headed for the school, the ride longer than normal. The day passed so quickly for Kara it was a whirlwind and before she knew it she was heading for the bus home when a voice called out her name. Turning, Kara saw Emma coming over and groaned realizing it was about yesterday.

"Hey, I checked with Mary. You were right all along, I'm so sorry." Emma said but Kara just rolled her eyes saying,

"And you both had Jefferson check on me I know." at that Emma tilted her head and putting both hands on her hips said,

"I didn't have Jefferson check on you."

"No you didn't Mary did, she gave him my number." Kara said heading for the bus but Emma grabbed her wrist saying,

"Mary never gave out your number Kara, NO ONE gave out your number." at Emma's words Kara felt as if she had been stabbed in the gut; who was Jefferson then if he hadn't got her number from someone? A stalker?

"Hey, it's ok Kara I won't let anything happen to you. Now, let's head to Granny's and get something to eat, I'm starving." Emma said putting a hand on her shoulder and steering her towards Granny's Café. After the incident yesterday Kara called her mother telling her that she'd be at Granny's with Emma and not to worry. Amy for her part was fine with it, as long as Kara stayed away from Mr. Gold for a while. If only Amy knew what a wonderful idea that sounded to Kara. Once at Granny's they took a booth and Ruby came over to take their order saying,

"I heard what happened Kara, in Mr. Gold's shop; I hope your better now though." Kara thanked her and gave her order, a root beer float while Emma got her usual, hot coco with cinnamon sprinkles atop the whipped cream. As they both talked Mary walked into the café and noticing them headed over asking,

"You feeling better Kara?"

"What? It's not like I was dying guys." Kara replied as Mary took a seat beside Emma who was facing the door to the café. At Emma's eyes widening Mary looked in the direction she was looking to find Jefferson casually strolling in and taking a seat at the counter by the door.

"What, what is it?" Kara asked as she tried to turn around but Emma grabbed her hand saying,

"Don't bother looking Kara, it's nothing." Kara scoffed at that but didn't bother to turn around knowing it was probably a better idea not to. After a short while Ruby came over with Kara's and Emma's order before taking Mary's who asked for a cup of coffee.

"So how are you and David?" asked Kara trying to get the conversation off her and onto something else. Mary sighed dreamily before telling how David had taken her to the woods for a picnic before they both took a stroll over Toll Bridge. Both Kara and Emma agreed that sounded lovely though warned Mary not to get Kathryn angry at her; they didn't want Mary's reputation as the sweetest woman in town ruined if an affair was found out. Mary readily agreed and then the conversation turned to Henry and his story book theory.

"So; Mary is Snow White, David is Prince Charming, Emma you're their daughter, Ruby is Red Riding Hood, Archie is Jiminy Cricket and Regina is the Evil Queen….right?" questioned Kara as she tried to shake the feeling she was being watched. Emma and Mary nodded as Emma added in a few people to the story but the Kara asked,

"Then who am I?"

"You're the daughter of Queen Gwendolyn promised to Rumplestilkin." a boys voice said from beside the table and all three looked up to find Henry standing their fresh out of school and still in his uniform.

"Wait, what?" asked Emma having never heard this before but Henry simply nodded and taking a seat next to Kara put his book on the table and flipping it open stopped at a page where Kara saw a figure that was the mirror image of her between two men.

"See, that's Rumplestilkin and that's the Mad Hatter fighting over you. You were promised to Rumplestilkin from a contract he tricked your father the King into signing but you didn't want to go with him but instead you were in love with the Mad Hatter whose really—" but then he was cut off by Ruby who coming over asked,

"And what can I get you kiddo?"

"Oh, I'm fine, I was just leaving anyway." Henry said scooting out of the booth and heading for the door were Jefferson watched him leave and head down the block. He couldn't help but overhear what Henry had said and now it all made so much sense. Mr. Gold or Rumplestilkin had made a deal involving Krissy's very existence! No wonder the bastard had kissed her, he was marking his claim on her! He all but growled in his throat at the very thought of it but restrained himself when he noticed out of the corner of his eye Kara coming over. Kara had gotten a call from her mom asking her to go home and pick her up something she had forgotten before bringing it to her office. Kara was just about to open the door when she noticed who was sitting by it; the man who had helped her and knew her phone number.

"Uh, hey Jefferson." she said to the man who turned looking surprised as if he hadn't known she was there.

"Hey beautiful, hope you're feeling better." he said giving her a cheeky wink causing Kara' face to heat up.

"You should do that more often, it makes your face light up." Jefferson said simply watching her face for any sort of reaction or memory from her past life. For a moment he thought he saw something but it quickly died when she said,

"Well, I had a question for you. How did you get my cell number? It wasn't from Mary like you said so—"

"I found it online, I was looking for a friend number and thought that was it but when I heard you're lovely voice I panicked and lied." Jefferson said quickly lying through his teeth but it did the trick for Kara said,

"Well, ok then. Just don't make it a habit of calling me ok?"

"I already deleted it from my mind." Jefferson said putting a finger to his temple and pressing like he was pressing a button. Kara giggled at his actions and remember her task said,

"I gotta run; see you later maybe?" at that Jefferson felt his heart leap, she wanted to see him again!

"Sure thing Krissy." he breathed as she smiled before heading for the door and leaving him stunned.

"Hey, freak, leave Kara alone." a voice says to Jefferson who turns to see both Emma and Mary standing with arms crossed and a hard frown on each of their faces. Standing, Jefferson says carefully,

"I was only being friendly,"

"And lying through your teeth." Mary said cutting him off with a hard glare but Jefferson merely shrugged before saying,

"So I lied to her, what's the harm in having her cell number?"

"Because she's only eighteen you moron!" Emma shouted but then Jefferson stepped up towards her saying in a deadly whisper,

"Don't think for a second that I would ever, EVER hurt her. You may not believe it but I actually care about what happens to her, more so than that bastard Gold." Emma shrank back at his anger which was like a building wave before Mary asked,

"What do you know about Mr. Gold?"

"Only that he scared her out of her mind because of what he did." Jefferson said simply but Emma pressed him and growling he asked them both,

"Did either of you notice that she was wearing lip gloss that day, and that it was smeared?" both of their faces contorted with confusion before Mary's eyes widened and she breathed out,

"Her face was beet red when she first came out….."

"You don't think," Emma started but Jefferson cut her off saying,

"Yes, yes I think, in fact I know. He kissed her; that rat kissed her." back far into town Kara had just arrived home to see a small box sitting in front of her front door. Confused, she bent down and looked at the card attached to it and in neat writing it said 'Happy Birthday Kara love'. As her hands shook Kara pulled the box lid open to see the necklace from Mr. Gold's shop along with a single white rose and felt all the blood drain from her body. With heavy breaths she opened the front door and slammed it closed behind her before going into the kitchen was about to toss both items into the trash when she paused. Looking down at the rose she couldn't help but bring the flower to her nose and inhale. As she did flashes of an image swam before her eyes; a man with dark pebbled skin holding her tightly to her and kissing her senseless. Shaking her head she pulled the rose away from her and blinked; what the hell was that?!