Alex shuffled the papers on her desk and looked at Emma who sitting across from her. She hated having these meetings but Mary Margaret asked her so she would deal with Regina and Emma who couldn't even be in the same room as each other, so she would hold the same PTA meeting twice with the oncoming storm.
"So Alex why did you call me down here?"
"You had the PTA meeting with Mary Margaret and she didn't want to deal with you and Regina fighting so she asked me."
"Oh, so what's up in your life?"Emma asked awkwardly, already knowing about how Henry was doing in school.

"My personal life? Shouldn't we be talking about Henry?" Alex asked slightly shocked.

"Yeah I guess you're right." Emma said running a hand through her hair.
"Well something I noticed is since you've shown up is that he seems to be happier and more open with people. He's recently become friends with a girl named Paige in his class." Alex said smiling politely remembering the wave of protectiveness the blonde girl would bring up in her.

"Really? That name sounds familiar." Emma furrowed her brow in thought.
"I wouldn't know why unless Henry introduced her to you." Alex said looking through her papers.
"No, that's the girl Jefferson thinks is his daughter." Emma said her voice icy.

Alex looked at the papers in front of her and cleared her throat awkwardly," So what's going on with you and Regina?"
"She's being a bitch like always." Emma said her tone no longer icy but flaring up with rage.
"You're preaching to the choir, but it must not be easy on Henry to see his parents fight."Alex said sympathetically.

"I know, but she picks a fight with me." Emma said her voice holding annoyance.
"There are times where you must take the high road," Alex explained before softly continuing,"Even though the low road is more fun. But you are the sheriff and, according to Henry, the savior. Take the high road and you leave the low road to the morally flexible people. Gold is as slimy as he is smart and he hates Regina, he would be a valuable ally."
"I guess you're right but he is a self-serving businessman I wouldn't call him an ally, and he isn't very trustworthy." Emma said remembering what he did to get her elected as Sheriff.
"I'm not saying trust him but he's a good man. It wouldn't hurt to have him in your corner."
Alex said her voice honest.

"Fair enough. What's going on between you and Jefferson?" Emma asked leaning forward.
"I like him he's nice." Alex said her voice happy and she smiled softly thinking about him.

"Nice? Nice?! When are you going to learn?" Emma said her voice shocked.
"He was a gentleman and Regina's more likely to kill me."Alex said shrugging.

"Oh how come?" Emma asked leaning forward.
"We never got along for as long as I could remember." Alex replied, her voice
exhausted.

"When are you gonna learn he's bad news?"
Emma replied her eyes narrowed.
"When he does something that makes me see that he is a bad person."Alex tried to justify.

Emma sighed,"You are impossible."
"Thank you." Alex smiled.
"Have you gone on another date?" Emma tried to push against the steel willed principal.
"No, not yet."Alex said sounding slightly disappointed.
"He may not be over his wife." Emma said steamrolling over the quiet woman.

Alex smile faltered,"Oh he didn't mention that to me."
"I think she left him or something." Emma said off handily.

"Hmmm I wonder why?" Alex wondered out loud, wondering for a split second if she was the best friend he mentioned.

"Because he's crazy."
Emma shot back.

"Emma! He might be heartbroken and that might make him appear crazy. You've never had your heart broken?"
Emma looked down,"Yes I have but it didn't make me crazy."
"Everyone reacts differently." Alex said softly.
"Not that crazily." Emma said think about how she reacted when Neal abandoned her.
"He could have known his wife longer than you knew your significant other and when they die or they leave you, you lose a part of yourself."
"Whatever the case please be careful, Alex."Emma said standing up.
"I am always careful," Alex looked at the clock above her door,"You should leave if you want to make it home in time for the storm."
"Do you need a ride?" Emma asked before she exited the room.
"No I have some things I need to finish but thank you for the offer." Alex looked down at the paperwork in front of her and glanced at the clock again seeing that it read 5:30,'I'll be lucky to be out of here by ten.'
"Okay then see you later." Emma said glancing back as Alex said bye absent mindly.
(Line break time skip thing for a couple of hours)
Alex knew she shouldn't have stayed past ten but she wanted to get all of her paper work done before Monday rolled around and she didn't want to work on it at home. She was slightly ruffled by Emma asking her about Jefferson and Regina being Regina. She was driving when her car started smoking and died she climbed out of the car and slammed the door,'This can't get any worse.' The storm then decided to fuck her over and start pouring rain. She pulled her jacket closer around her. She looked around and saw that she wasn't too far from Jefferson's house so she decided to walk there and knocked on the door.
Jefferson opened the door with a shit eating grin, which faltered when he saw her but was replaced by a false bravado,"Hey Alex."
"Hey I'm having some car trouble can I come in?" Alex pushed some wet hair out of her face.
"Yes, come in. You're soaking, let me get you a change of clothes." Jefferson said his eyes slightly wide at the pretty girl in the wet dress on his door step.
"You don't have to do that." Alex said.
"No I know, but I can't let you get sick. Do you need to call your sister or someone because I could give you a ride home?" Jefferson scratched the back of his head awkwardly and pulled Alex in, shutting the door behind her,"Come on in, I get to help a pretty girl in a wet dress."
Alex smiled at him slightly and followed him down the hall,"Thank you but Isabelle is working with Ruby at Granny's."
Jefferson left and quickly came back with black slacks and a black shirt with a grey pattern.
"Thanks." Alex accepted his clothes and shrugged off her jacket and hung it up next to Jefferson's,"Do you have a place for me to change?"
"Yes, down the hall to the left. Would you like tea? To warm up?"Jefferson asked awkwardly, unsure how to deal with his wife. His beautiful wife who didn't remember who he was.

"Of course." Alex said as she walked into the bathroom and undid the rest of her french braid. Jefferson walked into the kitchen and started making Darjeeling tea. He was happy that Emma was not able to change her mind but it wasn't surprising with how stubborn she is.
"Jefferson?" Alex called.
"In here!" He shouted back as he was setting up the tea tray. Alex came into the kitchen and Jefferson was struck with a feeling of nostalgia he wanted to kiss Alex and tell her everything but he forced those feelings down and noticed she was holding her dress.
"Do you have anywhere I could put this to dry?"
Alex asked holding her soaking dress.
"Oh yes, follow me." Jefferson took Alex's hand and pulled her to his garage and put her clothes in the dryer. They walked back into the kitchen,"What happened to your car?"
"It just started smoking."Alex said putting her head into her hands.

Jefferson nodded and led her to the living room and went over to look out the window,"The storm is getting worse. I could give you a ride home or you could stay here… if you want."
"You wouldn't mind if I stayed here?" Alex asked looking at Jefferson curiously.

"No I wouldn't mind, what was so bad about your day?" Jefferson said sitting next to her on the couch. "Where to start? Well first off I had to hold the same PTA meeting twice and Emma lecturing me about you and to top it all off my car broke down."
"Why did you have to hold the same meeting twice? Was it Regina?" Jefferson asked curiously. His voice mildly concerned.
"Yes." Jefferson started to laugh and Alex smacked him with a pillow,"It's not funny."
"You're right it isn't." Jefferson shoulders were still shaking with laughter as he tried to stop,"Well my day was eventful but not like yours was I told Regina to shove it, I cleaned my house and I talked to Gold for a bit."
"You told Regina to shove it?" Alex let out a laugh.
"Yes I'm glad I could make you laugh." The sound bitterly reminded him of what was just out of arm's reach, but seeing Alex there grounded him and gave him a small sliver of hope that Emma would break the curse, he smiled sadly at the thought before putting on a mask of indifference hoping Alex didn't catch it.
"What were you thinking about that could make you smile so sadly?" Alex asked looking at him concerned.
"My life before I came to live here."Jefferson said his voice soft.

"Where did you live before here?"
Alex asked leaning close to Jefferson.
"Romania, home sweet home." Jefferson replied as he said the last part with hints of venom.

"Do you have any family? Emma mentioned something about your wife?" Alex spoke in a tone that said that he didn't have to answer it if he didn't want to.
"Uh, no family at least not anymore. My wife, she was my… my best friend, but she died a few years ago." Jefferson hated lying to her but that was something he would never be able to explain without sounding crazy.
"I'm sorry to hear that."
Alex said putting her hand on top of Jefferson's.

"It's alright I've had time to adjust, but let's not dwell on such a sad subject."Jefferson said ignoring the way his heart twinge.
"Have you noticed that things have been getting better since Emma showed up? Like they've been changing?" Alex wondered offhandedly.
"Yeah, why?" Jefferson said meeting her eyes.

"I thought it was just me, and isn't it weird that things haven't changed till now? Maybe that's why we haven't met till recently." Alex said her voice reflecting the introspective Alice like quality which showed her being a little too curious for her own good.

Jefferson smiled,"Maybe we're cursed."
"Like in Henry's book, I've always felt bad for the kid living with Regina. It must be awful living with Regina."Alex said her voice empathetic.

"I don't doubt it." Jefferson said playing with his scarf.
"And everyone thinks he's crazy for believing in fairytales, but if I lived with Regina I would want to believe that things got better."
"It does get better you just have to give it time."
Jefferson said rubbing his knuckles on Alex's hand.
"Exactly!" Alex exclaimed.
Jefferson stared at her for a second,"You are so…... interesting."
"Interesting good or interesting bad?" Alex said narrowing her eyes at Jefferson.

"Interesting good. You're an enigma for me." Jefferson continued cutting Alex off before she could speak,"I've told you more in a week then I've told people who I've known for years, and most of the people I know want something from me. You're the first one who doesn't."
Alex smiled mischievously,"That may not be necessarily true."
Jefferson playfully raised an eyebrow,"Oh then what do you want?"
"I think you know what i want, let's face I'm not the white queen." Jefferson leaned over to her and pulled her on to his lap, so their bodies were touching forcing Alex to look up at him.
"I doubt the White Queen is truly pure but yes you are no Snow White." Jefferson mused knowing for a fact how pure the White Queen was.

"Agreed on bo-" Alex wasn't able to finish her sentence as Jefferson leaned down and kissed her. Jefferson moved his arms around to Alex's back and pulled her as close as he could, while Alex tangled her hands in his hair. Jefferson opened his mouth allowing Alex's tongue to dance around his. Jefferson pulled away slightly and tugged on Alex's bottom lip. When they finally pulled away from each other, Jefferson rested his forehead against Alex's,"You know if Emma finds out she'll kill you than me then you again."
"Darling have a little faith." Jefferson said glancing at Alex.
"I do but I'm just warning you." Alex said tugging at his hair.
"I know." Jefferson leaned forward and went to kiss Alex again his lips barely brushing hers when the doorbell rang causing both of them to jump,"I'll go answer the door."
"Hello Jefferson, is Alex here?" Emma asked shivering slightly.
"Yes, why?" Jefferson shook his head slightly and held the door open for her,"Come in."
"Thank you." Emma followed Jefferson into the living room where Alex was standing running a hand through her damp tangled hair.
"Alex you jinxed us." Jefferson said as he flopped onto the couch.
"What do you mean?" Alex wasn't looking at the hallway and turned around when she heard Jefferson drop onto the couch. She turned around and saw Emma,"Hey, I guess I was wrong."
"Alex what the hell are you doing here? I found your car abandoned."
Emma said surprised at the blonde sitting on Jefferson's couch.
"My car broke down."Alex said nonchalantly.

"So you went to the crazy guy's house instead of calling me?" Emma said her voice colored with disbelief.

Alex shrugged,"He was closer."
"But you didn't think about calling me when you got here?"Emma asked.

"I offered." Jefferson said as he shrugged.
"I am a grown woman, I don't need to be babysat."
Alex said her voice angry.

"No you don't but you do have a weird affection for crazy people." Emma said earning a wounded noise from Jefferson.

"You act like this had happened before." Alex said her voice slightly angered. Jefferson stood up next to Alex.
"Well you have an affliction for him."
"I think you mean affection." Jefferson mumbled.
"Quiet Jefferson. Alex quit being insane." Emma said shutting the snarky brunet down.

"I don't need to be watched over!" Alex shouted.

Jefferson put an arm around Alex pulling her close and whispering in her ear,"Calm down, she's only trying to help."
"Why can't you just listen to reason?" Emma protested.
"You can't tell me you've never dated someone who you dated without any logical reasonings?"
Alex asked unconsciously placing herself between Jefferson and Emma
"Please don't make that mistake."Emma said her voice vulnerable.

"I'm a big girl Emma, I can take care of myself." Alex's voice was just as soft.
Emma pursed her lips and looked at Alex's messy hair and noticed she was wearing Jefferson's clothes,"Are you wearing his clothes? Please tell me you didn't sleep with him."
"No, of course not. Emma my clothes were wet so he gave me some of his while mine are drying." Alex smiled mischievously at Jefferson,"Though I wouldn't mind."
Lighting flashed making Emma jump, prompting Jefferson to speak up,"Emma I think it would be best if you stayed here the storm is getting worse."
"Damn it!" Emma growled looking at Jefferson coldly.
"Perks of living in a large house more than enough space for all of us." Jefferson replied dryly,"Would you like some tea?"
"Hell no last time it was drugged." Emma said glaring at Jefferson.

"Really? Drugged tea? Can I borrow that? I need to use it on my sister." Alice said lightly.
"No, you might use it on Regina." Jefferson responded not looking up from the painting that held his attention.

"We should be heading to bed it's getting late." Alex yawned before stretching slightly.
"I'll show you to your rooms." Jefferson said politely.

"Thank god." Emma mumbled as Jefferson showed them to two of his guest rooms before walking to his bedroom. He took of his scarf and ran his fingers over the scar on his throat confirming that this was really happening. He took off the rest of his clothes changing into some loose pants before lying in bed and driffting off to sleep.
His dream started out pleasant with memories of his life before Regina went out and took Alice away from him but it changed rapidly. He saw Alice in the same position he was in 30 years ago, he saw the Queen of Hearts guards force Alice down onto her knees as she screamed for him. Jefferson tried to run forward to get to Alice but he couldn't move forward and get to her so he could only watch in blood curdling terror as the Executioner complied with the Queen's order to cut off her head. Jefferson woke up with a choked scream, he was sweating and had his blankets wrapped up around his legs. He was hyperventilating and clawed at the scar on his neck taking a twisted comfort in the scar's ability to ground him. He slipped on old t-shirt before walking down and sitting in front of his grand piano before starting to play a melancholy ballad.
"Jefferson? Are you alright?" Alex asked as she slowly walked down the stairs.
Jefferson stopped playing,"Oh sorry did I wake you?"
"No I was already up. Strange dreams. I heard you scream and was worried." Alex said trying to get rid of the dreams of an unfamiliar but familiar forest.
"I'm fine. It's not the first time its happened."
Alex looked at him closely and noticed the scar across his neck,"What happened to your neck?"
Jefferson tensed slightly,"I don't remember."
Alex took note of him tensing up but didn't comment as he looked away and resumed playing the ballad. Alex joined him on the bench wrapping an arm around him and rested her head against his shoulder and listened to him play. Jefferson thought how nice it would be to have Alice and Grace back again but he didn't want them to be driven mad like he was so he continued playing silently as the storm lightened up.
Alex smiled sadly,"It looks like Emma will be able to drag me home today."
"No, you don't have to go. Stay as long as you like, I'll drive you home."Jefferson said messing up his already bed ragged hair.
"Thank you, but Emma will probably drag me home and lecture me. Izzy might hate me for not coming home last night." Alex said brushing some hair off his forehead.
"She's not the boss of you and I doubt your sister would care." Jefferson said quietly.
"Ehh. She'd probably be thrilled. She thinks I need a social life."Alex said remembering what her spunky and outgoing sister would say.

"From what I can tell, you do." Jefferson mused.
"No I have you." Alex said putting an arm around Jefferson.
"I can't be all you have, I'm boring." Jefferson said with a self deprecation tone.

Alex laughed and smiled,"You are not boring."
"You are so wrong." Jefferson said chuckling.
"We'll see about that." Alex said her voice determined.

Jefferson and Alex sat in silence with only the piano between them. The silence wasn't uncomfortable it was just the opposite, comforting them with unspoken words and promises. They heard someone walk down the stairs and jerked apart as Emma appeared.
"So this is where you went." Emma said from the top of the stairs.
"Yep." Alex said watching Jefferson play.
Jefferson quickly glanced up from the piano and looked at the clock seeing that it said seven,"Are you two hungry?"
"Yes" Emma said not even glancing at Jefferson.
"I'll go make something." Jefferson made a simple breakfast of toast with butter that the three of them ate in an awkward silence.