Chapter Nine

Jefferson appeared on Regina's balcony. He was so upset at Regina summing him when she did, that he wasn't his normal cautious self. He threw back the curtain and burst into the room. His harsh movements startled Regina.

Good, thought Jefferson, keep her off balance; don't let her get control of you like last time. He strolled down the stairs talking his hat off his head, coming to a stop at the bottom and demanded, "What is the job? Where is Maleficent?"

"Oh, straight to business?" Regina questioned. "Skipping the fun part will make you a dull boy, my dear Jefferson."

"My life will never be dull as long as you and Rumple are in it."

"Your life will also never be your own as long as we are in it." Regina purred in Jefferson ear as she walked around Jefferson, slipping the scarf he left last time over his right shoulder.

Jefferson took the scarf and put it in his coat pocket. "I work for you two but I still control my life."

"Whatever you need to tell yourself, to be able to sleep at night, Jefferson." Regina moved around him and sat on the bench at the end of her bed.

"The job Regina what is it?"

"I don't know. I didn't call you here for that."

"After last time I don't feel up to your games tonight." He put his hat back on his head and started up the stairs. "If there is no job we are done here."

"Maleficent wants to meet with you soon." Jefferson turned around to listen. "I thought it best that everything between us be back to normal before I introduce her to you." Regina moved her hand across her chest drawing attention to her very low neckline. "To show where your loyalties lie."

Jefferson eyes couldn't help but follow her hands movements. God she is beautiful, why does she have to be so beautiful? Jefferson thought his body reacting in ways he didn't want it too. He shifted uncomfortable, "Regina you know where my loyalties lie. Rumple is first."

"And am I second? Or is Princess Aurora taken my place?"

"If you were not second do you think I would have come? I told you I am willing to do whatever it is Maleficent wants to please her, so you two can stay ….." he waved his hand. "well friends isn't the right word, because face it you don't have friends anymore."

"So harsh tonight, Jefferson." She made a tisk tisk sound as she circled around him again. "You know I consider you a dear close friend. She laid a hand on his chest letting it linger a moment before moving back across the room. "And here I thought you agreed to do the deal on Rumple's orders to protect Aurora for him."

When Jefferson didn't say anything Regina laughed again as she sat back on the bench. "Rumple doesn't know does he? You didn't tell him you told me about the little lost Princess."

"Rumple doesn't need to know about every deal I make. I told you I am in control of my own life. I…" he pointed at himself and then at Regina. "We are dealing with Maleficent. No reason to worry the Dark One."

"Interesting…"Regina nodded her head slowly, "tell me, Jefferson. Are you having more luck with Aurora then Belle is having with Rumple?"

"There is nothing going on with Belle and Rumple and there is nothing going on with me and Aurora. So if you want me to act like everything is fine between us, when we meet Maleficent" He went back down the stairs. "That won't be a problem. I am very good at faking things."

"Oh really?" She stood up once again coming over to him. She stood uncomfortably close to Jefferson.

"Who says you were the only one faking it." She moved her hands under Jefferson coat and pushed it off his shoulders to the floor.

"Regina." Jefferson warned but before he could say anything else she kissed him. He was expecting her to be more aggressive like she unusually was. But her kiss was soft and gently.

The kiss made Jefferson think of Aurora because it was how he imaged it would feel to kiss her. That thought infuriated him and he grabbed Regina by the hair kissing her back hard spinning her up against the wall. If she was going to make him do this tonight then he was going to take some of his frustration out of her and was going to do it a way that wouldn't make him think of Aurora.

Regina hit the wall hard and pulled back from his kiss. "My, My Jefferson what has gotten into you? Do you want to hurt me?" Her laugh had a slight evil ring to it, as she unbuttoned his waistcoat.

Jefferson's hands where unlacing her corset. "Do you want me to hurt you?" He asked pulling the corset off of her tossing it to the floor, as Regina's hands moved down to his pants undoing them.

"I want you to try." she whispered.

With that request Jefferson grabbed her and spun her around to the bed.

Regina laughed fixing her skirt down around her legs as she rolled over on the bed to look at Jefferson. Her fingers were playing at her chest. How does she wear those low cut dress without falling out? Jefferson wondered as he finished getting dress.

"Was that normal enough for you Regina?"

"Normal would be for you to stay and we can do that another two or three times tonight." Regina sat up disappointment showing on her face as Jefferson buttoned his vest. "But it looks like you have other places to be."

"What does Maleficent want me to steal?" Jefferson changed topics.

"I have no idea, but I thought it best for you to have some fun before I turn you over to her. She is out for blood Jefferson and I can't protect you from the mess Rumple has gotten you in." Regina looked away from Jefferson visibly upset at that fact.

Uh oh Jefferson thought I didn't think Regina would ever let someone in to her heart again but that look…in her own fucked up way Regina cares about me. That could cause trouble down the line. "Well it's a good thing I am so good at my job. " He commented as he put on his coat.

"Won't you stay the night?" She looked back over at him as he walked up the stairs. "Jefferson... Please..."

Jefferson froze on the top of the stairs. Did Regina just beg me to stay? Regina doesn't beg for anything. She wouldn't even beg for her life if it came down to saving herself. And yet she is begging me to stay the night?

Jefferson turned and noticed Regina looking at up at him. Regina looked like she first did when they met, innocent and scared. Her look made him pause and think about reconsidering his answer, in fact he found himself stepping down the steps heading for her side.

But he stopped himself and finally he found his voice. "No Regina, I don't think that is a good idea; for either of us." He fixed his hat upon his head. "When should I expect to hear from Maleficent?"

"She said she would be ready in a few days." Regina played with her dress to avoid looking Jefferson in the face; she didn't want him to see the hurt in her eyes at his refusal to stay. "We will collect you then."

"I will be ready." Jefferson hoped his worry didn't show through in his tone, and with a spin of his hat he was gone leaving Regina all alone.

Jefferson appeared in the tower room but only Belle who was reading by the fireplace and Rumple who was spinning straw into gold were to be seen.

"She not here Dearie." Rumple commented not looking up from his spinning.

Jefferson walked over and flopped into the chair. "Did I miss dinner?" he asked taking his hat off and playing with it on his lap.

"No, but I wasn't expecting you back." Belle stated putting down her book. "That was a wonderful gift you gave Aurora, but what did you two fight about? She is beyond furious with you."

Jefferson huffed in frustration and slammed his hands on the arm of the chair. "I had business to attend to with Regina."

"Queen Regina." Rumple corrected him. "Does she let you just call her Regina."

"As a matter of a fact she does. " Jefferson leaned forward to get a better view of Rumple at his wheel. "And she always has. If I remember correctly it was one of the reasons you had me gain her trust in the first place."

Rumple waved his one hand in Jefferson direction, while spinning the wheel with his other. "So it was. What did our Queen want?"

Jefferson thought about telling him everything, but decided it best to lie. "Oh the usual." He leaned back in the chair staring into the fire.

"You're back rather quickly for the usual meeting."

Jefferson looked back over at Rumple spinning his hat on his right hand nonchalantly "Well after my fight with Aurora I wasn't up for Regina's games." He flipped the hat on top of his head. "Where is Rory anyway? Is she making dinner tonight?"

"She was upset so I suggested chores." Belle responded. "Cleaning usually helps me feel better."

"Which would explain why the castle always looks so nice." Jefferson smirked at her. "But I can't see that calming Aurora down. She is more likely to just set something on fire."

"Correct dearie, so I suggested that she use her magic to cut up some firewood. I worked her hard during lessons this morning so I am not sure how much magic she has left in her tonight. She has been out there for about 20 minutes now. But you have her so upset I suspect magic or no magic once she is done we will have enough firewood to last the rest of winter." Rumple ended with a giggle.

"Why don't you go down and tell her that dinner should be ready in about 20 minutes." Belle suggested.

Jefferson was relieved that Belle had given him a reason for going to Aurora. "Are there cookies for dessert?" He asked standing up.

"Of course" Belle smiled.

"In that case I will stay for dinner." Jefferson spun the hat and disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke.

Aurora had gotten into a rhythm to cut the wood. She would raise her hand and lift the piece of wood on to the stump with her magic. Then she would pick up the ax with her magic and bring it down with a satisfying Thump! And the wood would fall off to the sides. Once the pile of wood got too high she would move her hands and swing the wood over to the wood pile beside the castle wall.

Jefferson watched for minute. He could tell by how she was cutting the wood that she was still pissed at him, so he decided to wait for her to gather up the wood against the castle wall leaving the sharp ax behind on the ground before he advanced and made his presence known to her.

"Belle wanted me to tell you that dinner will be ready in 20 minutes." Aurora jumped at the sound of his voice behind her and knocked over some wood. "And Rumple is worried you are going to cut down the whole forest." Jefferson added joking trying to lighten the mood

"What are you doing back?" Aurora demanded turning to fix the pieces of wood she knocked over. "I thought she had a job for you to do. That you just had to do."

"She does, and I can't get out of it Rory," He took a deep breath, "but that wasn't what she wanted tonight." Jefferson picked up a piece of wood and moved it to the top of the pile moving closer to Aurora. He noticed Aurora's nose was bleeding, "Your nose." He commented as he pulled out the scarf Regina had returned to him out of his coat pocket. "You are using too much energy, you are bleeding." He went to wipe away the blood.

Aurora pulled back away from him in the dying light of the day she could see her movement caused him sadness but Aurora was still too mad to care. "I am fine."Aurora used her hand to wipe the blood away. I was so mad I didn't realize I had pushed myself that far. Aurora thought looking at the blood on her hand.

"You pushed yourself too hard."

"I said I am fine." Aurora demanded using her magic to pick up the ax and strike it solidly into the big wooden stump. "Did Regina get what she wanted out of you?"

"I didn't want to, but in the end I think I did play right into what she wanted from me." Jefferson couldn't bring himself to look at her as he pocketed his scarf.

They stood there in the growing dusk not knowing what to say to each other, until Jefferson whispered. "Can I stay for dinner?"

"Oh course you can. This place is more your home than it will ever be mine. I can't tell you what to do." And with that Aurora turned and started up the path back to the castle's entrance.

Jefferson couldn't help but have a weak smile on his face as he followed her up to dinner. Aurora was still mad at him but she hadn't banished him away. He would just use his natural charms and things would be back to normal between the two of them in no time. Or so he thought….