Sorry this update is so late. Life kind of caught up with me. Chapters should hopefully be coming more regularly now that I'm not so busy and I have a better idea of where the story is going. Enjoy!


Jefferson's heart was pounding as he rushed into the ER. He'd received a text from Ana's phone urging him to go down to the hospital. It hadn't explained why or what was going on, but he hadn't hesitated in doing as it said. When he arrived, Emma, Snow, Charming, and Red were already there. They all looked up at him as he walked in, looks of anxiety plastered on each of their faces.

"What is it?" He asked as he approached them. "What's going on?"

Emma was the first to react. She came over and gently grabbed him by the arm, leading him away from the group. "We don't know exactly what's going on, we're waiting on Dr. Whale right now," she said.

"Well what happened?" He urged.

"There was an accident," she continued. "Ana kind of hit Hook with her car."

Jefferson almost felt amused for a second before worry settled back in. "Is she ok?"

"That's what we're waiting to find out," she explained. When she saw the look of fear in his eyes she attempted to comfort him. "I'm sure everything will be fine."

As they finished their conversation Dr. Whale came around the corner, coming to a stop in front of them. The group turned and looked at him expectantly.

"She's fine," he said after a moment's pause, eliciting a collective sigh of relief from those waiting. "A few cuts and bruises and a minor concussion. We're going to keep her overnight for observation but she should be good to go tomorrow."

"Can we see her?" Jefferson asked.

"Actually," Whale replied. "She's asked to speak to Mary Margret."

000

When Mary Margret entered the room Ana was sitting up in her bed, her arms folded across her chest. She had a gash across her forehead, bruises up and down her arms, and a look of annoyance plastered on her face.

"I can't believe they're making me stay here overnight," she grumbled as Mary Margret took a seat in the chair placed by her bedside.

"They probably just want to be sure," Mary Margret explained calmly, to which Ana snorted and mumbled something under her breath about 'stupid hospitals'. After a pause Mary Margret said, "You wanted to see me?"

"Oh," Ana replied, her expression suddenly solemn. "Right." She paused as she searched for the right words, examining her fingernails as if they might tell her. What exactly was she supposed to say? Hey, so funny story. It turns out I'm your long lost sister. Surprise! Mary Margret looked her expectantly, waiting for what she had to say. "I just… wondered if maybe you could explain exactly what happened. I figured the rest of them would be too busy asking questions for me to actually get a word in edgewise."

"Oh, of course," Mary Margret said. She looked surprised, as if she'd expected her to say something else. She explained everything briefly, Ana nodding along as she did so. She didn't pay much attention to the story, for the doctors had already explained everything to her, but it had seemed like a valid excuse. When she finished Ana thanked her and she got up to leave, but before she reached the door Ana stopped her. Mary Margret turned to face her in anticipation.

"Do you mind telling the other's I'd like to rest for a while?" She asked. "I'd rather not have to deal with that right now." Mary Margret smiled understandingly and nodded in response before heading out into the hallway. When she left Ana looked down at her hands guiltily and began to wonder if she'd done the right thing.

000

Tears gently rolled down Regina's face as she watched her son from behind her mirror. It was early in the morning so he was currently eating breakfast alongside the two idiots. Despite there being no sound she could practically hear his gentle voice as she watched his lips move. A sob caught in her throat and she reached out her hand to caress the image. Her fingertips barely grazed the mirror before they disturbed the image and caused it to blink out of existence.

"It's hard isn't it? Watching your child continuing on with their life without you?" The voice instantly turned Regina's blood to ice. She didn't need to turn around to know who was standing behind her, no matter how much she didn't want to believe it.

Regina turned to face her mother. There was venom in her voice as she asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Why I've come to help you."

Cora barely got the statement out before Regina corrected herself. "I mean what are you doing alive."

"Did you really think that pirate would be enough to kill me?" Cora asked, laughing to herself as if she found the idea comical. "You were so easy to trick dear. It was almost disappointing."

"What do you want mother?" Regina spat, ignoring Cora's insulting undertones.

"Like I said, I'm here to help you. I heard the accusations these people have pitted against you. It's awful, just awful."

Regina turned away from her and back to her mirror as she felt tears threatening to well up in her eyes again. "They think I'm a kidnapper," she choked out over the lump in her throat. "I've changed. I would never resort to that, no matter how irritating that girl may be." She hissed out the last words.

"I know dear," Cora said sympathetically.

Regina spun around in surprise. "You do? How?"

"Because I was the one who did." When she saw the look of shock on her daughter's face she continued to explain herself. "I saw how you despised her, and I thought you'd appreciate it if I helped you get rid of her. I never imagined these people would pin it on you."

"You let me sit here and rot," Regina snapped. "You let them think I was a criminal, you let my own son think I had abducted that girl."

"I know, and that was wrong," Cora admitted, trying to talk her down. "I should have said something sooner. But at least you learned something from this experience."

"And what was that?" Regina asked, her voice still tense.

"These people don't trust you. They never have, and they never will. No matter how hard you try to be good, they'll still see you as a monster. They turned your own son against you. Are you just going to sit back and let them take everything you love from you? Or are you going to prove that you're not one to be messed with?"

Cora watched her daughter's expression as what she'd said settled in. What little light was in her eyes faded away and was replaced by something else. Something darker. After a moment of silence Regina gaze returned to her mother's from where they had wandered, her features hardened with a new found determinacy. "I want my son."

Cora smiled. "Then let's go get him. Together."

000

After about half an hour with no one bothering her, Ana figured she'd waited long enough. She glanced out the window into the hallway to make sure the coast was clear before throwing her legs over the side of the bed. She'd refused to let the hook her up to any machines, so she didn't have to worry about that as she stood from the bed. She was struck by a wave of dizziness when she was on her feet that forced her to lean back against the bedrail until it passed. Once it was gone she made short work of changing out of the ridiculous hospital gown and pulling on the jeans and shirt she'd had on earlier that night. The shirt was a bit ripped on the sleeve from the earlier incident. It wasn't the most attractive look, but perhaps it would seem threatening enough to anyone she should happen to cross enough that they wouldn't question her.

Holding her combat boots in one hand, she padded over to the door on stocking feet. She gently eased it open and glanced both ways to make sure the hallway was empty before heading in the direction she knew would lead her to the lobby. When she reached a corner she backed around it, facing the opposite direction as she walked. Because of that she was unable to see the person she collided with as she walked. She barely had a chance to react before a strong arm wrapped around her upper half, pining her arms to her sides but still allowing her movement at the elbows. She dropped the shoes in her hand and screamed but a hand clamped over her mouth, stifling it. She began to struggle and claw at her attacker.

"Ana! Ana!" The invisible assailant cried. "Ana relax, it's just me."

The adrenaline drained from her muscles and she gave up the struggle as she recognized the voice. Once she was still they released her and she turned to face the man. Jefferson stared down at her, his normally nice clothes rumpled by their skirmish. "What the hell was that?" She asked in a strained whisper.

"I know your defense mechanisms, and we couldn't have you waking up the entire hospital, especially since you appear to be sneaking out right now." She glared at his accusation, which caused him to smirk for it only confirmed what he'd said.

In an attempt to regain some of her dignity she brushed herself off, suddenly very aware she was barefoot and wearing a blood stained t-shirt. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"Well I was going to sneak into your room in an attempt to surprise you in the morning, but it appears that's ruined," he said. "So know it looks like I'm helping you break out of here."

Ana furrowed her brow. "You mean you're not going to make me stay?"

"Of course not. I know how stubborn you can be. Now put your shoes on and come on, I know a shortcut."

000

"So how exactly did you manage to hit Hook with your car?" Jefferson asked once the two of them were in his car, driving away from the hospital. "Not that I'm judging."

"I kind of got distracted," Ana offered simply.

"Yeah, but they said the crash was out by the town line," he continued. "What were you doing out there?" When she didn't answer right away he added, "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

"No, I just… went for a drive is all." She didn't lift her gaze from her lap as she answered. Jefferson cast a sidelong glance at her. He could tell she was hiding something, but she'd had a long night so he didn't prod her. Instead he pulled the car off to the side of the road, eliciting a confused look from his passenger. They were still a couple blocks from the inn. "What are you doing?"

"Walking. It's not far, and I want to spend as much time as I can with you." He grinned as he saw her hide her face in an attempt to cover her blush. It reminded him of the girl he first knew. It was still surprising how much she'd grown up since the last time they'd met, and the little flashes of the old her that appeared from time to time filled his heart with the feeling of love he'd so long associated with her face. While he respected how much more mature she'd become, he still missed her young innocence, especially because he'd been the one to take it away from her.

He got out and walked around the front of the car so he was on the sidewalk beside Ana. They began walking in the direction of Granny's Bed and Breakfast, the cool night air nipping at them. Jefferson quickly noticed the way Ana was hugging her arms to herself to warm up and shed his own jacket. "Here," he said, passing the suit coat over to her. She smiled gratefully and pulled it on. The sleeves fell down below her wrists, but she didn't seem to mind.

"You know," he said, breaking the silence between them. "I don't think we've ever had an actual date. Unless you count those times we almost got killed together."

"You mean that doesn't happen to everyone when they go out?" Ana quipped. "No, I don't think we have," she agreed. When she looked over she saw him smiling at her, his eyebrow quirked in a questioning pose. "Wait," she said, beginning to understand. "Is this your way of asking me out?"

"Maybe?"

She chuckled at how innocently he said. "Only you would ask me out after I almost kill a man."

Jefferson shrugged in response. "Well I guess nothing's changed then." He grew more solemn as he added. "I'd understand if you said no."

He barely got the words out before Ana blurted out, "Yes."

"Wait, what?" He asked, looking over at her in surprise as if that wasn't the response he'd been expecting.

"Yes, I will go out with you," she repeated as they came to a stop in front of their destination. He barely had a chance to comprehend what she had said before she had handed him back his jacket and was making her way up the path to the inn. Before she disappeared inside she turned and called back to him "Tomorrow? Pick me up at 7?" She didn't wait for a response before heading inside, leaving Jefferson standing there in disbelief, a boyish grin plastered on his face.