Chapter Ten

Jefferson tried winning Aurora over during dinner that night, but she would barely look at him let alone talk to him. Jefferson wasn't use to dealing with women, or men for that matter, who were mad at him. Usually the women and men he dealt with didn't realize until it was too late that he was using them. And by the time they realized he had used them to take something he wanted, he was long gone never to deal with them ever again.

But with Aurora he wasn't sure what he was after. He started out just trying to help her out with lessons because Rumple asked him too; and a few extra gold coins or home cooked meals never hurt. Then he started helping with the Princess Lessons that Belle were giving her because he knew being able to teach Aurora how to act and dance like a real Princess was something Belle really cared about. It took Belle's mind off of how she was still a prisoner here. And it wasn't like Rumple was going to help Belle and Aurora out with the lessons. And Jefferson liked to dance, especial if it was with pretty girls, and all the table manners and rules of the royalty are good when you enjoy coning the rich out of …well their riches.

But somewhere along the lines he stopped having to fake like he was having fun, and actually came to enjoy the time he spend with Aurora here in the castle. He enjoyed finishing his tasks Rumple gave him and coming back to the castle and staying up late with Aurora by the fire, talking about things he had seen or showing her items from his trips. He really loved how excited she would get over items he would bring back, and the new foods to try.

But now as Jefferson sat there across the table from Aurora at dinner that night he couldn't believe a few hours earlier the two of them had held hands and made snow angels. Aurora finished dinner early that night and excused herself to her room. Jefferson was going to let her leave without saying anything but as she got to the doorway he called over to her. "Aurora, will you be up for a game of cards tonight?"

She stopped in the door and without turning around she coldly stated. "No, Jefferson, I do wish to play cards with you tonight, or any other night."

Jefferson wasn't expecting such a rash reply and his disappointment showed through on his face.

"I told you he taught her how to play cards." Belle stated to Rumple.

Jefferson gave Belle a look as Rumple let out one of his giggles and Aurora walked out of the room.

"Not use to NOT getting your way with people are you dearie?" Rumple had stopped laughing but his smile still played at his lips. "It seems to me that for someone who lived on the run and in hiding for years Aurora can really pull of the spoiled stubborn Princess attitude." Rumple looked down the table to Belle. "It seems like those Princess Lesson of yours are not a waste of time after all."

"Oh Rumple." Belle exclaimed throwing her napkin down. "She is a 16 year girl, by that definition alone her emotions are a mess, but to make matters worse she is trapped in a life she never wanted and has no control over where it is going. Over all I think Aurora is handling it quite reasonably."

Belle turned to face Jefferson. "Just give her some space tonight Jefferson I am sure she will feel better in the morning." Belle stood up. "Now do you want some dessert or not?"

"Belle, please you are acting like something is wrong. I couldn't care less how Aurora feels." Jefferson leaned back in his chair and waved off what she said. "Now if I didn't want your cookies and tea then you would know something is wrong."

He watched as Belle walked out of the room wondering how am I going to force down the cookies and tea with Rumple and Belle when all I wanted to do was go up to Aurora's room and… and what? That was the question. What did I want from Aurora, an apology? A smile in my direction? A conversation, a game of cards? A kiss? A kiss, was that it? Did I want to kiss Aurora? She had cleaned up nicely since I first found her. She was beautiful and not just smart, but street smart too…

"Jefferson!" Rumple said louder. "Did you hear anything I just said to you?"

Jefferson looked over to him realizing he hadn't heard anything the old man had said to him. "Sorry Rum come again the voices in my head" Jefferson waved his hand around his head a second "were talking to me and I didn't hear what you said."

"I asked if you were planning on spending the next few days here for Christmas?" Rumple leaned back in his chair and folded his arms in his lap. "The girls have talked me into letting them decorate for Christmas. There was something about a tree and gifts but I didn't really listen as they ran on discussing what they were going to do and make. "

Jefferson looked at him in disbelief. "Belle talked you into having a real Christmas? I have only bugged you about celebrating Christmas since I got here when I was a child. If I would have known all it would take was to bring two young ladies into your life I would have told you about Belle's predicament a lot sooner." Jefferson laughed. "When are you two getting married?"

Rumple glared at him.

Jefferson cut his laugh off. "Still can't take a joke Rum, but maybe that will change too Belle is a good influence."

"I am a good influence on whom, Jefferson?" Belle came back in with a tray of cookies and tea.

"Only on everyone you meet my dear Belle. But I was referring to Rumple here. He told me you and Aurora convinced him to have a right proper Christmas this year." He took this tea cup and saucer from Belle.

"Oh are you going to stay and help us get ready then? Because I know he…" she moved her head towards Rumple, as she added sugar to the tea cup. "won't be much help." Rumple fake like he was shocked at her comment before taking the tea cup from Belle.

"Anything you two need I am your man." Jefferson smiled thinking to himself, if that doesn't bring Aurora back around to my side nothing will.

Jefferson was in and out the next three days helping them when Aurora would let him. She wanted to use her magic to do things that would have been easier to do by hand.

"She just wants to prove that she can handle things herself. "Belle had whispered to Jefferson when Aurora had taken the holly he had gone to town to get for them.

Jefferson bit his tongue to keep from saying his thought out loud; I know she can handle herself. It is one of the things I love about her. Love? Love was that really the word I wanted to use? Do I actually love Aurora?

It sounded right in his head but in his experience Love never turned out for the best. Love had driven my father to do unspeakable things when my mother was killed… Jefferson shook those thoughts out of his head. He didn't need to think about his messed up past, when his current situation needed fixing.

Finally after three days of cleaning and decorating everything was set up the way that Belle and Aurora wanted. They were relaxing from their hard work in the tower room. Jefferson was sitting on the window ledge shuffling a deck of cards. Rumple was at his wheel and Belle was reading a book Jefferson had gotten her called A Christmas Carol. Aurora who as Jefferson had noted at least a half million times since he had brought her here to the castle, couldn't keep still long enough to relax. She was up straightening up the potion ingredients and making a list of things they needed.

Jefferson placed the cards he was shuffling with into his pocket, and walked over to the tree and took a look at the gifts under it. They were all wrapped in golden paper with name tags on it. He had placed one there for Rumple, Belle, and Aurora. He noticed one there to him from Rumple and Belle but nothing from Aurora.

He walked back over and sat in his usually stool across from where Aurora was working. "Did you put out all your presents under the tree?" His voice was a little louder then he planned it to be so it was loud enough that Belle looked over at the two of them.

"Yes." Aurora stated without looking up from what she was writing.

"Really?" Jefferson asked " Because I didn't see one with my name on it."

"And you won't."

"Jefferson!" Belle sharply cut into their conversation. "Where did you get this book?"

"W…What?" He turned looking at Belle.

"My book." She closed it putting it on her lap. "Where did you find it?"

"Oh last time I had to swing by Victor's for Rumple. He had it out on the table and I know you love books so I asked him about it. He was finished with it said to give it to you. Do you like it?"

"It is very good so far Scrooge was just visited by the ghost of his dead business partner… rather spooky if you ask me."

"Dead business partner?" Rumple asked. "Is Victor interested in anything other than dead things?"

He likes women. Jefferson thought to himself, before he could reply Aurora spoke up. "He liked Poker."

"What?" Jefferson asked her.

"Victor he liked Poker that one time you had him over. He lost all his money but told me he had a lovely time. And he talked about bikes." Aurora rushed on excited. "He told me that he would bring a bike next time he came for a game of poker, and he said he would teach me how to ride one." She ended with a huge smile on her face.

Jefferson didn't like how Aurora was getting all excited over Victor and learning how to ride a bike. In fact she had just said more about Victor in the last few moments then she had said to him the last three days. And that smile on her face should be for him not Victor.

"You know it's not that hard to ride a bike right?" Jefferson muttered to her. Aurora happy face turned into a glare as she looked over at him.

"Hmm…" Rumple thought. "Do you think Victor would be up for a game of poker this afternoon?"

"What?" Jefferson turned. "This afternoon? Rumple, its Christmas Eve! I am sure he is busy."

"Busy with what? Science? His only close family was his brother and he is dead. And last you told us that whole experiment didn't turned out so well. "Rumple stood up from the spinning wheel. "Yes a game of poker sounds like some fun. Don't look at me like that Belle, I am letting you three have your little Christmas, let me have some fun. So Jefferson, go and fletch him."

Jefferson sat there in complete disbelieve. After the week he had, had the last thing he wanted was to have to deal with Victor hitting on Aurora who was still mad at him. But he knew that once Rumple had made up his mind there was no changing it.

"Sure thing Rum, but you would think by now you and Victor would be sick of losing all your money to me." He pulled his hat out of his little bag. "I am going to need Basil, then if I am to fletch Victor."

Rumple snapped his fingers and the brown mouse appeared in his hand. He handed it to Jefferson who gave his hat a spin on the floor just as Rumple was yelling "not in the house!"

But before he could jump in. Aurora called his name. He turned to her with a smile as the wind picked up around the room.

"Remind him about the bike lesson. Maybe he can bring it with him today; and after your game…"

Jefferson smile disappeared he tried to keep the rashness out of his tone as he said to her. "I will ask him for you." Then he couldn't help but spat "Princess Aurora." As he gave a little bow, then he turned and jumped in the portal.