The celebration lasts well into the night and now as the sun rises people sleep in drunken stupors, dreaming of bygone days. Emma wakes slowly and then groans, lifting a hand over her eyes. She had felt liberated last night, her friends and family around her and all thought of danger forgotten. They had won, they were alive and that was worth a thumping head the next morning. As she squints at Jefferson lying beside her and massages her aching head she wishes she practised a little more temperance. Jefferson blinks awake and Emma hovers her hand over his face, shielding him from the dim light but he groans in pain.

"My head...how much did I drink?"

"Enough…for a lightweight. Snow drank you under the table," she says proudly and he buries his face in the pillow in shame. Emma lays her hand against the side of his head and threads her fingers thorough his hair, playing with it gently. Her gaze becomes distant and small worry crease appears between her eyebrows.

"Something on your mind?"

Emma sighs and turns to look up at the ceiling. "Did I do the right thing freeing Regina? I said that I didn't want to stoop to her level but now that she's free she'll come after Henry."

Jefferson is silent before he lightly shrugs. "The way I see it she would have got free anyway. Don't worry about Henry, we'll keep him safe," he reassures firmly.

"I don't think she'll give up until she has him back. She is relentless," Emma rubs the back of her hand over her forehead and Jefferson leans over to kiss the side of her head.

"Then we'll have to go somewhere she can't get to."

"The hat?" Emma asks, turning to him.

"From the start I've told you that I want to get away from her, take Grace to a different realm. I'm still considering it," he whispers, eyes gazing into hers.

"I dunno, it's a big commitment…" she peters off, looking uncertain and hurt flashes in his eyes. He turns his face away, jaw clenched.

"We don't have to stay in the same realm together, I'll take you wherever you want," his voice is stiff. Emma looks at him sharply and then makes him look at her.

"I meant that it's a big commitment for everyone involved. If I left with Henry I want all my family with me. I can't expect Snow or Charming to come with me because I need to get away from Regina. It wouldn't be fair."

"Right…" he mutters, face a little red. Emma smiles and sits up, pulling him with her. Hand in his she gets out of bed and he follows her into the bathroom where she turns on the shower. He runs a hand through his messy hair with a grimace as he brushes his teeth but his wince fades when Emma pulls her vest over her head and steps under the shower. He drops the brush back into its jug and laughs when she grabs his hand and pulls him into her wet arms.

The unstable tornado that had transported Dorothy to Oz had laid waste to Kansas but Morgan's study might as well be just as wrecked judging by the disapproval she casts upon Jefferson. Creating a portal without something to contain it is a rule never to be broken as he could have not only brought the house down but the entire street. Luckily there had been no casualties and the only thing sucked into the portal had been priceless trinkets belonging in the study and Jefferson had promised to collect every single piece that now litters the floor of the Realm Room. He stares around at the destruction blearily, shielding his eyes from the sun. The shower had taken some of the edge off the hangover but his head still thumps and as someone opens the door with a screech Jefferson winces.

"Looks like someone needs some hair of the dog," Mr Gold says loudly and Jefferson turns to cast him a baleful look but he is not alone. Standing beside him is Belle and Jefferson smiles faintly at her in greeting.

"Hi, how are you?"

"I'm adjusting," she says with a small shrug, her antipodean voice blessedly soft.

"Thanks to you," Mr Gold says and steps gingerly around the broken bits of the study. He looks at Jefferson fixedly, a half smile constantly in place.

"Are you here for Regina?" Since the rescue attempt Jefferson has been divided when it comes to his old friend. On one hand there is still an eager part that wants revenge while the other does not wish to stir up any more animosity. It is her unpredictability that gives him pause.

"You released Belle with the intention of setting me after Regina, like a hungry hound after a rabbit. I could have killed her but as we both know there are fates worse than death. I released Cora from her imprisonment and let things play out until the time was right."

Jefferson cocks a sardonic brow. "That came back to bite you, didn't it? She came close to killing you."

"But she didn't which brings us here and now," Gold responds sharply and walks over to Belle who has been inspecting the contents of the study. Her quiet absorption is strange but Jefferson can't judge. She had also been incarcerated but without the luxury he had been surrounded with. Gold takes her hand and she turns, blinking.

"We've come to ask you to do something," she says clearly and her tone offsets her vague appearance. Under it there is a sharp mind.

"You want me to find someone?"

"My son, Baelfire," Gold answers softly and Jefferson nods.

"If I do this I want a guarantee from you, a deal."

Gold smiles, shaking his head. "If this goes successfully I won't be making any more deals," he turns to Belle with a smile and she nods at him encouragingly.

"This isn't for me but for Emma. Regina is licking her wounds but it's only a matter of time before she comes for Henry," Jefferson explains but Gold shrugs.

"Can't help you…but maybe you should have more faith in Miss Swan. I've been lead to believe she is quite extraordinary. Maybe Regina should be the one running scared, not the other way round."

"I don't doubt Emma's ability for a second," Jefferson says hotly. "I just want her to live without that threat over her head."

"Don't we all? But such is life…Regina is friendless, powerless. I wouldn't be surprised if she comes to some foul end by someone or other looking for revenge," Gold utters and then gestures impatiently at Jefferson's hat which sits before the gaping hole where the window had been. "Let's not draw this out any longer. Find him," he demands in a shaking voice.

Jefferson picks up the hat and offers it to Gold. "Think of him, where he is. I should be able to pull him from wherever it is."

"I don't know where he is, otherwise I wouldn't be here," Gold utters brusquely. "I do however know where he was."

"And where's that?"

"Ten years ago he was in Tallahassee, Florida but since then his trail ran cold."

Jefferson shakes his head. "Pulling someone from their time line is risky, they can become disturbed…How did he end up here?" Jefferson asks, intrigued with this mystery then with the possibility of upsetting Gold's son. "Is he a mage?"

"No, he's just a boy…or a man, I should say. He was transported here by a magic bean," Gold says and sadness glitters in his eyes. He looks down into the interior of the hat and then closes his eyes.

"Once you feel you have a lock give the hat back to me," Jefferson whispers and Gold nods. His brows contract as he concentrates and then he suddenly thrusts the hat at Jefferson who places the now spinning hat in the centre of the room.

"Everyone stand back. He's going to be plucked from wherever he resides," Jefferson says breathlessly, a little excited and sweeps the floor of debris with his foot. The hat turns, growing larger every second until the mouth of it faces downwards. Jefferson shoves a leather couch under the hat and not a second later a man falls out and lands on the cushions. A silence stretches, broken by the now smaller hat hitting the floor and rolling back and forth on its rim. The man, Baelfire, looks at Jefferson with startled brown eyes, completely bewildered. Jefferson smiles widely.

"Hi."

"W — where am I? What the hell —" his question is cut short abruptly when he spots Mr Gold and he stares at him in utmost shock. Mr Gold gives him a shaky smile, opens his mouth to speak but no words come out. Belle stares between the two dumbfounded men and takes a step towards Baelfire.

"Don't be frightened, everything is all right," she whispers kindly and Baelfire tears his eyes to her and blinks, as if he hadn't noticed her before. She smiles, coming closer and gestures at Gold. "Do you remember him?"

"Of course I remember him, he's the Dark One," he mumbles and Gold's eyes fill with tears.

"No, not anymore. Bae —" he stops, to overcome with emotion to speak for a moment, "I'm going to destroy the dagger, I'm going to give it up like you wanted. You — you have no idea how long I've spent trying to find you. Look at you," he whispers and comes forward, "you're a man now."

"Father…?"

Baelfire stares at the crying man with a strange look that shifts from joy to reproach and his shaking hands fist the couch. Jefferson backs away toward the door, not wanting to encroach on such a private meeting. Belle nods at him and mouths thank you as he closes the door.

She sits under the shade of an apple tree with the story book spread out across her lap. On her head is a straw hat and she looks out from beneath it with a friendly smile as Emma approaches. The garden is quiet and peaceful, in direct contrast to the raucous party the night before. Emma had seen Miss Lewis retire early, her cat following behind her at it's leisurely pace. Now that cat is bathing in a patch of sunlight, its ginger fur shinning.

"Henry's book," Emma says and Miss Lewis smiles wider. She is a handsome old lady but her skin is very pale and paper thin, like someone who is battling an illness. Silver hair is pinned up in a bun and pair of glasses are perched on her nose. Brown eyes peer keenly through them, eyes that have been surveying the order of a library for years. She is the very picture of a librarian but where a quiet severity should be there is an air of mischief about her instead.

"Only Henry's through loan," she answers and pulls out a library card from its pocket and hands it to Emma. On the front written in a neat hand is the name Mary Margaret.

"Right, she gave the book to Henry," Emma hands the card back. "I can only imagine the fine she's clocked up," Emma says with a laugh and sits beside her.

"All librarians will tell you better a late book then no book at all," she slots the card in place and closes the cover. Her hands run over the front and she smiles faintly in thought while her hands tremble. Emma takes a closer look at her and feels certain that the woman is ill. Just as Emma is about to ask Jefferson appears in the garden.

"Well I did what Gold asked. He's talking to his son upstairs."

"His son is here?"

Jefferson nods and glances at Miss Lewis who is leafing through the book again. Emma stands and goes to him.

"Who was he?"

"I dunno but I had to pull him from the past, from Florida. I didn't want to intrude so I left."

At the mention of Florida Emma blinks but quickly dismisses the thought. She looks down at Miss Lewis who is still engrossed in the book and speaks quietly.

"There's no sign of Regina and Morgan can't find her," she whispers.

"I should be able to locate her…but there's no need to worry," he says and Emma cocks her head. He runs his hands down her arms. "I can either deliver her the same fate as she gave me, strand her in a realm or we can find a world to live in, all of us," he stresses.

Emma stares at his hopeful eyes and turns away, staring at the sunlit garden and then at Miss Lewis. She is looking up at them now, her expression unreadable. Moving to a different world, avoiding everything here, is tempting but Emma knows that the situation is more complicated.

"I'll need to speak to them first."

"Of course," he answers but Emma wonders if he is just saying that. The ginger cat rises from the grass and rubs against Jefferson's ankles and he bends down to stroke him.

"We can talk about this later," Emma says and he straightens, bringing the cat up with him. The cat purrs against his chest and rubs its head against his chin.

"Sure," he says and goes to Miss Lewis who holds her hands out for the cat.

"Dinah likes you," she says with a smile and he settles the cat on top of the book. Jefferson grins and scratches Dinah under his chin before gazing at Miss Lewis seriously.

"Thank you for bringing me all those books. I would have gone stir crazy without them."

Miss Lewis inclines her head and looks down at the cat. "Bringing them to you was part of the curse, I never even questioned it. It's nice to finally talk to you," she says and her voice catches slightly. Emma narrows her eyes thoughtfully as Jefferson leans down to kiss Miss Lewis on the cheek before straightening. He turns to Emma, oblivious to the librarian's strange reaction.

"Snow and Charming are taking Henry and Grace, along with a bunch of other kids, to the common. You coming?"

"Yeah, just give me a few minutes," she says and he nods before walking back into the house. Emma stares at Miss Lewis and sees that a smile curls the corner of her mouth.

"Have I been caught governess?"

"Alice?" Emma utters and sits back down weakly. She is stunned. Miss Lewis turns to her and Emma mentally overlays a much younger face over the one before her. She is small and almost aged beyond recognition but those warm brown eyes are just as bright as before. Emma whips her head around but Jefferson is gone.

"I imagine you have lots of questions?"

"I thought you were dead, they all do," Emma says as she turns back. Alice nods, looking down at her cat who is falling asleep.

"As you can see I have lived to a very old age."

"Why didn't you tell him just now?" Emma asks and Alice stops stroking the cat's fur.

"Because I do not want to cause them anymore grief," she replies and looks at Emma soberly. "I am dying and my time is very short. If they know the truth they will have to mourn me all over again. I will not inflict such pain on them."

"I'm sorry…" Emma says softly but her sadness is mixed with conflict. "How can I keep this from them? You're alive. You lived," Emma stares at her, still stunned and Alice reaches over to take her hand.

"I did die, Jefferson saw that but I was revived. I managed to make a living for myself there, as a writer. I got married, had more children, grandchildren…" her voice drifts off as tears rim her eyes. "Time in that realm, like many, moves differently. I grew old, had a full life and then the curse plucked me from there and placed me in Storybrooke as Miss Carol Lewis," at this she smiles. "Regina has a sense of humour."

"A sick one," Emma mutters, thinking of Alice delivering books to her estranged husband for all those years. "You had no idea who you were?"

"None. I only started to doubt when you came to town and Jeff could finally leave that awful house. Then the curse was broken and I remembered…" she sighs and looks down at the cat again.

"You couldn't bring yourself to tell them?"

"I tried, so many times but I couldn't. I never thought I would see them again and now I am an old lady…You must think I am a coward but it would be cruel to tell them now when I have so little time left."

Emma bites at her lip, deeply conflicted. She can understand not wanting to give someone hope only for it to be snatched away, to save Jefferson the awful pain that will occur once Alice dies. But she can not keep that truth from them, as heartbreaking as it is. Alice must see this conflict because she squeezes her hand and smiles.

"Do not fret governess. I am not so selfish as to lay this burden on you and expect you to carry it in silence. When I am gone I would like you to give Jefferson this." From beside her she picks up a thick envelop and hands it to Emma. On the front is written the name Jeff.

"But —" Emma stares at her, dismayed and holding back tears. Alice tilts her head sadly.

"I shouldn't have told you, I'm sorry. I was going to leave the letter before I left."

"Where are you going?"

Alice shrugs with a faint smile. "Who can say? Beyond has a nice ring to it, it doesn't sound so final."

"If you're ill you should be in a hospital," Emma reasons, clutching the letter in her hand. Something crinkles inside, like a chain.

"If it was possible for them to treat me I would be but they can't. The malady that almost killed me was not cured but…suspended with medicines. The curse kept my health in limbo, never improving but never getting worse. Now that it has been broken I will succumb."

"But Jefferson can go to that realm and get the medicine you need!"

"If I was younger, perhaps but I am well over a hundred years old."

"You are?" Emma is impressed despite the sadness of the occasion.

"Yes. It's my time Emma," she says and squeezes Emma's hand again with a pitying look. Emma shakes her head in bewilderment. She should be the one comforting Alice. Before she can say anything meaningful Alice gives her sleeping cat a hug, who then wakes up disgruntled. She stands and places Dinah beside Emma.

"You're going now?"

Alice nods and inhales deeply, steeling herself. "Yes, the longer you put something off the harder it is to accomplish. Don't be sad, I've had the opportunity to see my family and know that they are both loved and cared for," she gives Emma a significant look, one conveying acceptance, gratitude and understanding.

"You don't have to be alone," Emma whispers and Alice gazes at her thoughtfully.

"Everyone here leads odd but fantastic lives. We could pass people in the street and they would only see strangers but for many we are as familiar and loved as family. They know of us; they dream of our stories, write them down to share with others. This might be my fanciful mind but I think as long as they remember us we never truly die. Soon I will be gone from this place but somewhere someone will read about a little girl discovering a rabbit hole and Alice will start her adventure again. That way we live forever."

A wondrous smile curves Emma's mouth as she considers this while Alice picks up Dinah and settles him on her lap. Emma scratches under his chin and he meows.

"What about your cat?"

Emma looks up but Alice is gone, the garden deserted. She gets up and calls out her name but receives no answer. Confused, Emma picks up the letter, ruminating a thousand possibilities of Alice's whereabouts. Emma flicks the letter against her fingers and walks to the foyer where Jefferson and the children are waiting. Between his hands is a piece of string, he is showing Henry how to play cat's cradle. Emma stares down at the envelop, troubled and debating whether she should hand it over when Grace looks up from the game as someone descends the staircase behind Emma. As she turns she feels an inexplicable sense of ominous fear and the pendent flares hot against her chest as she recognises the man on the stairs. He freezes and his mouth falls open in disbelief.

"…Emma?"

Behind him is Gold and Belle, the latter looking confused while the former wears an inscrutable expression. Emma backs away, unable to take her eyes off him until she bumps into Henry behind her. She spins around, eyes wide and wild and convulsively grabs his shoulder. Jefferson comes to her side, frowning heavily.

"What's wrong?"

But Emma can not make herself speak. She hastily looks over her shoulder and then runs for the door with Henry, unable to stop herself. No rational thought enters her head, just the desire to get away. As she races down the front stairs Jefferson and Grace call after her and then after a pause Baelfire joins in with their concerned voices.

note:

One more chapter to go... :)