Chapter Twenty
Jefferson climbed up the steps to Regina's office, and opened the door to find her sitting at her desk. "Jefferson," she greeted politely, standing from her desk.
"Regina," he replied, walking towards her desk. "And what do you need from me?"
"A portal," she said. "You need to open up a portal with your hat."
"For what purpose?" he asked as she stood up from her desk and walked to the window.
"I need something. Something that only you can get." Regina turned from the window. "You can do it, can't you?"
"Yes," Jefferson replied. "But I'll need my hat."
"And I have it," she said and walked to her desk. Reaching under it, she pulled out the hatbox, a smile growing on her face. She opened it up and gasped, her eyes frozen open in horror.
"What is it?" Jefferson asked, leaning over to look into the box. The box was empty, only the crushed velvet remained that signified where the hat had previously sat. "It's gone. Someone stole it."
"And I know who is responsible," Regina hissed, slamming the box down onto the table. She looked up to meet Jefferson's questioning glance. "Your brat, Grace, and my little Henry."
"It could be anywhere," Jefferson said quietly.
"Well you'll have to look. And I'll work on another plan," Regina said, beckoning for him to leave. She looked out her window, and saw him cross the street.
Regina rushed out to her garden, and picked a ripe, crisp apple from a tree. "Perfect," she whispered, as she left her property and walked towards the pawnshop.
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"Hi Henry," I said, beaming as he approached my bedside.
He sat down next to me. "Hi Paige. I heard you were up. I missed you."
"I missed you too. But I have some news regarding the curse."
"What is it?" Henry asked, leaning forward in his seat.
"Alice was my mama. And I thought she was Emma," I said slowly.
"How did you think Emma was your mom?" Henry asked, drawing together his eyebrows.
I recalled the incident, and then said, "At first, I only saw her hair, and I had just had a vision where Papa told me that Mama had blond hair."
"Oh," Henry said. "Who was your mother in the book?"
"Alice," I said, enunciating each syllable as Papa had done in the vision. I looked up and took in Henry's shocked expression. "I missed you," I whispered, reaching out to take his hand.
"Missed you too," he muttered. Leaning back against his chair. "Any other visions?"
"I don't remember," I said, furrowing my eyebrows. "I'll have to rest a bit. Then I'll remember."
"Yeah," Henry said. "Is the hat safe?"
"It's in my room. Why?" I asked.
"I overheard my mom and Jefferson talking about it," he explained. "They know it's missing."
"You mean Papa's mixed up in that again?" I asked.
"Maybe," Henry admitted. "But he's not a bad guy."
I nodded, hoping it was true. "Do you know how Emma will break the curse?"
"No idea," he said. "But it has to be soon, if you are completely believing now. You called Jefferson 'papa', right?"
I nodded again. "So she'll break the curse soon?"
"You can bet on it."
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The bell rang as Regina entered the pawnshop, the apple clenched in her hand. "Ah, your Majesty," Mr. Gold said, keeping his eyes trained on his paperwork as she walked towards the counter. "And how may I help you?"
"I need a sleeping potion," Regina said, setting the apple down on the counter.
"For Miss Swan, I presume," he said, pulling a large trunk out from under his desk.
"Yes, of course," she replied, walking to the counter and peeking into the trunk. "Where'd you get this one?" Regina asked, holding up a vial full of blue potion with a strand of gold twisting inside it.
"Miss Swan," Mr. Gold replied, taking it from her hand. "Jefferson got a piece of her hair for me."
"Jefferson?" Regina asked, and then shook off her shock and inquired, "And what does the potion do?"
"It is a potion of strength and courage," Mr. Gold explained. "Whom ever drinks it gets immediate bravery and invincibility."
"And why would you need that? Because of your little Belle?" Regina mocked, her red lips curving up in a smirk.
"Do you want the potion or not?" Gold asked, his fists clenching. "Wait, she's alive?"
Regina ignored his second question and replied, "Yes I do, Rumple. Now hand it over."
He extended the sleeping potion to her, and when Regina reached to take it, he sharply pulled his hand away. He laughed as she yanked it out of his grasp. "Good luck finding your beauty." His fists clenched and he slammed them down on the counter, rattling the trinkets lining the shelves. "You can't hit me Rumple. You're still too much of a coward."
Regina swept out of the pawnshop, stuffing the potion into her pocket, as the door shut behind her. Mr. Gold went and locked the door, turning the sign to read 'closed'. He sat down in a stool, and let the long-held tears slide down his face.
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I looked up and saw Jefferson walking towards my bed. "Hi Papa," I told him, smiling.
"Hi Grace," he said, sitting down on a stool.
"Why were you talking to Regina about the hat?" I asked.
He looked confused. "Where did you hear that?"
"Henry told me. Papa, I don't like it when you help her," I pleaded. "Last time you helped her, we were separated. I don't want to lose you again." I reached up and wiped the tears that threatened to fall.
Papa looked conflicted, as he looked down at me. "All right, Grace. You're right. We've lost enough time, I won't screw it up again."
"Thank you," I whispered, and felt myself sinking into the bed. "Can you stay until I fall asleep?"
"Of course," he said, brushing the strands of hair out of my face. "I'll be here when you wake up, if you want."
"I'd like that," I told him, yawning and rolling over onto my side. I felt my eyelids growing heavy and sleep setting in.
"Goodnight, Grace," Papa said, smiling at me from his chair.
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Emma saw Paige lying asleep in her hospital and Jefferson sitting beside her, keeping a constant vigil. "Hi Jefferson," she greeted, and his eyes snapped up to meet hers.
"Hi," he said, waving slightly.
"I'm sorry I ran out earlier," she said, sitting down in a chair beside him. "I don't like to be forced into things, or to feel trapped. I know that sounds ridiculous."
"It doesn't sound ridiculous," Jefferson replied. "And no need to apologize."
Emma smiled, and tapped his hand lightly. She could feel him stiffen at the contact. "So what? You can get in other people's faces, but someone taps you and you freak out?" She laughed slightly, and so did he.
"Sorry," he mumbled. "Things have been different lately."
"What's been so different?" Emma asked.
"Magic. There's magic here," Jefferson said, and when Emma beckoned him to continue, he elaborated, "In your hair there must have been some sort of magic, that's why Rumple needed it. Regina wanted me to open a portal for her, but Grace and Henry stole my hat."
"That certainly is different," Emma said, smiling.
"Emma?" Jefferson asked uncertainly.
"Yes?"
"Well, after the hospital visiting hours close, do you want to go to the diner? I believe I owe you dinner."
"I'd like to," she replied. Emma looked over at Jefferson as his hand came to rest over hers. The two then sat in silence, watching Paige's gently sleeping form.
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A/N This chapter is kind of short, but in a day or two I'll have another, hopefully longer chapter.
Please review.