After standing there for several minutes beyond the initial knock, Jefferson was about to turn around and leave. The temperatures were still low and he pulled his coat tighter around himself. He was grateful Star stood in the house and didn't bring the baby out. Just then, Rumplestiltskin opened the door wearing his silk robe and pajamas Jefferson had made him. Without a word he opened the door wider and motioned for him to enter.

He led Jefferson over to sit at his dining room table and poured two glasses of scotch. "If you have come here for advice on matters of the heart, you've come to the wrong place."

"I had no where else to go. At the very least, you don't thinking I'm mad nor deceiving you. My wife wanted to leave me." Jefferson said as he drank down his glass.

Rumplestiltskin sighed. "I've been there. Not a place I'd wish anyone." He said as he sipped his glass.

They both sat in silence, staring off, lost in each's own thoughts. "Regina and Miss Swan came into my shop." Rumplestiltskin said breaking the silence. "I sent them to Malecifent to fetch the egg I hid in her. It'll give me the power I need." Jefferson looked over at him. "This curse will be broken soon. When Swan goes up against her with Charming's sword, there's no possible way she would not believe."

Jefferson sighed, "Then my wife will definitely leave me." He drank the last from his glass and motioned for a refill. "I've made such a mess of things."

"You remind me of my son." Rumplestiltskin said out of no where. "I loved him and I lost him. I made poor choices that I regret every single day of my miserable life. Then I found a ray of light with Belle and lost her too." In all the years they knew each other, He had never revealed anything quite so personal. "I can only hope when I find my boy, he'll be as forgiving as he used to be. There is no hope of finding my Belle."

"The maid?" Jefferson only saw her once and she immediately left the room as if she interrupted something. He was never officially introduced.

Rumplestiltskin nodded. "Her father beat her to death for her association with me." He said bitterly. "I should have never sent her away." He said and finished his glass. "He deserved worse, but the sheriff interrupted me."

"Maurice? The flower shop owner?"

Rumplestiltskin nodded, then they sat there in silence again.

"When the curse breaks, promise me Star stays with the baby. I don't know what chance I have, but please don't let my son be left alone."

He nodded his head. "That I can do. I wonder how my son managed on his own. My Bealfire."

"I don't want to be separated from my son. My Hawk Daystar. His mother's real name is Tiger Lily."

They sat there in their own misery for a while, occasionally talking."The curse may break and we all might just stay here. In this land." Rumplestiltskin said. He moved to get up. "I'm not as young as I used to be, the sun will be up soon. I have to get a few hours sleep. I need to meet up with Regina and Miss Swan to make sure things go as I want them to. You may sleep on the sofa if you'd like. Or you could try and go remedy things with your lady."

Jefferson laid on the sofa but he did not sleep. Too many thoughts running through his head. He thought about Regina and Emma and Henry.

He thought about his first wife Victoria and how he let her down. He remembered how she would smile. He was so young when they married. He did love her but he was hardly ever home and Grace came along soon after. He tried being a good father but he wasn't so sure he knew how. He had wanted so badly to be a good father to Hawk. Apparently he had not done any better.

He thought about Star and his children. He loved them all. He spent only 6 years with Victoria. With Star, he has spent 30. The past 10 he has spent every night with her sleeping in his arms. He missed her. It had not even been 12 hours since he left the house, but he missed her. He tried to imagine being separated from Hawk and finding him 30 years later. For Rumplestiltskin, it's been much longer. He would probably do the same thing trying to find his family. He nearly did go mad trying to get back to Grace. He was very grateful he knew where She was and was able to spend a measure if time with her, although she only started growing more recently, once time started moving.

He thought of Rumplestiltskin still trying to find his son to right a wrong done so many years ago. He really felt sorry for him. He seemed to have really fallen in love with the maid. He knew how he felt when he got the news thinking Star had died. He recalled how he was so happy to find out Star was actually alive and not washed away somewhere in the curse. Rumplestiltskin was not as fortunate as he to find his Belle.

Jefferson sat up. He knew who the girl was locked away in the asylum. He immediately left the house and drove to the hospital.

/-/

He wasn't exactly sure what he was going to do. He waited for the opportune moment but changed his mind and went in immediately. Holding a cup a warm coffee that he had slipped some sleeping pills in. The dosage was one pill, he put six inside hoping the drug would make one instantly knock out. It was easy enough to find once he snuck into the locked pharmacy. Locks meant nothing to him. He wore another set of stolen clothes and held a mop and bucket.

"Good morning." He said cheerfully. "My first day." He said and held up the bucket. "I thought this might make a good first impression." He said handing her the cup.

She looked at him with a stone look on her face. Then the faintest smile crept up as she took the cup. She sipped it. "Thank you. What is your nam-", she said as her head went down onto her desk.

"Introductions are not needed, but thanks for inquiring. Sleep well." Jefferson said. He spotted a coat on the coat rack and grabbed it as he headed down the hall.

He opened her cell door and the girl immediately looked up. She looked frightened and tried to get even closer up against the corner than she already was.

"Hello. I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here to help you." Jefferson said to her. She didn't look any more at ease. "I'm going to let you out of here." He handed her the coat and she slowly took it. "Don't be afraid. Put it on. I'm going to help you get out." She slowly stood up. Then she slowly put the coat on. "We don't have much time." He said as he pulled the coat right around her and buttoned just two buttons. "Come with me." He motioned to put his arm around her, to guide her, but she pulled away. "Ok."

"Who are you? Why are you helping me?" She asked.

Ok. Good. She was speaking English. She seemed to understand him. "Go find Mr. Gold. He's probably at his pawn shop. Follow me." He said as he left the cell and went down the hall. He grabbed a napkin off of the nurse's desk. With a pen, he drew her a map. "This is a map. Once you find him, tell him Regina kept you locked up. That's important. He'll protect you. Go find him." He said as he ushered her out the basement door into the open area. His hope was Rumplestiltskin would take care of Regina once and for all for being the reason he thought Belle was dead.

"Uh, okay. Thank you." She said and slowly walked away. Jefferson showed her where the stairs were and once up them, he showed her to the door outside. She probably had not seen out doors for the entire 28 years they were in Storybrook. "Wait, what is your name?" She asked.

"Jefferson. Tell Mr. Gold that Jefferson let you out and to not forget my family. Will you remember that?" He asked. She nodded. "Good. Now go."

He watched her as she walked outside and looked at the sky and her surroundings. The morning sun was bright above. He then went in the opposite direction toward his car. He first changed his clothes and decided he was going to go home and tell Star the truth about everything.

/-/

Jefferson had been to many lands. He has seen horrific customs, strange practices, things he would like to forget he ever saw. But none of this struck more terror in his heart than walking through the front door of his own house.

He was certain by now Star would be up. Most likely had breakfast already made. He opened the door and contemplated calling out to her. He didn't need to. She was sitting on the living room floor playing with Hawk. She looked up and saw him. A small smile came across her face.

This was hopeful.

"Hello." He said. At the sound of his voice, Hawk turned and saw him. Jefferson was rewarded with the biggest one tooth grin he had ever seen.

"Hi." Star said mildly.

"Hi buddy!" Jefferson said to Hawk as he knelt down and opened his arms to the baby. "Papa missed you so much!" Hawk tried so hard to crawl but he just couldn't get his legs moving. He scooted and attempted to move but didn't get very far. He got into a position of all fours and Star helped move his back legs. In that moment he got it and crawled straight over to Jefferson. "You did it, Baby!" Jefferson cheered as he scooped his son up into a tight embrace.

"Yay!" Star cheered clapping her hands. Her eyes met Jefferson's. She stopped smiling and looked away.

"I missed you." Jefferson said quietly. "I'm so sorry. Sorry for everything I ever did wrong."

"I'm glad you came back." Star said softly as she looked away from him.

They sat on the floor not talking for a few minutes. Hawk was excited to try out his new skills. "I want to be honest with you. Tell you everything." Jefferson started.

Star held up her hand. "I really want to hear it, Jefferson. But not now." That did not sound good to him at all. "I barely slept last night and my head aches. I think I'd like to go for a run to clear my head. Just to think some things through. Alone. When I get back we can talk." Star said. Jefferson let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. At least she planned on coming back.

"Okay." Was all he said.

"Do you mind watching Hawk while I take a shower first?"

"Of course. I'd be happy to."

After her shower she was dressed in her running clothes. "I got rid of the gun." He said,"if it helps anything." He said to her back as she headed for the door. She turned and came back. She gave him a soft kids on the lips.

"I'm glad to hear that." She said and turned again.

"I really do love you." He said as she walked out the door. She looked at him and smiled.

"I'm even more glad to hear that." She said as she left.