In an effort to start treating my stories equally, I've managed another chapter. I have so many plans for this one, it's just taking so. damn. long. to get to them. Ahh well, we're close now. So in case any of you are still reading this, haha, here's the next installment. More soon.
Behind Enemy Lines
Chapter 37
"Jefferson," Regina greeted, part warning, part question as the man drew nearer.
"I've waited long enough," he hissed when he was close enough for her to hear him. "I don't care what kind of plan you have or what you want to do to Emma; I want you to keep your end of the bargain."
"You have the nerve to steal from me and then come to me making demands? That's not how this works, Jefferson. Or have you forgotten? I'm the one in charge here."
He blinked at her and then shook his head angrily. "Steal from you? What the hell are you talking about? I've done nothing but what you've asked."
"I know you took the turnover. What I can't quite figure out is what you expect to do with it?" He narrowed his eyes in confusion, and Regina frowned at the genuine expression.
"You really have no idea what I'm talking about?"
"Of course not. You have my daughter. Why would I waste my only chance at being reunited with her?"
"If it wasn't him, who was it?" David asked, growing edgy with the uncomfortable flutter of panic at the man's response. It had been bad enough wondering what Jefferson would do with the poisoned fruit, but if he truly didn't have it, there was no telling what would happen.
Jefferson turned a surprised expression on David, as if noticing him for the first time. Then he looked straight at Regina. "Why does it seem like he understands what's going on?"
"Probably because he does," Regina returned flatly.
Jefferson wasn't the only one to startle at her words. David turned a slightly incredulous look on her. She'd been the one to worry about people finding out about their relationship after the curse broke. And surely if Jefferson remembered everything, he'd use the knowledge against them if he could find a way. Apparently Regina didn't have the same fear. "I thought—" he started, but she shook her head.
"It doesn't matter," she told him. "If he didn't take the turnover, we have much larger problems to worry about. Besides, there's nothing he can do right now without the curse being broken."
Jefferson floundered, not quite able to process all of the new information. "You…the…" He shook his head to sort his thoughts and started in with the most concerning of news. "You let someone get their hands on the apple?!"
Regina practically growled at him. "I didn't let anyone do anything with it. I left the room for five minutes, and when I returned, it was gone."
"Gone?!" he cried. "After the deal you made with me, what you've made me do, how could you let it out of your sight?" He ran his hands through his hair with an increasingly mad expression on his face, an awful sort of laughter spilling from him. "This doesn't change our deal," he told her, sobering enough to look at her, a terrifyingly dark expression settling over his features. "It's not my fault you lost the apple. I did everything you asked. I expect you to hold up your end."
"How dare you—" she started loudly, but she paused to take a breath when she felt David's hand press gently against her back in warning. She looked around to see that their conversation had begun to draw attention from the other guests. Dropping her voice to a more reasonable volume, she took a different approach. "Our deal is still not done, it has simply been amended. If it wasn't you who took the turnover, we need to find the real culprit. And more importantly, we need to figure out why."
"And what concern of that is mine?" he asked angrily. "You promised—"
"Enough," David said gruffly. "This is not the time or place to be having this conversation," he told them both in a scolding tone.
Regina looked slightly chastised, if not a little ruffled, but she nodded. Jefferson, on the other hand, took a step toward the pair, eyes still on Regina.
"What is going on? How does he remember? Why? And what's…" he gestured between the two of them, noticing the way David's hand still rested casually on the small of her back, "this?"
David moved closer to Regina in a slightly protective motion. "None of your business," he answered.
"And also not something we should discuss in this setting," Regina added, recovering herself and once again commanding an air of authority. "Obviously we have some rather important things to discuss, so how about we go to my office?"
Jefferson's jaw worked as he held himself back from saying more. "Fine," he bit out. "Half an hour?"
"Forty-five minutes," she amended. "And you'd better calm down first. It will do none of us any good if you remain so worked up."
Fury swam in his eyes, but he finally nodded. "You'd better not be late." He didn't give her any time for a retort as he spun on his heel and disappeared back into the crowd.
"Was that smart?" David questioned, finally looking down at Regina.
"He's harmless," she said flippantly. "Irritating and meddlesome, but he doesn't have it in him to actually do anything."
"I wouldn't put it past him," David said, a bit concerned by how unconcerned she seemed. Truth be told, he was a little vexed by how careless she was being after being so vocal about her concerns for when the curse broke. "We should be more cautious."
Whatever Regina was going to say in response was lost when Kathryn appeared at their side, looking a little concerned herself. "You guys okay?" she asked. "What's going on?"
Regina turned toward her, expression changing from annoyed to a reassuring smile in the space of a blink. "Nothing now, dear – it's been taken care of. Certainly nothing to worry yourself over." She smiled. "What are you doing over here, anyway?" she asked. "Shouldn't you be dancing?" She nodded in the direction of Fred who watched them with his own faint expression of concern from the table.
"I don't think I could dance another song if I wanted to," Kathryn laughed lightly. "My feet are killing me."
"Well then, you should be over there with your husband," Regina told her playfully.
Kathryn grinned at the wording. "My husband. That does have a nice ring to it, doesn't it?"
Regina hummed with a smile.
"Join us?" the bride asked, looking between her friends.
"Oh, no, we wouldn't want to interrupt. You should take the time to eat something; I know you haven't had a chance yet. We should be going soon, anyway."
"Are you sure?" she asked.
David nodded. "I have to check on the animals at the shelter, and this one has a pile of paperwork waiting for her," he told her, wrapping his arms around Regina.
"Okay, then." She smiled at the both of them. "Thank you so much for today, and for everything." She leaned in, kissing them on the cheek one after the other. "Make sure to stop and say goodbye before you go?"
"We will," David assured.
"Alright then." Kathryn gave them a small wave before making her way back to the table.
"We should find Henry," Regina said, but at that moment, the boy was suddenly bounding up to them, a grin on his face.
"Mom! You have to teach me to dance. You promised!" he told her. "And I love this song!"
She laughed. "That I did." She looked over at David. "We have time for another dance, don't we?"
David gave a half-shrug. "It's up to you."
She grinned at Henry. "Let's go."
Three dances later, and Henry had finally mastered the basics, through much laughter, clumsiness and a little help from David. After the third dance, David had requested a final dance with her himself, and when Frank Sinatra's Witchcraft came on, Regina rolled her eyes.
"No," she said, shaking her head. "There's no way I can dance to this."
"Really?" David asked. "I find it extremely appropriate." He wrapped an arm around her waist and reached for her hand. "Come on," he encouraged.
She shook her head again, but put her hand in his. As they started to sway, she leaned against him, resting her cheek against his chest. It was nice – for one dance at least – to be able to forget about everything and just exist, but like everything else good, it was over to soon, and the couple found themselves saying goodbye to the newlyweds.
They dropped Henry off at the house, making him promise that he'd work on his homework while they were gone so they could go over it with him when they got back.
Regina was staring out the window of the passenger's side when David's voice broke into her thoughts. "Do you think we can help him out at all?" he asked, glancing over at her.
"What?"
"Jefferson. With his daughter?" When she let out a heavy sigh, he stopped her from speaking by continuing before she had the chance. "I know, I know, but if it really wasn't him, and you made a deal with him, perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad idea to keep on his good side."
Regina let out a wry laugh. "Dear, I haven't been on good terms with Jefferson for many, many years."
He looked over at her when they reached a stop sign. "I don't suppose you'd tell me the history you have with him?"
She shook her head. "Far too long a story for this car ride. But I will," she told him, giving his hand a quick squeeze before he pulled it back to make a left turn. "Eventually." She listened to the blinker click off and returned her gaze to the window. "It's not a happy story."
He let a moment of silence pass before he brought the conversation back to his original question. "Would there even be a way to make her remember?"
"He doesn't want that."
"But I thought—"
"He wants to forget. He wants me to create new memories for the both of them."
"Oh. Well…is that something you can do?"
"No." She leaned her head lightly against the window. "Not without magic."
She could feel the look he gave her, feeling a twinge of guilt – not for the first time since lying to Jefferson. But he surprised her when he said, "But you could arrange for him to be able to spend some time with her."
She glanced over to meet his gaze before he turned it back to the road, her brows knitted in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Regardless of the past you share with Jefferson, or maybe especially because of it, you don't want him running around after the curse breaks looking for revenge. Perhaps it would be best if you gave him what you can for right now – it might even help to convince him to help us. You're the mayor, you have sway over almost everything here. I'm sure you could find a reason to arrange for Jefferson to spend a little time with his daughter. Surely he'd be at least somewhat settled by being allowed to even see her?"
She bit her lip. "Maybe." She didn't particularly feel like giving him what he wanted, and even if she did, she wasn't entirely sure she could trust Jefferson not to lose it if he spent time with a daughter who had no memory of who he was to her.
"Think about it," David encouraged.
She hummed.
When they turned another corner and Town Hall came into view, David glanced at the clock. "We're late."
Regina smirked lightly. "Good. Let the bastard wait."
David couldn't hold back a chuckle. "You always have to win the argument."
She only grinned at him in response.