When he saw the carriage at the house, he knew immediately it was Regina. Black and gaudy…the soldiers outside wore those ridiculous uniforms that only Regina would think was intimidating…
They were intimidating but for different reasons than that. He knew they could hurt his daughter or hurt him…they could burn his house down and he couldn't stop them or really find vengeance if they decided to make his life miserable. Regina's soldiers were nothing more than bullies looking to get some pleasurable moments in the misery they faced.
Regina could only be here for one reason…or maybe two reasons since he had shown an attraction for her eons ago, but he wasn't interested in any of those. He wasn't interested in portal jumping and he wasn't interested in her.
Jefferson had heard rumors about her since he met her. They said that she spent most of her time with the Dark One. During a rumor of pregnancy, they said it was Rumpelstiltskin's child that she carried. Regina was never pregnant though. She couldn't have children. As a child, she'd taken one of her mother's potions without her knowing about it and it rendered her sterile. Her mother never knew. Regina herself didn't even know, but Rumpelstiltskin did. He'd been there to take the potion away from her before it did more damage.
He took most of the rumors for what rumors usually were. But after Leopold died, the rumors grew far darker than he could anticipate. They say that Regina killed him and framed her step daughter. They say she ruled her land by dark magic. They said that she was going from village to village slaughtering everyone if Snow had been sighted there.
And now here she was at his hovel.
Jefferson had to at least consider these rumors partially true. If he didn't then he risked his daughter being put in danger.
He had gone four years without magic ruling his life…gods he didn't want to go headfirst back in it.
He put on a show for his daughter, like he always did when he was afraid. He even looked back and gave her a jovial smile that she didn't seem to buy. But she went into the woods to hide, thank gods. HE worried about wolves and other things that dwelled there but there was a bigger wolf in his home that might actually eat her live.
The soldiers made no move to stop him when he walked through his door. Regina was by herself waiting for him (He was right about her being gaudy, how many crows gave their feathers for that neckline?). She was holding one of Grace's dolls. Jefferson gave no awkward indication but his felt his insides tense up. His blood boiled with rage that she was in here…
Regina had lit the candle at Karenina's memorial.
That angered him and immediately set his resolve. She came into his house uninvited and was messing with the few toys that Grace had left and thought she was welcome to pay homage to his wife.
Regina studied him, "I'd like to say you're looking well, Jefferson, but I'd be lying. Poverty doesn't suit you."
He wondered if she practiced that before she came here. He wasn't going to play her game. He casually took off his coat, "What are you doing here, Regina?"
"I have a job for you."
No. He immediately decided, and he sneered, "I don't do that anymore."
"Yes, I heard you hung up your hat," Regina said like it was something he should've been ashamed of, "Why? Is it because of your sweet daughter Grace?"
She knew that he had a daughter. He had guessed that as soon as he came in but to hear her acknowledge he had a daughter just gave him chills, "Because of my work, she lost her mother. I don't want her to lose her father too."
"So now you're foraging for fungus," Regina mocked.
Jefferson gave a casual shrug. It was just one of the many things he did but he wasn't going to let his pride lead to an argument between the two
"Do this one last favor for me…and you can give her the life she deserves."
He knew how addiction worked. He knew if he did this job then he'd fall back in the rabbit hole. His daughter may deserve a better life but she needed him as a good stable father more than she needed material goods.
"That's why I'm staying. You don't abandon family," he leaned forward to make her feel as uncomfortable as he did with her being there, "that's…what she deserves. Now, please leave."
Regina did not go to the door, nor did he expect her to. A queen did not get thrown out of a hovel, "All I need is your special skills to get me somewhere. Somewhere you've been before."
She waved a piece of paper in his face, "Do it and I can change your life."
He only took the paper because he was curious and she wouldn't leave unless he did.
IT was some sort of handwritten note, he scanned it for any worlds he might recognize and froze when he saw the destination.
Wonderland.
His wife died there
He felt his blood run cold…after all these years he still remembered everything…the cries of his wife, the panic he felt, the warmth of her blood draining out of her….
Regina was looking for any sign of weakness but he didn't give it. He wouldn't give her that satisfaction, "What business could you possibly have there?"
"Something of mine was taken and found its way over there. I want it back."
He wasn't going to relive the trauma he had felt that day for an object. Just summon a new one!
He gave her back the note, "Then find someone else to get it."
"I see," Regina said but he knew from that look in her eyes that he had just challenged her and she was now determined, "Hard living has strengthened your resolve. Well, I'm sorry I couldn't convince you, but I understand. There's nothing more important than family."
Jefferson held her gaze until she left and he let his eyes wonder over to the memorial of his wife.
Never again. He had promised himself and her memory when she died in his arms. Never again.
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He heard nothing from Regina for three months. He continued to work but he didn't fraternize with everyone as much as he used to. After all, someone told Regina he was here and someone told her about Grace. She could've gathered that from the house of course but the only thing that had Grace's name was her baby blanket and that was in the locked trunk and was undisturbed
It was with great reluctance that he went to markets every other week but they needed to eat. He made sure Grace stayed with him. She obeyed, she didn't say it but the Queen's sudden appearance had shaken her up.
They sold their mushrooms and other things and were on their way out when Grace spotted the toy cart. He walked slightly behind her as she immediately went for a white rabbit that looked expensive, "Wouldn't this make the perfect guest for our tea parties, papa? Can I have him? Pllleaaaseee?"
He smiled at his little girl and looked up at the old woman, "Excuse me. How much for the rabbit."
"That costs one silver," she said.
Jefferson looked at his small earnings. It wasn't enough, "Would you take it for eight coppers? That's all I have."
The old woman studied him, "Oh you are good father. Your last coppers for your little girls' happiness, ah?"
Jefferson rested a loving hand on his daughter's hair and went to give the woman the money, "Thank you."
It'd been so long since she had a toy that he hadn't made for her. Grace held onto the ones she still had because they reminded her of home. Even the one her mother gave her that the looters broke. Jefferson had patched it up as best he could but Grace kept it. Throwing it out was unthinkable to both of them.
"OH, I did not say I accept. Alas I cannot take less than one silver. The economy," she ripped the toy out of Grace's hands and he felt his heart break as her excited face fell, "You understand."
Jefferson felt his pride being wounded. There used to be a day when he could buy 20 of those for Grace if she asked for it and now he couldn't even scrape enough together to get her what she wanted.
Grace took it better than him, "It's okay papa. Come on – people are waiting."
But Jefferson felt his resolve strengthen, "I will not take no for an answer."
The old woman just watched him. Grace took his hand, "Papa please…I don't need it."
He was ashamed and humiliated; he felt his heart rip away as he was just reminded of how far he had fallen, "Come on sweetie."
He led his daughter away and smiled fondly at her as he led her away.
The village carriage needed to be loaded up anyway. It would probably get dirty anyway.
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The doll he made his daughter was pathetic compared to the one at the toy cart but he sewed it together and presented it to her anyway, "I know it's not the same as you wanted."
Grace smiled fondly at the toy, "I love it papa, thank you."
He blinked at her acceptance and gave a proud beaming smile. Sometimes he thought Grace was a lot stronger than he was living in this new world.
"Papa? Do you like your tea?"
Jefferson stared at the toys both old and new and he stared at this hut. It had bothered him since they got home. What kind of life did his daughter have if he couldn't even afford a toy rabbit? Gods, he wished he could say that she did have a good future but he knew she deserved more than this.
He gave it some thought. Maybe he could do it once. Just once and then he'd burn the hat so he didn't have to live with that addiction. He wasn't even going to do it for himself; he was going to do it for Grace.
"Grace….I want you to go to the neighbors for the rest of the day. There's work I have to do."
Grace gave him a pleading look. He understood her confusion. Usually he was very reluctant to leave her with someone, "Can't I come with you? I like being with you in the forest."
He gave a small smile, "I'm not going to the forest, sweetie."
Grace panicked, "This has to do with the Queen's visit, doesn't it? Whatever she wants you to do, don't do it."
So Grace had heard the rumors as well…gods he at least wanted to spare her that while she was waiting for him to come home, "Grace, I have to. I want you to have what you need."
"All I need is you, papa. Please stay!"
Of course she would say that because she didn't understand. There were few things about her life before this that she remembered. So she was content because she didn't know any better.
"Come here," she wrapped her arms around his neck and he lifted her up and walked her to where her small cloak was hanging, "I'm sorry baby, I have to go."
"Just promise me you'll come back!" she pleaded, "You have to promise."
"Of course," he smiled and draped the cloak around her shoulders.
"For our tea party," Grace said simply but he saw the fear in her eyes, "Promise?"
"I promise," he smiled at his baby, "I won't miss it for the world."
He pressed his lips against her forehead and opened the door, "Go."
He watched her run up to the neighbors and when he was certain she was safe with them, he went to the trunk and pulled out the hat that he swore he would never use again."
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There are several guards that escorted him through the castle. Once he had walked through the halls freely due to who he was but now that he was poor and scraggly looking, it felt like the entire army had come to take him to Regina's sitting room.
Regina seemed to think that 'dead bird feathers' were a fashion statement, he saw several women wearing that on the way here. He would hope his ex-wife would laugh at how ridiculous it looked.
"Jefferson," Regina purred, "So good to see you looking more like yourself. I assume you're here because you've reconsidered my offer?"
He felt the bile in the back of his throat. This was a bad idea, he was going to regret this and he knew it, "I want your guarantee. That, if I do what you ask, my daughter will want for nothing."
He wanted nothing for himself….but his daughter.
Regina gave a bow that he knew purposefully showed off her cleavage, "You have my word."
He gave her a dubious look.
"Perhaps we'll even find you a nice girl to marry and perhaps you can have that son to carry your name?"
He ignored that. He had no wish for a wife and he was happy enough with his daughter, and he was definitely not going to meet anyone Regina would recommend.
"Now," Regina said, "Let's open that box of yours and see what it can do."
He pulled the hat out of the box and handled it carefully. He hadn't taken it out since he'd put it in the box after Karenina's death.
"I do so like a man who dresses for the occasion"
He ignored her. If he didn't know any better he would think she was going to recommend she marry him and gods, that wouldn't happen.
"Step back," he ordered and spun the hat.
The hat began to spin as if he'd been using it regularly for the past five years and the vortex opened.
"After you!" He offered. He was sort of tempted to shove Regina inside and burn the hat so she couldn't get back. They'd pay him homage then and his daughter would certainly be well taken care of.
Regina smirked, "Together!"
Well, forget that then.
They linked arms, "Hold on!"
Jefferson took a breath together they jumped in.
