Enchanted forest

I hold my breath in anticipation, waiting for my hiding location to be found.

In the distance I hear the familiar sound of metal stomping along the stone path.

The sound get closer

Closer

Closer

Until 4 sets of metal clad feet stop inches from where I am hidden Beneath the bramble bushes.

The metal feet are inches from my face.

I don't dare to even breath, the bramble's thorns scratch and pierce my skin, some even drawing a tin line of blood.

Still I don't make a sound.

"I swear I saw someone."

"You always swear you see someone."

"I know what I saw."

"Perhaps it was one of the queens servants, maybe they were Gathering berries for the queens pie."

"They didn't look like a servant."

To my relief the metal clad feet turn around and stride off.

My lungs was starting to contract, fighting against me to get some air, I can no longer hold it and open my mouth and take a breath.

That was close.

Too close.

This is getting dangerous.

I wiggle my way from Beneath hissing as my already bleeding arms gain more scratches.

Not wanting to hang around to be found I sprint towards the palace.

I then all but fly down the empty halls, most of the subjects are in the throne room for the queens daily gathering.

I find the door of my objective and rush into the room before shutting by her door behind me.

I lean against the door, panting and trying to catch my breath and slow my pounding heart.

I'm safe for now.

"Nearly caught again were you?"

A smile graces my face, my eyes seek out the object of my happiness.

I find him seated on one of the chairs, a needle in one hand and a partly completed hat.

Another on to add to his growing collection.

We share a smile before Jefferson once again cast his eyes down and resumed his stitching.

Ever since my first introduction to Jefferson, I had been plagued my him.

I needed to see him.

So I swam back to wonderland.

That was 3 months ago.

I've lost count how many times I've visited Jefferson.

I could Easily spend hours upon hours in his presence and never tire.

Rumplestiltskin hadn't had any need of my services lately.

I still had serval weekly errands though despite that, things have been quite.

Rumple has taken on a project, one he forbids me from asking about.

Whatever it is, it has kept him distracted, he hasn't even sent me to the land without magic for a while.

I wasn't about to ask questions, so that meant I could send my time with Jefferson.

Not that we did much.

He made hats, I watched him make them occasionally asking questions, I would sneak out the palace and return to rumplestiltskin.

Repeat.

One would find it boring after a while, however it felt good to have contact with another human.

Sure I had rumple, but it wasn't the same.

Rumple wasn't one for idle chit chat.

Jefferson on the other hand, while he may work on his hands will still indulge me in conversation.

More often than not it was about his adventures and all the places he had visited.

I move to join Jefferson who moves to the right giving me enough space to squeeze in next to him.

Sure it was a tight fit, the chair was only built for one person but neither of us minded.

In fact we both liked it.

It allows us to experience what we both have been denied.

Physical contact.

I wouldn't dare try to touch rumple or even give him a hug, he'd rip my heart out before I even made a move, also I had pretty much become an outcast in the ocean.

After my father found out what I did he made it clear, while I still served the dark one I would not be welcome in Atlantica.

No one mermaid or sea creature would give me a glance, in fact I can't remember the last time any one even acknowledged my existence.

Jefferson on the other hand was confined to this room, ordered to spend his days creating hats for the queen in hopes one of them will become a portal.

I let out a sigh as the arm come into contact with his side, I pretend on to notice Jefferson's shoulders drop.

Jefferson captures my scratched and bleeding arm in his palm before ever so gently bringing it towards his mouth.

I watch transfixed as, soft petal like lips brush against my cuts, my eyes involuntary close as Jefferson continues his journey up my arm, lips trailing over my cuts.

I'm taken of guard when Jefferson's tongue comes into contact with one of the deeper incisions.

He licks up the thin trail of blood before pressing a featherlike kiss on the cut.

A moan escapes my mouth.

I couldn't help it.

My reaction only seems to encourage Jefferson, who begins to journey further up my arm adding more pressure the higher he got up.

By now he was at my shoulders.

My free hand is also preoccupied, running my fingers over the exposed skin of his collar bone, my exploration furthers and I bring my fingers to trace the jagged and nasty scar that encircled his neck, a punishment of someone who angers the queen of hearts, my fingers begin exploration of the rough line that feels funny under my touch...

Nip.

My eyes shoot open.

Did he just?

My suspicion is confirmed by the already fading teeth marks.

Jefferson just bit me, not enough to really hurt but it was most certainly a shock.

Abruptly I pull my arm from his grasp.

"Hey! What was that for?"

I turn my head accusingly, only for Jefferson to manoeuvre himself from the couch and placed the party Finished hat on the fabric cluttered desk.

"You know I don't like that." Jefferson snaps.

I'm filled with a sense of regret, Jefferson made it clear he didn't want anyone to see the scars let alone touch them, he told me many times, but I just couldn't help it.

My fingers had a mind of their own, I was lost in the moment and Jefferson wasn't helping matters.

"Sorry." I add after a beat.

Their is a knock at the door.

Like lighting I just off the couch and search desperately for a hiding spot.

Jefferson grabs my wrist before quickly pushing me behind a set of tapestries that had been hidden by a particularly large pile of hats.

Jefferson rushes to open the door, trying to keep his breath steady so not to alert whoever was on the other side of that door that anything was amiss.

I'm tense behind the tapestry, my heart beating so loudly I fear it would be heard.

It's probably just a servant bringing Jefferson food, like normal.

"Good afternoon gentlemen."

My blood runs cold.

It's not a servant.

"Step aside hatter, we have been ordered to search every room in the castle."

Oh no!

My breath hitches.

If he were feeling by any turmoil Jefferson was very good at hiding it, for his voice didn't even crack as he spoke.

"May I ask why?"

"There are reports of an intruder in the palace, we are ordered to find her and bring her before the queen."

I had been spotted?

By who?

Dread consumes me.

I doubt even rumplestiltskin could help me now.

Rumple!

Oh my god.

An idea springs to mind.

I finger the bracelet on my wrist.

Rumplestiltskin always summons me through the bracelet...I wonder if it works both ways.

Could I summon rumple?

Right now I've got nothing to loose.

It's my only hope.

I grasp the bracelet with my shaking hand.

Rumple I don't know if this will work, but if you can hear me, please I need help. I'm in wonderland, I'm not sure what's going to happen if I'm discovered but it won't be good.

The bracelet is buzzing.

By now the guards have stormed the room, knocking over hats as they go.

"This is absurd! Why would I dare the queen anger by Harbouring anyone, look at the mess your making!" Jefferson's voice is hard as he try's in Vain to get rid of the guards.

The Guards are now inches away from my hiding spot.

There's no escape

The bracelet is getting hotter and hotter.

A few more paces and I will be visible to the guards.

They move.

This is it.

I close my eyes and brace myself.

I'm sorry Jefferson.

My bracelet is scolding on my wrist.

It's become unbearable.

I go to remove it.

The floor disappears from Beneath me and I fall.

I don't even have to time react before I come into contact with something damp and soft.

I dare to open my eyes.

To be greeted by green grass.

I gather my bearings.

To my utter relief I'm currently laying on the grass lawn outside rumplestiltskins manor.

My heart is leaping.

It worked!

"Tsk tsk dearie."

Their sat in-front of me is a frowning rumplestiltskin.

His scaly face is marred with a frown.

"I was in the middle of a very import meeting dearie, I did not appreciate having to abandon it to save you."

"I'm sorry."

Rumplestiltskin sneers.

"I'm sure you are dearie,however I will require a favour in return."

Of course he would.

I suppose it was to good to hope he would save me from the goodness of his heart.

He disappears in a cloud of purple smoke before reappearing right next to me.

He grasps my left wrist and Runs his hand I've the bracelet, a whiteish glow is produced from it.

"When you wish to see Jefferson again just visualise him and the bracelet will take you there."

My spine straightened.

He knew?

As if reading my mind rumple admonished me.

"Of course I knew were you were going dearie, did you really think you could keep secrets from me?"

Rumplestiltskin must concede that he's done his good deed for the day, for he walks on in the direction of the manor leaving me still resting in the grass.

"Give my best to the hatter."

He's left me with even more questions.

The most prominent.

How did he know I was visiting Jefferson?

And

How did HE know Jefferson?