Yes I know there has been a MASSIVE delay between chapters. The second half of season 2 totally killed my love of the show (to the point that I stopped watching all together and have no regrets) so enthusiasm for writing the characters dimmed. But I really didn't want to leave this unfinished because I hate unfinished fics. I'm posting this chapter now because its been written for about 5 years, although I still don't have the final chapter 100% finished. Nagging will probably get me to finish it, if there is still anyone out there who gives a crap about BoL or Mad Swan.

I also know that Victor as a character was redeemed away from his lecherous ways, but this was mostly written in the season 2 Winter hiatus before that all happened and I don't want to change it as this is basically set in an AU mid-season 2 where certain pirates will NEVER EVER EVER turn up, the clusterfuck that was the Neal/Tamara/Greg storyline hasn't happened and Jefferson and Emma have gotten past their awful meeting to form a nice friendship. Oh and of course Jefferson, Rumplestiltskin and Frankenstein were in a rock band together back in the TEF.

For those who are reading this purely for the BoL side of things, watch out for the Mad Swan scene at the end of this chapter. It goes from implied attraction to being there in words and actions, also the next (and final) chapter is pretty much all Mad Swan so if you're not into that sort of thing just take it as read that she makes it home safely and goes out for pizza with Henry.

Once again the pass worked a charm, although the leers and smirks that came from the bouncers gave Emma a fairly good idea what most girls did to get one. From what the girl had said it was mostly Victor who gave them out, it seemed like Dr Whale's antics were closer to Frankenstein's personality than it originally appeared.

Servants scurried around the place, carrying bottles, bags and crates. Apparently Believe or Leave didn't do everything by magic. It was an open area with tents scattered around. Some of the tents had light spilling out from cracks in the fabric, others were shrouded in darkness.

A chorus of female laughter drew Emma's attention. Half a dozen ladies gathered in front of a lit tent. Moving closer Emma heard a masculine voice talking in an English accent, the group parted and she heard a farewell. She was utterly shocked to see Frankenstein emerge from the group. No one had told her his accent had changed under the curse.

Still agape, she had no escape route planned when he spotted her. Crap. From what she had heard and witnessed so far, Emma had a fairly good idea what was about to happen. "Well hello there beautiful lady. Have you come to get an autograph as well? Or perhaps there is something else I can interest you in?" Emma rolled her eyes, yep he was really going to go there, apparently a bevy of girls dying to be near you wasn't enough, he had to harrass women as he walked by them. Lucky her. "No I'm fine thanks, I'm just having a look around, I've never seen a band's backstage area before, its very interesting."

Victor quirked his eyebrows at her before a smile crept across his face, "it is indeed, I could give you a tour if you would like. Its no trouble at all." Emma took a step back, shaking her head, "no really, that's a very kind offer, but you must be busy and you've had a long night, I couldn't let you." Victor stepped forward crowding her again, "I would be remiss if I left a beautiful lady like yourself wander in the dark. There are monsters around you know"

Smothering a laugh, Emma shook her head again, "I'm well aware of the sort of monsters I may run into in these parts, now I really must be going" She looked around her, but saw no easy escape, Frankenstein had her trapped up against a tent.

"No don't go." He hooked one finger around the collar of Emma's jacket and lightly ran his finger down the inside of her zipper drawing the leather away from her body. "Ahhhh a red shirt, would you allow me to persuade you to another, less firey colour?" Emma pulled away from him, as she open her mouth to reply she heard a voice coming from behind Victor.

"Victor, isn't there something else you should be doing?" The voice had a strange lilt to it, almost a sing-song quality. Emma looked around, moving through the shadows towards them was Rumplestiltskin. Emma tensed, this was the one member of the band she really didn't want to bump into, but it looked like she had no choice, to cut and run now would look suspicious. She tried to ease into a darker shadow. Victor scowled, "what do you want Rumple? Can't you see I'm busy?" He turned his head to look at the imp without moving away from Emma.

"I can see exactly what you are doing, yes. I also know that the local staff want to pack up for the night. So if you would be so good as to look after that..." Victor straightened up and stepped away from Emma. With a mocking half-bow to both Emma and Rumplestiltskin he took his leave. "I'm terribly sorry for this interruption but it appears I have things to do, I shall wish you goodnight."

As he left them, Victor bumped his shoulder against the shorter man, forcing him to move. Strangely, Emma thought, Rumple took it calmly, moving back into place once Victor had gone. "My apologies dearie, the good doctor can be somewhat tenacious, admirable in his line of work, but less than desirable when it comes to social situations. I do hope you weren't too offended."

Despite his polite words, it felt like the imp's eyes were boring into her. Emma tried to back even further into the shadows. She knew there was no way he could know who she was or where she was from but still it felt like he could see everything. She stammered out, "N-no, it was fine. I would have been more forceful in turning him down, but I didn't want to injure him, I was hoping he would take the hint before I had to go that far."

The giggle he responded with made her skin crawl. This was not the man she knew in Storybrooke. "It would probably do him the world of good dearie. Victor's gotten too used to this life, women usually throw themselves at him. A... forceful... reminder that not everyone is interested would be a bonus for us all." With a wave of his hand Rumplestiltskin disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke and Emma relaxed.

Determined not to get trapped like that again, Emma kept an eye out for familiar faces. At the first sign of anyone coming towards her, she ducked around the nearest corner, for the past 15 minutes it had only been stage hands and groups of giggling fans. Emma felt like she had seen enough of the backstage area and was about to return to the portal when she heard giggling and Frankenstein's voice. Not wanting to repeat her earlier experience Emma ducked into the closest tent.

Hovering at the entrance trying to decide when it was safe to go back out again, Emma hadn't looked around her. She had no idea that she wasn't alone until a voice drawled, "are you going to come in or just loiter around the door?" Emma tensed, she knew that voice, it was lighter, more carefree than she'd heard before but unlike the other band members, Jefferson had kept his accent. A thrill ran through her, she would have denied it if asked, but Emma realised that she had gone backstage looking for this. She wanted to know what a pre-Wonderland Jefferson was like, but this was dangerous, he couldn't know who she was, Storybrooke Jefferson had never lost his memories, she had to be careful not to give anything away. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to butt in, Frankenstein was coming this way and I was trying to avoid..." Emma turned as she spoke. Words fled as she took in the sight before her.

Sprawled across an armchair, Jefferson was still covered in sweat from his stage antics, something Emma could see since he reclined in nothing but leather pants - shirt and jacket discarded on the floor from what she could tell. His dark hair was ruffled and spiked and he rested an icy tankard against his temple. As Emma stepped forward her eye was drawn to his throat, it lay bare of even the scar - this definitely wasn't her Jefferson. She watched the muscles in his throat work and realised that he had cleared throat to get her attention. Emma's eyes flew back to his.

"Sorry! As I was saying, I was just trying to avoid your band mate, we had a run in earlier and I wasn't keen to repeat the experience, I didn't realise anyone was in here. I guess I'll just leave you to... whatever it was you were doing." An amused expression passed over Jefferson's face and he sat up a little straighter, "are you telling me you actually turned down the great Victor Frankenstein? Oh, he would have loved that." He took in her outfit and added, "despite the colour allegiances, most of our fans aren't that loyal and will take whichever band member they can get." When Emma's face betrayed her confusion, he gestured to her shirt, "I take it you're one of my fans."

Looking down at herself, Emma laughed briefly, "I was told to wear this. I'd never actually seen Believe or Leave before tonight, a friend got me a pass and told me to wear red. I didn't know until later what the colours represented." She looked back up at him and grimaced, "no offense. I thought you were amazing - all of you, but if I'd known about the colour thing I may have worn black or something. Less trouble that way."

Jefferson chuckled, "well at least you're honest. Come in, have a drink, the name is Jefferson." Emma shook his hand and grabbed another tankard from the table next to him, "I'm..." Emma paused, she couldn't give him her real name, she probably shouldn't use any name that was Storybrooke related, grasping wildly for any name that was unrelated to their future Emma came out with, "... Deirdre... and its good to meet you Jefferson."

A few drinks later they were laughing and chatting like old friends, Emma felt particularly light-hearted. The guilt which always hung between her and Jefferson was completely absent since this particular Jefferson had never drugged her. They were both lying on the floor, Jefferson had a map out and was showing Emma where the band had toured recently and where they still had to go.

Jefferson pushed himself up, "another drink Deidre?" Looking over her shoulder Emma smiled at him and then she swayed - a combination of the beer and the heady sense of deja vu. The last time they had laughed over a map and a drink she had woken up - bound and gagged - to realise that the attractive man she had nearly run over was seriously deranged.

Concern crossing his face, Jefferson kneeled down next to her, as Emma sat up holding her hand to her temple. "Are you ok?" He rubbed her shoulder and Emma nodded, "I'll be ok, I think the beer is stronger than I'm used to." She felt cold, and rubbed her hand over her face before plastering a smile on her face and tapping him on the knee to show she was fine.

The worried look was still on Jefferson's face, "you're sure you're ok? I can go and get Victor - he's a doctor." Emma grimaced, "God no, there's no need for that, I am definitely ok if that's my option." they shared a brief laugh and then fell silent.

Although she knew it was inevitable, Emma was still surprised by the kiss. There had been a few times in Storybrooke that she had thought about kissing Jefferson and she was fairly certain that the same thoughts had passed through his mind but this was different. This kiss was pure physical attraction, anything else was all but forgotten, The map they had been laughing over was crushed as Jeffereson eased her back against the ground. It was a slow burn, lazy, casual but oh so potent. Beneath her hands, the skin of his back was still slightly damp and Emma lightly raked her nails up his spine to his neck. As she reached the skin that in the future would be scarred and red Jefferson drew back and croaked her name, "Deidre."

The smooth unscarred skin beneath her fingers and the fake name made Emma stop. She stilled and covered her face with her hand. What was she doing? Everything that had happened since she entered the tent screamed bad idea and this was king of all the bad ideas. One thought ran through her clouded mind this isn't her Jefferson that thought didn't help tell her what she should do however. A voice broke through her internal debate, "are you ok? I guess I shouldn't have done that." Emma prised her hands from her face and looked at him "it's not you, well... No it's not you. This is just a bit confusing for me. There's this guy -"

Jefferson pulled back further, resting his back against a chair, "you're courting? Then I apologize for my behaviour, I didn't realise." Shaking her head Emma sat up, "no, we're not 'courting' as you say, but you remind me of him." A wry smile crossed her face, "You're like a younger version of him, it makes this... odd." Not taking his eyes from her, Jefferson asked, "good odd or bad odd?"

For a moment Emma remained silent, her hands in her lap, then decision made she crawled forward and straddled Jefferson. Her hands resting on his shoulders she muttered, "I'm just going to have to kiss you again to find out," and closed the gap between them.

TBC

In the next (and final) chapter - Emma goes back through the portal. Have her actions made any difference to the world she knows? Will Jefferson ever let her portal jump again? Does he remember what happened? Will I ever actually figure out how to write the last part of this damn story?