Welcome back to the final and much-delayed instalment of Of Portals, Steampunk and Guyliner, proof that writers do actually sometimes finish what seems to be an abandoned WIP.

Also, its totally your choice to decide whether Emma undertook the monumental task of removing a sweaty Jefferson from tight leather pants or whether they just made out a lot. No judgement from me either way.


"Will I see you again? Or was this you collecting a Believe or Leave trophy?" His eyes were stormy and unreadable, watching as she straightened her appearance. Emma reached out and ran her fingers through his hair, putting it back into some semblance of order, smiling into his eyes. "Oh I promise you Jefferson, we'll see each other again, I just don't think you'll make it into my part of the world any time soon." Confusion flashed across his face and she grinned at him, "next time you see me you'll be knocked clean off your feet - probably more than once." she giggled at her own joke knowing that he wouldn't understand and pressed a soft kiss to his lips in farewell. She moved towards the exit, pausing briefly to smile back at him before disappearing into the night.

Standing in front of the portal back to the hall of doors, Emma finger-combed her hair, made sure she was buttoned up properly and that there didn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary in her appearance. She took a deep breath, should she play it innocent and not tell him? Hope that one brief encounter wouldn't screw anything up - that was why she had given him the fake name after all. She could just be one woman amongst what was probably many in the life of a sexy and popular musician, why would Jefferson even remember that?

Steeling herself, Emma reached for the doorway, she would only tell him if anything had changed, otherwise this would be her secret. Opening the door she passed through it... and stepped into the hall of doors. Jefferson was laying stretched out on his back, arms pillowing his head. Without opening his eyes he called out, "was it all you hoped it would be? Can we go home now?" Flushing slightly at the sight of the older version of the man she had just been with, Emma tried to keep her voice calm and even.

"It was fantastic, you were really good, I can't believe you just gave it all away so easily, seeing Mr Gold as Rumplestiltskin gave me shivers, I can understand why people feared him so much." Emma started babbling trying to keep away from the topic that was in the front of her mind. "And Whale... his personality didn't change a lot with the curse did it? Chases the women no matter what name he goes by." Jefferson sat up, "Emma are you ok? Did something happen?" Emma turned away as she felt her face redden, "what could have happened? I went to a concert, saw the sights. I was perfectly safe." She heard him get up and was unsurprised when his hands gripped her shoulders. "Tell me, it will be alright," he coaxed.

Without looking at him Emma asked, "How do you know that my being at the concert won't have changed anything? I could have stepped on a butterfly and changed the whole of our history, I could have accidentally stopped someone from having a brilliant idea just by standing in the place they were supposed to stand." His hands slid down and rubbed her arms, "I've jumped time portals dozens of times, it has to be something major to really affect time. Unless you killed someone or started a war, we should be fine... I think I know what this is about..." Jefferson moved his mouth close to her ear and whispered, "and you have nothing to worry about - Deirdre."

Emma jumped and spun, her face pale, "you remember? I did change things, this is terrible! I'm sorry Jefferson, I didn't mean to, its just that you - young you - were so persuasive and -" she stopped as Jefferson started to laugh. When he didn't stop she slapped him in the chest, "its not funny! You don't know what could have happened, how things could have changed!" A smug grin still on his face Jefferson answered her, "don't worry Emma, you didn't change anything." He tapped his head, "I knew before you went. I couldn't tell you obviously, there is no way you would have believed me."

She hit his chest again, furious. "You knew? This entire time you knew that happened?! Were you thinking about it that night in your house? Is this why you became my friend?" Jefferson threw his hands up in surrender, instantly serious, "I didn't remember at first, its been years after all and I did have a small lapse in sanity during that time, plus you never give me your real name remember?" He reached out to take Emma's hands. "But you've always seemed familiar to me, something which I assumed was due to watching you a lot before we met, when you started asking about the band I remembered a lot more. That's when I offered you the hat, I realised what must have happened."

Emma crumpled to the floor, head in her hands. "Well this is embarrassing. Somehow this is worse than the time I kissed Tommy McDonald and he told everyone at school." She groaned and looked up through her fingers, "you realise you basically just played matchmaker for yourself?" He crouched beside her, "if it helps, I felt awkward sending you to the concert when I knew what was going to happen. I've never played third wheel to myself before - that's why I couldn't go with you."

Something clicked in Emma's mind, "that's why you've been so nervous about this! I thought it was because you thought I might not like the band or you didn't really want me to go because I might screw timelines up or something, but it was because you remembered!"

Grimacing, Jefferson nodded, "Emma, I like having you as my friend and I admit that the thought of us being more has crossed my mind, but it was always somewhere in the future, I didn't think either of us were in that place yet, so when I realised, when I remembered - well its been a bit of a shock and combine that with the thought of you being with me but not with me..."

Emma reached out to touch his hand as he trailed off, "I understand and I agree. We're not ready for a relationship yet, but Jefferson, if I didn't know you now I wouldn't have been with you then. Don't think that I prefer the rock star over my friend, it was just an easy way for me to give into the attraction momentarily without having to deal with how it would change our friendship... or so I thought, I really didn't think you'd remember me, I certainly did not expect to have this conversation."

Jefferson nodded, "really that's fine, I don't think that, but it has felt awkward. I'm glad we both know now." Tension eased in his stance, clearly pleased that the anger and awkwardness was over. He stood and held out both hands to help Emma off the floor. "Time to go? I know it is peaceful here but I could do with a drink."

She smiled up at him, "absolutely, but one thing before we leave," Emma fished around in her pocket before pulling out her phone. A few taps and swipes and she turned the screen around, tinny music already coming out of the speakers, "how the hell were you all able to run around the stage in leather pants that tight?"

Head dropping forward, the Hatter groaned, "really? You took a video?" Grimacing he looked up again, yes, Emma was grinning at him wiggling the phone that still had the video playing. "Remember 3 weeks ago when you questioned why I needed so many leather jackets? I have officially won that argument - Forever."

He rolled his eyes, "fine. But you don't get to use that as a winning argument all the time you know." Putting her phone away Emma waved her hand, "not all the time obviously, but occasionally, who knows." She airily replied.

Unintentionally following the line of her hand with her eyes, Emma once again took in her surroundings. Its been months since proof demanded that she believe in magic, but still it occasionally took her by surprise and this room full of doors that can take a person to any number of different realms - many of which the fictional versions she had known since childhood - was a wonder. The fact that for once, she managed to interact with the magic side of her heritage without danger, without drama, just purely for the fun of it made this, in her experience, a unique night.

Her face took on a genuine smile, "thank you Jefferson, this has truly been a wonderful night - awkwardness aside - and I appreciate that you set it up for me, your band was really very good."

"I think I'm ready to head back to our normal lives now -" she stopped and thought about that phrase for a second, when exactly did the fact that she was sheriff to a town full of storybook characters become normal - never mind the fact that she was daughter to two of the most famous children's characters. To think at one point she thought bounty hunter was the strangest job she'd ever get.

With a raised eyebrow, clearly understanding where her mind had gone, Jefferson smirked, "I'm not really sure the normal you're referring to is behind any of these doors," he spun and made a sweeping bow towards one door in particular, "but Storybrooke is this way Emma."

Grabbing his hand as she passed, Emma looked back with a smile, "then this way we shall go," and she towed Jefferson toward the Storybrooke door, more than ready for him to open it.

With the faint glow coming through the doorway playing across their faces, the pair looked at each other, preparing to travel back to their responsibilities. Acknowledging what was between them, even knowing that the time wasn't right yet felt like a step forward, Emma glanced down at his lips and moved forward, startling Jefferson into jumping back slightly. "Emma? What? We just said -. Her responding smile was calming, "I know what we just talked about, but... can we consider this... briefly giving into the attraction without having to deal with how it would change our friendship?", bringing back the words she used earlier when talking about his younger self. He swallowed and moved his head in what could be considered a nod.

This kiss was different, but then so was the man in front of her. No longer the jaded rockstar used to having people want the image not the man, but a physically and mentally scarred man who had gotten that way for the love of his daughter and desire to give her a better life. It wasn't just simple attraction but also friendship and a touch of the hesitance that had prevented them acting on this previously. Emma could easily imagine many similar kisses in the future. Opening her eyes as she pulled back, Emma saw Jefferson lick his lips while his eyes remained closed.

"Jefferson?" Emma's voice was soft and intimate. The hatter hummed in response, but she waited until his eyes were open again. "Let's go home." They smiled at each other and Jefferson pressed a kiss to their still joined hands.

"Absolutely. Let's do that."

Although she was pleased she had gotten new insight into her friend and the past of her own people, Emma didn't even look back at the other doors as they stepped through the Storybrooke door back to their families.


Author's Note: So this has been the albatross around my neck for nearly 9 years. I mentioned in the last chapter that my love for OUAT disappeared during the second half of S2, but I never forgot this fic and diligently opened my draft for it a couple of times a year not really accomplishing much. But thank you to the people over the years that have commented and asked me to continue. It has been welcome and I'm sorry it has taken this long. Believe me, I've been more annoyed at this unfinished project that you have. Now I can return to other unfinished (but at least unpublished this time) writing projects guilt-free!

The bit with Emma showing Jefferson the video on her phone came from multiple comments I got many years ago saying Emma would be able to blackmail Jefferson with the photos she took at the concert, which was never my intention, turns out while I was stressing over how to close out the last couple of paragraphs this idea popped back into my head. So thank you to those people.

This is the last mad swan fic I will be posting so if you're following me for the OUAT stuff there won't be anything for this show posted in the future (Not that I've been posting much on that front for the past 9 years)