Chapter Eighteen: Calm Before The Storm
Emma sat with Snow in the diner, looking at one of the posters that Grace had given them. It had been a few days but it seemed like no one knew who he was. During that time, Emma had focused almost all her energy into it. She still wasn't talking to August and he hadn't attempted to reach out to her. Besides helping Grace, she had been spending more time with her parents. Snow had been really trying to help her in the search.
"He doesn't seem familiar to you?"
"No," Snow shook her head. "I can't say I've met anyone named Jefferson during the curse or even before it."
Emma sighed, drumming her fingers on the table. "He has to be around here somewhere. You don't think anyone got left behind, do you?"
"I'm not sure. I mean, clearly not every land was wiped out, yours wasn't." She drew her eyebrows together. "Unless he got trapped in a different land somehow?"
"This is why we need to find a way back home."
"We will, don't worry." Snow took her hand and squeezed it, giving her a small smile. "You know, you really are a natural princess. You've jumped right into helping Grace without hesitation."
Blush spread to Emma's cheeks. "I don't know why. My parents…they wouldn't have done something like this."
"Really?"
"They weren't much for helping the little guy." She shrugged. "I always wanted to. I didn't know where I got it from…until I met you."
Snow's smile widened. "You think you got it from me?"
Emma shrugged. "You care about people, you want to be fair. Even with Regina. Despite all she's done to us, you're still nice to her when you see her in passing. Why?"
"I guess because I knew her before all of it happened. She let the darkness overcome her, but she was good to me once upon a time. I know she's done wrong and I'm not ready to forgive her yet, I don't know if I ever will. For now, though, I can't treat her badly. She's agreed to help us protect you from Zelena. It doesn't make up for the past."
"I guess I get it."
"Have you given any more thought to talking to August?" Snow asked, changing the subject.
Emma frowned, dragging her fry through the ketchup on her plate. She had given it some thought. She missed him, she missed seeing him. They hadn't even passed each other on the street and he hadn't attempted to come to the loft. There hadn't even been any phone calls. She understood why, though. He was respecting her wishes. She said she didn't want him around and she was starting to regret that. She missed her big brother, a lot. At the same time, things were complicated.
"I don't like that he's keeping secrets from me."
"If it helps, I don't think it's all about you. He loves you Emma, he's just trying to protect you."
"I'm not a baby, I don't need him to protect me anymore."
Snow tilted her head a little bit. "Em, don't you know that you're always going to be his baby sister? He's always going to want to look out for you. I don't mean to make you feel guilty, but this was what was put on him when he was little."
"I had no part of that," Emma cut in. "That was all Blue and Geppetto, though mostly Blue."
"Trust me, when it comes to having no say in that situation, I understand."
Emma bit her lip. The whole situation was just so screwed up. If she wished that either Blue or Geppetto had been honest, then she wouldn't have had her other parents or Alise or August. Those were all things she wouldn't change for the world. At the same time, she hated the damn curse. She hated that she hadn't gotten to grow up with Snow and Charming. She hated the pain it had caused all of them. She wished there was a way for her to combine both worlds. Her mother had a cursed identity and in a way, she felt like her entire life she had been under one as well. Snow had admitted there were some aspects of "Mary Margaret" that had stuck. Emma just wanted to find a way to be both.
"I hate magic," she mumbled.
"Hey, don't say that." Snow reached over, putting her hand on top of hers. "You have it, it makes you special."
"I know it does, but it also complicates things."
"All magic comes with a price. However, at the end of the day, it can be a really beautiful thing. Don't sell yourself short, Emma. I know all of this has been hard for you, but you're handling it better than I think a lot of teenagers would in your position."
Emma looked up at her, hesitation in her eyes. "You really think so?"
"I know so. I also know that while this past week with you and you alone has been amazing, I think it's time you talk it out with August."
"What if he doesn't tell me what's going on?"
Snow didn't know the real reason why August wasn't saying anything, Charming hadn't even told her what August had discussed with him. He found it better that just he knew, so it wasn't a situation where everyone did except Emma. Snow had accepted that, as curious as she was. She couldn't help but notice the rare time that their daughter did mention her adoptive father, he cringed. More than anything, she wanted to know just what he had done.
"This has all been about Derek, right?" Emma nodded. "I don't mean to sound insensitive, but Emma, he has passed away. Whatever it is, do you really need to know? Especially, from what you say, outside the curse, August never kept anything from you. He must have a good reason."
Emma reflected on her mother's words. She started to wonder why it was bothering her. She knew who her father was (or at least she thought she did). The secret, whatever it was, could be buried with him. Zelena knew and that bothered her, but there wasn't much she could do there. Shutting August out, it was only hurting her even more.
She let out a deep breath and finished up her cocoa. "I wouldn't know where to find him."
Charming slid in next to Emma, kissing the top of her head. He had been at work before finally passing the baton over to Graham. "Where to find who?"
"August."
"Oh, he should be at the park with Jiminy's dog. He takes him there around this time every day."
Snow checked her watch. "Charming, I have a meeting at town hall. Do you think you could take her?"
"Sure."
Emma rolled her eyes. "I don't need a babysitter."
The look she received from Snow and Charming made her slide down in the booth a little bit. She knew she was still on thin ice after sneaking out to go to that party. Even so, it was a little weird to have people on top of her the way they were. Odette and Derek had cared, she had just rarely been grounded in such a way.
"Alright, alright, I get your point," she told them before they could say anything.
Snow chuckled and leaned over, kissing Charming before doing the same to the top of Emma's head. "I'll see you both later." She put down some money to pay the bill before walking out.
"I'm surprised that you want to see August," Charming told her as father and daughter got up, exiting the diner.
Emma shrugged. "Snow and I were talking, I just think it's finally time. Maybe I don't really need to know what it is, at least not until he's ready to tell me."
Charming wasn't so sure how to respond. He had done a good job of concealing what he knew. He despised Derek. Before August had told him everything, he had just been a little jealous of him. However, after learning just what kind of man he was, he couldn't find a way to be cordial about him. Emma didn't mention him often, but the few times she did, he found it hard to have anything positive to say. He didn't want Emma to think she couldn't talk about him, it was just hard knowing the truth. He almost understood how hard it had all been on August, to not say anything for so long.
In Charming's mind, Emma had a right to know. It had nothing to do with jealousy, he would've felt the same way if it was anyone. He had been on both Emma and August's sides throughout all of it. He understood why he had been so hesitant to tell while also knowing that Emma had every right to feel upset that a secret was being kept from her.
Now she didn't want to know anything. He wanted to protect her more than anything and didn't want her to get hurt. He also knew that the longer she went without knowing, the harder it'd be. At the end of the day, though, it wasn't his choice to make. It'd be up to August to decide what he'd do with Emma's words.
Just as he had suspected, the man in question was at the park with Pongo. Emma watched as the two played together, August throwing the ball for him and running around. He looked happy for the most part, if not a little tired. Growing up, they had all begged their parents for a puppy or kitten, only to be told that they were too much of a responsibility. They had enough of a staff to take care of another animal, but the answer was always no. Emma was happy that August finally got his wish.
"Hey August," Charming called out to him.
He looked up, smiling a bit, though it got strained when he saw Emma. He had missed his little sister so much and was happy to see her again. He just wasn't sure if Charming had made her come against her will. He got his answer when Emma walked over, her father hanging back.
"So, what's his name?" Emma asked, holding out her hand for the dog to sniff. The Dalmatian did so almost immediately and wagged his tail, so she started to pet him.
"Pongo. Jiminy's been so busy with patients, I've been the one to give him walks and everything."
"You always wanted a dog."
August's smile grew a bit. "Yeah. He's not really mine, though."
"He's your family's, same difference."
He just nodded, watching her play with the dog for a bit. "Not that I'm not happy to see you or anything…"
"But I've been avoiding you for awhile." She bit her lip, meeting his eye. "You didn't exactly reach out either."
"I was trying to give you space. I know you, Em. Whenever you're mad, you need to be alone."
"I know, I'm not upset with you about that." She paused for a moment. "Or the other thing."
August raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Look, I want to know whatever it is. At the same time, I'm starting to accept maybe I don't need to. At least not right now."
"Emma…"
"Whatever it is, well, it was in the past. Dad is dead. Like I said, I really do want to know, but in your own time. You can tell me whenever you're ready."
August stared at her for a minute, unsure of what to say. He had been struggling after his conversation with Charming. He knew that Emma had a right to know, but his anxiety over the whole situation wasn't going away. He almost felt like it was cowardly to accept this way, he knew she had a right to know. He realized, though, that he would tell her, in time. In that moment, she just wanted to move past all of it and he was going to accept that.
"I just miss my big brother," Emma admitted when he didn't say anything else.
August let out a deep breath. "I'm right here."
She threw her arms around his torso and he hugged her tighter, burying his face in her hair. Charming watched on from a distance, smiling at the two. He was happy to see the two making up, at least in that moment. He knew when the time came, Emma was going to be hurt. He also knew, however, that she'd believe him. In that moment, though, everything was calm. Almost too calm.
If he had been a more cynical man, he would've been able to see it was the calm before the storm. For the next couple of days, though, things would continue to stay as they were. Things could be happy, optimistic. They would come to reflect on that day as one of the good ones before it all went horribly wrong.
But in that moment, yes, Charming was happy to see them making up. He watched as they settled onto the grass, playing catchup on all that was going on in their lives during their seven day period of not talking.
"I can't say I've ever heard of him," August said when the subject of Jefferson was brought up. "I feel for his daughter, though. I've seen her posters around town. I can't believe no one's come forward."
"I wonder if he was brought through during the curse at all."
"Well there's no way to know, I guess."
August was quiet for a minute yet again. "Well…maybe not." Emma raised an eyebrow. "There's one person who would probably know about his whereabouts."
"Don't hold out on me, who?"
"The one who set it in the first place."
Emma thought about it. August had a point. Regina's curse had been so perfectly executed. She would most likely know where Jefferson was. Even if it had been broken, she would at the very least know if he had made it through the curse.
"Maybe Regina would know," Emma mused.
"Maybe I would know what?"
Emma looked up, finding the queen standing there. She had been coming out of her home more and more. As part of their deal, Snow had told the townspeople to leave Regina alone and let her live her life in peace. She may have cursed them, but she wasn't going to hurt them, not anymore. It's not like it'd be possible with the savior in town, anyway. Charming quickly walked over to Emma and August as they stood up, ready to protect them from Regina. He knew that she had saved his daughter from Zelena and that they had a deal, but he was still weary of her. Not that anyone could actually blame him.
"A man, he goes by Jefferson."
"Oh, right. I've seen the posters."
Emma's mouth formed a thin line for a moment. "You've seen them and you haven't tried to help Grace?"
"Jefferson and I have a complicated history, one I'm not going to get into now." She shook her head. "Anyway, he's here. He knows his daughter is looking for him. His lack of reply has nothing to do with me."
"Well, where is he? Who was he under the curse?"
"Same as he always was. He has a shop, not that he runs it. He just sits in there all day, making hats."
"Where is this shop?"
"Right on Main Street. He's boarded up the windows, but I know he's still in there."
Before Emma could thank Regina, she was gone. Emma turned to August and Charming.
"Looks like we have a hat shop to visit."
"I have to bring Pongo back home, but I'll meet up with you later," August promised. He kissed the top of her head before grabbing hold of Pongo's leash and leading him off. Emma turned to Charming.
"You in?"
He nodded with a smile. "Most definitely."
It wasn't hard to locate Jefferson's shop. Emma realized that she had passed it many times since she arrived in Storybrooke. True to Regina's word, the windows were boarded up, the word "CLOSED" spray painted over one of them in big letters. The door, however, was uncovered. Emma used her magic to get it unlocked. Charming casted her a disapproving look, but she just shrugged. Desperate times called for desperate measures, even if her dad was on the police force.
She opened the door and stepped in with Charming. Instantly, she heard a voice call out, "Not today, Regina!"
"It's not Regina."
A few seconds later, a man appeared out of the back. He was well dressed, a scarf around his neck. His curly hair was a little unruly and there were bags under his eyes. He took in both of them, raising an eyebrow.
"The savior," he said.
"You know who I am?"
"I may be a recluse but I know that the curse is broken. Not that I was ever asleep to begin with."
"So, you're Jefferson?"
The man nodded. "What are you doing here?"
Emma dug through her bag and pulled out the poster, handing it over to him. Jefferson took it in, biting his lip, before handing it back to her.
"I already have one."
"Then you know Grace is looking for you. I met her the other day, she is so excited to see you again." Emma's brows furrowed. "Why are you here? Why don't you go get her? She's at school."
"I don't have time for this." Jefferson turned around, looking at the assortment of hats that were around the shop.
"She wants to see you."
"You can leave now, thank you."
"Why aren't you trying to find her?" Emma insisted.
She didn't understand it. Grace was so excited to see this man and she knew he cared, she could see it in his eyes. Which was why she didn't understand why he was being so stubborn. Much to her surprise, he spun around, his eyes going a little mad.
"Because I left her!" He exploded. He saw the protective look fill Charming and realized that had to be her father. He started to calm down, reminding himself it wasn't Emma he was mad at. His voice got lower. "And she'll hate me."
"Clearly she doesn't," Emma told him, waving the poster around, feeling unmoved by his outburst. "She's been putting these all over town. She told me the story, you went to do a job, you didn't mean to get separated."
"I never should've taken it in the first place. I thought it was the right thing, but I was wrong. She thinks she wants me back, but maybe her life is better off without me." He ran a hand through his hair. "She'll end up hating me."
"No! She'll hate you if you don't try!" Now, she could feel herself getting upset. She turned around, gesturing to Charming. "He put me in a wardrobe, minutes after I was born. Yet, I'm here, trying to make a relationship work, because it's important to me. I know he did it to save me, to do what was best. Has it been hard to accept? Yes, but I know that he loves me."
Charming could feel himself getting choked up. All of what Emma was saying, was the truth, he just had never heard it from her before. He was so worried that she still resented him or thought poorly of him. Clearly, she didn't. He had hope, hope that maybe in time, she would think of him as her father. He knew she'd always have two and that was okay. He just wanted a chance to be that for her.
"You didn't leave her on purpose the first time," Emma continued, watching as Jefferson looked away. "However, this time you do have a choice. She'll spend her whole life wondering why you left her. Not knowing, it's the worst."
Jefferson sighed, tipping his head back and shutting his eyes. Charming stepped forward, putting a hand on his arm.
"You love your little girl, I know you do. I also know you don't want her to be in pain, but without you, that's what she's going through. Don't be the one to do that to her."
Jefferson opened his eyes and found himself face to face with the prince. He slowly nodded. "Do you think you can bring me to her?"
Charming and Emma gave him matching smiles, another family trait that they shared. "Of course," Emma said.
They checked the time and realized that school had already let out. Jefferson had always been watching from afar and knew where she got off the bus. Together, the three of them headed to the stop, waiting for the large yellow vehicle to appear. Once it did, kids started to get off, one by one. It didn't take long for Emma to spot the one they were waiting on, though she didn't say anything. She expectantly looked over at Jefferson, who looked as though he was about to cry.
"Grace," he called out, hoarsely.
She stopped in her tracks, her back to him and for a moment, he felt completely breathless, waiting to see what she would do. She slowly turned around and her eyes met his baby blues. Still not breathing, he waited. Her reaction only took a second, but for him, it felt like it was all those years all over again.
A smile broke across her face. "Papa!" She called out, running towards him. Relief filling him, he dropped to his knees and when she reached him, she threw her arms around his neck. "You found me, I knew you would!" She hugged him so tight, he began to double over, but he didn't care. A tear escaped his eye and he let her cling to him. He wrapped his own arms around her and rose to the ground, holding her in his arms. No words had to be said, he just carried her away, not ever wanting to let go.
Emma felt tears cloud her own eyes as she watched the two of them. She felt Charming slip his arm around her and she leaned back into him. She was happy for Grace, she really was. Another part of her was filled with jealousy. Little did she know, Charming felt the exact same way. Grace had stayed 10 years old the entire time throughout the curse. She was still a young girl, a child. That was a time that Charming would never get back with Emma. Suddenly, the 16 years they had forced to spend apart seemed so long. He would never get to know what she looked like at that age. Her childhood had been stolen from him. It wasn't fair, not in the slightest. He knew that it had to be hard for Jefferson to watch his daughter for 28 years without being able to be a family, but it seemed different. He hadn't had a chance to see Emma at all during that time.
Emma bit her lip and looked up at her father, seeing the pain in his eyes. When he looked down at her, he tried to force a big smile, but it didn't come fully about.
"Do you want to go home and watch a movie?" She suggested, once Jefferson had carried Grace off.
Charming nodded, tightening his grip around her. "Sounds like a great idea."
They were silent the entire walk back to the loft. Charming made the snacks while Emma set up the video, choosing The Little Mermaid. Together, they settled down on the couch, once again not saying a word. Emma curled up into his side as they watched it, putting a cookie into her mouth every so often.
"I love you, Em," Charming broke the quiet halfway through the movie.
Emma nodded, feeling the tears come back to her eyes. She wasn't quite sure if she was ready to say it back to her parents yet, so she didn't. Charming knew this, he didn't need her to repeat it. All he needed her to know is that he meant it.
The next chapter is when things go crazy, so get ready! As always, tell me what you want to see and I hope to have the next one up soon. =) In the meantime, feel free to shoot me questions or prompts on my Tumblr accounts: just-an-outlaw and justanoutlawfanfiction.