Hey guys I'm so sorry for the delay. Life got really crazy there for a second but we will pick up where we left off. In this Chapter Robin explains to Henry about life in the Enchanted Forest while Jefferson talks to Grace about how it feels to love someone. Enjoy!

During their date that night Jefferson noticed that Belle was more nervous than usual. He could tell by the way she was looking at him. It was like she wanted to say something but continued to think better of it. They were holding hands as they walked by the duck pond when she had her fourth false start and Jefferson decided that enough was enough.

"Belle is something bothering you?"

She looked into his inquisitive eyes and knew it was now or never. "Actually I wanted to talk to you about Grace."

Jefferson threw back his head with a groan. "I'm telling you the same thing I told you this morning, she snuck out to wander around town this morning and now she is grounded!"

"I know," said Belle. "And while I agree that what she did was dangerous and irresponsible, I don't think she needs to be punished. I think she needs to be talked to."

"I did give her a talking to," said Jefferson. "I let her know that she's too young to be wandering around alone at such hours."

"That's not what you need to have a talk for," sighed Belle.

Jefferson stopped and faced her. "What do you mean?"

Belle took a deep breath before speaking. "I mean I think it's time for you to talk to her about… love and relationships."

Jefferson slowly crossed his arms. "And why would I need to do that?"

"Because… Henry told her he loved her… and she couldn't say it back to him. She said she didn't believe that he meant it," said Belle.

Jefferson let out a breath. "I'm not going to lie that's kind of a relief to me."

Belle let out a gasp and slapped him firmly in his chest. "Jefferson!"

"What?" he said rubbing the painful spot on his chest. "They're too young to be saying those words anyway. If my daughter doesn't want to say them back to him I'm not going to force her to."

"Jefferson," sighed Belle, walking over the nearest bench. "This is about more than just the words."

"What do you mean?" he asked, taking a seat next to her.

"This is about why she didn't believe him," she elaborated.

"Did she tell you why?"

"Yes," said Belle sadly. "She said a girl at school told her that Henry couldn't love her because she was a peasant and he was prince."

Jefferson's eyes widened at Belle's admission. "She said that?"

Belle just silently nodded her head.

Jefferson groaned as he ran his hands over his face. This was all his fault. He should've warned Grace about people and how they would react to her and Henry. It was foolish of him to think that 28 years under a curse could change centuries of traditional thinking. And now his daughter was paying the price for it. He turned to Belle when she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Did she tell you all that this morning?"

"Yes she did," said Belle nodding her head. "I tried to comfort her. I got her to calm down but I don't think she believed me when I said that wasn't true."

Jefferson sighed resignedly. "Well I am still glad that she was able to come to you."

"You know I meant what I said the night of Henry and Grace's first dance," said Belle. "If she ever needs me I won't turn her away."

"Thank you," he said giving her hand a squeeze.

"But you still need to talk to her," said Belle.

"What am I supposed to say?" said Jefferson desperately. "I can't just say that everything is going to be okay. I don't want to lie to her. The truth is their relationship is going to turn heads and if she continues to be in it things could get painful for her."

"Then tell her that," said Belle. "But you also need to tell her about her own worth and how she deserves to be treated. You're her father Jefferson. The truth is you're the man who she's going to compare all her suitors to, including Henry. If anyone is going to tell her what it means to have someone love her, it needs to be you."

Jefferson sighed. "You know when Grace was born I had everyone tell me how hard it was going to be taking care a baby. The long nights, and the crying and feedings. They always said once she grows up it'll be easier. They lied. I'd take the late night feedings over this any day."

Belle looked at him sympathetically and placed her head on his shoulder. "I know but if we've learned anything from the ordeal with the Wicked Witch it's that going back is not an option."

"You're right," said Jefferson resignedly. "I'll find a way to talk to her."

XXXXXXXXXXXX

The next day Robin took Henry into the forest for his first archery lesson. He found himself a little nervous at the prospect of talking to the teenager. He had assured Regina that he would talk to Henry about his issues with Grace but he was unsure of where to start. Given that Roland wouldn't need such a talk for at least a decade he hadn't really prepared for it. Henry, however, was a teenager and required immediate counseling.

He watched as his future stepson struggled to load his first arrow and take his first shot. His stance and arms were extremely rigid. He'd brought Henry to peaceful meadow near the edge of the forest. They were facing two large targets that Regina had conjured up for them to practice with. It was secluded so there was little chance of them being interrupted.

"You need to relax Henry," he said, walking over to correct his arm structure. "It's only you and me out here and trust me I am no one you need to impress."

"Yeah you're just the greatest archer in all the lands," quipped Henry. "Why would I ever want to impress you?"

Robin chuckled at Henry's sarcasm. "Believe me, my first days with a bow were not impressive. It took a lot of work to get to my level."

He made one last correction to Henry's arm placement before taking a step back. "And try releasing now."

As Henry's fingers released the bowstring the arrow flew toward his target landing in the edge of its white outer ring.

"Excellent!" said Robin proudly. "Target hit on the first try."

"Barely," commented Henry sourly.

"That may be true but you'll only get better," encouraged Robin. "Why don't you give it another try?"

He sighed as Henry reached into his quiver for another arrow. "Henry I'm going to be perfectly honest with you, our outing today was not entirely based on my desire to teach you archery."

"I figured," said Henry shrugging his shoulders. "Hook usually takes me sailing when he wants to talk to me about stuff. It wasn't a leap to guess that archery was going to be your icebreaker."

Smart lad, thought Robin to himself.

"Well you were correct," said Robin. "You're mothers wanted me to talk to you about your relationship with Grace. They're concerned."

"About what?" asked Henry apprehensively.

"Well we have it on good authority that you have told Grace that you love her," said Robin.

Henry groaned and rolled his eyes to the sky. "How did they even find that out?"

"That's not important," deflected Robin. "What is important is their feelings on the matter. They're worried that at your current age you might not be able to comprehend what it means to love someone and therefore should not be using the words."

Henry scoffed. "And I guess you're here to tell me you agree with them."

"Oh no on the contrary, I couldn't disagree more with their thoughts," said Robin firmly shaking his head.

"Really?" said Henry eyeing the archer with suspicion.

"Absolutely," he said. "Henry emotions aren't confined to certain ages. They show up whenever they see fit. Sometimes before we're even ready for them. If you say you love Grace then I trust you to know what you feel."

"Thank you," said Henry gratefully.

"You are most welcome," said Robin. "But for the sake of your mothers I have to ask. How do you feel about Grace?"

Henry shrugged his shoulders as he searched for the words to communicate his feelings. "I can't really describe it. I just... I miss her when she's gone. Even if it's for a second. I hate when she's sad and I know I'd do just about anything to make sure that she won't be. And when I think of my future and all the things I want to do I can't imagine doing any of it without her. She always there. I don't think I could have a future if she isn't. Everything is better with Grace. Everything."

Robin smiled as Henry described his feelings for Grace. Young love, indeed.

"When I told Grace I loved her she didn't say it back to me," continued Henry. "In fact, she sort of ran. But it didn't matter to me. I wasn't saying it so she would say it back to me. I was just saying it because I thought she'd like to know. Turns out I was wrong because she hasn't talked to me since."

Robin sighed before speaking. This is where things were going to get complicated.

"Henry when you're with your mother and I do you ever notice the looks that we get? Or the looks that Emma gets when she's with Hook?"

"What do you mean?" asked Henry curiously. He'd always thought the looks people gave his mother were the result of her evil queen years and nothing more.

Robin looked the young boy in the eye. "Henry the things I am about to talk to you about are very unpleasant but I'm going to need you to listen to me because they are true and they are things that you will have to deal with both now and in the future."

"Okay," said Henry nervously.

Robin cleared his throat before speaking. "In the Enchanted Forest there has always been a very specific way of doing things. This way of life involves a very strict hierarchy. When it comes to marriage and love everyone in the Forest was or is expected to stay within their group Henry. Peasants with peasants, nobles with noble and royalty with royalty. Nobles could sometimes marry royals but it was rare. And marriages between peasants and royals were just unthinkable and unaccepted. Now your mother is of royal blood but I am not. I am a retired thief who still occasionally sleeps in a tent. Because of those differences our relationship is sometimes frowned upon by people in town. People who still abide by that strict hierarchy. The same goes for Emma and Hook."

"Do people say things to you?" asked Henry.

"To me? No," answered Robin. "Despite her redemption your mother's name still inspires a certain amount of fear around town so I doubt anyone would want to risk angering her. And even if they did it wouldn't matter to me. When I was 20-years-old I left society behind and became a bandit in the woods. I am decades beyond the point of caring what people think of me. Grace, however, might feel differently."

"Grace?"

"Yes," said Robin, nodding his head. "Like I said before even if we are no longer in the Enchanted Forest there still those who respect the hierarchy. And in the eyes of those people you will always be a prince and Grace will always be a peasant. And because of that they will see your relationship as improper."

Henry scrunched his face in disgust. "That's ridiculous!"

"To you maybe," said Robin. "But to Grace it will be status quo. You might've been born in this world but she was not. She still remembers the Forest and what it was like there. Especially for young women who were seen cavorting with princes. There was a shame cast upon them. Rumors spread about them, their heads filled with false promises from young princes who wanted nothing more than their bodies."

"I don't see Grace that way!" Henry protested fiercely. "And neither does anyone else! They know how much Grace means to me!"

"Henry just because they're not saying it to your face does not mean the words aren't being spoken," said Robin firmly. "You're the son of the Evil Queen and the Savior. The grandson of Snow White and Prince Charming. You are a prince and you may not realize it yet but your name carries quite a bit weight in our community. No one, not even your classmates, want to upset you. Grace does not have those same protections. In your current situation she carries all the risk with her. And believe me Henry she has already started hearing the rumors and insults."

Henry's anger faltered at Robin's words. "What have they said to her?"

"Nothing I'd want you to hear," replied Robin sadly. "If Grace ran away from you when you told her you loved her I would bet that it wasn't because she didn't feel the same but because she knows the further she goes into this relationship the harder things could be for her."

Henry clenched his fist at the thought of anyone attacking Grace's reputation simply because of a stupid hierarchy. "How do I change what they're saying to her?"

"You can't," said Robin shaking his head sadly. "You won't be able to chase away every single rumor and opinion. What you can do is make sure that Grace has no reason to believe any of it. If you give her the love and support that she needs I believe that she can be strong enough to get past it."

"How can I make that happen?" asked Henry.

"Well if you truly love her as you say you do, I expect you will find a way on your own," replied Robin.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Jefferson felt like he was marching to his death as he walked down the hall to his daughter's bedroom. Belle had convinced him he needed to talk to Grace about her relationship with Henry but it was still something he'd rather not address. He wanted his daughter to be happy and she seemed to be happy with the prince but there was still a part of him that wanted to tell her to run away from his world as fast as she could.

He took a deep breath before knocking on her door. "Grace?"

He pushed open her door to see her lying face up on her bed, eyes closed with earbuds firmly placed in her eyes blasting whatever music she stored on her Mp3 which was currently laying on her stomach. She sent him a quizzical glance as he tugged out her left earbud.

"We need to talk," he said taking a seat on the edge of her bed.

She rolled her eyes before sitting up to face him. "About what? I am still here in my room, totally grounded. I got the message."

"This is not about that," he said cautiously. "This is about what you talked to Belle about in the library."

Grace's eyes widened at the news of Belle's betrayal. "She said she wasn't going to tell you!"

"You should calm down," said Jefferson. "It's not like she told me word for word what came out of your mouth. Only what she thought I needed to know. Namely, about the way you're being treated because of your relationship with Henry."

Grace let out a groan in response. "It's not as bad as I made it out to be. I can handle it. I was just upset that night."

She was putting on a brave face Jefferson could tell and as much as he'd like to believe her and let it go he knew that wasn't an option.

"People who can handle it don't sneak out of the house at 4am and wander until they collapse on the steps of the library," said Jefferson. "Now you can continue to put on your brave little girl mask but I promise you it's not going to be as helpful as letting me know what's really bothering you. I'm willing to wait all night but it might be easier if you just tell me."

Grace sighed as she looked at her father's sympathetic face. He was in full concerned parent mode. There was no way he was going to let this go.

She pulled her legs up and hugged them to her chest. "Most of the people at school are fine with me and Henry. It's only the royalty that really have a problem. A first it was just a few comments here or there. Sucky nicknames and what not. Nothing that damaging and it wasn't really to my face. But it got worse after homecoming. I think the fact that he showed up with me instead of one the princesses got under their skin. They started spreading rumors about me. That I bewitched him or whatever. Then I started getting a few shoulder checks in the hallway. Sometimes they trip me but it's always when I'm alone. Never when I'm with him. I think they're a little afraid of what he might say."

Jefferson tried not to seethe at the thought of those little monsters bullying his daughter.

"Have you told Henry about the way the other students treat you?" he asked in a low voice.

"No," she said shaking her head. "I didn't want to risk that he would start seeing us the way that they did. Like he's the prince and I'm just… the peasant."

"Grace, do you remember how things were back in the Enchanted Forest?" asked Jefferson.

"Yes," she said solemnly nodding her head. All the bullying had brought back memories of the Enchanted Forest hierarchy.

"Well then you remember the hierarchy system that the royals were so fond of," said Jefferson.

"Of course," she said quietly. According to that system, she and Henry would never be more than a summer dalliance he'd remember fondly once he found his true match.

Jefferson reached over and took her hand. "Grace DO NOT fall into that system."

"What?" said Grace in shock.

"You heard me," said Jefferson fiercely. "Screw the hierarchy and anyone who still believes in it. After 28 years in this world they should know better. Grace, you are a beautiful, magnificent young woman. You are kinder, smarter and stronger than any of those girls who try to put you down. And you deserve someone who looks at you like you are the world, whether he be a prince or a pauper. I won't lie to you Grace. It will be hard but you have someone in your life who makes you happy and wants to be with you for all the reasons that I just listed. And it will break my heart if you give that up just because someone with a crown told you that you had to."

By the end of her father's speech Grace had a tear fall down her cheek.

"He told me that he loved me but because of what they said I didn't know if I should believe him or not," she said wiping a tear from her cheek. "How do I know if it's real?"

Jefferson moved to sit next to her. As soon as he was there she fell into his side as he wrapped an arm around her. "Oh Grace, I cannot answer that for you. One of the reasons that love is so elusive is because it feels different for everyone."

"How did it feel for you when you with my mother?" she asked quietly.

Jefferson chuckled before answering. "Oh being in love with your mother it was like being in a violent storm. I saw it coming and I refused to get out of the way. And by the time it arrived I could feel it from all sides, intensely. When I was in the middle of it it felt like it would never end. And when it did… it still lingered in the air."

"Is that the same way it feels with Belle?" asked Grace softly.

Jefferson hesitated before answering her. "No. Loving Belle is like getting lost in a new place. I was so busy trying to take in every new exciting detail I didn't even notice where I was headed. I was in love with her before I even realized it."

"When did you realize it?" questioned Grace.

"When you asked me." he replied.

Now that Jefferson realizes how he feels about Belle do you think he'll tell her?

And how will Henry prove to Grace how he feels? Stay tuned to find out.

Please Review!