Chapter 2

Word Count 2021

Note Thank you for the reviews! When I first wrote this story it was very rushed as the challenge it was made for was due that night which is why it was written in the first person. Going to write the second chapter I couldn't get the same vibe on the first person writing so I have switched it to third person. Hope it's not too confusing and hopefully it'll be even better.

Emma knew she shouldn't have felt so relaxed around him, but aided by the alcohol she couldn't help it. He seemed like such a different man now, she could almost believe this wasn't the same guy who kidnapped and drugged her Mom and her a few mere months ago.

A grin spread across Jefferson's face as he told Emma about his former life. "She has always been such an amazing little girl. I tried to give her everything and more but she was content with what we had, I guess I wasn't." Jefferson set his drink on the coffee table he stood and made his way around the couch. "It was my fault to believe Regina; I should've known she'd betray her promise. 'Grace will not want' she told me, but it was thinly veiled between her lies. She would not want because our neighbors could give her everything and more."

A look of sorrow clouded his face; Emma could feel her heart sink in her chest. She set her drink on the table and went the opposite way around the couch meeting him behind it. She reached for his hand and clasped it in hers, she squeezed his hand slightly, "Don't blame yourself for mistakes you've made in the past. You can only grow from them and hopefully make things better." Jefferson turned his face to hers; she could see a tear slip down his cheek. Emma reached to brush it away, second guessing herself she almost pulled back, but she had such an urge to comfort him. Her thumb brushed away the wetness of his tear. "I was 18 when I gave up Henry for adoption. I had no plans for children in my life. After being bounced around from family to family I didn't think family was for me. I was a lone wolf." Emma smiled slightly, "But then Henry came back into my life, I realized that I wasn't alone and I already did have family, I just didn't know it yet."

Another tear slid down Jefferson's cheek and Emma's heart broke for him. "And what of Grace? She is my only family," his voice broke as his emotions overcame him, "but she has another family." He loosened his hand from Emma's and motioned around the room. "All of these things were meant to be hers. I lived in this house for 28 years hoping that she could be here with me and now that she knows who I am— she doesn't want me in her life anymore." Jefferson leaned against the wall stricken with guilt and sorrow.

"Jefferson, give her time. I can already tell you're becoming a different man. Soon she will too." Emma slowly moved towards him. "You can't be the only one who has done bad things here." Emma watched as Jefferson slid down the wall until he sat on the ground. "I almost ran off with Henry, leaving this whole place behind." She moved closer towards him, "If I left not only would I technically have kidnapped him but none of this would've happened. The curse couldn't have been broken." She heard a soft chuckle escape Jefferson. Crouching down Emma got on his level.

"There is so much you don't know Emma." He looked at her, tears were no longer trickling down his face but she could see the remnant tears reflecting in his blue eyes. "I don't know what you would think of me if you knew the truth."

Emma shifted from crouching to sitting. She looked at Jefferson, still feeling a little drunk she couldn't be sure how she would react to the truth but she knew that he was broken and was shattering to pieces right before her eyes. "To be honest with you Jefferson, I don't know how I will react either. But I promise you that I do understand your actions were always to get Grace back in your life."

Jefferson nodded wiping the remaining tears from his eyes. "As long as you promise not to run out of here after I tell you, I just want to explain myself."

Emma, worried about what she might hear nodded slowly. She took his hand again hoping it might give him the confidence to tell her. "I promise."

Jefferson cleared his throat not sure where to start. "After I kidnapped you and Snow White I received a message from the Queen—Regina. She had my hat all along and wanted me to use it to return to our world and retrieve something for her. In return she would give me Grace back, alter our memories and give us a new life. A fresh start." Jefferson paused and looked up at Emma holding onto her eyes, "She needed to get an apple."

Emma wanted to pull her hand back connecting the pieces before he finished but she resisted. She promised him she wouldn't run and she wasn't going to.

"I didn't know what she needed at the time, but Emma I did know that she was going to use it against you." Jefferson parted his lips looking for words, "I didn't know that Henry would eat it and when he did I felt horrible. At that point all I wanted was for Regina to do as she promised and give me and Grace new memories so I could just forget it all…" Jefferson trailed off, his eyes still locked on Emma's. "I'm so sorry." Tears welled in his eyes.

Emma drew her eyes down, "It's not your fault Jefferson." She pulled her eyes back to him, "Henry knew what the turnover was before he ate it. I watched him do it, he told me that he believed in me right before he took a bite and collapsed. He knew exactly what it was and I think he might've known that the result of it would break the curse. I don't blame you Jefferson, I can't. Not when I know that Regina manipulates everyone to try and get what she wants. She was manipulating you too." Jefferson stayed quiet his confession eating away at him. Emma shifted closer towards him, "Hey." She brought her hand to his chin lifting his face to hers. "I came here to apologize to you, burn the old bridges and hopefully build some new ones. I thank you and commend you for confessing this to me, but I also forgive you." She reached brushing his new tears away.

Jefferson tilted his head into her hand, "I'm not sure I deserve it."

"Everyone deserves a fresh start." Emma said her hand was no longer on his cheek and instead had drifted towards his hair. Jefferson reached for Emma's other hand. He brought her hand down to his lips and kissed her fingers.

Emma knew when she came to Jefferson's house with alcohol it probably wasn't the best idea. Her first visit to Jefferson's it became aware to her that he had no concept of personal space. He had drifted in and out of her thoughts since then especially after the curse had broken and she knew the truth. She knew she was attracted to him but she kept trying to shove those feelings down. She kept trying to tell herself that he was mad that he was insane, but seeing him now. Seeing him like this. Emma knew that she was getting a glimpse of the Jefferson from Henry's story before he was stuck in Wonderland.

Emma's hand rested at the nape of his neck when finally Jefferson had broken the silence, "Do you think she misses me?"

"Jefferson." Emma pulled herself even closer invading his personal space, "Of course she misses you. You are her father, give her time Jefferson, she'll come around."

"And what if she—"

Emma cut him off by bringing her finger to his lips. "Give her time." She pulled her hand away, "Come on let's have another drink." She took both of his hands and stood up, "Come on." She said tugging on his hands; he let her help stand him up. Jefferson surprised Emma and pulled her into an embrace.

She could feel his breath in her hair sending chills down her spine. "Thank you. You didn't have to come here, not after what I did to you and your family. But you did."

Still in Jefferson's arms Emma brought her eyes back to his. "I couldn't let things be left the way they were. You were trying to help, just in a really weird way." Jefferson smiled and it thrilled her to see a grin on his face again. Emma had been this close to Jefferson before but she had never expected the way that it would make her feel now. He brought his hand up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Her heart was beating rapidly; it felt like Emma's heart was trying to beat its way out of her chest. She could feel Jefferson's arms releasing around her and before she could even think Emma brought her hand to his neck and pulled his face towards hers kissing him full on the lips.

If her actions had surprised Jefferson he didn't show it, he reciprocated the kiss instantaneously closing what little space was left between them. Jefferson's kiss was nothing like Emma had expected. His mad demeanor on her first visit would've thought that he'd be intense and fervent, maybe a little too overbearing. After 28 years with no human contact she would have thought that maybe he couldn't contain himself. She was wrong. He was gentle and tender. His hands rested at her back intertwining with the ends of her hair.

Emma brought her hands to the scarf that he wore around his neck. She tugged at the cloth pulling it out from underneath the collar of his shirt. As the scarf fell Jefferson pulled away from her lips. "Emma." He said bringing his head to rest on hers. He brought his hand to his neck trying to conceal the scar underneath. Emma stopped him by taking his hands away from his scar and replacing them with her own.

She traced her finger along it gingerly. "You don't have to hide who you were, or who you are."

Jefferson nodded, "I'll try."

Emma pulled away from him slightly, "How about we take things slow?" she asked, not wanting to make him feel like she was taking advantage of him. She couldn't forget that he was grieving for Grace and maybe now wasn't the best time to begin a make out session, or possibly more with him.

"Ok." Before releasing his embrace, Jefferson cupped his hand at Emma's cheek and gave her one more kiss just as sweet as the first.

"So, how about that drink?" Emma gasped, surprised at the rapid flutter of her heart.

Jefferson smirked, "Sounds like a plan Princess."

Emma couldn't help but throw back her head in laughter. "Not you too." She said retrieving their glasses and pouring a drink for each of them, "Henry has been trying to get me to call him Prince Henry from now on. "

Emma handed Jefferson his glass, "He must be thrilled now that you believe him."

She nodded as she took a sip, "I imagine you must feel the same way." Emma paused thinking about how similar things between Henry and Jefferson were. They both believed so passionately about the curse that everyone thought they were crazy, but they were the only two who knew the truth. "I have an idea. How about we set up a little play date with Henry and Grace, they already know each other from school and you and Henry went through pretty similar situations. The kids got a way with words and who knows maybe she can start getting to know you again."

Jefferson smiled at the thought, "That actually sounds like a really good plan."

"Well then let's have a good time tonight, the curse is broken all is forgiven and tomorrow we will talk to Henry and Grace and see where we can go from there." Emma clinked her cup against his, "Cheers."

Note I'll be writing more for this story I plan on dipping into the relationship between Jefferson and Grace and of course Jefferson and Emma. Reviews are always appreciated.