Once Upon A Time Was Wednesday

By EnigmaSphinx

Chapter Two

A/N: After I posted the first chapter, I realized that there are things I forgot to include in my notes. There are spoilers for the first season, episodes 1-22 and a something of an AU aspect as we have no canon for season two. This is simply filler for the long months until OUAT comes back. I've given Jefferson the last name of Milliner as I did not find a last name in canon.

Disclaimer: I own nothing of OUAT. The show and its characters belong to their respective owners. I make no money off this enterprise and I respectfully pay homage to the original creators with my little scribblings.

The caretaker dressed herself in traveling clothes; a simple gown and her leather boots, coupled with a cloak of her own making. She bound up her pale blonde hair, looking at her reflection in the mirror as she did so, wondering if she was perhaps too trusting in her decision to follow the mysterious J to wherever he claimed her master now was. Of course, she would go. The Dark Castle held her with only the most superficial bonds now that the master was gone. She had the freedom to travel if she wished; she merely hadn't bothered because there was no place that she wanted to go, no place that held interest for her. She sighed, tying off the braid she'd meticulously created and studying the end result. It would have to do, she thought to herself.

She moved through the castle, making certain that the place was secure. She didn't know how long she would be gone and disrepair seemed to go hand in hand with emptiness in houses. She made certain that the building was prepared for her absence, with all doors and windows magicked against intrusion. She stopped in the gallery, looking at the figures on their pedestals and the exquisite paintings on the walls. Here were the treasures of all her previous masters, collected over many lifetimes and displayed with a sense of ferocious possession. They were prizes, all of them, permanently maintained in this special room. The last master had only added one item here and he never visited it, unlike his predecessors who gloated over their conquests. The caretaker paused before the last installation and she sighed.

"Will you miss me?" she asked softly. "None of the others will, they've long gone mad in their imprisonment. You however, you are still in there, looking out from your place at all that can be seen." She looked at the statue. "You will be safe here. Nothing will get in. You know that nothing gets out, of course. Everything will be as it is until I return."

She wondered when or even if she would return. There were no guarantees. She didn't know who "J" was but then she was not without her own resources. It would be extremely difficult to prevent her from returning to this place if she wished it but not impossible. She closed the gallery, locked the doors physically and also magically, before gathering her small bundle. There was nothing to do but wait for the appearance of the doorway in the garden.

The door opened promptly when predicted. The caretaker watched as the glass-like pane rippled and a man stepped through. He was attractive, his face angelic beneath rumpled blond hair. His eyes caught hers and widened in surprise. She stared back at him without expression, waiting for him to speak. He gave her a courtly albeit tardy bow.

"My lady," he said pleasantly. "I see that you recognized the photographs."

She nodded. "I did," she replied. Her voice was low. "I am not certain of how you made those portraits but I know the face of the one I serve well enough. Is he the man or merely one who looks like him?"

"He is the same man," the stranger said. His words were honest, she could feel that but also the hidden truth behind them.

"And yet he is not, is he?"

"He comes from a different world," the stranger admitted. "One in which you were not in his life." He smiled sadly. "There are many different worlds and sometimes the smallest difference changes everything." He startled, as if suddenly recalling something. "Forgive me for not introducing myself," he said politely. "I am Jefferson."

The caretaker curtsied to him gracefully. "I am called Shayde," she said quietly. "It is a name without power, so do not think to compel me with it. My true name is my own. How will you take me to my master?"

"I have a magic hat," he said. "But the magic allows only even exchanges: if two pass through the hat, two must return. To take you with me, I would merely have to bring someone through and leave them behind while returning to my world with you."

Shayde considered the prospect. "That is not necessary," she murmured thoughtfully. "Items may pass without such a restriction, can they not? You sent me the letter yesterday and nothing was required to replace it."

"True."

Shayde smiled and held out her pack. "Can you carry this through the door?" she asked. Jefferson nodded.

"Items pass through easily," he said.

"Then carry it if you would." She offered him the bundle. "I need no more than a beacon to find my way."

"You can travel between worlds?" Jefferson asked with some surprise. Shayde's smile widened slightly.

"Aye," she replied. "I have my own gifts." She met his gaze. "If he is truly my master, I will reward you to the best of my ability, Jefferson. Whatever you ask of me, if it be within my power, I will make it happen."

"I want to change things," he said quietly. "There is so much unhappiness, so much pain…" His breath hitched in his chest. "He is part of it but there is another."

"Show me when I join you," she said, thrusting the bundle into his hands. "I will not be long behind you."

He turned and carried the bundle to the doorway. Shayde waited until the last moment, just as Jefferson was about to walk through the door and she vanished.

There was a terrible sense of disorientation, a whirlwind of madness that confused and baffled Shayde's sense of direction. It lasted only a moment but seemed as though an eternity passed until she caught the tether of her pack and followed it with all speed. She appeared next to the bundle, into a world where the air was thicker and heavier than anything she'd ever felt. There was a sharp foul taste to it, something she nearly gagged on, and she doubled over, clutching her stomach as she struggled to breathe, to collect herself.

"Hey," Jefferson said, catching her by the arms. Shayde let him hold her, leaning into his strength as she gasped and tried to orient herself. "Are you alright?"

"This world…" she said, coughing wretchedly. "This world is far from mine." She looked up at him through teary eyes. "I need a moment."

Jefferson urged her into a nearby chair. Shayde clutched the arms of the chair, her head spinning as she breathed shallowly and waited for the coughing to pass. Jefferson returned and pressed a cup of tea into her hand. When he saw that she was shaking so badly that the liquid sloshed dangerously in the cup, he helped guide it to her mouth so that she could sip it. His fingers were long and warm where they wrapped around hers. Shayde was grateful for his help.

"Are we in the right place?" she asked breathlessly when she could speak.

"Yes, Lady, we are. This is my home." Jefferson watched her with concern. "Can you tolerate it? Is this world so very different from your own?"

"It is full of iron," she said softly. "And the life of it is dulled somehow." She swallowed more of the tea. "But I can feel other things that are familiar. I think I will become more accustomed to it."

She looked around at the room she sat in and, while it was not the castle she was used to, it was a beautiful place. Jefferson watched her carefully, his eyes full of shadows when she looked back at him. "Thank you," she said sincerely. "I am grateful for your care."

"My pleasure, Lady." He flushed a little under her regard, a little embarrassed. "Please be welcome in my home," he continued, releasing her hand and straightening. "I live here alone and there is no one who will trouble you. I rarely have guests."

"I appreciate your hospitality." She inclined her head to him, smiling at him. "I accept."

He went to a window where a long cylinder stood on a three legged stand. Bending over, he peered into the narrow end of the tube and smiled. "Please, Lady, would you like proof of our arrival? Come, take a look and you will see the man you were seeking."

Shayde rose and joined him, following his movements. As she looked through the tube, she could see people moving about. She pulled back, looked out the window and realized the tube made far away things appear closer. She peeked again and her eyes caught sight of her master, standing with a blonde woman. They were obviously speaking but she could not hear them, only see them.

Her master's expression was perfectly clear. He was annoyed with the woman, it showed in the set of his mouth and the way he held his cane. Shayde noted that the woman seemed no happier with her master. They were obviously having a disagreement of some sort.

She let her gaze linger on her master. Despite the strange clothes and his pale human skin, she could see the edges of his aura and the magic that surrounded him. He was still himself, despite whatever glamour he'd used to look like the villagers. Shayde's heartbeat quickened as she watched him. She conjured up the image of his power, the dagger, and held it in her thoughts as she stared at him. Was he truly the Dark One?

No sooner had the dagger appeared in her mind, her master paused in his conversation and looked around with a frown. After a moment, he looked straight at her and she gasped, flinching away from the tube.

"What is it?" Jefferson asked with concern.

"It really is him," she whispered. "He is alive and well!" She turned to her benefactor and gave him a brilliant smile. "You have done exactly as you promised, my Lord! I am so pleased to see him!"

"I am glad that you are pleased, Lady. But you need not call me Lord. Here I am simply called Jefferson. No one uses the formal addresses any longer."

"Then I am merely Shayde. What else must I know before I can go out among these strangers, Jefferson? I do not wish to be embarrassed among them or to cast a pall upon my master's reputation through my ignorance." She reached out and took his hand. "Tell me more of this place and help me find my way in it."

He smiled at her. "I will show you everything I can," he told her. "And when you feel ready to see him in person, I will take you to him."

It was a complicated process. For two weeks, she did nothing but learn about the world that she was now in. Shayde struggled to grasp all the differences between the two worlds as Jefferson revealed them. Holding the information in her mind was often harder than she might have thought but she applied herself. She was careful not to use her magic, relying instead upon her wits and her determination. The social things were difficult and the differences between the world she'd left and the one she was in seemed nearly insurmountable.

Jefferson was a patient teacher. Shayde learned that he'd spent a long time coming to terms with this world and that his memories of what had been before conflicted with what was happening now. She learned of his daughter and the situation that had spawned what others called "his madness". Small wonder he was considered mad, given all that he'd endured. In payment for his careful tutoring, Shayde tended to his house and cooked for him while he worked on his endless collection of hats. Shayde enjoyed cooking for someone other than herself and she liked the convenience of the strange kitchen as well as the ease with which she prepared meals.

Shayde delighted in certain other elements of this new world. Television, computers, and even the music that Jefferson played for her made her heart race with excitement and fierce pleasure. She didn't understand the strange way that people dressed, although she appreciated the way Jefferson dressed. He showed her fashions on television and the computer, some of which scandalized her, but he ordered them for her anyway. She didn't really understand what happened when he ordered them until they arrived through the post. Jefferson gave her the packages and sent her to try them on.

She struggled into the items he'd given her, disliking the feel of the fabrics that lay closest to her skin. When she looked at herself in the mirror, she was horrified. The clothing was so thin and revealing! She could see her shoulders and her legs, the shoes had so little leather that she could see her ankles and her toes! She waffled before the mirror, mortified at her appearance.

"Well?" Jefferson called from the hall. "Do they fit you?"

"This cannot be the fashion," she protested, staring at herself. "I cannot be seen in public this way!"

"Let me see," he told her. "You simply aren't used to the styles. Let me judge."

She peeked around the door. "You'll be shocked," she warned, her moss green eyes wide with worry.

"I'm sure it's not as bad as you think," he assured her. Shayde stepped into the hallway and Jefferson's eyes widened. His mouth opened and closed without saying anything. Shayde blushed hotly.

"I told you," she exclaimed. "It's not proper!" She moved to duck back into her room but he made a strangled protest that stopped her.

"No, Shayde!" She turned back to him, finding him watching her with sudden intensity. "You look… beautiful." He nodded reassuringly. "You are absolutely perfect."

The expression in his eyes spoke more clearly that his words. Shayde hesitated, looking down at herself. Before she could bolt, Jefferson offered his arm. "Come, Shayde," he suggested. "You will look like anyone else in the village. Come and take a walk with me. I will show you how lovely you look."

Hesitating, she dithered a moment then accepted his arm. He smiled down at her and led her outside into the evening. "If anything unsettles you," he said. "Just lean against me and ask me if I want to go home. I will get you out of it. No one will question our relationship if you pretend that we are in a romance."

Jefferson escorted her into the village proper, down the stone walkways that bordered the darker road. It was early enough that the road had little traffic but there were other people strolling along the walkways. Shayde kept her hand tucked into the crook of Jefferson's elbow and let him lead her wherever he wished.

"Do you see how the men look at you?" he asked softly. "You are beautiful. The women are all jealous."

Shayde could feel the attention she was drawing. Jefferson was not deceiving her. The men that passed them looked at Shayde with smiles and appreciation but the women either looked aside or assessed her as though she was an enemy. Shayde could taste their feelings, a heady blend of interest and fear. She drew the emotions into herself, letting them feed her confidence. "Am I acceptable?" she asked Jefferson. "Do I truly look as though I am from this world?"

"You look more than acceptable," he assured her. "You look amazing," He looked ahead and his expression darkened. "He is on the street," he said quietly. "Are you ready to see him or shall we avoid him?"

She followed his gaze and saw her master walking toward them. Her fingers tightened on Jefferson's arm as her anxiety flared then she breathed in a deep breath. He will not know me, she reminded herself. But I wonder if he will want to. She smiled up at Jefferson. "Let us test the waters," she declared bravely.

They continued walking toward her master. He caught sight of them as they came nearer and he hesitated a moment, staring at Shayde without recognition. His eyes were dark brown, Shayde realized. Not the Dark One's otherworldly gaze but the earthen color of a man's eyes. That was not the only difference, she realized suddenly, for his eyes held appreciation as he looked at her.

Jefferson nodded to him. "Good evening, Mr. Gold," he said cheerfully. "It is a lovely night, isn't it?"

The master nodded his head, glancing from Shayde to Jefferson and back, "Lovely, indeed," he agreed. "It's a pleasure to see you out and about, Mr. Milliner. I don't believe I've ever met your companion before." He smiled at Shayde shamelessly. "I am Mr. Gold, my dear. What is your name?" he asked, offering her his hand.

She smiled at him, although her heart was pounding in her breast like a bird fluttering in a cage. "I am called Shayde," she answered, pleased that her voice was steady. "I am happy to meet Jefferson's friends." She laid her hand in his delicately.

Mr. Gold's eyes narrowed slightly at her answer. "What an interesting name," he murmured, his fingers tightening on hers. "Is it a nickname?" He had an accent that was becoming more pronounced the longer she listened. He shifted his cane and leaned upon it more heavily as he studied her. He still held her hand in his and Shayde's smile widened as she felt the warmth of his skin against hers.

"I fear it is not," she confided. She tugged her hand free of his and clasped her hands across Jefferson's arm, fingers entwined. Jefferson beamed down at her, playing the indulgent escort. She turned her face toward him and leaned against him, "Shall we continue our walk, Jefferson, or would you rather return home?"

"I was showing Shayde the sights of Storybrooke," Jefferson explained to Mr. Gold. "She hasn't had much of an opportunity to explore since her arrival. I've been quite possessive of her time and attention." He smiled down at her.

Something flickered across Gold's face, a shadow of expression too quick to read, and his knuckles whitened on the handle of his cane. He paused for a moment then nodded pleasantly. "Of course, don't let me keep you," he said politely. "I was just on my way to Granny's for a drink. Perhaps sometime you will join us there while you are in town, Miss Shayde? Certainly before you leave, that is."

Shayde shrugged. "I suppose we might go there, if Jefferson wishes," she said. "I'm not leaving any time soon, am I?"

Jefferson shook his head then lowered his lips to her brow. "I'd be happy to take you there, darling, but there's plenty of time. I expect you'll stay with me for quite a long while yet." He smirked at Gold. "Please excuse us, Mr. Gold, and I will hasten to take Shayde home before she's too tired."

Mr. Gold nodded agreeably, his eyes turning toward Shayde with sudden intensity. "I hope that you enjoy your visit to our township, my dear," he said quietly. "If you are interested in learning anything about the history of the town, do be sure to stop by my shop. I have many quaint and curious items that relate to the past."

"I will be certain to do so," Shayde agreed. She clutched Jefferson's arm a little tighter, letting her flaxen hair fall forward to cover her face. She didn't trust her expression to hide her feelings and the excitement of standing so close to the man that she remembered so well was playing havoc with her senses. Jefferson wrapped an arm around Shayde, nodded to Gold, and they began walking back the way they had come.

Shayde felt her master's, er… Mr. Gold's eyes following their retreat.