Once and Forever Ch 9 Mad Reunions and Loud Celebrations
After Emma finally made it back to the station, she found Jefferson sitting at his desk cutting a very intricate pattern into a folded she of typing paper. Emma smirked.
"I like to make paper airplanes myself," she teased. He spun in his chair, and unfolded the paper. It looked like it was made of lace, and had dozens of tiny flowers and leaves. Emma gaped at the detail.
"For you," he said, presenting it to her proudly. Emma turned it over in her hands marveling at it.
"How did you do this? It's amazing!" she said. He shrugged.
"Hands of a craftsman," he replied, holding his hands up for her inspection. She shook her head in disbelief.
"It's awesome, but wow, you must have been really bored, to do all of that" she said, noticing the pile of paper lace on his desk. He nodded.
"It's been really quiet. I got the paperwork done, then had to entertain myself a bit." he told her, and she sighed.
"Small towns are, fun, fun, fun" Emma said dully.
From somewhere outside there was a big crashing noise, and then the power went out. Emma rushed back out of her office. Jefferson was on his feet, gun in hand.
"What the hell was that?" she asked pulling her gun as well.
"Sounded like a car crash," Jefferson replied. "We better get out there," he said. Emma nodded and grabbed her jacket.
"Remind me of this the next time I complain about it being slow here," she grumbled as they ran out of the office.
"You got it boss," he replied.
They ran outside the station, and looked down the street. There had indeed been a car crash. Someone had ploughed into a power pole, and brought it down lengthways on Main Street. The front end of the car in question looked like crumpled up aluminum foil, and it appeared to be leaking gasoline badly. Emma turned to Jefferson in panic.
"911 Jeff, fire department" she said quickly, her voice quavering as she spoke. He nodded, pulling out his phone. He spoke quickly to the dispatcher as they both raced over to the car. An unconscious woman was slumped over the steering wheel. Emma looked around a crowd had started to gather.
"We have to get her out of there! It could catch at any time," he said. Emma nodded in agreement.
"You're stronger than me, can you try to get her out? I'll work on getting everyone back," Emma said hurriedly. Jefferson nodded, and grabbed for the door. Emma turned to the crowd. "Get back! Get away!" she cried. The crowd dispersed a little at seeing the gasoline pooling under the vehicle.
Jefferson wrenched the door open. The woman had been wearing a seat belt, so she was not harmed, other than a purple bruise that was forming on her face from where her head had snapped forward striking the steering wheel. Jefferson reached in to undo her seat belt, then hoisted the woman over his shoulder as gently as he could, while still managing to do it quickly. Then he carried her away from the car, and across the street, til she was out of harm's way.
"Everyone away from here!" Emma called. Just then there was another bang as the car burst into flames. People were scrambling for cover, as the sirens blared in the street over from the fire department. Main Street looked like a war zone, and Emma looked on in horror. "Get away now!" she yelled, waving people away.
Jefferson knelt down to one knee, and carefully lay the woman down flat on her back. He hated to place her on the hard concrete, but she may have incurred internal injuries, and he might have done more damage by holding her than the pavement would. He brushed the white-blonde hair from her face, then all the color drained from his. The bruise on her face was nasty looking, but it was small, and only hid a small portion of her face.
"Alice?" he said softly, unable to believe his eyes. He'd seen her so often in his dreams. touching the uninjured side of her face gently. The woman's eyelids fluttered, and, she moved slightly.
"Is it alright?" she muttered, her light Britannic accent like music to his ears. He frowned, and looked down at her.
"Is what alright?" he asked her. She blinked her eyes into focus.
"The rabbit. I didn't want to hurt it. Is it alright?" she murmured. Jefferson looked around, but to no avail. He saw no rabbit.
"I don't see it. He must have hopped away," he told her. Her eyelids fluttered again, and she looked up at him. Their eyes met fully, and she smiled
"It's you, my Je," she said, starting to say his name, but passed out again before she could. Jefferson looked up at the street at the wreckage his beloved had caused, and shook his head. All for a rabbit. The blasted woman never did anything by halves. It was all or nothing. Not doubt she was his Alice. He looked back towards the burning car. Another moment and he'd have lost her for good. He swallowed the lump in his throat and looked back down at her.
"Jeff, is she okay?" Emma asked him. He motioned for her to come to his side. She knelt down by him.
"Any idea who she is?" she asked, and Jefferson leaned close to Emma.
"She's my wife," he said, his eyes full of worry as he turned them back to her. Emma stared at him.
"What do you mean?" she asked looking from him to her. Jefferson shrugged.
"I don't know where she came from, but it's her. She found me. She knew me Emma, tried to say my name. She's not cursed," he breathed, in awe of her. Emma looked at the unconscious form in front of her, ignoring Jefferson's crazy talk. She was very pretty, sporting a small upturned nose that her daughter must have inherited from her, and long white-blonde hair, that lay in fluffy waves.
"What's her name?" she wanted to know. He smirked.
"Already with the name thing?" he asked with a chuckle. "You read the story, right?"
"Jefferson," Emma warned. This was no time for games. He rolled his eyes, imitating her.
"Her name is Alice, of course," he said, and Emma looked at him skeptically. "And don't 'really' me right now Emma. She's hurt," he said, turning his eyes back to her. "She needs a doctor," he said, touching her face tenderly.
Emma watched him carefully. He did seem familiar with her, and she noted the loving look on his face. There was no mistaking that look. He loved this woman dearly.
"Okay, then we'll put you down as emergency contact before Regina can get her claws on her. We'll need a fake name as well," she said quickly. "Can you think of one?"
"Lyss, it's close to her name, and I called her that sometimes," he said.
"Alright. Just get her checked out. I'm gonna go break the law," Emma said, standing up. Jefferson looked at her strangely.
"What do you mean?" he asked, and Emma shrugged.
"She's gonna need a fake I.D, and I know how to make them," Emma told him. "I haven't done it for a while, but it's like riding a bike. Just get her to the hospital. I'll meet you there," Emma told him.
"Thanks for trusting me Em," he said. Then Regina's voice cut above the din. Emma looked up at her. Jefferson panicked. "She can't find out about her! She'll take her from me! I can not lose her again!" he cried. Emma looked back up at Regina.
"Shit!" she swore. She'd have to run interference. She looked back at Jefferson. "You owe me hat boy!" she told him. He smiled.
"Thanks," he said, and tried to look as though he was just watching over the unknown fallen woman until she could be picked up by the paramedics, and not guarding the love of his life from harm. Emma stood up and headed straight for Regina.
"What are you doing here?" Emma told her pushing her back on the sidewalk. Regina pushed at her hands.
"Unhand me Miss Swan! What are you doing?" she demanded, squirming away from the crazy woman.
"Look, we got lines down, fire all over the place, as you can see. You can't be here. You need to be at city hall right now," Emma told her. "If one of these lines comes down on you we are screwed," Emma told her hoping if she fed her ego enough she'd listen.
"What do you care?" Regina spat.
"Who says I care? But there is no one else around here to run things. I mean I guess we could get Mr. Gold to step in if need be. He knows the ins and outs pretty well," Emma trailed off.
"The hell you say!" Regina snarled. Emma smirked, she'd hit the right nerve.
"Madame Mayor, we need repairmen to fix this, and get the power back on," she told her. Regina took a look at the damage, and shook her head in disgust.
"What happened here anyway?" Regina wanted to know.
"Someone took out the pole with their car, and she's hurt. I'll get on finding out the why of it all, but we gotta get this cleaned up before anyone else gets hurt," Emma reasoned. Regina frowned.
"I realize that Miss Swan. I know how to run my town," she seethed at her.
"I never said you didn't. I'll investigate the wreck, and I'll let you know what I find out, deal?" she asked, and Regina blew out an exasperated breath.
"Don't use that word with me!" she demanded, and Emma rolled her eyes.
"Would you mind making a list of the words on your taboo list, so we don't have to go through this every time we speak?" she asked tiredly. "Am I allowed to use the word banana? How about rainbow?" she half wanted to call her 'dearie' just to get a rise out of her, but now was not the time for that.
"Don't be cute with me Miss Swan!" Regina said.
"Well really! Do you think I sit around all day thinking of ways to annoy you? Believe me your grace, you are not that high of a priority in my thoughts," Emma told her. Regina looked affronted. "Now I have to check on some things. I will tell you all I find out later on, agreed?" she repeated choosing her wording more carefully.
Regina gave a stiff nod, and turned in the direction of city hall. Muttering to herself the whole way. Emma took a cleansing breath and turned to go back over to Jefferson. EMTs had lifted Alice into a stretcher.
"You. Owe. Me." Emma said halting on each word. He nodded, small smile on his face.
"Okay, I get it. I'm going with her to the hospital." he told her. She nodded.
"I'll get the I.D done, then 'find' it close to the wreckage," she said low by his ear. "I'll meet up with you later."
"Thank you Emma," he said, and she clapped him on the back.
"Don't mention it. To anyone," she finished with a grin. He returned it and climbed up into the ambulance with her.
Emma felt a shiver of awareness run down her spine, and she just knew that Gold was standing there down the street watching her. She turned and caught his eye, smiling. He returned it, a look of relief crossing his face at seeing that she was unharmed. Emma held her thumb and pinky up by her head in a "call ya" gesture, and he nodded, surveying the damage, then mouthed "good luck" at her. She smiled, and nodded, mouthing "thanks" back, then air kissed at him. He ran his tongue over his top lip, then flicked his eyebrows upward seductively, making her giggle, and then turned to go.
After the clean up had begun Emma was free to get started on the woman's identification. She had it all, but a last name. She thought about it a minute. What would work as a last name? She'd wanted to peruse the book and come up with something from the story, but Henry still had it. Finally she settled on the last name Grey, as in Earl Grey tea, as in tea party. Gave her a chuckle, anyway. If she was gonna break the law she was gonna be amused in the mean time damn it!
She headed to the hospital fake I.D in hand. She'd make sure to tenderize it a little, make it look like it had been carried around in a woman's purse in other words. She found her friend sitting by the bedside of his unconscious wife. He noticed her out of the corner of his eye, and waved her over.
"Hey, looky what I found," she said handing it to him. He took it and smirked.
"Grey? As in Dorian?" he asked. She shook her head.
As in Earl, you know the tea ?" she said quietly. He chuckled.
"Cute. If I didn't know better I'd say you believe me," he said, and she rolled her eyes.
"Give me a break Jeff," she begged, then changed the subject. "So, is she okay?"
"She had a CAT scan, and no damage was done. They think it's just the shock of the wreck that's keeping her in this state," he replied. Emma nodded, crossing her arms.
"Well she ought to be fine then. Did you put yourself down as contact?" she asked him. He nodded, stroking Alice's hand lovingly.
"As soon as she's able I'm taking her home with me. She'll be safe there," he said gazing at her slumbering form. Emma had a funny random thought then.
"Hey, did ya try kissing her?" Emma quipped. Jefferson eyed her, and she giggled.
"She isn't under a curse Em," he said testily. She shrugged in response.
"I thought true love's kiss was a cure-all," she said, and he shook his head.
"Not necessarily," he said. "She wasn't touched by magic, this is different," Emma smirked.
"Look you missed her didn't you?" she asked her friend. He swallowed hard.
"Like you wouldn't believe," he sighed.
"So then, what's the harm? Kiss her," Emma nudged. "Show me some magic," she teased.
"I don't have magic Emma. You're the one with magic," he reminded her.
"Oh right, I forgot. You want me to kiss her?" Emma joked, and Jefferson covered his mouth to stifle his laughter.
"Emma, you are spending to much time around me. I've driven you crazy," he gasped. She grinned.
"It was a short trip sunshine. So you gonna kiss her, or you gonna move over so I can show you how it's done?" she prodded, cracking her knuckles. He rolled his eyes, and leaned to kiss his wife on the lips, brushing them gently with his own. Her eyelids fluttered, and then opened. Jefferson jumped back a little and stared at her. Emma's mouth fell open in shock.
"Oh, oh God," Emma breathed, covering her mouth with her hand. Jefferson whipped his head around and looked at her triumphantly.
"Great call Em! You did it!" he praised her heartily. Emma shook her head vehemently.
"Fuck-all I did it! You kissed her, not me!" she sputtered, her mind racing. What the hell had she just witnessed here?
"It was your magic Emma. Your magic made the kiss work!" he replied, not budging.
"Jefferson?" the woman lying on the bed said wearily. He turned back to his wife, his eyes misting with tears.
"Oh my love," he said, low enough that only they could hear. The mayor had eyes and ears everywhere.
"It is you!" she said, smiling brightly. "Oh I missed you my Jefferson!" she said, reaching out her arms to him. He hugged her close to him.
Emma was torn between smiling happily, and running in horror. Had she really just seen that work? She had been joking! No. It had to be a coincidence. The feel of someone kissing her had triggered some kind of fight or flight thing. That had to be it. Had to be, had to! She was fine, breathe, just breathe!
"Emma, come here," Jefferson said to her and she shook her head.
"I'm fine," she told him, trying to smile, her hands shaking like crazy.
"Nonsense. I want you meet her," he insisted so Emma moved slowly toward the hospital bed. "My darling, this is my friend Emma Swan. She helped me save you," he said, Alice turned her gaze to Emma, who blushed.
"Jefferson did the heavy lifting," she said sheepishly. "I didn't do much," she said, but Alice smiled.
"You have kind eyes Emma Swan. Thank you ever so much," she said sweetly.
"No problem, and just call me Emma okay?" she said, then remembered what Grace had said to her. You know Grace told me the same thing the other day," Emma told them. "The kind eyes thing?" she said, and Alice sat up in bed.
"Grace? How is she?" Alice cried. Jefferson seized his wife's shoulders gently.
"My dear we are living under a dark, and powerful curse. I realize you have missed a lot love," he began.
"I know about the curse, and I didn't miss as much as you think my love. I saw you, and her as time passed," she said wistfully.
"But how?" he asked. "Where were you?" Emma stood, listening in shock as she told her tale.
"I was running from the red knights, and I spotted a pond. I thought I'd be safe if I jumped into it and hid among the tall grasses. But the pond was a trap. It pulled me under, and down into a room surrounded on all sides by tall gilded looking glasses. I saw you looking for me. I saw Grace, and all my other family, and friends. But they couldn't see or hear me. You couldn't," she said sadly. "I yelled until my throat was raw, but all I could do was watch. It nearly drove me 'round the bend," she said, shivering slightly. "I'm not sure where I was, or how long I was there, but time stood still there. I was in a frozen in between place, not hungry or thirsty, or growing any older. It must had heave been a punishment from the the queen. You sit, unchanging as you watch your loved ones grow old and die. I wanted to get to both of you, but I couldn't," she said her voice cracking with emotion. "The mirrors wouldn't break, so I just sat there, watching, waiting," she said, tears falling onto her cheeks.
"How did you get away?" Jefferson asked stroking his wife's face softly to brush away the tears.
"I'm still not entirely sure how it happened. I was sitting alone on the floor, and it was as if the whole room turned itself on it's head, then I tumbled through one of the mirrors, and landed in an open field here in this world," she said looking up at her husband. "I searched everywhere for a trace of you or Grace, but the world has changed so much since I lived here," she mused, and Jefferson pulled her to him again.
"You found us love, that's all that matters," he said gently, kissing her temple. Emma smiled a little. The woman must have hit her head, really hard, but she seemed coherent, so she thought it must be okay to leave them there.
"Alright, that's enough fun for me today. I'm going, but first, here's the story if anybody asks," she moved closer to the bed. "She's a lost tourist. Her rental car place is going to bring her another car. I'll 'drive' her to the city limits to get it, and then you take her the back way to your place. Regina needs to think she's left town," Emma said to them. Jefferson nodded.
"Good plan, but what about the damages done to main street? She can't have insurance," he said, looking back to her. "Do you?"
"No, I was desperate to get here. I saw where you were in the glass. I just had to borrow a carriage to get here in," she said looking away towards the window. Emma eyed her.
"And when you say borrowed," she hedged. Alice looked at her hands.
"It isn't stealing, because I fully intended to return it. If it hadn't been for that rabbit it would have been fine. I've become a fair driver since I've been here," she told her. Emma blanched.
"Wait. A rabbit? You nearly killed yourself for a rabbit?" she asked in disbelief.
"I've always liked rabbits, especially white ones with little pink eyes. They are so darling I just can't bear to see them harmed," she replied with a shrug. Emma swallowed hard. She was in this room with a couple of people who thought they were the Mad Hatter and Alice, and she was beginning to feel like that hare, that threw things, and talked to spoons. She needed some air, and a chat with a shrink. She wondered what Archie was doing right now.
"Kay, well, I'm gonna go. Call me if you need anything," she said to Jefferson, then glanced at Alice. "Nice to meet you," she said with a little wave.
"Oh likewise, I hope to see you again soon," Alice called after her. Emma nodded over her shoulder, and turned to leave.
She hit the street and took a deep breath, to clear her head. She had just been involved in a conversation about red knights, curses, and enchanted mirrors. The sad part was that just for a second, she'd bought it, hook, line and sinker. They both needed to talk to Archie as well. She turned in the direction of her car when her cell rang.
"Sheriff Swan," she answered, and a high pitched squeal came out the other end of the phone making her wince,and hold it away from her ear.
"Oh Emma, thank you! Thank you so much!" Astrid cried. "I'm in love! And I'm so happy!"
"Great, I'm glad. Are you guys okay over there without power?" Emma asked her.
"Yeah, we got plenty of candles," she replied, in her sweet slightly southern accent. "Enough to choke a dragon. Anyway, I won't keep you I know you're busy. I said I'd call you," she said, and Emma smiled.
"Congrats girl, and to him too," she told the bubbly ex-nun happily.
"I'll tell him. Thanks again, goodbye," she hung up, and Emma grinned into the phone, then it hit her, "choke a dragon?" Who says that? Moose, hippo, even water buffalo she could buy, but what part of your ass do you pull 'dragon' from when making that statement? Emma sighed, and decided that there was something in the water, and turned to get into her car.
Thankfully, Storybrooke's power company was efficient enough to get the power up and running in about two hours. Just as the day was winding down, the lights in Emma's office came back on. She stood up and was about to leave when she heard the sound of heels clacking on the floor. Yippee!
"Sheriff?" Regina called before she came inside.
"Yeah, I'm here," she called trying to keep the ire out of her voice.
"So, did you find out what happened?" she asked impatiently. Emma nodded and sat back down.
"She's a lost tourist. She took a wrong turn, and ended up here. The car was a rental. I'm working on getting the info on that. She wasn't hurt too bad. She swerved to keep from hitting a dog, and hit the pole instead," Emma lied smoothly, carefully avoiding anything that could lend to Alice's true identity. Regina nodded.
"So, anything else?" the mayor asked impatiently, tapping her foot at Emma, urging her to get on with it.
"So far, that's all I know. I'll keep you posted," she said, and Regina nodded.
"So, she's awake then?" Regina asked her.
"She wasn't when I left at the hospital. She was awake for a minute, but she has a head injury. Jefferson offered to stay with her for a bit in case she woke up again," she told her. Regina made a derisive noise.
"I still can't believe you took him on as your deputy. He's very unstable, Miss Swan," Regina warned her. Emma shrugged.
"We all have our moments with stability Madame Mayor. He's as sane a person as I've met since I've been here. Now could you banana leave so I can finish up here?" she asked , and Regina looked at her like she'd sprouted horns.
"What did you say?" she asked, flabbergasted.
"I said banana. You said not to say the 'p' word, so banana, is my new 'magic' word. So would you, banana go, so I can finish up and go home?" she said, and Regina scoffed.
"You're crazy as Jefferson is Miss Swan," she said scathingly, and turned to go.
"Banana have a nice evening," Emma called after her, then as she rounded the corner and was almost out of earshot Emma muttered 'dearie', and Regina turned back and glared at her, then stormed out. Emma sniggered. Take that beotch!
When she arrived home she was never happier to be there. She knew she should have blown off the day and stayed in bed with Gold. She opened the door, and there laying by the door was a thick official looking piece of paper. She bent over and picked it up. It read 'Notice of dissolution of marriage' across the top. Emma laid it on the table, along with her purse, and keys. No sign of her roommate anywhere. Must be celebrating.
"David must have gotten his divorce at last," she said aloud to herself. "Good for them," she said, then walked over to peek in the fridge. Just then she heard a sound from the back of the apartment.
"God, yes! Harder David! Harder, harder!" Mary-Margaret cried, followed by a guttural grunt from David. Emma's eyes bugged out, and she swallowed hard. Had she really just heard that? A crash came from the room, next followed by another moan of. "Faster! Yes! right there!" Emma closed the refrigerator, and covered her ears.
"La la la la la la la," she said loud enough to drown out the noise, and she dashed back over to the table, and grabbed her things, before vacating the apartment tout sweet.
She plopped down in one of the chaise lounge chairs out front of the building and sighed. What was she going to do now? She was not going back in there right now. God only knew how long they be at it.
She pulled out her cell phone and dialed Gold's shop. She had promised to call him after all.
"Gold's," he answered. She smiled.
"Save me," she pleaded teasingly.
"Save you from what love?" he asked her with a chuckle.
"Save me from horror. I can't go back in my apartment right now," she told him with a grimace.
"Why ever not? Is something in there?" he asked his voice raising slightly in concern for her safety.
"David is in there. His divorce was finalized today," she said.
"Well, what does that have to do with you being stuck outside?" he asked her gently.
"They are celebrating in there, loudly," she added, to accentuate her point.
"Ah, well, now you know how we made Mister Booth feel. Karma is a bitch is she not?" asked her teasingly.
"Yeah, I guess so. I want to tell you about what happened today, but not over the phone. Can you come over?" she asked him.
"I was about to close anyway. I'll pick you up, and we can take a drive," he said. She grinned.
"Okay, see you in a few," she excitedly, and hung up the phone.
It was only a few minutes, and Gold pulled up in in his car. Emma gave an appreciative whistle and smiled when he got out and came around to open her door. Such a gentleman! She walked over to him, smiling.
"Normally I'd say a guy who drives a car thing big is compensating for something, but in your case, I know different," she said, leaning in and kissing him softly. He grinned around her lips, and pulled back to look at her.
"That you do," he said, wrapping his arms around her. She wrapped hers around him as well, and laid her head on his chest with a sigh. She had missed him, and they'd only been apart for a few hours. She could kind of sympathize with Mary-Margaret and David's wanting to celebrate, but still, she didn't have to hear it. Eww!
"So, where are we going?" she asked him, as she climbed in his car. He leaned on the door.
"Where do you want to go?" he asked her.
"Well, I was going to get something to eat before the crescendo began," she complained, making him chuckle.
"Dinner it is then," he replied, closing her door, before going around and getting in himself. "What would you like my dear?" he asked her, and she shrugged.
"Something quick. All I had for breakfast was a cold pop tart, and we didn't get to eat lunch today, so I'm starving," she said, and he nodded.
"I'm feeling peckish myself," he replied, in total agreement. He'd missed both meals as well, since he couldn't count having her for breakfast, though he'd gladly give up his morning meal for her everyday if it meant they could spend the time doing what that had done today.
Granny's was crowded as always. So they decided to go to Shan Yu's for take-out. They took the food to the park and sat under a small pavilion to eat. Emma couldn't remember the last time she'd wanted and egg roll so badly.
"So, how did it go with Versley today? Is he going to be okay?" Emma asked him, as she dug into the rice. He smiled and nodded.
"The case is solid. I think he'll be fine, all things considered. We just have to keep Regina from poking her nose where it doesn't belong," he said, and Emma made a tisking sound.
May be easier said than done. She's already sniffing around about that woman that took out the pole earlier," she said, and he leaned in closer.
"You did say you'd tell me what happened," he reminded her eagerly. She nodded.
"Okay, but not a word to anyone. This is just us, okay?" she said, and he smiled.
"You have my word love," he vowed, and she smiled at his endearment, then told him about the strange woman, and her involvement with Jefferson, leaving out the crazy parts.
"And now he's worried Regina will find a way to take her from him like she did Grace. I know that woman has something to do with that," Emma said. In her heart she was certain Regina was behind it all.
"It could be. She never has liked him," he mused, and Emma wrinkled her nose.
"I can't see why. He's a very nice guy once you get past his quirks," she said, unable to picture anyone not like Jefferson. He was such sweetheart! "I'll bet she doesn't like fuzzy bunnies and kittens either," Emma said, picturing her chasing the poor little creatures with some gardening tool screeching at them like the harpy she was.
"She likes them well enough," Gold replied. "I believe she had several fuzzy hat and coats," he quipped. Emma giggled.
"Feathered and furred creatures beware!" Emma said ominously, and then sniggered, which soon turned into a laugh. Gold laughed as well. She was more right than she knew.
.
"As long as I've known of Jefferson he has been a decent fellow. I'm pleased that his wife has found him," he said. Emma smiled. She was too. He'd looked so happy today as he'd seen his wife's eyes open, he deserved to be happy after all that had happened to him. Crazy as that happy may be.
They finished their meal, then got back in his car and drove around for a bit, pointing things out that she'd never noticed about Storybrooke before. She'd been in town for a while, but hadn't really had much of a chance to look around. It really was a nice town, if a little on the strange side sometimes. Emma guessed it was the whole small town thing, where everyone knows everyone. All the places she'd lived before had been bigger cities. It was nice to have a sense of knowing that's she was going to stay here for a while.
After he'd shown her the town he drove her back to her apartment. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed her roommate. After a few rings Mary-Margaret picked up.
"Heelllooo!" she sang into the phone. Emma stifled a giggle/grimace.
"Is it safe?" she asked in a hushed, teasing, almost terror filled voice.
"What do you mean?" she asked, sounding confused.
"I mean, I came in a while ago, and I heard you and David, celebrating his divorce being final, so I went out for dinner with Gold. I just wanted to see if I can come in now," she said in kidish voice.
"Oh my God!" Mary-Margaret cried. "You heard that?" she asked. Emma sniggered.
"I think they heard you on Jupiter Mare," Emma quipped, and Gold sniggered at that.
"I'm sorry! We didn't mean to drive you out of the apartment!" Mary-Margaret swore, and Emma giggled again.
"I'm happy for you two. I may also be scarred for life, but I'll live," she said, teasing her friend. "Is David still there?" she asked.
"No, he didn't bring any spare clothes and he has to work tomorrow," she replied, still sounding a little embarrassed.
"Alright, I'll be in a few," she said, and Mary-Margaret murmured 'bye' and they hung up. She turned to face Gold. "All clear," she said, looking relieved.
"Good, you look tired my dear," he said reaching out to brush his fingers down her cheek. She nodded, leaning into his touch.
"I am. All that chaos in town today really took it out of me. I'm hoping I can sleep, she said, sliding over closer to him. "I guess we'll find out if sleeping with you is the cure for those dreams I've been having," she said, and he grinned.
"Indeed. I hope you can rest, but if not, I'll happy try to cure you again," he teased, running his hand up her thigh. She squealed, and he chuckled darkly.
"Evil man!" she accused him, and he preened.
"Flattery will get you everywhere my dear," he quipped, and tugged her closer to kiss her soundly on the lips. She kissed him, back, and sighed as his hands leisurely roamed her body.
"Gold, I have to go inside in a minute," she breathed against his lips. He grinned, and pulled her across his lap.
"So, I have exactly one minute to make you scream my name, then?" he asked and dipped his head to her collarbone, and closed his lips around it.
"Gold!" she cried, and he looked up at her victoriously.
"Was that even one second love?" he asked, and she snarled like a wild creature, and slanted her mouth across his, her tongue invading it. He was surprised, but he wasn't going to complain. He loved how forceful she was when she wanted something, especially if that something was him. He reveled in the fact that this beautiful princess wanted him this much. Sadly there in the car on a public street, with Regina's spies lurking around here and now was not the place for a tryst, so he reluctantly ended the kiss, stroking her face gently.
"I hope you have sweet dreams love," he said softly to her. "May they be of me, how was it you put it earlier? Oh yes, of me, fucking you blind," he said then, his voice dark, and seductive, and she moaned quietly at hearing him say that in his voice.
"So not fair!" she cried. "Just you wait, we will finish this," she promised, her hips grinding into his to accentuate her point.
"Finish?" he grunted, his voice more playful then.
"Finish. And yes, it's a promise," she said. His eyes danced with mirth.
"I can't wait dearie," he told her. "Come over for dinner tomorrow night, if you're free?" he asked her. She smiled.
"Sounds good, I'm free. What time do you want me?" she asked him, and he grinned.
"All the time love," he said, and she giggled. "But shall we say seven o clock?" he asked, and she nodded.
"Sounds like a plan. See you tomorrow," she said, leaning in to brush one more kiss over his lips.
"And tomorrow, love," he replied. She loved hearing him call her that. She gingerly slid from his lap, and got out of the car. She waved, and stood watching as he drove off in the direction of his house, then sighing a little, she walked, albeit a tad wobbly, up the front steps, and into her building.
When she walked inside she found her roommate eating chocolate chip ice cream at the kitchen table. She took in Emma's slightly disheveled appearance, and grinned. Emma closed the door behind her and grinned back.
"So, have a nice dinner?" Mary-Margaret asked her.
"Yeah, how was yours?" she asked, and Mary-Margaret blushed.
"Oh Emma, I really think things are going to work out this time. He and I are finally free to be together," she sighed. Emma smiled.
"Yeah, now we gotta get Kathryn together with that gym teacher guy, and all will be right with the world," Emma said going over to the utensil drawer, and getting another spoon.
"Say what?" Mary-Margaret asked, offering the paper carton to Emma. She dug her spoon in and grinned.
"Henry thinks that the gym teacher at school is her true love, and we are supposed to get them together," she said, rolling her eyes fondly as she thought of her son.
"Oh that's sweet. Henry is always thinking of others," Mary-Margaret said, smiling as well. "I'm going to hate when this school year is over. He'll move on the the next grade, and forget all about me," she sighed.
"Nah, he won't forget. He'll probably visit all the time," Emma assured her, her eyes drifting closed at the taste of the ice cream.
"Maybe. So what happened in town today?" Mary-Margaret asked, so Emma explained all she could to her, leaving out the part about who Alice really was. The less people that knew, the better.
She sat talking to her friend for a bit before Mary-Margaret said she was tired, Emma believed her fully after what she'd heard. Emma drifted upstairs and lay across her bed, mulling over the day. She hadn't been so exhausted in a while, and sleep wasn't long in coming.
She was running down a stone pathway toward, Jefferson? His hair was longer, wilder, instead of perfectly styled. He held his arms out to her, a broad smile on his face, and lifted her off the ground, swinging her over his head, and around in a circle. She giggled as he set her down, and swept a bow at her.
"My lady," he said. His voice sounded different, like hers had before. "How have you been bluebell?" he asked her tweaking her nose.
"I'm doing well sunflower," she replied, and he laughed.
"I should call you dandelion You've grown like a weed!" he said looking at her. "Quite the young lady now. Papa must have to beat the suitors away with a stick," he mused, and she shook her head.
" Not really Jeff. They all think I'm strange, all but this one fellow, and I'm afraid I don't much care for him. He's a dullard," she said rolling her eyes. "All he cares about is my looks, and I don't like him," she said firmly. Then looked past him to a very pretty blonde woman standing off to the side. Her face broke into a grin "Is that who I think it is?" she asked him.
"Oh, what is the matter with me? My manners are seriously lacking. Come here love," he called to the woman, and she came over to him, taking his arm. "This my love, is my little sister, and this bluebell, is the woman I crossed time and space for. My beloved Alice," he said, and Alice reached to take her hand.
"I'm pleased to meet you. Jefferson has told me all about you of course," she said smiling brightly at her, and she returned it.
"I'm so glad he found you!" she exclaimed. "He was dreadful to be around before," she informed Alice.
"No telling tales on me bluebell. I wasn't that bad," he defended. She looked at him impishly.
"He went positively mad," she told her, making Alice giggle.
"Oh I know. No worse than I was, of course, but he was looking a bit ragged when we found each other," she confided, and Jefferson looked affronted.
"How is this now? The two women in my life conspiring against me?" he teased, and they laughed.
"Of course. We women have to stick together to get anywhere in this world!" she told him, and Alice nodded in agreement.
"Well said sister," she sang, and then clapped a hand over her mouth. "Oh dear, my mouth has run away with me again1" she cried. "It was meant to be a surprise," she finished lamely.
"What was?" she asked looking from her brother to Alice.
"We are married bluebell. Alice is my wife. My very chatty wife," he admonished her playfully, swatting her on the behind. She blushed and looked away.
"I'm sorry, but I was caught up. I'm ever so glad your sister excepts me. Everyone where I come from thinks me odd because I won't follow the rules of society there," she scoffed.
"Then we have more in common than you know sister. I'm the funny girl around here," she said to the other woman and walked forward to hug her, glancing over at Jefferson. "Well since she's family now must make her a flower!" she cried, and Alice looked up in alarm.
"A flower?" she asked.
"Just a nickname love. Our mother gave us flower nicknames when we were young Bluebell, Sunflower, Daffodil, " he told her and she relaxed.
"Oh, very well then," she said relieved.
"Well then bluebell, what shall she be?" he asked her. She sized her up a moment.
"Well, she favors the color blue, and she's been always in your mind, so shall we name her forget-me-not?" she said smartly, and a huge grin broke across Jefferson's face.
"Forget-me-not," he mused a minute. "I like it! What about you my love? Can you live with that that? I know it's a bit mad, but," he asked her trailing off, She smiled.
"I love it! They are one of my favorite flowers, and my favorite shade of blue!" she said in delight.
"Well then my forget-me-not, welcome to the family,"he said kissing her cheek. She blushed prettily.
"Yes, welcome. Papa will be so pleased," she chattered to her, linking her arm through Alice's. "Now come and I'll show you where you can freshen up a bit...
Then the dream changed-
"Belle!" Jefferson cried rushing up to her. "There you are. You must take care of Grace. You are the only one I trust!" he huffed. She looked at him in alarm.
"Why? What the matter? What's happened" she asked him. He looked anguished.
"It's Alice! I have to go back for her!" he cried "I can not lose her again!"
"Go then sunflower, I'll take care of her, never you fear," she promised her brother. He smiled, and kissed her on the cheek, then leaned to kiss his daughter.
"I love you both! I'll return for her soon bluebell, I swear!" he said, giving them one last look before, turning to place his hat on the ground. It began to spin, and then he jumped into it, and was gone, leaving her standing there holding a now screaming baby in her arms. Her eyes filled with worry for her dear brother, and for he beloved sister in law as well. She swayed on the spot, jiggling the little girl a bit.
"Hush now snowdrop, it'll be alright. Your papa and mama will be back soon. Until then, you are here with auntie, and it will be alright. I know, I'll read you a story. Would you like that?" the little girl's crying softened, intrigued with her aunt's voice. She smiled down into her sweet face, and she batted her eyelashes at her. "That's right love, no more tears. Now what shall it be? A dragon tail, or mermaids? I've got loads of stories snowdrop, I'll tell you both, and then we'll have a nice meal, and take a walk through the orchards," she cooed to the infant. The little girl stopped crying completely and snuggled closer to her, as she carried her through a large stone archway...
Emma say up breathing hard, and looking around. What in the hell? After she calmed down, she grabbed for her dream journal, and wrote it down. There was no way in hell, it was just where she'd met Alice today, and her brain had made it into a dream smiler to the ones she'd had before. That was all!
Granted, she did feel a sort of brotherly kinship with Jefferson, but she'd done without a family for so long it was nice to think of a friend as you would a family member, and he was going through much of the same thing as she was. Fighting for his daughter as she was her son. They had that in common.
These dreams were going to drive her crazy. Maybe they already had. She had listened raptly to Alice's story earlier and was drawn into believing her. That had to be the cause of these last two dreams. She picked up the pad and reread it.
Jefferson had called her Belle, and bluebell as a nick name. Henry had posed the theory that she'd been Belle in another life. She shook her head, and laid it down again. Okay, Belle did not exist. She was a character in a book, movie, and a play. That's all, the end!
Then again, the Mad Hatter didn't exist either. Nor did Alice, or Snow White, or Prince Charming, or Red Riding Hood, or anyone else! No matter how much anyone believed they did. Damn it!
She got up and walked over to the window peering out at the few neon lights in town. It was late. She had at least been asleep a while. She went to get a drink of water, and then made her way back to bed. Tomorrow, she'd just ask Jefferson if he'd ever had a sister, and what did he used call her. There was no connection from Belle, and the Hatter in the book, so there was no way he'd know the answer. That would prove to her once and for all that these dreams were foolish. Maybe if she believed hard enough they'd stop, or maybe she could just move in with Gold, and let him cure her. He had offered after all, she thought smiling to herself.
She closed her eyes and tried to will a dream about Gold to mind instead of freaky medieval dreams. After a few minutes she drifted off again. This time she managed to elude having any disturbing dreams for the rest of the night.
A/N: I hope you liked this chapter. I was originally going to have the woman in the car be Aurora, but my muse said no, make her Alice, so Alice is back, and this chapter was born. It doesn't change the plot except now Jefferson has his wife back. I don't like him being sad. I like Jefferson. Please review, and tell me what you all think so far!
