Disclaimer: Once Upon a Time does not belong to me! All characters and references to the show belong to ABC and Channel 5.

Once Upon a Time: School's Out! The Third One-Chapter 24

Two weeks passed since that night, and in that time the general order of Fairytale College was restored. With the aid of James Nolan's recording, Regina's name was cleared (in fact, Mr Boss had actually called Mr Mills and suggested to investigation into his wife's own sanity) and the Daily Mirror newspaper was required to publish a new, deeply apologetic column explaining that Regina Mills was perfectly sa...uh...well...as mentally sound as she had always been!

But sadly, it was not all good news. While she was evidentially innocent of the claims that she was planning on poisoning Snow White again (the culprits of the frame job were still being uncovered) Mr Boss could still not give Regina back her status as Student Body President. However, he did happen to mention that there was always the re-election next year, hinting heavily that she might be in with a better chance than she thought. It turned out that George Spencer was the type to let power go to his head, and evidentially that didn't make for a good Student Body President.

But the biggest perk to all this? After seeing that Regina had clearly been set up, he had called off the school psychologist, admitting that anyone would've snapped after the pressure she'd been under.

So, all in all, not a bad result. Relapse Mills was no more, and Regina Mills was free to carry on with her education, and her life, however she wished.

OUAT

A week later, and it was the Royal's football game against the Wraiths. This was it. The big one. The Championship game that they could not afford to loose at any costs. Everything they had worked for rested on this one football game. If they won this, then the Fairytale College Royal's would be the reigning champions of the College football world.

When the promised time dawned, the eager afternoon sunlight swamped the stadium in preparation for the players. Up in the bleachers, fans, parents and friends alike screamed and cheered encouragement for their teams, waving flags and banners they had made, some even openly praying in the warm summer afternoon. Below the bleachers, the cheerleaders cheered:

"Go, go, Royals, go, go! Go, go, Royals, go, go!"

"Win the game!"

"Win the Championship!"

"Watch out that Belle doesn't punch you!"

"Oh, SHUT-UP, Aurora! She's not even here!"

Jefferson Hatter watched the pre-game prep from high in the bleachers, leaning his chin against his hand in boredom. He wasn't really a sports fan, the only reason he just came to watch the hot cheerleaders jump around in those tight little outfits. He was disappointed that Belle wasn't there (she must be skipping yet another game!) but hell, it wasn't a complete loss. Whoever it was that decided to put Ella Boyd in a short-skirt, in his opinion, deserved some kind of medal...

But, wait...wasn't there someone missing? Someone besides French?

Yeah. There was. Where was the hot co-captain of the Royal's cheerleaders, Ruby Lucas? Even he knew it wasn't like her to be late for something like this-

Gah!

The Hatter jumped violently when he felt something smooth run against his shoulders. He jerked his head back to find the flawless, curved form of Regina Mills sitting right next to him. She was much too close to him for it to be innocent, and was wearing a tight, low cut black shirt and short skirt that showed a lot of her luscious long legs. As she looked at the hatter, she wore a very odd smile on her pretty red lips.

"Regina?"

"Hey Jefferson" she said smoothly, her hand still at his shoulder while he stared at her in amazement, her fingers curling against the bone "Long time, no see"

"Uh...yeah, I guess so" he responded. Why was she here? Didn't she hate him? "Why are you here? Don't you hate me?"

Regina laughed delicately, as though he had said something highly amusing. Removing her hand from him, she covered her mouth with her red nails "Well, truthfully, Jefferson" she said once she'd finished "I have had an...aversion to you in the past. But sometimes things change" she smirked, lifting an eyebrow suggestively.

Jefferson's lip twitched, and his heartbeat started to speed up. Was she suggesting...what he thought she was suggesting?

Oh, he hoped so "But, I thought" he started coyly, leaning towards her "That you had gotten back together with that bus boy you love so much"

Regina's grin widened "Yeah. So?" she leaned closer too, and Jefferson felt the warm weight of her hand stroke down the arm of his leather coat.

At the back of the Hatters mind, there was a small voice telling him that he shouldn't even consider doing this. Some gut instinct telling him the he should just get up and run like hell, now!

But, unfortunately for him, Jefferson tended to listen to his libido rather than his common sense. Hey, the hottest girl in school was practically begging for it from him! And who was he to say no? It's not like she knew about the role he played in her downfall or anything...

So, eagerly, Jefferson stood, and Regina grinned up at him as she took his hand, rose to her feet, and began leading him out of the bleachers.

Jefferson smirked well, this is gonna be a very good night! He thought arrogantly.

Little did he know that, as she led him out of the bleachers, Regina was thinking the exact same thing.

OUAT

She led him down to the boys locker rooms. It was empty, the lights were off, and it stank of old socks. Jefferson's nose wrinkled, but he didn't make a fuss. He was hardly going to complain about the smell when he was so close to scoring with Regina freaking Mills!

"Can you close the door?" Jefferson smirked, Regina's voice was so breathy! Was she always like this when she was turned on?

Closing the door behind him, the Hatter blinked in the darkness, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the gloom. He reached out in front of him and felt Regina's hand grasp his. Grinning, he started to pull her towards him for a kiss, but her free hand on his chest stopped him.

"Wait" she murmured, and he was just about to ask what was wrong (suppressing his own impatience in the process) when he felt her slender fingers fist in his shirt, and her lips brush against his ear "Take it off..."

Jefferson sniggered "Only if you will" he whispered back, and he felt her lips curve upwards against his skin.

"But of course" she said, and that was all the incentive he needed. When her fingers left the fabric of his shirt Jefferson pulled it off and threw it to the floor, and not long after he felt Regina's assiduous hands unbuckling his belt "All of it..."

"Your wish is my command" without hesitation, Jefferson's hands lowered to his belt, and in a flash he was completely undressed except for his hat. He held out his hands to the sides, waiting "Well, Regina? I'm ready!"

"I bet you are" he heard her chuckle, but for some strange reason her voice was coming from some distant part of the locker-room. Jefferson frowned. Why had she moved away? And what was that chuckle about? That was not a seductive chuckle, nor a nervous one (though he didn't really expect her to be nervous. It was Regina Mills for Gods sake, he doubted she even had a nervous bone in her body!) it was a devilish sounf, and it sent shivered down Jefferson's naked back, his instincts were screaming at him again, telling him that something was wrong, that he needed to get out of here!

But it was already too late.

"Now" said Regina's voice "Let there be light!"

In a flash the lights of the boys locker room were on, flooding the area with bright light. Jefferson hissed in pain and blinked in the harshness of it "Regina, what the hell?! Are you trying to blind me?!"

"No, but I am!" trilled a voice, and without thinking Jefferson turned around "Smile, ass-munch!" the room was once again engulfed in a blinding light, and the boy groaned as his eyes were pierced by daggers of brightness.

"What?!" he cried, rubbing his eyes to remove the blind spots. He heard giggling in front of him, and when he eventually opened his eyes he saw, to his horror, Ruby Lucas standing in front of him, decked from head to foot in her cheerleading uniform and holding a little silver CAMERA IN HER HAND!

"WHAT THE HELL?!" Jefferson screamed, pulling off his hat and using it to cover himself even though it was far too late. His head swiveled around to Regina, who was leaning against the wall with the biggest, nastiest smile on her face "WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON HERE?!"

"Relapse Mills!" snapped Regina, her smile fading, and Jefferson was unable to do anything but stare at her in horror and confusion "I know that you were behind it, you bastard! You were working for my mother, and you wrote those things about me so I would blame French and kick her ass!"

"W-what?!" gasped Jefferson "How did you find out?!" he screeched, too wrong-footed to even attempt to lie.

"Well, it's quite simple, really" said another voice, and the Hatter felt all the blood rush out of his face at the sound of a familiar Scottish accent "She had me"

Slowly, he turned around again, and he let out a squeak of horror when he saw Rumplestiltskin walk out of the same shower room Ruby had sprung from, a stony look on his face and eyes that were firmly fixed on his face. What was worse, he had Belle on his arm. Her nose had healed now so the medical tape was gone, and like Ruby she was wearing a cheerleading uniform. For some reason she had a large black bag that was almost as big as her hanging over one shoulder, and she too was looking at him with an expression of stone, although her eyes had the same twinkle of amusement her boyfriends had.

Jefferson stared at them all in open shock and dumb confusion, barley noticing when another flash came out of Ruby's camera, the cheerleading captain muttering something about a screen-saver.

"Get his clothes!" Gold ordered, and Jefferson could only stand there, hat covering his crotch, as Regina darted forward and grabbed his shirt, pants and coat. She looked at Gold reproachfully.

"I'm not your serving girl, you know" she grumbled, standing next to Ruby as she took yet another photo, a huge smirk on her face.

"Whatever" Gold shrugged. Turning back to Jefferson, he kept his eyes firmly on his face as he continued "Now, here's the thing, dearie-"

"I'll report all of you for this!" the Hatter screeched desperately "This isn't funny-"

"Oh, yes it is!" Ruby laughed, her camera flashing again. Gold groaned in irritation.

"If I could continue?" he snapped, and Ruby quickly fell silent. The Scottish teen took a steadying breath, and then continued speaking to the naked hatter "Now, here's the thing, Hatter. We all know the truth about the Relapse Mills article, even before you confirmed it just now" he chuckled at Jefferson's stupidity, and the hatter glared futilely "I won't bore you with how we know, I will just tell you this. We" he gestured to himself, Ruby, Regina and Belle "All feel that this deed should not go unpunished. It took some time but, eventually, we came to an agreement" he smiled maliciously, and Jefferson felt his forehead break out into a sweat.

"So...what are you gonna do to me?" he said with gritted teeth.

Gold's grin widened "Oh, well we thought-"

"We're gonna paste naked pictures of you all over the school!" Ruby blurted out happily, clapping her hands over her mouth at Jefferson's horrified expression "Sorry" she added when Gold glared at her.

Jefferson, however, was shaking his head, terror coursing through him. They couldn't do that! He...he would be ruined! He'd be the laughing stock of the entire school! His reputation would be nothing!

"You can't do that!" he whimpered, looking at each of them beseechingly. From Gold, Regina and Ruby, he got stony and amused looks. Then he turned to Belle, and though she looked just as hardened, he knew she wasn't as heartless as them. Right?

"Belle..." he said pleadingly, and she raised an eyebrow "Please...you can't let them do this to me!"

The young beauty looked at him for a long moment, her expression giving away nothing. Then, as the Hatter started to fear the worst, the young beauty sighed, and turned to her companions "He's right, guys. We can't do this"

Jefferson felt that he could cry with relief, a small smile coming to his face as his feeling of dread lifted and he got to listen to the dulcet tones of the groups outrage.

"What?!" Ruby yelped, her camera lowering heart-brokenly

"Oh, go to hell, French!" Regina growled "I want my revenge and I'm getting it!"

Even Gold looked pissed "Belle, that prick-"

"We can't do this" she stopped him, holding up her hand, turning to face the nude boy with an impassive face "Because that is not what we agreed on"

Oh look, at that feeling of dread was back. Jefferson gulped.

"You see, here's the deal, Jefferson" said Belle, and she pulled the black bag off her shoulder and placed it at her feet while the hatter watched. He glanced over at Rumplestiltskin, who was watching his girlfriend with pride. Ass "The photo's that Ruby took?" she pointed to her friend, who grinned wickedly "No-one has to see them! In fact, they can all be gone before morning breaks!"

Jefferson almost felt elated, but he wasn't stupid, he knew there was a 'But' coming.

"But-" called it! "There is something you have to do for us, in exchange"

She then bent down to open the black bag, and when Jefferson heard Ruby giggle he looked towards her and Regina. The red head had a wolfish grin on her face, and Regina was looking more evil than ever. Gold meanwhile, was looking at Belle like she was a goddess, and when he happened to catch Jefferson's eye, his lips parted in a tooth-filled grin.

"You see, Jefferson" said Belle, her hands delving into the bag and rooting around "A rather important member of the Royals football team has called in sick, and can't come out tonight. In exchange for us not destroying your precious reputation, we'll need you to fill in, and wear the uniform in this bag" from her bent position, she looked up at him "Do you accept?"

Jefferson blinked, hardly able to believe his luck. That was it? In exchange for not showing the entire College what he looked like naked, they wanted him to sub for a football game? He fought the urge to laugh. God, how stupid were these idiots?

"Well?" Belle's voice cut into his thoughts, and with an impressive amount of effort he managed not to smile as he nodded.

"Yeah. I accept"

Gold grinned, as did Regina, and Ruby laughed and readied her camera as Belle smiled and rose up from the bag, pulling Jefferson's "Uniform" from the bags black depths.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!" Jefferson screamed, his horror completely genuine as he got his first look at the monstrosity Belle held in her small hands. Regina laughed heartily at his reaction, and yet another flash came from Ruby's camera.

Belle blinked, looking innocently confused "Why, it's your uniform, Jefferson"

"I love you so much" Gold said to her fondly, and Belle blushed as Jefferson's mouth babbled in disgust.

"B-but you said...you said you needed someone to be part of the football team!" he screamed, pointing at her with one hand while the other kept his hat in place. In response, Belle smiled softly, and Jefferson didn't think he had ever seen anyone look so evil.

"But haven't you heard, Hatter? The mascot is always part of the team!"

OUAT

"GO ROYALS!"

"KICK THE WRAITHS ASS!"

"GO LEFT, FREDERICK! NO, LEFT, DAMMIT!"

"DO IT, JAMES! DO IT FOR OUR BABY!"

The Royals championship was in full swing, almost to the halfway point, and so far the scores were tied at two all, with the Royals plowing back and forth across the field with the Wraiths using every passable dirty trick in the book. James narrowly missed the foot aimed at his back as he leapt into the air to catch the football Frederick threw his way, and dove over the diving bodies of two muscular Wraiths to land on the ground and throw the ball to Peter as he surged to the right end of the field, ducking, diving, throwing and catching until he reached the end of the field with the ball in his hands, and dodged another yeti-like Wraith so he could reach the goal-posts and slam the football onto the ground.

"YEEEEEEEEES!" The Royals and their supporters screamed in victory at the goal, while above the stadium the the tally on the score-board changed so that it now read: HOME: 3 VISITOR: 2

"CURSE YOU!" the Wraiths screamed, kicking and pounding their fists into the grass. One Wraith defender even went so far as to punch his fellow team-mate in the face while his helmet was off. The Wraiths were not known for their cool tempers.

"O.k! That's half time!" the referee shouted through his loud-haler, and James walked back up the pitch with the biggest, smuggest smile on his face. He knew it was only half time, but he couldn't help it, and he knew he wasn't the only one, as his entire team had a certain spring in their step. If anyone dared to say it out loud, then they all knew that, the way things were going. they could very well be on their way to winning the Championship and becoming one of the rare college football teams that actually defeated the Wraiths. Without first having to prove that they cheated!

Laughing to himself, James took off his purple football helmet and wiped a waterfall of perspiration off his face. Man, he could really use some cold water!

But, as he went to walk off the football pitch, someone grabbed his arm and brought him to a halt. Instinctively, he jerked his arm away until he saw who was holding it.

"Oh, hey Ruby. Listen, half-time's gonna end in twenty minutes and I just wanna get-"

"I think you'll want to stay" said Ruby, whose voice was...shaking, for some reason, and the corners of her mouth were quivering like she was trying not to smile. James frowned, but when he looked up, he noticed that other members of his team were being stopped too, mainly by Belle and Ella, both of whom had huge, albeit slightly devious smiles on their faces. He looked back at the smirking cheerleader who still held him "What's going on?"

Ruby couldn't seem to contain it anymore, and a choked laugh ripped from her throat as she opened her mouth to speak. But before she could utter a single word, an even louder, and completely unexpected voice sounded throughout the entire stadium. So loud and commanding it was, that it silenced everyone in the bleachers and cheerleaders and footballer on the sidelines.

"Good afternoon Fairytale College! And what a splendid afternoon it is too! If I could just have your attention for a few minutes, I have a little announcement to make!"

James looked along the side of the football stadium, where the cheerleaders usually stood, and his eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw none other than the evasive, lurking-in-the-shadows-cannot-come-out-during-dayl ight-lest-he-burn Rumplestiltskin, standing in front of the entire crowd, talking to them through the referee's own loud-haler.

"Ruby..." said James skeptically "What's Rum-"

"Shh!" Ruby hissed, and he was surprised to see her staring at Gold with a strange light in her eyes "It's just about to get good!"

"What do you mean?" James asked, and Ruby laughed, turning to face him.

"Do you remember" she asked, her voice shaking again "After Rumplestiltskin figured out that Jefferson had framed Belle, that he said he was gonna get him back somehow?"

"Uh..."

"I will destroy him, until he is reduced to nothing more than a pathetic worm! To a whining little bastard who still pisses the bed! Believe me, dearie, there will be suffering!"

"Yeah" James nodded "Something like that..."

Ruby grinned, and inclined her head towards Rumplestiltskin, who was still speaking:

"This afternoon, the Royal's football team has some unexpected entertainment for you!" he shouted, walking along the sideline as he spoke animatedly, with the same enthusiasm a freak-show host or circus owner might possess "Tonight, for one time only, we are presenting to you the Royal's new dancing mascot...JEFFERSON HATTER!"

"What?!" James cried, and then laughed out loud. A curious murmur spread throughout the stadium, right up until the painful sound of high-pitched feedback screamed through the crowd, making them all cry out and clutch their ears. But soon the feedback faded, and they were able to focus on the figure lumbering into the centre of the pitch.

James gasped. In the stands, Snow White clasped her hands over her mouth, and Regina clapped her hands, shaking her head slowly as she grinned. Next to her, Daniel Hay had already started laughing, wrapping an arm around Regina's waist and hugging her tightly. On the sidelines, Ruby cackled so hard that she nearly fell to the ground, as did Belle and Ella, clutching each other for support. Rumplestiltskin just smirked. He was saving his laughs for later.

On the pitch was the form of Jefferson Hatter. But he was not dressed as he usually was, oh no. Instead of his usual top hat, black pants and long leather coat, he was wearing a ridiculously humiliating costume that consisted of a wide purple and gold striped hat that sat an inch above his skull, making his head look laughably small, long golden leggings that clung to his legs and were so bright they actually shone, and feminine purple boots that reached his knees. But on top of that, there was the huge, almost completely circular top half of the costume which looked like a purple and gold striped parachute that had been inflated from the inside, with a vast silver and gold necklace surrounding the neck. So wide was the costume that Jefferson's arms hung almost completely stretched out at the sides and made his movements awkward and wobbly so that he had to waddle to the centre of the football pitch, nearly tripping over several times.

And in his hands? He held two maraca's.

Managing to break out of his laughter for a moment, James looked down at Ruby, whi had bent over at the waist from her laughter "Why-why does he have maraca's?"

Ruby stopped laughing, looked up at him, and then proceeded to laugh even harder than before, wrapping her arms around her stomach as she gasped.

"J-just wait!"

James wanted to ask more, but was fortunately interrupted by the sound of a popular song blasting into the stadium, and once he heard them, he joined Ruby on the floor in simultaneous hysterics.

"ITS PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME! PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME! PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME!"

The pitch exploded into peals of laughter as the Mad Hatter started to dance, shaking the maraca's and kicking his legs out in time with the music with a face that was so crimson it looked like it was on fire.

"PEANUT BUTTER JEL-LY! PEANUT BUTTER JEL-LY! PEANUT BUTTER JEL-LY!"

"Shake it, baby, shake it!" Ruby yelled, and then screamed with laughter as the Jefferson proceeded to do so. She bent her head into James' shoulder, the owner of which was laughing so hard he was completely silent.

"Yeah! Show us what we're missing, Hatter!" Regina shouted, standing up to scream across the field before collapsing back onto the bleachers against Daniel's chest, his arm wrapping around her and clutching her waist tightly as he couldn't help but shout:

"If that's what you call game, then you're playing by the wrong rules, buddy!"

Even Rumplestiltskin couldn't contain himself. Leaning against Belle to stay upright, he pressed his fist against his mouth to muffle his wracking laughs. But that changed when Jefferson violently wobbled in his costume, and fell flat on his face.

"Oh my God!" Belle laughed into her hand as Rumplestiltskin completely lost control and nearly fell to the ground. Looking up at Jefferson, who was now doing an excellent impression of a turtle stuck on it's back, she shook her head in disbelief.

"You know...I think I've just realised that there is no way in hell I would have ever fallen for that boy, not in a million years!" she said, which caused Rumplestiltskin grin wider.

"Thank Christ!" he said, and then started to laugh even harder as Jefferson's helpless screams could be heard all the way from the centre of the pitch.

"CAN SOMEONE HELP ME UP, PLEASE?!"

"PEANUT BUTTER JELLY WITH A BASEBALL BAT!"

OUAT

After that, Jefferson was rarely seen by the Student Body, too consumed with shame and humiliation (to which Rumplestiltskin, Ruby and Regina all took the credit for) to so much as leave his bedroom. Nobody really minded, as they were too busy reveling in the Royal's spectacular win. After Jefferson's...display, the team had gotten back on the pitch and played like they never had before, securing the Championship title at an amazing 8-4. Despite the injuries sustained (some of them post-game) the entire team was euphoric, unable to stop talking about the game for a full week.

Fortunately, they were not alone in reveling in their victory. By the time Friday had rolled around, people were still slapping James on the back as he walked down the halls and regarding him with unquestioned awe, staring at him like he was a God and calling out things like "You rule!" and "There goes our Captain!" and "You're invincible, Nolan!"

Although James Nolan was not a petty man, he'd be lying if he said he didn't enjoy it...just a little.

But for him, the true achievement of the game was Snow White's face when he came off the pitch. Despite her huge pregnant belly she had leaptat him, crushing him tightly in her arms as tears streaked down her cheeks, sobbing about how proud she was. He grinned at the memory, continuing down the corridor to the College's main hall. The Dean had come to them that morning, sweat dripping down his face and practically panting with nerves as he told them that every student was required to meet in the College's Main Hall at precisely 4pm. No exceptions!

As James closed in on the hall's main doors, he waved to Thomas, Ella, Ruby and Peter, who were outside waiting for him. But for some reason, Snow White wasn't. Where was she? It was almost eleven, she was gonna be-

"Ah!" James cried out as something small slammed into his back and nearly sent him tumbling to the ground. Fortunately, the something quickly grabbed his arm and pulled him upright before he could.

"Oh my God! I am so sorry, are you alright?!" a female voice cried, it had a British accent, and was laced with concern and embarrassment.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine" said James, shaking it off and turning around to face whoever had bumped into him. He got a rather luminous surprise.

She was a woman, around 28 or 29, with thin black wire glasses and long dark hair that flowed down to the middle of her back. From the neck up, she looked normal enough, but from there everything just went...well, the kindest term James could think of for her appearance was Bright.

From the neck down, she wore a bright pink vest top that was covered by an open-weave orange poncho that stretched to her pelvis, and below that were a pair of bright green leggings that stretched all the way down to her feet, which were covered by two deep purple suede boots.

On her hands, she wore many thin rings, some of them with stones, and each of her fingernails was painted with it's own individual colour so that it looked like there was a rainbow on her hands.

James couldn't help but stare at this woman, even if he did get eye damage in the process.

Her appearance...I've never seen anyone dress like that...

"Excuse me?" said the woman "Can I ask what you're staring at?"

James' head snapped up, his face flushing instantly "Uh, nothing! Sorry!" he stammered, but the woman smiled good naturedly, as though she was used to it.

"Think nothing of it, my love, I get it all the time" she said, sweeping her hand down her strange clothes obviously "Sorry I crashed into you, there" she suddenly apologised again, and James shrugged.

"It's O.k, I'm not hurt. I'm just grateful you caught me before I fell!" he said, and the woman smiled again with a mildly relieved expression. Deciding to take his leave now, James nodded "Well, have a nice day" he added, and prepared to walk to his friends.

"Thanks...oh no, wait! Hang on a minute!" she called him back, and James slowly turned around. She was reaching out a hand to him as if waving him to her, and lowered it when their eyes met. She fiddled with a stand of her hair, looking a little embarrassed.

"Um...I'm actually a little bit lost" she cringed, holding up the sheet of paper that James assumed was a map of the school "I've never been to this College before, you see, and I don't really know my way around" she said, pulling forward a name tag that, before, had been unnoticeable due to the brightness of her clothing. It was a blue label that read VISITOR in large black letters.

"Right..." said James "Uh, I'm sorry but I'm afraid I can't help you" he apologised "I have an assembly to get to and it starts in five minutes-"

"Oh!" the visitor stopped him eagerly "Is that the assembly that the entire College is meant to attend?"

"Uh...yeah?"

The visitor squealed happily "Yeah! That's were I'm meant to be! But I can't find the hall I'm supposed to be in, so can you tell me where it is, please? Or could you maybe take me there? If it's not too much trouble?"

James stared at her oddly. You mean the hall that's...right behind me? He pointed a thumb in the direction of the hall, and the woman looked behind him, following his thumb. She frowned behind him for a second before a short (but loud) laugh burst forth from her and she smacked the side of her own head.

"Oh my God, I'm such a prat!" she laughed, shaking her head at her own idiocy "Thanks James, I owe you!" she then walked past the boy, reaching up to gratefully smack his shoulder as she passed.

Completely and utterly befuddled, James turned around and watched the strange woman as she walked towards the hall. He wasn't the only one, as her attire got her quite a few stares from passing students. As she passed James' group of friends, she beamed and waved her fingers at them before shoving open the Main Hall's doors and strolling inside. Like James before them, they stared at her rather oddly, although Ruby and Ella were good as to wave back. They then turned their heads to him, wondering who the hell that woman was. James shrugged back and started to walk towards them, not quite sure what had just happened.

But, although it took him a few moments to realise it at first, that wasn't the strangest thing about the encounter. Because the conversation had only lasted five minutes, and the two had never traded names.

So how the hell had she known his?!

OUAT

Before Regina went to the assembly Mr Boss had called everyone to, she quickly went to the bathroom. The one perk of her not being the Student Body President anymore (something she was planning on changing very quickly next year) was that she didn't have to be early for the assembly's anymore to announce anything or anyone. Besides, even if she was late she was sure Daniel, her re-acquired boyfriend (she still smiled at the thought) would save her a seat.

So, ten minutes before she was due in the Main Hall she pushed open the door to the girls bathroom and walked inside, but as the door closed behind her, she froze. She had not expected there to be another girl in here.

Least of all a girl of the name Snow White Blanchard.

She was leaning against one of the sinks, staring at her own reflection in the mirror with her long black hair in front of her face. She didn't turn around when Regina entered, apparently not noticing her arrival.

Still standing in front of the bathroom door, Regina swallowed, not really knowing what to do.

By now, she had heard all about Snow White's involvement in her mother's thwarting, how she had been the one who had convinced James to go with Daniel that night, and how she had been the one to convince Daniel to do some investigating of his own.

'For some reason, she'd believed in you' Nolan had said, and she hadn't known how to respond to that, not really knowing how she felt about it. Confused that Snow White, of all people, had helped her? Definitely. But what else? Annoyed that she had interfered? Suspicious that she had an ulterior motive? Touched that she had tried to help her? She honestly didn't know.

For the past three weeks, the two hadn't really had a chance to talk things over. Rumour had it that Snow White had been getting more and more tired recently, and as such had been spending a lot more time in her dorm room, and Regina herself had been busy. Exams and her...reconciliation with Daniel had taken up a lot of her time and she hadn't had any left over to-

O.k, that was a downright lie. Truthfully, she hadn't really wanted to have to thank Snow White Blanchard for everything she had done for her. Because dammit, the little fertility bank had done a lot for her!

But now, here she was, less than six feet away and pretty soon she was going to notice that Regina was there. She sighed inwardly, well, I may as well get this over with...

So, she stepped forward, and cleared her throat to alert Snow White to her presence. Quickly, the young woman spun her head around to face her, and Regina quickly started to speak before she lost her nerve.

"I, uh, I suppose I need to-"

"Regina!"

Regina frowned, angered at her interruption. Here she was, swallowing every ounce of pride she had to thank her, and she wouldn't even let her get the words ou-!

"H-help me!" Snow White gasped, her voice pinched in agony.

Regina blinked. What?!

Then she noticed the way Snow White's face, usually so flawlessly beautiful and calm, was now as white as a ghost, terrified and drenched in sweat. Her delicate hands were gripping the porcelain bowl of the sink so tight it looked like her bones would burst from her skin, and her legs were stiff on the ground and trembling.

Regina stared at her, feeling all of the blood rush out of her face and her palms start sweating. In her current state, there could only be one explanation for this "Snow..."

"P-please!" Snow White sobbed, tears flowing from her green eyes "H-help me-ooooooooooaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!" she cried, one of her hands letting go of the sink and wrapping around her stomach. Regina watched in terror as Snow White's legs buckled and she fell to the ground on her shins. She lifted her green-eyed gaze to Regina's brown one's, panting heavily.

"Call...call an ambulance!" she whimpered, sobbing gently "She-she's coming!"

But Regina was frozen, unable to do anything but stare, and Snow White hissed through her pain "D-did you not hear me?! The baby's coming! She's coming now!"

Regina still stared, too stunned to do anything, and Snow White growled.

"GODDAMMIT REGINA, MY DAUGHTER IS COMING OUT OF ME RIGHT NOW! SNAP OUT OF IT AND CALL ME AN AMBULANCE BECAUSE I SWEAR TO GOD IF I GIVE BIRTH ON A BATHROOM FLOOR I WILL MAKE YOU EMMA'S GODMOTHER!"

And that was what snapped Regina out of her terror-struck state "OH MY GOD!"

And that, my lovelies, is the final chapter!...nah, I'm joking it's not. O.k, funny story, I had the final chapter of this written up, but there was a HELL of a lot in it, and I didn't want to make the chapter too long, so what I did was I split the two, so now there are 25 chapters instead of 24, and chapter 25 should be up sometime tomorrow once I'm done editing it.

By the way, I would just like to thank everyone who submitted their idea's for Jefferson's punishment, they were all brilliant and funny, but sadly I could only choose one, and here is the shout out to the brilliant mind who thought of it:

Grace5231973! From the second I read it your idea made me laugh out loud and I am eternally grateful for both your spectacular imagination! I brought your idea to life as best I could and I hope I did it justice, because you have NO idea how much fun it was to write! XD

Oh, and while I'm here, the peanut butter jelly time song does not belong to me. Hee hee XD