A/N: Down to the last five/six chapters! If there is any confusion here, the Curse begins affecting Emma/Jenna and she doesn't know time stops. This was originally going to be much more explicit but it didn't seem right, especially not this time.
He frowned as he walked into his shop that morning. The queen had won. There was no doubting it now. With some of the last remnants of her magic, Regina's grip on the curse was even tighter. He shook his head. The 'savior' had failed. And she had only just arrived. There was no more point in investing in such a wasted tool. It had been only two weeks since he had planted the skeleton key. Not much more time remained.
'Time' he thought with a slight chuckle as he looked out towards the tower. Time was beginning to slow down again, though he was positive that no one else seemed to notice. Some days, the old clock on the tower didn't even move…
Fumbling with my skirt, I pull myself together as I head towards the back of the Diner. I don't care what Ruby says, it's not easy to be a waitress when your wearing a little red skirt and a white blouse. She pulls the look off well since she is so leggy. It's nearly ten and my shift for the night has ended. This is not the job that I had envisioned for myself. Rent is hard to scrape up and food, well decent food, is hard to come by. Thankfully, Regina's apples have lasted for quite some time now, and have become a good source of food for breakfast. I have dropped some weight in the last few weeks. All in all, the job here isn't bad and I am grateful for it.
Still, I miss the Sheriff's Department. I miss not having to work so many double shifts just to make my rent. I actually miss 'patrolling'. I miss not being able to see Mary Margaret now. With working such odd hours, I am barely able to see her. She works in the morning and my shift usually doesn't start till the afternoon. Regina comes in every so often to see how I 'like the change of scene', but I don't pay any attention to her.
I miss Graham too. Above all, that is one of the worst things I am dealing with right now. He tried to approach me the next day after I learned his secret. He was saying some odd things. Mentioned something about how he felt nothing with Regina and how he thought there was something wrong with him. How I needed to listen to him. I didn't want to hear it so I pointed him in the direction of Archie's office and told him to get himself analyzed. Since then, I have avoided him. He used to stop by the Diner to try and speak to me, but I would always find a different task to occupy myself. He gave up after a several tries.
'Graham" I think to myself, and my heart aches. I quickly push the memory away.
Sniffing slightly, I pull up a bar stool. I have just finished another long day and it is time for a well deserved drink. Tonight will mark my fifth month here. I must celebrate, even if I am alone. Glancing over, I frown. Not even Leroy is here tonight. I already have a whiskey waiting for me as I slump down in the stool, dropping by book bag next to me. In it, I have the book Ms. Jenna had given to me so long ago. I had been meaning to go back and read it, but every time I bring it in, something always comes up. Either Mary Margaret manages to get the same lunch break as me or Ruby has the same lunch and wants to hang out. Or, some days I don't even get a break. I slam down my whiskey and order a second. I'll get to the book eventually.
"The life of a waitress" I hear a deep, Scottish accent rumbling next to me, "How enchanting"
I look up to see Mr. Gold standing next to me. My mood sours.
"My rent's paid up" I mutter.
"Oh, I'm not here for rent" he nods at me as he pulls out the stool next to me and sits down.
"I didn't invite you to sit next to me!" I say sharply.
"I didn't ask for your permission" he says back, lips quirking up in a half smile.
Gripping my drink, I chug it down quickly and order a third.
"Then what are you here for?" I ask him as I begin sipping my drink, "You don't strike me as the kind of guy who just sits down next to people for social reasons"
"Then what kind of man do I strike you as?" he raises his eyebrows at me in question.
"As a man who thinks he's 'The Godfather'" I say, frowning into my now empty cup.
"Jenna, are you alright?" Ashley frowns at me when I order the fourth drink. She's just entered her eighth month of pregnancy, yet is still working at the Diner. Usually, she works until closing time.
"I'm good!" I say a bit to sharply. Ashley eyes Mr. Gold warily before she walks off to get my drink.
"Well Ms. Black, you are correct in thinking this isn't a social call" Mr. Gold comments when Ashley returns with my drink. He himself as ordered an Early Grey Tea. "If you remember some time back, it was acknowledged that you owed me a debt for breaking our deal"
"Ah, no!" I point a finger in the air as I sip my drink. Twirling around, I am now directly facing him. "I don't owe you anything!"
"Please do explain yourself" Mr. Gold turns in his seat to, eyes full of amusement as he watches me pour the whiskey down my throat. My knees brush against his and for once, he doesn't flinch.
"I have figured it out" I jab my finger into his shoulder. Everything around me has begun to spin and I resist the urge to giggle. "Tha-t contract! It wash…was for the…the josh, job as the corrections officer!"
"Yes, it was" Mr. Gold narrows his eyes as I order a fifth drink.
I flash a huge smile at him. "I moved oush…out of that job! The rent for my apartment, I pay you! The contract was for the job of the corrections officer! I moved to a different job! So there! And I no longer have neither job!"
"Yes, I heard about Mayor Mills releasing you. What a shame"
"I never hurt her staff members!" I add for good measure as I stare into the bottom of my cup. "As for the contract, it's null and void"
"Ms. Black, I don't think you-" he tried to say.
"No!" I stab another finger in his shoulder as I sip my new drink, "It was for the corrections officer job. If you got me that job, I owed you a favor! It said nothing about me transferring!"
Mr. Gold is looking at me with a look of wonder.
"You-you want to dis-dispute it, pull out that old contract!" he still says nothing, allowing me to continue rambling on. "So you can take your cane and stick it!"
"You found a loophole" for the first time, he flashes me a genuine smile, "Very good"
I smile at him, sipping on my drink. A thought crosses my mind.
"A few months back" he frowns when I say this, "You mentioned I needed to be careful of secrets. You meant Graham and Regina, didn't you? That's what he didn't want you to tell me"
"A few months back?" he questions me before muttering, "More like a few weeks"
"No, no" my brow furrows as I try to talk without slurring. "But, whenever it was, you were trying to warn me, weren't you?"
He doesn't say anything and I go to finish off whatever is remaining in my glass. Catching my wrist in his hand, he stops me. Feeling that strange tension building up again, he grabs my stool and drags it closer to him.
"I think you've had quite enough ma dear" he says, grip on my wrist tightening as he takes the glass out of my hand, "How old are you anyway?"
"Twenty-two. But you already knew that" a small giggle escapes my throat as I lean into him, "I'll be twenty-three soon"
"Yes, that's right" he muses, "Such a tender age"
"You're weird mister" I say with another giggle.
"Now that's not a nice thing to say"
"Its true!" I say as I stand up. Grabbing his arm, I feel the world around me move even faster. I have never had this feeling before and I love every minute of it. No wonder Mr. Allen drank ever night!
"Jenna, are you alright?" Mr. Gold asks me when I do nothing but blink for a minute.
"I have to get home now" I manage to sputter out.
"An excellent idea" he is suddenly off the stool knocking me slightly off balance, "I shall make sure you get there safely"
"Oh no" I giggle again, swerving a little, "I can get home just fine"
"Jenna, you can barely walk. I cannot allow you to go on your own in such a state"
He wraps an arm around me for support and I lean into him. He smells so very good. He grabs my book bag and hands it to me. I allow him to take me out of the Diner. I vaguely remembered Ashley protesting slightly, and I think I was the one who waved off her concern. I don't remember getting into his car. The next thing I know, we are standing outside of my apartment.
"I don't get you, and yet I do" I murmur as I fumbled with the keys in my hand. Everything is moving so quickly that I can't find the right one.
"I'm not sure I understand" he says as he takes the keys out of my hand and quickly finds the one for my apartment.
"You're creepy" I say honestly, leaning against my door, "You're downright mean and the worst thing I've run into since the orphanage. But I wouldn't want to see you any other way. I don't have to pretend around you"
"I glad you feel at ease around me" he moves closer to me before giving a soft laugh, "The adjectives, I'll choose to ignore"
I am clutching my book bag in front of my and the top opens slightly, exposing my book.
"What book have you got in there?"
The world around me is moving so fast and my curiosity is growing. "It's a book of fairy tales. Did you know about the accidents in the mines? About the asylum here?"
"What about it?"
I am so glad he knows what I am talking about. "Did you know that the people who came out of the mines thought they were story book characters?"
My body is slightly arched and I am so very curious. He moves even closer to me.
"Story book characters, how fitting. After all, our town is named Storybrooke" he begins toying with my hair again, "I wonder what character you would be?"
Feeling surreal, I drop my book bag and my hands find his jacket, pulling him towards me. Keys fumbling for the lock in one hand, he swoops down and kisses me. Door opening behind me, we move across the apartment, finding my room. He has long since dropped his cane and now has me back against the wall. His hands are tearing at my blouse. Feeling hands against me breasts, I can't help but gasp as I feel him pinch one nipple in his fingers. I feel myself being dragged across the room again.
Landing on my bed, I look up to see him hovering over me, pausing for a second. Feeling impatient, I reach out and grab him by the jacket, yanking him down on top of me. Feeling him grin against my lips as he lowers himself between my legs. Curiosity overriding any of my shyness. Tracing my hands down his back, I stop until I feel a certain hardness between his legs and for a moment he freezes and gives out a startled gasp. I begin rubbing it gently, loving the sound of him groaning. I have never done this before and soon he cups my hand in his, guiding my movements. I find the zipper of his pants, but he suddenly yanks my hand away.
"No" his voice his barely above a whisper, dark eyes shining brightly.
"Why?" I ask him. I am not to sure what comes next anyways, but it felt right.
"You're going to regret it in the morning" he traces a path from my ear down my neck.
"I don't care"
"Is that so?" his trademark grin is soon in place and he pulls away from me slightly.
I whimper slightly at the loss of contact. One hand gliding across my leg, he inches closer to my skirt, closer to that spot that is now aching between my legs. Hand underneath my skirt, he begins rubbing me gently, drawing such a delicious feeling that my hips arch in response and I try to stifle a groan. Hooking two fingers into my panties, he yanks them off me. Fingers on my bare skin, he begins stroking me, and I bite my lip. He finds my clit, giving it a soft pinch. Trembling underneath him, I feel his movements became faster as the feeling grows more intense. I can hear myself moaning and my body is now writhing beneath him. I stiffen slightly when I feel him insert a finger inside me. He begins moving and the feeling becomes white hot, sending jolts of pleasure coursing through my body.
"Are you sure this is what you want?" he whispers into my ear.
"Yes!" I moan in response as the feeling in my lower body becomes tighter and tighter.
I can't breathe, I can't say anything as I cling onto him as the pressure builds and builds. When I think I can no longer stand it, something snaps. Hearing a strangled moan escape my throat, the feeling becomes indescribable as waves of pleasure roll over me, sending my body into tremors. Gasping for breath, he leans back down and kisses me, swallowing my scream as my body still twitches uncontrollably. With his free hand, he has begun fiddling with his pants.
I cry out in pain when he enters me. Squeezing my eyes shut, I allow one tear to slide down my cheek.
"Stay still" he whispers in my ear as he kisses a trail from my neck down my collarbone, "The pain will be over soon"
He does his best to soothe me and for a moment neither of us move. Putting one hand under my leg, he encourages me to entwine my legs around his waist, easing the pain slightly. Slowly, I feel him beginning to move inside of me. In a strange mix of pleasure and pain, I gasp, and he kisses me again, hand cupping my cheek to hold me in place. Pain beginning to subside, I hear soft moans coming from me and his movements become faster. His body begins jerking wildly and he entangles one hand in my hair. With one final thrust, he goes still.
"Jenna. Jenna" he murmurs my name over and over as he clutches me close to him.
Feeling the last of the alcohol leave my body, I allow him to scoop me up close to him. Wrapping an arm around me, I feel as if I am in a loving embrace, and I soon fall fast asleep.
The time had finally come. Pushing open the cold, steel bars doors, Chess walked out of his cage, the last of his men trailing behind him. Finding his coat and some other various objects on the night officer's desk, he smirked to himself, silently thanking the stupidity of the cop for leaving the weapons where he could find them. Gathering his clothing, he twirled a long knife in his hand as the cop made his way back into the room.
Up next: Flashbacks and Jenna confronts Mr. Gold