Another Ficlet!

This one is dedicated to AnomalyDetected (LiterallyRaptors)!

Hope you enjoy!

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"Daddy?" Jefferson pulled his head up from the hat he was fixing. The hat was an old, brown, straw hat... Just a memory now...

"What is it Grace?" Jefferson asked while motioning for his daughter to come sit on his lap. She came bouncing over and Jefferson noticed she was wearing a long, purple, velvet jacket. "Where did you get that?" Jefferson inquired.

"I got it from your closet; I wear it when I get scared. That's okay, right Daddy?" Jefferson nodded as she climbed up. He had thought the coat lost in the fire, he was glad. She deserved something of her mother's. "I had a nightmare again, Daddy... It was the woman with the black hair again," Grace said.

Jefferson sighed, "Would you like some chocolate and cream cake?" Grace shook her head and offered another solution, "Tell me a story?"

Jefferson chuckled. Grace was smart, she knew how and when to ask for a story. "Sure, what would you like to hear?" Jefferson lifted Grace and turned her to face him. He smiled.

"I want to know what happened to Mommy," Jefferson took in a sharp breath; he let it out as a long gust of air as he debated. Should he tell her? She definitely was old enough, and she deserved to know how her Mother died. He decided she was mature enough to know, she would understand.
"Do you remember the stories I told you about Wonderland?" Jefferson asked. Grace nodded and smiled. "I love those stories!" Jefferson smiled. Yes, she did love those stories. Then he wondered if it was right to spoil her wonderful thoughts with the truth about Wonderland? She has to learn sometime. "You remember who I am in those stories, right?" Jefferson asked. Grace nodded and answered, "You're Hatter!" Jefferson nodded and continued. "Well, those stories were real. Believe it or not, you're half-Wonderlander! Your mother was an Oyster, but I was a Wonderlander," Jefferson was glad that Grace seemed happy by this news. She always hoped to be special, know she knew she had some magic in her. "The only thing about those stories that isn't true is the ending. Instead of defeating the Queen of Hearts, we lost. The Resistance rose up from the Underground and there was a long and horrible war. You were born then, but I didn't know of you. I was the Queen's captive and I wasn't out fighting with Alice; I should have been, then I might have been able to stop it..."

"Daddy? Are you okay? You're crying," Grace smiled and squeezed Jefferson's hand.

"I'm fine, Sweetheart... During the war, your mother, Alice, fought many battles. She narrowly escaped death or capture each time. One time in particular, she couldn't escape and she was killed. When they defeated the Queen of Heart shortly after, I was freed. As the news of your mother's death reached me, I panicked. I left Wonderland and came to live here. Just two years later, another Queen by the name of Regina came to my door with you. She told me you were my daughter and I took you in. Your mother was a hero and a wonderful person. I loved her with all my heart."

"Daddy, you're crying again," Grace said.

"I know, darling, I know," Jefferson concluded. "Now it's time we get you back to bed."
Jefferson picked Grace up and carried her to her bed. He laid her down and tucked the blanket up under her chin. "Good night, Grace..." He said, kissing her forehead.

Just as Jefferson was walking away, he heard Grace mutter "Good night, Hatter..."

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