Hey guys. Sorry for the long wait. Just been a little busy with exams and stuff :/ but here's a new chapter!
I heard you guys are happy to see Jefferson. Don't worry, he'll be sticking around for a bit, cos, you know, he's awesome :D

"Here." Jefferson passed Belle a sandwich and an apple through the little flap in the door, "Don't worry, it's not poisoned." He grinned, looking at the apple. For the last two days, Jefferson had made sure Belle had a proper meal so she wouldn't ever go hungry. And made sure she wouldn't go mad without any company.

Belle sat comfortably on the floor smiled back as she took the food, "Why are you doing this?"

"You need proper food, sweetheart."

Belle shook her head, "Why are you helping me escape?"

Jefferson only shrugged, "I know you remember. You're not really insane. You shouldn't be locked up here. And I know what it's like to be trapped for so long." His smile faded at the memories.

"Why? What happened?" she tilted her head a little, getting a closer look at the saddened eyes of the strange man.

"Nothing..." He whispered, avoiding eye contact with Belle. But she wasn't satisfied with the answer, so she moved closer so that she could get a proper look at Jefferson through the flap.

"Why won't you tell me?" she asked. After a few moments, he looked up and sighed. Then turned his head to make sure they weren't being watched.

"I had a daughter. Her name was Grace. Here it's Paige."

"You have a daughter?" Belle seemed surprised.

Jefferson nodded, "Back in our land, I made a deal with Regina. And because of that, I lost her. I lost Grace. I was trapped in another world with no way back."

"She was left all alone?" Belle saw his jaw clench.

"She had some other family to take care of her, but she's never seen me since. Never remembered me since." Belle lifted her hand to where Jefferson's was resting on the edge of the flap, and she held it tight.

"Don't worry. I know the curse will break. And when it does, you can go find her, go be with her again."

He shook his head, "She'll hate me."

"Don't say that. Why would she hate you?"

"Because I left her. I promised her I'd be back home in time for tea. And I broke that promise."

"It wasn't your fault."

"Yes it was. We were poor. I didn't have to make that deal with Regina. She promised me if I did, my daughter wouldn't want for anything again."

"You were only trying to help her." Jefferson shook his head sadly.

"What do I tell her when the curse breaks?"

Belle opened her mouth to reply, but the sound of footsteps made her keep quiet. Jefferson put a finger to his lips and stood up, the flap closing as they both took their hands away. Belle could only hear voices.

"What are you doing here, Jefferson?" it was Regina.

"I work here." He replied, a little irritably.

"Well you're not just guarding this one cell. Go check up on some of the other patients." Her demand was only followed by silence. Belle started to wonder what type of relationship Jefferson had with Regina. She assumed it was the same as hers and Rumplestiltskin's. That the two hated each other. Regina was, after all, the reason why he wasn't with his daughter, Grace.

After a few moments Belle heard footsteps walking away from her cell. She guessed Jefferson had left.

Belle jumped when her flap opened, automatically pushing the sandwich and apple behind her. Regina stared at her through the door and smiled. Then after a few moments in uncomfortable silence, she simply walked away.

What was that? Belle guessed that Regina was just checking up on her. Making sure she was still there, still unhappy. Not for long, though. Jefferson had made a promise to her two days ago. That he would help her escape.

Rumplestiltskin stood in his pawnshop after recently being let out of jail the day before. He hadn't actually got the chance to go to the hospital, and even if he did, he wouldn't be allowed to see to Belle. Luckily for him, no one had visited the shop since. He'd spent all his time thinking about Belle. Had all that time in that horrible place made her go insane again? Had she forgotten who he was? Unless she had someone to talk to while she was in there, Belle would go back to her cursed-self. If only he hadn't been sent to jail, he would've been able to do something. Maybe try and help her escape.

Then the bell rang, cutting off all his thoughts.

"Miss Swan. Come to arrest me again?" Emma rolled her eyes and walked up to the counter.

"I just thought I'd give you a little update on Belle. She told me about you two a while ago and I promised I'd keep my mouth shut. Now I want to help her."

"You want to help her?"

"Well, as much as I can. I can't let her out of the hospital, if that's what you mean."

"And do you believe she's insane?" Emma took a moment to consider before answering,

"I haven't seen anything to prove that she is." She said evenly.

"Well, what's going to happen to her?"

"Dr Hopper is going to take a look at her. See if she's actually mentally stable."

"Excuse me?"

"Well, you know that it wasn't intended to keep her there forever. Just temporarily, until we were able to get hold of someone who could take a look at her."

Rumplestiltskin wasn't completely sure how he felt about this. In one way, he was glad. Dr Hopper had cured Belle once (only if it wasn't going to last) and he could cure her again. But then, the curse did make her insane. She wasn't really one hundred per cent mentally stable. If Dr Hopper could see that, then they were screwed.

"When is he going to see her?"

"In one week."

One week. Would she last that long?

"Do you think I could see her?" Emma shook her head.

"I wouldn't recommend it. You need to try and stay away from her for a bit. Give her a little space until we know what's going to happen with her."

He didn't like the sound of that. All he wanted was to see how she was doing. For himself. At least one visit. One visit, and he could try and get her out of there.

Rumplestiltskin looked irritated. Emma could clearly see this, "Don't worry. You will see her again. I won't let them stop you from seeing her."

Rumplestiltskin was silent for a moment. This felt a little bit strange. The way Emma was acting towards him. Why she was being so nice to him.

"Why are you helping me?"

Emma shrugged, "I know what it's like to be kept from someone you love."

Rumplestiltskin smiled, "Ah. Henry. Is Mayor Mills still keeping you from him?"

"Don't push me, Gold. You know the situation. Just keep out of it and worry about your own problems."

"Don't worry, I'll keep well out of the way."

Emma turned to leave, "You'll be able to see Belle in at least a week." She opened the door.

Rumplestiltskin called after her, "Miss Swan." she popped her head back through the door,

"Yeah?"

He was a little hesitant before replying, "Thank you."

Emma smiled a little triumphantly at the words before leaving.

"Hey. I have something to tell you." Jefferson said quietly as he passed Belle the hospital food, and some extras.

"What is it?" Belle knelt in front of the door to take the food.

Jefferson avoided looking at her, "I, uh, I can't see you anymore."

"What? Why?" she felt tears begin to prickle at her eyes a little. Jefferson was the only friend she had here. The only person that kept her sane. And she really enjoyed his company. Without him, she would be truly alone.

"I'm really sorry. I really want to be able to talk with you. It's just, apparently there's a no-talking-to-the-patients-while-working rule, and I might have been spotted."

"Someone saw you?"

"Regina. She's told me if I'm caught again she'll fire me. Then I really wouldn't be able to talk to you."

"So I can never see you again?" her voice cracked a little as she spoke.

"No, not never. I'll still bring you extra food. Don't want you going hungry. I just won't be able to talk to you."

Belle slouched down from the door. She wouldn't be allowed to talk to Jefferson, probably ever, again. But then she remembered, "Are you still going to help me out of here?" she asked hopefully.

"Of course. I told you, I know what it's like to be trapped. And no good person deserves that. Especially you."

Belle smiled, "How are we going to do it then?"

"Well, Dr Hopper is coming to see you."

Her smile disappeared a little, "What?"

"He's coming to check if you're sane. If he says you are, then you're allowed to leave. But if he says you're not… then you're still going to get out of here."

"I am?"

Jefferson grinned and nodded, "Yep. And that'll be fun."