"Hat Trick."

A girl sat on the table as her companion worked furiously on a hat that he was making in hopes of returning to his daughter. "Are you sure this is the best way Hatter?" the girl asked looking at her companion of the last twenty-eight years. "I admit it's not ideal, but she is the saviour. It has got work Vena." He muttered as he added more material to the already finished hat. "So we're just going to find a way to kidnap her from inside the house?" Vena asked moving off the table to the window.

Releasing a sigh the man stopped his work and gathered the teen into his arms in a gesture of comfort. "I know it sounds insane Serafina but it may be the only way for us to become free of this house." He muttered into her ear as he rested his tired head on her shoulder. "Jefferson we may be the only people in this world that know who we really are. Let me try making a hat I still have my magic." She bargained turning to rest her head on his chest. "You've tried and failed before this is the only way." He replied before pulling away and heading out of the room. "You just take care of the guest we are currently entertaining!" he called over his shoulder, with a smirk on his lips.

The sheriff of Storybrooke could be seen driving her yellow car when all of a sudden a figure appeared in the fog. Noticing the figure a little too late Emma jerks the wheel to the side in an attempt not to hit the figure, who jumps out of the way but falls down the incline at the side of the road. Getting out of the car to assist the figure that she had possibly hit Emma called "I'm sorry! Are you okay? I didn't see you there."
"uh, I think so." Jefferson replied getting up form where he had rolled to. "Are you sure?" Emma asked sceptically as she looked at the man that she had never seen in the small town of Storybrooke before.

"I'm fine. I'm not used to sharing the road with cars so late. You're the sheriff, aren't you?" he asked finally pausing to actually look at the female that had nearly hit him with her car. "Yeah." she replied looking around herself. "What brings you out here in the middle of the night?" he queried with a curious look on his face. "Oh, nothing to worry about. I'm just looking for a lost dog." Emma replied not looking at the man so he could not catch her lie, making her unable to see him narrowing his eyes with a small smirk forming. "Well, I hope you find it." He said hiding his smirk as he turned to find the path he was looking for. "Thank you." Emma said as he began to walk with a noticeable limp present in his leg.

"Oh, you are hurt." Emma called as she noticed the obvious limp as he continued to walk along the path. "No, I just twisted my ankle, I think. I live just a mile down the road. I'll make it okay." He replied as he half turned his body so he could look the female in the eyes. "No. let me drive you. I insist." She called moving to her car thinking that she could make it up to the man for nearly hitting him this way. "Thank you. I'm Jeffersom." He introduced hiding his smirk form her sight as he limped toward the passenger side of her car. "Emma," Emma replied looking at him form the corner of her eye.

Fairy tale land – past

Jefferson ran through the woods , trying to escape from something as he stops to catch his breath from behind a tree only to be caught by his daughter. "Papa, I found you." She said with happiness easy to hear in her sweet voice. "You certainly did. You must be part bloodhound, my dear Grace." He replied in a playful manner as he looked at the only thing he had left of his beloved wife Alice. "Now it's my turn to hide, and you seek." She said as the excitement rose with in her. "I'm afraid playtime's over. Though, you can still use that nose of yours to hunt mushrooms. Enough to sell at market tomorrow. Do you think you can do that? Ready or not, here we come." He informed the girl making the chore seem more like a fun game than a way to bring money home for food and clothing.

As the father and daughter pair made their way back to their house, the carriage of the queen came into sight form between the trees. "Wait." Jefferson ordered his daughter as he saw the dreaded carriage. "Whose carriage is that?" the girl questioned confused about her father's sudden order. "The Queen's." he replied the hate clear in his voice. "In our house? Do you know her?" she questioned her father not understanding how such a wicked woman could know where she and her papa live. "Of course not. Now, listening carefully. Hey. I want you to stay hidden in the woods. Like our game. I'm going to find out what she's doing here.

Watching his daughter run off to hide in the forest like she was told, Jefferson turned and entered the house to see Queen Regina waiting for him. "I'd like to say you're looking well, Jefferson, but I'd be lying. Poverty doesn't suit you." She greeted with a smirk on her painted lips. "What are you doing here Regina?" he asked not bothering to use her proper title. "I have a job for you." She replied ignoring the blatant lack of manners on his part. "I don't do that anymore." He told her moving away toward a different part of his small home. "Yes, I heard you hung up your hat. Why? Is it because of your sweet daughter Grace?" she asked trying to get a rise out of the once great man.

"Because of my work, she lost her mother. I don't want her to lose her father, too." He said clenching his fists in an attempt to not say something he may regret. "So, now you're foraging for fungus. What kind of future does your daughter have here with you? Do this one last favour for me and you can give her the life she deserves." She bargained desperate for her request to become a reality. "That's why I'm staying. You don't abandon family. That's … what she deserves. Now please leave." He requested as he returned the toy that had appeared in the queens hand to its previous place.

"All I need is your special skills to get me somewhere. Somewhere you've been before. Do it, and I can change your life." She reasoned, not yet willing to admit defeat to the hatter, while handing him a piece of paper. "What business could you possibly have there?" he questioned as his curiosity go the better of him. "Something of mine was taken and found its way over there. I want it back." She informed knowing that she was slowly getting closer to what she wanted. "Then, find someone else to get it." He said handing the paper back to the surprised monarch. "I see. Hard living has strengthened your resolve. Well, I'm sorry I couldn't convince you, but I understand. There's nothing more important than family." She said in a condescending and yet understanding voice.

Storybrooke

The familiar yellow of Sheriff Swan's car rolled to a stop in front of a large house that was built on a hill. As the two passengers climbed out of the car Emma decided to comment on the size of the house. "Wow. This is your house? It looks more like a hotel. You must have a huge family." She complimented not realising the pain that her words had just caused the man. "Nope. It's just me and my sister." He said not looking at the female that he had conned into giving him a lift, as he started to make his way up the steps that led into the great house. Upon seeing the man struggling to get up the stone stair Emma moved to help him get inside of his house. "Here. Wait." She called trying to help him safely enter his home.

A few minutes later found Emma sitting on Settee waiting for Jefferson to return with refreshments for the two of them before she returned to her search for Mary Margret Blanchard. "Here we go. I thought you might want to warm up for your search. It's cold out there." He said as he entered the sitting room with a tray of tea. "That is kind of you, but I think I should get back to it." She reasoned eager to find and clear her friend of the accusation of murder. "I know. That's why I brought this. I'm a bit of an amateur cartographer – mapping the area is a hobby. Maybe, this will help you track down your dog." He said laying out a map on the table in front of the blonde.

Emma muttered something that Jefferson did not catch as he noticed his 'sister' waiting just outside of the door "What's his name?" he asked trying to get the woman to relax. "Spot." She replied with the first dog name that came into her head. "Cute." He replied with a knowing smile before neutralising his features as Emma looked over the map while she calmly sipped at the tea that was made for her. Not noticing the intent stare of the man opposite her she began to mutter a plan to herself "Well, Route Six runs the boundary of the forest, so … so, if I just follow that, I should … be able to …" she trailed off feeling a little drowsy. "Is something wrong?" he asked with a blank stare. "I'm just, uh … feeling a little …" Emma trailed off dropping the cup as she began to black out. "Oh. Let me help you." Jefferson said as he moved to guide her to the couch. "Dizzy." She finished her sentence. "Let's just lie you down here. There you go. Let me get you some air." He said giving up all pretences of being injured as Vena joined him. "Your limp…"

"Oh. That. I guess you caught me." He said with a slight shrug as Vena hugged him from the side. "Who are you?" Emma asked before the drugs that were in the tea claimed her, "If they make a mess I am not cleaning it Hatter." She muttered as she watched him move toward the bindings that she had brought into the room with her. "I never said I expected you to, pixie!" he muttered back in a playful manner.

Fairytale land past

Jefferson and his daughter Grace could be found every week walking through the outdoor market. This week however was different as Grace seemed to notice before her father. "The toy cart!" she exclaimed noticing an old woman who enticed with one word. "Come." Looking at the toys a white rabbit dressed in an overcoat caught the girls attention as she picked it up. "Wouldn't this make a perfect guest for our tea parties, Papa? Can I have him? Please?" she asked looking at him from where she stood with the toy.

Not being able to refuse his daughter anything he asked the woman the price so the rabbit. "That costs one silver." She replied as she watched the two interact. "Would you take it for eight coppers? It's all I have." He bartered in hopes that the woman would grant his daughter her wish. "Oh, you are a good father. Your last coppers for your little girls happiness, ah?" she said as he looked around them. "Thank you." He said moving to grab his purse to pay the woman. "Oh, I did not say I accept. Alas, I cannot take less than one silver. The economy. You understand." She said looking pointedly into the fathers eyes.

"It's okay, Papa. Come on –people are waiting." Grace said as she replaced the toy from where she had found it, grabbed her father's hand. "I will not take no for an answer." He muttered looking around for the hag that had denied his daughter for desire. "Papa, please. I don't need it." She replied looking at him as she pulled him toward the end of the market. "Come on, sweetie." He said hugging her closer as he felt a burst of pride in his chest at her words. Neither of the pair noticing the hag walk to a mirror where the Queens face appeared instead of the hag.

Storybooke

Vena once again sat on a table as she watched her apparent brother sharpen a pair of scissors, hearing a quiet thump from the sitting room she decided to start a conversation to hide the noises that the now awake Sheriff may make. "You know if she wakes up and sees you doing that she may just6 die from fright." She joked looking toward the door. "They must be sharp enough to cut through the material Vena, you know this." He muttered without taking his eyes off his scissors, not noticing Emma peek into the room. Vena however did. "Yes, well. She doesn't know what she is doing here. As far as she and the other one knows we are killers Hatter." She said as she saw the girl move out of ear shot.

Fairy tale land past

Jefferson was just finishing the last few stitched on a stuffed rabbit before he got up and placed it next to grace, who was entertaining a tea party of toys. "I know it's not the same as what you wanted." He informed as he joined her at the tea table. "I love it, Papa. Thank you." She cut him off with a grateful smile on her face. Watching his daughter pretend to pour tea for the toys Jefferson's face grew pensive.

"Mm. This is really good. Don't you think so, Mr. Tortoise? Papa, do you like your tea?" she questioned unaware of her father's thoughts. "Grace … I want you to go to the neighbours' for the rest of the day. There's work I have to do." He said asd he made his mind up, deciding that he wanted his daughter to have everything that she could ever want. "Can't I come with you? I like being with you in the forest." She asked not wanting to be separated from her father.

"I'm not going to the forest, sweetie." He told her, knowing that she did not wish to be away from him. "This has to do with the Queen's visit, doesn't it? Whatever she wants you to do, don't do it." She begged knowing that the Queen was not to be trusted. Jefferson was struck with how much like his dear Alice she was as he tried to reason with his only reason for living. "Grace, I have to. I want you to have what you need." He replied hanging his head in shame not seeing the shocked look on his daughter's face.

"All I need is you, Papa. Please, stay." She begged placing her hand over his larger one on the table. "Come here. I know. I'm sorry, baby. I have to go." He told he with regret in his voice as he knew that something would bad was very likely to happen because of Regina. "Just promise me you'll come back. You have to promise." She cried trying to make sure that no matter what she would not lose her father as she did her mother. "Of course." He said holding his baby to his chest. "For our tea party. Promise." She added remembering her mother always making him promise the same thing. "I promise. I won't miss it for the world. Go." He asked as he too recalled his wife's obsession with tea parties. After his daughter had left the house Jefferson moved to the locked chest and removed a hat box.

Storybrooke

As the blonde Sheriff continued down the hallway Vena still quietly listened to her as she watched her companion sharpen yet another pair of scissors until that is he heard the creak of a floorboard and click of a door closing. Gently placing down his equipment he calmly walked out of the room as he knew that his captive couldn't go anywhere.

Knowing that Jefferson was going to take his time in finding the woman Serafina decided to just walk to the room that held her captive and just observe them interact from around the corner while she waited for her friend to catch up. "I've been trying to find you. You escaped, remember? How did you get out?" The blonde questioned as she assumingly released her friend. "There was a key … in my cell, under my pillow. Someone put it there." She replied. It must have been the gag that the blonde had removed. "Who?" Emma questioned, curious as to who would have a key to the cells. "I don't know. I'd like to know just as much as you." Mary Margret replied.

As the last binding on Mary Margret fell to the floor Emma checked the hall to see it empty and a sure escape route. However when they came out of the room the women were greeted by the sight of Jefferson holding a gun. "I see you found spot." Vena spoke as she walked toward the man from her hiding spot. "I've already called for backup. They'll be here any second." Emma bluffed trying to sound brave in the face of danger. "You haven't called anybody. For the same reason you didn't tell Jefferson about her. You don't want anybody to know you're here, which means, nobody does. So, now tie her back up." Vena ordered from her place beside the hatter as he cocked the gun as a warning to do as they were told.

Both the hatter and Serafina moved to lean against the doorway as they watched the Sheriff tie the woman to a chair. "Emma …" Mary Margret began only to be told that everything would be okay as she was gagged by said woman. Turning to the two against the door frame Emma asked a question that was bugging her "Your telescope – you've been watching me. Why?" letting out a smirk Vena patted Jefferson's back as she walked back to the hat room already knowing the story of what he wanted of the poor woman.

Fairy tale land. Past

Jefferson entered the Queens chambers in the banished lands escorted by several of her black knights and his hat box secure in his hand. "Jefferson. So good to see you looking more like yourself. I assume you're here because you've reconsidered my offer?" she asked even though she already knew the answer after her manipulation of him. "I want your guarantee. That, if I do what you ask, my daughter will want for nothing." He bargained making sure that he would give his daughter the best things. "You have my word. Now, let's open that box of yours and see what it can do." She spoke in a sincerely happy voice.

Jefferson set the box on the floor and pulled a top hat from within its velvet casing as Regina watched with a glint of excitement in her eye. "I do so like a man that dresses for the occasion." She joked as he placed the hat on the floor and span it before taking a step back as it continued to spin on its own. "Step back." He ordered as a purple vortex rose from the hats mouth. "After you!" he shouted to the Queen over the roar of the portal. "Together!" she called back not willing to admit that the portal was scaring her. Offering his arm to her he shouted "Hold On!" before they both jumped into the purple foggy vortex.

Storybrooke

Vena looked from the hat shelves as she heard Jefferson lead Emma into the room. "I don't know what you think you're doing, but if you hurt my friend, I swear I'll make you regret it." She threatened as he dragged her through the door. "Hurt her? We're saving her life." Vena spoke confused looking at the Hatter in confusion only to see him shrug his shoulders at the question. "How do you figure that?" Emma questioned in an expatriated voice. "Don't play stupid. We all know what happens when people try to leave Storybrooke." Jefferson answered her, his patience with the woman wearing thin. "What are you talking about?" she questioned not understanding what the man was getting at.

Seeing that the hatter was about to show his mad side Vena answered for him so he could calm down. "The curse." She said as she moved to place a hand on his arm. "What curse?" Emma stupidly questioned already thinking that they were playing along with Henry's story book character game. "The one keeping us all trapped. All except you." Vena replied still looking at Jefferson in concern. "Have you been reading Henry's book?" Emma questioned which seemed to snap Jefferson out of his mad haze.

"Henry? You mean the Queen's father?" he questioned thinking that the old man was dead. "Henry, the mayor's adopted kid." Emma explained looking between her two captors. "Oh, Henry. Your Henry. And his book of stories. The ones that you choose to ignore. Maybe if you knew what we know, you wouldn't." he muttered working himself into a rage once again. "Why have you been spying on me?" Emma questioned trying to side track him from his mutterings. "Because , for the last twenty-eight years, I've been stuck in this house. Day after day, always the same. Until one night, you, in your little yellow bug, roll into town, and the clock ticks, and things start to change. You see … I know what you refuse to acknowledge, Emma. You're special. You brought something precious to Storybrooke." Jefferson ranted walking around the room in a way to blow off some of his excitement.

Noticing Emma's confused look Vena said the one word that would make her seem insane. "Magic." She stated with her eyes wide. "You're insane." Yeah I know Vena thought to herself as Jefferson spoke. "Because we speak the truth?" he asked in a childish tone. "Because you're talking about magic." Emma stated trying to move away from him. "I'm talking about what I've seen. Perhaps, you're the one that's mad." He stated in a childlike voice that got him the nick name Mad Hatter. "Really?" Emma sarcastically questioned, not believing the nerve of the two beings in front of her.

"What's crazier than seeing and not believing? Because that's exactly what you've been doing since you got to our little hamlet. Open your eyes. Look around. Wake up. Isn't it about time?" Vena asked as she moved to the table and once again sat on its surface. "What do you want?" Emma questioned fed up of all the talk of something that does not exist. "I want you to get it to work." Jefferson said as he led her to the table that Vena was sitting on top of. Pushing her out of the way Emma saw that the table was covered in sewing supplies and materials. "You want me to get what to work?" she questioned not quite understanding her job. "You're the only one that can do this. You're going to get it to work." He muttered as he sat down in a chair and faced her not noticing when Vena sat on the floor and leaned back against his feet.

Fairytale land past

Inside the vortex Jefferson watched as Regina looked around from inside of Jefferson's hat to see loads of different coloured doors. "I forgot how magnificent you are." She muttered in awe wondering how he managed to navigate his way through here without getting lost. "I'm not here to relive the past. I'm here for my daughter." He replied before pointing to a door made of glass. "Here – this is the entrance. It's important that we stick together. Same amount of people that go have to come back. No more, no less. It's the hats rule, not mine." He informed seeing her look of doubt but not regret. "I understand." Regina told him not meeting his eye.

Walking through the mirrored door the pair arrived in Wonderland. Jefferson quickly checked to make sure that the queen was following before walking at a brisk pace along the path where he encountered a caterpillar on a toadstool. "Who are you? Who? Who?" the creature asked as Jefferson walked on past muttering "I hate Wonderland." As he went.

Storybrooke

Vena looked at Emma in pity as Jefferson handed the female a pair of scissors. "Make one like that." He ordered pointing at the hat that was sitting on the desk. "You want me to make a hat? Don't you have enough?" she questioned not understanding the significance of said hat needing to 'work'. "Well, none of them work, do they? Or else you wouldn't be here. Now, make a hat, and get it to work." He ordered as he sat down in the chair behind Vena once again. "I don't-" Emma began only for Jefferson to interrupt. "You have magic. You can do it." He told her not looking at her but rather out the window.

"The hats, the tea, your psychotic behaviour … you think you're the Mad Hatter." Emma stated looking at the man in disbelief. "His name is Jefferson." Vena told the woman knowing that the Hatter did not like being called Mad. "Okay. You've clearly glommed into my kid Henry's thing. They're just stories. The Mad Hatter is in Alice in Wonderland – a book. A book I actually read." Emma tried to reason. "Stories. Stories? What's a story? When you were in high school, did you learn about the civil war?" he scoffed into his hand. "Yeah, of course." Emma replied not knowing where he was going with this.

"How? Did you read about it, perchance, in a book? How is this any less real than any other book?" Vena questioned as the hatter composed himself. "History books are based on history." Emma reasoned against the other woman. "And storybooks are based on what? Imagination? Where does that come from? It has to come from somewhere. You know what the issue is with this world? Everyone wants some magical solution for their problem, and everyone refuses to believe in magic. Now, get it to work." He ranted pointing the gun at the blonde once again. "Here's the thing, Jefferson – this is it. This is the real world." Knowing that Jefferson was going to rant again Vena moved away from his legs.

"A real world. How arrogant are you to think that yours is the only one? There are infinite more. You have to open your mind. They touch one another, pressing up in a long line of lands. Each just as real as the last. All have their own rules. Some have magic, some don't. And some need magic. Like this one. And that's where you come in. you and your friend are not leaving here, until you make my hat. Until you get it to work." He finished his rant by pointing a large pair of scissors at the woman behind the desk before placing them in front of her. Looking down at his friend Jefferson decides to make some tea. Just as he reaches the door he hears Emma's question of "And then what?" to which he replied "Then I go home." Before continuing on his way to the kitchen.

Wonderland

Jefferson came to a stop in front of a hedge maze and looked to Regina at his side. "You want to go in there?" he questioned her in disbelief. "What I want is a short walk through." She answered looking at the maze with a determined glint. "A short walk? You know who this belongs to?" he asked not knowing if she was going mad. "The Queen of Hearts. She's not one for subtlety." She answered looking at him from the corner of her eye. "This wasn't part of our deal. You know what she does to anyone that crosses her." He spoke with disbelief laced through his voice, not wanting to return to his daughter without his head.

"Indeed. Better than most. You can't leave Wonderland without me. Two go through, two go back. You're not going to let the Queen of Hearts keep you from returning to your daughter, are you?" she questions as she walks past him to enter the maze. As she notices that he has started to follow from behind her she utters a quiet "That's what I thought." To herself. "Wait." Jefferson's voice sounded in her ears as he picked a branch up off the ground and hurled it at one of the walls, which promptly grabbed it and absorbed it into the wall itself. "Stay away from the walls." He needlessly commented.

"I've got a better idea. The walls should stay away from me." She said as she created a fireball and threw it at the wall before following its path until they reach a vault containing a wall of heart. Opening a drawer Regina reached in a removed a box. "Okay? You go that you need, shall we?" Jefferson asked knowing that the Queens men would soon be after them. As the two turned to leave they were ambushed by the Queens guards. "Trespassers! Halt!" a guard called as the pair began to run through the maze.

As the guards started to follow Regina threw some of her magic at them to ensure their escape as they followed the burned path. Stopping at the end or beginning of the burnt path the Queen cast a spell to make the hedges regrow to once again slow down the guards and trap any that had tried to follow them through the short cut. Before continuing on until they came to the mirrored doors that they had arrived through. "The looking glass! There it is!" Jefferson called to Regina to get her to move quicker only to notice that she had stopped.

"C- What are you doing? We can't stop now. We got to get out of here." He told her as he moved toward her curious as to what she was doing. "There's something I need to do first." She told him as she broke off a piece of mushroom/ toadstool that the caterpillar had previously occupied. "A little snack." She muttered to herself. "Are you mad? Do you know what the food here does?" he questioned trying to get her to see sense. "I am well aware." She sneered at him as she set the box on the floor and placed the piece of mushroom inside, stepping back as the purple smoke emerged to form Henry 1. "Oh, daddy!" she cried rushing to give her beloved father a hug.

"This is what she took form you? Your father?" Jefferson asked not yet realising that he would not be able to return to his beloved Grace. "The Queen of Hearts has always seen me as a threat. So, she wanted some leverage. I got it back." She calmly explained feeling that it was the least she could do after lying to him about returning to his daughter. "The Queen's soldiers – we must hurry." Henry exclaimed taking a hold of his daughter and moving toward the glass doors. "You knew only two can go through the hat… which is why you didn't tell me about your father." He muttered to himself knowing that he may never see his child again. "It was the only way to make sure you'd help me." She replied with regret in her voice.

As Jefferson tried to go after the pair he found that his feet were swallowed by the ground so he tried to call out instead "Wait! Wait! Wait, please. My daughter… My Grace… She's… she's waiting for me. I promised her I'd… I'd be home for tea." He tried begging but knew that it was no use for the queens heart was seemingly made of ice. "A promise which you now have broken. If you truly cared for your daughter, you never would've left her in the first place. You were right, Jefferson. You don't abandon family." She screamed at him before leading her father through the mirrored door.

"No! no.." Jefferson cried as the Queen of Hearts' men finally caught up to him and preceded to drag him away. As the Knave order for him to be taken to the Queen, he just hung his head in defeat knowing that there was now very little chance of him ever seeing his beautiful Grace again.

—–

The guards dragged Jefferson before the Queen and several of her citizens. Lifting his head a little he saw that the Queen's face was covered by a veil and the she used a tube to speak. "Her Majesty says she knows you're responsible for helping steal from her." The Knave informed him. "The Queen, she tricked me-" Jefferson began only to be interrupted by the Knave "That woman's name is Regina. There is only one Queen – the Queen of Hearts."

"Yes, of course. My apologies. Now, please…" he begged trying to figure out a way he could return to his sweet daughter. "Her majesty wished to know how you got to this world. How did you come to Wonderland?" the Knave asked interrupting the Hatters beg. "If I tell you, will you let me go home to my daughter" he asked hoping that he could bargain with the Queen. Only for "Off with his head!" to be called out from behind the veil. As a guard picked up the hatters head he opened his eyes in shock that he was still alive.

"If you wish your body back, then answer. How did you get here?" the Knave repeated. "The… The… The hat. My hat. We used my hat." He answered in defeat looking to the floor as a sign of submission. "Where's the hat now?" the Knave questioned for the Queen. "She took it – Regina." Jefferson muttered. "If all you require to travel to your homeland is this magic hat, then surely, you could make another." Queried the Knave not understanding what the problem was. "I can't. a hat without magic is just a hat. It won't work." Hatter muttered, having an idea of what would happen next. "Then, there's your task. Get it to work." The Knave ordered as Jefferson's body was carried from the Queens feet.

Storybrooke

After placing her empty cup onto the tea try Vena looked over to Emma to find that the woman had actually managed to make a top hat. "I can't make it work. What you're asking me to do is impossible." Emma told Jefferson as she handed the finished hat to him. "No! It has to be. If it's not, I'm never going home. I'll be cursed to live in this house forever." He muttered under his breath as he took the hat and began to inspect it, while Vena shook her head already knowing that it would not work because the Blonde did not believe.

"What is so cursed about your life? Look at this place. It's beautiful. Kit doesn't seem cursed to me." Emma questioned trying to understand her make captive more. "It's cursed because, like everyone else here what he loves most has been ripped from him." Vena called to the girl as Jefferson moved over to a telescope and nodded toward it in the universal sign of "take a look." Knowing what she would see both Jefferson and Vena closed their eyes as if they were in pain, remembering different beings that they loved most.

"Her name is Grace. Here, it's Paige. But it's Grace. My Grace. Do you have any idea what it's like to watch her day in and day out, happy, with a new family? With a new father?" he questioned, his pleading eyes staring into hers for some form of help. "You think she's your daughter?" Emma asked not believing what she had just heard come from the male's lips. "I don't think – I know. I remember. She has no idea who I am. Our life together, where we come from. I do. That's my curse." He told her with pain filled eyes as he looked out the window. "To remember." Emma muttered to herself and moved closer to the table.

"What good is this house, these things, if I can't share them with her?" he begged working himself into a rage as his companion moved closer to him ready to calm him down if the need arose. "If you really think she's your daughter, why don't you reach out to her? Why don't you tell her?" Emma asked trying to be helpful as she somewhat knew what he was going through since Henry had entered her life once again. "And destroy her reality? I'm trapped by knowledge. How cruel do you think I am? You think I'd inflict that awareness on my daughter? It's hard enough to live in a land where you don't belong. But knowing it, holding conflicting realities in your head… will drive you mad." He ranted once again not believing that his captive could be so stupid.

"That's why you want me to make the hat work, isn't it? You just want to take Grace home – to your world." Emma muttered realising what the man was planning. "It's the one world where they can be together… where she'll remember who he is." Vena informed the woman as she hugged Jefferson around the waist. "I know what it's like to be separated from your kid." Emma said with sympathy clear in her eyes as she moved in an attempt to comfort the man. "Yeah, you do, don't you?" he muttered as he leaned back into Vena's embrace.

"It can make you feel like you're losing your mind." She explained laying one of her hands onto the man's arm. "I'm not losing my mind. I'm not crazy. This is real." He insisted as a child would insist that there was a monster hiding under their bed, burying his head into Vena's shoulder in an attempt not to cry. "Maybe. Maybe, it is." Emma conceded with his idea of other worlds, feeling that she was finally getting through to the man. "You believe?" he asked turning to look at the blonde, his hopes of being reunited with his daughter rising.

"If what you say is true, that woman in the other room is my mother. And I want to believe that more than anything in the world. So, maybe you're right. Maybe, I need to open myself up more. Maybe, if I want magic, I have to start believing." Emma spoke talking herself into opening up to her son's idea of a curse. "So, you're… You're going to help me? You can get it to work?" Jefferson asked not willing to believe the woman completely. "I can try." She replied shrugging her shoulders. As Jefferson turned Emma grabbed the telescope and hit him over the head, causing him to collapse, unconscious. As Emma raised the 'weapon' again Vena held her arms up in the universal sign of surrender. "Take the gun and your friend. Don't come back here. I told him it wouldn't work." She said to Emma as she sat next to her friend and cradled his head into her lap.

As Vena heard the woman free her tied friend Jefferson's eyes snapped open and he shot through the door in a vain attempt of stopping his only hope from escaping. "Emma! Look out!" the shout rang out through the house as Vena slowly followed after her raging friend. Entering the room Vena saw Jefferson on top of Emma with the gun pointing at her while she looked at his scar. "Off with his head." He told her in pain at the memory. Mary Margret somehow managed to get herself free and somehow push the hatter through the window before grabbing the blonde to check she was okay.

Ignoring the two woman Vena moved to the window and was not surprised to see that Jefferson was nowhere to be found. Noticing the woman's attention Emma moved to see what had become of their captor. "There's no sign of him anywhere." She muttered in disbelief. "Who was he?" Mary Margret asked wanting to know who she was going to press charges against. "A very lonely man. Now leave." Vena told them as she moved out of the room, heading for the garden that she knew she would find her friend.

"You'll get her back eventually Jefferson, you mustn't give up hope." She said sitting on the stone bench next to the hunched man. "My one chance, Serafina." He muttered in his misery. "We will just have to wait until she believes, just like everyone else. At least we are not trapped her anymore." She muttered as she looked at the flowers that surrounded the small bench.

—–

The next morning Regina entered the police station only to be surprised when she spotted Mary Margaret sitting in her cell with a newspaper. After exchanging pleasant greetings the pawn broker of the town entered the station followed shortly after by the woman that had kidnapped Mary Margaret. All three of the people were in shock as she smiled at the convict and passed her a basket that contained freshly baked cakes. Noticing the confusion on the woman's face she decided to give her something to think about before she left. "Please don't blame Jefferson he is very lonely without Grace. You would remember how that feels soon enough. Good bye your highness." She smirked not noticing Mr Gold and Regina's presence or expressions.