Maddie watched from a distance as Regina talked to Emma. She hated the wicked bitch. She's the one that split her apart. Her other half doesn't remember, and it's all Regina's fault. She's happy Emma is standing up to Regina. Emma's staying with her sister and Mary Margret.
Once Regina left, Emma stood up but spilled her cocoa all over herself.
"Ohh. Really?"
Maddie grabbed some paper towels and walked over to Emma, "Here."
"Do you have a laundry room I can you?" Emma asked.
"Yeah, through the back door." Maddie answered, "Say hi to Ashley for me."
"I'm so glad my stuff is here." Emma said the next morning.
"So that's all your stuff?" Mary Margret asked as she and Max sat down and ate breakfast.
"What do you mean?"
"Is the rest in storage?" Mary Margret asked.
"No, this is all of it." Emma answered. "I'm... not sentimental."
"Well, it must make things easier when you have to move." Mary Margret replied.
There was a knock on the door and Max set down her fork and opened the door, "Ms. Hart, is Ms. Swan here?"
Emma walked over, "Hi. My name is Mr. Gold. We met briefly on your arrival."
"I remember." Emma replied, shaking Mr. Gold's hand.
"Good. I have a proposition for you, Ms. Swan. I, uh, I need your help. I'm looking for someone." Mr. Gold said.
"Really? Um..."
Max cleared her throat, "I, uh, I'm gonna go for a run."
Mary Margret went to go take a bath, and Max changed into yoga pants and a tank top before grabbing her phone and headphones and left. She jogged through the forest, her music quiet in her ears.
She stopped running when she heard a few branches brake and she took out her headphones,
"Hello?"
Another branch snapped and she turned in the direction she believed it came from. When there was no other noise, she turned around and ran face first into a man's chest.
"Oh, gosh, sorry." Max apologized, taking a step back and looking up into familiar blue eyes.
She kept backing up and tripped over a branch and fell, "Ow!"
"Are you all right?" The man asked, helping her up.
"I... I think I twisted my ankle." Max answered, putting her foot onto the ground and bringing it up again when it hurt.
"Here, let me take you to my house. I'll help you with that ankle." The man said.
"Um, no offense, but, you're a stranger." Max retorted.
"I'm Jefferson."
"Max."
"See, now we're not strangers. Now let me help you." Jefferson leaned down and picked Max up bridal style and began walking towards the direction towards his mansion.
"So this boyfriend of hers, you don't think he was involved in her disappearance?" Emma asked Maddie and Ruby outside Granny's Diner.
"Uh, that would mean he was involved with her at all, which he isn't." Ruby answered.
"Sean's dad's a dick." Maddie said from the chair, her ankle in pain, "Once they found out Ashley was pregnant, his dad made them break up."
"Hey, hey, hey! Billy, be careful!" Ruby yelled at the tow truck man, "You almost shattered my wolf thing, Billy. It's good luck."
"I'm sorry, Ruby. But, look, it's fine." Billy replied.
"Um, Ruby, Maddie, what about her family?" Emma questioned.
Maddie smiled down at Henry, "She's got a step mom and two step sisters."
"But she doesn't talk to them." Ruby said.
"Wait. A step mom, step sisters, and she's a maid?" Henry questioned.
"Yep." Maddie answered.
"Henry, not now."
"Look, I don't know what you've heard, but it's wrong. Everyone thinks she's not ready to have this kid, but she's trying." Ruby said, "Taking night classes, trying to better herself, trying to get her life together. Can you understand that?"
"I think so." Emma answered.
"Then maybe you should stay out of it. She's been through enough already." Ruby replied.
"I've been through it, too, Ruby, and I can help her." Emma said.
"Then try her ex." Maddie told her.
"Where can I find him?"
"He lives with his dad." Ruby answered.
Max winced when Jefferson placed a bag of ice on her ankle, "Thanks."
"It's my fault. I heard someone running and I was curious, not much people come out here." Jefferson replied, "I shouldn't have snuck up on you."
"It's no problem, Jefferson." Max looked around, "This is a really nice house."
"Thank you. It's big, and when you're the only one, it gets lonely." Jefferson said.
"No family? Girlfriend?" Max questioned.
Jefferson pouted a bit, "Nope. What about you?"
Max shrugged, "A twin sister. And I live with two friends of mine, but that's it. My sister is my only family."
"Do you live with your sister?"
She shook her head, "I live with my friend Mary Margaret and Emma."
"Emma? Emma Swan?" Jefferson questioned.
"Yeah. You know her?" Max asked.
"No, she's just been... talk of the town lately. So she's staying here in Storybrooke then?" Jefferson replied.
"Mmhmm. The Sheriff, Graham, he offered her a job as deputy." Max said.
"And what about you? What's your job?" Jefferson questioned.
"I work for Madame Mayor." Max answered dully.
"Unhappily working for Madame Mayor, I see." Jefferson smiled.
"Pretty much. The pay is good, and I don't do much, but Regina is-"
"A bitch?" Jefferson offered.
Max let out a small laugh, "I was going to say manipulative and controlling. But a bitch works, too."
Jefferson stared at Max for a moment, "I would think you would be a deputy."
"Really? Why?" Max questioned.
"I don't know, you just seemed like a person who would help others." Jefferson answered.
Max didn't reply and stared into Jefferson's eyes. Like she's seen them before.
"Have we met before?" She asked.
"Not that I know of. Why?"
"You just... seem really familiar." Max said.
Jefferson gave her a smirk, "Want some tea?"
"Why didn't you tell me she sold the baby?" Emma asked, walking in with Henry.
"Because I didn't think it was important." Maddie replied.
"Really, considering that's why she's running away?"
"Look, Ashley's our friend." Ruby said. "We don't like the idea of people judging her."
Maddie walked away to deal with the customers as Emma picked up Ruby's wolf.
"Ruby, where's your car?" Emma asked and she didn't answer, "You didn't send me to Sean to find her. You sent me there to giver her a heads start."
"Look, I'm only trying to help her." Ruby replied.
"Yeah, so am I. Ashley's in more trouble than you know, Ruby. Where is she? Don't make her deal with Gold without me."
"I can't talk in front of him. He's the mayor's kid." Ruby responded, looking at Henry.
"Hey, I'm on your side." Henry replied.
And once the kid left, Ruby and Maddie told Emma where Ashley was going.
Max was soon asleep after drinking her tea that Jefferson gave her. He wrapped her ankle in some gauze and stroked her cheek. The Mad Hatter missed his friend. The one who kept him company after Regina trapped him in Wonderland. He lost his daughter, and his friend. Not to mention she turned into two people.
Jefferson picked the woman up and walked outside to his car. He laid her gently onto the backseat and drove towards the town. He knew where she lived, he's been watching her. Just like he's been watching his daughter and Emma Swan.
Once Jefferson got outside her apartment, he searched her for her key. He found it inside her sports bra. Jefferson face went red as he pulled it out. At least she'd never lose it. He picked her up once again and entered the building. Jefferson went into her apartment and it was empty. On one of the bedroom doors was her name.
When the Hatter opened the door, he immediately set Max down onto her bed and placed her key on her desk. Jefferson looked around the room before kissing her head.
"Goodbye, love."