The next five days seemed to drag by as Jefferson travelled the realms, stealing items for Rumplestiltskin. Whilst travelling, Jefferson had pocketed various fairy tales to read during his curfew at the castle. During his evenings, Jefferson tried to spend as much time in his room as he could and avoid any more conversation than was necessary with either the dark one or Regina.
It only took a day or so for Jefferson to suspect that whilst he'd been recuperating in the land without colour, Regina had changed. It wasn't just what Rumplestiltskin was teaching her- she was growing crueller by the day, yet refused to leave Jefferson's side.
Jefferson hoped it was just his imagination, but he couldn't help notice that her corsets were getting tighter and lower cut each time he saw her.
Casting a quick glance in her direction, Jefferson was disheartened to catch Regina not-so-subtlety staring at him. Her blood red lips curved into a rather coy smile. She hadn't noticed the candle she was supposed to light with magic was completely engulfed in purple flames. Jefferson stifled a laugh, and Regina raised an eyebrow, her eyes still fixated on him.
But Regina had no effect on him-not like Elizabeth. Elizabeth, who hadn't left his mind at all over the past few days, her melodic voice and bookish-charm proving more attractive than anything Regina had attempted...
Rumplestiltskin gave a sharp cough and Jefferson turned back to face him.
"As I was saying," the imp snapped, "this is the wrong wand. I specifically asked for the blue fairy's."
Jefferson shrugged his mind elsewhere. Visiting the fairies hadn't been pleasant, especially with his rather hasty exit after one of them had realised he was the thief who'd pinched two bags of fairy dust the previous month.
"Are you even listening? You seem rather distracted recently: please don't tell me Regina's caught your eye now."
"Of course not!" Jefferson said.
Rumplestiltskin gave him a disbelieving look.
"Well it certainly does look that way," he hissed, "because Regina can't keep her eyes off you! Her powers are growing, and she doesn't need any distractions."
Jefferson considered for a moment, a thought striking him.
"I know you said you wouldn't, but can you just give me tonight off? In return, I'll make her little infatuation go away so you can focus on developing her magic."
"You must do one other thing for me too," Rumplestiltskin said, "If I give you a certain task, no matter how difficult or life-threatening it is, you must carry it out: exactly as I say."
The promise of freedom was too much for Jefferson to resist, the word was out of his mouth before he could stop himself:
"Deal!"
Jefferson hesitated, "but what's the task?"
Rumplestiltskin gave one of his infamous grins, his eyes sparkling dangerously, "Oh you'll know when I tell you. So, I suppose it's a deal. Off you go."
Jefferson hurried from the potions room, his hands itching to activate the hat and see Elizabeth again. Giving Regina a backward glance, he was a little unnerved to catch her eye yet again.
'I'll deal with her later.'
It was already dusk by the time Jefferson arrived in the land without colour; the late evening sky was its perpetual shade of grey, the tall bushes keeping him hidden from the lights of the castle. He made his way through the garden, and for a moment Jefferson was almost tempted to pluck one of his red roses that Elizabeth had planted and present it to her.
That was the sort of romantic gesture any woman would love, but he knew she'd be horrified if he ripped up the plants that she been tendering out. Instead, Jefferson headed to the back door Elizabeth had told him about. He tried the handle, which gave a begrudging twist, though it refused to budge.
Jefferson went round to the balcony by Elizabeth's bedroom, where a dim candlelight cast a white glow through the open window. He opened his mouth to call up to her, but remembered Victor was probably also awake, and his plan would be ruined if the doctor discovered his presence.
Jefferson began to search the undergrowth, finding a reasonably sized stone and hurling it at the wall by her window. Soon enough, a figure emerged at the window. Upon seeing Jefferson, Elizabeth gave a bashful smile before vanishing and remerging a few minutes later at the now unlocked servant's door.
"We should be safe- Victor's working in his laboratory all evening."
Jefferson carefully followed her upstairs, her hand being the only guide in the pitch black of the castle. They finished clambering the flights of steep steps and snuck down the darkened hallway. Jefferson pushed the door shut behind them once they were inside Elizabeth's room. He listened for a moment for any other sound of Victor investigating, but there was no sound of footsteps.
Satisfied that they were safe from prying eyes, Jefferson embraced Elizabeth, wrapping his arms around the small of her back before placing a kiss on her forehead. She looked up at him, her cheeks flushed under the candlelight.
"Happy birthday," Jefferson said, sitting down on her bed to take the parcel out of his satchel.
"You didn't have to get me anything!" Elizabeth exclaimed as he handed her the parcel, her fingers unwinding the ribbon and tearing open the paper, "You know all I need is you."
"It's your birthday; you have to have a gift," Jefferson replied, grinning at her gasp as the necklace fell into her hands, sparkling like a multi-coloured star in the black and white room.
Jefferson took it from her and placed the necklace around her neck, its pendant resting between her collarbones.
He fastened the clasp, his hands moving down to her shoulders and Jefferson admired how the necklace looked on her. The colourful pendant rose and fell as she inhaled and exhaled, brightening up her ivory skin.
"Thank you, it's beautiful," Elizabeth smiled up at him, her dark eyes illuminated in the light of the necklace.
"That's not all," Jefferson announced, "I have somewhere to take you."
"Where exactly are we going?" Elizabeth asked, attempting to pull off the cravat that was covering her eyes. Jefferson reached over her head and put it back in place, before whispering in her ear,
"I can't tell you that: it would ruin the surprise."
They had long left the gardens of Frankenstein castle, and Jefferson was leading Elizabeth through the winding woods to the steel door that marked the entrance to the hat's hall of portals.
"Now, do you trust me?" He asked, suddenly serious.
"I wouldn't have allowed myself to be kidnapped if I didn't!" Elizabeth laughed.
Jefferson took her closest hand, and pushed open the door with his free hand. They stepped through, the brightness of the hall hurting Jefferson's eyes after the dullness of the land without colour.
He untied the cravat, and Elizabeth's eyes opened. Her mouth dropped slightly and she stared in wonder at the doors. Elizabeth slowly circled around, amazed by the colours that vibrantly painted the hall. She wandered up and down, studying each door in detail. Eventually Elizabeth stopped at the looking glass. Her smiling reflection looked back: only she was in colour.
"I told you that you were beautiful," Jefferson said genuinely.
For once, he didn't feel like his words were trying to impress or flirt. He could be honest with Elizabeth, and Jefferson felt a surge of happiness as she smiled at the compliment. In the mirror he could see the blush that tinted her cheeks.
He looked at his own reflection, messing around with his fringe before running a hand through the curling edges of Elizabeth's hair.
In colour, it was a lighter brown than the jet black in her own realm, and her eyes were brown, rather than blue like Victor's had been when he was in colour.
"I'm guessing from your expression that I don't look much like Victor? I was adopted, remember?"
"Of course," Jefferson said, thinking back to the painting in the castle. He wrapped his arm around Elizabeth's shoulder. Jefferson gestured towards the mirror.
"Do you want to enter Wonderland?"
"Wait, there's a land through there?"
"There's a land through all of these doors," Jefferson explained and reached out to the looking glass.
His fingers plummeted into the rippling glass.
Elizabeth copied and with a lurch, they were pulled them through. Surrounded by tall flowers, Elizabeth gazed in amazement at the land before her.
"Who…are…you?" A voice demanded, and they both turned to see the caterpillar, sat on its mushroom, puffing blue smoke at them.
"Elizabeth Frankenstein," Elizabeth replied, curtsying to the creature. It looked at Jefferson expectantly, but he shook his head at the caterpillar.
"Come on Elizabeth, there's plenty more to show you."
They progressed slowly, although Jefferson didn't mind having to wait for Elizabeth, who observed everything, large or small, thrilled by the bright colours.
She ran to catch up with him after a lengthy conversation with the smirking Cheshire cat.
"That cat's grin reminded me of yours," Elizabeth said, linking arms with Jefferson as they strolled down one of the many paths.
"I have a much more sophisticated smile!" Jefferson retorted, smiling wildly at her.
Elizabeth laughed, giving him her best crazy grin. They turned the corner, reaching the clearing Jefferson had been attempting to lead Elizabeth to. He flicked his hand, a rush of magic flowing through him, and a tea party appeared. Jefferson made chairs appear too, and they sat down, Elizabeth at the head of the table. The tea cups were already filled with steaming tea, a platter of strawberries with chocolate sauce and biscuits on the saucers.
"Mmm...I was getting hungry," Elizabeth said, taking a strawberry and slathering it with chocolate. Jefferson took the nearest teacup and sipped the steaming drink, settling back in the chair.
Jefferson had no idea how long they'd been sat there, drinking never-ending cups of tea and talking, Elizabeth managing to get through as many strawberries as she possibly could. Unbeknownst to her, chocolate covered her lips and half her face. Jefferson stifled a laugh and Elizabeth frowned in confusion at him.
"You've got a little something on your cheek," he explained, leaning over and kissing her chocolate coated lips.
Elizabeth let out an indignant cry and pushed him off before delicately wiping her cheeks with a handkerchief. She looked up at the setting sun.
"I guess we ought to be getting back?" Elizabeth asked despondently.
Jefferson consulted his pocket watch, which read 6 o'clock. The time in each realm differed greatly, and he hoped it wasn't already daylight in the land without colour.
Jefferson nodded in agreement and rose, brushing the biscuit crumbs off his coat. Elizabeth pouted, and for a second Jefferson wished they could stay in Wonderland, leave all their problems behind for endless tea parties, but the thought of Victor discovering Elizabeth's disappearance lingered in his mind. That would ruin the rest of the plan. Jefferson snapped his fingers and a brief cloud of magic consumed the pair as he transported them back to the looking glass.
All too soon they had returned to the land without colour, Elizabeth fading back into black and white. The castle was silent as they snuck back into Elizabeth's room, though nothing stirred in the darkness. Jefferson presumed Victor had gone to sleep, for it was now early morning, but dawn hadn't yet broken. They reached Elizabeth's bedroom and Jefferson lingered in the doorway. He didn't want to risk being caught, but never had he wanted to stay so badly. Elizabeth didn't seem to want him to leave either, taking hold of Jefferson's hands.
""You know, we never did get around to that dancing lesson," Elizabeth said.
"What do you wish to dance?"
"A waltz, please."
Jefferson took a step forward, his feet level with Elizabeth's. He placed one hand on her shoulder, the other rested gently on her waist.
"Just follow my lead," he instructed, taking a step to the left as he began to hum a simple waltz tune.
Jefferson was pleasantly surprised to find that Elizabeth wasn't as bad a dancer as she claimed to be, quickly picking up the moves, her feet following his with ease. As her confidence increased, they began to move around the room and Jefferson spun her around. Elizabeth circled before stepping in as he did, her body close enough to Jefferson's for him to feel her lungs moving against his chest, her slender waist on his hips.
They fitted together perfectly, hearts beating in unison as they continued to dance. Their feet barely moved, Elizabeth's head nestling into Jefferson's neck so that all his senses were filled by the tantalising scent of strawberries. Elizabeth moved her head away and gazed up at him.
"You're grinning like that cat again," she whispered.
Jefferson leant forward so that his lips brushed her ear and replied:
"I've just realised something- my business partner could offer me all the gold in the world and I wouldn't accept it, if it meant losing you. You're the only thing that's ever meant more to me than money."
Elizabeth kissed his cheek in response, her fingers massaging the back of his neck. Jefferson moved his hands upwards so that they cradled her slender waist. Looking straight into her eyes, he smiled and said,
"I love you."