Taking a deep breath, Jefferson stared at the whirl of unfocused grey landscape before him. The cold air caught in his throat, scraping against his skin like a dagger. His mind was an unravelled web of thoughts and memories, flickering from one snapshot to another before he could fully settle upon one notion. The only thing he was truly aware of was his breathing- his rapid intakes of breath had slowly begun to settle as the countryside he was staring into gradually sharpened. There was a faint buzzing sound in his ears that he recognised as someone shouting his name.

Despite the howling wind that gusted overhead, Victor's voice, with anger etched into every syllable, clearly rang out through the garden. The gnawing feeling of dread in the pit of Jefferson's stomach only increased at the thought of an impending lecture from Victor about impregnating his sister.

Without even turning from gazing out at the black and white land that stretched out before him, Jefferson yelled back, "Before you say it, you're right, okay? I can't do this! I'm only nineteen years old for gods' sakes- I'm meant to out drinking and enjoying my life: not raising a child!"

"Elizabeth's barely eighteen!" Victor retorted, his voice growing louder, and closer, with each word. "It amazes me just how selfish you can sometimes Jefferson. To be quite frank, if you don't want the responsibility of being a parent, you shouldn't be bloody bedding my sister in the first place!"

As Jefferson caught Victor's words, he turned to see him approaching from behind a wall of hedges.
Infuriated, and knowing that their distance from the castle and the screaming wind could hide his words, Jefferson bitterly hissed back, "I've probably had sex with your sister more times than you've had with any woman. I'm surprised that you haven't taken a vow of celibacy: you hardly ever come out of that laboratory."

The harsh wind whipped at the tails of Victor's coat as he stepped closer to Jefferson, his clenched fists shaking against either leg.

"Be glad that Elizabeth cares for you too much to allow me to punch you: not that you deserve her love," Victor spat venomously, "now get out of my garden."

"What?"

"You heard me: get out. Leave. The only thing that's keeping you here are any residual feelings you may have for Elizabeth, although I'm sure with some alcohol and another woman, they'll soon fade," Victor paused, his mouth twisting into a sneer as he added. "If this is your attitude, Elizabeth and the baby will probably be better off without you anyway."

Fuming, Jefferson stared after the doctor, who had stormed off towards the castle, seeing that his cutting remark had sunk in. As Victor's words replayed in his head, Jefferson deliberated over doing as he said and going back through the steel door to the enchanted forest: and never returning. Although his anger almost tempted him, Jefferson could feel another emotion inside of him, one that seared at the thought of how much he'd already hurt Elizabeth, and how devastated she would be if he did leave her, just as she'd feared.

'I have to prove her wrong: prove them all wrong,' he thought, the little pride he had left flaring.

Before he could change his decision, Jefferson started after Victor, breaking into a run as he darted through the maze of black and white bushes, spiked stems and withered trees. As Jefferson caught sight of red flashes from Elizabeth's roses, the sensation in his chest grew stronger still, something greater than his pride, an emotion so strong and unknown that Jefferson couldn't resist it, and he ran even faster.

"Wait! Victor!" Jefferson rapidly came to a halt as Victor finally stopped before slowly turning to face him.

"Yes?" His glare was as frigid as his tone, and Jefferson hesitated, letting out a gasp for air.

"If I leave, I have nothing real to go back to- not without Elizabeth. I don't think that is what's really bothering me, it's the fear that maybe you're right: maybe I'm not good enough for her? Because it's not just Elizabeth anymore...there's a baby too," his words came out in a rush, his confession releasing itself, "I mean, how I am supposed to be a good parent if my own abandoned me? How I am supposed to love and care for a child if nobody ever showed me that when I was growing up? Your sister is the first person who's ever really cared about me, Victor, and that's why I love her. I know you don't have many reasons to believe me, but really, I love her, truly, I do. What I feel for her isn't a mere infatuation, nor is it some lustful desire. Her beauty isn't like any other woman I've been with- it's the way that her eyes lit up each time we step into a different realm, it's in the stories that she knows off by heart, the tiny furrow in her forehead when she's writing. Plus, I don't want my child to have to wonder what they did to make their father not want them, like I wonder about my own parents..."

Jefferson trailed off, realising just how much he had told Victor. He kept his eyes locked to the ground and awaited for Victor to make another biting remark. The garden fell silent around them; even the wind seemed to die away as Victor cleared his throat and muttered stiffly,

"It seems I may have misjudged you," Jefferson looked up and caught Victor's glance, that Jefferson perceived to appear slightly remorseful. "I must admit, although you're not quite who I'd expected would father Elizabeth's child, I'm glad that it's you, rather than that vampire."

Jefferson nodded, knowing that was that was the closest he'd get to an apology from Victor, "So you're happy that I stole her away from the Count at their wedding?"

"Yes, I suppose so," Victor sighed, "although I did have to compensate the Count for you choking his guests with those foul-smelling gases."

Jefferson grinned widened as he recalled the powerful effects of the dungbombs, "He hasn't given you any trouble since?"

"No, you forged my father's signature pretty well. Everybody has accepted that it's his, and that the money is therefore mine. Once the Count figured he wasn't going to get anything, he went back to Transylvania, or wherever his coven were from."

"Ah well, I might have used magic to do that signature," Jefferson admitted, and Victor rolled his eyes.

The mention of magic reminded Jefferson of the pouch in his satchel, and he handed it to Victor, "Before I forget: this is from Rumplestiltskin."

Victor gave an appreciative nod before tucking the pouch into his coat pocket; whilst Jefferson tugged open the back door of the castle.

"You do realise you're going to have to make some pretty big changes in becoming a parent?" Victor said, lighting a nearby candle.

Jefferson shrugged as he bounded up the stone staircase, "I know, I know." Ignoring Victor's unconvinced sigh, he continued, "Since when did you become the expert in childcare anyway?"

"My childhood wasn't all spoilt and staying at nice summer houses like you might assume. My mother died when both Gerhadt and Elizabeth were still young, and seeing as though our father loved whisky more than his three children, it fell on me, as the eldest, to look after them both," Victor explained.

Jefferson came to a halt on the penultimate step and whirled around, looking at Victor with disbelief.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be: there's not much you can now- he's dead," Victor said in his usual matter-of-fact tone, before darkly adding, "let's just say that he's one person that I won't attempt to resurrect."

He caught up with Jefferson at end of the passageway as Jefferson rounded the corner to find himself back in the bright hallway.

"Elizabeth's in her bedroom, the second room on the right of the staircase. I gave her a few books from the library to calm her down, though I'm sure seeing you will improve her mood considerably. I'll be in my laboratory if you need me."

To Jefferson's surprise, Victor gave him a hint of a smile, before giving a slight nod and turning towards the laboratory, whilst Jefferson hurried up the staircase. Finding her room, Jefferson stopped outside the door, which had been left slightly ajar. Although the room sounded silent, Jefferson gave a hesitant knock.

"Come in," Elizabeth's voice called hoarsely.

Apprehensively, Jefferson stepped through the doorway to find Elizabeth quite comfortably lay on top of her bed, her upper body propped up with pillows, her face hidden by the cover of a book.

"It's funny," Elizabeth murmured, not even taking her eyes from the page, "no matter how strong an emotion is, somehow losing yourself in a novel makes it all disappear. Do you ever feel like that with your hat, Jefferson?"

"I suppose- the rush of adrenaline and the thrill of the hat's magic is enough to counter any other emotions," Jefferson said, glancing bemusedly over the top of the book in hope of seeing her face, "but how did you know it was me without looking?"

Elizabeth lowered the book with a sheepish smile, "Your footsteps sounded different to Victor's. Plus you had the decency to knock, whereas Victor has a tendency to walk straight in: hence I locked the bathroom door earlier."

She paused, averting his eyes for a moment, knowing that they were both recalling what had occurred only a quarter of an hour ago.

Neither spoke until Elizabeth said softly, "I'm glad you came back,"

"Sorry for storming off like that...I just needed to think."

"It's okay. I know it's a lot to take in," Jefferson nodded in agreement before tentatively sitting down on the edge of the bed. Elizabeth sat up slightly and rested a hand on top of his.

"Did you really think I'd leave you?" He couldn't help but ask, unable to hide the injured tone to his voice.

Elizabeth remained silent, though her guilty expression told Jefferson all he needed to know.

"Victor and Regina did make a pretty convincing case," Elizabeth said apologetically, "and I always got the impression that having children was the last thing on your mind- you can hardly travel the realms with a baby. I was going to tell you, but after Regina pretty much confirmed my suspicions I was too scared to tell you in fear of losing you."

"I'm scared too," Jefferson said, "I don't exactly know much about parenting. You and the baby, you both deserve someone better than me. I'm just an illiterate thief with a magical hat! What if-"

"Jefferson!" Elizabeth interrupted, "You were right below my window whilst you were speaking to Victor, and you spoke with such conviction that it ought to be me who's wondering if I'm good enough- for you."

"What do you mean?"

"I'd tell you that I fell in love with you the moment I met you, but I'd be lying. You see, I didn't invite you out on the balcony at the ball because I thought you were my prince, come to rescue me from a vampire fiancé but because you were exactly the sort of man I was meant to stay away from. At first I only wanted to be with you because I wanted to have something in my life that wasn't chosen for me by someone else. But as I got to you know you, I realised that I loved you: for whom you are really, the side that you only show to me. It doesn't matter that you're not some charming prince, because I have my faults too. Maybe we're both are not good enough for each other?"

"You're too good for anyone else," Jefferson murmured, prising his hand from beneath hers and lacing his fingers around hers.

Elizabeth's sombre features broke as her lips curved into a bashful smile and she gently leant into him.

"Don't worry about the baby: I know we can do this, because we'll care for and love our child the way our parents didn't for us," Her whispered words warmed his skin, the glow of her cheeks brushing his as Elizabeth kissed him.

Jefferson sidled up the bed towards her, but their entwined hands caused him to fall forward. The weight of him forced Elizabeth to sink back onto the bed, and she laughed as her head hit the pillow, watching as Jefferson almost landed on top of her. Their hands flew apart and Jefferson landed on his knees, with his legs stretched out to the point of nearly ripping his tight leather trousers, whilst his arms were either side of Elizabeth's chest, his thumbs brushing her shoulders.

Elizabeth grinned up at him, their faces mere millimetres apart. The tip of her nose touched his and her eyes sparkled with mirth. Breathing heavily as he caught his breath, Jefferson frowned in confusion and Elizabeth nodded towards the edge of the bed. Tilting his head, Jefferson saw an upside down, and rather unimpressed, Victor stood watching them in what Jefferson realised appeared to be rather compromising position.

"I told you: he just walks straight in," Elizabeth muttered with an exasperated sigh, and Jefferson bit down hard on his tongue to stop himself from laughing.

"I'm afraid you'll have to wait about seven and a half more months before making any more babies," Victor said dryly, raising an eyebrow.

Turning the gasp of laughter that had escaped him into a cough, Jefferson hurriedly straightened up and swung his leg over Elizabeth's body so that he could sit on the side of the bed.

"That wasn't what it looked like," Jefferson assured Victor, who gave an unconvinced sigh, shaking his head as he glanced over at Elizabeth who had also sat up.

Her head was in her hands, and Jefferson could hear her giggling madly. Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth lifted her head, appearing to have regained her composure.

"We were just about to discuss how Jefferson and I could work portal jumping around the baby, when things got a little...physical," Elizabeth said, smirking up at her brother.

There was a daring glint in her eyes as she awaited his reaction, and Jefferson wondered just how close to home he had been with his comment on Victor not seeming to engage in romantic relationships.

However, Victor seemed unmoved by Elizabeth's remark, save rolling his eyes before continuing purposefully, "You are going to stop portal jumping, surely?"

"Well, I suppose," Elizabeth said, glancing across at Jefferson, who was regarding her answer with interest, "I can't exactly portal jump once I get to the second trimester: I'll get too big. But in the long-term, I don't see why we have to stop. We could still travel the realms with our child, right Jefferson?"

"Maybe…I don't really know. Like you said, we still need to talk about, see what Rumplestiltskin has to say about it."

"But surely the constant travel from one realm to another would be impractical with a new-born child? Perhaps you ought to consider settling down?" Victor pressed, and a smile slowly crept along Elizabeth's lips as she realised what he was implying.

"Oh, you want us here, don't you: keep an eye on us, no doubt?" She teased, "And anyway, we already have a home in the enchanted forest. But I promise we'll visit-I need someone to check up on this baby from time to time…and perhaps deliver them?"

Elizabeth smile widened into a wicked grin as Victor screwed his face up with repulsion at the suggestion.

"I'm a scientist, not a midwife!" And don't you think there are some things that I shouldn't see?"

"You are a doctor too: and it's not like you haven't seen me naked or anything," Elizabeth said nonchalantly.

She glanced from Victor to Jefferson, raising her eyebrows at the sight of his taken-back look from the revelation.

Victor hurriedly spluttered out an explanation, his pale cheeks darkening as he flushed with embarrassment, "It's a little different when you're seven and ten, Elizabeth!"

"How about sixteen and nineteen?" Elizabeth demanded, shooting Victor a look that only made him more mortified.

"That was an honest mistake- Gerhadt tricked me...I didn't realise you were taking a bath..."

"What have I got myself into?" Jefferson muttered, his tone deadpan as he shook his head at the pair.

"Don't worry, not all families are as dysfunctional as ours," Elizabeth laughed, before her expression suddenly grew serious, "Although I would like my child to have a normal family-"

"Is to make up for the fact that their parents will be working for the most feared person in their realm and that they'll be travelling from one land to another?" Victor interrupted and Elizabeth gave him her most formidable stare.

"-a normal family that doesn't argue all the time. You've both got to promise me no more snide comments or glaring daggers at one another," She looked over at Jefferson, who was still perched on the bed, "I could hear you two bickering in the garden. Go on, shake hands."

With Elizabeth's eyes boring into his back, Jefferson rose and reluctantly outstretched a hand which Victor grudgingly shook.

"There, that wasn't so hard," Elizabeth chided, hurriedly covering her mouth as she gave a huge yawn.

The lack of colour only accentuated the dark circles beneath her eyes, and Jefferson was guiltily reminded of how worn out Elizabeth would be after what had become a rather long day.

"I know there's still things we need to talk over, but now probably isn't the best time. It's been one heck of day, and there's around a six-hour difference between here and the enchanted forest: if we go now, you should be able to get a couple of hours sleep Elizabeth, and we can see Rumplestiltskin first thing in the morning?" He suggested.

"I'm not tired," Elizabeth protested, but another yawn betrayed her.

She stretched out slightly on the bed, "Can't we stay the night here? If Rumplestiltskin can see into the future then he probably knew that we were going to have a child before it'd even been conceived! He already knew that we were going to the land without colour without being told, so surely he'll have already foreseen all of this? Anyway, Regina's still got a long way to go before she'll be able to change her appearance into anyone else, so if Rumplestiltskin is working with her, he won't miss us for one day?"

"I think you should stay the night: I'd like to make sure that Elizabeth is definitely healthy enough to be gallivanting across the realms," Victor agreed.

"It's perfectly normal to be nauseous when you're pregnant, in fact it's called morning sickness," Elizabeth explained, "there are a couple of articles in those scientific journals of yours on pregnancy; the only things that I know are from reading them. I can show them to you tomorrow morning? You don't mind spending the night here, do you Jefferson?"

"No, no it's fine," Jefferson glanced across at Victor, "what are we going to do in terms of sleeping arrangements?"

"Elizabeth's bed is a double: there's room for both of you," Victor briskly replied, before narrowing his eyes with a frown.

"I didn't know if you'd be comfortable with Elizabeth and I sleeping...together?" Jefferson explained, clearing his throat as he trailed away.

Elizabeth broke the momentary silence with a laugh at the pair's expressions, waving a hand as if to shoo away Victor.

"Would you be a dear Victor and lock the door after you?" She asked, smiling sweetly up at him.

Victor's mouth opened as if he was about say something, but instead he promptly turned and stalked out of the room, catching the door behind him before it slammed. The lock clicked shut and Elizabeth grinned at Jefferson, struggling to stifle a laugh at his concerned look.

"Don't mind him; you did the right thing to ask. And thank you for agreeing to settle things between you two. I know Victor comes across as being rather protective, but I think he sometimes forgets that he's my brother, not my father."

"I think it's going to take more than a handshake to settle things," Jefferson muttered, putting his hands behind his head as he lay down on the sheets beside Elizabeth, "he knows exactly how to annoy me with those snide comments; I can't help but want to wipe that smug smirk from his face."

"You're not the one who's spent the last thirteen years growing up with him! It's not personal; Victor's like that with almost everyone. You've got the bigger man and not respond. It's hard, I know, but I think your ego can take it."

Elizabeth gave an indignant cry as Jefferson jabbed his forefinger into her arm. She rolled over and pouted at him, looking over his shoulder. Elizabeth's eyes widened and Jefferson twisted his head to see the small silver clock on the bedside table read ten pm.

"I hadn't realised it was so late!" Elizabeth exclaimed.

"We've stayed up until the early hours of morning back home," Jefferson smirked, and Elizabeth blushed.

"Yes, and here we're going to sleep." She said firmly, looking down at her rumpled clothes, "I'm too tired to change- and you don't have anything to change into...I'm surprised Victor hasn't brought you anything actually."

"He knows," Jefferson muttered.

Elizabeth stared at him, her jaw slackening, "How on earth did Victor find out that you sleep-"

"I was really drunk, but I do remember telling him. Somehow I get the feeling Victor hasn't forgotten."

"I can't believe he's actually letting us sleep in the same bed!" Elizabeth giggled, sinking back into sheets.

She curled her body against his, her eyes closing. Jefferson placed an arm over her; the other ran through the loose waves that covered her shoulder.

"I can sleep in my clothes too...or not?" He asked, and Elizabeth's pillow hit his head.

"I really don't care if you're naked or not- I just want to sleep!" Elizabeth hissed, shifting herself away from him.

She leant over to where the candle was burning and blew it out. Jefferson was surprised by just how dark the room was. Illuminated by the streak of moonlight through the curtains, Jefferson could see the outline of Elizabeth's figure, her shoulder touching her jaw, her knees tucked into her body.

Jefferson carefully grew closer to her again, his voice a low whisper in her ear, "You'll be cold in just this dress."

Elizabeth didn't reply, but she didn't resist when Jefferson gently wrapped his arm back around her and placed a kiss on the back of her head. The strawberry scent enveloped his senses, and as Jefferson's eyes closed, he felt Elizabeth's hand take his and guide it along her dress so that it rested below her stomach. In the darkness and its silence, Jefferson could have almost sworn he could hear a faint heartbeat thudding in his mind.