Alice strode through a corner of the Enchanted Forest with no real direction in mind. Truth be told there were really some days that she just wandered aimlessly. Particularly when something was on her mind.
In this case the something was Jefferson. The Hatter really seemed to have captured her thoughts. Try as she might to push the wild blue eyes from her mind, they haunted her each time she slept.
Frankly it was a bit disconcerting. For Cheshire's sake! She barely knew the man and was unlikely to meet him again unless Rum paired them up for another mission. A possibility but they'd done business primarily solo long enough more duo missions were no guarantee.
Besides, that kind of attachment was dangerous. True he'd proven himself reliable when he had something to gain, but was he really someone she could trust? After so long on her own the idea of relying on anyone was a terrifying thought. She shook her head.
You're getting ahead of yourself. There's probably no point worrying about if you can trust him considering nothings likely to end up happening between the two of you!
Sure he'd jokingly made the passing comment about men turning her down being fools but a bit of playful flirting didn't always indicate genuine interest. Did it?
Alice was jerked out of her thoughts by a what sounded like the cry of a child. She tilted her head to determine the direction it couldn't be too far but the forest was thick the sound amplified.
She put the Pipe to her lips and swiftly began to play a calling tune reaching her mind out to that of the nearby child. Soon a little blond girl of no more than five wandered out of the wood towards her. Alice ceased playing and the girl blinked coming out of the daze she'd been put in.
"Hello," said Alice bending down so she might appear less frightening. "Who might you be little one?" The girl was blond and she rubbed her puffy brown eyes looking distraught.
"Gra...Gracelyn..." the child hiccuped.
"Hello, Gracelyn," said Alice the name ringing a striking bell and she wondered for a moment if this could be the Hatter's child. "What are you doing all alone?"
"I was with my father, we were picking mushrooms. He told me to stay put while he went to grab another basket...but I saw a white rabbit and I wanted to catch it so I followed it and then...then I was lost." The tears began to flow once more and Alice tried to put a soothing command into her voice as she spoke.
"Shhhh...It's alright dear. We'll find your father...I'll help you."
"Father said I shouldn't trust strangers," said the girl warily. Alice smiled slightly.
"Generally, a very good policy. Unfortunately, right now it's between a stranger and being stranded all on your lonesome. So perhaps we'll make an exception this once? I'm Piper. There now we aren't strangers."
"I suppose," said the girl still sounding wary which frankly Alice figured was a good thing. Whoever her parent was better they train their child NOT to trust random strangers. Still right now she needed to help the girl back to her father.
"Do you have any idea what direction you came from?" she asked. Grace pointed back in the general direction she'd walked from.
"I think that way but I'm not sure."
"Well come along. Let's see if we can't reverse your steps hmm?" she walked to where the girl had come from and knelt down. Fortunately, the ground was still damp from the previous night's rain so some footprints from the girl's little boots were still visible.
Gesturing for the child to follow she began to retrace the girl's steps. In an effort to keep the child calm she started speaking.
"So who is your father? What does he do?"
"Oh my father collects mushrooms and sells them," said Grace. The words were smooth and well-practiced. Offhand a regular person would buy them but after several years learning to catch liars Alice noted that it was a bit TOO rehearsed. Still, she wasn't about to call a strange five-year-old out for being a liar and risk her running off.
"I see and what's his name?"
"Jefferson," said the girl cheerfully. "He's the best Papa in the world...I feel so horrid about getting lost. He must be so worried."
So this WAS Jefferson's Gracelyn. What in Wonderland's name were the odds? Alice tried to adopt a comforting look.
"It's alright. Your father loves you a great deal which may be the reason he'll be worried and upset but I also guarantee it's why he'll forgive you."
"You're certain?" said the girl.
"Quite," she said ruffling the girl's hair fondly. They were certainly on the right track now for not long after they heard a man's voice shouting.
"Papa!" cried Grace running towards the sound. Alice followed swiftly just in case it wasn't Jefferson but she needn't have worried. The man was dressed this time in a long orange coat made of a much lighter material than his leather one. Beneath were black pants, an orange top, dark green waistcoat and multipatterned scarf. His brown hair which had previously been set in up a dashingly tousled style now just hung loose in a mop of messy brown curls.
It was a different more relaxed Jefferson. But no less attractive. Perhaps even more so given the love for his daughter that was currently shining on his face as he picked her up and hugged her close.
"OH GRACE! I was SO WORRIED! How could you scare me like that? And how did you get back?"
"I'm sorry Papa. I got distracted and this nice lady Piper helped me find my way back," explained Grace. Alice gave Jefferson a slightly crooked smile.
"Hello Hattie." The nickname fell easily from her lips. Jefferson smiled.
"Well speak of the devil. Or should I say the Piper...Perhaps it's one in the same." Alice chuckled.
"Is that any way to speak to the woman that brought your child back?"
"I think you enjoy a good bit of banter," said Jefferson before his face softened. "But I am immensely grateful for what you did for Grace. Would you care to join us for a cup of tea and some dinner? It's not much of a repayment but it's the best we've got."
"I wouldn't have asked for repayment in this case, but I'll take the cup anyway," said Alice following the pair the rest of the way back to a quaint little cottage.
Jefferson quickly got to making the tea while Grace set up the table including a few stuffed animals.
"Grace are we sure your friends want to join us while we've got company?" asked Jefferson gently. Alice however waved him off with a smile.
"I'm more than happy to have Mr. Teddy and company for tea," Grace beamed at her and Jefferson chuckled.
"You've made a new conquest."
"And without any magic involved," she replied jokingly.
"No with the best magic of all...love," said Jefferson. Alice smiled softly. They ended up having a rather sweet tea party with dinner. Just as Alice was making to leave however a torrential downpour began.
"You can't go out in that," said Jefferson, Grace having left the room to get ready for bed.
"Oh it's just a bit of rain," said Alice. There was a crack of thunder and a flash of lightening and a branch fell down outside.
"Just a bit of rain you said?" said the Hatter skeptically.
"Well what else am I supposed to do besides hike to the nearest inn?" asked Alice.
"You could stay the night. We can stay up chatting if it makes you feel better," said Jefferson with shrug.
"I don't want to impose," said Alice nervously.
"I'm offering," he said. "Now take that cloak back off and sit down I'll finish putting Grace to bed."
OUAT
Jefferson figured giving Piper shelter was the least he could do after she'd spared him a heart attack and found Grace earlier that day. Speaking of which his little girl was now tucked up in bed.
"Can you asked the Piper to sing me a song?" she asked. "It would help with the storm." Jefferson paused not wanting to impose further on his guest however the woman must have heard from the other room because she walked in softly and said.
"If your father is alright with it."
"Knock yourself out," he said as the blond sat next to the bed. It was astounding how quickly Grace seemed to be taking to the woman. Especially given Grace was a skeptical child by nature even for a five year old. Part of that might be his fault. With the enemies he'd potentially made he'd always impressed the importance of safety upon her. He was so deep in his thoughts he almost missed the start of Piper's song.
High in the halls of the kings who are gone
Jenny would dance with her ghosts
The ones she had lost and the ones she had found
And the ones who had loved her the most
The ones who'd been gone for so very long
She couldn't remember their names
They spun her around on the damp old stones
Spun away all her sorrow and pain
And she never wanted to leave, never wanted to leave
Never wanted to leave, never wanted to leave
They danced through the day
And into the night through the snow that swept through the hall
From winter to summer then winter again
'Til the walls did crumble and fall
And she never wanted to leave, never wanted to leave
Never wanted to leave, never wanted to leave
And she never wanted to leave, never wanted to leave
Never wanted to leave, never wanted to leave
High in the halls of the kings who are gone
Jenny would dance with her ghosts
The ones she had lost and the ones she had found
And the ones
Who had loved her the most
Jefferson blinked as the song came to an end. The Piper was truly able to paint a picture as she sang the words. Grace for her part had fallen fast asleep.
"She'll sleep through the night," said the Piper softly before standing up and heading back to the main room of the cottage.
"That was beautiful," he said.
"Thank you," she replied before turning to stare into the fire. "It's a striking dichotomy this gift of mine. Beautiful or terrible depending on how I wish to utilize it."
"How did you come by it?" asked Jefferson.
"I was born that way. People in Wonderland are often born with something...different about them. This was my gift. Or curse some could say."
"A curse in what way?" he enquired.
"When you have something that powerful...anyone can want to use it. And they won't always ask nicely," she replied. "I'm certain you can relate." Jefferson nodded.
There was a reason he didn't exactly advertise his skills as a portal jumper. The whole mushroom seller thing was really more of a front but it at least explained away where he got some of his money. Grace was under strict instructions never to reveal his business.
"People will do scary things especially to the ones you love for any kind of power." He didn't need a blatant explanation to understand the woman's inference. One way or another she'd lost someone or something because someone wanted her power. "That's why you made the deal with his Darkness."
"Yes," she replied.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"For what?" she asked turning to look at him in confusion.
"For whatever happened. I know a fellow troubled soul when I see one."
"You had no part and thus bear no fault...but the sentiment is appreciated." Silence stretched and eventually Jefferson asked.
"You seem...good with children. Or at least you are with Grace. What made you kidnap a town of them?" The Piper paused surveying him.
"I used to offer my services and get payment after you know," she said. "But people tried to take advantage of me...in several ways. So I ransomed their children to make them pay up. I never planned on hurting the little ones."
"Who knew the Pied Piper had a soft heart," said Jefferson with a slight smile. The Piper snorted.
"You can't let people know Hattie. That's how people try and take advantage of you. At least if they think you scary enough they'll stay away. Though mistake me not. I make no claims that my darker nature is a mere façade. I enjoyed making those people pay for crossing me," a dark look crossed her eyes.
"Well, we've all got a little darkness inside us. Who am I to judge? I've done more than my share of shady deeds and not for the "greater good". Said Jefferson.
"I'd imagine so," chuckled Piper.
"How long have you been travelling on your own?" asked Jefferson and Piper shrugged.
"A number of years."
"Sounds lonely."
"Perhaps a bit. But I manage."
"I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have Grace," he said. "Probably have drowned myself in alcohol."
"When did you lose her mother?" asked the Piper tentatively.
"When Grace was just a babe. And it was my fault," said Jefferson darkly.
"Your fault?" he nodded.
"Priscilla died rescuing me because I got caught doing a heist."
"That sounds horrible," said the Piper quietly laying a hand on his arm.
"It's bad enough to lose the ones you love. It's worse when it's your fault," said Jefferson not entirely sure why he was confiding this story in the Piper but it felt...easy and right speaking with her.
"Sometimes I wonder if I was the cause of my parent's deaths," said Piper.
"How could that be?" he asked.
"I became friends with the daughter of the woman who killed them. I sometimes wonder if that drew the woman's attention to us. Perhaps it had nothing to do with it but the thought occurs to me from time to time."
OUAT
A rush of sympathy for Jefferson filled Alice as he spoke of how he held himself responsible for his wife's death. Something she got the sense he didn't speak of with everyone. Oddly enough sitting there in front of the fire with him as the raindrops pounded down on the roof, she felt as if she could trust him.
"Sometimes I wonder if I was the cause of my parent's deaths." she admitted. It was like a weight was lifted off her chest to say it aloud.
"How could that be?" he asked.
"I became friends with the daughter of the woman who killed them. I sometimes wonder if that drew the woman's attention to us. Perhaps it had nothing to do with it but the thought occurs to me from time to time." After all she and Regina had both know there was danger in association. Perhaps she should have just avoided the girl.
"Did you ever get payback on her?" asked Jefferson sounding curious. It was an odd question but one which made Alice give a wry smile.
"My skills were not that well honed at the time. Maybe one day." Cora had better watch out if they ever came face to face. She would make her pay.
"Well, it doesn't sound like you can even be sure you hold any responsibility in the matter," the Hatter told her comfortingly.
"Perhaps not," she admitted. "It also sounds like your wife made a choice for the man she loved. I'm sure she wouldn't want you torturing yourself over it."
"Easier said than done," said Jefferson. "Especially on the lonely nights."
"Which ones are those?" she asked.
"Ones like this. Where everything is gloomy to the point it seeps into your very soul," said the Hatter. Alice gave him a small smile.
"Well, if you ever need someone to distract you on those lonely nights I'd be happy to oblige." The moment the words were out of her mouth she realized how forward and overly flirtatious they'd sounded. "I mean..." however Jefferson cut her off seemly amused by her flustered reaction. His eyes twinkling with mirth he said,
"I know what you mean. And I'd like that."
The rest of the night passed quietly alternating between light conversation or companionable silence. It was the best night Alice had had since her parents died.
Author's Note: So! Alice meets Grace! I know things seem to be moving fast on their feelings (especially in comparison to say Rumbelle) but every couple takes a different pace. This one isn't QUITE the same slow burn. So even though she's wary of most people Alice's feelings are pulling her in a very different direction (Plus I don't just want her to repeat Rumple's arc). Credit for the song goes to Game of Thrones. It's called Jenny of Oldstones (highly recommend) Anyway if you like the story please let me know! Your words me the world! Thanks for reading! Until next time!