ENCHANTED FOREST

Rebekah sat with Snow White, hand grasped with hers as they sat through her father's funeral. Snow White cried softly as they brought up her father's casket and Rebekah held onto her hand tightly and moved her hand to lay on Snow White's shoulder to show some support. The King had died and the entire Kingdom was in mourning. Even Regina.

The Queen sat on the other side of Snow while the people sang to honor the King. And long after everyone left, Snow White stayed put and looked forward at the casket. "You should say your goodbyes, Snow," Rebekah said in a whisper, patting her hand softly. Snow looked at her, eyes full of tears, streaks on her cheek from tears already shed.

"Okay," she whispered, standing up and dragging Rebekah along with her. "Will you wait for me in my bedroom, Rebekah?" Snow White asked. "I don't think I can be alone tonight."

"Of course," Rebekah said with a comforting smile. She squeezed her hand once more before letting go and turning to leave the area. Rebekah would need to gather some of her things to take to Snow White's bedroom tonight. Thankfully they slept on the same floor of the castle.

"Princess," a few guards said when she walked through the hall. They bowed their heads, their black leather outfits making a squeaking noise as they did. Rebekah loathed the way the guards now dressed – she almost loathed it as much as she loathed when they would refer to her as Princess.

Snow White was the princess of this kingdom, not Rebekah. And it was disrespectful for the guards to call her such in Snow's presence. But Regina had snapped at her younger sister when she heard her mouthing off to one of the guards for calling her Princess. And after that, Rebekah was not allowed to correct them. She did, however, glare at them when she walked by.

Rebekah didn't want to be a princess, she didn't want to be a queen. She just wanted a normal happy life without the risk of getting kidnapped for a political advantage which was why Regina had guards following her around after the King's death.

She looked over her shoulder to see them following her only a few paces behind in case anything were to happen. Rebekah sighed and looked forward. Someday, she'd like to escape the castle – even if only for a day! She'd pretend she was a commoner and shred her royal dresses and dress up in a simple outfit that she had seen some of the townswomen wear when they came to ask the Royal Family for favors.

Rebekah just wanted to get away to some place far away where no one knew her name or who she was! Where she could live out the rest of her life in a cottage somewhere in the middle of a large field where she'd have a garden to tend to each morning. Something simple. Something other than what she had. Someone...new.

Snow White would be crowned Queen in a ceremony once her mourning period was over and Rebekah was sure that Regina would try and wed her to some king or prince to create a political alliance – even if it was the last thing Rebekah wanted. It was something Regina had discussed with her younger sister years ago and she had tried to put up a fight then but she never won a battle against her older sister. She was only fifteen and had hardly even left the castle grounds. She hoped and prayed that before Regina married her off, someone would whisk her far away from this place and Regina would never find her. But she knew that was impossible.

Rebekah gathered her things which she had the guards carry for her on the walk to Snow White's bedroom. Once they were at the door, Rebekah peeked her head in to see if Snow had made it back to the room yet but she hadn't. So, she opened the door wider and had the guards follow her and set down her things so that when Snow was back, they would have everything they would need with no reason to leave the room. Rebekah had even snuck in some wine she had swiped from the kitchen – she managed to smuggle it away in the very bottom of her chest under all of her clothing and a few light books. When the guards weren't looking, Rebekah had snuck it into the bag she was packing.

"That will be all," Rebekah said as she looked to the guards.

"We will be outside, Princess."

She glared at the title but didn't snap at them for saying it.

The guards left and shortly after; Snow White came into the room, tear stains still on her cheek and her nose was bright red. Rebekah frowned and beckoned Snow White to join her on the large blanket that was covered in pillows that she had laid out on the floor. Snow White moved to where Rebekah was and laid her head in Rebekah's lap. "I miss him so much," Snow said, her tears wetting Rebekah's dress skirts. "I feel so alone."

"Oh, you'll never be alone, Snow." Rebekah promised as she ran her fingers through Snow's long hair. She frowned when Snow let out a little sob. "You will always have me. Nothing will ever change that."

Snow nodded her head, moving a bit to look up at Rebekah. "You are my sister."

Rebekah chuckled softly, "Technically, I am your Aunt, remember?" She grinned when Snow White rolled her eyes. When they were younger and Regina first married Snow's father, Rebekah and Snow thought the idea of Rebekah being her aunt was mad! They were only a few months apart in age and the fact that Cora had wanted Snow to address Rebekah as her aunt was ridiculous.

"Do you ever miss your mother, Rebekah?" Snow asked.

Rebekah blinked, not knowing how to answer. No one had ever asked her that before. "No." She finally answered. "My mother...was never a mother to me. I don't think she knew how to be."

"I miss my mother." Snow White confessed. "At least I know that my mother and father are together again," she said in a sigh while Rebekah's fingers brushed through her long hair. "Do you believe in True Love?"

Rebekah snorted out a little laugh, "True Love is only a myth."

"I don't know...I think my mother was my father's True Love. They were so happy together...I hope they are happy now, too."

"I hope they are, too." Rebekah whispered. She then patted Snow's shoulder, who understood what Rebekah wanted and moved her head off of her lap. "I brought something," Rebekah said with a grin. Snow raised her brow and laughed when Rebekah pulled out a bottle of wine.

"Do you really think it's appropriate?" Snow said with a little giggle.

"Of course, it is!" Rebekah said as she got up and went to fill the two goblets she had set out already. She brought the cups back over to the blanket covered in pillows once she had filled them both and handed one to Snow White as she sat down. "Your father was a good man. He was always kind to me and I don't think he loved anything more than you, Snow. We raise our glasses to the King, to your father, may he rest in peace with his True Love."

Snow White smiled. "Do you think we have a True Love out there?"

Rebekah shrugged and swallowed some of the wine in her cup. "I'm sure you do."

Snow White frowned. "You don't think you have a True Love?"

"I don't know...and unless he happens to be one of the guards – I doubt I'll ever meet him." Rebekah confessed. "But...I suppose it would be nice."

"I think it would be nice, too." Snow White agreed.

They drank most of the bottle before they fell asleep on the blanket snuggled up together.

It was awful, but Rebekah couldn't help but wish that Snow White was her sister, and not Regina.

But after losing the King, Regina had changed quite a bit. She was kinder, more caring towards both Rebekah and Snow. Perhaps death had taught Regina what truly mattered in life.

Or...it could all be an act.

That wouldn't surprise Rebekah.

_________________________________

STORYBROOKE, Maine

The knocking on the door continued and Rebekah pulled the covers over her body completely. She had spent all of the day in her apartment locked away from the world. Rebekah was absolutely mortified by what had happened with Jefferson. She had never felt so foolish. Had it all really just been in her head? Did she truly mean nothing to him? How was it possible that she ended up caring so deeply for a man who was practically a stranger?

Rebekah knew nothing about Jefferson. He never spoke of his past and she never asked him. He only ever asked her questions about herself and there were times he'd look at her like he was waiting for her to say something and when she did speak he'd look away in disappointment, like she had answered wrong. And it was confusing and strange but Rebekah felt a connection to him that made her look past just how weird the whole situation was. Hell, Rebekah still didn't know why Regina was so adamant about wanting her to stay away from Jefferson.

Maybe Regina knew who the woman was that Jefferson was still in love with. Maybe Regina was trying to be a good sister and only wanted to protect Rebekah from getting her heartbroken.

Too late.

Ridiculous! She hardly knew Jefferson – there was no way that heart was broken! It was probably just her pride being wounded that made her feel so lousy. She and Jefferson were not in a relationship so why would she even think that her heart had been broken? It was absurd! Not possible. But then why did she feel like her heart was being ripped into pieces when she replayed their conversation?

The knocking continued but Rebekah kept the covers over her head. It was nearly 3 AM. It could possibly be an emergency but she was too deep in self-pity that it didn't concern her. If it had been Regina, she would have called by now. Or she would have used her house key. The same went with Henry. They both knew where she had her spare key hidden so if they really needed her, they would have come in by now.

There were three more loud bangs before the shouting began, "Rebekah!" There was a thud, the sound of someone hitting the ground. She threw the blankets off of her upon hearing the agonized voice. Rebekah ran out of her room and to the front door to find Graham slumped on the floor right in front of her door. "I think I'm going crazy." Graham whispered as he looked up at her. She could see the fear in his eyes and instantly moved down to help him get up so they could go inside her apartment.

"What's going on?" Rebekah asked once Graham was inside her apartment and she had closed and locked the door. "-What happened?"

Graham began to pace around her apartment, running his hands through his hair roughly while shaking his head. "It's impossible! I'm seeing things – I don't understand what's happening to me."

Rebekah frowned. She had seen Graham drunk before and usually it made him weepy – but nothing like this. But he had sweat dripping from his head down onto his face and his hands were shaking. Maybe she just hadn't seen him in this kind of drunken state before. "Graham...how much have you had to drink tonight?"

"-What?" He snapped his head to look at her. "I'm not drunk, Rebekah!" Graham waved her off when she opened her mouth to ask another question and said, "And don't even think about asking me if I'm on any drugs – you know me better than that!"

It was what she was about to ask next. And he was right, she did know him better than that – but the way he was acting? It was completely erratic and a little bit frightening.

Rebekah sighed, moving over to stand in front of him. She grabbed his hands lowering them down to his side to try and steady them, hoping it might stop the shaking. "Okay, let's sit down and you can tell me what's happening, okay?"

He nodded his head and let Rebekah lead him to her couch where they both sat down. Rebekah made sure to keep holding onto Graham's hands even after they sat down. She needed to make sure he knew that he wasn't alone in that moment.

Graham told Rebekah that he had kissed Emma and that when he had kissed her he had seen a flash of images. "There was a wolf and...I was in the woods." He shook his head. "Afterwards, I went to see Regina."

"-You went and slept with my sister after kissing Emma?" Rebekah said, disapproving of Graham's choices. "Honestly, Graham-"

"You can lecture me later," he snapped. Rebekah frowned and Graham sighed and apologized but continued on. "Afterwards," Rebekah inwardly cringed at the thought of Regina and Graham together but let him finish. "I fell asleep and...my dream was," Graham shook his head, clearly frustrated and confused, "-it didn't feel like a dream. It felt like a memory but I've never – it couldn't possibly be a memory! It never happened!"

Her brows knit together as she tried to understand what Graham was saying. She had dreams that felt like memories before, too, but she was always able to think clearly and be rational afterwards telling herself that sometimes dreams could be so vivid that they felt real – like they had happened before. But all they ever were...were dreams. So, she would try and help Graham by asking, "What was the dream?"

Graham closed his eyes, as if it might help him recall each detail from his dream. "I was hunting in the woods and I killed a deer and...there was a wolf – he had one red eye and the other was black and...I knew him. Because I've seen him before."

"The wolf?" He nodded his head. "Well maybe you have. It wouldn't be the oddest thing to come across a wolf here. Storybrooke is far enough out in the woods compared to most towns." She was lying. Rebekah had never come across a wolf while living in Storybrooke. They were surrounded by woods, yes. But she had never even heard a howl at night before. If there was a wolf, Rebekah was sure she would have come across it. She used to run around in the woods while growing up; she knew them like the back of her hand and she knew that there were no wolves in Storybrooke.

"No," he argued. "I went back to Granny's and dropped my keys and when I went to grab them, the damn wolf was standing in front of me."

"The wolf...from your dream was in the middle of the town?" She loved Graham but that was impossible. There were no wolves. Hell, even the wildlife from the forest never came into town. Occasionally, you'd see a deer – but nothing else. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Graham said. He sounded so sure that Rebekah felt like she couldn't point out logic to him. Rebekah stood up and pressed her hand to Graham's face and frowned as she looked down at him, her thumb sweeping away droplets of sweat that were falling from his hair. "You think I'm going mad, too, don't you?" His voice broke.

"No," Rebekah told him. "I don't." She tried to assure him and smiled softly. "But I think you need a glass of water and a good night's sleep. If you have any more dreams I'll be here – we can talk about them." Graham took a moment before he finally nodded his head. Rebekah pressed her hand to his cheek one more time before walking away from him and through her apartment to get him some water from the kitchen.

When she returned with the glass of water, Graham was already asleep. Rebekah frowned again, incredibly worried about her friend. A part of her thought that maybe she should tell Regina about it – but a bigger and louder part urged her to keep it to herself. So, Rebekah placed the glass of water down on the coffee table and grabbed a blanket for Graham and covered his body with it.

Rebekah went to bed and had a dreamless sleep. She chalked it up to her worrying about Graham. Either way, when she woke up the next morning, Graham was gone and she began to panic. There was no note left from Graham and if he had truly been feeling better he would have at least left a note.

She threw her hair up in a quick updo and changed out of her pajamas; and after brushing her teeth, grabbed her car keys and began her search for Graham. Rebekah didn't think Graham had gone mad – but she was worried about him. And she cared for him too much to let him go through this alone.

_________________________________

ENCHANTED FOREST

Regina had told Rebekah that she needed to spend more time on her studies – that someday in the future she may marry a king and need to learn how to be graceful and diplomatic. It had made Rebekah laugh loudly and that had only angered her sister who then sent her to go study in the courtyard while Regina had 'business to attend to' that had to do with the kingdom. Rebekah really doubted that Regina was concerned about how Rebekah would one day behave herself – but really just wanted Rebekah out of her hair for the day. And that was fine with Rebekah. It was rare that she was even allowed to walk the castle alone. Her father had been with her for a few hours helping her study each kingdom and even went on to tell her some myths of each place, pointing at the pages in Rebekah's book and recalling a story he had once heard from his father while growing up.

It was rare that Rebekah was allowed to spend time with her father alone. Regina was oddly jealous of each relationship Rebekah was able to form – friendships, even relationships with her own family! Though, Regina had always been their mother's favorite. There was nothing Rebekah could ever do to compete with Regina to win Cora's affection. Perhaps that's why their father doted on the youngest child the most because he saw just how cruel Cora had been to her. Maybe that's why Regina envied their relationship. Or perhaps she was just a jealous woman.

It didn't matter – Regina had changed in the last few months. It reminded Rebekah of when she was just a girl and Regina would sneak into her bedroom late at night and read her stories and brush her hair while singing a soft song to try and lull her to sleep. Regina had been more of a mother to Rebekah than Cora ever had. But that all changed when she became betrothed to the King.

But he was dead now and Regina was finally acting motherly again. Even to Snow, as well. Which was something Regina had never done.

Rebekah traced her finger across the page that showed a map of a kingdom known as The Sands where her father had told Rebekah that a sleeping princess was kept frozen in time from a curse from an evil woman named Maleficent. The Kingdom was gone and the only remaining person was the princess who would not wake until True Loves kiss broke the curse.

"Why doesn't anyone try and free her?" Rebekah had asked her father.

"Maleficent cast a spell so that no one can cut through all the thorns surrounding the castle. People have tried; but only True Love can ever break the curse."

"Who is the princess's True Love?" Rebekah wondered.

"A prince. But Maleficent cast a spell on him, too."

"How do you know all of this?" Rebekah said in amusement, wondering where her father was getting his information.

"I'm an old man, Bex. I've heard every story ever told." He teased.

He had left her to have some time to herself so that he could check on Regina, and Rebekah had gone back to reading about each kingdom until she was abruptly interrupted.

"Who are you?"

Rebekah looked up from her book. She saw a man wearing animal furs and leather in the courtyard with her. "Are you making a joke?" she asked. Everyone knew who she was. Even if they hadn't ever seen her, the royal clothing she wore would be a dead giveaway. Rebekah looked up at the man and began to study him. He had light blue eyes and curly brown hair, his face was covered with a beard and when her gaze dropped down, she saw that he held a dagger in his hand. The man quickly placed it back in its sheath when he caught her eyes looking in the direction of the weapon. Rebekah swallowed hard, setting her book down while trying to keep a calm composure. If he was here to kill her, she would put up a fight. "I think I should be the ones asking the questions here."

His brows began to knit together as he looked in her direction. "Are you the princess?" the man asked.

"No," Rebekah said. "That is Snow White. I am the Queen's sister." Rebekah held onto her book tightly knowing that it was heavy enough to knock the man out if he tried to attack her. "Who are you and why are you looking for Snow White?"

"I'm a new knight for your sister, the Queen," he said and Rebekah had good enough sense to know that he was lying.

"You don't dress like the other knights or even the guards." She stood up, the book still in her hand.

The man shifted on his feet and glared. "I haven't been given my uniform." Rebekah raised her brow at his behavior and he looked away from her. "I'm looking for the armory."

"Why? You already have a dagger." She pointed to his sheath.

His face became unreadable to Rebekah. "I don't think I'd be able to win any sort of battle against any enemies to the crown with my dagger."

"Well, that's unfortunate for you," Rebekah said as she turned around so her back was facing him. She watched in the reflection of her cup while the man moved closer to her. Once he was close enough, Rebekah spun around to swing her book at him. But he caught her by the wrist and the large book fell from her hands. "Unhand me!" she spat out with a glare.

"I'm not here to hurt you," he said in an angry tone as he glared down at her.

"-Who are you here to hurt?" She struggled to free herself. "Snow White?" Rebekah asked.

"What does it matter to you?" He asked Rebekah, hand still wrapped around her wrist while she continued to struggle out of his grip. "Aren't you the Queen's sister?"

Her body stilled at his words and Rebekah's eyes widened in horror. "Regina hired you to kill Snow?" The man only looked down at her as if he were trying to figure her out. Her mouth formed a scowl before she stomped down on his foot causing him to let go of her hand and tumble forward a bit. Rebekah bent down and grabbed the book before hitting him on the head with it while he was bent down causing him to fall forward and onto the ground. She took the opportunity to run towards the castle and out of the courtyard.

"-SNO," Her words were cut off and her throat felt like it was closing as she was lifted from the ground. Regina walked out of the castle to move so that she was standing in front of her younger sister and smirked. Rebekah glared wanting nothing more than to scream – but Regina had somehow managed to steal her voice making it impossible for her to warn Snow White.

The man ran forward and stood by Regina. "I surely hope that you are better at killing Snow White than you are at trying to stop my sister from getting away, Huntsman. Otherwise, I overestimated your abilities."

Suddenly Rebekah was dropped to the ground but her entire body felt paralyzed. She tried to move but no matter how hard she tried, Rebekah wasn't even able to lift a single finger. "Bring her to one of my knights. Go with them when they take her to her bedroom – I don't want her alone with any of them."

The man, who Regina had referred to as The Huntsman looked down at Regina and frowned. "This isn't what you hired me for."

"Yes, I hired you to discreetly kill Snow White and so far, you are failing so do as I say!" she snapped. The Huntsman looked down at Rebekah who looked up at him with wide eyes in fear. "Now, Huntsman!" Regina yelled.

The Huntsman bent down and scooped Rebekah up in his arms. When they were far enough away from Regina, he leaned down and whispered, "I apologize – I don't mean you any harm."

When he found one of Regina's knights, Rebekah listened as the Huntsman refused to pass her off and instead demanded that the Queen wanted the knight to show him to Rebekah's room. For someone who was here to kill Rebekah's very best friend, he sure had a protective tone when it came to Rebekah. She didn't understand why he hadn't simply let the knight take her to the room and instead demanded her do it himself – but it felt like he was, in his own way, trying to protect her.

"You're the guy?" One of Regina's Knights asked. Rebekah recognized his voice and knew that it was Sir Isaac, a disgusting man that spent far too much time watching Rebekah and Snow. It had made both of them uncomfortable from the way he would leer at them. Snow White had told Rebekah that she was going to speak to her father about Sir Isaac, but somehow Regina had convinced Snow White to ignore the knight and not tell the King and Regina had told her sister that Sir Isaac was only keeping an eye on them for their own protection. But the way he stared them was unsettling. "The one who's gonna..."

The Huntsman didn't answer him; he only walked forward. Rebekah could tell that he got no pleasure out of this all – that when she looked in his eyes she could see that this wasn't something he wanted to do but had to. They were walking too long; it shouldn't take this long to get to Rebekah's bedroom – but they kept walking and when they finally came to a stop, Rebekah heard the knight begin to speak again.

"The Queen had her things moved so that her bedroom wasn't on the same floor as Snow White's."

Rebekah's eyes moved back up at the Huntsman, trying to plead for him to let her go – to let her warn Snow. But she still had no voice and could barely even move her fingers.

"I got it from here." Her body was being tugged forward and then suddenly was tugged back into the Huntsman's chest. "Whoa, whoa, calm down." Rebekah was just now starting to regain feeling in her toes and could tell that tips of her toes were brushing against the ground. When her eyes moved back up to look at the Huntsman, she was looking at him from a different angle. He was not holding her in his arms anymore, but she was pressed against his chest. "Put the dagger down, Huntsman," Sir Isaac said.

"The Queen says no one touches her," The Huntsman replied calmly.

"I know the little brat – the Queen trusts me with her," Sir Isaac spat out.

Rebekah managed to move her fingers to pat against the leather of the Huntsman's vest. He seemed to understand what she was trying to get across – to not leave her with any of her sister's knights. "Step aside." He seethed.

Her toes dragged across the ground and she could make out the sound of a groan and then heard something heavy drop on the ground. And then she felt the wind under her feet and saw that the Huntsman was walking again.

Rebekah looked up at the man as he laid her down on the bed. "...P...lease." She struggled to get her words out. "D...on't."

He swallowed hard as he looked down at her. "I have to."

And then he was gone.

_________________________________

STORYBROOKE, Maine

Rebekah had spent most of the day driving around town searching for Graham with no luck until Mary-Margaret called telling her that Graham had showed up to her classroom acting strange. She had told Rebekah that she was going to call Emma but knew that she and Graham had a bit of a falling out. When Mary-Margaret said she might call Regina, Rebekah nearly shouted at her not to for some reason. The overwhelming need to protect Graham was screaming at her that Regina could not know!

"He was burning up, Rebekah," Mary-Margaret told her. "I told him to go home but...I don't think he did. I'm really worried."

"-What else did he say to you?" Rebekah asked as she pulled over to the side of the road.

"He asked me if I believed in past lives, and I thought that he had just been talking to Henry about his whole theory that we're all characters from his storybook. But I told him that it didn't make any sense, of course! I'm sure he knows just how absurd that is...right?"

No, sadly Rebekah did not think that Graham would find that absurd in the state he was in. "Is Henry still at school?" Rebekah asked.

"No, he already left."

"I'm heading to the house now," Rebekah told Mary-Margaret, knowing deep down inside that Graham would go and try to talk to Henry.

"Rebekah, call me if you find Graham. I want to make sure he's okay."

"Of course." They both hung up and Rebekah pulled out into the road making an illegal U-Turn and headed in the direction of Regina and Henry's house.

Thankfully, when she got there, Graham's patrol car was parked outside of the home. Rebekah pulled over and got out of her car quickly and ran up to the house.

"Graham!" Rebekah yelled once she was inside.

"We're upstairs!" Henry yelled.

She sighed, hurrying up the stairs and into Henry's room. "Dammit, Graham!" She cursed in anger. "I have been looking everywhere for you! Did you even think about how worried I might be?!"

Graham didn't look at Rebekah, he was too busy looking at Henry with wide eyes while Henry's storybook sat in his lap opened to a page with a picture of a vault and who Rebekah could only assume was the Evil Queen standing in front of it.

"The wolf wants me to find it." He tossed the book off his lap. "Thank you, Henry," Graham said as he got off the bed and moved to run past Rebekah but she caught him by the hand and stopped him from leaving.

When he looked back at her, his eyes went wide and his breathing grew hard and shallow. "Graham, what is going on?" Rebekah asked. The way he was looking at her had her very concerned for his safety.

"Come with me," Graham said suddenly.

"What?" she said back in confusion. "Where?"

"The wolf will lead us."

Rebekah closed her eyes and shook her head, still holding onto his hand, refusing to let go out of fear that he'd leave. "Graham, I know you're confused right now-"

"You should go with him, Auntie Bex." Henry told her as he got up from his bed. "Help him."

Rebekah looked at Henry and then back at Graham who asked her, "Are you coming with me or not?"

She licked at her lips and shook her head in frustration. "Fine. Only because I really don't want you going off on your own." They left Henry's bedroom and walked down the stairs. "Mary-Margaret said you came to see her," Rebekah said slowly as they reached the bottom step. "-She said that you're also burning up." She moved her hand to his forehead, wiping away the sweat. "I think you should go to the ER, Graham."

"I'm not sick!" He argued. "Dammit, if you don't believe me, don't come!"

Rebekah was taken back by his anger and blinked in surprise, "Graham, I didn't say that-"

"-But it's what you're thinking!"

She sighed, "No. I'm only worried about you – Graham, if you are sick and something were to happen to you and I just did nothing." Her voice broke as her emotions got the best of her. "You are my best friend, you're my family...and I'm scared that you're going to do something that will get you hurt."

He frowned, brows knitting together. "You're my family," Graham told her. "I know that."

"Graham, please...let me take you to see Dr. Whale." She begged.

"I'm finding the vault, Rebekah...it's the only way I will be able to feel again." He walked away from her and out the door, and before Rebekah could follow after him, her phone began to ring. It was Mr. Gold. She hadn't taken any of his calls yesterday nor most of his calls today, and if she continued to ignore him, she would be jobless.

She answered his call. "Mr. Gold, I'm kind of in the middle of a crisis right now. Can I call you back?" Rebekah said as she ran out the door. She stopped when she saw that Emma was walking up to Graham and breathed out in relief.

"I'm afraid not. I need you at the house I purchased now." She couldn't make out what Graham and Emma were saying while trying to focus on Mr. Gold's words. His words were perfectly clear and to the point. "-Perhaps I made a mistake in hiring you, Ms. Mills."

She bit down on her lower lip hard and closed her eyes, "No, you didn't. I'll be on my way," Rebekah told him and then hung up. When she made it over to Graham and Emma, the blonde-haired woman looked at her with worried eyes. "-I'm sorry, Graham – I have to go meet, Mr. Gold."

He looked at her, the rims of his eyes red and he had dark circles under his eyes. Oh God, she really didn't want to leave him. "I've got him," Emma said probably upon seeing the worried look Rebekah was giving Graham. "Don't worry." Rebekah looked away from Graham and over at Emma.

"Please call me, okay?" Rebekah gave Emma a pointed look that read; call me if anything happens to him. Emma nodded and Rebekah turned her attention back to Graham. She walked over to him and pressed her hand to his face. "Promise me that you'll at least try and get some rest, okay? Even if it's only for a half hour...please?" He nodded his head but Rebekah knew it wasn't a promise he could keep. She took in a deep breath and shook her head, trying to not let her worry show. "I'm going to see you later, okay?"

"Okay." She dropped her hand from his face and went to turn around but before she could, Graham had grabbed her by the wrist and brought her back to him, pulling her into a tight embrace. "I'm not going mad, Rebekah," he whispered. "I'll prove it."

Rebekah closed her eyes, moving her arms around him and hugged onto him tightly, too. "I know," she whispered. Graham let go of her and before she could say anything else, he walked away from her and towards Emma. Henry's birth mother gave her a reassuring smile that gave Rebekah the courage to walk away from them.

Rebekah got into her car and drove away, watching in the rearview mirror as Emma placed her hand to Graham's chest. Her phone began to ring again causing Rebekah to tear her eyes away from the mirror.

Angrily, she grabbed her phone and answered it. "I'm on my way, Mr. Gold!" Rebekah snapped.

It wasn't Mr. Gold.

"Have you seen Graham today?" Regina was on the other line.

Rebekah turned on her blinker and turned left on the road that would lead her towards the woods where the house was. "No." She lied, no longer able to see Graham or Emma.

"Are you lying to me?"

"Why would I lie, Regina?" Rebekah said in irritation.

"Because I know that you care deeply for Graham and surely want to protect him. But if you have seen him I need you to tell me the truth – for his own safety he needs to see a doctor."

She was right...but Rebekah didn't feel like Regina was doing this for Graham's safety. "I haven't. But you'll be the first person I call if I do see him."

"Please do, it'll be dark soon and I know we both want to make sure he is safe."

Rebekah hung up with her sister and tossed her phone on the passenger seat while she continued to drive. She shouldn't have left Graham – not while he was in this state. She should have told Gold to shove it and that there were more important things in life than fixing up a damn house! But she hadn't and now she had no idea where Graham and Emma might be.

It was too late.

Now, all she could do was pray that Emma could convince Graham to go to the hospital...or at least get some sleep.

_________________________________

ENCHANTED FOREST

Rebekah continued to pound against the door to her bedroom while screaming for someone to help her. No matter how hard she tired, she couldn't open the door. It didn't even budge. Not even when she started to throw some of the furniture at it.

She didn't know how long she had been in the room – hours, days, surely not weeks. But she felt herself going mad with each passing minute that she was trapped in this room. Rebekah wanted out and she wanted to warn Snow. Rebekah let out a cry knowing that it was probably too late to even warn her – that the Huntsman had likely killed her already. No, no, she refused to believe that. Snow White was still alive and Rebekah would save her!

"Please!" She screamed, the side of her hand was bleeding as it split from banging so hard against the door. "Snow White is in danger!" Rebekah yelled. "Please! Help!"

"You're too high up."

Rebekah stopped hitting the door and pressed her ear against the door when she heard the voice. It had been quiet, but she recognized it. It belonged to the Huntsman.

"Besides, anyone who was loyal to the princess in the castle is now dead."

Was.

Anyone who was loyal to the princess.

Did that mean? Rebekah took in a shaky breath before asking a question she dreaded hearing the answer to. "Did you...did you kill her?"

He was quiet for a while but finally answered, "No. She's safe."

She couldn't help but let out the tiny sob she had been holding, her hand clutching at her chest while tears of happiness fell down her cheeks. Rebekah was so relieved that Snow White was still alive – that she was safe.

"Your sister made me pay the price."

Rebekah moved her hand from her chest and pressed it against the door again. "What do you mean?" She sniffled, wiping away her tears with her free hand.

"She wanted Snow White's heart and I brought her a stag's heart," the Huntsman told Rebekah. She waited for what felt like an eternity before he spoke again. "So, she took mine instead."

No! That wasn't fair! The Huntsman didn't deserve this! He was a good man – she knew that now! "I can get it back for you." Rebekah told him, "-I know where Regina keeps her hearts. They're in a vault."

He stopped her from saying anything further. "-I can't enter your room," the Huntsman said. "The Queen sealed it shut with magic. Only she can enter."

Rebekah slowly slid down to the floor, eyes filling with tears again. She took in a shaky breath, pulling her knees to her chest as she moved her chin on top of them while closing her eyes to keep the tears at bay. If no one could come in...that must mean that she could never come out. "...So, I'm stuck in here forever?"

"Yes."

There was no stopping the tears, even as she closed her eyes tight. The tears were so heavy that they were burning against her eyelids and she had no choice but to open them.

But then the Huntsman began to talk again. "-Unless you're on good behavior." She lifted her head up at his words, "If I tell the Queen that you are cooperative...she'll allow you to leave your room every once in a while."

She sniffled, wiping under her nose. "Why?"

"Your father." Rebekah felt her lower lip tremble as more tears slid down her cheek, "He asked for Regina to show you some compassion. This...is it."

Rebekah took in a deep breath, leaning her head back against the door. After a while, Rebekah decided to ask him a question. "Why did you agree to kill Snow?" she asked.

"Regina swore she would outlaw the killing of wolves. She swore that she would protect them."

She didn't understand. "You agreed to kill someone...to protect wolves?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because," he sighed, "They're my family."

Rebekah didn't ask him to explain why he believed that wolves were his family. Instead she asked him, "Will you tell me about them?"

And he did.

He told her about how his parents had abandoned him and that he was raised by shape-shifting wolves and grew up in their pack. Rebekah fell asleep against the door listening as the Huntsman told her stories of his life with his wolf family.

He was good. There was a reason he couldn't go through with killing Snow White. Even with Regina having his heart locked away in her vault, she knew that there was good in his heart. That no matter what Regina made him do, a part of him would fight it. When she woke up the next morning, a piece of paper was next to her. It was a drawing of a wolf. One eye blood red and the other as black as night.

That must be the wolf that the Huntsman traveled with. He had told her that he was worried about his companion being able to survive without him. Rebekah had told him that she was sure the wolf would survive – that having him as a companion, the wolf must have learned a thing or two about surviving.

When she woke up, the room was eerily quiet. She didn't even hear the howl of the wind outside from being so high up near the mountains. Rebekah hugged herself, feeling panic rise in her chest. "Huntsman?" Rebekah said quietly, tapping her fingers against the door.

"I'm still here."

She smiled and pressed her head to the door again. "Thank you for not killing my friend." Rebekah whispered, "Snow White is more my family than Regina has ever been." He didn't reply but Rebekah knew that he had heard her. "I like the drawing," Rebekah told him. "Your wolf is beautiful." She could hear him let out a long sigh and she frowned. "You're not alone, Huntsman. I know you must feel that way without your wolf but...you're not alone."

After a moment, the Huntsman replied, "Neither are you."

_________________________________

STORYBROOKE, Maine

"I really don't think it will need paint, Mr. Gold," Rebekah said as she walked into the master bedroom with Mr. Gold. He had suggested painting over the white walls asking her which color she might prefer saying he wanted a woman's opinion. Though it made her want to roll her eyes, she answered him honestly. "-I think the walls are fine as they are. They are incredibly well kept for the house being abandoned for so long. They might need a new coat of the white but other than that, I would leave the walls alone."

He showed her some of the furniture he had thought of getting and each time she picked out one she preferred over the other, Mr. Gold seemed to light up.

"Let's move on to the next room," Mr. Gold suggested.

It was dark now and Emma had yet to check in with Rebekah. But she wouldn't let her worry distract her. There was something about this house that comforted Rebekah – she didn't understand why, perhaps it was because she was in work mode and her focus was elsewhere. Either way, she was able to put aside her worry most of the time while the seconds, minutes, and now hours ticked down and she hadn't heard from Emma yet.

They walked into the next room and Rebekah stopped while standing in the doorway, tilting her head a bit as she looked in the room. She closed her eyes, a vision of a toddler taking its first steps and the sound of laughter and the clapping of hands flashed in her head. And then the sound of Mr. Gold's voice made her eyes snap open. "What do you think this room should be?" he asked her.

"The nursery," she said, the world tumbling out of her mouth without her even meaning to say them. "I, I mean, it could be any type of bedroom. But, it's next to the master bedroom so I thought..." Rebekah frowned. "I don't know why I said nursery. It could be used as an office or a crafts room."

"A nursery would be nice..." Mr. Gold walked around Rebekah, the sound of his cane hitting the ground was almost unnerving to her. "-I'm sure it would be a wonderful home to raise a child in."

Rebekah felt her phone vibrating and looked away from Mr. Gold and down at her phone. It was from Mary-Margaret. She was asking if Rebekah had heard anything from Graham or Emma. Rebekah quickly replied back that she hadn't heard from either of them.

"Don't you agree?"

"Hm?" Rebekah said as she put her phone back in her pocket.

"Am I keep you from something, Ms. Mills?" Mr. Gold asked her. "You've checked your phone an awful lot this evening."

"No, of course not."

"Waiting on a call?" Mr. Gold questioned.

"Nope." She lied.

"Is that so?" Rebekah nodded her head, still lying. "Alright, then perhaps you could shut it off while we work out the final details of each room?"

She tensed, Rebekah wanted to make sure that Emma would be able to get in touch with her so that she'd know that Graham was okay.

"Or will that be a problem?" Mr. Gold walked forward, his cane thumping against the floor.

Yes, it would be a problem. And Rebekah was about to tell Mr. Gold that much, but then her phone began to vibrate again letting her know that she had gotten another text.

Rebekah looked down at her phone and saw that Emma had texted and let out a sigh of relief as she read the message.

Graham and I are back at the station. He's doing much better. I may have punched Regina. I'll tell you about it later. Come by the station after you're done with Gold.

Rebekah closed her eyes and smiled while she turned off her phone. "No problem." She looked back over at Mr. Gold still smiling, finally feeling like she was able to breathe. Graham was okay. Everything was going to be okay. Except for the fact that Emma had punched Regina. That may cause some problems. "-To answer your previous question; yes, I think this would be a lovely home to raise a child in." She walked over and pointed towards the window. "If this were to be a nursery, I'd have the crib placed under the window so that it can overlook the-" She paused and looked out the window. "Uh, forest," she said slowly, almost saying field of wildflowers. There was no field of wildflowers anywhere near this house. She shook her head and continued on. "-And," Rebekah walked away from the window and pointed at another wall, "A large chest full of toys there."

"What about here?"

When Rebekah looked at Mr. Gold, he was settled in the middle of the room. She frowned, looking down at the floor feeling as though something important had once happened in this very spot. Something that was trying to fight its way to the surface but never made it. "A rug?" She asked, looking back up at Mr. Gold. "I wouldn't recommend putting carpet down in this room, the wooden floors are still in good shape. You could always refinish them to make them look brand new but other than that-"

"Perhaps we should move on to the kitchen," Mr. Gold said, sounding slightly irritated.

Rebekah didn't understand why his mood had soured so suddenly but she forced a smile and nodded her head in agreement.

Mr. Gold continued to act strange and ask her questions that at times seemed to satisfy him and others only seemed to anger him. Rebekah was starting to wonder if she had made a mistake in accepting Mr. Gold's job offer. But all she had to do was look around the house and she knew that she had made the right choice. It gave her a feeling of home and belonging and she wanted nothing more than to help someone else have that feeling by making it a true home for them.

It wasn't too late, and Rebekah was sure that Graham and Emma were still at the station, but when she had gotten into her car after parting ways with Mr. Gold, she had tried to turn on her phone only to see that it had died. Rebekah figured she'd take her chances and go to the station and if Graham and Emma weren't there, she'd go home and charge her phone and call Emma to see how everything went.

She drove out of the woods with a smile on her face, finally feeling better after worrying about Graham all day, and the after effect of Jefferson basically telling her that she had read everything wrong and he wasn't into her. Rebekah felt like she could breathe easily and even felt like enjoying some music. When she reached over to turn on the radio, a flash of white in front of her car made Rebekah slam on her breaks, both hands now gripping onto the steering wheel as she tried to calm herself down. In front of her stood a wolf. It looked at her and Rebekah let out a little gasp when she saw that it had one red eye and the other black.

Rebekah turned her car off and undid her seatbelt and moved to get out of the car but stopped when the wolf moved its head back and began to howl at the night's sky.

Her hands instantly went back to the steering wheel, gripping it tightly again.

It was one of the saddest sounds Rebekah had ever heard in her entire life. An agonizing howl that held so much emotion that Rebekah felt the wolf's pain. How that was possible? It wasn't, but for some reason she felt a pain in her chest that she could not explain. The wolf whimpered after it was done howling and ran into the woods.

Rebekah kept her hands gripping onto the steering wheel as a wave of dread washed over her. She couldn't explain the feeling – but it was all she could feel. It took Rebekah a moment before she was able to let go of the steering wheel to put her seatbelt back on. She took in a few deep breaths and told herself that she was being dramatic – that the wolf wasn't some sort of omen. Or the wolf Graham spoke of, it was just a wolf in the woods! Yes, she had never come across a wolf in Storybrooke's woods before; but there was a first time for everything, right?

Rebekah started her car up again and slowly began to drive down the road.

A part of her just wanted to drive straight home and hide under her covers again – the moment of happiness she felt moments earlier was gone.

Rebekah drove through town and down the street that the police station was on and felt her stomach drop as she pulled up to the building. Rebekah didn't even turn off her engine after parking – she just jumped out of her car and ran to where the ambulance was parked in front of the building and where Emma was talking with the medics.

"Emma!" She yelled, her voice breaking as she said the name. "What happened?" Rebekah asked, looking at the blonde woman and at the empty ambulance. "What's going on?"

Emma's eyes were red and full of tears and she wasn't able to get any words out. But she didn't have to, two men were rolling out an ambulance gurney that was carrying a large black bag.

A body bag.

Rebekah looked to Emma, shaking her head slowly. "No," she whispered.

Tears fell down Emma's cheeks. "He had a heart attack."

"No," Rebekah said, her voice high and thick with tears as she shook her head and tried to walk forward so she could get into the building and prove to Emma that Graham was inside and that it was a mistake – that he was alive and not in that body bag that was heading in her direction.

Emma grabbed Rebekah, pulling her back and away from the building. "Rebekah."

"No!" Rebekah yelled. "You're wrong!" She tried to argue.

Emma closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath. "I was with him, Bex."

Rebekah started to breathe in and out quickly as she shook her head. "No," she said again, her voice sounding like it did when she was a child.

"I'm sorry."

She heard the sound of a car's brakes screeching and then felt someone grabbing her arm. "Is it true?" It was Regina, but Rebekah kept her eyes on the body bag that was at the ambulance door now. "Tell me it's not true!" Regina yelled.

Her older sister ran forward and stood in front of the body bag, "Mayor Mills," One of the paramedics said, trying to stop Regina only to have her snap at him to step aside.

Regina unzipped the bag and Rebekah felt the world crumble from underneath her. Graham laid in the bag lifeless, eyes closed and skin a pale shade, lips no longer its normal pink and instead a darker shade that was almost blue.

He was dead.

Graham was dead.

And suddenly Rebekah was in her car and driving away from the scene.

But she didn't go home.

_________________________________

Jefferson sat outside on his porch. The sound of a wolf howling had woken him up. He had never heard or come across a wolf while living in Storybrooke for the past twenty-eight years – and the howl? It was not like any wolf howl he had ever heard before. It made him walk out of his house and stand on his porch and wait. For the wolf? He didn't know. But Jefferson knew that he needed to be outside.

He had been feeling awful all day after what had happened with Rebekah. A part of him wanted to go to her and apologize and tell her everything! Jefferson wanted to tell her that she was his wife and he was her husband and that everyone in Storybrooke was cursed by her sister, the Evil Queen. But he thought about what Regina had said – how she had told Jefferson that she had Rebekah's heart and that she wouldn't hesitate to crush it.

And it stopped him from leaving his house to go find Rebekah.

Because he wouldn't risk her life.

Even if Regina was lying – it wasn't a risk he was willing to take.

Rebekah and Grace were his whole world and as miserable as he was and had been for the last twenty-eight years without them, he would wait for the savior to break the curse. And afterwards, he'd get his family and they'd go far away and never return.

Jefferson ran his hands down his face and then looked up at the night sky. Something was different. Perhaps it was a sign that Emma was getting closer to breaking the curse.

He didn't know. What he did know? It left a feeling of dread.

Headlights pulling up to his house caused him to shield his eyes from the brightness. When the lights were off, Jefferson moved his hand down and saw that it was Rebekah's car. He sighed, standing up as he tried to find the courage to be awful to her again and tell her to leave. But he stopped when he saw that she wasn't getting out of the car. Jefferson frowned, watching as Rebekah looked down at the steering wheel. His heart urged him to go to her, but his head told him to be smart – to think of Rebekah before his own selfish needs and wants.

It was a while before she got out of the car but Jefferson stayed standing on his porch the entire time.

When she was finally out of the car, Jefferson could see that she was rocking a little bit back and forth as she looked down at the ground. He felt his breath catch in this throat and his feet pushing forward when she finally looked up at him. Jefferson knew that face – and it made him forget all of his worries and fears and run to her. And when he finally got to her, she all but collapsed into his arms and let out a loud sob.

Jefferson felt his own eyes fill with tears as he listened to her cry, each one getting louder than the last. He didn't say anything; he only held her tightly against his body as her shaky hands clutched onto the back of his shirt while she shook hard.

"Graham's dead," she finally managed to get words out, her voice high and uneven between her crying and speaking.

"What?" Jefferson whispered in shock. "How?"

It only made Rebekah cry harder. Jefferson moved a bit and scooped her up, her face now pressed against his neck as he carried her back to the house with one arm under her knees and the other resting against the back of her neck. She continued to cry and Jefferson felt his heart break with each sob she let out. Jefferson took her inside of his house and carried her all the way upstairs into his bedroom. He moved them both onto the bed and pulled her closer to him as they laid down. Rebekah tugged at his scarf as she cried, yanking at it until it was off and pressed her face to his scar, her tears wetting his skin.

"I'm here," Jefferson whispered, pressing kisses to her hair as he tried to soothe her the way he used to while they lived in the Enchanted Forest. "I'm here," he said over and over again. After hours of Rebekah crying and Jefferson refusing to let go, her sobs grew quieter and her breathing began to even. Her chest began to rise and fall at a normal pace, tears no longer dropping against his skin and her body finally began to relax. Jefferson closed his eyes tightly, pulling Rebekah closer to him and kissed her head again as she slept. "I'm so sorry, Rebekah," he whispered, holding onto her tightly, never wanting to let go. "I am so sorry."

Regina had done this.

She killed Graham – there was no other explanation for why he died. No one in twenty-eight years had ever died in Storybrooke and Graham was far from ill or out of shape. It was Regina. Rebekah had told him long ago about the Huntsman who had spared Snow White's life and because of that Regina had taken his heart in return; she told him about how even while trapped in her bedroom, she always felt safe in his presence. She even called him family. The Huntsman had been so important to Rebekah in the Enchanted Forest – he seemed to mean even more to her in Storybrooke. She was crushed, inconsolable – there was nothing Jefferson could do to fix this for her. There were no deals he could make, no magic to bring Graham back, there was nothing. All he could do was be there for Rebekah. To never push her away again and to tell Regina to piss off if she found out again.

Regina wouldn't kill Rebekah – not after Graham died.

And if she did? Jefferson would kill Regina and then find a way to bring back Rebekah. He'd raise Hell, he'd go to the Heavens and beg for her life – he'd trade his own life for hers! Grace needed her mother; and Jefferson couldn't live in a world without Rebekah again.

"I love you, Bex," Jefferson whispered against her hair, "And I'm so sorry."

Regina would pay for this. Now or after the curse – it didn't matter. But she would pay for killing Graham. That monster of a woman deserved no mercy.

There was sudden pounding on his door.

It could only be one person.

Rebekah didn't wake up when he slowly pulled away from her, and she didn't wake up when the banging continued. Jefferson walked down the stairs and opened his front door once he was in front of it. Regina stood on the other side, seething with anger. "I want her. Now!" she hissed.

"No."

Her eyes widened and were nearly all black. "No?" She huffed, "Give me my sister – now!" She raised her voice.

"No," Jefferson said again, moving his arm to block Regina from coming inside his home. "-She is devastated right now because of what you did tonight."

Regina glared, her nostrils flaring as she tried to push past Jefferson. "-Let me through!" She pushed at him.

Jefferson didn't budge, he only looked at Regina. "-You are going to leave Rebekah alone, you are going to stop trying to keep us away from each other and you will never threaten my family again, because if you do – I will make it my life's mission to help Emma break the curse."

"-You can't be together!" Regina said in anger, "-It's too risky! I won't have her curse being broken because of you!"

Jefferson rolled his eyes. "It would have already been broken if that were possible. You and I both know that the only way the curse can be broken is if Emma breaks it – and I will keep that from happening so long as you leave us alone."

Regina pressed her lips together in a straight line as she glared at Jefferson giving him her most evil stare. "I could crush her heart."

"If you do that," Jefferson stepped forward and into her space, causing her to step back and further onto the porch, "I will kill you. Do you understand? I will rip out your heart without magic and you will die. If you so much as touch Rebekah's heart, if you even have it, and she feels a flicker of pain I will come for you," he swore. "Now get the hell off the porch and leave my family alone. You've done enough to hurt my wife tonight."

Regina shook her head. "Rebekah won't stay in your house forever, Jefferson. She'll go home eventually and right into my arms and in her grieving state – I'm sure I can convince her to do anything."

"You can try." Jefferson folded his arms over his chest, "But I'm not staying away anymore."

Regina walked down his porch backwards and watched him the entire way to her car. "You're right, Jefferson." Regina said with a smirk, "I don't have my sister's heart...but there are still ways I can easily break it."

She got into her car and Jefferson inhaled deeply through his nose as he watched her start her car and pull out of his driveway. Jefferson closed his eyes and moved his hand to his neck, rubbing at it as the phantom pain of the scar began to bug him. Regina could threaten him all she wanted – but he was not going to stay away from Rebekah any longer. And he wouldn't push her away either.

But he couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine at Regina's words about breaking Rebekah's heart.

Jefferson went back inside and locked the doors before he returned back upstairs and got into bed with Rebekah. He pulled her body closer to him and Rebekah let out a little sigh as she gripped onto his shirt in her sleep.

He would protect Rebekah.

No matter what.